Kathryn Owen Is New DUP Councillor For Rowallene

With an internal reshuffle following the resignation of former DUP MLA Simon Hamilton and Harry Harvey, a Newry Mourne and Down District Council councillor, stepping into his shoes, the DUP have brought local woman Kathryn Owen into their ranks in Council. Kathryn said she was delighted to become a councillor…

Newcastle Gets Set For Hallowtides Event

Fabulous Floats and Fantastic Fireworks for Hallowtides, Newcastle. Newcastle is getting ready for one of the biggest and most thrilling nights of the year as Newry Mourne and Down District Council has just announced its spooky and spectacular Hallowtides event will take place on Thursday 31 October 2019.  Adding to…

Liquor Laws To Be Reviewed

Consultation launched on liquor licensing laws in Northern Ireland. The Department for Communities (DfC) has launched a consultation on the law relating to the retail sale and supply of alcoholic drinks in Northern Ireland.  The Department is seeking the views of the public and stakeholders on current liquor licensing laws,…

Win A Trip To London On Cancer Focus NI Raffle

Win a fantastic trip to London for two. A super five-star hotel stay in magnificent London plus brunch on the glamorous Belmond British Pullman train is up for grabs in the Cancer Focus Northern Ireland autumn raffle which is raising funds for breast cancer research. The top prize includes return…

UFU Attends Meeting With UK Milk Chairs

UK unions’ milk chairs meet at NFU Scotland. The Ulster Farmers’ Union attended a meeting, hosted by NFU Scotland, with representatives from the other UK Unions on Thursday 10th October to discuss the issues and uncertainty affecting the dairy sector throughout the four nations as a possible Brexit decision is…

Big Day At Downpatrick Railway For Diesel Fans

Celebrating the 30th Anniversary Diesel Gala Saturday 12th October at Downpatrick & County Down Railway. Crowds gathered at Downpatrick railway last Saturday to enjoy the 30th anniversary celebration of the Irish Traction Group. Robert Gardiner, Downpatrick and County Down Railway said: “The Irish Traction Group caters specifically for the heritage…

SERC Fundraiser For PIPS Downpatrick 

Big hearted students from SERC’s Downpatrick Campus have raised £270 for PIPS Downpatrick by hosting a fancy-dress fundraiser for the local charity. Students from the Level 3 Travel and Tourism course organised the event which was part of the College’s Mental Health Week activities. It included, information points from PIPS…

McBratney Claims Winner At Downpatrick Races

Crossgar trainer Colin Mc Bratney supplied a welcomed local success at the MB McGrady and Co Accountants race in the final fixture of the year at Downpatrick racecourse writes Joe Kavanagh. Herbiegoesbannas had attempted to make all coming clear of the last hurdle and was fighting out the finish with…

Tourism Students Are #BetterOffAtSERC

SERC Students Launch Travel Hub for Staff and Students. Travel and Tourism Students from South Eastern Regional College’s (SERC) Downpatrick Campus have launched a  new travel hub service  to give fellow students and staff the low-down on popular destinations. Colum Toner, Lecturer in Travel and Tourism Operations said: “Students are…

Good Relations Week Celebrated

Newry Mourne and Down District Council Hosts Good Relations Week. The Ethnic Minority Support Centre along with Slieve Gullion and Newry District Electoral Area (DEA) Forums recently hosted two EU Citizen Registration Information events in Newry and Newtownhamilton. The events, which were held in Newry Arts Centre on Monday 16…

Banbridge Win Over Ballynahinch

SONI Premiership. Ballynahinch 28 Banbridge 34. James Kirk reporting. Ballynahinch slumped to a third successive SONI Premiership defeat in perfect conditions at Ballymacarn Park on Saturday as they failed to recover from an awful start against derby rivals Banbridge. Despite being able to call on Ulster releases Tom Stewart, Zack…

Climate Change Conference For Castleward

Hazzard to host Climate Action Conference at Castleward. Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard will host a Climate Action Conference in Castle Ward on Friday 4th October to give people a unique opportunity to engage with policy advisors, leading environmental academics and campaigners. The South Down MP has secured EU funding…

Hazzard Backs Suicide Down To Zero Strategy

Launch of Suicide Down to Zero Strategic Plan 2019 -2022. Suicide Down to Zero is a charity which was set up in Downpatrick in 2014. At that time, and almost every year since, the number of suicide deaths in Northern Ireland exceeded three hundred per year. Co-Founder Pat McGreevy, speaking…

Meadowlands Celebrates With New Play Park

New Play Park opens at Meadowlands, Downpatrick. Meadowlands, a large social housing estate in Downpatrick with over 250 children under the age of 15 in the immediate area, now has a state-of-the-art play/community facility. A new play park was officially opened today in the Meadowlands estate of Downpatrick. The facilities…

Road Improvement for Spa In Ballynahinch

£196,000 road improvement scheme on Grove Road, Spa, Ballynahinch. A £196,000 carriageway resurfacing scheme on the Grove Road, Spa will start on Monday 7 October 2019.  The resurfacing work will extend a distance of approximately 1,000 metres from the Spa Road junction to 800 metres to Spa side of the…