William Alexander Davis Garden Opened
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There was an autumnal feel for the unveiling of the signage on the William Alexander Davis Garden on Monday 12th November 2018 but there were smiles on the faces of everyone involved. Volunteers and staff from Clanrye Group and members of Newry 2020 came together for the erection of the sign naming the garden as the ‘William Alexander Davis Garden’.
Local historian John McCullagh, who provided the inspiration for the naming of the garden, described the effects of the ‘Great Famine’ in Ireland 170 years before when the destitute flocked to Newry Workhouse. The conditions for the poor in the workhouse were forbidding with the only positives in the records of the time about William Alexander Davis who championed nutrition and health for the inhabitants of Newry Workhouse.
John’s history of Newry Workhouse and W.A.Davis are available in Newry Library and on www.newryjournal.co.uk
There is a stark difference in the before-and-after photos of the old subway steps at the junction of High Street and North Street. The steps had been closed off for decades and left derelict by the DfI/Roads Service. In an effort to improve the eye-sore, Newry 2020 members Garry McElherron and Jonny McCullagh obtained funding from Newry BID and ‘Live Here, Love Here’ to transform the steps into a terraced garden.
Difficulties in bringing the garden to fruition included challenges with ownership, permission, insurance and ultimately the difficulty in finding building expertise to complete the project within the budget.
The Clanrye Group volunteers (pictured here) led by Tony McAteer exceeded all expectations within the tight budget to produce a pleasant garden admired by many passers-by. The subway is a busy route for pedestrians from the car park on North Street to shops on Hill Street.
The success of this small project would not have been possible without the support of Newry BID and local retailers. Speaking about the project Eamonn Connolly described “the pride of Newry people in ensuring a vibrant environment to work, shop and live”. Nicola Fitzsimons of ‘Live Here, Love Here‘ described the funding of the project as demonstrating “the Adopt-A-Spot concept, taking something run down and making it into something beautiful … the group have demonstrated incredible tenacity with this project to overcome every barrier”.
Festival of Windows raises £194 for Hospice
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A very successful 2018 Festival of Windows took place on Saturday 9th of June with Street Artists showing of their skills and passers by given the opportunity to have a go themselves.
Artists: KVLR, Jonny McKerr, Conor McGinley, DMC and more were in attendance bringing their 64 foot squared pieces of art to life.
The event was sponsored by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Newry BID.
Funds were raised for the Southern Area Hospice on the day and £194.45 was raised on the day. Garry McElherron, co-ordinator of the event thanked everyone for their generosity.
Iúr Cinn Fleadh 2018
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A prodigal son and a musical icon are among the highlights already planned for this year’s Iúr Cinn Fleadh (6th-9th September).
Local lad Kieran Cunningham returns to Newry with his unique one-man show based on the life of legendary comedian Dave Allen – From The Cradle To The Grave – to the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre on 6th September. Living legend Sharon Shannon is in concert with Jim Murray and Jack Maher at Newry Town Hall on 7th September.
A former student at St Joseph’s Boys’ High School and Newry Tech, Kieran Cunningham has been what he describes as ‘a big Dave Allen fan’ since childhood. He has fond memories of growing up in Newry amid its 70s sub-culture of five-a-side football and record shops.
It was going into Sounds Good in Monaghan Street that changed his life. Just as the young Kieran entered the record store, Neil Young’s Four Strong Winds stopped him in his tracks. ‘I loved that song,’ he recalled. ‘I went to learn guitar and I’ve been playing for 40 years!’
Now an actor and musician based in Manchester, Kieran has performed acoustic concerts and played roles in a number of TV, film and theatre productions across the UK, Ireland and America. His own Dave Allen show has packed out venues in England and Northern Ireland.
Sharon Shannon is a name woven into the fabric of traditional Irish music. Her journey with her accordion has led her to become of the world’s most highly acclaimed traditional musicians – and her personality has led her to be one of Ireland’s national treasures.
While best known for her arrangements of traditional Irish tunes and Irish-influenced compositions, Sharon also likes to surprise. She’s always been eager to explore new styles, and to meet and work with other musicians.
Her latest album Sacred Earth is a rich blend of Irish and African influences, elements from the classical world, Shetland fiddle tradition, hip hop, country and blues – all simmering together in a sumptuous feast. Newry music fans will be delighted with such an offering.
