The Loop : East Belfast April 2015

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ebound Physio, located in Castlereagh Business Park off the Castlereagh Road is a social enterprise donating all of its profits to the charity Brain Injury Matters, a charity dedicated to supporting people with Acquired Brain Injury. The physio team at Rebound is comprised of Dr Katy Pedlow and Dr Erin Byrd, an expert in sports injury treatment. Dr Pedlow is one of only a handful of practitioners in NI to attain a PhD in neurological rehabilitation. “The charity Brain Injury Matters helps people with serious brain injury through accident or illness. Often this injury is sudden and has a devastating effect not only on the person but on their whole family. The charity helps people not only through physical support to get their strength and movement back but also emotionally and socially. We feel it’s essential that this vital service is maintained and so will be donating all of our profits to this charity,” explained physiotherapist Katy Pedlow. The 2,000 square foot ground floor clinic features private treatment rooms and a purpose-built gym with equipment offering

NEW EAST BELFAST PHYSIO CLINIC DONATES ALL PROFITS TO CHARITY A new state-of-the-art physiotherapy clinic in East Belfast will be ploughing all of its profits into a charity helping brain injury victims rebuild their lives.

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therapy for musculoskeletal conditions like back and neck pain, sports injuries and neurological conditions. The physio team work on a one-to-one basis focusing on the patients’ needs, developing a treatment and exercise programme to support recovery. The clinic is being supported by rugby star Chris Henry who himself suffered from a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA), a temporary blockage of a small blood vessel in his brain. Brain Injury Matters aims to promote independence, foster personal development and support people to adapt to life after illness or accident. Its services are delivered by a combination of professional clinicians and staff with specialist knowledge of ABI rehabilitation. Fiona McCabe, Chief Executive of Brain Injury Matters, said: “The current economic situation means that funding is hard to obtain so we are hoping to secure the work of the charity with the support of Rebound Physio. It’s essential that people with a brain injury are given as much support as possible – it makes a huge difference to their lives as well as to the lives of their families.”

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The BIGGEST publication in East Belfast

Hello East Belfast

WELCOME TO THE LOOP

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What’s inside this month...

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pring weather brings with it new adventures as the temperatures rise and us humans venture outside that little bit more. So with that in mind expect to see more and more alfresco events coming onto your busy calender soon as festivals and community events take to the outdoors. It’s always an exciting time of year and hopefully we’re in for a scorcher.

But whatever the weather, you have your trusty issue number three of The Loop to read either in the paddling pool or in the house. Yes, East Belfast’s biggest publication

is once again hot off the press straight into your hand for the recession busting price of zero pence. And it’s a beefy one, packed to the gills with up to the minute news and features that are right up your alley. There’s news on a landmark GP surgery all set for a new lease of life. News on a big investment in local business. Loads of you have been busy fund raising for various local charities and causes, we have the totals and the pics.

Our local school children have been busy in and out of the classroom exploring science, reciting poetry, singing songs and more.

LOCAL COMMUNITY BENEFITS FROM OPTICAL INVESTMENT

£300,000 INVESTMENT IN NEW PREMISES FOR EAST BELFAST OPTICIANS CREATES SEVEN NEW JOBS

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EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

An east Belfast opticians and hearing centre has invested almost £300,000 in relocating to larger premises in Connswater Shopping Centre in response to community demand for its services.

he investment in the new Specsavers store is being made by the store’s two local directors – Lynsey Caldwell and Paula Cunningham - who together have clocked up almost 27 years in the business, providing essential health services to local people. Seven new jobs have been created, bringing the total workforce at the new Specsavers Connswater to

33. At 2,200 sq ft, the new premises are 50% bigger, making the store one of the biggest Specsavers in Northern Ireland. The new store has five optical test rooms and a dedicated hearing centre with a soundproof room for hearing testing. The store is also the first Specsavers in Northern Ireland to introduce the latest software in optical technology to link

See if you can spot your little one in the line up. Plus we have some amazing local arts stories, one of which sees the return of an iconic and inspirational piece of work. We also have a fantastic array of local businesses with their ads and their news. Thank you to them and thank you to you for getting in touch. You can like us on Facebook under looppublications for more news and competitions. We’ll be back next month by which time it’ll be 30 degrees every single day and we’ll be reporting on a factor four shortage in East Belfast... Enjoy!

with the store’s iPads, making the process of dispensing glasses smoother and quicker.

Lynsey Caldwell, Dispensing Director at Connswater, Belfast, said: ‘After 14 successful years in Connswater Shopping Centre we are now moving just up the mall to premises which are 50% bigger in order to cater for growing demand for our services particularly in areas including hearcare, children’s eyecare, the over 60s market and contact lenses. The investment is being made at a local level to expand services for local people. It reaffirms our commitment to provide top quality and value for money eyecare and hearcare services for the community of east Belfast and beyond as well as securing employment for seven more people. We’re delighted to be able to offer cutting edge facilities to our customers in our new premises and we thank the local community for its continued loyalty and support.’

PICTURED: Specsavers Connswater store directors Lynsey Caldwell (left) and Paula Cunningham are investing almost £300,000 in relocating to larger premises in Connswater Shopping Centre in response to community demand for its services. When the store opens on March 24 seven new jobs will be created, bringing the total workforce at the new Specsavers Connswater to 33.

Tel: 028 9045 8156

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Publisher, Editorial & Design Stuart Collins stuart@loopmag.net Sales & Accounts Juanita Collins juanita@loopmag.net www.loopmag.net

LOOP PUBLICATIONS PO BOX 2145 BELFAST BT5 9EZ Tel: 028 9070 1607 Any views expressed within are not necessarily endorsed by Loop Publications. Reference to any specific product or service does not constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by Loop Publications. Links and contacts are provided for reader convenience and do not constitute or imply endorsement or recommendation by Loop Publications. Any reproduction without permission is prohibited.

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o Welcome

NEWTON WELCOMES EAST SIDE LEARNING PARTNERSHIP ROBIN Newton East Belfast DUP MLA, a member of the Assembly’s Education Committee, has welcomed the Eastside Learning Partnership Education Framework recently launched in the Park Avenue Hotel. Robin Newton said, “This is a fantastic programme designed to build relationships with all stakeholders to deliver a shared vision for education in East Belfast.

The initiative was launched to a packed room with all interested parties in attendance. I am pleased that East Belfast Partnership took the lead in developing programme that will deliver positive outcomes for pupils of all ages. Education is not just the responsibility of the schools, patents and the wider community also have a great impact of children’s ability and achieving maximum success. Ensuring good planning by bringing people together and improving communications to deliver crosscutting solutions, thinking outside the box, will deliver first class education opportunities for our children.”

DON’T WE DESERVE BETTER? Remember before the UUP lost their way? They actually stood for something.

Now they’re in the pocket of a party so irrelevant in UK politics that they couldn’t even get on a TV debate.

There is a pro-Union alternative to the cozy headcounts that trivialise our politics though — a real voice at Westminster and real influence for East Belfast.

Vote Conservative.

Vote for NEIL WILSON on 7 May LEARN MORE

facebook.com/neil4eastbelfast twitter.com/neil4ebelfast neil4eastbelfast.com eastbelfastconservatives.com

Promoted by Owen Polley on behalf of Neil Wilson, both of 3rd Floor, Andras House, 60 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7ET.

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EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

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Inspired by Cancer Focus Northern Ireland’s Girls’ Night In campaign for local breast cancer research, Debbie Lamont and her fantastic team at Hair Ritz, Woodstock Road, organised an evening of music and entertainment raising an incredible £4,731.84.

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he evening was held in memory of much loved clients who have recently passed away. Family, friends, and regular clients were invited to come together and enjoy a night of fun, celebration and memories while raising money for local cancer charity, Cancer Focus NI. Debbie Lamont, Hair Ritz said “I held the evening because this year especially we lost quite a lot of clients to cancer. We wanted to hold a night that would pay tribute to them so decided to hold an evening to celebrate their memory for a good cause. We invited their friends and family members to come along and placed photos of their loved ones up all around the salon. I would especially like to thank my staff - without them this night would not of been possible - and all the local businesses on the Woodstock Road who donated lots of very generous prizes, including Dominoes who supplied all the pizzas on the

night. We would like to thank Bombardier for their generous donation and Ann Wilson for all her help and support. And finally, thank you to the friends and family members of our clients for supporting us. Cancer Focus NI is a charity that supports all aspects of cancer, from research to patient support, and we wanted to give a little something back. I’m overwhelmed by the response we had and I’m very grateful to all our clients for their generous donations. Thank you to all who helped and supported our evening at Hair Ritz Woodstock Road Belfast.”

• Anyone who has concerns about cancer can speak to a specialist nurse on the Cancer Focus NI free Helpline, 0800 783 3339. For more information visit www.cancerfocusni.org • If you would like to hold a fundraising event like email fundraising@cancerfocusni.org or call 028 9066 3281.

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“WE IN EAST BELFAST DESERVE BETTER THAN THE PACTS THAT TAKE US FOR FOOLS” *Advertorial Feature

By Conservative candidate: Neil Wilson

“I’m not a fan of electoral pacts because I like a proper choice. But what the current pact in East Belfast does is to demonstrate that the UUP and DUP think of the population of East Belfast as mere cattle to be separated into as few pens as possible. I think that you are more than that – I think that you are people who aspire to better for you and your families, who work hard and who want to get on in life. You don’t deserve to be treated as one digit in a head count. Naturally, I’m pro-Union and I will never be anything else. But I believe that the best way to maintain the Union is to positively argue its economic and social merits.

By reducing our place in the United Kingdom to a question of demographics we do huge long-term damage to our country. By reducing all our elections to being about one issue in hundreds, we let some truly awful politicians through the net – just look at the way Stormont is run now if you need any proof of that. Sure, they might be unionists, but they’re awful in every other respect.

At the last General Election, over ,7000 people in East Belfast backed a vision of positive unionism and British electoral politics when they voted for Trevor Ringland. Sadly the UUP have now abandoned the dream of Northern Ireland at the centre of the United Kingdom and have placed themselves in the pocket of a party thought so irrelevant in Westminster that they couldn’t even get on a TV debate. I’ve spoken to many traditional Ulster Unionist voters who share these views and who will now be voting Conservative. My message is simple – if you’re sick and tired of being taken for a fool and think we deserve better then you have a home with the Conservatives.”

