RGU Notes
St Patrick’s Day celebrations in the Clubrooms. From 4- 6.30 pm there will be live session music in the lounge while the All-Ireland Club hurling and football finals will be shown in the bar. Free stew will be available for everyone! Later, CELAIR will be on stage from 9pm to close of play.xa0 CELAIR is one of the best Irish instrumental groups in the country and we recommend that you arrive early to secure a seat. Tickets will be a keenly priced £4 and you can pay at the door. Everyone is welcome to come along.
What's On With Down Arts
Lunchtime Mystery Solved in Castlewellan!
On Tuesday 22nd March at 12.30pm, Maginn’s Bar in Castlewellan will host Wireless Mystery Theatre’s unique performance of Old Time Radio Mystery Plays, the third in this season’s Liquid Lunch series, brought to you by Down Arts Centre.
Wells Condemns Sinn Féin Flag Stance
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He said, “Over the last 25 years Down District Council has made enormous efforts u2028to make the St Patrick’s Day celebrations inclusive and acceptable to u2028both communities.
“Whilst parades in locations such as Belfast andu2028Londonderry have been u2028extremely controversial the Downpatrick event has been quite rightly u2028portrayed as the template for u2028a celebration which everyone can enjoy.
”It is an indication of just how much progress Down Council has made u2028that William Dick – the DUP Chairman of the Council was able to lead u2028the parade in Downpatrick last year.
“It is u2028unimaginable that such a situation could occur anywhere else in u2028Northern Ireland. I have always u2028supported the council’s efforts and encouraged visitors to attend the u2028Downpatrick parade”.]]>Ritchie To Meet Taoisceach And Tanaiste In US On St Patrick's Day Visit
SDLP leader and South Down MP Margaret Ritchie and Social Development Minister Alex Attwood will meet new Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore, British Secretary of State Owen Patterson, US economic envoy Declan Kelly, in addition to an anticipated call with President Obama during their three day St Patrick’s day trip to the United States.
Speaking before flying to New York, Ms Ritchie said,xa0″I am looking forward to congratulating the Taoiseach and Tanaiste in person on their recent success and impressing upon them the need for stable government in the south.
“Both men have long been friends of the North and indeed the SDLP. They both buy into the SDLP ethos that North/South Makes Sense and I will stress that in the current economic climate, enhanced co-operation is all the more necessary.
“My message to the new Irish government will be that the time for hand holding of the DUP and Sinn Fein is over and instead it is time to roll up our sleeves to improve the economic well being of our island.
“On that same note I will once again remind the Secretary of State of the imbalance and disadvantage facing the North due to the different levels of corporation tax.
“While there is a real need to let Irish America know that Northern Ireland is open for business, something the President should see for himself should he visit,” added Ms Ritchie.]]>
O'Neill Welcomes Scottish Health Specialist
SDLP Down District Chairman Councillor Eamonn O’Neill has welcomed an A&E services specialist from Scotland, Professor Page, to meet the Downe Hospital taskforce group to give expert advice on future services at the hospital.
Councillor O’Neill, who established the Downe Hospital taskforce group which includes councillors, GPs, people involved in hospital services and the Hospital Support Group, said,xa0“Professor Page is an expert in the field of Accident and Emergency (A&E) services and we are grateful that he has taken time out to advise us on what services we specifically require in Down District.
“I am hopeful that he will steer us on how to counter some of the decisions made by the Health Minister against services at the Downe Hospital and will provide us with informed knowledge on how our hospital should be run.
“People in Down District need a 24-hour A&E service nearby and we will do all we can to press the Health Minister to re-open and re-examine the Downe Hospital case rather than axing services at this vital state-of-the-art facility.”]]>
Alliance Reveal Surprise Candidate For Newcastle
Patrick Clarke, a former local party activist for the SDLP in the Dundrum area, will be standing for Down District Council in the Newcastle Electoral Area which includes Dundrum and Castlewellan, as well as the town of Newcastle.
Patrick is a Queen’s University law graduate and is well known in the area, as he lives in Dundrum and worked in Newcastle for a period of ten years. He has built up a very good relationship with neighbours, people, and business proprietors, as well as sporting, voluntary, and community groups.
Market House Grows From Strength To Strength
THE Market House in Ballynahinch is going from strength to strength since Down District Council purchased the building in July 2010.
The purchase forms part of the Council’s programme of facility-led community development in the district, which has been highly successful and has resulted in an increase of usage of the centre over the last six months.
In addition to the building being utilised by local charity and community group activities, the building is also used as an outreach centre by the NIHE and South Eastern Trust and for training seminars and advice clinics for the local community.
[caption id="attachment_21404" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="At the Ballynahinch Market House were Down District Councillors Anne McAleenan, Patsy Toman, Eamonn O'Neill, Down District Council Chairman, and Michey Coogan."]
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