‘It’s this freewheeling approach that makes Sharon Shannon so exciting,’ said music critic Robin Denselow. ‘And she puts it all down to the time she spent working with The Waterboys, when there were “no rules as to the type of music played”.’
Tickets for Kieran Cunningham and Sharon Shannon are available at www.iurcinnfleadh.com
2020 November Meeting
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The November Newry 2020 Meeting will be at 7.30pm on Monday the 13th of November at the Tesco Meeting Room, Tesco's, Belfast Road, Newry.
No Meeting August - Next 2020 Meeting September
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Sorry for the late notice but with ongoing holidays there will be no Newry 2020 meeting tonight, rather the next 2020 meeting will be Monday the 11th of September at 7.30pm in Tescos Meeting Room.
Come 'Picnic in the Park' with us to campaign for a 15 Acre City Park for Newry
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Join Newry2020 & 38 Degrees in Newry next Saturday 8 July from 12pm to 4pm at the Albert Basin for our Picnic in the Park event to show your support for the 15 Acre Albert Basin Park Project and find out how you can help make this city park a reality.
The plan is to have as many people as possible having a picnic on the site we are campaigning to have as the location of Newry City’s 15 Acre Park. Bring Yourself, Bring a rug and a flask and your food and bring plenty of friends.
As you already know Newry City is the only City in Ireland without a Park. Despite promises made over 30 years ago that the Albert Basin was to be used for public recreation purposes, successive councils in Newry have failed to deliver on those commitments.
Please get involved in the campaign to make our park a reality.
£10K presented to Newry 2020 for Newry City Park Feasibility Study
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Clanrye Abbey Developments a Newry based charity this afternoon presented a cheque for £10,000 to Newry 2020 to assist with its Feasibility Study into the provision of a Newry City Park at the Albert Basin.
The charity which was founded in 1986 and reconstituted in 2016, and has carried out significant charitable work to improve the built fabric of Newry for community use, announced a new £200K Community Fund to assist local community groups and organisations across the city
As well as Newry 2020, Newry First Presbyterian (Non Subscribing) Church and Newry Rugby Club also received presentations of £11,285 and £10,000 respectively.
Newry 2020 has long been campaigning for a 15 Acre City Park at the Albert Basin in Newry. See www.albertbasinpark.org for more information
Speaking at the launch of the Clanrye Abbey Developments Community Fund, Chair of the charity, Michael Savage, said: “We are delighted to support these three very deserving local projects. The mission statement of Clanrye Abbey Developments is: ‘To assist in improving the local built environment to enhance the community and social fabric of the Greater Newry City Area.’ These three projects are reflective of the type of schemes that Clanrye Abbey Developments wants to support in the years ahead.”
Mr Savage enthused: “As well as presenting cheques relating to historical applications to the charity for funding, we are also launching the Clanrye Abbey Developments Community Fund. Today we are putting out a call for organisations and groups to apply for funding from a pot of upwards of £200,000 to assist projects aimed at improving the social fabric of the Greater Newry City area through enhancing the local built environment and we would encourage all organisations who feel they meet the criteria to apply for funding.”
Read more: £10K presented to Newry 2020 for Newry City Park Feasibility Study
All set for Hill Street Festival of Windows - 10 - 17 June
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The Newry 2020 Hill Street Festival of Windows is in its fourth year and is growing from strength to strength.
Beginning this Saturday 10 June and continuing to 17 June the event involves placing a piece of art in as many windows on Hill Street as possible. On Saturday 1o from 10am to 6pm at the Event Space,Marcus Square artist Conor McKinley will be painting live and street art from Dermot McConaghy, Jonny McKerr and Friz will be on display.
This year the art is from a diverse range of artists. Garry McElherron Festival Co-Ordinator explains this year the event will be further enhanced by art being brought right into the street with top Irish Street artists, such as Dermot McConaghy, Jonny McKerr and Friz. "We will be showing off some amazing artwork presented in an unusual way for one day only in Marcus Square on Saturday 10th June from 10am to 6pm with Conor McGinley painting live in the square and showing members of the public how to use a spray can."
The event is sponsored by Newry. Mourne and Down District Council.
