Newcastle left without Stormont representative as Willie Clarke resigns
Newcastle is to lose its only locally-based MLA with the news that Sinn Féin representative Willie Clarke is to resign his Assembly seat “to concentrate on Down District Council”.
The news has surprised many politics watchers, who assumed that Clarke would resign his Council seat in preference for his Assembly role. He had announced before the double-election in May 2011 that he would only continue with one of the jobs, despite standing for both posts.
As he told newcastlerocks back in April (at 4mins 30sec below), he had not decided which of the jobs to retain if he should be successful in both polls.
The party will now decide which of its members to move into Clarke’s vacant Assembly seat. Speculation has concentrated on unsuccessful Assembly candidate Naomi Bailie and Ballynahinch councillor Mickey Coogan. Either choice would leave Newcastle without a Stormont representative living in the town, although John McCallister MLA has a constituency office on Causeway Road.
Grant fundraising advice sessions in Newcastle
NICVA are holding Money from Grants advice sessions in Newcastle on 27th March 2012 to offer charities and other not-for-profits guidance on grant applications and other fundraising issues.
If you need help with making funding applications, they are now arranging one-to-one sessions with groups in the area to help support and advise on applications to grant-makers.
If you need to find out why your funding applications fail, get help completing an application form or find funders who match your project, then get along to the Money From Grants funding advice sessions will be held in the offices of Kairos Centre, 10b Donard Street on 27th March 2012.
Sessions are available as follows and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.
(1) 9.00am; (2) 10:00am; (3) 11:15am; (4) 12:15noon; (5) 2:00pm; (6) 3:00pm; (7) 4:00pm
To book your session, contact Georgie Finlay, Neil Irwin or James Laverty by email (preferred) or phone on 028 9087 7777.
If you are successful in getting a funding advice session, then prior to your appointment, you may want to send them copies of your draft or failed applications, or a project description.
Email to: georgie.finlay@nicva.org, james.laverty@nicva.org or neil.irwin@nicva.org
Newcastle in the 1890s (in colour)
- A photomechanical print in photochrom from the Detroit Publishing Co, held at the US Library of Congress. Part of the amazing Views of Ireland in the Photochrom print collection.
Newcastle to bid for Fairtrade Town status
Newcastle could become a Fairtrade Town if a new campaign is successful.
Fairtrade Newcastle aims to see the town earn the status by bringing together local shoppers, the business community, Down District Council and the town’s schools, churches and community groups.
The campaign will be introduced at a public meeting to be held in the Newcastle Centre on Tuesday 28th February at 7:30pm, at the start of Fairtrade Fortnight.
The purpose will be to establish a ‘Let’s make Newcastle a Fairtrade Town’ campaign, so tackling poverty by enabling disadvantaged producers from poor countries to receive a better deal.
Campaign co-ordinator Patrick Corrigan said:
Fairtrade is about decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world. This is a chance for Newcastle to be part of this global movement.
Dozens of towns across Ireland and the UK have now become Fairtrade Towns. Experience there has shown that working towards Fairtrade Town status can bring together neighbours, groups, the local council and businesses towards a common goal and a shared achievement that everyone can celebrate.
Becoming a Fairtrade Town can benefit local businesses by promoting shopping in the town’s shops, benefits producers in the developing world by ensuring that they get a decent price for their produce and benefits local people by generating community spirit behind a great project. By choosing to support Fairtrade in this way, Newcastle can add it’s voice to demands for a trade system that puts people at the heart of the transaction.
To achieve Fairtrade Town status, Newcastle would have to fulfil a range of criteria set down by the Fairtrade Foundation, such as the number of shops and catering outlets stocking fair trade products and the amount of support given by the local community.
Community organisations, faith groups, businesses, schools and individuals all contribute to making their area a Fairtrade Town by pledging to do what they can to support fair trade.
At the meeting in the Newcastle Centre on Tuesday 28th February, there will be a presentation and questions and answer session, a short film, some sample Fairtrade produce, information materials and a resolution to establish a steering group for the initiative.
Fairtrade Newcastle public meeting – Tuesday 28 February, 7:30pm, Newcastle Centre. For more information, email: newcastlerocks[at]ymail.com
The event will takes place at the start of Fairtrade Fortnight (February 27 – March 11)
The Answer rock back to Belfast
Local rock heroes The Answer are Belfast-bound after a tour that has brought them across Europe, ending last night in Amsterdam.
After a brief respite, the lads are off to Tokyo, before rocking up at Belfast’s Mandela Hall (tickets available here) at the beginning of March as part of their Ireland and UK schedule.
If you can’t wait that long, check out this video for Nowhere Freeway, the latest single off their new album Revival. Featuring vocals from Lynne Jackaman alongside frontman Cormac. They’ve never sounded sweeter.
Olympic torch heading for Newcastle
The Olympic torch will be carried through Newcastle next June before heading to the Olympic Stadium in London for the 2012 Games.
The exact route will be confirmed closer to the time but what we know already is that on Thursday 7th June the torch will be carried through Newcastle, before heading for Dundrum, Clough, Downpatrick, Crossgar and onwards.
The lucky individuals who will carry the torch will be announced later this year.
Meanwhile the London 2012 organisers are looking for ‘Local Leaders’ to create their own celebrations in Newcastle and elsehere next year when the Olympic Torch Relay comes to town. Find out more here.
