seminars and charity eventsExpandAnnouncing the 10th anniversary of Belfast Chamber's prestigious Belfast Business Awards taking place on October 17 are (from left) Clare Guinness head of belfast business banking at Bank of Ireland; Gavin Annon president of Belfast Chamber; and radio presenter Pete Snodden May 05 2025 at 2:00pm BST2025 BELFAST BUSINESS AWARDSOne of Northern Ireland’s most prestigious business awards programmes is celebrating its 10th anniversary with Belfast Chamber launching the 2025 Belfast Business Awards A host of previous winners joined Belfast Chamber at its Custom House headquarters for a celebration event to mark entries opening for the awards excellence and resilience of companies across multiple sectors that help power the continued vibrancy of Belfast’s economy The Belfast Business Awards include accolades in 18 diverse categories business innovation to business leader of the year and best company to work for to best new business employee of the year and social value award The deadline for entering the awards is Friday August 29 with the awards ceremony taking place on Friday October 17 at ICC Belfast Belfast Chamber chief executive Clare Guinness said: “These awards have become a key fixture in the Northern Ireland business calendar and it was an honour to be joined by a number of previous winners to reflect on a decade of celebrating the incredible talent strategic thinking and enthusiasm that defines our city’s business community we look forward to highlighting the continued success and ambition of Belfast’s companies as we enter the next decade there is an award for every organisation to aim for and I would urge businesses from all sectors to begin preparing their entry.” For more information about the full list of categories and to enter the awards which are free and open to Belfast Chamber members and non-members Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District (CQ BID) has revealed its continued investment and support for a dynamic range of festivals taking place in its location throughout 2025 which not only provide platforms for artistic talent but draw in thousands of visitors boosting footfall for businesses and elevate the overall Cathedral Quarter experience Festivals such as Belfast Children’s Festival (Young at Art) The Winter Circus (Tumble Circus) helped to attract around 181,000 visitors to the Cathedral Quarter and wider city centre locations last year Support provided includes financial contributions CQ BID aims to support at least one festival or event each month of the year with talks already taking place to explore the potential of an annual Cathedral Quarter Comedy Festival Alongside continued partnership work with bodies such as Belfast City Council on initiatives showcasing Belfast City UNESCO City of Music including the recently announced All Ireland Fleadh potentially welcoming 700,000 visitors per year in 2026 and 2027 to the city Over the past few years CQ BID has been advocating for the return of Culture Night With Cathedral Quarter being the spiritual home of Culture Night CQ BID has allocated funds to encourage CQ based arts organisations to produce something special for the event Located in one of the city’s most historic and architecturally rich areas Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter is widely recognised as the leading destination for culture Offering a dynamic and authentic experience of Belfast for residents and visitors now welcoming 17,000 students and staff from the University of Ulster For more information on upcoming festivals and how you can get involved Former Fine Gael enterprise minister and Tánaiste Simon Coveney has been confirmed as a keynote speaker at the Anchor High Leadership Summit at the Hilton Belfast on Thursday May 29 the flagship event of NI Manufacturing Month First elected as a TD for Cork South-Central in 1998 Simon has built a distinguished career across Irish and European politics He served as an MEP (2004–2007) and held senior ministerial roles in agriculture he served as Tánaist and remained deputy leader of Fine Gael until 2024 Simon is a non-executive director at Reliance consultant at EY Ireland and founder of Waterfront Advisory Ltd advising organisations on international affairs The summit will be followed in the evening by the prestigious Manufacturing NI Hall of Fame Awards celebrating titans of the local manufacturing sector who have significantly and sustainably shaped the north’s industrial landscape NI Chamber will host a business breakfast for marketing and communications professionals on Friday May 9 at the Magheramorne Estate in Larne Part of the Business Breakfast with Bank of Ireland series the event will explore marketing authenticity in the age of AI focusing on how automation enables creative teams to deliver great campaigns A panel of industry leaders including Gail Cook (director of marketing at Artemis Technologies); Annette McManus (chief marketing officer at IntoMedia Group); Ciaran Connolly (founder of Profile Tree) and David Elliott (senior client director at Consello Group) will discuss the power potential and adoption of AI in their respective industries The event offers professionals the chance to explore emerging trends and consider how to drive innovation forward in their own teams It will also provide excellent networking opportunities and space to explore the critical balance between cutting-edge technology and genuine brand authenticity It is free for NI Chamber members to attend. To register visit northernirelandchamber.com Software NI has partnered with early talent experts Workplus to create more apprenticeship opportunities in the software industry with the ambition to grow the number of female apprentices in the sector The two organisations are set to embark on an 18-month project designed to create more apprenticeships within the software industry aiming to have 40 additional female apprentices in software roles by September 2026 The project is being funded by the Department for the Economy - one of six successful bids awarded through the Apprenticeship Inclusion Challenge Fund said: “We’re excited to be embarking on this collaborative As well coordinated apprentice recruitment campaigns this project has been designed to support employers and help them better understand the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of software apprenticeships ‘Software for All’ will involve extensive engagement community groups and parents about the fantastic opportunities available in this thriving industry.” The software industry in Northen Ireland is one of the fastest growing tech centres in Europe It contributes £1.7 billion annually and employs around 23,000 people across approximately 2,200 businesses The project will begin with an employer event on May 13 with the first apprenticeship recruitment campaign taking place in August 2025 Software NI is a membership organisation for the Software Industry Its ‘50 and 5 by 35′ vision is to accelerate and double the Software job footprint in NI to 50,000 jobs by 2035 at which point it is estimated the software industry will contribute around £5 billion in gross value added to the local economy Young people between the ages of 16 and 18 are being encouraged to apply for Belfast City Airport’s prestigious IGNITE Youth