It's the fourth year the Southern Regional College have been supportive of the art project and several large pieces will be seen in the shop windows. Pieces are representative of many styles of art taught in the College and many different artists. Megan Burns will be the artist in the central window of the Credit Union. Megan studied at West Wales School of the Arts and has had several successful exhibitions both in Dublin and Belfast.
Garry added "We have been extremely fortunate to have the support of Gwen Stevenson and Jill McKeown, who are the artists in residence for the Southern Trust working in the Newry and Mourne and Craigavon respectively. They work in collaboration with people who avail of the mental health services at Daisy Hill Hospital and the Bluestone Unit in Craigavon. They also work in an Older People’s Programme and Learning and physical disability e.g. stroke and brain injury. Most of the pieces this year are from these people. Gwen’s role is to try and give each person who she works with the opportunity to show that ‘everyone is an artist.’ With access participation and ownership being a valuable way to build confidence and to focus on the ability of a person not the disability. There is shared focus and this allows those with or without a mental health or physical health issue to get out of their heads and into their hands.
"It is a privilege for Newry 2020 to help take the artwork of these amazing people out of the gallery and into the shop windows of Hill Street to connect with the community. Without the continued support of the shop keepers, banks, solicitors and many other windows that face out onto Hill Street this project would not be able to continue and flourish."
the Festival Co-Ordinator concluded "The festival is all about bringing art to the street is where it is best accessed. I would like to give a massive thank you to everyone involved especially Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, sponsors of the event, without whom the event would not have happened."
June 2020 Meeting
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The next Newry 2020 Meeting is on Monday the 12th of June at 7.30pm in Tesco's Meeting Room, Belfast Road, Newry. All are welcome.
Shining Light Award for Newry 2020
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At last nights prestigious Shining Light Award Ceremony in the Canal Court Hotel Newry 2020 won a Shining Light Award for best Community Group/ Association. The award in the Community Group category was jointly won by 2020 and Killowen Fundraising Group for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
The category was sponsored by Newry Credit Union.
The Patricia Graham Shining Light Community Volunteering Awards honour the life and work of Patricia Graham by recognising the significant contribution made by others to meet the needs of the local community through volunteering.
The awards are held annually by the Confederation of Community Groups and last nights ceremony saw over 500 community volunteers in attendance.
Newry 2020 AGM
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Newry 2020 AGM will take place on Monday 10 April at 7.30pm in Tesco Meeting Room, Belfast Road, Newry.
All are welcome.
Newry Festival of Windows ... coming soon
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Newry 2020 is delighted to bring a taster of a great event it will host soon ...
Albert Basin Park Project - Pub Quiz
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Fundraising Event for the Albert Basin Park Project!
Season Greetings Everybody, It has been a wonderful year for the The Albert Basin Park Project as we move our campaign forward to get Newry City the Albert Basin City Park that it so rightfully deserves.
We thought what better way to finish the year than by having a CHRISTMAS PUB QUIZ.
The Christmas Pub Quiz will be held; Irish National Foresters Newry Thursday 29th December 8.30pm
Admission £3 per person We will have lots of prizes, laughs and even a “Newry Round” in the quiz! plus there will even be a raffle..
You can’t do much better than that… Round up your friends and family and please come along and support what will be a great local night for a great local cause! Further details are available at https://www.facebook.com/events/1801523400114032/
December Meeting Cancelled
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Sincere apologies for the late notice but several committee members have indicated this morning that they can’t make it tonight so we have reluctantly decided to cancel the December 2020 meeting due to take place tonight 12th of December in Tescos.
The next 2020 meeting will be in January and we will let you know about the date and location.
Hope you all have a very happy Christmas and look forward to catching up in 2017
December 2020 Meeting
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The December Newry 2020 Meeting will be on Monday the 12th of December at 7.30pm in Tesco’s Meeting Room, Belfast Road, Newry.
It's the last one of 2016
Local GP's give 15 Acre Albert Basin Park Campaign 'A shot in the arm'
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The call for a 15 acre park on the Albert Basin got a major injection of support this week when local GPs and staff rallied round the campaign.
Eight local medical practices have come together to endorse the call for high quality green space on this unique site. In a statement, the medics stressed the importance of the project to the health of the community.
