Portaferry RNLI Helm Follows In Father’s Footsteps
Portefrry RNLI station has acquired a new helm. Oliver Rogers has completed his period of training and is now involved in rescues.
Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat Operations Manager, Heather Kennedy said: ‘Oliver worked hard to achieve his helm pass out and has already taken responsibility of the lifeboat and crew when seven divers were brought to safety recently.
“We welcome Oliver as he settles in to his new role.”
Portaferry RNLI Lifeboat helm, Oliver Rogers with his dad Simon onboard the lifeboat, Blue Peter V. (Photos courtesy of Portaferry RNLI).
Oliver’s grandfather Dessie joined Portaferry station as a volunteer back in 1980 when the first lifeboat arrived in Portaferry after the closure of Cloughey Station, and in 1982 was presented with the institution’s Bronze medal as well as a Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum for his part in the Jane’s Rock Rescue which saw two survivors located and brought to safety in very high seas.
Portaferry RNLI Helmsman, Dessie Rogers when he volunteered at Portaferry station and took charge of the lifeboat Blue Peter V.
He was already a lifeboat helm at Portaferry station and part of the crew who welcomed the first Blue Peter V lifeboat, and was there when she launched for the first time in Portaferry.
Oliver’s dad, Simon, joined Portaferry RNLI Station as a volunteer and at the age of 28 passed out as helm of the station’s inshore lifeboat.
In 2006 Simon was also awarded Thanks of the Institution Inscribed on Vellum for his part in the rescue of the only survivor when the Greenhill, a fishing vessel, sank. This rescue is documented as happening in the dark, on a cold night, in atrocious conditions.
After a brief time away from the station, he re-joined and continues to volunteer as crew of the lifeboat, Blue Peter V, today.
Oliver Rogers joined Portaferry lifeboat station on the day of his 17th birthday and now aged 26 was delighted to pass out as helm. Oliver said: ‘I’m very proud to follow my dad and grandfather as a crew member at Portaferry RNLI.
“It has also been a personal goal for me to take charge of our current lifeboat, Blue Peter V, as helm.
“Our current lifeboat will probably be replaced in a few years time and I knew taking charge of this particular lifeboat was going to be a special achievement for me as both my dad and grandfather had acted as helm of Blue Peter V before me.’
Unique mental health support in community offered through the Voice of Hope Choir
The Wellness Recovery Network within the South Eastern Trust, is transforming the lives of people in recovery from mental health and addiction challenges through a range of creative and supportive programmes.
One such initiative, a singing for health group called ‘Voice of Hope’, has empowered many individuals to rebuild confidence, rediscover their voices and reconnect with others through the shared joy of music improving their overall mental health.
Among those whose lives have been positively transformed is 72-year-old piano teacher, Anuk Rooney from Bangor, who credits the group with supporting her recovery following a diagnosis of depression.
Anuk, who previously taught music in the United States before moving to Northern Ireland six years ago, explained how the group helped her reconnect with her passion after stepping away from music during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Anuk said: “During COVID I became very depressed and had to step back from my much-loved work as a piano teacher.
“I found out about the Wellness Recovery Network support groups and went along to one. While I was there, I heard about the singing group in Ards and thought it would be something I could try, even if it was just to listen to other people sing.
(l-r): Angela O’Hara (Wellness Recovery Network Co-ordinator), Robert Shanks (Voice of Hope Group Volunteer), Sheila Smyth (Right Key) and Anuk Rooney (Group Member).
“Going along to the music group was so much fun. It was lovely to hear people sing and just as importantly, to have people to talk to. The group members have now become my friends.”
Incredibly inspired by the group, Anuk found herself returning to the piano after a four-year break. Anuk added, “Before joining the singing group, I had not touched the piano in four years. The group inspired me so much that I am now back playing the piano again.
“Attending this group has been so important in my recovery and in my life. I have actually been discharged by my Doctor and that is down to the progress I made through the Voice of Hope Group, which would not have been possible otherwise.
“The Voice of Hope Group has brought friends and music back into my life. It is a total joy when people sing together, their hearts beat at the same rate. Music is very powerful and it has made such a difference.