Leadership Programme as it opens for entries for the sixth year Designed to equip young people from all backgrounds with the skills and ability to grow into confident leaders successful applicants will benefit from the opportunity to collaborate with recognised names in the field of sports participants will also work towards an NLP Diploma in Personal and Career Development The airport’s chief people and marketing officer Michelle Hatfield said: “When we first launched IGNITE in 2019 our goal was to offer life-changing opportunities to over 100 young people across five years – and that’s exactly what we have achieved “Its popularity means IGNITE will now return for a sixth year and we are thrilled to be able to build on its enormous success and exposure to real-world industry environments participants gain valuable insights that set them on a path to success We look forward to another year of supporting and inspiring the next generation of talent.” To apply for the programme visit https://www.belfastcityairport.com/ignite2025 will host a free exhibition of the work of one of the foremost British artists of the 20th-century Belfast will be the first port of call of the Lucian Freud’s Etchings: A Creative Collaboration exhibition as part of a global tour The world-leading visitor attraction is the only location on the island of Ireland that the artwork is being displayed The exhibition will feature highlights from a unique collection of etchings many of which have never been previously exhibited The trial proofs tell the story of Freud’s long collaboration with master printer including one of his most contemplative and psychologically rich achievements in Donegal Man (2007) The sitter for Donegal Man was Pat Doherty giving this exhibition a very special connection to the venue a family of museums dedicated to the power of creativity Its mission is to champion design and creativity in all its forms This is the first time the exhibition has ever been seen outside of London The free exhibition will be located within the Andrews Gallery on Level 2 of Titanic Belfast. For more information go to www.titanicbelfast.com the flagship event in Northern Ireland’s business and economic calendar to showcase and celebrate the manufacturing and engineering sector is set to return for the fifth year this May the month-long initiative demonstrates the sector’s significant contribution to the economy and highlights the companies and leaders who make Northern Ireland’s manufacturing sector a global success story Sponsored by some of Northern Ireland’s leading companies and organisations including the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) the campaign aims to showcase the sector’s capabilities from cutting-edge technology and sustainability initiatives to career pathways and skills development and networking opportunities will be delivered to celebrate achievements Manufacturing Month will be rounded off with the Anchor High Leadership Summit on Thursday May 29 at The Hilton Hotel and others will hear from a range of industry experts and panellists who will share their experiences through a series of practical case studies The Summit will be followed in the evening by the prestigious Manufacturing NI Hall of Fame Awards which recognises those who have shaped Northern Ireland’s industrial landscape For more information on Manufacturing Month 2025 and the Anchor High Leadership Summit, visit www.manufacturingmonthni.com The 2025 SkillBuild NI regional competition part of the UK’s largest and longest-running construction skills event will take place on Tuesday May 20 at South Eastern Regional College’s (SERC) Downpatrick campus The brightest recruits and top performers within construction apprenticeship and traineeship programmes from across the north will compete against each other to win in categories ranging from brickwork to wall and floor tiling The competition is designed to test skills and identifies the top performers in 11 different trade areas Open College Network Northern Ireland (OCN) is one of the core sponsors underscoring its commitment to fostering talent across Northern Ireland and supporting the development of essential skills within the construction industry SkillBuild is delivered by the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB GB) and showcases some of the brightest talent in construction Supported by the Department for the Economy and local construction companies the competition provides an opportunity to showcase the high level of skills and the impressive talent within the workforce as well as raising the status and standards of professional and technical education and training 331 NI students competed in the Intercampus Competitions NI Regional Heat and the UK Finals hosted by World Skills UK and CITB (GB) 2024 was a special year for cabinet and furniture making student Isaac who competed in World Skills Lyon alongside electrical installation student Daniel Knox For further details on SkillBuild visit www.goconstruct.org Belfast-based Cyberspark has announced the launch of the UK and Ireland’s first ‘Cyber Battle’ competition an initiative aimed at positioning Northern Ireland as a global leader in cyber security It marks the first phase in Cyberspark’s larger strategy to establish the region as a cyber hub and drive significant economic expansion It follows the format of a competition that has been taking place in Estonia for a number of years which has garnered huge interest from government officials and the public alike According to a 2023 report issued by Queen’s University Belfast the sector already contributes £237 million to the local economy the Cyber Battle competition will run a series of boot camps over the next six to eight months apprentices or anyone aged between 14 and 24-years-old with an interest in learning about cyber security teams will be challenged to defend against simulated cyber-attacks “This initiative is all about showcasing Northern Ireland’s capabilities in cyber security while providing young people with the skills they need to succeed in the modern world,” says Richard Coates “Our aim is to highlight what Northern Ireland can achieve on a global stage building on the strong foundation of our excellent education system.” For more information, visit www.cyberspark.group The only all-island conference on the entrepreneurial scene is set to return on June 11 the 2025 Women in Business All-Island Female Entrepreneurs Conference will bring together over 300 women-led business owners from across the island for a full-day of inspiration the premier one-day event will focus on the theme of ‘You’ve Got This’ equipping women with the support tools and connections to grow a thriving business new to the conference this year is a dynamic marketplace showcasing women business owners as well as an exhibition area featuring business support organisations from across the island Attendees will hear the latest insights and lived experiences of entrepreneurship across the island and beyond with key topics to be explored including access to finances expanding into new markets and how to connect to the wider business support ecosystem Women in Business Group managing director Lorraine Acheson said: “Every year our all-island conference provides a unique opportunity to connect and empower women