Dr Arnie McDowell said that a proper park in Newry was long overdue: "It's well established that access to high quality green space leads to reduced levels of obesity and cardiovascular disease, as well as being linked to lower rates of depression and other mental health issues. As medical professionals we are all too aware of the problems created by an unhealthy environment."
Dr Shirley Forshaw added: "GP practices are currently under enormous pressure - many are describing it as a crisis. Decision-makers should be doing everything they can to alleviate this pressure by supporting healthy local communities. Creating a proper city park would be a major contribution to the wellbeing of Newry people."
Brian Cleland, chair of Newry 2020, welcomed the GP's statement, saying: "It's fantastic to get this endorsement from the medical community. It really drives home just how important this issue is. We're calling on all our elected representatives to prioritise the health of local people, to join the GPs and dozens of other organisations and seize the only opportunity we'll have to build a proper park for Newry."
November Meeting
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The November Newry 2020 meeting is on Monday 14th November at 7.30pm in Tescos Meeting Room, Belfast Road, Newry. Contact us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions.
Riverside Church support 2020 Albert Basin Park Campaign
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The campaign for a city park on the Albert Basin got a significant boost this week when it received a donation of £500 from the Riverside Church in Basin Walk, Newry.
Noel McCune, treasurer for the Riverside Church, said "The church folk want to support the Newry 2020 campaign for a public park in Newry. This is our small contribution to the welfare of the city. We believe that working people and those not working need a place to relax and enjoy a small part of God's creation. We pray for a successful outcome to the campaign."
The generous action was welcomed by chair of the Newry 2020 Park Action Group Colette Ruddy, who stated "This wonderful contribution by the Riverside Church will make a real difference to our campaign. Shared space is vital to the physical and spiritual wellbeing of Newry people. The support that we are getting from all sections of the community shows that this vision has broad appeal and that we can work together to make a better city for everyone."
October 2020 Meeting
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Just a reminder that the October Newry 2020 Meeting takes place on Monday 10th October at 8pm at Tescos Belfast Road, Newry.
Ask Customer Services desk if you don’t know where to go!
The Park Action Group are holding their meeting at 7pm at the same venue on the night so you are welcome to attend both. A massive crowd last month so hopefully we can continue this.
Iúr Cinn Fleadh 2016
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DOWNLOAD FLEADH 2016 EVENT GUIDE AT BOTTOM OF PAGE!
Iúr Cinn Fleadh 2016 will take place from Thursday 8th September to Sunday 11th September 2016. This four day event embraces all aspects of Irish Culture and Traditions. Running for the third year Iúr Cinn Fleadh will highlight the immense musical and dancing talent of Newry and surrounding areas and will attract visitors from throughout Ireland and further afield.
Headlining this year will be Paddy Casey and Moxie
Paddy Casey is an Irish singer-songwriter from Dublin. When he was 12 years old he began busking on the streets of Dublin. Paddy released his first album Amen (So Be It) in 1999. This album was certified triple platinum in Ireland. The ‘Saints and Sinners’ singer will be playing in The Bank on Saturday Night 10 September with support from new trad band on the block A Fair Distance and the night will finish off with Newry folk legends Crubeen taking to the stage of The Bank Beer Garden. A night not to be missed.
Moxie are a band all hailing from the West Coast of Ireland. Their music has a traditional backbone and is influenced by a number of genres of music, but very important amongst them is the traditional music of county Sligo. Moxie are fast becoming a festival favourite in Europe and beyond and this year already has seen them performing at the Port Fairy Festival in Australia and closer to home playing a slot in the Late Late Show. They will be playing ‘Live at the Market’ on Friday 9 September.
Five exciting new events that are taking place during the Fleadh are:
Sail on the tall ship Soteria: Why not take a two hour boat trip from the Albert Basin to Victoria Lock and back and enjoy a glass of wine whilst listening to traditional music from the best of local talent. The trips will run twice a day at 2 and 7pm with different musicians each time. Numbers are limited so be sure to get your tickets quickly.