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§ EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

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LANDMARK EAST BELFAST SURGERY GETS READY FOR A NEW LEASE OF LIFE

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Much needed redevelopment work has got underway at a landmark GP surgery in East Belfast.

ryson Street Surgery, which sits on the corner of Bryson Street and Newtownards Road, has been servicing both communities for generations, even throughout the troubles. The £1.2m redevelopment led by Landmark East Ltd, with £1m of funding from the NI Executive’s Social Investment Fund, will be completed by January 2016. It will feature a new 680sqm purpose built community surgery which will service the area as well as focus on growing the current patient levels of 7000. During the redevelopment a temporary service has been provided to patients in East Belfast Enterprise City East Building. PICTURED: Chair of Landmark East Ltd, James Brown, Short Strand patient Annie Mulligan, Bryson Street Surgery GP Dr Christine Hunter, Newtownards Road patient Jim Anderson and Alistair Walker, Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

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Andy Kelso is Chaplain to Worcester Warriors Rugby Club but is now also on the road as Elvis. He came to Belfast last year, walking the Peaceline, which created huge media interest, and returned in early April for a concert where Catholics and Protestants came together. This year he was shortlisted for Britain’s Got Talent!

There will also be an Elvis look-a-like competition, so make sure to come dressed like the King. Proceeds from the concert will be donated to help support the work of the debt counselling charity Christians Against Poverty (CAP) in East Belfast. CAP offer free debt advice to anyone regardless of race, religion or nationality. You can access the service by calling 0800 328 0006 or online at www.capuk.org. Tickets cost £10 available from Willowfield Parish Church by calling 02890453041 or emailing jamesmyles@capuk.org

Bringing you all the latest local news & events

THESE PEOPLE ARE REACHING 42,000 HOMES & BUSINESSES

LONG ATTENDS UNVEILING OF BLANCHFLOWER PLAQUE East Belfast MP Mrs Long joined dignitaries from the sporting world at the revealing of the blue plaque for Danny Blanchflower in Grace Avenue in her constituency.

Blanchflower captained Northern Ireland to their best World Cup Finals finish in 1958, later managing the team, while enjoying a legendary career with Tottenham Hotspur in the 1960s, captaining the team to League, FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup glory. The Ulster History Circle plaque marks the player’s former home, which he wrote about in his later career as a journalist as the place he first kicked a football. “Danny was one of East Belfast’s favourite sons, playing a number of years with Glentoran before moving to

NI Water has come under further pressure over roadworks at a key east Belfast street being extended until the end of the year. Concerns have been raised

by Mersey Street residents and local MPs regarding the disruption caused as NI Water is constructing a sewage system to accommodate new development in the area and also to prevent flooding. NI Water have said that due to the poor conditions on the ground, the work would continue until December, instead of May as originally planned.

England. It’s always great to see one of our own do so well and Danny was certainly one of the most successful.

Any football fan knows the name Blanchflower and he was a hero to many. The impressive turnout today shows he is still a hero to many and I was delighted to take part in this tribute to an iconic player.”

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o Local Businesses

EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

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NEW SHOWROOM OPENS Inspirational furnishings is Belfast’s newest carpet and rug specialist, based at 355 Lisburn Road.

In the short time since opening they have been impressing customers with their great prices and excellent service from sales to fitting.

They have a wide and varied range of quality carpets,laminates,woods and rugs, many of which are exclusive to their store. Great efforts are made to get the most up to date fashionable carpets and rugs from all over the world which is helped by being a member of one of the biggest buying groups in UK. A registered

carpet specialist with a wealth of experience to help with getting the right product for you, Colin White who manages this store was previously with Lyles Flooring for 19 years before it unfortunately closed in 2013 when he then moved to this exciting showroom. “If you are looking for flooring you couldn’t go wrong choosing to try this store without any obligation where you can get free estimates and advice, we would be only too happy to help.” T: 028 9068 7014

NEW INDIAN RESTAURANT ALREADY MAKING WAVES IN DUNDONALD A modern Indian restaurant recently opened in Dundonald and in the short time Tale of Spice have already risen to second position in the best restaurants in Belfast on Trip Advisor!

The proud Joint owner Abhi and Chef Gautam from New Delhi said, “We know the pro and cons of using tripadvisor but it’s nice to be at that position. East Belfast could do with a really good Indian Restaurant and we took the opportunity with both hands. There is a lot of thought that has gone in designing the interior of the place. We just wanted all three aspects to be perfect; Food, Ambience and Service.” The fully licensed restaurant has a beautiful interior and a menu that features some unique dishes

that sit alongside the classics. Some are already becoming classics in their own right such as the popular monkfish shashlik, monkfish balti, salmon tikka and Goan fish curries along with other wonderful specials. There’s also carefully selected wines and classic, reasonably priced cocktails. There are excellent business lunch offers; 2 courses for £7.95 and a pre theatre menu offering 2 courses and a glass of wine or soft drink for £12.95. Fot those who want to eat at home, they have a takeaway and delivery option 7 days a week. Follow the Tale of Spice to: UNIT 2B EASTPOINT ENTERTAINMENT VILLAGE, DUNDONALD. Tel: 028 9048 7676 or email info@taleofspicedundonald.com

LIKE A BOSS : A COURSE THAT COULD HELP YOU RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS FROM HOME Returning to work after having children or caring for relatives can be a daunting experience. But with a newly launched programme, you could run a business from home without disrupting your daily routine!

Mallusk Enterprise Park have created a programme aimed specifically at women who are considering returning to work and would like to consider self-employment with the option of working from home. Like A Boss is a unique programme targeting three areas: Selfesteem: Being out of the workplace can give your confidence a knock and building this back up is the challenge. Like A Boss is providing make-up tutorials to help you look and feel like a successful business woman!

Ideas Generation: We know that often it is not the drive to succeed that is the problem but not knowing in which direction to turn. Like A Boss will help you come up with a business idea unique to you to help get you started!

Business Skills: So now you look the part and have a great business idea. Like A Boss will help you succeed by teaching you the skills

necessary to run your very own successful business from home!

Finally on the last day of the programme Like A Boss will provide a ladies afternoon tea and give away a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 to one lucky winner. The programme will run from 13th-17th April from 9.30am to 1.30pm at the Dunanney Centre, Rathcoole. Like A Boss is a FREE programme brought to you by Mallusk Enterprise Park, a social enterprise helping local people explore the option of self-employment To register call Tamsin on 07860 954075 or email tamsin@mallusk.org. CALL NOW as places will fill up fast!

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§ EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015 THESE PEOPLE ARE REACHING 42,000 HOMES & BUSINESSES

Email stuart@loopmag.net

Tel : 028 9070 1607 GET IN THE LOOP!

COUNCIL TO CARRY OUT DOG FOULING BLITZ

Throughout April, the Council will be carrying out a dog fouling blitz across the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area. The Council will take immediate action against irresponsible dog owners.

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his targeted campaign will have increased Dog Warden patrols in response to complaints and Council Officers will operate a zero tolerance approach to this issue. Anyone failing to ‘scoop the poop’ will automatically receive a £50 fixed penalty fine. The Council is relying on members of the public to report irresponsible behaviour by dog owners and dog walkers by calling 028 9250 9394. Councillor Brian Hanvey, Chair of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council’s Environmental Services Committee,

speaking about the upcoming initiative, said: “The Council is very pleased that the vast majority of dog owners and walkers in the Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council area are responsible and clean up after their pets, helping to make a more pleasant environment for all. However, it is the small minority of owners and walkers who persist in letting their dogs foul in parks, on footpaths and in rural areas that the Council wish to target and fine. Dog mess is both anti-social and a health hazard so the Council wants to work in partnership

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with residents to help eradicate this type of irresponsible behaviour carried out by a minority of individuals.” When phoning 028 9250 9394 to report an incident you provide the time and location of the dog fouling, the name and address of the dog owner and your name and address, which will be treated as strictly confidential.

Council Dog Wardens will investigate the complaint immediately and if necessary call at the irresponsible dog owner’s home and where possible take further action.

Councillor Jenny Palmer, Chair of the Lisburn City Council Environmental Services Committee added: “The two messages of this campaign are that the Council will fine those irresponsible people who fail to clean after them; and the Council is encouraging those residents who see dog walkers failing to ‘scoop the poop’ to report the incident.

The Council will also be using specific street cleaning equipment designed to tackle dog fouling and clean up any instances of people failing to ‘scoop the poop’. I would urge residents to please report dog fouling issues and help the Council cut this problem down by calling 028 9250 9394 and help the Council keep local communities clean.”

WWW.LISBURNCASTLEREAGH.GOV.UK

The Belfast Soroptimist Club based in East Belfast raised an amazing £750 for the rebuild of the NI Hospice through a coffee event earlier in the year. Special thanks goes out to Johnstons Coffee who supplied the coffee. Pictured left – right at the Somerton Road Hospice site is Gary McKeown (H & J Martin, contractors at the Somerton Road site) with members of the Soroptimist Club Helen Pallin, Anne McBride, Alice Chapman OBE, handing the cheque to Siofra Healy (Director of Income Generation at NI Hospice). When completed, the new hospice will provide 18 modern single ensuite bedrooms, a Day Hospice, an Outpatient Clinic, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy facilities, a dedicated Education and Research centre, special gardens for patients and families, a children’s and relatives area, as well as a sanctuary and many other areas all designed to bring care and comfort to hospice patients.

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SPORTING ELITE TO BENEFIT AS CITY AIRPORT TEAMS UP WITH MARY PETERS TRUST Northern Ireland’s sporting elite is set to benefit from the best advice following the launch of the Mary Peters Trust Podium Programme in association with George Best Belfast City Airport.

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EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

Delivered FREE every month Dame Mary Peters CH. DBE with Chief Executive of George Best Belfast City Airport Brian Ambrose and world renowned medallist Michael McKillop

he Trust, with funding assistance from the airport’s Community Fund, will deliver a series of sporting master classes for the region’s budding young athletes, with advice from industry professionals on health, nutrition, media, plus strength and conditioning. The Podium Programme will be an expan-

sion of services offered by the Mary Peters Trust to all those local athletes who receive financial support from the charity in order to help realise their sporting ambitions. Dame Mary Peters CH. DBE said: “This year the Trust is celebrating its 40th anniversary and in that time we have provided over 4000 bursaries to local

sportsmen and women to help them achieve their dreams. The Mary Peters Trust Podium Programme in association with George Best Belfast City Airport will enable us to expand our support to athletes. I am delighted that the airport recognises the important role business can play in support of tomorrow’s sporting stars.” The first seminar will take place on 29th April at the Ramada Hotel, Shaws Bridge with key note speakers including Munster Rugby Strength and Conditioning Coach, Feargal O’Callaghan; renowned Nutritionist for the Institute of Sport, Laura Mahoney; and UTV Sport Correspondent, Ruth Gorman. The airport will also provide advice for athletes on rules and regulations regarding travelling with sports equipment and how to speed your journey. Some of the athletes who participate in the Podium Programme will also share their experiences with the airport’s adopted schools promoting physical wellbeing. The Mary Peters Trust Podium Programme is funded by the airport’s Community Fund - a unique CR initiative which has invested over £180,000 in a number of community and charitable projects provincewide. www.facebook.com/MaryPetersTrust For more information on how your school, group or project can apply to the Belfast City Airport Community Fund, please contact: communityfund@belfastcityairport.com

BLUE PLAQUE UNVEILED IN MEMORY OF EAST BELFAST WRITER A historical blue plaque has been unveiled on the Newtownards Road in memory of the east Belfast writer and playwright St John Ervine. Born in 1883, St John Ervine became known internationally as one of the leading literary figures of his era. Ervine was born in poverty close to the Albertbridge Road and rose to fame writing novels and biographies and became a lifelong friend of George Bernard Shaw. From 1933 to 1936 Ervine was Professor of Dramatic Literature for the Royal Society of Literature. In 1945 he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Queen's University, Belfast.

