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
Red Arrows in Newcastle 2011: video
A reported 100,000-plus people got to see the Red Arrows over Newcastle on Saturday and plans are already afoot to ensure a return visit next year.
Here’s what they saw:
Congratulations to Down District Council for a hugely successful weekend for the town.
Newcastle Festival of Flight: timetable and map
The world famous Red Arrows will be making a 24 minute display along with other international aviation stars, including the Irish Air Corps, the French Patrouille Reva display team and the American Mustang in Newcastle at 1.30pm sharp!
This is the map (courtesy of Down District Council) for the best vantage points for the Red Arrows and the other aeronautical displays, as well as the various other events, live concerts and Cool FM roadshow comprising the One Cool Weekend in Newcastle.
Advice: get there early, slap on the sunscreen - it’s always sunny in Newcastle 
– follow the signs for car parking and bring some binoculars and a camera.
Don’t forget to sample and learn about the best in local produce at the SEED Food Market opening at 10:00am.
If you’re in Newcastle for the music, here’s the plan:
Herring Gutters Festival 2011 – this weekend!
Here at Newcastle Rocks we love the Herring Gutters Festival, not least for its name.
Well, it’s that time of year again – in fact it starts later today - so here’s your comprehensive run-down of the festival schedule for the weekend ahead.
Friday
6pm till late
Spritual Medium Readings (really? – Ed.) – Book with Kate on 07749 996412
7.30pm – 9.30pm
Car Treasure Hunt – Meet & pick up clues behind the bar, Admission £10 per car sponsored by the yacht club
7.30pm
Historical Tour of Newcastle Harbour – Meet in the Harbour House Inn car park, Dating back to 1770
8pm – 9.30pm
Family Quiz Night – In the Harbour House Inn Main Bar, cheating allowed (if your not caught!)
10pm till late
Fresh Herring & Burger BBQ 10pm till late Live Music With The Humdingers – Great craic with local band
10pm till late
Live Music in Mackens Bar
Read more…
Weekend of music and aerobatics comes to Newcastle
We’re just days away now from one excellent radio station-sponsored weekend in Newcastle, as Down District Council’s Festival of Flight, plus more, comes to town.
Over 100,000 spectators are expected in the town to watch the spectacular Festival of Flight display headlined by the Red Arrows and supported by an array of international aviation stars on Saturday 6 August 2011.
The Festival also plays host to an array of other events and activities in the town from Monday 1st August to Sunday 7th August, including the One Cool Weekend music concert, which runs over Saturday 6th and Sunday 7 August.
Music stars confirmed to perform at over the weekend include Chipmunk, Hard-Fi, The Feeling, Wretch 32, Wonderland, Ed Sheeran, Frankmusik, Starboy Nathan and many more. Tickets are on sale now via www.coolfm.co.uk/tickets
The Red Arrows themselves will be over the town at 1.30pm on Saturday 6th August, while other attractions will include a food market, fusion kites, face painting, balloon modelling, fun-filled quizzes, tales with the Ulster Aviation Society, stilt walking, a Cool FM live broadcast and much more.
For further information on Festival of Flight see: www.downdc.gov.uk
For full details on One Cool Weekend see: www.plmpromotions.com
Newcastle in running for regeneration award
Newcastle was visited last week by judges from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors in London who have come to see for themselves the quality and success of the public realm works in Newcastle.
The town is in the running for a national award in the ‘Regeneration’ category.
The town has garnered a slew of awards including most recently the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors NI regional winner in the Regeneration category.
Down District Council Director of Development, Sharon O’Connor said “The judges are most interested in the benefit of the scheme to the town, the people who live, work or visit the town. Few places can demonstrate such comprehensive regeneration benefits on all fronts.”
The town’s Chamber of Commerce under the leadership of the enthusiastic Audrey Byrne rose to the challenge and many premises had made an extra special effort. Shops, bars and restaurants all contributed with beautiful window displays whilst others placed their own pots and planters on sparkling shop fronts.
The result will be announced in October.