Street Theatre: On the Saturday and Sunday there will be short productions from Newpoint Players at various locations throughout town with the theme - 1916: but apart from that …
Live at the Market: On Thursday 8 September Newry Comedy Club presents Two Priests and a Prod - Stand Up Comedy from Fr Ted stars; Joe Rooney and Michael Redwood and NI comedian, Neil Dougan who's hit show 'The funny thing about being a Prod' has been described as, Fr Ted for Protestants. On Friday 9th, Moxie take the stage and on Saturday 10th, a culinary demonstration to whet your appetite complete with trad session and Irish Dancing will take place in the bustling market.
Storytelling with Belfast man Eamonn Keenan in the Railway Bar. Eamonn is bursting with tales of local myths and legends and has travelled the world gathering and telling stories. Join him in the Railway Bar on Sunday 11 September for The Final Fling of the Fleadh and maybe add your own story or song to the mix!
Newry Film Club will host the Fleadh Film Festival with a screening of Mise Eire on Friday 9th and The Long Road to Glenties on Saturday 10th with Live music from renowned Fiddlers Danny Diamond and Conor Caldwell in Sean Hollywood Arts Centre. For families, Song of the Sea will be shown on Saturday afternoon followed by Sticky Fingers Arts and Crafts Workshop. Tickets at door.
Of course the old favourites are still there with the Trad Trail on Friday and Saturday nights showcasing the wonderful talent of our area around the City’s bars, there’s Music Workshops in banjo, fiddle, singing and bodhran (Book via Website), a Ceili with the Long Note Ceili Band and caller Raymond Carroll in the Hall for All on Saturday 10th, Singing Pub with Fil Campbell in St John Bosco, Beginner Session in Newry Library on Saturday afternoon for all to hone their skills and confidence, Live music at Riverside Church and St Catherine’s Dominican, Irish Dancing, The Caroline Session on Sunday afternoon in the Canal Court Hotel, free Currach trips down Newry Canal on Sunday 11th with Carlingford Lough Currach Club, Sunday walking tour of Newry with Newry Man Lost, food tastings, Buttermilk Drinking Challenge and much more.
Watch out for the Fleadh Event Guide throughout Newry.
Main Sponsors Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Arts Council NI are backing this years festival.
Most events are free. Tickets for Paddy Casey, Moxie, Two Priests and a Prod Stand Up and Tall Shop Soteria trips available from Buttercrane Help Desk or Fleadh Website at www.iurcinnfleadh.com
Keep up to date on Facebook at facebook.com/iurcinnfleadh
DOWNLOAD FLEADH EVENT GUIDE BELOW
A New Park for Newry
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The Albert Basin Park Project seeks to develop a new state-of-the-art city park on the Albert Basin site Newry and the Newry 2020 inspired and led project is racking up it's campaign a notch with thousands of leaflets distributed to homes throughout Newry this week.
The people of Newry own The Albert Basin/Middlebank, an unrealised gem near the City Centre. It is a great location, between two waterways, at the head of Carlingford Lough, with stunning views. The Albert Basin Park Project seeks to develop this magnificent site into a much needed Green Public Space for the people of Newry.
The Park Petition at change.org/p/newry-needs-a-central-park is also going from strength to strength and over 3000 people have already signed.
If you haven't signed yet please do.
This park is a once in a generation project and if the Albert Basin site is sold or developed for offices it will be lost forever.
Minecraft Competition - Kids design a park at Albert Basin
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Excited children crowded into Newry Library on last week to participate in a competition to design a people's park for Newry in Minecraft. The event was organised by Newry 2020, a grassroots initiative to make Newry a better place to live and visit. Over the next two weeks six teams from across the area will compete to design a virtual city park based on the Albert Basin site. The teams will some together again on the 21st to present their vision for a green space, and prizes will be awarded for the best designs.
Brian Cleland, speaking on behalf of Newry 2020, said: "There's an amazing level of enthusiasm among the children. The idea of using Minecraft to design their ideal city park is obviously really exciting to them. From our point of view it's about giving the younger generation a say in how the city is developed. Frankly, we've been blown away by the response we've received to this idea, and we hope to run more events like this in future."
Newry 2020's campaign for a city park has already gained almost 2,500 signatures, as well as the support of many local groups and organisations. The petition can be accessed at http://newry2020.com/petition
May 2020 Meeting
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The next Newry 2020 meeting is on Monday the 9th of May at 7.30pm, NRC Centre, 28a Monaghan Street, Newry.