business owners from across the four corners of Ireland “We look forward to welcoming so many incredible women to Dundalk for what will be an energised agenda of inspiring keynotes and breakout sessions to equip women entrepreneurs with the support and tools necessary to thrive in the industry both now and into the future.” To find out more about the event and to book tickets, visit: womeninbusinessni.com/events A range of inspiring leaders are included in the speaker line-up for the CIPD Northern Ireland annual conference which will focus on how employers can create a more future-ready workforce by bolstering the skills and capabilities of their employees Taking place on May 8 from 9.30am to 4.30pm at the ICC Belfast the professional body for HR and people development She will explore how an organisation can identify and address challenges and opportunities for change to create more engaged and inspired teams and boost productivity Other influential speakers joining the line-up include senior leaders from top organisations such as Dankse Bank workshops and master classes in keeping with the conference theme - shaping the capabilities of your workforce to be future-ready - to help people managers HR professionals and employers future-proof their work force Topical sessions include: Upskilling for a future-focused workforce; Using AI in your organisation; and Shaping workplace culture to support wellbeing A panel discussion on redefining work will address workplace trends that can help shape a better future of work for both organisations and their people Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council since its inception in 2014 deputy secretary at Northern Ireland Civil Service human resources; and Donal Laverty consulting partner at Baker Tilly Mooney Moore one of the most sought-after speakers on the future world of work will also join the conference as a keynote speaker His address will focus on how the future of work must be good for all people The event will be brought to a close by Neil Mullarkey author of In the Moment: Build your Confidence who will consider the ‘improv mindset’ and how this can increase connection The full agenda and tickets to attend the conference (sponsored by nijobfinder),which cost £175 for CIPD members, £225 for non-members and £99 for students, can be purchased via www.events.cipd.co.uk/northern-ireland-annual-conference will return for the second year in a row this November Spearheaded by the NI Food To Go Association the awards were launched in Belfast’s Malmaison Hotel with over 80 prominent figures from across Northern Ireland in attendance The NI Food To Go Association is the only official organisation that solely represents the food to go industry The inaugural Food To Go Awards were launched in 2024 providing a benchmark of excellence to celebrate and highlight the businesses which create the food to go industry here with the gala ceremony taking place at Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Hotel on Tuesday November 18 For more information and to enter an award category, visit www.foodtogoawards.co.uk Every year Action Cancer helps to save and support 20,000 people across Northern Ireland through the delivery of its services including the provision of 8,000 breast screening appointments at Action Cancer House and on board the Big Bus a sea of pink will sweep through Belfast again as Action Cancer hosts the Breast Foot Forward Walk the charity is calling on 800 enthusiastic walkers to help raise vital funds and awareness for Action Cancer’s life-saving breast screening service women and children of all ages to participate in the fun-filled event Walkers will gather at Belfast City Hall from 6pm for a warm-up with Fitness Freddy plus plenty of free goodies to kick things off Participants can choose between a 5K or 10K route helping to raise vital funds and awareness for breast cancer across Northern Ireland This year’s Breast Foot Forward Walk aims to raise £60,000 to fund potentially life-saving breast screening appointments for 500 local women Action Cancer is the only charity in Northern Ireland offering free breast screening to women aged 40-49 and over 70 – those who fall outside the NHS screening programme While these appointments are free for the women who need them each screening costs the charity £120 to deliver That’s why taking part in the Breast Foot Forward Walk is so important – every step helps fund this vital All participants are encouraged to raise a minimum of £120 in sponsorship the amount it costs Action Cancer to provide digital breast screening for one woman Early registration is now open and will run to the end of April with a reduced price of £10 per adult and £5 per child Everyone taking part will receive a drawstring bag for life and complimentary pink t-shirt For further information or to register, visit www.actioncancer.org, contact Action Cancer on 028 9080 3344, or email breastfootforward@actioncancer.org One of the north’s largest free farming awareness events again highlighting the local farm to fork journey with Bank of Ireland back as title sponsor 20 working farms will open their gates to school children and the public the event will also spotlight key topics such as nutrition and the essential role farmers plays in daily life Set to take place over Father’s Day weekend Bank of Ireland Open Farm Weekend is expected to draw up to 20,000 visitors eager to experience farm life first hand through a packed programme of interactive and educational activities The initiative aims to bridge the urban-rural divide by offering an authentic look at food production and farm life fostering greater understanding and appreciation of the agricultural sector For the latest list of participating farms and event updates, visit www.openfarmweekend.com Belfast-based creative agency Rapid Agency has confirmed the next instalment of its Rapid Sessions event which will see world-class creative Brian Collins taking the stage at ICC Belfast on Friday May 2 (from 10.30) in partnership with Ulster University and Belfast School of Art followed by a later ‘unplugged’ networking session at 6.30pm in the Harp Bar Belfast a transformation agency based in New York which combines creativity with commercial logic to help clients such as Spotify COLLINS has been recognised as Ad Age’s 2025 Design and Branding Agency of the Year and 2024 Design Firm of the Year founded and produced by the team at Rapid Agency is a series of informal talk events designed to inspire and share ideas within Belfast’s creative community Past sessions events have featured industry leaders such as Simon Dixon of DixonBaxi the next Rapid Sessions event will feature Mary Doherty Mary is a key figure in the Irish design industry serving on the board of the Institute of Designers in Ireland (IDI) and the Merrion Fertility Clinic Tickets are available to purchase at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rapid-sessions-006 Air Ambulance NI has confirmed that the popular Belfast City Airport Runway Run is back for a second year supported by Lagan Aviation & Infrastructure the race gives runners of all abilities the chance to complete a 5k on Belfast City Airport’s runway while raising vital funds in support of Air Ambulance NI’s lifesaving services It builds on the phenomenal success