Banbridge Leader (Banbridge, Northern Ireland) back issues from March 2007:
A1 preparation work begins.
Mar 02, 2007 ... PREPARATION work has started on the A1 scheme between Beech Hill and Cloghogue. Part of Euro Route 001 between Belfast and Dublin, the A1, when works are completed, will provide dual carriageways from Sprucefield to the border. Roads Service has completed one dual ...
Work to Old Tech building.
Mar 02, 2007 ... PLANNING permission has been granted for improvements to the old library and Technical College in Banbridge. Once the work is complete the Downshire Road building will have ...
Former petrol station to be converted into hot food bar.
Mar 02, 2007 ... THE BP filling station on the Dromore Road in Banbridge is to be converted into a hot food bar. Planners approved an ...
Big Breakfast on menu.
Mar 02, 2007 ... DROMORE'S Cancer Research Northern Ireland committee is holding its annual Big Breakfast in Dromore Town Hall on Friday, March 2 . Morning coffee and light lunches will be served from 9.30 - 3.30pm. The event will be the first of ...
Band issues invitation.
Mar 02, 2007 ... AUGHNASKEAGH Silver Band is inviting brass and percussion players to come along and enjoy the art of music making. The band operates Tuesday night rehearsals, offering good concert programmes and, a spokesperson said, fun to be had for all ages. There is free tuition ...
Variety concert ends celebrations.
Mar 02, 2007 ... TO conclude their 50th anniversary celebrations Anaghlone PWA are holding a variety concert in Tanvally Hall on Thursday, April 5, at 8pm. The programme consists of Mourne Male Voice Choir with John Weir, Killrichy, who is a son of branch founder, the ...
New application for disabled ramp at bank.
Mar 02, 2007 ... THE Ulster Bank in Banbridge has again been refused planning permission to build a ramp for disabled access. Representatives from the bank have been in ongoing negotiations with planners about the bank's need to provide disabled access to its Bridge Street premises but planners ...
Play time at Central PS.
Mar 02, 2007 ... PLANNERS have passed a proposal to extend the playground at Dromore Central Primary School. ...
More roadworks down the 'line'.
Mar 02, 2007 ... I have no idea how much benefit will be derived from this new gas pipeline being laid in Northern Ireland and, frankly, at the moment it's hard to care. Like the motorists using Banbridge's Scarva Road and facing further disruptions, I too am sick and tired of spending so much ...
Wedding topic for history group.
Mar 02, 2007 ... LAST month the Dromore and District Historical Group enjoyed a presentation by Horace Reid on the life of Francis Rawdon, Earl of Moira and Marquess of Hastings. ...
Youthbank comes to town.
Mar 02, 2007 ... THE Southern Education and Library Board Youth Service, in partnership with the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, are launching a new youth project in the Banbridge District area called Youthbank. The project aims to recruit a group of young people aged between 14 and ...
Dromara woman often looked after the mother of Harry Ferguson.
Mar 02, 2007 ... IT is with regret that we record the death of Georgina Greer at her residence 18 Springmount Road, Dromara, on Monday, January 1, 2007. She was the dearly loved wife of the late Hugh Greer who predeceased her 19 years ago and loving mother of George and Hubert. ...
Brookvale hall granted.
Mar 02, 2007 ... BROOKVALE Presbyterian Church, Rathfriland, has been granted planning permission to build a ...
Gospel Mission.
Mar 02, 2007 ... WARINGSFORD Orange Hall is to host a Gospel Mission under the auspices of The Faith Mission. An invitation is extended to everyone to 'discover a new beginning' as part of the event, with meetings starting on Sunday, March 4 at 3.30pm. They continue Tuesdays-Fridays ...
World Day of Prayer.
Mar 02, 2007 ... DROMORE Cathedral will this Friday (March 2) host the interdenominational Women's World Day of Prayer locally. In all more than three million people will be taking part in a day of prayer that circles the globe from the ...
The Rural Housing Association thanks Ward.
Mar 02, 2007 ... SINN Fein councillor Dessie Ward has received a letter from the Rural Housing Association thanking him for his help in securing planning approval for a housing development in the village of Annaclone. The letter came in response to news that Planning Service were prepared to ...
Devoted family man had been in Fire Service.
Mar 02, 2007 ... THE passing of Mr George Matier of 11 Grovehill took place peacefully in Craigavon Area Hospital on Tuesday, February 20. He was the dearly loved husband of Doris whom he married on June 6, 1957. George was born and brought up in Banbridge and lived there all his ...
Long serving member of Dromore Mothers' Union.
Mar 02, 2007 ... DROMORE woman, Martha Elsie Watson, formerly of Lower Mount Street, died in hospital recently, aged 94. A widow, Mrs. Watson is survived by son Jim (Ballyvicknakelly); daughters Mrs. Amy Lightbody (Dromore) and Elsie Fairley (Banbridge); grandsons Alan Lightbody (Downpatrick) ...
Former town man was Second World War bomber pilot.