All welcome
April 2020 Meeting
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The April Newry 2020 meeting will be on Monday the 11th of April 2016 at 7.30pm. Destination to be decided. More information This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
March 2020 Meeting
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The March Newry 2020 Meeting is on tonight 14th March at 7.30pm in the Bank Bar, Newry.
Tiziana O’Hara will be speaking on Funding and new types of Funding opportunities.
All are welcome
Happy Christmas
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We would like to wish each and every one of you and your families a very happy Christmas and a happy and healthy 2016.
We would especially like to thank you for your involvement in the Newry 2020 journey this past year, no matter how small and look forward, with your help to make great things happen in Newry in 2016 and beyond.
Have a great one
From all the Newry 2020 Crew
Street Collection for Iúr Cinn Fleadh
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Iúr Cinn Fleadh - Newry City Music Festival 2015 ran a street collection on Friday 11 of September in Newry with proceeds going to the Festival.
£153.27 and €7.50 was raised.
They also had a collection for the Southern Area Hospice on Sunday 13 September in the Buttercrane Shopping Centre raising a total of £223.91 and €1.30.
The committee would like to thank everyone who contributed.
November 2020 Meeting
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The November Newry 2020 Meeting is on Monday the 9th of November at 7.30pm in the Sugar Supper Club, Sugar Island, Newry.
All welcome.
October 2020 Meeting
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The next Newry 2020 meeting is next Monday 12th of October, 7.30pm, Sugar Supper Club.
Iúr Cinn Fleadh Launched
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Newry - The 2015 edition of Iúr Cinn Fleadh, the country’s newest traditional Irish music festival, was launched today at Bellinis by Naomi Baili, Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down Council. This year’s festival will take place on 10-13 September.
Now in its second year, Iúr Cinn Fleadh draws on widely acclaimed artists from across the UK and Ireland, giving it an exciting brand of sounds and activity that appeals to a variety of tastes - whether they be rooted to core traditional or more modern fusion. This year, the fleadh will feature distinguished headline performances: Frances Black and Kieran Goss at Newry Town Hall who will reunite on stage for the first time in 20 years; and in Bellinis, the Irish rock group Hothouse Flowers who made their debut in Dublin and since went on to play in Glastonbury, Japan and the US.
Launching the festival, Councillor Baili said:
“We all here share a passion in the potential of Newry. The fact that Iúr Cinn Fleadh has been able to mobilise support and commitment from government, business and citizens, is proof of that...It is up to all of us to put the ‘New’ into Newry.”
Councillor Bailli went on to thank the Iúr Cinn Fleadh committee of volunteers, sponsors and supporters for their work over the last year in organising the festival for the people of Newry and its surrounding region.
The 2015 Iúr Cinn Fleadh features an extensive ‘Trad Trail’ of early evening and late night music sessions taking place across a range of the city’s pubs and clubs; a ‘Taste of Trad’ food festival; street busking entertainment provided by invited young aspiring and more accomplished musicians; a photography exhibition – 30 years of Fleadhs; film, dancing, workshops and ceilis; historical walks; boat trips on Newry Canal, the UK’s oldest canal, which was built in the 18th century; and an evening of storytelling with Kevin McAleer, one of Northern Ireland’s finest stand-up comedians.
The festival provides something for everyone – from children right through to older generations and of course, it offers fun for all. Indeed, thanks to the support of Buttercrane Shopping Centre, this year’s programme will feature the first ever International Buttermilk Drinking Competition!
Representing the festival committee of volunteers, Columba O’Hare, commented:
“Iúr Cinn Fleadh provides the ideal platform for recognising and celebrating the very rich and thriving home-grown musical talent that resides within the Newry, Mourne, Down and South Armagh region. Our long-term ambition is to become a signature festival for Newry and indeed the island of Ireland, north and south. Through the promotion of music, arts and culture, we want to support Newry’s development by advancing community cohesion and spirit while boosting the city’s economic and tourism potential.”