of last year which saw 500 runners take part and over £60,000 raised for Air Ambulance NI Belfast City Airport’s Charity Partner for 2024/2025 HOKA, a leading brand known for its innovative, cushioned running shoes, will be providing prizes for the top three male and female finishers. To register for the event, visit www.airambulanceni.org/belfast-runway-run The All-Ireland Sustainability Summit returns for it’s fourth year on June 18 at ICC Belfast (9am to 5pm) This year the event expands with a new extended Expo area designed to connect sustainability-focused businesses and organisers say they have an exciting agenda planned for business attendees Businesses interested in showcasing their solutions or collaborating with forward-thinking businesses, can discuss opportunities by emailing info@triterra.co.uk or visiting the event website at www.allirelandsustainability.com reserved seating & VIP seating area during breaks) costs £150 while general admission is £115 (all ticket prices include refreshments throughout the day lunch and access to the exhibitors area and all plenary sessions) bringing together independent artists and businesses has been launched as part of this year’s Hit the North Street Art Festival being held on Friday May 2 at 2 Royal Avenue is being organised by creative consultancy Daisy Chain Inc and will welcome civic leaders organisations and artists for a day of collaboration The conference will showcase entrepreneurship in the creative sector the transformative power of art - particularly street art - across our cities and communities and encourage cultural partnerships As well as the opportunity to building networks conference guests will hear from internationally renowned artists business leaders and architects including artist and activist Joe Caslin Katherine Wheeler from Stove Network and Eimear Henry Alongside networking and discussion panels, ‘The Other Place’ will also showcase projects and artist collaborations that reflect the conference’s ethos. Booking early is advised, and tickets are available at: https://www.daisychaininc.co/theotherplace Facebook pageTwitter feedRSS feed@2025 The Irish News Ltd Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has announced £3.1m of funding for the delivery of a Public Realm Scheme in Church Street and DeCourcy Place in Downpatrick The new works will deliver high quality measures which will improve the quality of both the Church Street and DeCourcy Place areas as well as enhancing the connectivity between them and the rest of the town centre “I am pleased to announce this £3.1m investment in Downpatrick with £2.7m coming from my department.  This funding will complement previous public realm works in Downpatrick and is part of my ongoing commitment to the regeneration of our town and city centres This investment will help to improve the streetscape and boost the rich heritage of the town.    “It has been a difficult period for our high streets where many businesses had their premises damaged by the floods last year.  I hope this will be a welcome boost in sustaining the long-term viability and prosperity of the town.     Newry Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson Councillor Pete Byrne said:  “This next phase of Downpatrick Public Realm works represents a great opportunity to further boost the overall regeneration and recovery of the town "The Council and its Task & Finish Steering Group Partners look forward to working closely with the Department for Communities as well as other departments and stakeholders to complete both the Advance Utility Works and Public Realm Improvements.” The Downpatrick Regeneration Group Chairperson Mal McGrady also welcomed the investment:  “We are delighted that funding for a further infrastructure project identified in our Living High Streets Framework has been approved and that the Department for Communities and Newry Mourne and Down District Council have been able to support Downpatrick with this funding package to transform Church Street and DeCourcy Place.” Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) stock image Three people have narrowly escaped injury after petrol bombs were thrown at a house in Co Down Police are appealing for information following a report of the incident at residential premises in the Vianstown Heights area of Downpatrick on Wednesday April 30 Sergeant Curran said: “Shortly after 12:50am it was reported that two petrol bombs were thrown which caused damage to a property and a car parked in the area "Colleagues from Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service were inside the property but were not injured “Enquiries are continuing to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident and we would appeal to anyone with any information to contact detectives on 101 Receive today's headlines directly to your inbox every morning and evening Please check your inbox to verify your details The Cistercian monastery is near Downpatrick and was known as Erenagh It was built 50 years before Anglo-Norman knight John de Courcy's invasion of Ulster A community excavation of the site has found pottery Read more here. ShareSave'We'll try to keep The Dark Hedges around as long as we can'The Dark Hedges, made famous after appearing Game of Thrones, are coming to the end of their 250-year lifespan. 'We will keep trying to find Joe's remains'Human remains exhumed from a grave in County Monaghan four months ago are not those of Joe Lynskey. 'I was in severe pain' from cheap filler injectionBekki Burns said she developed vascular erosion after getting a "cheap deal" on a lip filler procedure. Connswater tenants left 'panicked' over quick closureJohn Lemon of East Belfast Men's Shed says the group "couldn't believe it" when they heard the centre would close. 'I was angry after my pregnancy concerns weren't listened to'Martina Tierney says her and her husbands concerns were ignored for many hours. 'I am here for my son who was killed on the A5'Several hundred people showed up at Belfast High Court as a legal challenge against the much-anticipated road begins. 'There is no such thing as one version of Irish America'Irish heritage is still strong in America, but new generations bring new perspectives. 'I'll give it my best shot'Keeva Neely, from Swatragh in County Londonderry will take on the gladiators after making it through the second episode. 'Are you going to be shipped back home?'Irish immigrants in the US say attitudes to immigration are changing due to President Donald Trump. Olympian swaps the pommel horse for the dance floorOlympic gold medal gymnast Rhys McClenaghan is participating in Irish broadcaster RTÉ's Dancing with the Stars. How do NI businesses feel about the prospect of US tariffs?NI is somewhere that could be uniquely affected by the impact of both EU and UK tariffs - but businesses say they are trying to stay positive. 'I was numb after my father's death' - Gary LightbodyLightbody's father, who had dementia, died in a nursing home in December 2019. The volunteer first responders saving livesThe Northern Ireland Ambulance Service alerted the local Killeeshil/Galbally Community First Responders who treated him and drove him to Craigavon Area Hospital. 'You'd get a plot quicker in Roselawn Cemetery than an allotment'Demand for allotments in Belfast is outweighing availability, with almost 1,000 keen gardeners on the waiting list for a plot. 