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ON THE ROAD LEFT: Resident Monica Dempster waving off walkers from Bell Rotary House on the Kings Rd at Ballyhackamore at the very start of the walk. BELOW: Oldest resident Ellie Lawther who is 106 and four year old Jack Vicente serving fruit and drinks to walkers at St Finnian’s House on the Cregagh Rd.

ABBEYFIELD BELFAST WALKS TO HOUSE OLDER PEOPLE IN SOUTH AFRICAN TOWNSHIP EAST BELFAST ABBEYFIELD residents put their best foot forward to put a roof over the heads of older people in an impoverished South African township this weekend, joining staff, volunteers and supporters who walked the 6.6 mile route between Abbeyfield Belfast’s eight houses ABBEYFIELD BELFAST SOCIETY is part of the worldwide Abbeyfield movement, providing supported housing for older people, enabling them to live independently in a family-like environment with company and support, but with no household chores or maintenance.

n total, Abbeyfield Belfast residents and supporters have now raised well over £1,500 this summer from the walk and garden parties, in aid of Abbeyfield’s Pelican Park development in Cape Town. Some residents in their 90s walked legs of the route that started at Bell Rotary in the King’s Road, Ballyhackamore, crossed the road to Hamilton House, then to Jean Armour in Belmont Church Rd, St Finnian’s on the Cregagh Rd, Voysey on Cadogan Park and along the Lisburn Rd via Helene Andrews and Maryville Houses, and ended with a barbecue at Ellen Simonton House in Malone Park. At St Finnian’s the walkers were served refreshments by 106 year old Ellie Lawther, Abbeyfield Belfast’s oldest resident, and her four year old friend Jack, with other residents coming out to cheer walkers on at each house. Abbeyfield in South Africa is partnering with Habitat for Humanity, the City of Cape Town and Power Construction to build a home for older people in the Pelican Park Township, one of the most impoverished areas of Cape Town. The home will accommodate poor senior citizens that have been previously disadvantaged by the Apartheid system, and will include a soup kitchen to help feed people in the community and an afterschool centre for local children. Whilst funds for construction have been secured, money is needed for everything from cooking and laundry facilities, to beds, tables and chairs, bed linen, curtains and cutlery, as well as books, toys and computers for the child-care centre. Cheryl Dean, Chair of

Abbeyfield South Africa, said that “as a result of the legacy of Apartheid, South Africa faces a massive housing crisis, with many people still living in informal township settlements,” and that for many residents this will be “the first real home that they will have ever lived in.” She said the after school care that will be provided is also essential. “The overwhelming effects of poverty on the lives of children in South Africa’s apartheid townships can been seen very clearly in the Pelican Park community. Unemployment, alcoholism, child abuse and gangsterism are some of the debilitating problems confronting children and family life in this community. The focus will be on quality after care in a stable and safe environment in order to assist pupils to learn and excel.” Niki Molloy, Acting Chief Officer of Abbeyfield Belfast, said residents and staff have been very excited about the project in South Africa, and wanted to do whatever they could to help out. “Abbeyfield is about ending loneliness and making time for older people. It’s what we do at our eight houses in Belfast, and we wanted to find a way to support the Pelican Park project.We’re hoping to be able to make a real difference to the lives of younger and older people in South Africa, especially in providing a home for older people who have never had one before.” ABBEYFIELD BELFAST WAS FORMED IN 1960 AND HAS EIGHT HOUSES IN SOUTH AND EAST BELFAST, WITH CAPACITY FOR AROUND 75 RESIDENTS. WWW. ABBEYFIELDBELFAST.ORG.UK

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CONTENTS 05

ON YOUR BIKE

NEW TOUR LAUNCHED

The new bike tour launched in East Belfast that will take you round the legendary sights.

WELLBEING

HEALTH | BEAUTY & MORE

We have a host of local experts and health relatd news from the local community for you.

FASHIONWEEK

EAST BELFAST REPRESENTS

Local model Carys Magill at the launch of the 20th season of Belfast FASHIONWEEEK.

FOOD & DRINK GRUBS UP

A jam packed feature with all things food and drink this month. Tuck in!

Sep

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ALL THE LATEST local NEWS & FEATURES INCLUDING:

NATURE’s WAY OUTDOOR PURSUITS

An update on the Connswater Community Greenway and news about a special RSPBNI day.

26 LOCAL BUSINESS ADVICE & NEWS

Some essential storage advice from a local business plus news on other goings on.

KIDS AT WORK BUSY YOUNGSTERS

Local school pupils and students have been busy achieving and collecting results!

30 LOCAL EVENTS GET THE DIARY OUT

We profile the events and get togethers coming up throughout September and beyond.

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THE ARTS

THE BIG NIGHT BECKONS

Culture Night returns. We have the local and city angle on what you should look out for.

LOCAL HISTORY GO BACK IN TIME

Resident historian Aidan Campbell showcases his brand new book; Newtownbreda.

36 WHAT’s ON?

From toddler groups to Irish classes to crafty kids to art, thats just a fraction. Delve in.

Our local football reporter brings us up to speed from the pitch side in East Belfast.

REGULAR GROUPS ETC

FOOTBALL

ALAN HALL REPORTS

Ballybeen Women’s Centre Awarded £35,000 Funding the promotion of health, personal and socio-economic development. Our Skills to Employment Project (StEP) will deliver community-based skills training to individuals and groups experiencing multiple forms of disadvantage. The project aims to reduce social and economic exclusion in the area by enabling those taking part to compete effectively in the labour market. This will be achieved through personal development and by gaining qualifications and job search skills. Being awarded this funding will allow us to deliver an innovative, integrated package of skills development and training to a group of 100 individuals in the first year, enabling them to compete with confidence for employment through a range of learning opportunities.

BELFAST’S SS NOMADIC UP FOR PRESTIGIOUS AWARD Belfast’s SS Nomadic has been shortlisted for the Association for Heritage Interpretation’s (AHI) 2015 Discover Heritage Awards. The last remaining White Star Line vessel in the world is the only attraction from Northern Ireland shortlisted for the national awards which mark excellence in cultural and natural heritage interpretation in Britain and Ireland.

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Free Mental & Emotional Wellbeing Programmes with Action Mental Health

BALLYBEEN WOMEN’S CENTRE HAVE BEEN AWARDED WITH £35,000 TO FUND LOCAL PROJECTS WHICH FOCUS ON PROVIDING TRAINING FOR EMPLOYMENT WITHIN THEIR SOCIETY. The breathtaking amount of money was awarded as a result of the Community Centre’s being named first round winners in Ulster Bank’s £220,000 Skills and Opportunities fund for 2015. The award has been set up to support disadvantaged communities by helping young people to learn new skills that will benefit them in setting up their own business. Over 130 organisations applied for funding of up to £35,000 however only five were picked among the winners with the East and West Belfast Centres in L:anadoon being successful applicants. Ballybeen Women’s Centre (BWC) is an integrated service provider committed to enabling women, young people and pre-school children to realise their full potential through

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LOCAL DENTAL PRACTICE HOST MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING TO MARK ANNIVERSARY “Cherryvalley Dental Care is a modern dental practice situated in the heart of East Belfast. This year we are celebrating our 10th Anniversary. We are having an open day on Thursday 15th October, in association with Macmillan Coffee morning to celebrate this significant occasion. From 12 -5pm, everyone is welcome! We will also be providing free consultations for private cosmetic treatments, and offering event special discounts if you book on our open day for these treatments! Our staff will be on hand to discuss any dental questions you may have, any appointments you may want to make, or to show you around our newly extended building, including state of the art decontamination room. With tea, coffee, cakes and buns available as well as amazing raffle prizes and games on the day. All proceeds going to Macmillan Cancer Support, We hope you will come down to support us, and even bring a friend or 2!” Cherryvalley Dental Care | 33 Gilnahirk Road | Belfast | BT5 7DB | Tel: 02890401689 | cherryvalleydental.co.uk | cherryvalleydental@soegateway.com

Action Mental Health are offering a free Mental & Emotional Health & Wellbeing Awareness programme called “Mindset” to local groups. The programme is suitable for both young people (14 – 17 years) and adults. Topics covered include: Raising awareness and increasing knowledge and understanding of Mental and Emotional Health and Wellbeing; signs and symptoms of mental ill health: self-help/resilience techniques and how to maintain a safe level of positive mental/emotional health; information and/ or resources on mental health support organisations available (locally and regionally). A second programme called “Provoking Thought” is also available specifically for young people in schools, colleges and youth settings. Contact Hugh Roarty, Project Worker with Action Mental Health on 07740403724 / 02890278283 or at hroarty@amh.org.uk.

THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | NEWS

EAST BELFAST WOMEN SET TO TRAIN FOR SUCCESS IN TITANIC RUNHER

NO PAIN NO GAIN

Local women are being encouraged to hit the ground running and take part in belfast telegraph runher’s second titanic 10k event on Sunday 4th October PICTURED RIGHT: BETH ALLEN FROM EAST BELFAST (2ND LEFT) WILL TAKE PART IN BELFAST TELEGRAPH RUNHER’S SECOND TITANIC 10K ON SUNDAY 4TH OCTOBER. ALSO PICTURED ARE RUNHER TEAM MEMBERS (L-R) ANGELA DUNLOP, MELISSA ECCLES (TRAINER), SALLY ANDERSON AND REBECCA TESTER. BETH HAS JOINED A TEAM OF 10 WOMEN SELECTED TO TAKE PART IN A SPECIAL TRAINING PROGRAMME

new 5k route has also been introduced alongside the 10k event and both take in iconic views, locations and roads close to Titanic Belfast and the Slipways, Harland and Wolff cranes, Victoria Park and the Sam Thompson Bridge. Beth Allen from Cherrvalley and Donna Healey from Rosetta have joined a team of ten women selected to take part in a Runher special training programme. The ladies are following a weekly training plan which is also available online to help individuals or teams prepare to the best of their ability and achieve a personal best on 4 October. The training programme has been devised by Belfast Telegraph Runher’s official trainer Bangor girl, Melissa

PICTURED FAR RIGHT: DONNA HEALEY FROM ROSETTA WILL TAKE PART IN BELFAST TELEGRAPH RUNHER’S SECOND TITANIC 10K ON SUNDAY 4TH OCTOBER. DONNA HAS JOINED A TEAM OF 10 WOMEN SELECTED TO TAKE PART IN A SPECIAL TRAINING PROGRAMME.

Established in 2007, Belfast Telegraph Runher is NI’s largest female only running event. Runher is on Twitter @runherofficial, #BelTelrunher and on facebook.. Eccles who runs a sports marketing business and is also a qualified personal trainer. Explaining the background to the training plan Melissa said: “We’ve signed up ten women from throughout Northern Ireland who each have different running and fitness objectives and we hope they will inspire other ladies to sign up to Runher – from complete beginners to those who have already completed several Runhers and want to improve on time and technique. Each member of our ‘Team Telegraph’ won the opportunity to be part of the training group and we’ve already kicked off our weekly training sessions which follow the online Runher training plan. I’m looking forward to supporting our Belfast

Telegraph team within the training programme and help them achieve their goals. It’s brilliant for them to train with like-minded people while having fun and meeting new people. My aim is to help everyone get to the finish line and celebrate their success together!” Beth Allen (28) is a solicitor in central Belfast and took up running in 2012. Beth was inspired by her dad, a keen runner whose fitness helped him battle prostrate cancer. “When my dad was diagnosed with cancer myself and a cousin and three friends decided to run the Belfast Marathon Relay event and raised over £1000 for a local cancer charity. My dad also ran the full marathon in 2013 in under four hours despite being treated for advanced

cancer at that time – so he was a massive inspiration! I wanted to join the group to help me run faster and train harder for Runher Titanic on 4 October!” Donna Healey from Rosetta in Belfast is a theatre manager at the Ulster Hospital and began running a year ago to keep her daughter company on parkruns. “Running is a super way to keep fit and clear your head. It sets you up for the day and makes you feel so much better! I’m hoping that by joining the team I can improve my technique and my time!” As per previous years there will be a pre-Runher ‘Dash 4 Kids’ (under 10s)at 1.15pm. It will be followed by the Belfast Telegraph Runher 5K event at 2pm and the 10K at 2.45pm. All three events begin at

Titanic Slipways adjacent to Titanic Belfast complex. Belfast Telegraph Runher operates under UK Athletics and Athletics NI rules. Online entry costs £18 until September 20 and from 21st September until 4 October Race Day will cost £20 per person. A course map and video of the route is available at www.runher. co.uk and Melissa’s Belfast Telegraph Titanic Runher 10k and 5k training plans can be downloaded from www. belfasttelegraph.co.uk/woman/runher. Anyone can tweet their queries to #BelTelRunherTips or email runher@ belfasttelegraph.co.uk. For more details and to enter visit www.runher.co.uk

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THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | NEWS

Belfast war veterans receive VIP invitation

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esidents of Somme Nursing Home in East Belfast pictured with their invitation for a Civic Lunch at Belfast City Hall on 2 September to commemorate VJ Day. Belfast City Council is now appealing to World War 2 veterans from across the city to come forward and be VIP guests. Those who wish to be included on the City Hall guest list for the civic lunch should contact lordmayorsoffice@belfastcity.gov.uk or telephone 02890 270486. Left to right are: Norman McKeown, Elizabeth O’Neill, Nancy Meharry and Tom Adley.

Young People Wanted To Help Older People Tell Their Stories Abbeyfield Belfast is looking for young people in East Belfast to help older people tell the stories of their lives in an inter-generational reminiscence project. Abbeyfield Belfast has eight houses that provide supported, sheltered accommodation for older people in South and East Belfast, and is expanding its reminiscence project into East Belfast. “We have a great team of young volunteers who visit our residents in South Belfast, and we’d really like to introduce this to our four houses in East Belfast too,” said Liz Morrison, coordinator of Abbeyfield Belfast’s Young Volunteer Programme. “All we ask is for an hour or so a week, and in return volunteers get to spend time with an older person and find out about their lives. They then write up a few paragraphs, and we can compare the experiences that different residents have had.” Some of the volunteers show residents how to use the iPads that each house has, or play music, or just pop in to visit and have a chat. Liz said young volunteers join for a variety of reasons – some want experience talking to older people as they plan a career in medicine, others are doing a Duke of Edinburgh Award

or similar scheme, and others just like a good natter. “It’s ideal for any young person who wants a career in journalism or in a caring profession, but we also have volunteers who want to go into business and just enjoy the company of older people,” she said. “Our residents love making friends with younger people, and enjoy the opportunity to talk about their lives and memories. The thing that surprises young people the most is how people survived without mobile phones, or sometimes without any phones at all. It’s those sorts of differences in day to day life that propel the conversations along, finding out about simple things as well as the big historical events,” she said.

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Abbeyfield Belfast aims to end the loneliness and isolation tmany older people face by providing sheltered, supported accommodation in homely atmospheres. To do this we rely on volunteers of all ages, and we are also looking for adult volunteers at our houses in East Belfast. For more info please call Liz Morrison on 07808 328 159 or email liz@ abbeyfieldbelfast.org.uk

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED IN EAST BELFAST AGE NI, the leading charity for older people in Northern Ireland, to encourage your readers to get involved in an exciting volunteer collection opportunity that is coming up on Saturday 26 September, between 10am - 6pm, at Tesco’s Castlereagh Road and Knocknagoney stores in Belfast. We’re looking for enthusiastic volunteers to offer a couple of hours of their time during the day to help raise money for people in later life who need it most. This is a province-wide fundraising event taking place in participating Tesco stores throughout Northern Ireland. To get involved, or for more information, please call 028 9024 5729 or email stacey.lee@ageni.org | Thank you for your support! Stacey Lee Trimble | Age NI Volunteer Coordinator

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THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | NEWS L-R, Norman Trotter (Belfast City Bike Tours), Minister Jonathan Bell and Maurice Kinkead (East Belfast Partnership)

EastSide Belfast City Bike Tour launched The Minister of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI), Jonathan Bell got on his biketo explore east Belfast as part of the brand new EastSide Belfast City Bike Tour.

s part of this unique tour, participants will cycle into the EastSide to explore the rich history and heritage of east Belfast and its inspiring people. The tour, which departs from the City Centre, takes in the amazing sights of east Belfast, including the SS Nomadic at Titanic Quarter, the mighty Harland and Wolff Cranes Samson and Goliath, places that inspired the genius of Van Morrison’s music, C.S. Lewis, George Best and much, much more…Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, Jonathan Bell, said: “This is a truly enriching way for both tourists and locals to

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explore places that have inspired many of the great people of Belfast including Van Morrison, George Best and C.S. Lewis. Guided tours like this allow people to come to parts of the city that may not be accessible by car and they would never usually visit. With recent events like the Gran Fondo, Giro D’Italia and the arrival of the Belfast City Bikes, the bike culture in Northern Ireland has never been stronger. The EastSide Belfast City Bike Tour is an enjoyable way to find out the stories and history of our city while getting some exercise and keeping healthy.”

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Speaking during the tour, Norman Trotter from Belfast City Bike Tours (BCBT) said, “We have been running Belfast City Bike Tours in other parts of the city for several years. We approached the East Belfast Partnership about bringing the Bike Tour into the EastSide. Using trails already developed by the Connswater Community Greenway project we put together a truly breathtaking and unique tour which promises to delight anyone wishing to learn more about what east Belfast has to offer. There is so much to see and do in east Belfast and what better way to visit it than by bike! History, heritage, nature, culture, and even music - there really is something for everyone!”