EAST BELFAST ARTIST DIES East Belfast born artist Noreen Rice has died at the age of 79. Born on the Woodstock Road in 1936 she progressed from Mountpottinger Elementary to Methody where her talent was spotted. Her narrative and poetic work drew on mythology but was also influenced by surrealism and the techniques of primitive painters. She exhibited in six successive decades. Her first in 1956, her last in 2009.

Noreen Rice suffered a stroke in 2013 and her health continued to deteriorate before she finally lost a brief battle with cancer.

TALE OF SPICE, DUNDONALD: RECENTLY OPENED AND ALREADY THE NUMBER 2 RESTAURANT IN BELFAST ON TRIP ADVISOR

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• TUESDAYS •

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BLOOMFIELD COLLEGIATE SCHOOL Astoria Gardens, Belfast, BT5 6HW 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Sally : 07738 713436

CREGAGH

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Montgomery Road, Belfast, BT6 9JD 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Esther : 07804 095409

LEADHILL (CASTLEREAGH)

LEADHILL PRIMARY SCHOOL Castledona Park (foot entrance at Church Road, off Ballygowan Road) 7.30pm Tel Eleanor : 07891 609161

• MORNING GROUPS •

KNOCKNAGONEY

CONNSBROOK

BLOOMFIELD

BLOOMFIELD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 447 Beersbridge Road Junction of Cyprus Avenue Belfast BT5 5DW 3.30pm, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Deborah : 07708 373567 GILNAHIRK BAPTIST CHURCH 2 Middle Braniel Road Belfast, BT5 7TU 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Ashleigh : 07731 420680

• THURSDAYS •

BRANIEL

BRANIEL CHURCH (corner of Woodview Drive) Lower Braniel Road Belfast, BT5 6PY 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Ashleigh : 07731 420680

MOUNTPOTTINGER METHODIST CHURCH 188 Albertbridge Road, Belfast, BT5 4GU 9.30am & 11.30am Tel Michelle : 07857 131766

TUESDAY CREGAGH

STRAND CHURCH 161 Connsbrook Avenue Sydenham, Belfast, BT4 1JT 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Michelle : 07857 131766

GILNAHIRK

MONDAY MOUNTPOTTINGER

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Montgomery Road, Belfast, BT6 9JD 9.30am Tel Esther : 07804 095409

WEDNESDAY BLOOMFIELD

BLOOMFIELD CHURCH 447 Beersbridge Road Junction of Cyprus Avenue Belfast BT5 5DW 9.30am Tel Deborah : 07708 373567

THURSDAY NEW MORNING GROUP BELMONT

BELMONT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (Opening Thursday 16 April) 92 Sydenham Avenue Belfast, BT4 2DT 9.30am Tel: Sally 07738 713436

DUNDONALD

ST ELIZABETHS CHURCH Church of Ireland Church Green, Dundonald 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Michelle : 07753 745301

touching hearts, changing lives *More people in the UK choose to attend a Slimming World group each week than any other weight loss group.

PAGE 10

o Your Local News

EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

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Swimming Lessons @ Sullivan Upper School

Pupils at Ashfield Girls’ High School, East Belfast, presented cheques to the value of £1500 to representatives from NI Hospice and Cancer Fund for Children raised through the Christmas Craft Fair and a non-uniform day. L-R Jenny Rees (Ashfield Girls’ HS) Abby Quirey Deirdre Melly (NI Hospice) Yasmin Naimi Mrs A Mungavin (Principal) Chloe Black Naomi Braithwaite (Cancer Fund for Children) Hannah Jones

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The Opening and Dedication of the new building for Bloomfield Avenue Congregational Church. Seven years ago the congregation moved their services into the church hall and with committed giving and fund-raising have realised their vision of a modern, practical building for worship and meetings. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was carried out by former minister, Rev. Frank Bennett, and the service chaired by the Secretary of the Congregational Union, Rev. Raymond McLarnin. Chairman of the Union, Mr. William Annette dedicated the building and addressing the congregation, Rev. Scott Woodburn reminisced back over his days in Bloomfield’s Sunday School.

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§ EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

Email stuart@loopmag.net

PAGE 11

Local Arts Venue o

Tel : 028 9070 1607

Did you know the MAC’s Family Room is free to visit and open daily, 10am-7pm?

10% DISCOUNT! THE MAC IS EXCLUSIVELY OFFERING LOOP READERS A 10% DISCOUNT ON LITTLE SURE SHOT BY QUOTING “LOOP10” WHEN BOOKING. Why not grab a bite before a show at the MAC’s cafe?

T

THE MAC

Belfast’s family friendly arts venue - details on their new show PLUS their exclusive discount just for you!

he MAC was recently voted best theatre in NI by Netmums, children (and parents too) love it. We can see why – there’s an amazing free Family Room, family theatre shows, free storytime and lots of creative workshops. Most weekends, there’s something happening for all ages.

This May, the MAC invites families to dust off their Stetsons and mosey on down for a Wild West action adventure. Inspired by a true story, the MAC’s fabulous new family

show Little Sure Shot tells the story of Annie Oakley and how she became the most famous cowgirl in the Wild West. Expect death-defying shoot outs, live country & western and enough theatrical flair to make everyone shout ‘yeehaw’. PLUS Loop readers get an exclusive 10% discount on this brand new show by quoting Loop10 when booking. Little Sure Shot runs from 5-10 May. Book now at themaclive.com (children £10, adults from £12)

“ The MAC isn’t a place for silence. We enjoy hearing children laugh and run around exploring our wonderful building. If your little one has yet to see our indoor rainbow then I highly recommend a visit.”

Anne McReynolds, CEO at the MAC)

www.themaclive.com Tel : 028 9023 5053

5-10 May Mosey on down to the MAC for a Wild West treat for the whole family.

Yeehaw!

Principle Funder

Book tickets at: themaclive.com

Take a glimpse behind the scenes of Little Sure Shot.

Explore the MAC’s free galleries. Open daily, 10am - 7pm.

PAGE 12

o Your Local News

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE THIS SPRING/SUMMER @ FOUR WINDS

F

With four unique venues to explore, there is a startling array of food and entertainment to enjoy with friends and family alike.

HM SPORTS 3 Castlereagh Street Belfast BT5 4NE T : 07882 865888 E : hmsports@live.co.uk

EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

Delivered FREE every month

The Courtyard

our Winds, Belfast launch their revamped Wine Bar this month with a new look menu of brand new dishes lining up alongside house favourites. Half price Tuesdays means all food in the Wine Bar will be half price all day until the end of May! In order to take advantage of this offer, one person must be a member of the loyalty card programme in the Four Winds and includes parties of up to 4 people. Plus, every Saturday night the Wine Bar hosts U105 DJ Carolyn Stewart with free admission before 10pm and £5 thereafter. Or if you prefer to let your little ones do the partying, every Sunday from 1pm-4pm in the

Four Winds Wine bar is Kids Klub! Let them be entertained by one of the professional children’s entertainers while you take your pick from the all day menu. Also, kids eat for a quid MondayThursday from 5pm-7pm! Or you can take your pick from one of the other 3 venues: GRILL @ The Four Winds is situated on the top floor and offers a stunning panoramic of Belfast City and beyond. The 100% Northern Irish beef is locally butchered and dry aged for 34 days until the chefs are satisfied that it’s going to be “melt in the mouth” special. The meat is then marinaded and lovingly prepared before it’s flame grilled

on the custom Blue Seal Grill to your preference.

The varied menu features a wide range of dishes made from top quality, locally sourced ingredients, all of which can be enjoyed while overlooking the stunning skyline greater Belfast.

The Lounge is a comfortable bar with secluded booths and cinema chairs for those all important football and rugby matches. And with the Premiership season coming to a nail biting final stretch, the atmosphere will be electric in the coming weeks no doubt. PLUS - ALL pints are £3.25 during any sporting events from 12-8 every Saturday and Sunday.

The Courtyard is the newly constructed, open roof, heated courtyard area. So whatever the weather, this unique alfresco venue is perfect for a get together. Why not reserve a table or book a booth for you and your party? Each booth has its own dedicated screen and includes a food platter and house beers or soft drinks for you and your party! Throughout the spring and summer months The Courtyard will be hosting various themed months from music, film, food & drink and family events. Keep an eye on the website and Facebook page for everything lined up in the four venues under one roof at Four Winds, Belfast.

The Wine Bar

GRILL

The Lounge

www.thefourwinds.co.uk facebook.com/fourwindsbelfast twitter.com/the_fourwinds Tel: 028 9070 7970

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PAGE 14

o Your Local News

While April 1st marked an historic day for councils across Northern Ireland, for one family business in east Belfast, whose founder was born in Lisburn, it marks a homecoming of sorts as Hillmount Garden Centre celebrates its 75th anniversary and trading in the new Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.

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EAST BELFAST GARDEN CENTRE CELEBRATES 75 YEARS

o celebrate 75 years of being an employer in the Castlereagh area and of selling plants to brighten up local gardens and the landscape, the Mercer family has produced a special commemorative book and opened an exhibition at the garden centre which will run until September 1st. The business is now managed by third generation, Robin, and his son

Alan. Robin said: “Horticulture truly is a twenty four seven job, as plants need cared for all year round, so horticulture is definitely in the blood.

I’m proud that four generations of our family have been truly embedded into planting, growing, caring for and selling plants of every colour and species, for 75 years.” The family sold plants and vegetables during the war but the possibil-

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ity of one day selling handbags and jewellery would have been out of the question for them when Hillmount was founded in 1940.

