Local traders are being encouraged to capitalise on the commercial opportunities which the new Ballynahinch Harvest & Country Living Festival will bring to the town over the weekend of Saturday and Sunday 27-28 September. As Ballynahinch prepares to welcome thousands of people to the two-day event at Montalto Estate and the Saturday-only celebrations in the town centre, Show Director Albert Titterington has invited the town’s shops and businesses to play an active role in putting Ballynahinch firmly back on the retail and hospitality map. He is inviting every town centre business to decorate their premises and shop windows with a harvest theme – and is even offering a great prize for the most attractive display.
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‘The New Map of Ireland, Civil and Ecclesiastical’ by DA Beaufort 1792. [/caption]
He said: “We all want to see local businesses ‘jump on the bandwagon’ and make the most of what will be a great opportunity for the whole town to do better business. The ambience and mood of the town will be greatly enlivened if its traders get into the spirit of new Festival with Harvest themed planting, banners and imaginative shop window displays and individual businesses will reap benefits from their active involvement in an event which I believe could bring real economic benefits to the town, in this and future years. My confidence in its potential as a catalyst for increased business is borne of solid experience, gained over many years organizing some of Ireland’s biggest and most exciting Game Fairs and I am eager to see the benefits flow in my home County.” The Irish Game Fair which Albert and his team staged just last month at Birr Castle in County Offaly illustrates those benefits. Peter Ormond, Manager of Mid Ireland Tourism, says of the show’s impact, “The Irish Game & Country Fair was the busiest week for the Midlands region in terms of bed nights and bookings at restaurants. Our office assisted in placing people in appropriate accommodation and we had to place people some distance from the venue to accommodate all visitors. There was a huge increase in bookings this year with almost all accommodation providers booked out months in advance.” Albert Titterington added: “The involvement of businesses – notably those in retailing and hospitality – will help us to bring similar economic benefits to the Ballynahinch area and help ‘put Ballynahinch back on the map’ as a location for shopping and relaxation. We all know what a great town this is, and we want to share that message with as many people as possible. I hope the business community will enjoy and benefit from our creative challenge and I look forward to seeing some great Harvest themed displays.”
The business with the best display will win a weekend for two in the exclusive Mount Falcon Hotel in Ballina, County Mayo (www.mountfalcon.com) and, in recognition of their efforts in helping to put Ballynahinch ‘back on the map’, they will also receive a superb reproduction of one of the oldest maps of Ireland which was probably used by the military in the ‘Battle of Ballynahinch’.
The ‘New Map of Ireland, Civil and Ecclesiastical by D.A.Beaufort’, was first published by William Faden in 1792. The Rev. Beaufort who created the original map lived in Navan, County Meath, and his map which was drawn/engraved at 6 miles to the inch was acknowledged as the best available map of Ireland for 100 years….essentially until the first Ordnance Survey of Ireland. Ireland was the first country in the world to be systematically surveyed and mapped accurately. Copies of the historic map will be also available on sale by one of our exhibitors at the festival at Montalto.
“We’re delighted to be able to present a prize with such great historic associations with the area, particularly as celebration of local history is such a core element of The Ballynahinch Harvest & Country Living Festival and a mini re-enactment of the Battle of Ballynahinch will be a highlight of the town centre event on Saturday September 27,” said Albert Titterington. “We’re also looking forward to making our own bit of local history, for the two-day Ballynahinch Harvest & Country Living Festival at Montalto Estate, plus the one day event in the town square combine to make this the biggest Festival weekend that Ballynahinch has ever staged. To find out more about Ballynahinch Harvest & Country Living Festival visit:
www.ballynahinchharvestfestival.com
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Saturday and Sunday 27-28 September
Ballynahinch Harvest & Country Living Festival
Montalto Estate
from 10am – 5pm each day.
The event promises a celebration of country sports, pursuits and lifestyles. Perfect for an amazing autumn family day out, it presents a wonderful blend of sporting, historical and family entertainment, including a medieval jousting, a fine food festival and a country fashion show, to name only a few. A one-day, free ‘companion’ event will also take place in Ballynahinch’s town centre on Saturday 27 September featuring a re-enactment of the Battle of Ballynahinch and country-themed events.
Admission to Montalto: £30 for a Double Ticket (admits two people) or £30 for a Family Ticket (2 Adults & up to 4 children). For further information visit:
www.ballynahinchharvestfestival.com
or call 028 44839167 /44615416. (The Festival is supported by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Down District Council and Down Rural Area Partnership.)
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