This is a truly enriching way for both tourists and locals to explore places that have inspired many of the great people of Belfast including Van Morrison, George Best and C.S. Lewis The tour also gives cyclists a glimpse of the wonderful rivers and nature of east Belfast via

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the Connswater Community Greenway. This new cycle and walkway is a major investment in east Belfast that has already encouraged people to get out and explore the great outdoors. It will eventually run from the edge of Titanic Quarter at Victoria Park, through east Belfast and into the hills of Cregagh Glen. As part of this project, the new C.S. Lewis Civic Square is currently under construction which will be complete by summer 2016. Maurice Kinkead from the East Belfast Partnership said, “It’s a very exciting time for the east of the City with major developments such as the Connswater Community Greenway and a new visitor centre at Holywood Arches. We are looking forward to welcoming visitors EastSide and the new bike tour is a great way to discover what EastSide has to offer. ” The EastSide Belfast City Bike Tour costs just £20 and lasts approximately 3 hours and includes refreshments. The tour takes place every Saturday departing from Norm’s Bike Shop, 15 Smithfield Market at 10.30am. To find out more or to or book the tour online visit www. belfastcitybiketours.com, email info@belfastcitybiketours.com, or call 079 8081 6057.

DO YOU WEAR NHS HEARING AIDS? HEAR TO HELP OFFER FREE DROP-IN CLINICS AND NECESSARY HOME VISITS FOR: • Hearing checks & information on hearing loss • Cleaning and changing ear mould tubing • New batteries • General hearing aid maintenance and advice VENUE: The Arches Health Centre 1 Westminster Ave, BT4 1NS MONTHLY: 1st Thursday 10am –12pm 1 Oct / 5 Nov / 3 Dec / 7 Jan / 4 Feb / 3 March For further information on Clinics, Home Visits or Volunteering with Action on Hearing Loss please contact Una on 07918 721704

THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | NEWS

Mount Charles Gets Into The Swing To Raise Over £7K For Cancer Fund For Children The Mount Charles Group, Northern Ireland’s leading food service and business support solutions company, has raised more than £7,000 in aid of Cancer Fund for Children with their annual charity golf day.

Pictured (l-r) is: Cathal Geoghegan, Managing Director of the Mount Charles Group, comedian John Linehan, better known as May McFetridge, Gillian Creevy, Chief Executive of Cancer Fund for Children and Trevor Annon, Chairman on the Mount Charles Group.

eld at Knock Golf Club, 25 teams comprising of customers, suppliers and employees took part in an afternoon of close competition, which was followed by a gala dinner and charity auction hosted by special guest, May McFetridge. With all of the scores collated and tallied, it was the team from Frylite that took top honours with a score of 96, closely followed by the team from Galgorm Group, while Ian Simpson from IPSS carded the best individual score of 40. The charity auction, which included an Ulster Rugby shirt signed by the squad and a round of golf for four at Royal Portrush, was also generously supported. Cathal Geoghegan, Managing Director of the Mount Charles Group said: “Our golf day gave us the perfect opportunity

to bring customers, suppliers and employees together from across our divisions and raise vital funds for this great cause. The event was a great success, both on and off the course, and we’re proud to support Cancer Fund for Children and the fantastic work they do in Northern Ireland. We’ve been working together for six years now and in that time we’ve raised over £70,000, which is a great achievement. Our annual golf day is important for us as a company, as it allows us to bring together groups that might not always be able to meet faceto-face. It helps us to maintain personal relationships with everyone we work with, from suppliers to customers, and that is something we value very highly.” www.mountcharles.com

Lyttle welcomes publication of ‘long overdue’ cycling strategy East Belfast Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle has welcomed publication of a “long overdue” strategy designed to transform cycling in Northern Ireland. The 25year Bicycle Strategy Delivery Plan, announced today (Tuesday) by the Department for Regional Development, aims to encourage more people to use bicycles for everyday journeys here. Mr Lyttle, who is Chair of the Assembly’s All-Party Group on Cycling, said “huge” potential benefits could come from a properly resourced cycling network but more work was needed to deliver it successfully.“Today’s announcement is a good first step of a vision we want to see but the Department has a long way to go yet. In my role as Chair, I regularly engage with those in the cycling community and know there are a number of barriers preventing cycling becoming a main mode of transport for many people.The main problems are safety and the need to rebalance the amount of cycling provision we have on our roads. Any strategy needs to tackle these issues so we can advance cycling as a viable, active and sustainable means of transport. There is a lot of work to do to allow us to catch up with other European cities where bold infrastructure makes cycling an attractive everyday form of travel. It is a fantastic, affordable and interesting way to travel, but now we need to see a strategy of action and not just words.”

FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS Clockwise from left : Duke Special in faultlessly spellbinding form at the festival. Ken Haddock bringing a smile to the crowds A punter gloriously modelling this years t shirt of choice

EASTSIDE ARTS FESTIVAL 2015 ENDS ON A HIGH

The EastSide Arts Festival 2015 closed on 31st August, following 12 days of fantastic events across east Belfast and beyond. The festival was a great success and once again highlighted the importance of the arts in bringing people together in the community.

The festival culminated on 31st August with two memorable performances from Van Morrison live on Cyprus Avenue. Those lucky enough to have tickets for the sold out performances, and residents of Cyprus Avenue were treated to the local musician in fine form on his 70th birthday. Despite the rain during the first performance the spirits of the crowd were not dampened and the sun once again shone for the second show. Many headed to the packed out End of Festival Party at the Park Avenue Hotel which included performances from Kaz Hawkins and her Band O’ Men, The Ronnie Greer Band, Ken Haddock, Wookalily Terri Hooley and many more. The organisers, EastSide Arts, are delighted that a number of the 78 events sold out including Brassneck Theatre Company’s The Holy Holy Bus, Tim McGarry’s Irish History Lesson, Duke Special with guests Malojian, the Van Morrison Songbook at Culturlann and the Tempest Acting

EastSide Arts is an initiative to develop, support and deliver a wide range of arts activity and creativity across the east of the city. EastSide Arts was initiated by East Belfast Partnership, which is committed to the social, economic and cultural regeneration of the area, EastSide Arts will work with all stakeholders to ensure that the arts ‘make east Belfast a better place for all.’ www.eastsidearts.net EastSide Arts Festival took place 19th-31st August. There were 33 free events in the programme and a number of free exhibitions. Workshop. EastSide Arts Manager, Anthony Toner said: “I am delighted that the EastSide Arts Festival programme was so well received. The feedback from various events has been wonderful and although we are still calculating final audience figures we believe it has been a very successful year for the festival. The events could not have happened without the support of our funders Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Belfast City Council and our sponsors Tourism Northern Ireland, Translink, Hewitt & Gilpin and Park Avenue Hotel. A special thanks also to artists, the venues and our partners and to our volunteers who once again showed dedication and commitment to the festival- without them all it could not have happened.” For more information on EastSide Arts visit www.eastsidearts.net, Facebook/EastSideArtsBel and Twitter @EastSideArtsBel

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THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | NEWS

East Belfast Model At Belfast FASHIONWEEK Launch

Pictured at the launch of West Coast Cooler FASHIONWEEK is model Carys Magill (second from the right) wearing a Brown Suede Tee, £14.99, Fur Collar, £9.99 at New Look @ CastleCourt, Brown Suede A-Line Skirt, £199.00 @ Marks and Spencer.

East Belfast model is one of 20 who scores a spot on the catwalk at West Coast Cooler FASHIONWEEK’s launch.

East Belfast model was one of 20 lucky models who took the Belfast fashion scene by storm, as West Coast Cooler FASHION WEEK launched its 20th season. Top model Carys, helped showcase the latest looks from participant retailers and designer collections for this Autumn/ Winter 15 season.

peaking at launch, director Cathy Martin said: “Reaching a milestone like our twentieth season makes me think back to where we’ve come from, but looking forward, I have no doubt that today’s launch will whet the buds of Belfast’s stylistas for the season ahead. We’re delighted to showcase menswear exclusively and we’ll have some top international brands as well as a host of new designers to support, with some very edgy men’s collections. In terms of trends for this season, fashion fans should prepare for a stunning palette of winter brights, particularly oranges and pinks, and these will be used a lot in modern, graphic prints as well as in bold, block colours. It’s also time to rummage through your Grandma’s wardrobe for inspiration, as tweeds and prints

15th - 18th October 2015 | The full show schedule is available online at www. belfastfashionweek.com along with details of this season’s trends plus links to all participant retailers and sponsors. Catwalk tickets, which cost £20 (or £30 for a limited number of exclusive front row seats), are available from the Belfast Welcome Centre on 028 9024 6609 or via the website. Ticket price includes a fabulous goodie bag and a refreshing West Coast Cooler.

Cruse Bereavement Care exists to enable anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief, cope with their loss and to promote their well-being.

ALL NEW SSE ARENA BRINGING THE WOW FACTOR TO BELFAST “The rebranded SSE Arena, Belfast is a venue that can rival the best in Europe, if not the world.”

style and fashion available to us here in Northern Ireland. It’s great having a wide choice of beautiful models from across the Island to suit our huge variety of retailers. Carys has been modelling with us for years and is a firm favourite with all of our participant shops and brands, we love having her on board this season.” Esther Small, brand manager for West Coast Cooler, sponsor of the event, said: “People here wear their style well, so we want to celebrate that. It is exciting to see such a fantastic programme of events for what will undoubtedly be a very busy season of show-stopping style. There are some really cool additions to the schedule, which are exciting, fresh and an ideal fit to the West Coast Cooler brand.”

BELFAST FASHIONWEEK | INFo | TICKETS | TRENDS | Etc

EAST BELFAST COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY CRUSE Bereavement Care Events

n October CRUSE in partnership with EBCDA are hosting the two events detailed below which are open to anyone living, working or volunteering in East Belfast; one is a short, informal information evening and the other is a workshop aimed at anyone supporting people who have been bereaved: CRUSE Bereavement Care Information Evening: If you or someone you know has been affected by bereavement then you can find out how Cruse can help and meet Cruse staff and volunteers at this information evening. The venue is the community room at Tesco Knocknagoney and the session will run from 7.00pm to 9.00pm on Wednesday 14 October with registration and refreshments from 6.30pm. To register your free place contact Jean Higginson at EBCDA on 028 9045 1512 or jean@ebcda.org CRUSE Community Bereavement Awareness Workshop: When you meet a friend, client or colleague after someone dies do you feel you don’t know what to say or how to behave? If the answer is yes, attending this Cruse Community Bereavement Awareness Workshop could help you to respond and support family members, friends, clients or colleagues following a death. The venue is the community room at Tesco Knocknagoney and the workshop will run from 9.30am to 2pm on Friday 23 October with refreshments and lunch provided. To register your free place contact Jean Higginson at EBCDA on 028 9045 1512 or jean@ebcda.org. Both programmes are delivered through the Together for You Project funded by the Big Lottery.

akin to chintzy interior fabrics abound. In terms of fabrics and textures, winter often brings more interesting tactile looks, and this season suede and luxurious velvet are celebrated as well as a bit of fluff and fur. “Also jumping to the fore are the 1970s silhouettes - flattering flares and 80s elbow and shoulder shapes are all acceptable, with a big focus on big blouses too. The 1980s influences can also be seen with an eclectic mix of metallic fabrics and glitz galore, prepping wardrobes everywhere for the party season. As always, for Winter, layering should be the focus, not only to keep warm, but keeping wearers bang-on-trend.” Cathy added “At FASHIONWEEK we always aim to showcase the very best

hat was the bold claim made by the team at The SSE Arena, Belfast, which lifted the curtain at the venue after a major revamp and refurbishment that means attendees will get a truly first-class experience at every event staged there. Whether visiting the Arena for the biggest concert gigs such as One Direction and Florence & The Machine, comedy shows with Kevin Bridges and Michael McIntyre, or the raucous roar of a Belfast Giants ice hockey game, visitors are set to be wowed by the modernised, digitally enhanced version of Northern Ireland’s largest and most famous entertainment venue. Formerly known as The Odyssey Arena, the venue has been rebranded as The SSE Arena, Belfast in a 10 year naming rights deal with energy provider SSE Airtricity. The arena first opened its doors in 2000 and has welcomed over 8 million visitors across a wide range of events ranging from concerts and comedy to theatre, family shows and a multitude of sports. The SSE Arena, Belfast has joined the UK-wide stable of SSE entertainment venues

including The SSE Hydro in Glasgow and The SSE Arena, Wembley. The SSE Arena, Belfast is now on course for its busiest year ever, with more than 150 live entertainment events scheduled to be staged at the Arena in the year ahead. When the doors of the venue re-open this weekend, guests will see more than 180 Digital Screens in and around the Arena; they will have access to high-speed wireless broadband; 9000 new seats in the Arena; and a brand new SSE Reward Lounge for SSE Airtricity customers. Neil Walker, General Manager of The SSE Arena, Belfast, said: “This investment in transforming Northern Ireland’s most iconic venue is all about making sure our customers have a first class experience at The SSE Arena, Belfast. The Arena has been improved to the highest specifications to ensure we deliver world class live entertainment, with digital and Wi-Fi capacity to help enhance our customers’ enjoyment, providing greater access to an expanding range of products and services.” Under the new naming rights partnership SSE Airtricity customers will be able to avail of a range of benefits*, including the all-new and exclusive SSE Reward Lounge, special offers on tickets and 48 hour advance tickets to the hottest events. Jillian Saunders, Brand Manager at SSE Airtricity, said: “At SSE we place our customers at the heart of everything we do. As partner to The SSE Arena, Belfast we’re proud to give our customers access to the widest range of exclusive rewards, including 48 hour advance tickets and access to our new SSE Reward Lounge designed especially for SSE Airtricity customers. Along with the Arena management team we are looking forward to unveiling the new-look SSE Arena, Belfast and to welcoming entertainment fans from across the UK and Ireland to this world-class venue.”

PICTURED: Neil Walker, General Manager of The SSE Arena, Belfast is pictured with Jillian Saunders, Brand Manager at SSE Airtricity at the refurbished SSE Arena, Belfast. SSE Airtricity has signed a 10 year naming rights deal with the Arena.

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Integrative Life Coaching can be distinguished from other forms of therapy by its focus on the Spiritual dimension of life. By discussing past traumas, negative experiences and unsettling memories I will help you identify the limiting selfbeliefs that are holding you back, or beliefs and feelings that have lead you to physical unease and mental illness. I have discovered though my clients experiences that there is often an underlying issue(s) from the past that drive the negative feelings within us, issues that can manifest as

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THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | NEWS

RSPB NI Members Day! Belfast’s Window on Wildlife (WOW) nature reserve, 100 Airport Road WEST, Belfast Harbour Estate, BT3 9ED

his year’s RSPB Northern Ireland Members’ Day will be held at the recently refurbished Belfast’s Window on Wildlife (WOW) nature reserve.The charity is looking forward to welcoming its supporters to this haven for nature, nestled in the bustling Belfast Harbour Estate. You’ll have the opportunity to learn about some of the work the RSPB NI team been doing over the last

12 months, including at Belfast’s Window on Wildlife and at Lough Beg near Toomebridge. You will also get updates on a range of exciting projects, including the ‘Pledge for Nature’ which aims to give nature a home in the urban environment. After lunch you’ll have a chance to explore the reserve or take a boat trip to see the Lough from a different perspective! Members’ Day will cost £20 per person, including lunch. However, places are extremely limited and will be allocated on a first-come firstserved basis.

Image by Gregory Woulahan

Image by: Andy Hay (rspb-images.com)

To book: please call 028 9049 1547 or email angela.mahon@ rspb.org.uk

Visualisation of the Hollow at Elmgrove

isualisation of the C.S. Lewis Square

Construction of the C.S. Lewis Square

Construction of the Connswater Greenway continues at C.S. Lewis Civic Square and across most of east Belfast... Construction of the £40million Connswater Community Greenway (cycle/walkway) continues across most of east Belfast.

“

onstruction has now begun at the Hollow at Elmgrove to Beerbridge Road section. This is where the Connswater meets the Hollow and the Loop Rivers. Concealed at this point stands a 400 year old bridge, known as the Conn O’Neill Bridge. Here the Connswater River meets the two tributaries, the Knock and Loop Rivers. Van Morrison played here as a boy and it inspired his lyrics to ‘Brown Eyed Girl’. Along the Black Path, (Sydenham Bypass to Mersey Street and Mersey Street to Ballymacarrett Walkway), Farrans Construction (the contractor) continues to carry out sheet piling works along the Connswater River to begin works on the flood defences for the area. Works also continue to extend the pathway from the recently regenerated Orangefield Park into Clarawood, Braniel and Laburnum. Farrans continue with the construction of the Gabion wall and concreting works on the new Connswater Community Greenway pathway. Streetscaping continues to transform the Orby Road to Orby Link section. While at the Holywood Arches section Farrans continues with earthworks, drainage and lighting ducting, in preparation for central hub of the project – the C.S. Lewis Square. This high quality public realm space will include interpretative signage, street furniture and will be capable of hosting outdoor performances, markers and local celebrations. Earlier this year, the Connswater Community Greenway revealed that Artist Maurice Harron will create the C.S. Lewis themed artwork for the Square. It is hoped this beautiful artwork will be set in place next year! Rivers Agency also continue to work on elements of the East Belfast Flood Alleviation Scheme. The Castlereagh Road culvert works are nearing completion. The reinstatement of the surfacing of the Castlereagh Road will commence from Sunday 6th Sept at 06:00hrs until Monday 7th Sept at 05:00hrs..Works under TM traffic restricted to single lane under traffic lights. Culvert replacement works on the Knock

Sheet Piling along the Black Path

...Where the Connswater meets the Hollow and the Loop Rivers Concealed at this point stands a 400 year old bridge, known as the Conn O’Neill Bridge. Here the Connswater River meets the two tributaries, the Knock and Loop Rivers. Van Morrison played here as a boy and it inspired his lyrics to ‘Brown Eyed Girl’.

Connswater Greenway pathway extends from Orangefield Park into the Braniel

River under Clara Road have now commenced. An alternative temporary road bridge crossing over the Knock River is now open and will be in operation for the duration of the culvert replacement works on Clara Road. Construction of the flood defence walls downstream of Clara Road will commence upon completion of the Clara Road culvert in approximately 3 months time. Don’t forget the Connswater Community Greenway contractor, Farrans Construction, is also operating a 24/7 freephone customer care line should you have any queries or comments about the Connswater Community Greenway works, please call 0800 0838 160. As work is progressing 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 find out more about the project at www.connswatergreenway.co.uk or on facebook.com/ConnswaterCommunityGreenway and by tweeting @ConnswaterCG.

THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | NEWS

ARCHWAY YOUTH CLUB | RAISE FUNDS FOR CHARITY

LEFT: Agnes Harding pictured with little Eliza Bowne, Eliza’s Mummy Sarah Browne & club members Josh Fisher, Keeli Harris and Shannon Fisher. RIGHT: Lynn Cowan from Children’s Heartbeat Trust with Sarah Browne, Little Eliza & her two brothers Jayden & Joel handing over £210 raised from Eliza’s Naming Name.

A www.create.to

EAST BELFAST TEENS REVEAL AMBITIOUS YOUTH-LED TECH CONFERENCE THREE BELFAST TEENS HAVE ANNOUNCED DETAILS OF CREATE:2015, AN ENTIRELY YOUTH-LED EVENT FOR CULTURETECH IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH AIMS TO INSPIRE THOSE DESTINED TO WORK IN THE DIGITAL AND CREATIVE INDUSTRIES.

areth Reid (17), Matthew Carson (19) and Jordan Earle (18), all from the east of the city, will join three other teens from across Northern Ireland in creating an event allowing young people to network and hear from renowned guest speakers. Create:2015, held on the 17th of September at the Playhouse in Derry~Londonderry, will feature eight speakers, including BBC Click Presenter Kate Russell, and four hands-on workshops. Last

year’s event, Create:2014, was given the thumbs-up by none other than cultural icon Stephen Fry on Twitter. Student Gareth Reid, heading up the team, said: “Create:2015 gives attendees a great chance to get creative. We really wanted to focus on audience involvement this year. With a diverse speaker line-up and interactive workshops, we’ve no doubt that Create:2015 will be even better than last year.” A limited number of tickets will be

Gareth Reid (17), Matthew Carson (19) & Jordan Earle (18) will join three other teens from across Northern Ireland in creating an event allowing young people to network and hear from renowned guest speakers. available to the public. For school groups, the event is completely free. Teachers interested in getting involved can email Gareth for further information at gareth.reid@create.to. The CREATE team is currently raising financial backing from both local and international companies through a range of sponsorship packages to fund the event. Interested parties should email team member Matthew Carson for further information at matthew.carson@create.to.

For more information, please visit www.create.to

rchway Youth Club in East Belfast recently held a series of fundraising activities for Children’s Heartbeat Trust, a local charity which offers emotional and practical support to parents and families of children with heart disease in Northern Ireland. Members of the local youth club held a sponsored walk, bun sale and cinema night to raise funds for the charity which has helped little Eliza Browne, who has congenital heart disease and who’s family attend the Youth Club. Agnes Harding, Leader of Archway Youth Club mentioned why they choose to support the charity: “We wanted to support a local charity which has supported members within the youth club. Little Eliza’s family have been receiving support from Children’s Heartbeat Trust since Eliza was diagnosed with a Congenital Heart Defect, and so we decided to give something back to help other families who are going through a similar situation.” Heart Disease is the most common birth defect with over 200 babies born each year in Northern Ireland with the condition. Many of these children will require ongoing cardiac care and/or open heart surgery. Lynn Cowan, Fundraiser for Children’s Heartbeat Trust said “We are extremely grateful to the Archway Youth Club for raising £450.00 which will help us to continue to provide support services for families in Northern Ireland. I would also like to thank Sarah Browne, Eliza’s Mummy who also held a Naming Day with family and raised £210.00 for the charity. This is another fantastic amount which we can use towards providing additional support to local families here in Northern Ireland.’’ The Children’s Heartbeat Trust work closely with Clark Clinic which is the regional paediatric cardiac ward at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children to help fund medical equipment and initiatives, ensuring that children with heart disease in Northern Ireland receive the best care and treatment possible.The charity also have family support groups across the province. Each of these groups are parent-led and give families the chance to get together in a social, relaxed environment where they can meet with other local families facing similar challenges. As a small, local charity, Children’s Heartbeat Trust rely solely on public donations to fund their services and are extremely grateful to local people, organisations and businesses for support to their services. For further info on Children’s Heartbeat Trust or to fundraise please contact 028 9031 2228; email lynn@childrensheartbeattrust.org childrensheartbeattrust.org

Photo credit: Elaine Hill

www.grosvenorgrammarschool.org.uk

Grosvenor Grammar School GCSE Examination Success

Grosvenor Grammar School’s Form Five students, each of whom achieved 11 A-A* grades in the summer 2015 GCSE public examinations August.

Grosvenor Grammar School pupils were celebrating today after achieving their GCSE results. An impressive 29 pupils achieved 9 A*-A grades or better, with pupils Cameron Hamilton, Carly Suitor and Michael Todorov each attaining a remarkable 11 A* grades. These pleasing results mean that once again Grosvenor pupils have achieved considerable success in their GCSE examinations. Dr Frances Vasey, Principal, was delighted: “I congratulate our pupils for achieving such wonderful results, but must also pay tribute to our fantastic staff who are so committed to helping the pupils on an academic and pastoral level. The support of our parents is invaluable and I would like to say thank you to them. I wish our pupils every success in their future studies.”

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Teen In Charity Campaign For School Chum Catherine

TotalMobile inspires next generation of IT girls

19-year-old Emma Murphy takes part in blood cancer charity, Leukaemia & Lymphoma NI’s yearlong #99RedBalloons campaign at Strathearn Grammar School in east Belfast. 99 people are diagnosed with a blood cancer such as leukaemia, lymphoma or myeloma every month in NI. Emma lost her school friend, Catherine Buchanan, to leukaemia in 2013. A bench in Catherine’s memory, donated by her parents, sits in the grounds of Strathearn. To donate to the charity, text BALL06 £5 to 70070. www.leukaemiaandlymphomani.org.

Teenage girls and teachers at Belfast Metropolitan College’s first female-focussed IT summer camp have been gaining career inspiration from high flying female software developers at Belfast-based tech firm TotalMobile. Girls aged from 15 to 18 from across Northern Ireland including those from Sullivan Upper School attended the Belfast IT Girls event, a digital skills summer camp. Students learnt about building apps, websites and PCs as well as networking. Among the speakers were Karen Hull, Principal Software Tester and Gillian

Noble, Senior Lead Software Developer at TotalMobile, which provides innovative software solutions to revolutionise the way frontline healthcare staff work. The women spoke about their own journey into the IT industry and how the company, which has much higher levels of female staff than the Northern Ireland average, has supported them in their careers. TotalMobile, one of sponsors of the event, is also providing mentoring to students and teachers through the Belfast IT Girls event.

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THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | NEWS

Robert Welch Photograph © National Museums Northern Ireland, Collection Harland & Wolff, Ulster Folk & Transport Museum

Recreation of Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices Iconic Naval Architects Photograph Titanic Foundation have recreated one of the most iconic photographs captured at the former Harland & Wolff HQ Building and Drawing Offices in 1912. Taken by Robert Welch, who was Harland & Wolff’s official photographer, the image portrays a day in the life of the naval architects and draughtsmen hard at work on ship designs in one of the two drawing offices.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION www.titanic-foundation.org and don’t forget to follow the Drawing Offices’ progress on Twitter @drawingoffices.

Titanic Foundation and supporters gather to celebrate the next step in the history of the Drawing Offices.

apturing a special moment in time, thousands of ships were designed in the building including the plans for Olympic, Titanic and the SS Nomadic and in later years, naval warships such as HMS Belfast. Titanic Foundation wanted to celebrate the next stage in the building’s history as it prepares to undergo restoration and transformation into a hotel by recreating this most famous image. Work will shortly commence on the hotel project with a £4.9million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, which will enable Titanic Foundation to restore the derelict drawing offices and unlock private funding to develop a boutique 4* hotel in the shipbuilder’s former headquarters building. Taking part in the recreation were key people who have contributed to this important step: Titanic Foundation’s board and staff, Titanic Quarter Limited, the

Pictured at the launch of Roundstone Irish Ale at The Dark Horse, Belfast, are Karen and Gary Cunningham and Alan Lemon from East Belfast.

Heritage Lottery Fund, the Strategic Investment Board, Consarc and Deloitte, alongside supporters such as local chaplain Chris Bennett, the Dock Café and members of the Belfast Titanic Society. Former drawing office employees were also present to bridge the gap between the past and the future, and descendants of Samuel Donnelly who was in the original Welch image were there to mark the occasion. Kerrie Sweeney, Chief Executive of Titanic Foundation, highlighted. “The entire team that has been working on this restoration project are committed to telling the story of this building and the people that worked here. It seemed fitting that we recreate the famous image captured in 1912 and we were delighted to be joined by the relatives of some of the Harland and Wolff employees in the original photo. We will continue to deliver initiatives that celebrate the past as

Programme – 2000 affordable and integrated child care places within the schools estate. • Bright Start Rural Programme – Roll out of a social enterprise model in rural areas creating, potentially, an additional 1,000 school aged childcare places. • Bright Start Childcare Information – A programme of better dissemination of information. • Bright Start Workforce Development Programme

we restore the Drawing Offices and explore new ways to engage Belfast and Northern Ireland citizens, many of whom have direct links, to this historic space. “ The Heritage Lottery Fund grant will specifically focus on developing the two historical Drawing Offices as spaces for public use. The boutique hotel will also showcase Belfast’s industrial heritage, centring on the authentic spaces – the Board Room, Telephony Room and Entrance Lobby – as well as the fixtures and fittings that relate to the local shipbuilding industry. Head of HLF Northern Ireland, Paul Mullan, added: “Belfast is known throughout the world for its maritime and industrial past, with the drawing offices amongst the most important surviving locations. We truly enjoyed becoming a part of the building’s history through this recreation and look forward to seeing the historic spaces conserved

and opened up to be enjoyed by many more people in the future.” This is a very unique and authentic project for Belfast that could not have happened without the support from the Heritage Enterprise Scheme. It is designed to help when the cost of repairing an historic building is so high that restoration simply is not commercially viable. Grants of £100k to £5million bridge the financial gap, funding the vital repairs and conservation work needed to convert derelict, vacant buildings into new, usable commercial spaces that can have a positive impact on local economies. And for all those with an eye for detail – the original Welch Image was taken in Drawing Office 2, but it was later remodelled and the walls changed. Drawing Office 1 is virtually unchanged since it was built in 1886 though it had one less window at the rear of the room than the other drawing office.

East Belfast People Enjoy Roundstone Launch This month, riding the crest of that wave of interest, is a new arrival launched by Tennent’s NI, a company which owes much of its success to a unique capacity to balance traditional, unhurried brewing techniques with clever, often radical, innovation. Roundstone Irish Ale, from Tennent’s NI is a fine ale in the Irish tradition, brewed from 100% malted barley and a blend of three types of hops to deliver a gentle yet distinctive caramelly maltiness. At first sip the pint delivers a sweet toffee aroma, but with subtle hop tones and an unusually well-balanced and smooth flavour. It is a complex taste sensation, but one that is already finding favour with consumers in search of a beer that is as distinctive as it is clean and refreshing. At 4% ABV the stunningly smooth Roundstone is a robust choice, and that character is reflected in the quirky narrative which lies behind the brew. It is said that, outside Nenagh in County Tipperary, the Armstrong brothers grew up reckless and strong. They took pride in their physical prowess, wrestling and challenging each other to lift ever heavier sacks, churns and bales. Together, they dug the heavy stones from their fields and built long, straight walls which would last for generations. One day they found two special stones: large, flat and round. They had an idea. They fitted the stones together and began to mill grain from which they brewed an Irish Ale which was as rich and red as rubies. They hoisted barrels of the precious brew onto their backs and onto their wagons and drove into town to share their discovery: when a tavern-keeper asked them what their ale was called they hesitated for just a moment before answering, ‘Roundstone’. www.facebook.com/RoundstoneAle or follow us on twitter @RoundstoneAle.

Bright Start School Age Childcare Grant Scheme BRIGHT START - The Northern Ireland Executive’s programme for Affordable and Integrated Childcare was launched on 25th September 2013. The first key actions identified in this strategic framework include: • Bright Start Community Child Care Programme - 3000 affordable and integrated child care places supported and created through social enterprise. • Bright Start Wraparound

Members of Titanic Foundation’s Executive Board & Chief Executive Kerrie Sweeney (L-R Mark Beattie, Marie-Therese McGivern Sammy Douglas, Kerrie Sweeney, Nicky Dunn, Noel Rooney, Denis Power)

East Belfast Coaching Programme – Enhancing the skills base of the childcare workforce. In addition, Bright Start will help childcare providers address the needs of children with a disability. The Bright Start Grant Scheme is being rolled out on a phased basis. Contact Angela Stallard for more information on 028 90803380 or email angela.stallard@playboard.co.uk.

EBCDA’s “East Belfast Coaching Programme” is open to anyone working in a paid or voluntary capacity in the community sector in East Belfast. Similar to mentoring, coaching involves unlocking people’s potential to maximize their own performance. The coach encourages and supports someone to achieve a goal or to develop and acquire skills. The focus of coaching is the individual (the “coachee”) being coached using heightened levels of listening, questioning, reflection and feedback. EBCDA, with support from the University of Ulster, has equipped a group of experienced community leaders in East Belfast with the methods and processes needed to provide high quality coaching support. Anyone interested in coaching can access 4-6 sessions with a coach of their choice. There is no cost, but EBCDA must have written consent from his/her employer if a coachee wishes to arrange sessions during working hours. Please contact Jonny Currie, Community Development Director, on 9045 1512 or email jonny@ebcda.org.

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Could YOU foster? If you enjoy caring for babies, have bundles of energy and are at home during the day, you could be what we’re looking for.

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THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | NEWS

ORANGEFIELD PARK CELEBRATIONS 2015 ANOTHER BELTER DAY ROUND AT THE PARK. HERE’S A ROUND UP AND HERE’S TO NEXT YEAR!

F A M I LY FUN DAY

On Saturday 29th August the Connswater Community Greenway brought back Orangefield Park Celebrations for a second year. This family fun day was a huge success as thousands of people flocked to the Greenway at Orangefield Park. We have a brief selection of photographic highlights from this fantastic day. Find out more about the Connswater Community Greenway or look out for future events on the Greenway www.connswatergreenway.co.uk

M The Litter Pig poised and ready to sniff out for litter louts stinking up the city with their trail of detritus.

Public calls for harsher penalties for litter louts

embers of the public believe people who litter should face harsher penalties. That’s according to the latest research, carried out on behalf of Belfast City Council, to measure the impact of its ‘Litter Pig’ anti-litter campaign. According to the survey of 520 people from across the city, 94% agreed that littering is unacceptable and more than two thirds (68%) said they believed there should be stronger penalties. Currently, anyone caught dropping litter will receive an £80 on-the-spot fine. The survey also looked at dog fouling with almost three quarters (71%) of people being aware of the council’s ‘Your Dog, Your Job’ campaign, and 99% of them said they knew not picking up after their dog was an offence. A small minority (8%) of dog owners

admitted they allowed their dog to foul in public without picking up after them. Councillor Julie-Anne Corr-Johnston, chair of the council’s People and Communities Committee, said: “What we have learnt from the research is that people are very clear about what constitutes littering; and yet still there are people who do it.“There can’t be any excuses and the council has worked tirelessly through its various campaigns to educate and change behaviour – but this isn’t a problem we can solve alone. We need people to take responsibility for their city – the streets, our parks and open spaces; we want them to be clean and litter-free for everyone to enjoy. There is no excuse for littering.” Awareness of the ‘Litter Pig’ advertising campaign among those surveyed was the highest

recall of any of the council’s anti-litter advertising in the last 10 years, and over the course of the latest campaign, there was a 13% drop in littering in Belfast. Councillor Corr-Johnston added: “It’s encouraging to know that our advertising campaign has made an impact and people have paid attention to the messages; now what we need is for them to put those messages into action and for everyone to accept that it’s not ok to litter.” The most commonly discarded litter in Belfast is empty food packaging, leaflets/paper, cigarette butts and bus/train tickets. According to the research, those most likely to litter are single male smokers, aged 1629. In the first seven months of this year, Belfast City Council has issued 1,352 fines for littering. belfastcity.gov.uk/antilitter

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The Kitchen Design Shop

75 Castlereagh Road Belfast BT5 5FD www.thekitchendesignshop.co.uk thekitchendesignshop@outlook.com

Local company, over 30 years experience in the design. selling, fitting of quality new kitchens. Everything from a door refresh or complete kitchen fit out...

• Hughes Christensen • Harland & Wolff • Shorts • Allied Bakeries • Belfast Ropeworks & many others

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• bespoke kitchen design service • full project management • arrange a free site survey • latest 3d computer plans • worktops and door changes • quality at affordable prices • call in with YOUR kitchen • we design, manufacture, sizes for a quote supply and fit Tel: 028 9053 8883 | Andrew : 07870 843 330 (Sales) Stephen : 07974 348 490 (Installation) Open : Mon-Sat 9.30am-5pm

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THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15

Health | Beauty | Wellbeing HEAD LICE

#8 | www.loopmag.net | find us on facebook

Sep

THIS MONTHS ROUND UP OF ALL THINGS WELLNESS

EYE CARE - YOUR LOCAL EXPERT

We are now in September which means the kids are back to school. Unfortunately this also means an increase in the prevalence of head lice. Aimee Mackie from Castle Pharmacy provide advices and treatment to resolve infestations and prevent re-infestations.