Mar 02, 2007 ... FORMER Banbridge man William Walter Dougan passed away peacefully at his Exmouth home on January 13th. He was born at Ballycross, Banbridge, in 1917, the eldest son of Lockhart and Jeannie Dougan. Former RAF pilot, Flight Lieutenant William Walter Dougan, known to ...
Creche extension.
Mar 02, 2007 ... THE creche at the former hospital site at Ballygowan Road, Banbridge, is to be extended. Planners have given the green light for the vacant outpatient ...
Hopes high for cap on industrial rates.
Mar 02, 2007 ... THE Northern Ireland Manufacturing Focus Group has said it is now significantly more likely to see the industrial rate capped at 25 per-cent following a series of election hustings events last week, including one in Banbridge. The Focus Group, which has spearheaded the fight ...
National Park must have consent of local community - Ruane.
Mar 02, 2007 ... SINN Fein South Down Assembly election candidate Caitriona Ruane has said that it is a mistake to impose the planned national park on the area without the support of the local community. Ms Ruane said her party is opposed to the imposition of a national park in South Down ...
Bell blasts inheritance tax level.
Mar 02, 2007 ... LAGAN Valley UUP election candidate Billy Bell has said a 40 per-cent inheritance tax is posing a problem for many home owners in the constituency. The former Public Accounts Committee Chairman said: "With average house prices in Lagan Valley now standing at [pounds ...
UUP has not neglected district - Councillor Baird.
Mar 02, 2007 ... BANBRIDGE councillor Joan Baird has refuted allegations that the Ulster Unionist Party has neglected the people of the district. In seeking support for the three Ulster Unionist candidates in the forthcoming election, Sam Gardiner, Arnold Hatch and George Savage, Councillor ...
Burns opposed to National Park plan.
Mar 02, 2007 ... SOUTH Down DUP Assembly candidate William Burns has said he still remains totally opposed to a National Park for the Mournes and Slieve Croob areas. The DUP representative stated that over the past number of months he has attended many meetings and debates on a National Park. ...
Butler welcomes plans to widen policing college remit.
Mar 02, 2007 ... SINN Fein Lagan Valley Assembly candidate Paul Butler has said that plans by the British Government to widen the remit of the proposed policing college in Cookstown are a step forward. "Given the massive funding deficit which has developed in the proposal for the policing ...
Independents have serious questions to answer - McCrum.
Mar 02, 2007 ... UPPER Bann DUP Assembly candidate Junior McCrum has claimed that the Calvert/Peeples campaigns have got serious questions to answer over their attitude to entering into a voluntary coalition with Sinn Fein. Mr McCrum suggested that David Calvert and Suzanne Peeples have both ...
Bread and butter issues to forefront - Donaldson.
Mar 02, 2007 ... LAGAN Valley MP and Assembly candidate Jeffrey Donaldson has said voters are focused on 'bread and butter' issues such as water charges, rates, education, health and affordable housing, in the run-up to the coming election. That much was clear, he said, from the response on the ...
David Cameron backs Lagan Valley candidate.
Mar 02, 2007 ... CONSERVATIVE Party leader David Cameron was in Northern Ireland last week to offer his support to Lagan Valley candidate Neil Johnston. Mr Johnston said it was great to have the backing of David Cameron. "David Cameron has repeatedly said he wants politics in Northern ...
SDLP seeks better deal for rural communities.
Mar 02, 2007 ... THE SDLP intends to seek a better deal for rural communities and everyone living in the countryside in a new Assembly, two party candidates have stated. Rural development spokesperson Dolores Kelly (Upper Bann) and Agriculture Spokesperson PJ Bradley (South Down) said the party ...
Let's make history in Upper Bann - Ward.
Mar 02, 2007 ... A SINN Fein Assembly candidate is calling on local people to help his party make history by electing two party members in Upper Bann for the first time. Councillor Dessie Ward made the comments during a visit to the area last week by party president Gerry Adams MP. ...
Disability Action 'Polls Apart' campaign.
Mar 02, 2007 ... DISABILITY Action has called on the 300,000 people with disabilities in Northern Ireland to make their voices heard at the forthcoming Assembly elections. Disability Action is asking disabled people in Banbridge to take part in a Polls Apart survey, which would allow them to ...
SDLP's Farrell welcomes Wimbledon lead on equal pay.
Mar 02, 2007 ... SDLP Equality Spokesperson Marietta Farrell, a candidate in the forthcoming Assembly election, has welcomed the announcement that women tennis players in the Wimbledon Championship will now be paid the same as male competitors. She said: "In the 21st century we should not have ...
DUP determined to secure best deal - Moutray.
Mar 02, 2007 ... UPPER Bann DUP Assembly candidate Stephen Moutray has spoken of his party's determination to secure the best deal for Northern Ireland. Speaking after the launch of the DUP manifesto Mr Moutray pointed out that the UUP has already said that it will enter an executive at the end ...
Republicans must come up to democratic mark - Simpson.
Mar 02, 2007 ... UPPER Bann MP David Simpson has re-iterated the need for republicans to come up to the democratic mark. Mr Simpson, a DUP candidate in next week's Assembly election, said the history of the political process has shown that putting a timetable on something seldom, if ever, works ....
MEP hits election trail in Upper Bann.