“I would never have sung on my own before. Now I can and it gives me a huge sense of achievement. Those small achievements build confidence and that has changed my life for the better. It is never too late.”
The Voice of Hope singing group.
Wellness Recovery Network Co-ordinator, Angela O’Hara highlighted the benefits of the group and its inclusive approach. Angela said: “The Voice of Hope Group was formed in 2017 and is a singing for health group.
“You do not have to be able to sing to join, you just need to enjoy music. Everyone is welcome to attend.
“The group is very uplifting and is ideal for anyone looking for routine, connection and confidence-building. It runs every Monday afternoon in Action Mental Health in Jubilee Road, Newtownards.
“We sing together as a group and explore a wide variety of songs. For those who feel comfortable, there are also opportunities to sing solo.
“A lot of people have been told at some point that they cannot sing, we take that as a challenge, because everyone can sing. It is all about building confidence and singing can significantly improve mental health.”
Angela also explained that the group works in partnership with Right Key, an organisation specialising in supporting people in mental health and addiction recovery through music and singing for health.
Angela added: “I have worked in the Trust for 10 years and this is without doubt the best-attended group we have ever run. Each week, around 15 people return for another session.
“It is a real privilege to be part of this group. I love my job and getting to sing along with the group every Monday afternoon is a real joy. Singing is a hugely undervalued wellness tool and the benefits are incredible.”
Anyone interested in attending the Voice of Hope singing group can self-refer by contacting:
Communities Minister ‘reawakens’ the Ulster Folk Museum with £50m in funding
Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced a £50million investment in the Ulster Folk Museum.
The funding will support the delivery of the Reawakening project – a pivotal opportunity to improve the Ulster Folk Museum’s facilities, enhance access to collections and strengthen the museum’s role in helping people connect with their heritage.
The Minister said: “For more than 60 years, the Ulster Folk Museum has preserved, shared and celebrated the traditions, skills and ways of life of the people of Ulster, past and present, and this investment is vital to ensure our heritage is retained for future generations.
“The Reawakening Project will see the Ulster Folk Museum transform to a multi-layered heritage and environment resource, which sustains more relevant and active connections with its audiences.
Pictured at the Ulster Folk Museum are Communities Minister Gordon Lyons, Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive of National Museums NI and Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund with pupils from a local primary school.
“This marks a profound shift in the museum’s positioning.
“The Reawakening is not just about reinvestment – it’s about reimagining the museum’s purpose to ensure it thrives for the next 25 years and beyond as a vibrant, relevant and indispensable resource for society.”
The project will be funded by £40million through the Department for Communities and £10million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund – their biggest grant in Northern Ireland in a decade.
National Museums NI is also working with a number of funding trusts and philanthropists to explore other sources of funding, recognising the very significant benefits this project delivers and in line with the Framework for the Department’s Heritage, Culture and Creativity Programme.
Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive of National Museums NI, said: “The Ulster Folk Museum has had limited investment for decades, and some of its facilities are no longer fit for purpose.
“Our Reawakening project will deliver lasting and measurable social and economic value. We have been advocating Ulster Folk Museum’s potential as a heritage asset for a number of years.
“Today’s confirmation of support from the Minister and his Department is a significant and exciting milestone. We are also grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund for their instrumental support on our journey.
“The Ulster Folk Museum’s collection is a people’s collection.
“It has never been more relevant to our lives than today. These objects and stories reflect shared experiences and different traditions from across Ulster and help people better understand who we all are.
“This co-ordinated investment allows us to prioritise the themes of identity, the environment, and learning and skills, across the museum experience, ensuring Ulster Folk Museum will serve communities for generations to come.”
Dr Paul Mullan, Northern Ireland Director at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It’s wonderful to see National Museums NI bring together a funding package that will reawaken the much-loved Ulster Folk Museum.
“Thanks to National Lottery players we’re able to commit £10million that so far has helped lay the groundwork and will now deliver this visionary project that will connect people to heritage that is accessible, relevant, sustainable and valued.
“At the same time as improving facilities, opening up collections and focussing on the natural environment, the project provides opportunities for creating and sustaining jobs and sharing heritage and craft skills alongside learning experiences for all ages.”