'Speaking up for my non-verbal son felt amazing'BBC News NI hears from Glynn Brown, whose son Aaron was a patient at the County Antrim hospital and Dawn Jones who provided evidence about her son Timmy's abuse. 'I tried to give Stockdale £10 because he's my favourite player'Ollie Smyth has been diagnosed with the lifelong condition cystinuria. 'The streets are going to be buzzing during the Fleadh'Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to visit Belfast in 2026 as the city hosts Fleadh Cheoil. Belfast is more unified than ever, says Shankill rapperYoung Spencer, from the Shankill, performed alongside Irish-language trio Kneecap in the SSE Arena. How worried should we be about bird flu? More than 112,000 birds have been culled in Northern Ireland due to avian flu in just over two weeks. Everyone is welcome to this year’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Newry and Downpatrick on Monday 17 March the annual celebration is the cornerstone of Newry will once again travel through the centres of Newry and Downpatrick bringing locals and visitors out on our streets to honour our Patron Saint Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson “I am delighted that our traditional St Patrick’s Day festivities will return to the heart of Newry and Downpatrick on Monday 17 March.  All are welcome to come and celebrate with us and experience the spectacle of our parades our cultural delights and free family fun activities.” entertainment will be available in multiple locations within the city and town centres between 12pm and 4pm families will enjoy the events and attractions happening on Hill Street and McClelland Park including free face painting and climbing walls Live music and traditional dance will attract crowds to Marcus Square and Margaret Square who is making waves in the country and Irish Music scene activities ranging from arts and crafts to music and sensory play sessions will be perfect for families with young children the main stage on St Patrick’s Square will host an array of eclectic acts ranging from the leading lady of country music to the fantastic visuals of the Celtic Storm Dancers  The craft and food village at the Grove will draw shoppers and food lovers to its laden stalls and live music and traditional dancing on The Shamrock Express will delight families on its journeys from Downpatrick to Inch Abbey St Patrick’s Village will be buzzing with street performers and arts and crafts activities for all ages There will also be a full programme of events in the Down Arts Centre and Down Museum including opportunities for play for children with additional sensory needs Down Arts Centre will be hosting a screening of the critically acclaimed Irish documentary ‘North Circular’ on Friday 14 March And don’t miss the spectacular outdoor fire performance Fireside Stories by renowned circus company Nikki & JD and Lost Dog in Downpatrick Newcastle and Newry from 14 – 16 March Full details on all events this month can be found: www.visitmournemountains.co.uk TYRONE and Donegal are straight through to the semi-finals of the Electric Ireland Ulster MFC after wins over Cavan and Armagh on Saturday. The Breffni and Orchard counties can still join them in the last four as they face quarter-finals against Down and Monaghan respectively next weekend.  Down beat Derry by two points in Downpatrick to eliminate the back-to-back Ulster and All-Ireland champions, while Monaghan had a comfortable victory over Antrim in Clones. Tyrone finished strongly at the end of both halves to deny a well-organised Breffni outfit, who frustrated their hosts for long stretches. Playing into the wind, Cavan took the lead through Nathan Quigley after 10 minutes and despite an Eoin Long two-pointer, they were still level on 20 minutes, after Donagh Lynch had punched over a point. But the Red Hands began to move with purpose in the closing stages of the half, hitting 0-6 without reply, including two-pointers from Peter Garrity and Peter Colton. They had hit 0-10 from play by the time Joel Kerr tapped over a stoppage-time free to send his side in with a 0-11 to 0-4 interval lead. Back came Cavan with two-pointers from Quigley and Faolan Graham inside the opening five minutes of the second half to narrow it to three. Tyrone stabilised in the face of mounting pressure, however, and three superb efforts from play by midfielder James Mulgrew had them seven clear going into the final 10 minutes. Another pair of two-pointers from Quigley and Graham, both frees, brought it back to three again, but the home side finished strongly, full-forward Long bringing his tally to six as they reeled off three late scores. Donegal needed extra-time to get the better of Armagh (1-21 to 1-15) at the BOX-IT Athletic Grounds, going clear to win by six points in the end. The visitors led by a point (0-8 to 1-5) at the break and it was score for score in the second half, with the home side forcing extra-time with a late point. Armagh took control in the opening period of extra-time moving four clear at 1-15 to 0-14 but they failed to score in the second period and Donegal hit 1-7 to win comfortably, Oran Ryan with the goal Down’s hero in Downpatrick was sub Paul McGovern whoe netted a late goal to seal a two-point victory. The home side had built a 0-8 to 0-4 lead at the break, but Derry chipped away at the lead and hit the front late on only to feel the force of McGovern’s sucker-punch. Chairman of the Downpatrick and County Down Railway Robert Gardiner The Downpatrick and Co Down Railway (DCDR) has been denied funding from the Newry Mourne and Down District Council to help with hosting tourism-related events meaning some of their popular summer events could be under threat When the group asked the local authority why it was unsuccessful in its application members did not receive an explanation and were instead told they could “appeal” the process A sod cutting ceremony has marked the official start of construction work on the Dunleath Urban Sports Park paving the way for a cutting-edge skatepark and pump track Mourne and Down District Council project is supported by major funding from the Department for Communities (DfC) with up to £439,032.28 allocated by them towards the project with the Council contributing an additional £74,527.61 This combined investment of £513,559.89 will deliver state-of-the-art facilities to Downpatrick designed to enhance community health and wellbeing while revitalising the local area The project will be constructed by civil engineering and construction firm CivCo Ltd The development will feature an 80-metre pump track (approximated) incorporating a dynamic series of banked turns and undulations alongside a state-of-the-art 400m² skatepark The skatepark will include ramps and grind rails as trick features offering an exciting and modern space for urban sports enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels “My department has been pleased to provide significant funding for the Dunleath Urban Sports Park This exciting addition to the sporting landscape of Downpatrick will provide a dynamic new space that supports health “The Dunleath Urban Sports Park represents a substantial investment in our community on many levels This