ADVICE ON THE BEST ACTION YOU CAN TAKE

Head lice are tiny, white to grey-brown insects which live in human hair and are very common in children. They do not cause a serious health problem, usually just an itchy scalp. They cannot fly, jump or swim and are spread by head to head contact. All hair types are affected regardless of length or condition. They are not passed to or caught from animals. A female head louse lays eggs often close to the root. The eggs are pinhead-size and difficult to see. After 7 days, the baby lice hatch and the empty eggshells remain, known as nits. Head lice can be found anywhere on your scalp, most commonly behind your ears and at the back of your neck. You may have no symptoms at all if you have head lice. Therefore you may not notice that you or your child have been infected. Itching can occur after four to six weeks, but can it be up to three months. As well as itching, you may develop a rash behind your ears and at the back of your neck. There are a number of treatment options available for head lice. Treatment can not act as a preventative measure and therefore regular detection combing on a weekly basis is the best measure. If live louse are found in yours or your child’s hair treatment can be obtained as part of the minor ailments service. As part of this service treatment can be obtained for certain conditions directly from the pharmacy without attending your GP. Pop into one of our shops today for more information.

MCDONALDS PHARMACY 81 CASTLEREAGH ROAD | 028 9045 7838

STRANDBURN PHARMACY 176-180 CONNSBROOK AVE | 028 9065 3804

www.slimmingworld.com

Debz Strikes Gold UNLEASH

The EastIN YOU! THEinATHLETE

me by A weight-loss expert from East Belfast ogram AVAILABLE Prare “We a custom built, functional PROGRAMMES has struck gold for the exceptional HIGH PERFORMANCE ATHLETE training and fitness facility that COLIN SHIELDS sheDEVELOPMENT does in helping more YOUTHwork ATHLETE offers elite levelPLAYER personal training BELFAST GIANTS PERSONAL - ONE-ON-ONE GROUPto lose thanTRAINING 180 people in the& area from some ofTRAINED the areas top PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE & PERFORMANCE SPECIALIST trainers. Our ENHANCEMENT bespoke programs TEAM weight TRAININGevery week. are all based on functional training PRICES philosophies that are used by topSTARTING AT level athletes around the world. Combined with dietary advice, inspirational and motivated PER SESSION coaches, we have a winning combination to take you to the next level. We cater to Elite CUSTOMISED PACKAGES level athletes from a wideADULT rangeFUNCTIONAL TRAINING WEIGHT LOSS, STRENGTH & POWER of sports and also to personal training clients. We also offer GENERAL FITNESS OF THE ART FACILITY team training sessions ranSTATE by our eborah Long who runs the trainers, or our facility is available Bloomfield Slimming World WEB: WWW.TOTALPERFORMANCEFITNESS.CO.UK | EMAIL : COLINSHIELDSTPF@GMAIL.COM to rent by the hour for you to run group every week, was presented your own session. Our equipment with@TPFBELFAST a Gold Award at the slimming is second to none,TOTALPERFORMANCE with Alpha- FITNESS Strength custom designs to suit organisation’s annual awards cereall your training needs.With our mony in Birmingham on June 20th new Loyalty card you can access UNIT 5 because of her success in supportCARROWREAGH PARK the gym during opening hours to BUSINESS CARROWREAGH ROAD ing slimmers to reach their dream train on your own or with fellow DUNDONALD members. We offer a wide range BT16 1QQ weight. of training options that range In March Deborah became one of from 1 on 1, to 1 to 6 and larger Slimming World’s Gold Consultants. groups of 8+ people. At TPF we use The accolade is awarded in recognia formula of combined training tion of achieving the highest levels methods that are going to help you with not only your sports of support for slimmers, and giving activities, but in your daily lives. expert advice to help the members We view strength as a skill and at Bloomfield reach their weight-loss like any skill it must be practiced. goals week after week. Large, multi joint movements will focus on strength, stability and As a result Deborah is one of the movement will help you increase organisation’s top Consultants, overall strength and allow you to meaning Belfast is home to some move more freely. We also focus of the best slimming support in the on improving your tissue quality, UK. She was one of a high-flying flexibility and conditioning. We aim to not only provide our athletes group of just 276 Slimming World with a well rounded balanced Consultants, who have all become program but also for our personal Gold Consultants in the company training clients. There will always in the last 12 months. It’s the 1st be a member of staff available to answer any questions or queries time Deborah has been awarded the you have.” prize since becoming a Consultant

“

It’s not just a triumph for me though; this award belongs to my 180 members too.

Unit 5, Carrowreagh Business Park, Dundonald. You can email us on colinshieldstpf@gmail.com or find us on Facebook: facebook.com/totalperformancefitness

“

£9

in January 2011 Deborah says: “I’m delighted to have received this Gold Award. I love my job and I feel so passionate about helping people to change their lives

by losing weight. Seeing them succeed is so rewarding and being given this recognition really is the icing on the cake. It’s not just a triumph for me though; this award belongs to my 180 members too. They’re the ones who make our group the success that it is, with their fabulous commitment, the lovely warm welcome they give new members and the wonderful compassionate support they give each other every week, and, obviously, their impressive weight losses while following Slimming World’s Food Optimising eating plan. They make the group a fun and friendly place to be and I can safely say I always look forward to seeing everyone each week. I truly believe I have the best job in the world helping people to lose weight and achieve their dreams. Each week as members lose weight I see them growing in confidence. I see them changing their health, becoming more active, trying out new foods and recipes, and finding the courage to take on challenges that they’ve always dreamed of. Members who arrive at group with their self-esteem at rock bottom start to hold their heads high and stand tall as they lose weight successfully and

share their experiences and success with the rest of the group. It was an honour to collect this award on stage in Birmingham – I just wish I could have taken all of my members with me! The Bloomfield group has really put healthy weight loss on the map in Belfast. Together, they’ve lost an amazing 397stones so far this year. Obesity is at record levels everywhere and with 62 per cent of adults in Northern Ireland being affected, many people here are suffering a range of weight-related health problems from diabetes to heart problems and feelings of low selfworth that impact on their working and personal lives every day. So anything that helps people to lose weight by adopting healthy eating habits and becoming more active is making a difference – both to themselves and future generations too. I’m extremely proud to be a part of that difference.” To join the Bloomfield group, which is held every Wednesday at 9.30am, 3.30, 5.30 & 7.30pm at Bloomfield Presbyterian Church Hall, Beersbridge Road (junction of Cyprus Avenue), either pop along or give Deborah a call on 07708 373567.

Rosemary McWatters National Eye Health Week SIGHT IS PRECIOUS More than two thirds of people say they value their eyesight above all other senses. While life would be challenging without hearing, taste, touch or speech, sight is one sense most people say they would not want to lose. Recent research shows that even when people notice their eyesight deteriorating over a third will leave it a month before doing anything about it and one in 10 will not seek help for years, even when they are aware they have a problem. In fact almost two thirds of people put up with poor eyesight despite it preventing them from doing what they want to do on a daily basis. So while sight is considered our most precious sense we don’t always think of eye problems as something that should be immediately checked. Regular eye examinations can improve the quality of day to day life with clear vision and can also mean the early detection of conditions such as cataract and glaucoma which could lead to sight loss. Your optometrist may also see signs of other health conditions that affect the eyes, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. While you know how important your eyes are, when the diary is busy it can be tempting to postpone your eye test. But for most people it is only a visit once every two years to the optometrist and when is the diary ever going to be empty? Maybe you are one of the 13% who said they have never had their eyes tested. Why struggle with poor vision which could be helped with new spectacles? Or why put your precious sight at risk? You can expect to hear more about this during National Eye Health Week from 21st -27th September when spec ial events will be happening locally and nationally to highlight the importance of looking after your vision. See www.visionmatters.org.uk for more information.

41 COMBER ROAD DUNDONALD | BT16 2AA 02890 486222 mcwattersopticians.co.uk

THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15

HEAT PROTECTORS

Hair

By Sabrina Robinson

Are you constantly using straighteners and other styling tools on your hair? Has your summer holiday of sun, sea and party styling caused havoc with your luscious locks?

s the seasons begin to change it is now the perfect time to not only replenish some of the condition lost during the long summer months but to prepare your hair for Autumn/Winter and get back strong healthy hair as the luxurious ‘Red Carpet’ hair is bang on trend! No more spilt ends, no more dry damaged looking hair colour, glossy locks all the way. HOW TO ACHIEVE STRONG HEALTHY HAIR: Cut down on all styling tools, if you really need to use them it is imperative to “use protection”, there are so many great professional products out there and one to suit every hair type. Heat protection products add moisture to your hair preventing the natural moisture evaporating. It also acts as a barrier covering the hair cuticle preventing heat damage and enabling your hair to keep its healthy shine. When clients ask me what products I would recommend, heat protection

With the change of season comes the perfect time to change your hair. My top 3 haircut predictions for Autumn/Winter

My Three Top Picks

Do you feel your hair is dry and dull?

Sabrina

is always top of my ‘must have’ list and I will always prescribe a heat protector suited to their specific hair type. MY TIPS FOR PICKING THE PERFECT HEAT PROTECTOR ARE: • If you have medium to thick hair a crème type protector will suit your hair perfectly. • If you have fine hair a spray protector will work best and not weigh the hair down. ONCE YOU FIND YOUR CORRECT PRODUCT THAT SUITS YOUR HAIR: • After washing and conditioning apply your chosen heat protector to towel dried hair, always apply before blow-drying and before using any heated appliances like your curling wand or straighteners. • Also turn your hairdryer heat to a medium/cooler setting it will take a bit longer to dry but this will stop your hair form drying out and it will help your cuticles to close therefore creating an amazing shine.

GHD Heat protection spray great for a no product feel can be used on both damp and dry hair

TIGI S Factor Flat iron shine spray will absorb & dissipate heat on your hair while nourishing & conditioning. contains vitamins A & E and UV protector, you can use it on either wet or dry hair.

Jennifer Lopez This fresh style is perfect for those ladies who loved the long bob of last season and who now would now like a bit of a change. Long choppy layers is cut into shoulder length hair and for someone who wants that little bit more movement add textured layers around the front of face, and softer scattered around side and back. For an edger look add cheek length bangs. Rachel Mc Adams This blunt bob has an asymmetric edge that is super flexible ….. It can be worn as a messy look, straightened into a sleek style or curled. Whatever your mood this is a style that can suit you! Kate Mara A textured pixie cut with a swept fringe perfect for those who are constantly on the go … so easy to style ! Simply blast the hair dry and style with your favorite paste or wax. Perfect for a fun, carefree image !

Are you blonde? Do you want stronger, healthier hair?

L’oreal Professional Tec Hot Style Iron Finish. Use it on damp hair works as a shield between the hair and the iron.

I SEE CLEARLY

The NIOPHLEX Product is for you, this is a 3 step system designed to prevent damage and strengthen hair. NIOPHLEX adds bonds, elasticity and reinforces, improving the quality of the hair. Ask your stylist for information or look for the NIOPHLEX salons.

Sabrina

FOR APPOINTMENTS | TEL 07756 464579 OR EMAIL srhairdressing@hotmail.com YOU CAN ALSO Like our Facebook Page : SR Hairdressing

through Nikon spectacle lenses

UNLEASH

THE ATHLETE IN YOU! Programme by

COLIN SHIELDS

BELFAST GIANTS PLAYER PROFESSIONAL TRAINED ATHLETE & PERFORMANCE ENHANCEMENT SPECIALIST

PROGRAMMES AVAILABLE HIGH PERFORMANCE ATHLETE YOUTH ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT PERSONAL TRAINING - ONE-ON-ONE & GROUP TEAM TRAINING

PRICES STARTING AT

£9

PER SESSION CUSTOMISED PACKAGES ADULT FUNCTIONAL TRAINING WEIGHT LOSS, STRENGTH & POWER GENERAL FITNESS STATE OF THE ART FACILITY WEB: WWW.TOTALPERFORMANCEFITNESS.CO.UK | EMAIL : COLINSHIELDSTPF@GMAIL.COM TOTALPERFORMANCE FITNESS

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

@TPFBELFAST

UNIT 5 CARROWREAGH BUSINESS PARK CARROWREAGH ROAD DUNDONALD BT16 1QQ

THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15

Health | Beauty | Wellbeing

Sep

#8 | www.loopmag.net | find us on facebook

THIS MONTHS ROUND UP OF ALL THINGS WELLNESS

ACQUA PSYCHOTHERAPY

H2 WOW

A pioneering local charity, which delivers a unique therapeutic experience to people with learning/physical disabilities - teaching them to Scuba Dive.

here is no other similar service available to those who benefit from this service. We specialise in working with people with learning difficulties, mental/physical disabilities. We have a specialist diving instructor – Mariano Bisso, who is qualified in diving with people with disabilities International Association of Handicapped Divers (IAHD), Master Scuba Dive Trainer, Advanced Scuba Instructor, Paramedic, Therapist and Emergency First Response Instructor and a Specialist Therapist - Christina Cushnahan, (Bsc Hons Psychology, Diploma CBT, Diploma OCD), specialising in mental health - both with substantial experience working in this area. This is an excellent combination of physical exercise and psychology which helps us to work more deeply with our clients’ mental and physical development. The combination of water, sport and a unique engagement with the therapist results in the participants receiving a ‘special experience’ which gives them more confidence - for most people this is not such a big jump but for people with learning difficulties - this is a massive step ahead. The sessions take place at various leisure centres all over Belfast - whichever is nearest to the centre. The beneficiaries of this project will be people with learning difficulties, mental health problems and physical disabilities. We have Belfast Water Sport Club in Belfast aimed at giving people with learning difficulties the chance to socialize and have the water therapy. We have the expertise to work with people with learning difficulties and have the name Acqua-

psychotherapy but it is not direct psychological therapy, rather, water sport with the added benefit of mental and physical benefits. We offer excellent acqua activities which only exists in one place in Europe - “in the city of Belfast”. This is an enormous opportunity in which people can receive water therapy sessions and diving courses for people with disabilities combined with specialized support in psychology in this area, every day more day centers come together to enjoy these activities, we are unique in this area. There are different centres which cater for people with learning difficulties, they join together for the water therapy sessions and have a party when they receive their certificates, this is great for their social skills. Acqua-psychotherapy can help improve the quality of life for all people but especially for people with learning difficulties by offering unique activities, making the unattainable attainable, have the progress of each participant documented after each diving session. Participants experience a deep sense of joy, new excitement, tranquility, so euphoric at being able to dive and this helps them significantly in other activities because they can learn more easily and quickly, which is directly related to our diving sessions. Their capacity f or learning is enhanced greatly. We have psychological documentation proving the benefits of this service, from 3 centres which cater for adults with learning difficulties Egcumbe Centre, Orchardville Centre and Mica Drive Centre. All of which have participated, enjoyed and wish to continue with the sessions.

“

Acquapsychotherapy can help improve the quality of life for all people but especially for people with learning difficulties by offering unique activities, making the unattainable attainable, have the progress of each participant documented after each diving session. Participants experience a deep sense of joy, new excitement, tranquility, so euphoric at being able to dive and this helps them significantly in other activities because they can learn more easily and quickly, which is directly related to our diving sessions. Their capacity f or learning is enhanced greatly.

“

Edcumbe Centre, Holywood road, have recommended us to other centres. They want to continue with Acqua-psychotherapy but we need funding to continue with the sessions. The feedback is extremely positive. This is the only type of therapy of this nature in the whole of the UK. We have recorded sessions documenting the activities, and the positive aspects of this therapy. Politicians, clients and professionals all suggest that this work is beneficial and needs to continue to grow. Acqua-psychotherapy have had meetings with Robin Newton MLA and Alex Maskey - who are politicians interested in this service. They have voiced their approval and evidence of this can be obtained upon request. It is only when you are working in this area that you can really appreciate the amazing benefits which are bestowed upon the participants. For people with learning difficulties, the appreciation for this therapy shown is fantastic as they cannot believe their accomplishment and the advancement to their whole being is incredible. The joy in their faces at taking part and progressing in something which they would not normally have the opportunity to do, is lovely.