Minister Muir announces £7.91million investment in rural areasacross NI
DAERA Minister Andrew Muir has welcomed the award of £7.91million in grants to over 2,350 rural community organisations and businesses over the past year.
The awards have been made through the Department’s Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme and Rural Business Development Grant Scheme.
Speaking during a visit to Moneyslane Rural Community Organisation at Moneyslane which received a grant totalling £1,491 from the Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme in 2025/2026 to modernise their Community Hub, Minister Muir said: “I am delighted that 1,048 Letters of Offer for funding of £1.74million have been issued to voluntary and community organisations throughout Northern Ireland from the Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme.
Minister Andrew Muir pictured with Newry Mourne and Down Council Chair Cllr Philip Campbell, Shane O’Reilly, Manager of Ballyward Equestrian Estate and Ceto a six-year-old mare bred at Ballyward.
“The Scheme is a key initiative delivered through my Department’s Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Framework.
“It supports rural community-led, voluntary organisations in identifying and implementing projects that address locally identified poverty, isolation, loneliness and health and well-being issues.
“I was delighted to hear how Moneyslane Rural Community organisation have availed of the Department’s Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme over many years to enhance their facilities for the local rural community.
“I express my sincere gratitude to the committee and to all voluntary and community organisations across Northern Ireland for their ongoing work in maintaining and developing a wide range of opportunities and facilities for people in local rural communities.”
Minister Muir also visited BWE Equestrian Ltd, a rural micro-business in Ballyward, where he presented their Letter of Offer of £5,850 from the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme to enable the purchase of a ‘Shockwave’ linear soil decompaction machine.
Minister Andrew Muir (centre) pictured with (L to R) Tiarna Coughran (Committee Member) Diane Ewart (Network manager TADA) Joanne Hanna (Committee Member) and Gareth Bingham (Secretary Moneyslane Community Hub).
Minister Muir said:“I want to take this opportunity to highlight the significant investment of £6.17million, also from my Department’s Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation Framework, to 1,310 rural businesses through the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme.”
He added:“It’s been great to meet the staff of BWE Equestrian Limited, a first-time applicant to the Scheme, and to hear how the grant will help their business sustainability and increase their potential for growth.
“This is exactly the type of support the scheme aims deliver across Northern Ireland.”
The Minister added: “Both the Rural Micro Capital Grant Scheme and the Rural Business Development Grant Scheme are important contributors to my commitment to build strong, sustainable and diverse rural communities where people want to live, work and invest.”
REVAL 2026 Results Raise Serious Concerns for Hotels and Accommodation Sector
The NI Hotels Federation (NIHF) has said that the results of REVAL 2026 were released today by Land & Property Services, Department of Finance, providing businesses with their first sight of new Net Annual Values (NAVs).
This Net Annual Value (NAV) figure will be used to calculate rates from 2026 until the next revaluation.
This information was originally due to be published in November but was delayed until today, Thursday 22 January.
The NIHF indicated that the delay is particularly disappointing given the scale of the increases now being proposed, which will require careful and immediate budgeting by businesses.
Hotels across County Down and Northern Ireland will be impacted by the late rates’ evaluations.
The NIFH added that position for the hotel and wider accommodation sector is especially challenging. Following Covid, hotels were supported through a rates discount to aid recovery and address the uniquely difficult trading conditions faced by the sector.
That support has now been withdrawn, and its removal will have a profound and damaging impact on businesses.
Overall, the sector is facing an 83% increase in valuations, reflecting both the reversal of Covid support and the increased NAVs arising from REVAL 2026.
The average increase for hotels is 63%, with a significant number of businesses experiencing even higher rises, taking into account material changes in their trading since the last valuation.
Janice Gault, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation comments of the issues facing the hotel and accomodation sector with REVAL 2026.
Janice Gault, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation, said: “While turnover has increased, it has not kept pace with the very significant rise in operating costs.
“In 2025, room rates softened alongside occupancy levels, and escalating costs can no longer be absorbed by businesses alone. These pressures inevitably risk being passed on to the consumer.
“Hotels are acutely aware of the need to deliver value for money, but the sector is now being forced into an increasingly untenable balancing act.”