As living conditions improved after the war, the nursery bloomed into a garden centre as demand for colourful plants and shrubs from house proud local residents began to grow. Robin added: “I’ve witnessed major changes in garden retail over the years. Twenty years ago you had to pre order rhododendrons and roses three years in advance. Where as today we order by email and can expect delivery from Holland, Ireland and England in just three days. “We have seen many trends over the years, in the 80’s everyone wanted conifers, in the 90’s everyone wanted as much colour as possible. In the noughties ‘grow your own’ became trendy. Now people are starting to colour coordinate their garden. Their garden furniture, bbq, pots and flowers must all look perfect together. Apartment living has caused an upsurge in container gardening and hanging baskets remain very popular for adding instant colour. Customers who shopped at Hillmount in the 1940s and their families still shop regularly at Hillmount today. Over the years we have met lots of lovely customers who we regard as friends.”

Not content with some 50 staff and a turnover which has grown significantly year on year over the past 20 years, the only BBQ Academy of its kind in a garden centre in Ireland, four star status

PRETTY

awarded by Northern Ireland Tourist Board and being named Business of the Year at the inaugural Castlereagh Business Awards, Robin and Alan opened Hillmount’s sister garden centre in Bangor last year. In its first year of trading, the new store has exceeded all forecasted targets and, with a total staff of 75 employed from the local community, the Mercer family are looking forward to serving the community into the next century and beyond.

Looking back with immense pride on the employment opportunities offered, customers they have served, gardens they have lovingly cared for and plants they have tenderly grown, the Mercer family is sharing memories of the growth of Hillmount on their 75th anniversary with a unique exhibition charting the family’s success.

The exhibition was launched to the public today and includes artefacts, gardening chemicals now banned from use, images of the family meeting Her Majesty The Queen, original furniture from The Coffee Cabin, the Singer sewing machine Pamela brought home from Australia and a one hundred year old organ.

Hillmount Garden Centre, 75th anniversary exhibition runs until Tuesday 1 September. www.facebook.com/hillmountgardencentre Twitter : @hillmountgarden.

WWW.HILLMOUNT.CO.UK

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PRETTY IN INK BELFAST offers a range of semi permanent make-up procedures.

The salon is run by Alexis James, a fully qualified, and insured, semi permanent make-up artist and trainer, who has carried out over 5,000 PROCEDURES in the last five years. Alexis offers a pre-consultation and mineral test, and an example of what your new eyebrows will look like. The salon offers a number of permanent make up procedures plus beauty treatments: Eyebrows, Lip Liner & Blush, Eyeliner, Micropigmentation and Alexis works with cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and also alopecia sufferers.

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EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015 THESE PEOPLE ARE REACHING 42,000 HOMES & BUSINESSES

Email stuart@loopmag.net

PAGE 15

Your Local News o

Tel : 028 9070 1607

WE HAVE SUCCESSFULLY OBTAINED DEAFNESS CLAIMS FROm: COMING UP AT THE STRAND ARTS CENTRE THIS MONTH

T

he big movie in April is Avengers: Age of Ultron, based on the Marvel Comics superhero team and starring Robert Downey Jnr., Chris Hemsworth (as Thor) and Mark Ruffalo (as the Incredible Hulk.) Did you know the Strand now offers live events as well as movies? Well you certainly will once you’ve been dancing in the aisles to The Björn Identity (30 April), the finest Abba tribute show this side of Sweden. Featuring specially selected performers with West End and International touring experience, they never fail to exceed all expectations. Belfast Film Festival : The Strand is one of the city’s venues for some fantastic screenings as part of the 15th Belfast Film Festival. With its own architecture influenced by its proximity to the shipyard, the Strand is the perfect venue in which to screen The Steel Chest, Nail in the Boot and the Barking Dog (18 April), an award-winning documentary by David Hammond largely told in story and song by the families who made their livings in Harland & Wolff. A tribute to Gerry Anderson, A City Dreaming (19 April) is a beautiful portrait of Derry-Londonderry narrated by the much-loved late broadcaster – a series of personal and intimate recollections of a city and its people. The Iron Man (25 April) is the story of Irish artist and poet Michael Thatcher’s inspirational battle with terminal cancer, following the last two years of his life. And in a real throwback to the golden age of cinema, Belfast Film Festival has programmed a Saturday matinee event on 25 April called Dad’s Cinema. How many times did your dad have to take you to the cinema as a kid? Now it’s your turn to reward him with a trip down memory lane and a screening of the great war classic, Where Eagles Dare, starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood.

Buy one ticket, dad gets in free!

www.belfastfilmfestival.org & www.strandartscente.com

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n 18th and 19th April - Celebrity Foot Reader - Jane Sheenan - is coming to Lisburn’s Hillhall Resource Centre to do a 2 day workshop on Footreading. Jane has been on This Morning , Big Brother’s Little Brother, Alan Carr, Des & Mel, Lorraine etc reading many celebrities feet. Tickets from www.footreading.com. At Source Wellbeing Centre on Beersbridge Rd On 1-3 May - Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy hosted by Amanda Porter. This is the first time this ancient Mayan Technique therapy has been taught in NI. Also at Source Wellbeing Centre on 9th and 10th May - Oriental Face Reading hosted by Anna Louise Haigh in Belfast for the first time to deliver this training of an ancient Chinese way of discovering , understanding and nurturing the true inner person. Finally at Dee Street community centre on 2nd and 3rd June - Chris Stormer is returning from Johannesburg for her final tour of NI - Language of the Feet - the next step - Chris is an amazing lady, formerly a nurse has great insight into the ever changing characteristics of the feet from their shape, size, skin condition, bone structure and abnormalities etc as well as the colours and markings to understand what is really going on emotionally & spiritually & unearth the souls innermost needs.

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PAGE 16

o Local Schools

EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

/// What have your star pupils been up to? Let us know stuart@loopmag.net US STAR WILL.I.AM GIVES TECH MESSAGE TO BELFAST TEENAGERS

EAST BELFAST NURSERY SCHOOL IN POETRY TRIUMPH

The US producer, entrepreneur and tech innovator, will.i.am, has encouraged teenagers here to “get excited” about a career in the entrepreneurial knowledge economy. At an event in Belfast last month more than 200 young people received a special, personal message from The Voice star, as they gathered for the Generation Innovation ‘Night of Ambition’. Teenagers from 80 schools and colleges came together at St George’s Market for the annual event, organised by the NISP CONNECT team at the Northern Ireland Science Park. This action packed evening aims to inspire

16-17 year olds to consider a career in the tech and creative industries by getting them “up close and personal” with some of Northern Ireland’s most influential startup entrepreneurs and tech founders. In his message, he said, “I can’t wait to use the things that you guys create. I can’t wait to be knocked off my feet by the things that you guys bring to the world.”

The full will.i.am video can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/Wm9kxN7Y2c0. For more information on the future events to come, or to sign up to Generation Innovation, please visit their website:

www.generationinnovation.co

E

very child in McArthur Nursery school travelled to the Lyric Theatre Belfast in March to recite the poem ‘Everybody Says’ by Dorothy Aldis. The children were very brave and marched down to the big stage on their own and recited the poem. The adjudicator praised the children for their beautiful renditions and also commented on their excellent behaviour. Mrs Eithne Daly, School Principal is very proud of all of the children. She would like to thank the parents for preparing the children. It took a lot of patience and hard work to ensure the children were ready for their stage debut. After the successful performance the children went to McDonalds for a treat!

LOCAL SCHOOL FILM CLUB SCOOPS AWARD

I SMART TECH SKILLS BOOST FOR LOCAL PUPILS Explosion of STEM Innovation at the Sentinus Smart Technology Final Celebration Day

T

rainee teachers and primary school children from across NI gathered last month to celebrate the success of the Sentinus ‘Smart Technology’ programme. Unfortunately this is the last time the programme, aimed at improving the teaching and learning of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) while also developing the skills and confidence of trainee teachers, will run due to budget cuts imposed by the NI Executive. This year, over 100 trainee teachers and 2,500 primary school students participated in the initiative, which focused on both the use of sensor technology and how this can be incorporated into children’s story books such as Kensuke’s Kingdom, and computer programming of microbots which allows school children an opportunity

to explore the world of robotics. Sentinus is an educational charity working with over 60,000 young people a year in Northern Ireland to deliver programmes that promote engagement in STEM. In development and delivery of the ‘Smart Technology’ programme, Sentinus has worked in partnership with St Mary’s University College, Stranmillis University College and the University of Ulster’s School of Education for the past four years. As part of the initiative, Sentinus provides student teachers with training to equip them with the necessary skills to deliver a series of STEM workshops to primary school children over several weeks. Pictured (L-R) Surya Muthu; Conal O’Baoill; Lea Bengoechea; Mr Colin Ferran; Leanda Begiri and Poppy Andrews from Rosetta Primary School.

nto Film, a leading education charity dedicated to putting film at the heart of children and young people’s learning, has announced that East Belfast’s Ashfield Girls School has won the Into Film Club Of The Year: 13s and Over category, sponsored by Sony Pictures, at its inaugural awards. The charity, who is supported by the BFI with Lottery funding, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and Cinema First, honoured awardees during a star-studded ceremony at Empire Leicester Square, which celebrated the best of the UK’s young filmmakers, film reviewers and teachers utilising the educational power of film. Harry Potter star Jessie Cave, and Ross Anderson of Unbroken presented the pupils with their well-earned award. Originally part of the film club pilot in Northern Ireland, this club has been running for over three years with 25 committed members and is being recognized for inclusive nature and enthusiasm. L-R Actor Ross Anderson, students Krizzah Poloicarpio, Helen Joiner, Poppy Huntley and actress Jessie Cave.

Grosvenor Grammar School’s Chamber Choir which was recently victorious in the Country Antrim (including Belfast) heat of the prestigious ‘BBC Radio Ulster School Choir if the Year Competition’. The Chamber Choir will now contest the province-wide final of the event at The Ulster Hall this month.

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PAGE 18

o Health Advice

Fintan before

Fintan well on his way to target!

Sky’s the limit for Lisa after reaching her target weight

SALLY SHARES HER SLIMMING WORLD SUCCESS!

S

Helping people achieve their dreams, especially when it comes to losing weight, is no mean achievement. Slimming World Consultants are well known for being very dedicated when it comes to real help and support through one of the most difficult things anyone ever has to do in their lives.

ally Moore who runs the Ballyhackamore and Holywood Slimming World Groups says “I really do love this job, it is a special job. Seeing firsthand how someone can change from having no confidence whatsoever, being embarrassed about their size and shape to someone who looks and feels great, brings its own rewards on a daily basis.” Following on from running two very successful evening groups in Holywood every Thursday and Ballyhackamore every Tuesday, Sally is so passionate about her job as a Slimming World Consultant,

and helping transform many lives, she has decided to dedicate more of her time to Slimming World and open a morning group in the Belmont area (in Belmont Presbyterian Church) on Thursday 16 April 2015 at 9.30am.