IF YOU WOUULD LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS OR TO CHAT ABOUT HOW IT COULD BENEFIT YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CONTACT CHRISTINA ON: 07522 545258

love

Slimming World Join a warm and friendly group near you today…

• MONDAYS •

BALLYMACARRETT

*NEW VENUE & CONSULTANT FROM 21st SEPTEMBER*

ST PATRICKS CHURCH OF IRELAND 155 Newtownards Rd, Belfast, BT4 3HX 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Jo : 07542 990597

GLENBURN (CASTLEREAGH)

GLENBURN METHODIST CHURCH Glensharragh Gardens, Belfast, BT6 9PE 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Ingrid : 07746 554360

DUNDONALD

DUNDONALD METHODIST CHURCH Islay Gardens (Off Rank Rd) Dundonald BT16 2LP 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Iris: 07752 980720

• TUESDAYS •

GILNAHIRK

GILNAHIRK BAPTIST CHURCH 2 Middle Braniel Road Belfast, BT5 7TU 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Ashleigh : 07731 420680

• THURSDAYS •

STORMONT

KNOCKNAGONEY

CHURCH OF IRELAND Aslan Centre 13A Knocknagoney Road Belfast, BT18 9QU 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Rebecca-Ruth : 07576 895195

– ask in group for more details

BLOOMFIELD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 447 Beersbridge Road Junction of Cyprus Avenue Belfast BT5 5DW 3.30pm, 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Deborah : 07708 373567

HARDING MEMORIAL PRIMARY SCHOOL 105 Cregagh Road Belfast BT6 8PZ 7.30pm Tel : Lindsay 07896 709234

• WEDNESDAYS •

£5

BLOOMFIELD

CREGAGH

STORMONT PAVILLION Stormont Estate, BT4 3TA 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Iris: 07752 980720

up to

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

BALLYHACKAMORE

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

save

CONNSBROOK

DUNDONALD *change of night & consultant* DUNDONALD ICE BOWL Old Dundonald Road Belfast, BT16 1XT Tel Eleanor : 07891 609161 7.30pm

Visit the website to read Zoes story… slimmingworld.com

*NEW GROUP OPENING 10th SEPTEMBER*

BRANIEL

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

COMBER

COMBER RIFLE CLUB 17 Railway Street BT23 5HG 5.30pm & 7.30pm Tel Eleanor : 07891 609161

DUNDONALD

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

0844 897 8000

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

HOLYWOOD

HOLYWOOD CFC COMMUNITY HALL 108 High Street Holywood, BT18 9HW Tel Sally : 07738 713436 5.30pm & 7.30pm

• MORNING GROUPS • MONDAY MOUNTPOTTINGER

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

TUESDAY

STORMONT

STORMONT PAVILLION Stormont Estate, BT4 3TA 9.30am Tel Iris: 07752 980720

WEDNESDAY BLOOMFIELD

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

THURSDAY BELMONT

BELMONT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 92 Sydenham Avenue Belfast, BT4 2DT 9.30am Tel: Sally 07738 713436

COMBER

COMBER RIFLE CLUB 17 Railway Street BT23 5HG 9.30am & 11.30am Tel Eleanor : 07891 609161

THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | NEWS

www.csnicc.com

Belfast Coaching Camp proves huge success for over 40 young cricketers

The Belfast Coaching Camp which was recently hosted by Civil Service North of Ireland Cricket Club (CSNI) proved a huge success with 39 boys and two girls aged 11-17 taking part.

he camp was led by former High Performance Director of Cricket at Cricket Ireland, Mark Garaway, who was accompanied by an array of the finest coaches in the NCU. The boys who were split into three age groups were put through their paces and covered a range of batting skills such as power hitting, angles and using the crease, bowling skills such as yorkers, field settings, slower balls including over and around the wicket angles. The boys were made to cover every blade of the Stormont grass as the coaches carried out a number of fielding and catching drills. Talking

about the success of the camp, CSNI Chairman Ivan McMinn said: “The Belfast Coaching Camp continues to grow every year and I’m delighted to see so many young cricketers from clubs across Belfast and beyond taking part. From the feedback I received it was an enjoyable week for all involved and part of the success on this annual camp is due to the ongoing funding and operational assistance from Belfast City Council. We are already planning next year’s Camp.” CSNI Club Captain, Andrew Cowden, who was also one of the coaches said: “I’m delighted to say once

Acti-Snack helps Alistair scale new heights for charity

Jolita Jarutiene ( left) with Sam Fleming with Jolita's painting behind

LOCAL ART COURSES Students attending courses run by Art tutor, Sam Fleming celebrate the opening of their second annual exhibition of painting . The show, held at Cregagh Library ran until 31st August. The Classes represented in this show are based at Wandsworth community Centre and Gilnahirk Presbyterian Church. Sam Fleming commented, “This show reflects the great enthusiasm and commitment of my students and this is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate their work”. Sam Fleming is now runs a range of Art courses in the East Belfast area. Further information www.flemingartcourses.com

again that the Belfast Coaching Camp was a roaring success with 41 participants participating from seven different clubs. The addition of the very knowledgeable and experienced Mark Garaway this year was a fantastic learning experience for both players and coaches. Can I take this opportunity to thank all the coaches for their efforts during the week.” We would like to thank Mark Garaway and all coaches involved for taking the time to coach the boys, and also to thank the boys who took part - we are sure you have learnt a lot during the week.

Dundonald’s Alistair Simpson, a keen hill walker, set off on the 30th August to take on his biggest challenge yet, a 10 day trek over the Matterhorn, a mountain in the Alps on the border of Switzerland and Italy. Northern Ireland sports nutrition snack brand, Acti-Snack, fuelled Alastair’s training climbs and helped him on his journey with a generous donation to his charity of choice, Cancer Focus NI, bringing his fundraising total to over £1,500 so far. He hopes to raise a significant amount as part of his epic feat for this worthwhile cause. (L-R) Cara Gribben, Acti-Snack, Alistair Simpson and Jillian Wallace, Cancer Focus.

DRAGONS WANTED! Entrepreneurship charity Young Enterprise is reaching out to local people to help young people become the Dragons Den contestants of the future! Chief Executive Carol Fitzsimons commented “As we kick off a new academic year later this month, we’re calling on people who would like to lend their business experience to local young people to get involved with our entrepreneurship programmes in their local primary and post-primary schools. “TV shows like Dragons’ Den and The Apprentice have brought entrepreneurship into our living rooms, and we want to make sure that our young people are fit for business and set for a successful future.” To get involved contact Grainne LeFevre at 028 9026 7113, email grainne.lefevre@yeni.co.uk or visit www.yeni.co.uk/getinvolved. Young Enterprise NI is part funded by the Department of Education.

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THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15

Food & Drink

Sep

#8 | www.loopmag.net | find us on facebook

A BUSY MONTH OF NEWS, LAUNCHES & LUNCHES!

WARWICKS - YOUR LOCAL TRADITIONAL FAMILY BUTCHER Established in 1987, Warwicks Butchers pride themselves on being master butchers, using traditional methods and offering affordable quality every single time.

Park Avenue Hotel managing director Mandy Patrick and daughter Katrina Martin prepare to open new Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & Grill with staff (l-r) Alana Morrison, Stuart Tomilson, Louise Booth, Neal Caughers, Amy Caughey and Ryan Bickerstaff.

MARCO PIERRE WHITE STEAKHOUSE TO OPEN IN EAST BELFAST THIS AUTUMN Legendary chef Marco Pierre White is to launch his first Northern Ireland restaurant in east Belfast’s four-star Park Avenue Hotel. The new Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill will open in October following an agreement with the chef’s restaurant company Black & White Hospitality.

uests at the new eatery can expect a selection of timeless English and French classics, each delivered with Marco’s own unique flair. The menu typically includes many of the chef’s childhood favourites, such as French Onion Soup, Chicken Kiev or Sherry Trifle Wally Ladd, alongside a range of 28day aged native breed steaks. Mandy Patrick, managing director of the Park Avenue Hotel, says the new venue will provide a timely boost to the wider city economy. “I am delighted that this project is now going ahead. It is a huge expression of confidence in Belfast as a place to do business,” she says.

Their sausages have scooped awards at the National Sausage Awards; Hand made daily using unique recipes there is pork (which come in 3 sizes) lamb, rosemary & garlic and also beef, leek & tomato. Their Irish beef, lamb and poultry is sourced from local farmers, a commitment that they are very passionate about. Their unique dry cured bacon is again made to their own recipe and involves a four week intricate process - starting with being hand rubbed in salt and sugars before being laid then hung to dry before eventually being sliced for the counter. Their finest mince beef is freshly prepared and hand made in house every day. They’re open 6 days a week and if you’re on your way back from work or having been out for the day and need to pop in, you can telephone ahead or send a message on Facebook or via Twitter and the staff will have your order ready to collect at a time that suits you. Visit Warwicks at 24 Holywood Road, BT4 1NT. Tel 028 9065 7086 or follow them on Facebook & Twitter for regular updates and offers.

BALLYSNACKAMORE FOOD TOURS The next run of dates for the culinary dander through the ‘Hack have been announced

“Attracting internationally acknowledged brands like Marco Pierre White means Belfast and the Park Avenue Hotel are directly linked into a global marketing network which drives the tourism and hospitality sector.” Nick Taplin, CEO of Black & White Hospitality, said: “With my team I have explored the potential for our first ever Northern Ireland restaurant for some time, but it was crucial that we found the right partner to bring it to life. The Park Avenue Hotel is an excellent fit as it offers us a great space in an ideal location and we hope the people of Belfast will enjoy what we are bringing to the city.” The Park Avenue Hotel has been in the same family since it opened in 1959. Mandy Patrick represents the third generation of the Stephens family. She says the match between the hotel restaurant and Marco Pierre White is a perfect fit. “Our restaurant reputation was almost entirely based on the quality of the steaks so it makes perfect sense that an operation which has plenty of focus on meat should link in with us,” she says. The hotel employs 70 full time and part time staff and the restaurant is expected to safeguard/create a further 12 jobs. www.parkavenuehotel.co.uk

Tours run from 2.00 to 5.00pm and cost £34.95pp. The dates are: October 10th and 24th | November 14th | January 23rd | February 6th and 20th Book your tickets by contacting Horatio Todd's on 028 9065 3090.

Artisan market @ ballyhackamore Check out the new artisan market taking place on your doorstep every month

The very first Artisan market took place last month at St Comcilles (Opposite Tesco Ballyhackamore). Featuring the best of local crafts, gifts and specialist foods, it returns this month and every month on the third Saturday from 10am-2pm. Keep an eye on the Ballyhackmore Business Associations Facebook page for more info.

Fall for family fun as Autumn Fair returns

ick up the autumn leaves and welcome in the changing season with an action-packed weekend of music, prize blooms and seasonal produce in Botanic Gardens. The annual Autumn Fair returns on 19 and 20 September, from 12.30pm to 6pm each

day, with a bumper harvest of free entertainment for all ages. Children are invited to mark the year’s most colourful season with craft workshops, face painting, magic shows, dance classes, a climbing wall, street theatre and more. Also dropping in for a

visit will be a display of beautiful Koi Carp fish, who are making a special trip home while their usual habitat - the park’s Tropical Ravine - gets ready to undergo an extensive refurbishment. For mums and dads, there’ll be a mix of contemporary and old time favourites on Saturday 19 September, as well as the Grand Finale Band Concert - the pinnacle of the council’s summer Music in the Parks programme - on Sunday 20 September. Inside the tented village, visitors can marvel at spectacular award-winning exhibits of giant vegetables and other crops from local allotments, gardens, greenhouses, beehives and wine cellars. For more information, call the Visit Belfast Welcome Centre on 028 9024 6609 or visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events

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After sampling this indulgent wine you will see why people call Faustino the King of Rioja. A single family have tended the same soil in Rioja for 150 years, blending select Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuclo grapes with patient skills, then some French and American oak aging to give the wines a memorable, fuller intensity. Sip, and you will taste berries, spice and the warmth of the Spanish sun. It pairs well with Tapas style dishes, charcuterie and cheeses. This wine has won top wine of the year from Decanter Magazine with a score of 97/100.

Liquid sunshine in a glass! New to our shelves this Barossa Valley Chardonnay has aromas of white peach and hints of melon. These exotic tastes carry through to the palate, where the soft creamy flavours are balanced with crisp citrus acidity. This distinctive Australian Chardonnay should be matched with risotto dishes, chicken parmigiana and other white meats or creamy sauces.

There is a new fine wine and its name is Rose, there is no wine style more versatile, according to Decanter magazine. Rose is not just for summer – it’s an uplifting refreshing glassful all year round. Our Les Pins Couches Rose is a light refreshing dry rose, with abundant yet subtle red fruit flavours. The wine is dominated by powerful aromas reminiscent of the Mediterranean. On the palate notes of fresh fruits evoke that laid back relaxed feeling we have when on holiday.

THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15

DELI BAKERY COFFEE SHOP

A FANTASTIC NEW DELI HAS OPENED ON THE BELMONT ROAD HERE’S A SNEAK PEAK AT WHATS ON OFFER TO WHET YOUR APPETITE

Olivers Deli is a very welcome addition to the bustling Italian-inspired scene in Belfast. Situated at the heart of the Belmont Road, it has upped the breakfast-time, lunch-time, and dinner-time ante.

he deli is housed in a completely transformed space on the Belmont Road. The owners have taken the building back to its roots with exposed brick and steel beams combined with contemporary pendant lighting and rich, natural wood throughout. All designed impeccably and serving as the backdrop to the incredible local and global flavours available inside. And you get a sense of them as soon as you enter; Freshly brewed Ecuadorian coffee; cured meats of every variation and spice and freshly baked Ciabatta. Also available are a section of delicious salads dressed in a number of differently infused rapeseed oils and Burren Balsamic vinaigrettes alongside the most wonderful array of cheeses. For example the ‘Young Buck’ blue variety is Northern Ireland’s first raw milk blue cheese and is made by local man Michael Thompson, directly from a

single herd in Newtownards. Besides their large range of cooked meats the Deli offers cured meats which can be seen hanging from the traditional hooks. Their flavour is unrivalled and is testament to the labour-intensive processes involved from farm to hook which is why these meats have the Veroni seal of quality. Olivers Deli also stock their homemade Granola and all-UK ‘Cold Breakfast of the Year 2015’ awarded scones. One of their raspberry and white chocolate ones accompanied with locally made Abernathy butter, which they also stock, a sublime combination. Master Baker Stephen Chisholm supervises production of their speciality breads infused with Kalamata olives. So if you see the lights on in the middle of the night, that’ll be Stephen creating another batch ready in time for sunrise and another busy day at this wonderful deli right on your doorstep.

69 Belmont Road 028 9065 4994 www.oliverscoffeebar.co.uk

Oliversdeli

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THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15

Food & Drink

Sep

A BUSY MONTH OF NEWS, LAUNCHES & LUNCHES!

nicoffeefestival.com

NI COFFEE FESTIVAL Northern Ireland’s first ever Coffee Festival will take place at T13 in The Titanic Quarter, Belfast on 26 and 27 September 2015.

he event, which is the brainchild of Roger Gowdy & Deepak Samson , self confessed coffee lovers, is a celebration of the vibrant coffee culture in Northern Ireland, and will also play host to Northern Ireland’s Barista Championship 2015. Roger (pictured) says;

North Down Craft Collective

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“The coffee culture in Northern Ireland is fast becoming an integral part of people’s lives, and people’s expectations of being served a wide range of good quality coffee in our local cafes and restaurants is increasing. NI Coffee Festival will create an opportunity for local roasters

and independent artisan coffee shops to showcase and serve up some of the best coffee you’ve ever tasted and for those who prefer tea, some of the finest, freshly brewed tea will also be on offer. We’re delighted that NI Coffee Festival has received backing from sponsors Sanremo, Food NI and our venue partner T13. ” Ryan Watson(pictured), barista at Belfast’s Miel et Moi Licensed Patisserie, is excited about taking part in the Barista Championship and hoping to win the top prize of a trip to Italy. “I can’t wait to compete in the Championship and put my skills to the test. It’s great that this event is happening in Belfast, giving local baristas the chance to showcase what we do. It’ll be an experience to remember!” The festival will feature live coffee roasting, a photo exhibition of fairtrade coffee cooperatives, expert talks, artisan coffee, tea and gourmet food stalls, tastings and demonstrations from top roasters, barista competitions, cinema, street food, coffee infused live music and much more. There will also be sports and arts activities on offer for children and young people at the event. Roger and Deepak were keen to support local charity work through the event, and are pleased

to be donating a portion of the ticket income to the NI Hospice. Chris Lyttle MLA for the Alliance Party (pictured) has welcomed the creation of NI Coffee Festival. He says; “Many of the major cities across Europe have been hosting Coffee Festivals for a number of years and it’s great that Northern Ireland is now hosting their own dedicated festival. This event will undoubtedly attract tourists to the city and simultaneously celebrate and promote independent companies. The location of the festival is also perfect as the Titanic Quarter is one of Belfast’s most popular tourist destinations and the festival will not only encourage more tourists to visit the area in September, but I’m confident that people from all over Northern Ireland will also want to attend. It will be a great family day out too, with plenty for young and old to do, see and taste!” Tickets are just £6.00 and available online, children aged 12 and under go free. Tickets include a voucher for a complimentary coffee or tea at the festival. For further information check out the website: www.nicoffeefestival.com

THE ANNUAL FOOD FEST SUPPORTING LOCAL CHARITY STOREHOUSE September 12th | 10am - 4pm Holywood Old School Church Road Holywood The monthly craft and food market in the heart of Holywood run by the North Down Craft Collective returns with their autumn food special. The collective is a select group of enthusiastic, inspired crafters and food producers, committed to producing high quality, affordable, handmade products. Providing excellent customer service and supporting small businesses and the local economy the group also supports a different local charity each month. In September join the gang on Saturday 12th September and help them welcome in the Harvest season with their annual Food Fest! As well as the regular NDCC members all the guests at this special market will be local food producers! They are supporting charity Storehouse at this event.

Charity dares public to a ‘Great Belfast Bake-Off’

Inspired by TV’s Great British Bake Off, Downtown Radio and Cool FM’s ‘Cash for Kids’ charity is seizing the annual trend for all things cake and bake, in the hopes of “raising” money for a very good cause. Cash For Kids’ ‘Big Bake Day’ sponsored by Nordmende, is asking for groups of bakers to join together to make and sell all manner of cakes, pastries and sweet treats in a countrywide competition. The competition is inviting teams in four categories (family & friends, schools, workplace and community groups) to get involved. Groups in each category must bake and sell as much as possible to family, friends, colleagues or complete strangers and make their donation before September 16th to secure one of four coveted places in a grand finale, happening two days later in Belfast’s Victoria Square Shopping Centre. The grand finale, which will be part of a live outside broadcast on Downtown Radio, will see the 4 teams let loose on the city to sell as much as possible, with one team taking home the title of Big Bake Day Champion and £2,000 worth of Nordmende electrical goods. For individual bakers with a creative and competitive streak, Cash for Kids is offering an additional incentive. Hopeful Paul Hollywoods are invited to submit their own spin on a classic bakery recipe or one which is completely original to them along with their Big Bake Day donation. The most delicious, creative or inventive recipes will be judged by Jenny Bristow and five will be chosen for an exclusive bakery masterclass with her in her Nordmende kitchen at her home in Cullybackey. For more information on Big Bake Day as well as the competition info or to submit your recipe, go to www.coolfm.co.uk/bake for more information.