Torch route around Northern Ireland
I was fortunate enough to catch the end of an event in Newcastle on Monday night when children from thirteen maintained, controlled and integrated primary schools ‘graduated’ from the Shared Languages, Shared Cultures programme, run by the town’s Shimna Integrated College.
The programme, supported by Queen’s University’s Sharing Education Programme (hats off to Prof Tony Gallagher) and funded by Atlantic Philanthropies and businessman Gerard O’Hare, recently picked up the TES Outstanding Community Partnership Award. The TES judges’ commented: “The main hope for Northern Ireland’s peaceful and prosperous future lies in its schools and the brave pioneers who are devising shared education programmes between educators in either sector. Shimna’s example is at once humbling and inspirational.”
Guest of honour was First Minister Peter Robinson. Thirteen months ago he sparked a major public debate when he condemned Northern Ireland’s segregated school system as “a benign form of apartheid, which is fundamentally damaging to our society.”
He used Monday evening’s speech to reiterate his aspiration for “shared education”.
Of detail, there was none, although he teased the audience that the long-awaited Programme for Government might have something of interest. Read more…
All Children’s Primary School celebrates 25 years
All Children’s Integrated Primary School will be marking its twenty-fifth anniversary next Saturday 17th September with a celebration event at the school on King Street.
Present and former pupils, parents, governors, teachers, staff and supporters are invited to attemd between 1-4pm for an afternoon of entertainment to celebrate its success through the years.
Founded in 1986 (fuller history here) it was only the second fully integrated primary school to be established in Northern Ireland, just five years after the integrated education movement was founded with the opening of Lagan College in Belfast.
The 25th anniversary celebration event will include a showcase of the school’s depth of talent in music, dance and sport as well as attractions such as the Armagh Rhymers, climbing wall (courtesy of Life adventure company), penalty shoot competition, barbecue and much more.
There will be few special guests as well, including long-time supporters of integrated education and local elected political representatives. Pride of place, of course, will go to the school’s children – past and present – and those who had the vision and courage to establish the school twenty five years ago this month.
Meanwhile, if you want to support an initiative for a reform of our largely segregated and financially wasteful education system, you can back the new One School of Thought campaign which was launched this week. Find out more and sign up to show your support here.
4.6% of Annalong people are werewolves
4.6% of the population of Annalong are werewolves. That is the shocking claim made on online encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
If correct, that would mean the Annalong village is harbouring almost 82 man-wolf shapeshifters, slightly higher than most people in nearby Newcastle had previously estimated. Click image below to enlarge.
- Wikipedia entry for Annalong, August 17 2011
h/t to @chrisjharrison
Newcastle from the air: spot your house
Can you spot your house?
This great picture (click to enlarge) was taken by davynessie (but cropped by me) and is reproduced courtesy of him via flickr. He got the shot from Slieve Donard on the day of the Red Arrows’ appearance at the Festival of Flight. Read more…
Newcastle harbour swim 2011
Congratulations to all the hardy souls who completed the Newcastle harbour swim today. Read more…
Newcastle Arts Festival programme published
A packed programme for the first Newcastle Arts Festival has now been published.
The holiday weekend of 26-28 August will see live music, visual art exhibitions and sales, stand-up comedy, theatre, fil, children’s workshops, dance and more in venues across and beyond Newcastle.
Paper copies of the programme are now available to pick up in the town or check out the Newcastle Arts Festival website. Or take our shortcut – Friday here, Saturday and Sunday here. Enjoy.
Tree disease strikes Tollymore
The Department of Agriculture has revealed that Tollymore Forest has been struck by a tree disease.
The disease, caused by a pathogen known as Phytophthora lateralis, affects Lawson cypress trees. The Tollymore outbreak is the first recorded in Ireland.
Infected trees are now being felled and access to some parts of the park will be restricted to the public to help control the spread of the disease.
“We would ask users to observe signage at the site and to remain on the way-marked paths,” said a Department spokseperson.
While about two hectares – more than 800 trees – are affected in the forest, the Department of Agriculture has said that this is only about 0.5 per cent of the park.
More on the story here.
Newcastle Arts Festival call for volunteers
Newcastle Arts Festival has an impressive line-up of events planned for the August Bank Holiday weekend, 26th to 28th August.
Here’s a taste: The Red Hot Roosters – Mervyn Crawford & Apartment B – Jake O’Kane – Hedwig & the Angry Inch – Ciaran MacGowan – Allison McGrath & the Soulantics – Paul Buckley – Roy Fulton – Paddy Morgan – The Amazing Few – Tony Kaluarachchi – Wheelworks – Jim Uprichard & Dermot McQuaid – Scorpion Jack – Jim & Dr Nick – Frankie Morgan – The Una McCann Band – Blastproof – Sunglasses – Ellipsis – The Humdingers – The Happy Enchiladas – Amnesty International poster exhibition – children’s art workshops – pop-up exhibition space … phew!
More details in due course, but not bad for a first outing!
Meanwhile the organisers (all volunteers themselves) are looking for more volunteers to help run the weekend of events.
Application is via a form available on the festival Facebook site. Otherwise, email your interest to newcastleartsfestival [at] gmail.com or leave a message on 07546 838137
