DOWN U-14 CAMOGIE DEVELOPMENT SQUAD TRIALS (GROUP 1) Could the following girls please attend the Down U-14 Camogie Development Squad Trials at 11.00am on Saturday 4^th June 2011 at Castlewellan’s Bann Road GAA Pitch:

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WHEN it comes to charity giving the sky’s the limit for staff at B/E Aerospace. The 500+ employees at the firm’s Kilkeel plant are famous for getting behind their selected good causes and this month two charities were on the receiving end of good wishes and handsome donations! Southern Area Hospice and Macmillan Cancer Support each collected cheques for £2,685.85 – the proceeds of a variety of fund raising ventures and collections undertaken by staff. [caption id="attachment_24254" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Pictured are (front) Julie Campbell from Macmillan Cancer Support received a large cheque from Francine Hannah and Fiona Stephens from Southern Area Hospice Services receives her large cheque from Paul McArdle. Adding their support are members of the Charity Committee, from left, Adele Scott, Breige Hughes; Neil Cairns (Managing Director of B/E Aerospace), Wendy Graham, Helen Pullins, William Wilson, Heather Magowan and Laura McBride."][/caption] Macmillan which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary offers practical, medical, emotional and financial help to people affected by cancer. The charity provides specially trained medical professionals to the NHS and has recently opened an information and support centre in Belfast. The other beneficiary, Southern Area Hospice Services (SAHS), provides support and care to people living within the Southern Health Board Area who are suffering from Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Motor Neurone Disease and AIDS. Its aim is to provide the best quality of life for its patients and their families. Congratulating his colleagues on this latest charitable donation, B/E Aerospace Managing Director, Neil Cairns, said, “People here are remarkably generous, in terms of their own time and when it comes to making personal donations. They are to be congratulated on their enthusiasm and, in particular, I would like to pay tribute to the tireless work of our Entertainments Committee. This is a fantastic donation to two great organisations, both of which clearly strike a chord of empathy. I am delighted to see these latest charity cheques handed over from B/E Aerospace employees and I know that the funds raised will help to make a meaningful difference to the lives of local people.” Pictured are (front) Julie Campbell from Macmillan Cancer Support received a large cheque from Francine Hannah and Fiona Stephens from Southern Area Hospice Services receives her large cheque from Paul McArdle. Adding their support are members of the Charity Committee, from left, Adele Scott, Breige Hughes; Neil Cairns (Managing Director of B/E Aerospace), Wendy Graham, Helen Pullins, William Wilson, Heather Magowan and Laura McBride.]]>

[/caption] SOUTH Down Ulster Unionist MLA John McCallister has spoken of his grave concerns that two local beaches failed to meet guidelines set by the Marine Conservation Society. Mr McCallister said, “I am sure that many people share my disappointment that less than half of Northern Ireland’s beaches are recommended as being fit for swimmers. “Here in South Down we have two beaches that didn’t make the grade – Newcastle and Cranfield Bay- and that comes hugely worrying news.xa0In this area we rely heavily on visitor numbers and the tourist trade, so news like this will not do us any favours. “I am a regular visitor to both beaches and remember holidaying in Cranfield frequently as a child. The section of the beach that failed is Cranfield Bay -the public part of the beach, while Nicholson’s Strand, directly in front of Cranfield Caravan Park, only met basic minimal guidelines. “Northern Ireland relies greatly on the tourist industry and the beauty of our scenery is a major attraction. “Our beaches are a huge asset in attracting both locals and visitors alike and it is essential that work is done to ensure that resources are made available to ensure that our beaches are up to the highest standards. The failure of the beach at Newcastle – one of Northern Ireland’s Premier seaside resorts must be of particular concern. “With even stricter EU standards due to be imposed from 2015, the time for action is now,” added Mr McCallister.]]>

[/caption] Councillor Clarke said,xa0“The emergency services, particularly local fire crews, should be commended in the professionalism they display when dealing with these incidents. However, malicious fires place a massive strain on very limited resources.” He added,xa0″The cost to NI Water is estimated to be in the region of £500.000, this does not take into account the environmental damage downstream in our rivers, the cost of emergency services or the wider environment damage. There will be damage to the activity tourism and accommodation sector also. “There needs to be a co-ordinated response from DOE, DARD, NI Water Health and public safety and the Justice Department; we need to see a collective response with a sharing of resources; to look at best practice to reduce the impact of these fires in the High Mournes. “These should include the establishment of fire breaks, to reduce the Fuel load of the dry vegetation, in addition it is essential that proposed grazing in the water catchment area is central to the management plan. “This tragedy could be a blessing in disguise; if it produces a cross-departmental strategic response into ensuring that the scale of these fires never happens again. “The PSNI need to be proactively investigating these environmental crimes, those responsible need to be assured that these type of crimes will not be tolerated by society”, added Councillor Clarke.]]>

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