BELFAST CLANDESTINE CAKE CLUB clandestinecakeclub.co.uk Welcome to the Clandestine Cake Club based in East Belfast. They’re all about cake! They bake it, eat it, and talk about it. But this isn’t your average club because, you really can have your cake and eat it.

he Belfast Clandestine Cake Club is run by Pamela Algie, a Primary School teacher who lives in East Belfast. The Club meets roughly every other month and has around 16 core members. Membership is really diverse, we have students, a graphic designer, a pharmacist and a nurse who come, our youngest baker is just 7 years old and while other members

are retired. Clandestine Cake Club is for people who love to bake and eat cake. A real little community has built up, people have bumped into old friends at Cake Club, friends whom they haven’t seen in years! Everyone really looks forward to our events and you always feel a bit disappointed if you cant make one. The baking is the thing that brings us all together. We are very definitely a Cake Club - no brownies, cupcakes or muffins allowed! Every event has a theme, this year we have had Spring, All at Sea, Crafty Cakes and Jet Setting cakes. The bakers book in on the cake club website and are told the theme, date and time but not the venue. They can guess, but they only know officially a week before the event, that’s where the clandestine bit comes in. Our recent venues have been The

BOWLS AT THE READY Rebecca McKinney & Pete Snodden from Cool FM’s breakfast team with Jenny Bristow and Downtown Radio’s breakfast duo, Kirstie McMurray & Gary Myles.

Some of the groups culinary creations to inspire

Bobbin in City Hall, IKEA, The Dock Café and Castle Espie. The cakes that come are all amazing- some people go in for decorating, others focus on flavour and a really good bake. Usually there are about 12 cakes to sample and then at the end everyone takes some cake slices home to share. Even if a cake hasn’t turned out the way a

baker has wanted it to everyone is very positive, there’s no judging or competition element. We get a lot of interest from people around us, normally one person at least will come over to ask who’s birthday it is. At the moment we are looking forward to the publication of the second Clandestine Cake Club Cookbook; A Year of Cake. Lynn

Hill is coming over to do a book launch and signing event with us so its an exciting time in Belfast CCC. If you’re interested in joining us you can get in touch through the Clandestine Cake Club Website. Plus we are also on Twitter @BelfastCCC www.clandestinecakeclub.co.uk

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THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | LOCAL BUSINESS

www.fusionrobes.co.uk

TOP 5 PERKS OF SLIDING WARDROBES FROM YOUR LOCAL EXPERT : FUSION ROBES A sliding wardrobe is the stylish and practical answer to your wardrobe woes. Versatile in terms of colour and taste, you’ll be spoilt for choice with plenty of options to explore. Check out our top 5 sliding wardrobe perks with our inside scoop.

1. SAVE SPACE Save space without effort – it’s one of our sliding wardrobes’ biggest practical benefits. Without the worry of doors extending into your room you have so much more space to play with, affording all manner of creative possibilities. There’s also the chance to build your sliding wardrobe into alcoves and potentially awkward spaces, including rooms with a sloped ceiling. 2. INTERNAL STORAGE Internally anything is possible. A huge array of drawers, rails and hanging solutions are available, and, as all of our wardrobes are custom-made you have complete control over exactly

what goes into the interior. Push open drawers and pull down hangers make life easy while glass top jewellery drawers and shoe racks add a splash of style. 3. STYLE The aesthetics depend entirely on your personal taste. You can take your wardrobe down the traditional route with wood grain doors and interiors, go modern with chic coloured glass or stay middle of the road by combining the two. With a total of over 100 different board choices, door inserts and glass, adaptability is our sliding wardrobes’ major strength. 4. DOORS THAT IMPRESS If the clothes make the man, the doors

East Belfast Community Development Cafe On Friday 4 September East Belfast Community Development Agency (EBCDA) will launch its new “Community Development Cafe” for groups in East Belfast. Taking place on the first Friday of each month for an hour from 9.00am to 10.00am, this is a new networking opportunity for community workers who: Want to receive community, funding and policy news that’s relevant to their group or project; - Are under pressure to manage their time carefully; - Fancy a cup of tea or coffee and a bacon sandwich on a Friday morning! This is not a formal round-table meeting. Information and news will be displayed on boards around the café. Anyone who attends each month will receive an email summarising of all the displayed information the following Monday. The venue will be the Fitzpatrick Hall in East Belfast Network Centre, where a cup of tea or coffee and a bacon sandwich will be available. Community Workers are asked to make a voluntary donation of £3 each to cover costs. For more information contact Jonny Currie at 9045 1512 or email jonny@ ebcda.org.

www.capuk.org

Hat Trick of success for local ladies in finding work

Left to right – Emma Jackson, Susie Gilkinson, Deborah Clarke, Barabra Allen

Three more East Belfast ladies are celebrating success in securing employment via their local Christians Against Poverty (CAP) Job Club.

eborah Clarke, Susie Gilkinson and Barbara Allen joined the Job Club at Willowfield Parish Church in real need of support in the difficult task of job hunting. After ten years of unemployment, Deborah, had nearly given up hope of finding a job. “It was really tough. I didn’t know where to begin with application forms or my CV and didn’t think any employers would be willing to give me a chance,” she said. “But the Job Club changed all that.” Thanks to the practical advice, support and encouragement from her local CAP Job Cub, Deborah is now enjoying being back in employment, working as Domestic Assistant for Clanmill Housing Association. CAP Job Club Manager, Emma Jackson, said: “When it comes to job hunting, having the right tools

make the sliding wardrobe. From mirrors to coloured glass, from wood effect to pictures that span the whole wardrobe, choice is a big reason our sliding doors feel so special. Thanks to sturdy construction and bottom running systems our doors are capable of holding a great deal of weight while simultaneously feeling light and easy to use. For ease of use add a soft close option or choose our brand new pop-open feature, with the doors sliding partly open from just a touch. 5. UNIVERSAL STORAGE SOLUTION While mostly found in bedrooms a sliding wardrobe is hardly so limited. Be innovative and take your sliding

wardrobe into the living room, hallway and even your kitchen. It’s a great way to enhance a room with something a little different, all the while providing a smart storage solution to get rid of clutter. With so much to offer, our sliding wardrobes can make a room complete, providing all of the storage you need in whatever style you choose Fusion Robes Ltd 6-8 Castlereagh Road, Belfast, BT5 5FP T: 028 9008 0068 info@fusionrobes.co.uk www.fusionrobes.co.uk

and techniques up your sleeve can really improve your chances in finding work. We provide a unique personal service, which gives people both practical and emotional support. And we work really hard to help members find work.” CAP Job Clubs works with individuals to meet their personal needs. Sessions cover practical topics such as identifying strengths, CV writing and interview techniques. Staff, who have all been trained, can provide assistance in filling out daunting application forms, volunteering and work experience opportunities and guidance on returning to education. Suzie, who is now working as a Financial Administrator with Mindflood, said, “The support from the team at my CAP Job Club has been incredible, they were always on hand when I needed them and I know for sure that the interview preparation they did with me really helped me to get this job”. Willowfield is one of more than 130 churches of different Christian traditions across the UK regularly running CAP Job Clubs, as they work together to positively impact the communities around them. In particular, the Job Club provides an opportunity for support and community, where members can meet in a friendly, relaxed atmosphere, get to know each other and not feel so isolated in their unemployment. Meeting with others who were in similar circumstances was such an encouragement, you didn’t feel so alone and the only one going through this,” said Barbara, who found employment with as a Care Assistant with Dunlady Care Home said. “We have a great laugh and buns, there’s always coffee and a bun,” she added. This Job Club in particular has been really successful over the last few months; the club manager Emma told us “We are so thrilled to see these ladies back in work. But these are just three of many members over the last couple of months who have found work via our support. The help we provide really does work and we want to reach out to as many people in our local community as possible who need support getting back into the workplace’. Job Club starts up again on Friday 24th August at 1.00pm at Willowfield Parish Church, My Lady’s Road Belfast.

CO-OPERATIVE FUNERALCARE RETURNS TO NORTHERN IRELAND

s Co-operative Funeralcare invests £150,000 to re-enter Northern Ireland, opening funeral homes in Knockbreda, Belfast; Dunmurry and Ballyclare, serving locally bereaved families and members of the Coop, research shows that the fear of discussing death amongst adults in Northern Ireland burdens loved ones who are caused additional distress and grief by having to second guess final wishes and funeral plans. The research reveals that half of Northern Ireland’s adults are yet to communicate their final wishes such as funeral and burial arrangements to anyone, including

their partner or next of kin, whilst a quarter know that they would like to be cremated and half would want a burial. Strangely the average age for communicating funeral wishes is 42 but those who have yet to consider making plans are aged 58. And a quarter of those arranging a funeral for a loved one have had to do so without any guidance from the person who has passed away.

Knockbreda 028 9064 7247 Dunmurry 028 9061 7835 Ballyclare, 028 9442 8230

THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | LOCAL TRAINING

SWANN TRAINING Providing quality training for young people and adults SINCE 1982 Swann Training Services (STS), a not-forprofit organisation, is a local provider of vocational training and education and has been working with the community in east Belfast for over 30 years.

ver the years we have helped thousands of young people gain the necessary qualifications and practical skills to enter employment with both local and national employers. Through the Department for Employment and Learning’s programmes of Training for Success and ApprenticeshipsNI we strive to encourage & facilitate school leavers & young adults into employment, as well as those already in employment gain qualifications appropriate to their chosen sector. 100% of our August 2015 Training for Success leavers gained their appropriate levels of vocational qualifications as well as being successful in their required levels of Literacy, Numeracy and ICT Essential Skills. Of these leavers, 67% have already or are about to enter employment.

TRAINING FOR SUCCESS

The ApprenticeshipsNI

Training for Success is designed for young people aged 16 - 17 (up to 24 years for those requiring additional support). Alternatively, if you reach age 18 after 1 July and before first Monday in September, you will be allowed to join Training for Success, providing you start during the first week of September immediately after your 18th birthday. The programme guarantees training up to 104 weeks (156 weeks for those with a disability) to gain the recognised skills and qualifications to help you progress in your chosen career. OUR COURSES INCLUDE: CHILDCARE BUSINESS AND ADMINISTRATION BEAUTY HORTICULTURE HOSPITALITY & CATERING I.T. USER RETAIL SKILLS WAREHOUSING AND STORAGE SKILLS ESSENTIAL SKILLS EMPLOYABILITY AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT SKILLS MANUAL HANDLING, HEALTH & SAFETY AT WORK AND FOOD SAFETY Each learner will receive £40 per week EMA (which does not affect any benefits parents/ guardians may be receiving) and bonuses of up to £360 during their time on the programme. All courses are delivered in small classes giving each individual a more personalised learning experience. STS offers excellent pastoral support to every learner through their personal Key contact.

To take part in the Apprenticeships programme you need to:

Apprenticeships NI is a Department for Employment & Learning funded programme, enabling businesses to up-skill existing staff or increase their workforce through direct recruitment to Apprenticeships. Eligibility candidates need to be under 25, working a minimum of 21 hours per week & earning national minimum wage.

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• be the minimum school leaving age (16 years) • be employed or be about to take up paid employment as an apprentice with a Northern Ireland based company • be working a minimum of 21 hours per week • meet the entry requirements of your chosen apprenticeship (for example some apprenticeships will require you to have GCSEs) NB: If you are 25 years and over, there are restrictions on the type of apprenticeship available. As an apprentice you will be working with experienced staff to learn and develop your skills and receive ‘off-the-job’ training when working towards achieving the necessary Vocational and Essential Skills qualifications. SWANN TRAINING SERVICES OFFERS APPRENTICESHIPSNI COURSES IN: RETAIL CUSTOMER SERVICES BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION CHILD CARE BEAUTY STORES AND WAREHOUSING HORTICULTURE ICT HOSPITALITY AND CATERING.

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FESTIVALS

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Local family fun days out, food, music and much more

From the very latest releases to the classics we all know and love

Local Thespians take to the stage in this months productions

Keep the little ones busy with a cracking line up of activities

You don’t have to be a tourist to soak up the history of the city

Sep EVENTS ETC 2015 Stay tuned as we have the latest line ups and goings on in and around East Belfast and the city centre each and every month from festivals to music to film to crafty bits and bobs. Here goes!

SS Nomadic A Titanic Restoration Talk Sat 12 SEP 1Pm - 1.45pm This talk by the Project Architect Graeme Moore of Consarc Conservation will focus on the repair process of the SS Nomadic Ship which saw the restoration of the historic tender vessel from the heyday of the Transatlantic Liner era. It is one of the UK National Core Collection of Historic Ships equivalent to that of a Grade A Listed Building due to its international significance. Built in Belfast in 1911 with the purpose of transporting passengers from Cherbourg to the great liners, the ship has served in two world wars as well as a salvage vessel and a restaurant in Paris and was saved from the scrap yard on three occasions. The structural conservation work saw the construction and re-fabrication of elements of the vessel, removed when she was to be scrapped, including the reconstruction of the Flying Bridge Deck, funnel and ventilators. Outfitting the vessel to its original 1911 condition included restoration and repair of original timber panels, decorative plasterwork to walls & ceilings, repainting, floor coverings and outfitting of historic furniture and elements such as staircases & toilets. The work incorporated access to the vessel and interpretive exhibition of the spaces. The Hamilton Graving Dock was a derelict and disused dock located on the east side of the River Lagan within the former Harland & Wolff Ship Yard and (including the Pump House) is a Scheduled Monument. Dating from 1867, the dock is the oldest visible legacy of ship building on Queen’s Island. The project sees the restoration of a historic vessel, brought back to her original 1911 condition and returned to the dock in which she was outfitted over 100 years ago. The ship within the dock setting has realized the vision to make the ensemble a focal point for visitors to the Titanic Quarter. FREE @ PRONI 2 Titanic Boulevard (028) 9054 3022 BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL

frockaroundtheclock.com.

TOTAL STITCH FEST The Alternative Craft Show RETURNS to the Ramada Plaza Belfast on Sunday 13th September in a big celebration of all that is handcrafted and unique in Northern Ireland. It will be the perfect opportunity to get your hands on authentic Irish artisan products, stock up on quality craft supplies for your own creative pursuits, and participate in fun workshops, all while supporting local designers and the Irish handmade movement at the same

time.Brought to you by the creative folks at Frock Fairs NI, TOTAL STITCH FEST is held just twice a year, and Sunday 13th September will be its 4th outing. A great hit with all ages, the event has become known as something of a paradise for crafters, bringing together a rapidly

SEPTEMBER AT THE STRAND ARTS CENTRE 152-154 Holywood Road | Belfast | 028 9065 5830 | strandartscentre.com

growing community of designer-makers who lovingly cultivate a burgeoning handmade and DIY culture. A fantastic day out, it features not only a quality marketplace of over 60 crafters and artisans from all over Ireland but also a popular Drop-In Workshop area where visitors of all ages can sit down to learn new crafts in a fun atmosphere. Run by the ladies from The Craft Market (based in Fivemiletown) the drop-in workshop area is free and participants get the opportunity to make and take something away with them. New and seasoned craft addicts will love to browse the stalls and select gorgeous fabrics, natural & luxury yarns, and vintage textiles from quality craft purveyors like The Textile Studio, I of The Needle, Windmill Fabrics, A Fine Fish Yarns and Vintage & Interiors. Similarly, eco-conscious buyers, fashionistas and trend hunters will go mad for the superb selection of designer and artisan stalls selling a wide variety of high quality, unique handmade products including clothing and fashion accessories, furniture, home décor & soft furnishings, art & photography, jewellery, gifts, toys, artisan foods, baby and children goods, and much more! Exhibitors combine new and traditional craft techniques

MARKING 80 YEARS IN THE COMMUNITY

September at Strand Arts Centre sees a vibrant mix of daily cinema screenings, live theatre, workshops, heritage tours and much more!

to produce fresh, innovative work not found at mainstream craft shows and will include Laird & Gillie, specialising in beautiful tweed textile art, Liz Nicholls Felt & Textile Designer, maker of handmade felt wall hangings and fashion accessories, Patricia Millar Ceramics, creator of original stoneware ceramics inspired by the surroundings of the Ards Peninsula, and The Honeysuckle Bee and Me, architect of handcrafted goats milk soap and natural soy wax candles. Others will be demonstrating their crafts in an interactive way affording visitors the opportunity to get involved in interesting activities. Make fabric flowers with Strombolitwo, paper crafts with Maple Leaf Memories, bead projects with Seed Bead Buddies, and design your own teabags with Miss McKeown’s. 12-5pm on Sunday 13th September 2015 at Ramada Plaza, 117 Milltown Road, Shaws Bridge, Belfast BT8 7XP. Admission costs only £3 for adults and children go free. More information on the event and the exhibitor list can be found at frockfairsni.com and facebook. com/frockaroundtheclockvintagefairs.

FREE FAMILY FUN DAY SATURDAY 10TH OF OCTOBER ST JUDES PARISH HALL RAVENHILL ROAD 2PM-5PM Opposite cherryvale park. At this event we will be having: fizzwizzpop nicola children’s entertainer, poke of chips, the farm, choc fountain and much much more...