NAV calculations are largely based on turnover and fail to adequately reflect the substantial increases in costs experienced by the sector in recent years. In addition, the rate poundage set by local councils and the Department of Finance has yet to be confirmed and is also expected to rise, further compounding the impact on businesses.
Rates are a devolved matter, and the delay in communicating this critical information is deeply concerning. It has made forward planning and budgeting extremely difficult, particularly with new rates bills due to be issued in April.
The hotel and accommodation sector currently contributes over £13 million in rates annually, a figure that is expected to rise to circa £25 million or more under the proposed new NAVs. Regional and district council poundages have yet to be agreed, adding further uncertainty.
Janice Gault added: “There is a growing perception that the pressures facing the hotel, accommodation and wider hospitality sector are not fully understood.
“Many businesses feel they are being treated as a convenient source of revenue, with insufficient regard for rising costs, the need for ongoing reinvestment, or long-term sustainability.
“The sector’s success is being actively penalised through a short-sighted approach to an industry that has invested around £500 million since the end of the pandemic, demonstrating confidence, resilience and long-term commitment. “
The NIHF says industry is calling on the Assembly to recognise the true economic value of the sector and to reflect this by moderating the scale of the proposed increases.
The tourism ecosystem is complex, highly sensitive to inflation, global trends and external shocks, and requires sustained investment to remain competitive.
While the sector remains committed to supporting the local economy, there is now an urgent need for a more balanced and equitable approach to rates, and for meaningful action to mitigate the impact of these substantial increases before lasting damage is done argues the NIHF.
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Land & Property Services publishes draft valuation list for Reval 2026
Land & Property Services (LPS) has released the draft valuation list for non‑domestic properties as part of Reval 2026.
LPS is encouraging businesses to view the draft list which will be used to calculate business rates from 1 April 2026.
Business rates apply to most non‑domestic premises, including shops, offices, warehouses, factories, hotels, pubs and utilities such as gas, water, electricity and wind farms.
Non-domestic rates generate around £720million a year. As part of Reval 2026, LPS has revalued more than 75,000 properties.
Revaluations are based on market evidence and reflect the rent a property could reasonably be expected to achieve on a specific date. Overall, the draft list shows an approximate 15% increase in the total value of non‑domestic properties across Northern Ireland since the last revaluation was carried out.
Revaluations do not raise additional income; regional and district rate poundages are adjusted to maintain revenue‑neutrality.
Angela McGrath, the Commissioner of Valuation for Northern Ireland, said: “Reval 2026 is about ensuring that rates are distributed fairly based on current rental evidence.
“Businesses are currently paying rates based on rental levels that reflect the economic and market conditions during the pandemic in October 2021. Reval 2026 updates this position by using more up‑to‑date rental evidence from April 2024.
“The majority of non‑domestic properties are expected to see little or no change in their rates liability.
“I would encourage ratepayers to go online to review the new valuation to be applied to their property and that of similar properties. LPS will review any new or relevant information ratepayers wish to bring forward now and make updates where appropriate before the new valuation list takes effect in April 2026.”
The outcomes of the revaluation include:
Overall growth in the valuation list of 15% across all property sectors.
Office values have increased overall by around 9%, driven largely by growth in Grade A offices concentrated in Belfast.
Across Northern Ireland, retail property values have increased overall by around 9% compared to Reval 2023, with stronger growth in Belfast and more moderate uplifts elsewhere. Many independent high street retailers will see no change in their NAVs.
Strong demand from logistics and manufacturing, coupled with limited modern supply, has driven industrial and warehousing rents upward, resulting in an overall sector increase of around 16%.
During the previous revaluation, the hospitality sector was significantly impacted by the pandemic, resulting in lower rateable values as at the valuation date. While some hospitality businesses will see a decrease in their valuation in Reval 2026, the majority will see a substantial increase due to factors such as improved conditions post-pandemic, expansion and improvement work to premises. This results in a wide degree of variance in the sector.
Although the Revaluation is revenue neutral overall, individual rate liabilities will shift. This means that a percentage increase in a property’s value will not lead to a rate bill rising by the same percentage. That is because poundages will be adjusted ahead of the rate bills issuing and will take account of the growth in property values at Reval 2026.