Sally joined Slimming World as a Consultant in January 2009 and has helped many members lose weight. She is incredibly proud of each and every one and has had the privilege of seeing members’ lives change for the better.

One of her male members, Fintan Murray, a 53 year old, who joined the Holywood group

has lost over 8 stone to date and is enjoying the health benefits that come along with that weight loss. Fintan says “I feel like a new man since losing weight – going it alone wasn’t working for me and I decided I didn’t have anything to lose by giving Slimming World a go. I have no regrets about joining the group as everyone is friendly and supportive and we are all there for the same reason regardless the amount of weight we have to lose. I still want to lose some more weight and I have every confidence, and with the help of the group support, that I will achieve my goal.”

Another member, Lisa McAnally, who was voted Ballyhackamore’s group Miss Slinky, is enjoying healthy eating habits and has incorporated it into her family life. Lisa joined the group

EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

wanting to lose around a stone and a half and she did that very successfully – within 12 weeks she had almost 2 stone off and just loves her new healthier lifestyle. Lisa has a young family and recently completed a Skydive for charity – something she would not have considered with carrying an extra 2 stone.

Sally says “These are just a couple of success stories within the group – I am sure I could write a book with many more! Maybe your dream is to lose weight and enjoy a healthier lifestyle - losing weight doesn’t have to be a joyless experience, you don’t have to go hungry or deprive yourself of your favourite foods either. It’s about regular support and making small, realistic changes that you can keep up in the long term. By sharing ideas and inspirations the members in our groups have learned how to make clever choices for a healthier lifestyle. Each week we help one another through difficult times, build our confidence, and celebrate our successes together, like good friends do.”

Sally’s new morning group opens on Thursday 16 April 2015 at 9.30am and will meet in Belmont Presbyterian Church, Sydenham Avenue, every Thursday morning at 9.30am. A warm welcome awaits you!

If you would like to find out more please contact Sally on 07738 713436.

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§ EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015 THESE PEOPLE ARE REACHING 42,000 HOMES & BUSINESSES

Email stuart@loopmag.net

Tel : 028 9070 1607

PAGE 19

Health Advice o

HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR GLASSES

By Rosemary McWatters, Optician : “Here are some useful tips that I often share with people when they are collecting their new glasses.”

I SEE CLEARLY

through Nikon spectacle lenses

STEP ONE – KEEP THEM CLEAN Glasses should be cleaned regularly using the proper cloth. A special machine washable microfibre cleaning cloth from your optician is best. They may give you one with your new glasses. This cleaning cloth can be used to wipe away finger-prints and minor dirt and dust. A tissue or the edge of your shirt or jumper will not clean them properly and will scratch the lenses over time. When they are very dirty or have grease or grime on the lens surface it is best to wash your glasses. You should use a small amount of hand soap to clean your lenses with your fingertips. Then rinse them with luke-warm water and air dry or pat the frames dry with a soft clean towel. Finally polish the lenses with your special microfibre cloth which you should wash regularly.

A dirty cloth will not clean your glasses.

STEP TWO – BE CAREFUL WITH THEM Bent glasses are usually caused when we sit on them or we do not take care putting them on and removing them. Always use both hands to put on and take off your glasses. Glasses are designed to sit on your nose and not on your head—they will easily get out of shape if you wear them this way. To avoid scratches, always make sure that the lenses are facing upwards when you put your glasses down. Never place your glasses in your pocket, or bag unprotected. Good advice is to follow the rule that glasses should only ever be ‘on your face or in the case’.

MY GLASSES ARE ALWAYS DIRTY If you are often cleaning your glasses properly and they still seem just as dirty then it may be a sign of cataract developing and it would be worth talking to your optician.

41 COMBER ROAD DUNDONALD BT16 2AA TEL: 02890 486222

41 COMBER ROAD, DUNDONALD, BT16 2AA 028 9048 6222 WWW.MCWATTERSOPTICIANS.CO.UK

mcwattersopticians.co.uk

CANCER FOCUS CALL FOR BEAUTY THERAPIST VOLUNTEERS Cancer Focus Northern Ireland is seeking new volunteers in the greater Belfast/ Lisburn, Newtownabbey/Bangor areas to join its team of beauty therapists to treat cancer patients in hospital to a little pampering.

V

olunteer Susan Johnston (right), from Hillsborough, helped set up the Beauty for Life service at Belfast City Hospital, which has been a great success.“I’m a retired beauty therapist and it gives me great satisfaction to provide much needed respite for patients, giving them time out from their cancer diagnosis and treatment,” she said. “We offer one-to-one sessions - from a 30 minute facial to a make-up application or mini-manicure.

These beauty treatments give patients personal time, relaxation and a well-deserved confidence boost just when they need it. I know how much patients appreciate a small massage or facial when stressed or anxious and it doesn’t take a lot for me to help. It’s a lovely service and I’d definitely encourage more people to get involved.” Cancer Focus NI Volunteer Coordinator Morag Chambers said: “Beauty for Life is a one of our most popular services. www.cancerfocusni.org.

Feedback from patients is excellent and they tell us that they feel better in themselves and more confident in their appearance. Beauty for Life helps patients stay positive and encourages them to make a little time for themselves during a very difficult period in their lives. It’s easy to volunteer and you can get so much back. All you need is a NVQ 2 or 3 in beauty therapy (ideally with two years’ experience) and enjoy meeting people.”

If you’d like to find out more call Morag on 9066 3281 or email moragchambers@ cancerfocusni.org. If you decide to volunteer you’ll be joining a friendly team, supporting cancer patients in your community.

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PAGE 20

o The Great Outdoors!

EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

Email stuart@loopmag.net

CONNSWATER COMMUNITY GREENWAY CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES… With the first phase of the Connswater Community Greenway complete work is now focusing on the second and final construction phase of the £40million project.

W

ork is currently focusing on the construction of the Greenway at the Orangefield Park to Knock Dual Carriageway section. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Rivers Agency is also working in partnership to deliver the East Belfast Flood Alleviation Scheme (EBFAS) which will help reduce flooding to 1,700 properties and is currently focused on works at Grand Parade, Castlereagh Road and Clara Park. At Laburnum Playing Fields the contractor, Farrans Construction, is making good progress with earthworks, drainage and path formation. Work has also begun on construction of the C.S. Lewis Civic Square at Holywood Arches, just off the Newtownards Road. Once complete this public realm will become a central hub for residents and visitors to use for events and activities. Looking ahead signage will be appearing along the route, with further enabling works at future road crossing points, and partial temporary closures of lane ways and

some minor disruption is anticipated. Work on the black path is also ongoing with replacement of the permanent fencing with temporary panel fencing. Unfortunately due to health and safety concerns Farrans Construction will be closing part of the black path (between Mersey Street and Connswater Street) for the duration of the Greenway works. There will be diversion routes for pedestrians/ cyclists set in place during this closure but we advise planning ahead for your journey and apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

You can already pop along to Orangefield and Victoria Parks to view their transformation as part of the Connswater Community Greenway project. You can observe the wildlife and nature the parks have to offer and also get a taste of what Phase 2 will bring. Plans for Phase 2 include the new C.S. Lewis themed civic square at Holywood Arches, new bridges, crossings and signage, new play areas and public art along with extensive, integrated

T

ADVENTURERS PLAYGROUND OPENS AT BELFAST ZOO Young visitors to Belfast Zoo – one of Northern Ireland’s most popular tourist attractions - are facing a £430,000 challenge with the opening of a new, exciting and innovative play area, the Adventurers’ Learning Centre. www.belfastzoo.co.uk.

he latest interactive addition to the zoo offers visitors the chance to cross Crocodile Creek, tunnel through Meerkat Mound and slither their way through Snake Island, all while learning more about animals at Belfast zoo, native species and biodiversity. It also includes life–like animal sculptures created by Noel Donaghy and Game of Thrones artist, Andrew MacIntyre. The development has been jointly funded by Belfast City Council’s Investment Programme and the European Regional Development Fund, under the European Sustainable Competitive Programme for Northern Ireland, administered by Tourism NI. Former Lord Mayor, Nichola Mallon, officially opened the new play park on 25th March with the Head of the European Commission Office in Northern Ireland, Colette Fitzgerald. Seven year old Shay Wong, from St Oliver Plunkett Primary School, Derry, who took top place in the zoo’s Northern Ireland-wide School’s Short Story Competition read his winning story – A Secret Adventure at Belfast Zoo. He then joined Councillor Mallon and Ms Fitzgerald in cutting the ribbon on the new facilities

flood defences serving homes and businesses in the area. Once complete in late 2016, the Greenway will include 16km of new cycle and walking paths which will connect people and places across the east of the city, linking with Titanic Quarter and Belfast City Centre.

The contractor, Farrans Construction, is also operating a 24/7 freephone customer care line should you have any queries or comments about the works, please call 0800 0838 160.

As work is progresses on elements of the East Belfast Flood Alleviation scheme Rivers Agency is also engaging with affected communities and public representatives. If you have any enquiries regarding the Rivers Agency’s work please contact Alex Bailie on 028 9025 3355. You can also visit the website for all the latest project news and updates

www.connswatergreenway.co.uk. which have been given the thumbs up by local children. Much of the new equipment highlights selected species from the zoo including Elephant Clearing, Hippo Haunt; Piranha Pass and Gorilla Glade. Colette Fitzgerald, Head of the European Commission Office in Northern Ireland, congratulated Belfast City Council and zoo staff on creating such a wonderful facility.

“I hope the children here today will one day be bringing their own children to this playground, it makes the zoo more attractive for tourists as well as benefitting local people. This is the latest in a long list of projects the European Union has supported across Northern Ireland, many improving tourism infrastructure – from the opening of the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre to the ongoing transformation of Belfast Waterfront into an international standard conference venue. All these project are aimed at helping increase tourism in Northern Ireland because we hope that by helping to increase tourism we help businesses and so create jobs.” Zoo manager Mark Challis, said the staff were delighted to see the new facilities open in time for the busy spring and summer period.

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PAGE 22

o The History Man

EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

A LITTLE HISTORY

By Aidan Campbell

With The Cheltenham Festival in the news recently and The Grand National coming soon, it reminded me of a connection with street naming in East Belfast

“

“

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

McCaw, Stevenson & Orr Printworks, Castlereagh Road 1923

Semi detached villas priced £550-£1,100!