FREE UV PARTY YOUTH EVENT FRIDAY 16TH OF OCTOBER 8PM-10PM The big movie release for September is Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, from Thursday 10th September. Expect plenty of action and thrills in this highly anticipated sequel. The Strand’s Criminally Good Classics season was so popular that it’s been extended by demand to include two Oscar-winning epics of the genre – The Godfather on Thursday 10th September and The Godfather II on 17th & 24th September. On Friday 11th & Saturday 12th September, Kandu Theatre (the team behind The Breakfast Club and The 39 Steps at the Strand) presents a stage version of Withnail & I. Inspired by Bruce Robinson’s hilariously intelligent, highly quotable, semi-autobiographical, and cult favourite 1987 film, this production from Kandu Theatre will be sure to leave you tremendously tickled... and terribly tipsy. Chin-Chin! For ages 18+. To coincide with European Heritage Open Days, there will be guided tours of the Strand on Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th September at times in between cinema screenings. The Strand opened in 1935 and is now the oldest cinema in Northern Ireland. It is also unique in its distinctive architectural style which merges Art Deco with shipyard influences. And on Saturday 12th September at 11am and 1pm, the Strand will host a one-hour illustrated talk from Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive with material depicting different aspects of life in Belfast throughout the 20th Century covering society, industry, pastimes, significant places and personalities. You can access the Northern Ireland Screen Digital Film Archive in the Strand’s foyer from 12th September. The Strand is one of the venues taking part in Polish Cultural Week 2015. On Wednesday 16th September, there is a double bill of Polish cinema: The Runaway by Marek Tomasz Pawłowski tells the extraordinary life story of Kazimierz Piechowski, former Auschwitz prisoner no. 918, who organised one of the most amazing escapes from the camp. And Jaster - the Mystery of Hel by Małgorzata Walczak & Tomasz Pawłowski depicts one of the harrowing stories that were happening at the time of the tragic choices in the National Army, and accusations of collaboration with the Gestapo. Also part of Polish Cultural Week, on Tuesday 22nd September, is a screening of Dangerous Moonlight directed by East Belfast boy turned Hollywood director Brian Desmond Hurst. Strand Arts Centre will take over 21 Social in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter on Culture Night, Friday 18th September with ‘Cinema In The City’. There’ll be family short film screenings in partnership with Into Film from 4-8pm and ‘The Longest Story Ever Told’ from 5-7pm – a fun storytelling project from Fighting Words Belfast for Young at Art. After 8pm until late there’s a night packed full of short films and the 21 Social bar will be open too! On Saturday 26th September at the Strand you can book the kids in for a 2 hour workshop with Clay, Brick, and free-play stations. Kids are encouraged to bring their devices to play MineCRAFT on and can share some of their best builds! Facilitated by Bricks for Kidz, for kids aged 4+. And the Strand’s contribution to Replay Theatre Company’s BabyDay on Sunday 27th September is, very appropriately, a screening of Three Men & A Baby. Before the screening there’s free coffee, muffins and the chance to get your very own Tom Selleck moustache! This is the Strand’s longest running film (26 weeks back in 1988!). One of the biggest comedy hits of the 80s, Three Men and a Baby stars Tom Selleck, Steve Guttenberg and Ted Danson as New York roommates who are spectacularly inept at taking care of a baby deposited on their doorstep. Hopeless as babysitters and nappy changers, they dote on the new delivery who quickly wraps them round her tiny fingers.

At this event there will be: Live DJ, Live beatboxer, grub and glowsticks!

‘Renew! Revive! Refresh!’ Saturday 26 September – Sunday 4 October Knocknagoney Church of Ireland Parish CHURCH Community Fun Day at the Aslan Centre Saturday 26th September 12 noon to 3.00pm with Bouncy Castle, Hot-dogs, games and lots more! Following the Community Fun Day there will be special events, in that week, with guest speaker Roger Murphy from ‘Through Faith Missions’ who will be giving a presentation of the Christian Faith at each of them, - particularly. Café Church – A Church with a difference 11.30 Sunday 27th September (Café Church will also be meeting every 1st Sunday of each month) The evening Service on that Sunday at 6.30pm will be a time for a ‘sharing of faith’ stories! The week of outreach culminates with celebrations at 2 special Harvest services at 11.30am and 6.30pm. You will be made very welcome

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THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | THE ARTS

Sep 2015

The Arts

NEW EXHIBITIONS BY LOCAL ARTISTS AND A RUN DOWN ON THE PLANS FOR CULTURE NIGHT Check the website for more details on venues and artists | creativeexchange.org.uK | Twiter.com/CreativeExchArt

Top: Ray Duncan | MIddle: Stephen Millar | Bottom : Chatty with Alan Hatty

reative Exchange are delighted to announce two of its artists exhibiting in two quite different contexts this September. Acclaimed painter and Creative Exchange studio member Ray Duncan will present a solo exhibition at Alley Arts Centre, Strabane on 14th September. The exhibition is a series of abstract paintings and although there is often a faint reference back to the landscape the paintings are very much about mood and atmosphere rather than a specific place. Talking about the work Duncan says ‘If I had to identify references for the paintings the colours are often those that I have observed on walks along the river Lagan near where I live. I tend to work from memory and to replicate surfaces like weathered slate or wood stains on a wall, that type of thing. I use my memory to pull these things out of the landscape to sift

out what’s worth remembering from all the things I see.’ In this series he works with the idea of a ‘colour field’ where the viewer is immersed in the picture plane. The exhibition runs until 9th October and is highly recommended. On Friday 18th September the various streets, pubs, restaurants and cafes of the Cathedral Quarter will come alive with a host of free music, performance, film and art events. The great thing about Culture Night is that ordinary streets and shops are transformed into pop up venues where absolutely anything could happen. For example; Arthurs coffee shop on Rosemary St is probably better known for its tasty £1 morning coffee deals than hosting an offbeat interactive live art event, but that is where Creative Exchange artist Stephen Millar will launch his brand of funny, absurd and

sometimes slightly awkward live performances on the unsuspecting public. Stephen Millar has been based at Creative Exchange Artist Studios on Newtownards Road for the past year. He has a BA in Fine Art from the University of Ulster and an MSc in Art Psychotherapy from UEL. Stephen’s artwork generally takes the form of painting and illustration, its colourful and expressive content is humorous and satirical, but lately he has been working with fellow artist Nathan Crothers on some live off the wall interactive performances. These include the staging of a short radio play ‘Twitter’ which was recorded live at Boom! Studios in Bangor in June, and more recently a live chat show ‘Getting Chatty with Alan Hatty’ which was a subverted version of a daytime TV chat show featuring some fellow local artists and musicians ‘interviewed’ by bonkers host Alan

culturenightbelfast.com

CULTURE NIGHT | BELFAST 2015 | 18/9/15 THE BIGGEST EVENING IN BELFAST’S CULTURAL CALENDAR RETURNS ON 18 SEPTEMBER!

t the launch organisers promised more events, longer hours and more public spaces being utilised than ever before. The packed programme of over 250 events contains tasters, tours, talks, trails, demonstrations, activities, gigs, recitals, screenings, interventions, altercations and interactions Culture Night Belfast 2015 takes place on Friday 18 September, with free events kicking off at 1pm with the city-wide Belfast Salutes the Sun - organised by Flow Yoga Studios. Yoga teachers from all studios and centres from Belfast & Beyond will lead everyone in this simple and awesome iconic yoga sequence. Events then spread throughout the day (with over 60 events happening this year BEFORE 4pm) and across the historic Cathedral Quarter and beyond, welcoming locals and visitors for an unforgettable afternoon and evening of exploration and adventure… Last year’s event attracted a record 55,000 people aged 8-80 into Belfast’s city centre to immerse themselves in the unique Culture Night Experience. The Culture Night programme draws together a range of organisations and individuals that represent the very best of Belfast and the rich array of cultural wealth it has to offer. Of the hundreds of events taking place on Culture Night, a few highlights include The Big Fat Gay Wedding organised by Amnesty International which takes place on the front steps of The Merchant Hotel. Join the happy couple for Culture Night’s very own gay wedding. Author Glenn Patterson will be administering the vows and Féile Woman’s Choir will be providing the music. Come along and say ‘I Do’ to same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland and Presented by Amnesty International, Rainbow Project and NIC-ICTU. Moving up towards North Street and Royal Avenue, take a risk and dare to dream...aboard The Campervan. The Campervan of Dreams is a place of imagination, a creative space for people to find acceptance and courage to

speak their dreams. Be part of a creative awaking for the people of Belfast as we visually and verbally create an installation of the dreams spoken, whispered or shouted. Hit The North with Becks returns to North Street helping transform this most historic of thoroughfares in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, bringing high quality street art from the finest street artists into the public consciousness like never before. The Slow Bike Race along Academy Street promised high tension and snail-like speeds as Cyclists race in a four lanes, one metre wide along a forty metre long racetrack. The last across the finish line is the winner. Do you have what it takes? The original and the best is back! The Big Culture Night Drum Circle will be going out with a bang in Royal Avenue. Hosted by The Gathering Drum, the Drum Circle has been taking place since the first ever Culture Night Belfast back in 2009 and just gets bigger every year. How big can we make it this year? Get there early or you’ll be watching instead of playing! Lumen is an immersive audio-visual light installation created by Guerrilla Shout in collaboration with DSNT Records, exclusively for Culture Night 2015. The one-night experience features a largescale projection mapping show, complemented by a kaleidoscopic array of lights that bring its derelict space to life in ways that can only be seen to be believed. Paul McErlean, Chair of the Cathedral Quarter Trust said: “Cathedral Quarter Trust is very pleased to present CNB15. Our aim from the first CNB in 2009 was to draw attention to the wonders of Belfast’s cultural quarter. CNB has indeed done that - and so much more. It is arguably the most anticipated arts event of the year and is the single biggest and most effective way of demonstrating Belfast’s cultural strength which is under more and more pressure from unfair and disproportionate cuts. Our hope this year is that CNB 15 will show once again the folly of cutting

“

Hatty (Stephen Millar). The artist described it as ‘an hour of chat, music and Alan’s unique blend of wit’. This off the wall ‘chat show’ was staged just last week in St Michael’s deconsecrated Church, Newtownards Road as part of Still Bunker – a space for contemporary art practice facilitated by artist Bronagh Lawson and the Eastside Arts Festival, which ran from 19th – 31st August. If Stephen’s past two events were anything to go by the Culture Night project should be an hour of genuine good fun even if it may be a little left of field for the uninitiated! Audience interaction will play a big part on the night as artist intends to set up a live twitter feed where the audience can converse directly with him which opens it up to all sorts of tomfoolery! So if you fancy a caffeine fix on Culture Night wander into Arthurs at about 7pm.. you won’t be disappointed!

“

“Last year’s event attracted a record 55,000 people aged 8-80 into Belfast’s city centre to immerse themselves in the unique Culture Night Experience.”

our arts sector and we’re extremely grateful to all of the arts practitioners who will once again put the night on for free.” Nóirín McKinney, Director of Arts Development, Arts Council of Northern Ireland said: “Culture Night is that one night of the year when the city opens its doors to everyone. Where people from all walks of life – young and old, regardless of background - leave their baggage at home and come together to share the kind of uplifting and energising experiences that only the arts can deliver. What Culture Night shows us, year after year, is that arts and cultural events provide the best ways to bring people closer together.” Culture Night have also teamed up with Translink to launch a brand new Culture Night experience that will really get Belfast ‘moving’ as well as encourage visitors to travel by bus or train into the City Centre for a hassle-free night out. “There’s a wide range of convenient and frequent services along with good value travel tickets to bring people into Belfast like our £1.25 Metro Smartlink bus fare or a third-off NI Railways day return tickets. And using the bus or train won’t be the only ‘smart move’ people make on the night!” said Lynda Shannon, Translink Communications Manager. “From 4pm – 10.30pm, we’re introducing the ‘Translink #smartmovers Dance Stage’! Over 6 hours of continuous groovy dance moves – from breakdancing to Tibetan dance, Tango to Charleston! The performance extravaganza will culminate in LeoniePony’s ‘Shakedown in the Square’ inviting the entire Culture Night audience to learn some ‘smart moves’ together for a fantastic dance finale!” Culture Night takes place on Friday 18 September from 1pm – late, across the city centre and beyond. To find out more about the CNB programme or get involved, go to www. culturenightbelfast.com or visit @CultureNightBel or the Culture Night Belfast Facebook Page.

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THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | LOCAL HISTORY

BRAND NEW LOCAL HISTORY BOOK LAUNCHED NEXT MONTH

By Aidan Campbell

‘NEWTOWNBREDA’ is Aidan Campbell’s latest local history book and will be published on 9th October 2015 at Hillmount Garden Centre, Gilnahirk. It follows on from the publication of 11 local histories covering areas of East Belfast and on this occasion is about an area of South Belfast. Like previous titles the Newtownbreda story is an illustrated and spoken history which includes lots of old photographs and reminiscences about life in the area over the past century. The book takes the form of a journey which starts at Rosetta and continues along the Ormeau Road and Saintfield Road and finishes at Carryduff. There are old photographs of places, events and people, businesses, houses, roads, schools, churches, social groups and old forms of transport. On the way there are detours to Knockbreda Road, Church Road

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT :

ROSETTA ROUNDABOUT In this 1955 scene at Rosetta roundabout the trolleybus is heading towards the terminus at Fortbreda (now Forestside). In the background is the towering presence of ‘Nazareth House’ at 352 Ormeau Road.

was built on the site of ‘Fortbreda House’. Forster Green was a successful tea merchant who after four daughters died of consumption in their teens and a son in his twenties, purchased Fortbreda House (pictured) as the site for a new hospital in 1897.

BACK TO THE OLD SCHOOL Fifth-first class at Rosetta National School in 1907 with headmaster Isaac Harvey standing to the left.

IS IT A BIRD? IS IT A PLANE? A 10 acre site at Galwally was the site of ‘Supermac’ which was opened in October 1964 along with ten shop units and a bank. It was NI’s first supermarket and was demolished and replaced in 1997 by

WHO WAS FORSTER GREEN? Forster Green hospital

Forestside Shopping Centre. Newtownbreda in 1905. The family group includes several A NOT SO QUIET animals a horse, a dog and a BREAKFAST goat which produced milk in Newtownbreda Road on a those days as Tuberculosis snowy day in 1958 and the was rife and goats’ milk was jib of a 50ft crane has done TB-free. some serious damage to the gable wall of a house called FILL ‘ER ‘Verda’ when it skidded on UP PLEASE the icy road. Householders Carryduff Service Station John and Sadie Martin got was located at the junction a right shock as they were of the Saintfield Road sitting at the kitchen table and Ballynahinch Road, having breakfast at the time Carryduff. There had been of the collision. a petrol filling station here since the 1930s but FAMILY it was nearing the end of ALBUM its existence in when this The McMinn family in front photograph was taken in of their home ‘Parkview’ at July 1966.

(the cover photograph), Galwally, Belvoir, The Inns, Purdysburn and Newtownbreda Village. Heres a more indepth look following our preview from last month... Aidan Campbell has previously published 11 East Belfast local history books entitled: Beaconsfield, Knock, Cherryvalley, Gilnahirk, Castlereagh, Cregagh, Stormont, Sydenham, Belmont and East Belfast Revisited Volumes 1 & 2. He regularly gives illustrated talks to local groups and societies. The books retail at £10.00 each and are available at Hillmount Garden Centre, Marie Curie Hospice and Hamilton News Cregagh with profits donated to local charity. Book sales online at: www.eastbelfasthistory.com

“

The book takes the form of a journey which starts at Rosetta and continues along the Ormeau Road and Saintfield Road and finishes at Carryduff.

“

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Sep 2015

THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | CALENDER

YOU CAN GET IN TOUCH AND SEND YOUR EVENT INFO TO US VIA EMAIL STUART@LOOPMAG.NET

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN EAST BELFAST? /// Here’s your monthly guide to what’s going on in your neighbourhood this month

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 Glenmachan Tots & Toddlers 10-12 term time. Church of God, Glenmachan Road. Tel 028 9076 1676 glenmachan.org 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 Bloomfield Methodist Church 10-11.30am £1 per family Grand Parade 028 9065 8946. Cregagh Presbyterian

THURSDAY 10am mothers & toddlers. Tel Josephine 028 9065 4181. 102-104 Cregagh Road 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 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 Cregagh Cricket Club Gibson Park Avenue, 028 9045 9440 6.30pm Under 9 & Under 11 cricket training. Cregagh Presbyterian Cub Scouts. 6.30pm. Tel John 07809 205579 102-104 Cregagh Road 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 Homework Club (P4-P6) from 3.30-5.30pm. Contact Hannah Wilson. Local History Group from 7-8.30pm. Contact Mary Campbell on 07912 144906. Irish Classes; 10 - 12 pm Upper Intermediate, 6 - 7 pm Singing Class, 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 belmont-tower.co.uk Childrens dance classes 4-7pm. Pregnancy Yoga 7.308.30pm. East Belfast Wine Makers Mount Merrion Parish Church Junior puppet club. 3.30pm. P1-P3. Tel 07443 334690 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 Homework Club (P4-P6) from 3.30-5.30pm. Contact Hannah Wilson. Local History Group from 7-8.30pm. Contact Mary Campbell on 07912 144906. Women’s Group starts at 7pm. Contact Sandie Gallagher

Book Group on the last Tuesday of each month from 2-3pm. In partnership with NI Libraries. Contact Mary Campbell on 07912 144906. Irish Classes 7 - 9 p.m. Beginners Class, 7 - 9 p.m Total Beginners (Dundonald High School) 7 - 9pm Upper Intermediate, 7 - 8.30pm Set Dancing Class. 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. Belfast Boxing Fitness. Male & female 18+ 8.15pm.