Typically, properties that have seen above average increases in their value will likely see their overall rating liability increase, resulting in a higher rate bill. Approximately 67% of properties, meanwhile, are at or below the increase of 15%.
Around 75% of non-domestic properties are currently entitled to some form of rate relief through schemes provided by the Department of Finance, through Land & Property Services, amounting to around a quarter of a billion pounds worth of relief.
A current consultation for enhancements to the Small Business Rate Relief scheme, which currently supports around 30,000 of the 75,000 non-domestic properties, is also currently ongoing and proposals will take account of the changes to the valuation list resulting from the Reval 2026 process.
To view the 2026 Draft Valuation List, query a valuation or submit information, go to:
Looking back and looking forward from the trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau
Holocaust Day has come and gone once more, and I reflected on a trip I took as part of a 6-week OCN course in Good Relations in 2017 with a group from the Downpatrick and Newry area.
We visited Krakow in Poland and my experience of the Polish people was that they were very friendly, warm and hospitable writes Jim Masson.
But over the centuries the Poles have experienced significant political trauma and upheaval torn between the East and West.
On our first day on arrival we noticed a square at the back of the Qubus Hotel where we were based. There were a number of large school chairs positioned across the square, a harrowing monument to the Jewish schoolchildren who were sent to the gas chamber – they were asked to bring one possession with them – they each chose a school chair.
We did the standard tour at Auschwitz going through corridors with photos of murdered Jews, large glass cases of piles of suitcases, hair, spectacles, shoes, clothes, and other personal items. The Nazis had reduced death to an unfeeling, inhumane industrial scale never seen before.
In Auschwitz I saw a couple of small box-like rooms where prisoners were packed into where they could not stand up, a terrible torture. And in the yard adjacent, there was a wall where they shot prisoners. Altogether, it was impossible to escape the overwhelming experience.
Interestingly, there were a huge number of Chinese visitors there as they too had experienced brutal repression and mass murder at the hands of the Japanese in the Sino-Japanese war in the 20th century.
Corridors lined with photos in Auschwitz camp of deceased Jews, a stark reminder of the enormous industrial scale of the killing of the Jews in the Holocaust.
Since WW2, there have been many horrific wars across the world where one nation has tried to eradicate another. This hate in its absolute form must be addressed, suppressed, fought against, totally rejected, wherever it rears its ugly head.
The hate may be part of our human condition, and could if we are not careful allow it to lead to out extinction on this planet.
On the trip we went to Bikenau, a death camp. This was where people were gassed en masse and cremated in three large furnaces.
Two of the large chimneys and ovens were blown up by the Nazis at the end of the war when they feared huge reprisals. One tall chimney and oven still remains which I visited, a chilling reminder what the Nazis did to the Jews, something any Revisionist cannot deny.
I walked through the gas chamber where they dropped the canisters of Xyclon B gas into or sometimes pumped in Carbon Monoxide that led to excruciating and terrible deaths.
I could never in reality imagine that horror. But the silence in the dark concrete room with its heavy doors spoke a thousand words, and more.
I can remember walking through the quarters where the prisoners were bunked in areas, freezing in the winter, segregated by fences of electric barbed wire. Escape was impossible, death was certain.
The guides in Auschwitz spoke different languages. They have a system were you get a set of earphones and the guide speaks into a microphone as you toured the facility in groups.
And I can remember handing the headphones back and experiencing a sense of numbness, a feeling of disbelief, at what I had just seen on a scale unimaginable.
In June 2019 I visited Birkenau death camp close to Auschwitz just outside Krakow in Poland while doing a community-based good relations course with a group from South Down. It was an incredible experience confronting the Nazi persecution of the Jews and other groups.
Some of us visited the Jewish quarter in Krakow, and enjoyed a quite, late evening beer overlooking the picturesque rooftops of Krakow as the sun dropped down. No sirens, the herding up of Jews, screams, gunshots, jackboots on the cobbles. Just the quiet murmurings of tourists and locals sipping, enjoying the peace.
Across the street from the Rubenstein Hotel was a Jewish synagogue which had managed to disguise its identity by levelling and covering up the gravestones adjacent trying to avoid the persecution from the Nazis.