Tickets for headline acts selling at £22.50 can be bought from the Sugar Supper Club, the Customer Service Desk, Buttercrane Shopping Centre or via: www.iurcinnfleadh.com Hothouse Flowers Tickets can also be bought from Bellinis
For up-to-date festival info, visit www.iurcinnfleadh.com and like ‘Iur Cinn Fleadh’ on Facebook
Next Meeting September
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Due to holidays and the upcoming Iúr Cinn Fleadh festival there won't be a Newry 2020 meeting in August.
The next one will be in September.
Headliners announced for Iúr Cinn Fleadh
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The Iúr Cinn Fleadh /Newry City Music Festival 2015 is hotting up with headline act Hothouse Flowers playing on Saturday 12 September in Bellinis, Newry; Frances Black and Kieran Goss will headline on Sunday 13 September in Newry Town Hall.
Hothouse Flowers started their career busking and ended up bringing street music to world stages. Since the release of their last CD, ‘Into Your Heart’, they have been playing across Ireland, America, the UK, Japan and Europe. The band is well known for its unique brand of rock influenced by soul, gospel and traditional music.
For the first time in 20 years, Frances Black and Mayobridge man Kieran Goss will reunite on stage together. Newry Town Hall offers the perfect atmosphere and backdrop for this gently minimalist performance, which will appeal to all contemporary folk lovers. Speaking of the gig, Kieran Goss said:
“Frances and I are delighted to be performing together again after all these years and especially to be playing in my home town...I remember playing in Newry Town Hall in a band called ‘Nightshift’...it might have been 1978/79...We were terrible but my cousin Sean played bass in Dreams so we got the gig! Since then, music has brought all around the world and back again and I'm looking forward to sharing the stage with Frances and meeting up with old friends and family. It's gonna be a great night.”
Following its successful launch last year, Iúr Cinn Fleadh is coming back bigger and better. Taking place on 10-13 September 2015, this year’s festival will open with a ‘Trad Trail’ across the pubs and clubs of Newry. Trad music aficionados can look forward to an evening of music and song with dance and storytelling thrown in for good measure.
Saturday’s day time activities will bring in buskers to one of the city centre’s revived shopping streets - Hill Street - for a two hour live music competition. Musical workshops and Irish dancing performances will also be held for children across the city’s various arts and music venues.
‘A Taste of Trad’ will cater to visitor appetites, with several of the city’s restaurants signed up to serve traditional Irish cuisine throughout the weekend.
Iúr Cinn Fleadh offers something for everyone – families, friends, young and old, locals and those from further afield. Music gurus and novices alike, this is a weekend not to be missed!
Tickets for headline acts selling at £22.50 can be bought from the Sugar Supper Club, the Customer Service Desk, Buttercrane Shopping Centre or via: www.iurcinnfleadh.com; Hothouse Flowers Tickets can also be bought from Bellinis
For up-to-date festival info, visit www.iurcinnfleadh.com and like ‘Iur Cinn Fleadh’ on Facebook
Media enquiries: Róisín Hughes; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Andy Irvine to play at Iúr Cinn Fleadh 2015
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One of Ireland’s most quintessential musician’s Andy Irvine will play at Newry Market, John Mitchell Place on Friday 5 June 2015 at 9pm. The musician has been invited by the organisers of the Iúr Cinn Fleadh/Newry City Music Festival happening in September this year.
Irvine’s musical history spans some four decades. He spent most of the 1970s playing alongside Christy Moore and Donal Lunny. After that, it was a trail of great bands and musicians including De Danaan, Paul Brady, Mick Hanly and Patrick Street with whom he played all over the world before setting out on his own solo career. Andy is a great singer songwriter and his skills as a musician playing the bouzouki, mandola, Harmonica and mandolin have earned him awards and titles during an illustrious career.
Concert tickets are selling at £15 can be bought via: www.iurcinnfleadh.com and on site at the Sugar Supper Club, Newry.
Speaking ahead of the concert, Iúr Cinn Fleadh’s Neil Bradley, said “Irvine’s concert is part of the Iúr Cinn Fleadh initiative, which aims to draw in acclaimed musicians to Newry as well as to promote and support local musical talent that resides within our city and its hinterlands. Iúr Cinn Fleadh is led by a small group of activists who see huge potential at home. We want to do what we can to put Newry on the map; the love of music is one way of achieving that.”