‘Trigo’ Derby winner 1929

Castlereagh Road 1928, in the vicinity of Grand Parade.

I

published my book on the history of Castlereagh several years ago and was aware of the close association with horseracing and the surrounding street names on the Castlereagh Road. In 1923 the McCaw, Stevenson & Orr Printworks, alongside the Loop River on Castlereagh Road was on the very outskirts of Belfast and considered to be ‘out in the country’.

But by 1928 preparations, such as tramlines and street lighting, were in hand for housing development.

I wondered about the use of the names of Derby winners in the street names and I was contacted by a retired estate agent who informed me that the house builder in the 1920s and 1930s was a keen horse racing fan – thus the link. Ormonde was the earliest Derby winner in 1886 and was followed in 1894 by Ladas, in 1902 by Ard Patrick, in 1905 by Cicero, in 1907 by Orby, in 1915

by Pommern, in 1919 by Grand Parade, in 1930 by Blenheim and in 1931 by Cameronian. These are all familiar names of streets in the Castlereagh area.

But possibly the most talked about Derby winner was Trigo (Trigo being the Spanish word for ‘wheat’ reflecting his owner’s

Stirling Avenue, 1952

business). He was particularly interesting as he won the 1929 Derby (as well as the English and Irish St Ledgers) at very long odds of 33/1. Trigo was not considered a serious contender for the Epsom Derby but the story goes that as he was being taken to the race the trainer was told ‘He’s the best colt that has ever left Ireland.’ Despite miserable weather, the race attracted a record crowd, estimated at half a million and many Belfast residents backed the horse heavily. I spoke to an elderly neighbour recently who recalled that in his family years ago his father told his mother ‘Get all the housekeeping money on Trigo – he is a sure thing!’

This was dutifully done and many punters made money. Trigo was owned by local

Shorts Missiles Montgomery Road 1952

businessman and successful racehorse owner and breeder William Barnett who lived at Malone House, Belfast. William Barnett was also the founder of W & R Barnett Ltd based in Belfast which became one of the leading grain importing and exporting companies in the United Kingdom with significant interests in Argentina (where Spanish is spoken). He bequeathed Malone House and one hundred acres of attached land to Belfast Corporation and was very generous in leaving money to local hospitals.

Some other street naming in the Castlereagh area includes Montgomery Road, Alanbrooke Road, Alexander Road and Dill Road which are all named after Ulster Generals from WW2. Stirling Avenue, Tudor

Avenue and Sunderland Road are named after Shorts aircraft and Rochester Road takes its name from the English town where Shorts was originally based. In the neighbouring Cregagh estate the names of rivers in Northern Ireland such as Trassey, Shimna, Kilbroney and Burren are applied to thoroughfares while on Cregagh Road the name of Downshire is taken from the landowner years ago, the Marquis of Downshire.

Look out for the historical origins of more street naming in East Belfast in future editions of Loop. Next month’s article will coincide nicely with the Parliamentary elections so will include a look at the origins of Stormont (or perhaps should that be ‘Storm Mount’?)

AIDAN CAMPBELL HAS PUBLISHED 11 LOCAL HISTORY BOOKS COVERING AREAS OF EAST BELFAST. ON SALE AT HILLMOUNT GARDEN CENTRE, MARIE CURIE HOSPICE AND ON HIS WEBSITE EASTBELFASTHISTORY.COM

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PAGE 24

o The Arts SCOPING IT OUT

CREATIVE EXCHANGE IN BELFAST AND NEW YORK

300 people attended the event, which raised awareness of the wealth of artistic talent the east has to offer. Festival-goers were able to make their very own wish and place it on the tree, quite a moving experience for many.

C

reative Exchange Studios, based in Portview Trade Centre on the Newtownards Road, is home to 15 fine and digital artists, all working and experimenting in various fields of painting, ceramics, photography and sculpture.

Creative Exchange also works extensively in the community on various socially engaged artistic projects across the city. Most recently, on Saturday 28th of March, Creative Exchange Artists Deirdre and Geordie Robb held a successful Wishing Tree workshop, in the old Skyline Building on the Newtownards Road, as part of the EastSide Urban Village Festival. Over

Ray Duncan Abstract

April now sees the opening of Ray Duncan’s solo show at The Engine Room Gallery, now based at 17a Clarence Street, off Linen Hall Street, in the city centre. Ray is a founding member and past Chair of Creative Exchange, and one of the true stalwarts of the organisation’s 18-year history, and shows regularly across Ireland. Ray is known to many artists across the city, having been

a lecturer in the arts at Belfast Metropolitan College for most of his working life and a member of the Ulster Arts Club. This exhibition will showcase some of his new works, based on the urban and industrial landscapes of Belfast.

The exhibition opens on Thursday 2nd of April and continues until the 30th of the month.

On the international front, Lesley Cherry has recently held a successful debut at The Scope Art Fair in New York, where her work was represented by the Belfast-based Golden Thread Gallery. Lesley was awarded the prestigious Artists Enhancement Award from the Arts Council of NI in 2014 and had been working with the gallery on the development of her artistic career. The New York trip ended what was a busy few months for Lesley, with her solo exhibition at the Golden Thread running throughout the month of February. She is also off to Dublin in May to address the Visual Arts Ireland National conference, talking about her work and practice.

EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

A Wish for East Belfast

Peter Richards and Sara McAvera from the Golden a Thread Gallery with Creative Exchange artist Lesley Cherry at Scope New York

Lesleycherry.wordpress.com facebook.com/CreativeExchangeArtistsStudios facebook.com/TheEngineRoomGallery

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL COOPER

EAST BELFAST MURAL PROJECT REVEALS TEENAGE DREAMS STILL HARD TO BEAT TEENAGE DREAMS SO HARD TO BEAT – The Undertones lyrics from the song Teenage Kicks are as relevant now as they were back in 1978. So much so that when the iconic Bridge End flyover ‘Teenage Kicks’ mural featuring the lyrics was removed in 2013 over 7000 people took to social media to protest.

T

wo years later thanks to an East Belfast Partnership lead project – it is back. Reworked and reinstalled by the same artists who painted the original, Blaze FX, but this time with the help from young people from the Short Strand/Newtownards Road (Ballymac) interface. The youth project, supported

by Depart of Social Development, Belfast City Council and the Urban Village initiative, provided an opportunity for 20 young people from the Short Strand/Newtownards Road (Ballymac) communities to work together over four months to, not only reinstall the ‘Teenage Kicks’ mural, but, through music and art, create their own unique piece of music to

inspire and design their own mural. The project included artistic guidance and mentoring on writing lyrics and music production by respected local music producer Rocky O’Reilly as well as mural design from the team at Blaze FX. The mural will once again bring a smile. As part of the EastSide Urban Village Festival, on Saturday 28th March, the reinstalled mural was officially revealed along with the newly designed mural from the ‘Ballymac/Short Strand Crew.’ which was inspired by their song – ‘Making Changes.’

East Belfast Partnership Neighbourhood Renewal Coordinator, Sara Houston, said: “Not only has this has been a great project to be involved in but it simply reflects

The Launch of the Teenage Kicks Mural and the Making Changes Art & Music Project with Terri Hooley (above left) at the EastSide Urban Village Festival 2015

the type of work East Belfast Partnership has been involved in over the past 20 years. It has allowed young people from East Belfast to come together to celebrate our musical heritage as well as explore their artistic and musical talents.

It has demonstrated how creative our young people can be when given the opportunity.”

The Eastside Urban Village Festival was packed with music, dance, family fun and much more in venues across the east of the city. For further details on the EastSide Urban Village Festival and the work of East Belfast Partnership visit their website.

www.eastbelfastpartnership.org

§ EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015 THESE PEOPLE ARE REACHING 42,000 HOMES & BUSINESSES

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EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

“I do”

Image by : White Cloud Photographic

BELFAST PHOTO FESTIVAL GOES BACK Now taking bookings for our new Loughview Suite available for TOCelebrations THE FUTURE Weddings, Gala Dinners, and conferencing.

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26th June cheduled for early May this year the former employees of the Dunmurry factory plan to reunite MUSIC Neil Diamond Tributeover Night for the first time ever in BelfastEVERY to celebrate the enduring following the car has amassed the FRIDAY& years. To coincide with the yearSATURDAY Marty McFly travelled to in Back To The Future 2, the internationally 26th September NIGHT recognized Belfast Photo Festival is planning to build its own DeLorean.The Combining the disciplines of Legends of Country sculpture and photography in the artistic style of French artist Cyril Hatt, the DMC-12 will be meticulously photographed with each image being printed on to aluminum plates that will then be combined to form a full-scale replica of the car. Unbeknownst to many, the former employees of the Dunmurry based factory Easter Sunday Carvery had a unique tradition of adding their own personal touches to the DMC-12. Often found on the unseen pm last sitting inner stainless steel body panels of the DMC-12 are messages – coinedfrom ‘cave12:30 paintings’ - that giveatus4:00 a pm Booking essential glimpse into the excitement felt by each employee during their time with the DeLorean Motor Company.

Those travelling from across the worldRELAX to convene Belfast plan to join thespecial staff of the Belfast Photorates, THISin EASTER eggstra room Festival and once again add their ownEaster unique messages to and the Tuesday individual aluminum Sunday, Monday £50photographic per room per night (includesplates breakfast) that will form the DMC-12 sculpture. The Belfast Photo Festival is extending the DeLorean Print Project to include a crowdfunding campaign to offer backers the opportunity to own one of the pieces of the distincApril The sculpture will be unveiled on the tive photographic sculpture among a variety of other incentives.

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Dont forget Walley Fine Arts continuing exhibition of East Belfast artist Eddie Millar’s work entitled “Queens Island, the ships and the people” in the Andrew’s Gallery based in the Titanic Visitor Centre running until mid May. The show encapsulates 3 years of work on a variety of narratives based on the life and times of the Harland & Wolff shipyard, from a welders point of view. Eddie has been working from his studio in East Belfast for over 25 years now and has an amazing capability of capturing lost moments in time by way of portraiture. His life and times as a messenger boy when he was 15 years old and later in life as a welder has lead him to produce over 45 pieces of work for this very popular show.

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§ EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015 THESE PEOPLE ARE REACHING 42,000 HOMES & BUSINESSES

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o What’s Happening?

YOUR AT A GLANCE MONTHLY GUIDE TO WHAT’S GOING ON IN YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

MUMS & TOTS Etc

MONDAY Calvary Mums & Toddlers.