What impact did this visit finally have on me ? I understood why my father spent six years in the army from Dunkirk, El Alamein, the invasions of Sicily and Italy, and going through D-Day and getting to the Scheldt border with Germany when he made his personal sacrifice in losing his leg. He was a Royal Engineer, always on the front line.
There is no place in this world for absolute greed, hate or such violence as seen in the Holocaust, no matter what form it takes. We have the power for immense good, and the capability for immense evil.
I know what side of the divide my values are positioned and whilst the ‘free world’ may not be perfect, the alternatives do not bare thinking about.
Therefore, it is important to remember Holocaust Day every day of the year like a shining light in the darkness and embrace warmth and kindness to each other as pillars of our common humanity.
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Holocaust Day Remembered at Belfast City Hall
• Bridging GenerationsOnHolocaust Memorial Day 2026
First Minister Michelle O’Neill and deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly joined Holocaust survivor Janine Webber and hundreds of others at Belfast City Hall on Tuesday night (20 January) to mark Holocaust Memorial Day.
A spokerson for The Executive Office said that Holocaust Memorial Day is held annually on 27 January and marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau.
This year’s theme ‘Bridging Generations‘, is a call-to-action.
It encourages everyone to honour the lives lost and remember the unimaginable suffering caused by Nazi persecution. The theme emphasises the vital role of younger generations in safeguarding these memories.
Around 300 people gathered at the event, to participate in acts of remembrance for the victims of the Holocaust and those impacted by the horrors of more recent genocides.
During the Regional Commemoration hosted by The Executive Office along with the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust and Belfast City Council, Holocaust survivor Janine Webber spoke of the hardship and great loss she endured due to Nazi persecution.
The First Minister and deputy First Minister pictured with Holocaust survivor Janine Webber BEM at the Holocaust Memorial Day Regional Commemoration held in Belfast City Hall. Pictured left to right are: Emma Sherrard, Outreach Team, HMDT; Adam Nickels, Head of Outreach, HMDT; First Minister Michelle O’Neill; Janine Webber, Holocaust survivor; deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly; Lord Mayor of Belfast Tracy Kelly; Yoni Wieder, Chief Rabbi of Ireland and Sir Leigh Lewis KCB, HMDT Trustee. (Photos, Courtesy of TEO).
Janine told her story of hiding under a wardrobe with her family as a child, losing both of her parents within months of each other by the age of nine and working on a farm and living in a convent under a false identity during the Second World War.
Janine Webber BEM said: “As a Holocaust survivor, I carry memories that must not be lost, and sharing my testimony is so important.
“This year’s Holocaust Memorial Day theme, Bridging Generations, reminds us that remembrance is a responsibility shared by us all.
“While young people carry these memories forward, every generation has a duty to listen, to learn and to act – so that these stories endure and help build a more humane world for generations to come.”
Speaking at the event, First Minister Michelle O’Neill said: “Holocaust is what happens when hatred is allowed to grow, when whole communities are targeted and when the world looks away.
“For many years, survivors of the Nazi Holocaust have shared their stories. Now, as fewer survivors remain, the responsibility to preserve their truth rests with us.
“We must not allow their lessons to be ignored. Educating and empowering our young people is essential.
“As we remember the Holocaust, we cannot turn away from what has happened since then and right up to the present day.
“We must pass the duty to speak up and speak out to the next generation so they can build a world where compassion and humanity prevail.”
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: “This special Holocaust Memorial Day event is an opportunity to honour the memory of the six million Jewish men, women and children whose lives were taken during the Holocaust, and all who have been killed in subsequent atrocities.
The First Minister and deputy First Minister pictured with Holocaust survivor Janine Webber BEM at the Holocaust Memorial Day Regional Commemoration in Belfast City Hall.
“But for remembrance to be meaningful, it must be more than an act of looking backward – it must also be an act of moral clarity about the world we are living in today so that we can create a better future where antisemitism has no place.”
Olivia Marks-Woldman, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, said: “Holocaust Memorial Day is a time for people to come together across Northern Ireland to commemorate the six million Jewish men, women and children murdered during the Holocaust, and the millions more murdered under Nazi persecution.