Following its successful launch last year, Iúr Cinn Fleadh is coming back bigger and better. Taking place on 10-13 September 2015, this year’s festival will open with a ‘Trad Trail’ across the pubs and clubs of Newry. Headline acts include the Hothouse Flowers, Frances Black and Kieran Goss. Visitors can also look forward to a busking competition, musical workshops, Irish dancing performances and a ‘taste of trad’, with several of the city’s restaurants signed up to serve traditional Irish cuisine throughout the weekend. Iúr Cinn Fleadh offers something for everyone – families, friends, young and old, locals and those from further afield. Music gurus and novices alike, this is a weekend not to be missed!
Iúr Cinn Fleadh is an offshoot project of Newry 2020, a community-led initiative which brings together local residents, non-profit organisations and businesses to plan events, create projects and help advance Newry’s development.
Next 2020 Meeting 9th March
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The next Newry 2020 Meeting is on Monday the 9th of March at 7.30pm in the Sugar Supper Club.
All are welcome to come along.
First Fleadh Meeting of 2015
- Details
Newry 2020 are having another go at Iur Cinn Fleadh from the 11th - 13th September 2015 and are having our first meeting next Thursday 22nd of Jan at 8pm upstairs in Sugar Supper Club, Newry.
We obviously want to turn things up a notch with the festival so all help would be greatly appreciated.
If you are interested in making this the Festival of the Year 2015 please come along
2020 Meeting for January
- Details
The first Newry 2020 meeting of the year will take place on Monday coming the 12th of January 2015 at 7.30pm in the Sugar Supper Club, Sugar Island.
We plan to start the year off with a brainstorming session to put on paper any and all ideas new and not so new aimed at improving Newry City for the benefit of locals and visitors alike. It's a great opportunity for you to have your input heard so please try and get along if you can.
Once the ideas are out there, then it's getting them acted on!
Another Year Closer to 2020 - Happy New Year
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All of us at Newry 2020 would like to thank all of you who supported us, sponsored our festivals, came along to meetings, helped organise events, came up with wonderful ideas, ran the various websites and Facebook/ Twitter accounts, the Sugar Supper Club for the monthly meeting venue and all who sponsored, hosted and supported the Festival of Windows and Iur Cinn Fleadh and especially all those who gave so much of their time freely to push forward our plans for a proper park at the Albert Basin.
This year we had extensive coverage of our various projects in the Newry Reporter, Newry Democrat, The Examiner, ArmaghDown Observer, BBC NI Website and more for which we are incredibly grateful and to each and every one of the editorial teams we say a big big thank you.
2014 was only the beginning. Who knows where this adventure will take us. If you haven't already dipped your toes in, feel free to climb aboard in 2015. There is a lot that can be done and the simplest things can make the most amazing difference to where we live.
The next meeting is in the Sugar Supper Club at 7.30pm on Monday the 12th of January 2015, please come along, it wouldn't be the same without you!
December Newry 2020 Meeting
- Details
The December Newry 2020 Meeting is on Monday the 8th of December 2014 at 7.30pm in Sugar Supper Club, Sugar Island, Newry. All are welcome.
Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair
- Details
Clanrye Arts and Crafts Collective is running its Christmas Fair in the Hall for All on the Belfast Road on Sat 22nd Nov, 11.00 to 5.00pm and Sunday 23rd Nov, 1.00 to 5.00pm.
A wide range of handmade artefacts and goods will be on sale. Here is an opportunity to get those special Christmas gifts and to support local artists and crafts’ people.
Entry is FREE and there is plenty of parking around the venue.
Albert Basin Park Plan Boosted
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At last weeks Newry 20/20 meeting, members were amazed and heartened when they heard how a river was moved, 3 new bridges have been built and new parks, walkways and cycle paths created, in a £ 40M project in East Belfast.
Newry 20/20 is currently campaigning for a Central Park for Newry City and hearing from Connswater Community Greenway, Programme Manager, Wendy Langham, on how their Project in Belfast is progressing, raised members spirits as to what could be done here in Newry. All that’s needed is the will and the vision to see the derelict site of the Albert Basin transformed into an idyllic destination for the whole community and future generations, bringing the heart back into Newry. To this end Newry 2020 have an online Petition with 1500 signatures collected already at www.newry2020.com/petition Feel free to add your name to the list.
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