WEDNESDAY 29th NI Girls Brigade Cregagh Congregational. Explorers (3-7) 6:45-8:15pm. Company Section (8-18) 6:45-10pm. Helen 07938 521823. Avoniel Community Garden Beside Avoniel Leisure Centre. Open to public 1pm - 4pm. T: 028 9046 7925 Belmont Tower belmont-tower.co.uk Baby massage 10am-1pm. Yoga 5.45-7.45pm. Body Rolling 7.30-8.30pm. 39th Old Boys 7-9pm Cregagh Cricket Club Gibson Park Avenue, 028 9045 9440 6.30pm Under 13 & Under 15 cricket training. Cregagh Presbyterian For seniors - “Evergreens’. 2.30pm. Tel Barbara 028 9045 3829. Beavers. 6.30pm. Tel Carolyn 07816 658507 Squirrels. 6.30pm. Tel Laura 07597 684104 102-104 Cregagh Road Over 60’s Lunch Club Bloomfield Methodist Church. 12.30pm. 3 courses for £3. Grand Parade. Tel: 028 9065 2314 to book. 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 Building skainos.org Kidz GAP - Young children with their Parents/Guardians From 10am-12pm. Contact Sandie Gallagher. Senior Friendship Club from 2pm-3.30pm. Contact Mark Sweeney. Advanced Creative writing from 10am-12noon. Led by John Wilson and Norman Meharry Going Green from 2-4pm. Gardening project with practical sessions in the EBM community garden. Contact Mary Campbell on 07912 144906. Irish Classes; 5.30 - 7pm Family Class, 7-9pm Post Beginners, 7-9pm Intermediate (Exam Class) Strand Arts Centre “Wacky Wednesdays” All shows, all day for £3. Wandsworth Community Sewing Group 10am-12noon. Flower Arranging 1.303.30pm. Yoga 7-8.30pm

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. Cregagh Presbyterian Girl Guides. 6.30pm. Tel Gillian 028 9187 4687 Brownies. 6.30pm. Tel Vicki 028 9045 8208 Rainbow Guides. 6pm. Tel Claire 07598 866895 102-104 Cregagh Road 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 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 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 Homework Club (P4-P6) from 3.30-5.30pm. Contact Hannah Wilson. Over’s Luncheon Club from 12.30-2pm. Contact Sandie Gallagher. Local History Group from 7-8.30pm. Contact Mary Campbell on 07912144906. Art Group from 11-2pm. Painting, crafts and marquetry. Contact Mary Campbell. Irish Classes 203pm Beginners Tin Whistle. 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 belmont-tower.co.uk Belcanto School of Singing 10-1pm East End Baptist Children’s Meeting (Westbourne street). Every Friday night. 7-8pm. Quizzes, choruses, Bible lessons & lots of fun each week. Mount Merrion Parish Church 3rd Fri of the month - Messy Church. Tel 07880 880829 Skainos Building skainos.org Friday Fusion - arts, crafts and play for P1-P7 from 6.308pm. Contact Christine Savage. Street Soccer NI from 1.30 – 4pm. Free 5 a-side football in Shaftesbury Recreation Centre. Contact Justin on 90463482. Irish Classes; 10 - 12 pm Intermediate. Wandsworth Community Painting for Pleasure 11am-1pm. Kids Ju Jitsu 6-8pm. Shiloh Hall 6 The Mount, Coffee Morning. 10:30-12.

SATURDAY Avoniel Community Garden Beside Avoniel Leisure Centre. Open to public 12noon to 3pm. T: 028 9046 7925 Mount Merrion Parish Church SunshineFit Kids - keep fit. Mount Merrion Ave, BT6. Orangefield Baptist Church 37 North Road, Searchlight Club p1-p7. 10.30-12. Skainos Building skainos.org Walking Group on selected Saturdays at 10am. Contact Britt Gilmore Strand Cinema & NI Stars Stage school. 10-1pm nistars.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. Skainos.org Sunday Worship 11am. Tea & Coffe @ 10.30am. Creche and Sunday school available for children Strand Cinema & NI Stars Singling & dancing 1.30-3.30pm

THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | NEWS

At Vets4Pets Belfast Stormont We are proud of our

Pet First Aid Would you know what to do with the fluffy members of your family in an emergency? Here are the team at Vets4Pets Belfast Stormont with some basic tips on what to do in some emergency situations. WOUNDS If they are very dirty run clean water over the area. If there is bleeding then apply pressure with a clean cloth. Cover the wound with a clean cloth, dressing or cling film and contact your vet to have it checked. ROAD ACCIDENTS OR OTHER TRAUMA Get your pet to the vet urgently to be assessed as internal injuries may have no obvious signs initially. If your pet cannot stand use a large blanket as a stretcher to move them. POISONINGS If you think your pet has eaten something they shouldn’t contact your vet immediately for advice. Do not try to make them sick as this can make things worse depending on the poison. If you can, bring the packaging of what they have

eaten with you to the vet. Urgent treatment is essential in these cases. BURNS Pour cold water over the area for at least 10 minutes, DO NOT immerse your pet in cold water! Wrap your pet in a blanket or sheet and get to the vet as soon as possible. SEIZURES These can be very scary especially if it is the first time your pet has had one. Do not move your pet unless they may cause injury to themselves. Do not hold them down or put anything in their mouth. Make the room as dark and quiet as possible. Call your vet for an urgent appointment. Always remember that pets may act differently when frightened or in pain so take care not to get bitten or injured. If you would like to learn more about pet first aid, including how to do CPR, Vets4Pets Belfast Stormont are holding a free first aid evenings in September and October. Call 02890 4803000 to reserve your place.

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Sep 2015

THE LOOP | SEPTEMBER 15 | FOOTBALL

LOCAL FOOTBALL NEWS & REPORTS /// Your monthly round up from pitch side. The latest match reports by Alan Hall.

FOOTBALL | BY ALAN HALL DUNDELA 0 | H&W WELDERS 6

WELDERS SHOW THEIR METTLE IN THE STEEL IN the end, Harland and Wolff ‘cruised’ it, as the Welders progress through to the next round of the Steel and Sons Cup, claiming the local bragging rights with this six pack over neighbours Dundela at Wilgar Park. So the beaten finalists of 2014 got one over the winners of 2013 and, after this, Dundela won’t be unhappy in that it will be the only local ding dong of the season, with the clubs now in different divisions. You could argue, too, that there was also a ‘gap’ between the sides last season when both clubs were in Championship 1, with the Welders battling it out at the top half of the table, while Dundela failed to inch their way out of the drop zone. The Duns, under new manager Darren Lockhart, are in the middle of a rebuilding process, and the priority this season isn’t a Christmas Special at Seaview, but a return to more regular meetings with the Shipyardmen in Championship 1 next season. Lockhart’s lads, too, were well in the contest, especially in the first half, where the difference was the Welders extra spark and clinical finishing in front of goal. Similarly, at 2-0, a goal for the Duns could have put the tie back in the melting pot, but Davy Rainey’s third goal really killed the tie, though Lockhart must be slightly disappointed at the way the heads went down, as the Welders really turned on the style. So the Welders score six, yet there’s only one for hot shot Michael McLellan - who would have believed it! However, as manager Gary Smyth explained, “Michael really shouldn’t have been playing. He was struggling with a hamstring injury, and he only started because Josh Cahoon was unwell. He played, he probably shouldn’t have, but he scored a good goal, though I took him off just two minutes into the second half. At least it proves, especially in the way we finished the game, that we have other striking options!” Although two up at the break, Smyth wasn’t happy. As he told the Loop “I had a real go at our boys at half time. We had scored two, but Dundela had their chances as well and they were right in it until we got our third. We tightened up after the break and I’m delighted with our second half performance, especially the last 20 minutes where we threatened to run amok. “I stressed to the players, this could be their last chance to win a Steel and Sons medal as it looks like teams from our Division won’t be in it next season. To be the last from our Division to win it would be something special!”

Not to mention that the Welders will surely want to banish the memory of last year’s final, where they didn’t really do themselves justice in losing to Carrick Rangers. Harland and Wolff ‘launched’ the early attacks with sharpshooter McLellan firing a Neil Dougan corner over after just six minutes. Four minutes later, however, the Shipyardmen sailed into the lead: it looked initially as though the first touch was a little heavy but McLellan recovered well to steer the ball past keeper James Taylor. The goal enticed the expected response from the Duns; Adam Neale squaring the ball to close season recruit from Sirocco Works, Kurtis Hanna whose low drive fizzed just wide of the upright. Dundela continued to press and a goal bound shot from Neale was nodded clear by Dan McMurray, while Mark McClelland headed a Jamie Jackson corner over the bar. Instead, it was the Welders who established a precious safety net on 26 minutes; Dougan slipping the ball through nicely for Rainey to chip in, via the far post. The home side did their best to claw one back, but failed to make much impression against the Welders ‘iron’ defence. Two minutes after the changearound, McLellan was brought off, to be replaced by defender Scott McMillan, allowing Chris Middleton to move further forward. The Welders, too, would have stretched their lead but for an outstanding save from their one time goalkeeper, James Taylor who hurled himself to his left to claw away a venomous 30 yarder from Dougan that had looked destined for the top right hand corner of the net. Dundela were still well in the game, without really troubling keeper Michael Dougherty, with Hanna hoisting one over the bar, while Neale, in the inside right channel, was hauled up for what must have been a borderline offside decision. At the other end, Rainey, at the back post, headed Armstrong’s left wing cross just wide of the upright, while a speculative long ranger from Craig Harris was nowhere close enough to trouble Taylor. Middleton certainly seemed to be relishing his more forward role but one promising run came to a premature halt when he just failed to play in strike partner Rainey. On 73 minutes,

Middleton came a lot closer when his right footer clattered off the crossbar, with Taylor well beaten. Just two minutes later, however, the tie was as good as over when the hungry Middleton did the needful from close range, gobbling up Matthew Kerr’s clearance. That third goal really stunned the Duns, and three minutes later, it was four; Rainey showing all his old class by cutting in from the left before drilling the ball low and hard into the bottom right hand corner of the net. Now it was cruise control for the Shipyardmen and Rainey almost added to the tally, hammering a left wing cross straight at Taylor, while Dougan dragged one wide of the left hand post. It was no real surprise when the Welders notched a fifth, although initially a possible goal of the season contender looked to be on the cards, thanks to some wonderful one and two touch football, before the move ended with Dougan felled by right back Owen Thompson. Rainey completed his hat trick, sending Taylor the wrong way from the spot. With Jonathon Bowers, son of Barney, making an impression in the middle third after coming off the bench, it was by now a real masterclass from the Welders and they completed the half dozen just before the close; Rainey crossing for Middleton to smash the ball into the empty net. The Welders now travel to Nortel to meet UUJ in the next round; the next step on the Road to Seaview where this year perhaps they could have their ‘Christmas Bonus’. Meanwhile, it was a ‘Black Saturday’ for the not so mean Green Machine, but its early days yet for a new look Dundela and they will be surely satisfied if they get the chance to welcome the Welders back to Wilgar next season, back in Championship 1

GLEBE RANGERS 7 | SIROCCO WORKS 8 AFTER AEt & PENALTIES

DUNDELA Taylor, Thompson, Kerr, Shaw (Knipe), Murphy, Gourley, Jackson, Irwin (West), McClelland, Neale, Hanna (Jones). Subs (unused) Sergent, Walker. H&W WELDERS Dougherty, Dickson (Deans), Armstrong, Harris, Spence, McMurray, Middleton, Dougan, Devine (Bowers), McLellan (McMillan) Rainey. Sub (unused) Galbraith.

SIROCCO WORKS Dawson – Fleming, McConville, Graham, G Stitt (Neill) - M Stitt, Acheson (Quinn), Mannus – Wilton, Forsyth, Spiers. Sub (unused) Livingstone.

GLENAVON 0 | GLENTORAN 0

IT WAS A POINT APIECE FROM FRIDAY NIGHT’S ‘MEETING OF THE GLENS’ AT MOURNEVIEW PARK. FOR GLENTORAN, KYM NELSON AND STEVEN GORDON WERE MAKING THEIR 50TH APPEARANCES. However, it was Glenavon who made the brighter start with Joel Cooper just failing to connect with a right wing cross. On 11 minutes, the Lurgan Blues went even closer when Rhys Marshall headed Andy Hall’s left wing corner against the bar; Stephen McAlorum hacking the loose ball clear. Shortly afterwards, keeper Aaron Hogg did well to keep the ball out, after Calum Birney had conceded a free kick. Finally, on 20 minutes there was something resembling a response from Glentoran but McAlorum’s effort sailed high over the Glenavon crossbar. That apart, it was Glenavon who were calling the tune and from another corner, James Singleton went close. On 25 minutes, Glentoran finally had their first real pot on target and even then keeper Jonny Tuffey wasn’t troubled as Curtis Allen’s 20 yarder deflected off Kyle Neill for a corner. On the half hour, Andy Kilmartin picked out Eoin Bradley in the box but the Glenavon striker’s header cannoned off the base of the left hand post, with keeper Hogg beaten; Jonny Addis clearing the danger. Glentoran went straight to the other end where Gordon released Allen at the edge of the area; the striker brushing off the defender but cracking his shot just wide of the target. Conor McMenamin had an effort on goal on 37 minutes but the sting was taken out of his shot by a deflection and Tuffey was able to make a comfortable save. At the other end, Glenavon threatened with another corner, but Marshall couldn’t take advantage, failing to hit the target with an uncontested header. Five minutes from the break, McMenamin cut inside Neill but his low shot was scrambled round the post by Tuffey. The resultant corner fell to Addis but he was unable to keep the ball down. The last chance of the half fell to Allen, only his flicked header again cleared the crossbar. Thankfully it was a more purposeful Glentoran who took the field after the turnaround and within five minutes bother McMenamin and Allen had both gone close with curling shots from the edge of the area. However, Glenavon were still very much a threat, forcing Barry Holland, Hogg and Addis into timely blocks. The home side, too, ought to have broken the stalemate on 53 minutes and Cooper must still be wondering how he somehow spooned Hall’s right wing cross over a gaping goal from only six yards out. Cooper’s blushes might have been spared had Hogg not pulled off an excellent save ten minutes later, pawing Kevin Braniff’s free kick away from the bottom corner. At the other end, a free kick from David Scullion almost caught out Tuffey, the keeper just managing to tip the ball over the bar. From the corner, Marcus Kane’s header was turned wide, before Allen had another effort blocked. Both sides, too, could have won it in a frantic final fling, with McMenamin almost coming up trumps for the visitors, while Holland had to clear the danger at the other end. Four minutes from time, Glentoran had their best chance but Gordon, 16 yards out, thumped his shot straight at keeper Tuffey. Glentoran; Hogg, Holland, Kane, Birney, Addis, McAlorum, Nelson (Gibson), Gordon, Scullion (McCaffrey), McMenamin, Allen. Subs not used: Garrett, Magee, McCullough.

SIROCCO Works progress through to the next round of the Steel and Sons Cup, seeing off Championship 2 side Glebe Rangers 7-6 on penalties, after this tie ended up at one a-piece at the end of extra time. Before the match, Sirocco might have settled for a respectable ‘narrow defeat’, but despite Glebe’s bluster, the Works defence weren’t seriously troubled and as the game progressed, it was the East Belfast side who were looking the better team, deservedly taking the lead ten minutes from time through Aaron Acheson. That looked to be enough, until the Ballymoney side were granted a harsh penalty two minutes into stoppage time, when a right wing cross came off defender Carl McConville’s arm, via his leg. Glebe tucked away the resultant penalty. And that wasn’t to be the only penalty as extra time produced no further scoring, leaving it down to the dreaded shoot out, which Sirocco eventually won 7-6, with Aaron Neill, a half time replacement for Graham Stitt, scoring what turned out to be the winning penalty. A special word, too, must go to keeper Carter Dawson, for saving two penalties. Sirocco meet Premier side Ards Rangers at Ballyskeagh in the next round on September 12th. Before then, this Saturday (5th), they travel to Robert Adams Park to meet another Premier Division side, Kilmore Rec.

BLOOMFIELD 2 | CLIFTONVILLE OLYMPIC 5 Bloomfield are still looking for their first win of the season, making their Steel and Sons Cup exit with this defeat by Cliftonville Olympic at Houston Park. It was always going to be a tall order up against this young Cliftonville team, but joint Bloomfield boss Clinton McCreery insists, “We’re not far away. It’s just going to take something to spark us into like, to kick start our season! We’re a young side and it’s just a case of getting them to mix. We’ll have to shuffle the pack again and see how we get on!” It was the wee Reds who opened the scoring but Bloomfield were still very much in the mix and it was no surprise when Michael Bowers levelled matters. Olympic scored again just before and just after the break, but Bloomfield kept battling away and were back within touching distance through a goal from Michael Getty. However, it became just too difficult, especially after they were reduced to ten men, with Chris Cowden shown a second yellow.

It was Cliftonville therefore who exploited the numbers game, cementing their place in the next round with two further goals. Cliftonville will host Nortel in the next round on September 12th. Next Saturday, Bloomfield will be hoping to make it third time lucky when they once more lock horns with Colin Valley, this time at home in the Border Regiment Cup. Colin Valley have been responsible for two of Bloomfield’s three league defeats, with 4-1 wins each time though this time manager McCreery expects it to be closer. “We know them well by now, and they know us. They’re a good strong side, but we were better than those results made it sound, and we’re hopeful!” BLOOMFIELD McCormick – Shaw (Booth), G Bowers, Boyd, McFall - Woods, McVeigh (Jeffers), Cowden, Getty – M Bowers, Irwin.

SHORTS 5 | 18th NEWTOWNABBEY OLD BOYS 1 Shorts were in league action where they move just two points behind leaders Dunmurry Young Men, after this comfortable victory over 18th Newtownabbey Old Boys at Aircraft Park. Eighteenth had come to the Holywood Road still unbeaten in the league, and boosted by a 3-1 Irish Cup victory the week before over neighbours Mossley FC. As predicted last month, Shorts sharpshooter Andrew Dummigan couldn’t stay away too long. He was included in the ‘Players Out’ in the last edition, but all so often he tends to ‘fly the nest’ during the summer months. This was the second time he had joined Barn United, while a few years ago, he had a brief sabbatical at Nortel. Dummigan, to be fair, does get onto the teams he joins and doesn’t look out of place at a higher level, but surely Shorts couldn’t have expected him back just this soon – and typical he wasted no time in reopening his account, with a goal off the bench. It was Shorts who made the flying start and 18th keeper Andy Green had already pulled off a fine save before the Aircraft side got off the runway after just six minutes. Newtownabbey almost cancelled that one out when James McTaggart fired one just marginally wide. Shorts soon added a second before hammering in two more before the break; their first half marksmen being Alan Jamison, Noel Allen, Michael Watton and Carl Graham. Eighteenth’s Ross Hanna chiselled one back just on half time, but there was no way Shorts were going to let this one slip, with Dummigan marking his return with his side’s fifth. The two clubs will have to do it all over again this Saturday, this time in the Border Regiment Cup at Cloyne Crescent. SHORTS Causby, Graham, Henry, Barr, Smyth, McCormick (Phillips), Ennis, Allen, McConnell, Watton (Dummigan), Jamison (Bell)

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