“We also learn and commemorate where persecution led in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia and Darfur. We are so grateful to The Executive Office for hosting this important ceremony and for their continued commitment to remembrance.
“By coming together to remember the past, we reaffirm our shared responsibility to protect the future – one grounded in empathy, understanding and respect.”
Lord Mayor of Belfast Tracy Kelly said: “Remembering and learning from the Holocaust must continue.
“Holocaust Memorial Day calls on us to remember our responsibility to each other and our own individual power to act and to interrupt the expressions of hatred and prejudice that foster separation and hatred.”
Young Aspects Returns To Ards and North Down Inspiring Young Minds Through Art and Words
Get ready for a weekend bursting with imagination! Young Aspects is back for 2026, bringing an exciting programme of workshops, events and hands-on activities designed to inspire young minds and ignite a love of stories.
Organised by Ards and North Down Borough Council, this year’s festival transforms venues including North Down Museum, Bangor Carnegie Library and Boom Studios into vibrant hubs of creativity.
From playful picture book sessions for little ones to dynamic writing workshops for teens, Young Aspects connects children with talented writers, illustrators, and artists in fun, interactive ways.
The festival runs from 27 February to 1 March, in venues around Bangor.
The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum and Sophia Thompson at the launch of this year’s Young Aspects programme.
One highlight not to miss: the Book Doctors, presented by Children’s Books Ireland, will be hosting free Book Clinics at Bangor Carnegie Library on Saturday 28 February.
Step into the surgery for a unique consultation and leave with a personalised reading prescription tailored to your interests!
The programme also features favourites like Woodland Chew and Yarn, Digital Art Workshops, Book Binding, Creative Writing, and a Story Sketch Walk – perfect for budding readers, writers, and artists.
Speaking about the festival, Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Gillian McCollum, said: “Young Aspects is a fantastic way for children to discover the joy of stories and creativity outside the classroom.
“With such a diverse programme of events, there’s something for every young mind to enjoy. I’d encourage families to get involved and make the most of this inspiring festival.”
Patricia Hamilton, Aspects Festival Director, added: “We’re thrilled to share a programme that celebrates storytelling and creativity in fresh, engaging ways.
“These workshops and events invite children of all ages to explore, imagine, and express themselves through art and words.”
To view the full programme and to book tickets, visit:
UK company creates 1.33 million declarations to send to goods to NI
A UK company have provided 1.33 million customs declarations just to send goods to Northern Ireland.
Windsor Framework spokesperson Dr Steve Aiken OBE MLA said: “Until now, data on the extent of the Irish Sea Border and its impact on intra-UK trade has been difficult to obtain.
The Ulster Unionist Party has questioned the need for 1.33 million customs’ declaration in 2024/25 by UK companies to send goods to NI.
“Now, His Majesty’s Treasury has written to Lord Carlile in response to a query from Lord Empey.
“Shockingly, this showed that in 2024-25 the Trader Support System has had to support 10,400 companies to complete 1.33 million ‘customs declarations’ – that is, customs declarations on goods travelling within our own country.
“Far from being a solution, the Windsor Framework is being used to promote divergence within the UK’s own internal market, at huge bureaucratic costs.
“Every day, the Irish Sea Border costs money, damages our economy, and creates nothing but divergence.”
Mournes Councillor Jil Truesdale hits a brick wall with DfI over hazards on A2 in Newcastle
Alliance Mournes Councillor Jill Truesdale is concerned at the state of the roads in her area and is frustrated by the response from the Department of Infrastructure.
Cllr Truesdale said: “Multi agency approaches are a much more workable way of finding solutions to difficult issues such as the many traffic issues that arise in our area.
“So I have, for the 4th time, sent a request to the Minister for Infrastructure for a raised table at the traffic lights on the South side of the Shimna Road Newcastle blue bridge.
“While this has been turned down four times, I would like to know what DfI would suggest as not once have I received a suggestion other than bumping it over to the PSNI.
Mournes Cllr Jill Truesdale has asked the Department of Infrastructure for traffic issues on the A2 road in Newcastle and says she has not had a satisfactory response.