state-of-the-art skatepark and pump track will provide a new and alternative sports facility for people to enjoy It is poised to become a much-loved and frequently used space encouraging physical activity and healthier lifestyles “The facility’s strategic location near Down Leisure Centre will not only create a new hub for recreation but also increase footfall to Downpatrick town centre linking the park with the High Street and Down Leisure Centre It demonstrates the Council’s commitment to enhancing our facilities while contributing to the revitalisation of our town centres and I extend our appreciation to the Department of Communities for its invaluable support of this project.” Chair of Downpatrick Regeneration Working Group (DRWG) “The DRWG is delighted with this significant marker made in relation to one of our identified key projects — the pump track/skate park project at Dunleath Park This project has been in the planning process for some time now and we are delighted to be able to ‘cut the sod’ in the current financial year This is one of many ongoing projects that the DRWG have collaborated on with the Department for Communities and Newry Mourne and Down District along with other Government agencies On the back of the flood recovery scheme and infrastructure renewal projects we are beginning to see improvements in Downpatrick Town Centre which we hope will be pleasing to both residents and visitors alike This particular project will provide a much-needed outlet for our youth to avail of additional sport and recreation facilities and hopefully support mental and physical well-being The Downpatrick Regeneration Group is actively involved in a number of other key projects which it is hoped will be delivered in the next financial year.” A person has been taken to hospital following an incident in Downpatrick on Monday morning Emergency services were tasked to the scene at a roundabout close to the St Patrick’s Centre on Market Street in the town at around 11.19am A police spokesperson said the incident related to a concern for safety a Northern Ireland Ambulance service spokesperson said: “The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a 999 call at 11:19 on Monday 13th January following reports of an incident in the Market Street Area “NIAS despatched one Emergency Ambulance and one Rapid Response Vehicle to the incident “Following initial assessment and treatment at scene one patient was taken to Ulster Hospital by ambulance.” Greenisland residents can't access 'private' beach blocked by NI Water 11th April 2025; passed peacefully at home whilst reading the Oxford History of the Classical World and enjoying the view of the Mourne mountains from his window Downpatrick – Previously of Northland Road Jonnie was the son of Peter and Carmel Enright nieces and nephews here and around the world.Jonnie was a man of many parts - an author He worked with disadvantaged people in London for many years He valued all people who crossed his path; no one was a stranger to Jonnie and a lesson for us all:“I’m living in the present easy day by day,And enjoying rich baked potatoes I may well be poor,But if you meet me in the future,I’ll be happy that’s for sure”Service (open to all) at Down Cathedral Downpatrick on Thursday 24th April 2025 at 11.30 am A further celebration of Jonnie’s life will be held in Ballyheigue with a date to be arranged.No flowers please Donations may be sent to True Harvest Seeds – a Charity dedicated to preserving the native plants and flowers of Co https://shop.trueharvestseeds.org/product/donation-to-preserve-our-native-wildflowers/Please leave your thoughts of Jonnie https://shop.trueharvestseeds.org/product/donation-to-preserve-our-native-wildflowers/ Donate Share this sad news with friends and loved ones Visit Website [email protected] Link It looks like JavaScript is not enabled in your browser Leading contractor GRAHAM has reached a significant construction milestone in the delivery of Down High School on Strangford Road The £33million project will create a state-of-the-art education campus including a sports hall GRAHAM is now underway with the next phase of works which includes completing the block work screeding floors and making the building wind and water tight ahead of the high-quality internal fit out A completion date is expected in early summer 2025 visited the site earlier this year and was pleased to see the new school taking shape this impressive new building will provide state-of-the-art facilities for the pupils I commend the hard work undertaken by everyone involved over decades to get this project to this exciting stage and I look forward to seeing the new school open.” The development is a passion project for the team involved with many of the construction staff living locally and a number having attended Down High School in their youth Regional Managing Director for GRAHAM Building North said: “GRAHAM is proud to deliver a best-in-class education campus which will greatly enhance learning facilities for future generations growing up in Downpatrick “We have a proven track record of constructing exemplary education campuses across the UK there’s no doubt that Down High School is a very special project for our site team with many having attended the school as pupils We look forward to progressing the next phase of construction as we target practical completion in summer 2025.” Steelworks progressing at Down High School Campus NI Minister for Education Visits Down High School We are a privately owned company with an impressive history built on integrity and responsibility Watch: Forensics at the scene of stabbing in Co A man is due in court today after two women were stabbed in Co Down The incident happened at a property on Stream Street It is understood the incident initially happened in the property before spilling outside One of the victims was a 35-year-old woman who suffered a serious knife wound to her neck A woman in her 50s also suffered stab wounds Both were taken to hospital from the scene Their injuries are not thought to be life threatening Today police said a 26-year-old man has been charged with offences including two counts of attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence He is due to appear before Belfast Magistrates' Court today Yesterday over a dozen police and forensic officers were gathered outside the home where the two women were attacked MLAs and councillors expressed their shock at the violent attack SDLP MLA for South Down Colin McGrath said there is concern among local residents “This is a disturbing incident that has caused much concern in the local community,” he said “Two women have been left in hospital with serious injuries thankfully they are not believed to be life threatening and I hope they can make a full and quick recovery “I commend the quick response of police and emergency services to this incident and would ask that the PSNI are given space to carry out their enquiries.” South Down Sinn Féin Cathy Mason labelled it a “disgusting and horrendous” attack “My thoughts are with both women who have suffered serious injuries thankfully these do not appear to be life threatening,” she said A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after two women were stabbed at a house in Downpatrick “I live about 100 metres from the scene here “I can’t believe it is happening in such a fine town I can only recall one other incident in recent years similar to this Local Sinn Fein councillor Oonagh Hanlon added: “It is a shock for residents that live in the area And my thoughts are with the two women who have just been injured One neighbour expressed her dismay over the attacks “It’s just very sad that is all I can say to be honest friends and family gathered at South Eastern Regional College (SERC) recently (Thursday 10 April) to celebrate the best of the college community at the annual Excellence Awards for Downpatrick and Newcastle Campuses followed by a short film involving some of the student body celebrating excellence at SERC before certificates and awards were presented in recognition of outstanding student achievements and staff success The College was delighted to have headline sponsorship from Newry Mourne & Down District Council who also sponsored the Apprentice of the Year Award Other categories were sponsored by SSE Airtricity for Trainee of the Year Award and by UK Healthcare for Community Champion of the Year Award The celebrations included recognition of 20 students from the Paraibo region of Brazil who have been studying English and participating in a wide variety of cultural activities with SERC for the past eight weeks The students are here as part of a UK-wide cohort facilitated by Education Together UK and have been staying with host families across the local community a Vote of Thanks was given by Chris Bruton The Master of Ceremonies for the evening was Catherine McKay of the SERC Governing Body we celebrate the success of a number of our students in their courses But we are also highlighting and rewarding activity in areas such as entrepreneurship and work with the Students’ Union – all important parts of college life which deliver real-life learning experiences and help our students develop as rounded individuals who support our students to achieve excellence.” “We have seen some great achievements since we last gathered for these awards students have been winners in inter-college and international skills contests and staff have won accolades in teaching awards programmes with one lecturer presented with a Great British Businesswoman award for work in engineering.   In addition SERC projects have been recognised in Good for Me which highlights work in the community as well as outstanding support services within colleges “We are consistently shown to be the highest achieving college in Northern Ireland 7,410 students achieved a regulated qualification and we had a 90% achievement rate across the wide range of courses we deliver.” “I really am proud to be associated with this college I congratulate all nominees and award winners on your achievements.”   SERC would like to thank everyone who made the evening so special our master of ceremonies and award presenters the student engineering team for the engraved trophies and students and staff who took part in the production of the celebration film Welcome to FE Soundbite Edition 795: 3rd May 2025 | Where’s the Joined-Up Skills Plan for Our Future Hachette Learning sponsors this week’s Soundbite This… award-winning training provider with over 17 years of experience recognised for its dedication to diversity and inclusion values The construction sector has faced exceptional pressure in recent years exasperated by economic volatility and increased housing demands which are further highlighting the widening skills… A new facility using cutting edge electron beam technology to build the next generation of semiconductor chips and the first of its kind in Europe,… This year City & Guilds celebrates 10 years of the Princess Royal Training Awards The Princess Royal Training Awards were created in 2016 to recognise… Elizabeth Histed’s path to academic success has been anything but conventional Having faced significant challenges throughout her early years Elizabeth’s journey to higher education is… I was asked by Ben Smith to give a talk at the AO Forum in London this week The Open University (OU) today launches practical toolkits for employers and mothers – expanding its focus from education to the workplace to help more mothers… Sorting out the failing apprenticeship levy is an enormous but essential task for the new government and there are finally grounds for cautious optimism The government budgeted £700 million last year for initiatives to address the critical but its latest data shows 4,000 vacancies across secondary… You must be logged in to post a comment The most successful college in Northern Ireland plus bespoke business training and services designed to get results Downpatrick died peacefully Wednesday 9 April at Belfast City Hospital surrounded by her loving family precious daughter-in-law of Eilis and Jim McCreesh and caring aunt to all her nephews and nieces Paula will leave her home on Saturday 12 April at 10.15am for 11am Requiem Mass in St Josephs Church Killough followed by interment in the family burial ground in Struell Cemetery nephews and nieces and large circle of family and friends Donations in lieu of flowers if desired to Friends of the Cancer Centre The family will be able to receive visitors on Thursday and Friday 1100 to 2130 Saturday private for immediate family only [email protected] Police confirmed that a 26-year-old man has since been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder police were alerted that a man armed with two knives was attacking two women inside a property on Stream Street An altercation was said to have spilled outside with a 35-year-old woman further violently assaulted in the back garden and sustaining a serious knife wound to her neck and other lacerations to her head and face With responding officers able to intervene and arrest the suspect local Inspector Eamonn Campbell said: “Both women were taken to hospital their injuries are not believed to be life threatening at this time.” The arrested man has been taken into custody where he is being questioned on a number of offences The public were also asked on Friday to avoid the scene on Stream Street where the scene is being examined Police in Downpatrick have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder after two women were stabbed at a property in the town this morning. Read more: https://t.co/acSk7o4KZn pic.twitter.com/9bwLUPTCz2 Sinn Féin’s South Down MLA Cathy Mason called the attack “disgraceful and horrendous.” “My thoughts are with both women who have suffered serious injuries, thankfully these do not appear to be life threatening,” she said. “Police have appealed for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to contact them.” SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath added: “This is a disturbing incident that has caused much concern in the local community. Two women have been left in hospital with serious injuries, but thankfully they are not believed to be life threatening and I hope they can make a full and quick recovery. “I commend the quick response of police and emergency services to this incident and would ask that the PSNI are given space to carry out their enquiries. Anyone with any information should come forward.” Police are keen to hear from any witnesses or those with recorded footage of the incident on 101, quoting reference 237 of