10.30-12.00am. £1 per family.

100 Dee St, BT4 028 9073 2331 East End Baptist Tiny Tots (Westbourne street). Each Monday during term time 10:30-12noon. £1 donation. Tel: 07786 962220.

Little Stars The Salvation Army 110 Cregagh Road Toys/snacks/craft/music. £1.50 per family. 10am-12 term time for 0-4 years. 028 9045 4466.

Sydenham Parent & Toddler Mon 10-11.30 £1 per family Inverary CC BT4 1RN 028 9047 1456 St Finnians 10-11.30. Cregagh Park, 028 9079 2793.

Wandsworth Mums & Chums 10-11.45am. Wandsworth CC. £1 26a Belmont Church Rd. 07903 674698

TUESDAY Albertbridge Congregational 10.30-12.15 Woodstock Link. Donation £1 CFC Mops & Tots 9.30-11am (term time - alternate Tuesdays) £1 for one child, £1.50 total for more.

Tea/coffee/juice/snacks.

CFC Mops 9.30-11am (term time - alternate Tuesdays) £3.50 per mum. Breakfast and creche. 10 Belmont Rd. 028 9067 1838 www.thisiscfc.com Mersey Street Presbyterian.

10-11.45am term time. £1.

Mersey St Presbyterian 028 9065 7025 Mount Merrion Parish Church 10am Toddler Group. Tel 07905 144070 Mount Merrion Ave, BT6.

St Donards Church 10am-12 Bloomfield Avenue Tel: 028 9065 2321 £1 for adults. Tea/coffee/juice Strandtown Baptist Tots 10.00- 11.30am (term time) Strandtown Baptist Church, 1 Clonallon Court BT4 2AB Tel: 028 9080 8380 £1 per adult Tots & Co 10.15- 11.45am (term time) Cregagh Methodist Church £1.50 per family (incl juice/snack & tea. 28-30 Cregagh Rd. 028 9045 7564

WEDNESDAY Busy Bees 10 -11:30am Knock Methodist Church, Knock Road. Tel: 028 9065 3413 Orangefield Baptist Church 10.30-12. 37 North Road, BT5 5NE smallTALK @ orangefield 10-11.45am O’field Church & Community, 464 Castlereagh Road 07745 076911 orangefield.org.uk St Colmcille’s Parent & Toddler 10am term time St Colmcille’s Parish Hall (opposite Tesco’s) in Ballyhackamore. Men looking after young children welcome.

191a Upper Newtownards Rd Willowfield Mother & Toddler 10-12pm W’stock Rd, 028 9045 7654

THURSDAY Bloomfield Methodist Church 10-11.30am £1 per family Grand Parade 028 9065 8946.

Cregagh Mums & Tots 10-12pm Cregagh CC. Mount Merrion Avenue.

Tel: 028 9040 1444 Gilnahirk Presbyterian Thursdays 10-11.30am. £1 per family. 161 Gilnahirk Rd. Tel: Laura 07708 000025 Kirkpatrick Memorial Presb Parents & Toddlers. 10-11.30am Upper Newtownards Rd £1 donation Knock Parent & Toddler 10-11.45am Knock Presbyterian 53 Kings Road, Gillian 07803 117619.

FRIDAY Tots ‘R’ Us 10.30am House of Worship 127a Orby Drive Tel: 07791 776307/07980 984506 St Columba’s Mums & Tots 9.45-11.45 (term time). 29 Kings Road

CLASSES & EVENTS

MONDAY Ballyhackamore Library 1-3 Eastleigh Drive 028 9050 9204 Ballyhack Book Pack - Adult reading group (1st Mon of the month) 7pm. Knit & Natter 2-4pm. Bedtime Stories 7pm. Womens Book Club (Last Mon of the month) 7pm. Creative Writers (3rd Mon of the month) 6.45pm.

Ballyhackamore Crime Reading Group (2nd Mon of the month) 7pm.

Bean Blessed Bloomfield Ave Congregational Church Tea/ coffee, scones, pastries. 10.30-12 Harding Memorial Rainbows 4-7yrs Mon 6pm Brownies 7-10yrs Monday 7pm Guides 10-14yrs Mondays 7pm.

Contact Clare 07905 556825.

Orangefield Baptist Ladies Coffee Morning 1st Mon of month 10.30am 37 North Rd 028 9065 7876 Skainos Building skainos.org Badminton 2-3pm. Crosslinks - Cross Community Arts 7-9pm 14-21 yr olds. Contact Andy Hill.

Strand Cinema & NI Stars Holywood Road, BT4 .nistars.com Singing & dancing 7-8pm Wandsworth Community 028 9065 1668. Children’s Drama Academy 5-6pm.

Children & Teens carnival drumming 6.30pm-7.30pm.

Aerobics 7-8pm. Combat 8.15-9.30pm

TUESDAY Ardenlee Ladies Bowling Club Warm and friendly Club welcoming new members.

Experience not necessary, bowls supplied. Ravenhill Green, Ormeau Park, opposite Ravenhill Avenue All enquiries to 90586446. Also meet on Thursdays.

Belmont Tower www.belmont-tower.co.uk Childrens dance classes 4-7pm Pregnancy Yoga 7.30-8.30pm East Belfast Wine Makers Mount Merrion Parish Church Junior puppet club. 3.30pm. P1-P3. Tel 07443 334690

EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

/// Send your event details to stuart@loopmag.net

Senior puppet club. 4.30pm. P4-P7. Tel 07443 334690 Learn to dance. 7.30pm, Ballroom, sequence & Latin.

Tel 07547 801383. Mount Merrion Ave, BT6.

Skainos Building skainos.org Compass Womens Group 7-9pm Zumba 12.30-1.30pm Wandsworth Community Playclub 3-4 yr olds 10am-12.

Painting for Pleasure 11am-1pm Kids Irish dancing 5-6.30pm, Aerobics 7-8pm. Appreciation of Art 7-9pm. Wasps seniors group last Tues of month 2-3.30pm

WEDNESDAY

29th NI Girls Brigade Cregagh Congregational. Explorers (3-7) 6:45-8:15pm.

Company Section (8-18) 6:45-10pm.

Helen 07938 521823.

Belmont Tower www.belmont-tower.co.uk Baby massage 10am-1pm. Yoga with Eleanor 5.457.45pm. Body Rolling 7.30-8.30pm.

39th Old Boys 7-9pm Over 60’s Lunch Club Bloomfield Methodist Church 12.30pm. 3 courses for £3. Grand Parade.

Tel: 028 9065 2314 to book.

Gilnahirk Men’s Group Jack Britton Hall. Tea/coffee/chat & a speaker. 10.30-12 until 29th April.

Girls Brigade Bloomfield Ave Congregational. 3 yrs - P4 6.15pm. P5 upwards 7.30pm Luncheon Club For senior citizens. Cregagh Methodist.

12 noon. £1.50. Pre book on 028 9045 7564.

Mount Merrion Parish Church Homework club. 3pm. P1-P3. Tel 07443 334690 Homework club. 4pm. P4-P7. Tel 07443 334690 Ladies craft club. T: 028 9058 9149. Mount Merrion Ave Skainos Bulding skainos.org Compass Kidz Gap - Parents, guardians, toddlers crafts, games, stories 10am-12. Going Green Gardening 2-4pm. Yoga 5.30-7pm Strand Arts Centre “Wacky Wednesdays” All shows, all day for £3. strandartscentre.com Wandsworth Community Sewing Group 10am-12noon. Flower Arranging 1.303.30pm. Yoga 7-8.30pm Yoga Belfast Pregnancy Yoga @ Gilnahirk Primary. 6.45-7.45pm.

Community drop in class @ Ice Bowl 7-8pm. yogabelfast.com

THURSDAY Ardenlee Ladies Bowling Club Warm and friendly Club welcoming new members.

Experience not necessary, bowls supplied. Ravenhill Green, Ormeau Park, opposite Ravenhill Avenue All enquiries to 90586446. Also meet on Tuesdays.

Ballyhackamore Library 1-3 Eastleigh Drive 028 9050 9204 Rhythm & Rhyme (1st & 3rd Thurs of the month) 11.15am. Booking essential on the morning of event.

Belmont Tower www.belmont-tower.co.uk Art classes 10am-1pm. Baby Sensory Classes 7-13 mths Thurs 10-11am. 0-7 mths Thurs 11.30-12.30 Yoga with Sharon 6-8pm Mindfulness Courses 6.30-8.30pm Mount Merrion Parish Church Diamontes Dance Group. Tel 07880 880829.

Senior Citizens Luncheon Club Midday @ Ballymac Centre. Hot lunch & social time. alison@ballymac.org Skainos Building skainos.org Vibe Academy - Weekly streetdance. p1-p4 3.304.30pm P5-P7 4.30-5.30pm 1st yr+ 6.45-8pm. £6 per class. Lisa 07736 315420. Compass Mens Group 7-9pm.

50+ Gardening & Crafts Thurs 1-2.30pm The Academy Lego Club 3.30-4.30pm. Age 7+. £5. 77 Holywood Rd. 028 9508 8818 Wandsworth Community 028 9065 1668. Needlework 10am-12pm. Spanish mums & tots 11am-12pm. Spanish for preschoolers 2.15-3pm. Spanish for children 3.15-4pm. Boot Camp 7-8pm. Core Combat 8.30-10pm.

FRIDAY Albertbridge Congregational 6 Woodstock Link 028 9045 7434 Friday Friendship. 10.30am-12.30pm.

Ballyhackamore Library 1-3 Eastleigh Drive 028 9050 9204 Chill Out Family Story Time. 3.30pm. Relax & Read 1am-12pm.

Belmont Tower www.belmont-tower.co.uk Belcanto School of Singing 10-1pm Mount Merrion Parish Church 3rd Fri of the month - Messy Church. Tel 07880 880829 Skainos Building skainos.org Fusion - Weekly programme of games, crafts & fun for p1-p7’s. 6.30-8pm £1 per person. Contact Tanita.

The Academy Lego Club 3.30-4.30pm. Ages 3-6 years. £5 p/wk. 77 Holywood Rd. 028 9508 8818 Wandsworth Community Painting for Pleasure 11am-1pm Childrens Ju Jitsu 6-8pm Fitness & Boxing Class 8.30-9.30pm Shiloh Hall 07712 299206, 76 The Mount, Coffee Morning 10:30-12.

SATURDAY Mount Merrion Parish Church SunshineFit Kids - keep fit. Mount Merrion Ave, BT6.

Orangefield Baptist Church 37 North Road, BT5 5NE Searchlight Club p1-p7. 10.30-12.