“The Newcastle road (A2) runs from Clough to Kilkeel, it is a single carriageway for most part, until it reaches Newcastle, at the junction of the Castlewellan/Shimna/Newcastle road, the road changes to a two lane, one-way road as it heads South via Main street, Central/South promenade.
“Likewise, the northbound road changes at the junction of Bryansford road to a 2 lane one way road via the Shimna road.
“All these roads both Southbound and Northbound have the same designation, basically they are the same road all designated as A2.
Cllr Truesdale added that a DfI response said: “Having assessed this location DFI are content that there is no requirement for a raised table at this site, the puffin pedestrian crossing gives the necessary protection forpedestrians who wish to cross Shimna Road.
“The average speed on the main street inNewcastle is a lot slower and there is a considerably heavier amount of pedestriansjustifying the need for the raised tables at this site. Traffic calming features, such asramps, would not be suitable for this type of road, the use of traffic calming deflection isgenerally restricted to residential streets/ developments/ estates etc.”
She added: “I responded saying: ‘The Shimna Road, at this location, is in the middle of a residential area with houses on both sides of the road (with direct access). This road is the A2, the exact same road and classification as the main street.
“The average speed on the main street is a lot slower because of the traffic calming measures that have already been implemented.‘
“My request was not based on pedestrian numbers but on traffic speed and the associated hazards arising from the same, in addition my initial request had nothing to do with collision history at this location.
“We all have personal responsibility, but sometimes you have to use the stick rather than the carrot with people who wilfully refuse to toe the line and drive sensibly in built up areas.”
Danny Mullins rides huge 125-1 winnerat the Down Royal racecourse
Jockey Danny Mullins and trainer Ross Crawford stunned the racing world on Tuesday with a 125-1 winner in the opening race of the Down Royal card and jockey JJ Slevin rode two winners over the line.
Mullins piloted Green Hope to a stunning success in the two mile and a furlong maiden hurdle to hand Crawford his first winner since taking out his training licence. Elsewhere on the card, jockey JJ Slevin helped himself to a double on the day.
Read below for a full rundown of the Down Royal card courtesy of BOYLE Sports, who offer the very latest horse racing odds.
Up first was the big win on the day for Mullins and Crawford as Green Hope was a one and a quarter length winner of the maiden hurdle (12.50) at massive odds and speaking to Racing TVafterwards, Mullins said: “Ross said to ignore the price.
Chris Dagens of the Horatio Group, left, which owns Denvir’s Hotel in Downpatrick, presents a trophy to Dermot A McLoughlin, trainer from Meath after jockey JJ Slevin winning the Horatio Group Handicap Steeplechase on May 2023 in Downpatrick. Ottizini won the Rory’s Miles2Mayo Maiden Hurdle.
“That’s his first winner under his own name, and they are lads with a good depth of knowledge.”
Slevin picked up his first winner of the day in race two at Down Royal (1.20) on Jony R, a cosy seven and a half length winner from Night Moon in second at odds of 15/2 and there was another Crawford name in the winners’ enclosure here, this time for trainer Stuart.
The Philip Dempsey-trained Missus Beeton was a sorcerer in the mares handicap hurdle (1.50) at odds of 13/2, seeing off 10/1 winner Mi Lucky Cailin and Catchabird was 7/2 joint-favourite back in third.
Race-goers at the Down Royal meeting.
There was another big winner on the card in the two mile and a furlong handicap hurdle (2.20) with 28/1 chance Verbal Sparring, who was a one and three quarter length winner for the Desmond McDonagh yard for jockey Carl Millar.
Slevin’s second win of the afternoon came on the Tom Gibney-trained Anotherway (9/1), a five length winner from He’s Gorgeous (7/4) while the penultimate race of the day (3.20) finally saw a favourite win on the card, 10/11 shot Shanroe Act getting the job done in the two and a half mile handicap chase for trainer Karl Thornton.
Lucky Lyreen was the winner of the last at Down Royal on Tuesday, with high-powered duo Jack Kennedy and Gordon Elliott teaming up for the win in the three-mile handicap chase, winning by a neck to Born Braver (5/1) and a huge 26 lengths further back to joint favourite Al Kalila.