March 14. Police in Downpatrick have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder after two women were stabbed at a property in the town this morning. Read more: https://t.co/acSk7o4KZn pic.twitter.com/9bwLUPTCz2 Artist's impression of new Asda in Downpatrick Local Democracy ReporterWed 6 Nov 2024 at 13:15A new £22m Asda store has been approved for Downpatrick to replace the old outlet that was destroyed in last year’s flood The existing flood-damaged store will be demolished to make way for the replacement Asda which will be almost 680 square metres bigger Last year saw the wettest October since records began which brought an unprecedented deluge that left some shops in Downpatrick’s Market Street under six feet of water The new Asda store was approved during a recent Newry Mourne and Down District Council planning committee will replace the existing Asda store at the Ballydugan Retail Park The new build will also see a petrol filling station with a shop a service yard and around 465 free car parking spaces A spokesperson for Celpark Ltd said: “We warmly welcome the decision by Newry Mourne and Down District Council to approve our planning "We are in jubilant mood as we view the approval as an opportunity to establish a major landmark shopping destination for both the local Downpatrick and wider communities.” Public support was given for the development during a 12-week public consultation earlier this year The new store will be built south east of the current building with the footprint covering land currently occupied by the Harry Corry Peacocks and Poundstretcher stores and the car park in front of them An Asda spokesperson added: “In the months since the closure of our Downpatrick store as a result of the devastating flooding we’ve seen first-hand how much of a key role Asda plays in the local community “We’re excited to embark on the planning process for a new permanent store which will bring the full range of Asda services back to Downpatrick including provision for a new fuel station attached to the store.” Margaret Canning's selection of business stories sent every Tuesday 2024 at 3:10pm GMTPlanning approval has been granted for a £22 million development to rebuild Asda’s flood-damaged supermarket in Downpatrick The retailer’s store suffered catastrophic damage after the Co Down town was hit by flooding in early November 2023 ♦Subscriber Exclusive: Q&A with columnist Tom Kelly Asda was forced to build a temporary store at Ballydugan Retail Park after the building was deemed too dangerous to use Celpark Ltd, which is part of the Irish-owned Comer Group, subsequently launched a bid for a new 97,000 sq ft scheme the development will see the construction of three non-food retail units and a new fuel forecourt Mourne and Down District Council has now signed off on the Celpark’s plans for the site A spokesperson for the company said: “We warmly welcome the decision by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council to approve our planning. “We are in jubilant mood as we view the approval as an opportunity to establish a major landmark shopping destination for both the local Downpatrick and wider communities.” Celpark’s directors include Barry Comer and his father Luke, who is domiciled in Monaco. Originally from Co Galway, Luke and his younger brother Brian relocated to London in the 1980s, where they went on to build a property empire. The Comer Group property portfolio is spread across dozens of sites in Ireland, Britain and mainland Europe. In a statement welcoming the planning approval, a spokesperson for Asda said: “In the months since the closure of our Downpatrick store as a result of the devastating flooding, we’ve seen first-hand how much of a key role Asda plays in the local community. “Whilst we are pleased that the temporary store is serving the town and the wider area, a long-term solution is required.” Two women have been stabbed at a house in Co Down One of the victims suffered a serious knife wound to her neck The incident happened in Downpatrick this morning A 26-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder A local MLA said there was concern in the community police received reports that a man armed with two knives was attacking two women inside a property on Stream Street The incident spilled outside and one of the women was further violently assaulted in the back garden Police said she suffered a serious knife wound to her neck and other cuts to her head and face Officers intervened and arrested the suspect Inspector Eamonn Campbell said: "Both women were taken to hospital their injuries are not believed to be life threatening at this time has been taken into police custody and will be questioned on suspicion of a number of offences including attempted murder “The scene at Stream Street is currently being examined and people are asked to avoid the area where possible.” said there is concern in the local community "Two women have been left in hospital with serious injuries but thankfully they are not believed to be life threatening and I hope they can make a full and quick recovery “I commend the quick response of police and emergency services to this incident and would ask that the PSNI are given space to carry out their enquiries Anyone with any information should come forward.” Sinn Féin South Down MLA Cathy Mason said it was an “absolutely disgraceful and horrendous” attack thankfully these do not appear to be life threatening," she said The Council's Downpatrick District Electoral Area Forum in partnership with the County Down Rural Community Network and Downpatrick PSNI, rolled out a four-week inclusivity Programme in Downpatrick Primary School and St Colmcille’s Primary School which was facilitated by Still I Rise Diversity Storytelling focused on critical topics such as neurodiversity cultural diversity and using one's voice to challenge behaviours The sessions created trusted spaces for learning encouraging open conversations and fostering acceptance and understanding through interactive storytelling and activities gaining valuable insights into diverse perspectives and experiences “Establishing a sense of understanding and acceptance of others at a young age is extremely important These initiatives are a great opportunity for our young people to become aware that they will encounter different cultures neurotypes and unfamiliar behaviours throughout their lives Having the knowledge of how to interact within a diverse group is a valuable skill which these children can carry with them throughout their lives.” Downpatrick District Electoral Area Chairperson “This initiative has provided an opportunity for our young people to come together to understand different neurotypes and cultures recognising the unique strengths that each individuals bring They were also encouraged how to speak up against inappropriate behaviours directed towards their friends Feedback from both schools has been overwhelmingly positive with teachers noting increased empathy and curiosity among students The success of these sessions demonstrates the power of storytelling in fostering inclusivity and understanding within educational settings.” The initiative was supported by the Department for Communities through their Neighbourhood Renewal Programme and Together: Building a United Community (T:BUC)