Skainos Building skainos.org Walking Trips from 10am Strand Cinema & NI Stars Holywood Road, BT4 Stage school. 10-1pm nistars.com The Academy 10am Lego Club. 11am Claycrazy Club. £5 per session.

77 Holywood Rd. 028 9508 8818 Yoga Belfast Pregnancy Yoga @ Physioworks Gilnahirk. 10.30-11.45am @ Community drop in class 10.30-11.45am @ Gilnahirk Primary. yogabelfast.com Wandsworth Community 028 9065 1668. STX/Kickboxing 10am-11.30am

SUNDAY Mount Merrion Parish Church KIC (Birth upwards). 10.30am. Tel 07443 334690 Youth Club. P4-P7. 6pm. Tel 07443 334690 Youth Club. Yr 8 upwards. 7pm. Tel 07926 638314 Mount Merrion Ave, BT6.

Strand Cinema & NI Stars Holywood Road, BT4 Singling & dancing 1.30-3.30pm www.nistars.com

§ EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

Email stuart@loopmag.net

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PAGE 26

o Local Football

YOUR EAST BELFAST FOOTBALL ROUND UP All the latest pitch side analysis

Welders 0 • Armagh City 2 MATCH REPORT BY :

Fred Magee, Football Secretary H&W Welders www.weldersfc.com

The Welders plumbed the depths in this totally

ineffective display at Tillysburn when Armagh City

came away with all three points and deservedly so.

In a game that didn’t rise to any great heights it was the Welders from the start who looked out of sorts,

playing as individuals as opposed to a team. Armagh are a tidy side who moved the ball about with pace

and conviction and were giving the home side plenty

to think about. A lot of the game was contained in the midfield and as the game progressed it really did not see a goal coming.

Half time arrived and still scoreless.

The Welders started with a couple of efforts, McClellan and Rainey going close, but Armagh looked the

more compact side and were beginning to impose themselves as the half went on. An Armagh goal

came after sixty minutes when Andrew Hoey netted

and from then on it was obvious that the visitors were more up for it with the Welders being a poor shadow

of their normal self. Just to rub salt into the wounds it was Armagh who netted again in the seventy eighth minute through Philip Donnelly to kill off any faint hope of a home side revival.

Performances like this from the Welders is hard to

fathom, they are a much better side than this showing but when they are bad they are awful.

Some hard talking after the game from the

management left the players in no doubt of the

unacceptable display and called for a big step up

required for Wednesday evenings encounter against

Bangor in the Intermediate Cup semi-final at Seaview.

problems for keeper James McGrath.

At the other end, Kevin Braniff might have done

better than to screw one into the side netting, albeit from an unhelpful angle.

Holland was left struggling following a hefty

challenge from James Singleton which might have thought would have had referee Arnold Hunter

reaching for his notebook and yellow card. On 10

minutes Holland, under pressure from Kris Lindsay,

managed to clear a free kick but was clearly struggling and was duly replaced by Johnny Addis.

On 15 minutes, Glentoran weren’t gar away when

Willie Garrett’s 25 yard free kick fizzed just over the

bar, following a foul by Rhys Marshall on Curtis Allen.

A minute later, Allen was deprived by keeper McGrath.

At this stage, it was all Glentoran, but again Garrett

was just too high, after getting his head to a Fra

McCaffrey corner. Steven Gordon and Jordan Stewart also went close, although the best chance fell on 28 minutes when Marcus Kane stormed down the left, crossing for Gordon who didn’t connect properly, spooning the ball high and wide.

Glentoran’s profligacy in front of goal was to cost

them dearly as, true to form, it was Glenavon who

showed the way on 31 minutes, totally against the run of play when Singleton was the first to react to

a Braniff corner; referee Hunter adjudging that the

cheeky back heel had just about crossed the line.Five minutes later, Mr Hunter opted for yellow after an incident between Braniff and Calum Birney.

Things degenerated further in first half injury time

when the ball deflected off Garrett, falling nicely for Singleton to slip past Elliott Morris.

The EastEnders must have been wondering just

how they went off two goals down, after dominating the opening half hour, and they started the second

session anxious to make amends but again Gordon was just off target, after meeting Garrett’s right

wing cross. On 52 minutes, Gordon had another

opportunity but his 20 yard drive was blocked by the

home defence. Glenavon ought to have widened the margin just past the hour and Eoin Bradley must still

leaders Newcastle, but with six games in hand. The

confirmed after losing 3-1 in this ‘six pointer’ against

programme.

as Dundela’s relegation from Championship 1 was second bottom PSNI at Newforge.

don’t think we were playing any worse than the

second half, when Ballywalter levelled matters.

getting the breaks. It’s one of those things. It

bit more urgency, the game could have swung

we’re just not getting the rub of the green!”

hesitation in the home defence opened the door

acknowledged, “It has been coming. I personally teams down round us, but we just haven’t been happens in football. You don’t get what you deserve; It means that the Duns are nine points adrift of the

Police, with just three matches remaining. The PSNI, too, have a game in hand. Mark Snodden’s side,

though, are 11 behind third bottom Donegal Celtic so obviously if they win all three matches – a tall

order given that they’ve only won two out of 23 so

back heading the ball straight to unforgiving police marksman Kyle Agnew, who coolly rounded keeper Macauley Cairns.

One-nil then at the break, but more defensive

negligence cost the East Belfast side dearly just four

Moody to rifle the ball past the helpless Cairns.

There might have been some way back for the

Duns, only home keeper Steven McKay, released by Dundela earlier in the season, came back to haunt

them with a superb save to keeping out a Ferguson.

However, with Dundela taking risks at the back, they

were caught out by a quick police raid just before the hour, with Moody again the PSNI sharpshooter.

The visitors, typically, kept plugging away and

they pulled one back on 78 minutes courtesy of a

booming header from Gibson – but it as a case of too little too late.

Rangers, Bangor and Ards. The two East Belfast sides, though, could both still have a say in the outcome as, between them, they come across all three

challengers in the closing weeks of the season. So

there could be some interesting tussles again, and it’s not a matter of the season merely meandering to a close. Dundela, for instance, entertain Ards

and then travel to Carrick Rangers in the last game of the season, while the Welders will be hoping to

leave their hardened few off on a high, in their two remaining home games against Ards and Bangor.

The Welders also have two tough enough away days, at Larne and Lisburn Distillery.

already steered clear from the dogfight at the wrong

Lisburn Distillery v H&W Welders

Saturday 11th April

end of Division 1b.

Tuesday 14th April

The same couldn’t be said of Saturday’s visitors

Ballywalter Rec and it was just so plain to see that for

them, there was a lot more at stake, sitting third from bottom with just one game left, at home to a Grove United side who aren’t quite mathematically over the line yet.

home their advantage and unforced errors at the back

IT hadn’t been looking good for weeks, especially

Newcastle for that second promotion slot, given that

game. It was Glentoran who had the first real shot on

Comrades, and while the ubiquitous overweight singer had been going through her scales for

now looking like a three horse race between Carrick

Remaining Fixtures:

PSNI 3 • Dundela 1

goal, although Barry Holland’s tame effort posed no

Bank Premiership, but they were hoping to finish

had a distinct end of term air to it all, as they have

Sirocco, meanwhile, have just two fixtures

after defeats at Loughgall and at home to Ballyclare

Of course, the Welders don’t meet the grounds

New Grosvenor Park, but for the East Belfast side, it

remaining, away and then home to promotion

offered Glenavon a lifeline and a way back into the

PSNI at Newforge.

up as high as possible, with the promotion stakes

It was the EastEnders, who looked the livelier in the

opening exchanges, but critically they didn’t press

relegation was confirmed by the 3-1 defeat against

chances to clear but instead it was left to Owen

Ferguson and then Stephen Gourley both had

Glenavon put the tin can on things just four minutes

difference.

remaining hopes of a top two finish, while the Duns

criteria to have secured promotion into the Danske

The win catapults Glenavon up into fourth place, well

through for number four.

defeat at Tillysburn Park ending Gary Smyth’s side’s

minutes after the changearound when Matthew

loose ball, after Ciaran Martyn’s initial effort had been

are three points behind, albeit with a better goal

the following Tuesday.

and Wolff Welders and Dundela, with the 2 goal

Patterson’s side to go home empty handed, beaten

later when McGrory managed to stumble his way

double header against 1st Bangor, before the return

effectively the end of the season for both Harland

missed the boat and this was even more the case on

on track for European qualification, while Glentoran

Sirocco return to Ballyskeagh on Saturday for the first

defending by the Duns on 18 minutes; David Gibson

that Irish Cup semi final against Crusaders just two

parried by Morris.

chance.

was little between the sides, until some suspect

manager Hamilton.

4-0 by Gary Hamilton’s Lurgan Blues.

for a Ballywalter man to give keeper Phil Reid no

IT may have looked as though Saturday was

Glenavon in the Danske Bank Premiership and Wasp

75 minutes, with Mark Patton easily tucking away the

either way, until just ten minutes from time when

While the PSNI knocked the ball about nicely, there

DEFEAT for Sirocco Works against Ballywalter Rec at

weeks earlier – but on Saturday, it was time for Eddie

While Rec understandably showed that little

CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES COMING UP:

to meet an Andy McGrory cross.

It was already looking as though Glentoran has

That’s how it stayed until ten minutes into the

far, they’re still destined to finish in the bottom two!

MOURNEVIEW Park has been a happy haunting

Solutions League Cup back in October – and then

Works set the scoreboard clicking on ten minutes

through Gareth Clegg.

Sirocco Works 1 • Ballywalter Rec 2

Minutes later, Bradley was replaced by player

Mourne side, too, have now completed their league

Dundela’s assistant manager Paul Foy

Glentoran 0 • Glenavon 4 ground this season for Glentoran, with wins over

EAST BELFAST EDITION #3 / APRIL 2015

months, on Saturday she finally burst into song,

be wondering just how he managed to slash the ball

wide of a gaping goal after stealing in at the back post

chasing 1st Bangor Old Boys, who could well pip

East Belfast are red hot favourites for the 1b title.

The EastEnders are four points behind long term

H&W Welders v Ards (6.30 ko) Saturday 18th April

Dundela v Ards; Larne v H&W Welders Tuesday 21st April

H&W Welders v Bangor; Dundela v Dergview (7pm) Saturday 28th April

Carrick Rangers v Dundela; Dergview v H&W Welders.

EAST BELFAST EDITION #2 / MARCH 2015

THESE PEOPLE ARE REACHING 40,000 HOMES EMAIL STUART @ LOOPMAG.NET TEL 028 9070 1607

PAGE 31

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