Mar 02, 2007 ... DUP Euro MP Jim Allister was in Upper Bann last week as part of his whistle-stop tour of Northern Ireland constituencies. Mr Allister went on the election trail with candidates David Simpson, Stephen Moutray and Junior McCrum. He said:"With the Ulster Unionist Party ...
Peeples hits out at voter apathy.
Mar 02, 2007 ... INDEPENDENT Upper Bann candidate Suzanne Peeples has urged voters not to give in to apathy ahead of next week's election. She claimed the up and coming election is the most important as votes will decide if Sinn Fein will rule over the affairs of Ulster. "In other ...
Poots urges more help for beef farmers.
Mar 02, 2007 ... THE DUP's Edwin Poots has called on the government to do more to help beef farmers. The call came ahead of a recent briefing session for politicians on the future strategy for the Northern Ireland red meat industry. Mr. Poots said he believes the Department of ...
Outlet will put town on the map - UUP.
Mar 02, 2007 ... THE new Outlet Centre will put Banbridge firmly on the map in terms of Northern Ireland retail, a local UUP Assembly election candidate has claimed. Sam Gardiner made the comment after visiting the site of the new retail complex on the A1 with fellow candidates George Savage and ...
Gardiner lobbies on behalf of pensioners.
Mar 02, 2007 ... UPPER Bann Ulster Unionist candidate Sam Gardiner has described next week's election as a watershed for Northern Ireland's homeowners and taxpayers. Mr Gardiner said this was especially the case in Banbridge where home ownership was at levels as high as in the South East of ...
Comedy for Poyntzpass.
Mar 02, 2007 ... RATHFRILAND Young Farmers will be performing Sam Cree's comedy 'The Mating Season' in the Legion Hall, Poyntzpass on Wednesday 28 March at 8pm. The play produced by Jenny Steen is set in the month of June in the swinging sixties. A two act drama tells the story of a ...
Shock at death.
Mar 02, 2007 ... NEWS of the death of a prominent Banbridge man has saddened the local community. Dominic Downey, well known in angling and business circles, died on Friday at Craigavon Area Hospital. ...
RALLY ACE'S CAR STOLEN.
Mar 02, 2007 ... BUNGLING car thieves stole Banbridge rally ace Emma McKinstry's [pounds sterling]40,000 Mitsubishi Lancer, then dumped it after running out of petrol just 15 miles away. Emma had to pull out of the Rallye Sunseeker in Bournemouth at the weekend after thieves stole the car from a ...
DISABLED BAY REFUSED AT CHURCH.
Mar 02, 2007 ... WORSHIPPERS at the Roman Catholic church in Loughbrickland have been refused a disabled person's parking bay outside the church - because Roads Service say it wouldn't be used enough. Churchgoers had contacted DUP councillor Wilfred McFadden about the need for a disabled parking ...
Free cat neutering vouchers available.
Mar 06, 2007 ... BANBRIDGE district residents may be eligible for free cat neutering vouchers. Rosemary Glendinning of the Assisi Animal Sanctuary said kittens aged five months need to be neutered. "If people are on a means ...
Woman hot and bothered by cold caller.
Mar 06, 2007 ... A DROMORE woman has contacted The Leader to express her concern about a telephone call she received at the weekend. The woman had agreed to answer questions after a female caller explained she was representing a market research company. But she became suspicious when ...
Rathfriland Young Farmers go on tour.
Mar 06, 2007 ... RATHFRILAND Young Farmers' Club is taking its comedy play The Mating Season on tour. The club will present the Sam ...
No sinking feeling for the Loughbrickland crannog.
Mar 06, 2007 ... LOUGHBRICKLAND'S historic crannog is not shrinking or sinking, according to the Environment and Heritage Service. Late last year local councillors had expressed fears that the crannog (pictured) was nearly completely covered with water and asked that the matter be referred to ...
Memorial plaque to be erected.
Mar 06, 2007 ... SEAPATRICK Football Club is to erect a plaque in memory of the late Hector Barr. Banbridge Council approved the plaque at an appropriate location in Havelock Park. ...
Safe cycling scheme aims for more kids.
Mar 06, 2007 ... PRIMARY schools in Banbridge are being challenged to ensure their pupils get cycling training in 2007. Independent retail group, Centra, has sponsored the DOE's Cycling Proficiency Scheme since 2004. Centra Brand Manager, Nicky Kelly said, "The 86 independently owned ...
Mark and Larry 'Friends for Life'.
Mar 06, 2007 ... BANBRIDGE guide dog owner Mark Pollock and his faithful guide dog Larry are finalists in this year's nationwide Crufts 'Friends for Life' competition. On Sunday, BBC2 viewers watched the duo's heart-warming story about their unbreakable partnership on the Crufts Preview ...
Council launches new calendar.
Mar 06, 2007 ... THE new Banbridge District Council 2007/2008 Collection Calendar and Recycling Guide has been launched by council chairman Patrick McAleenan. The guide, which comes into operation from April 1, details all the facts you need about when to put out your brown or black bins and ...
New unit at hospital welcomed.
Mar 06, 2007 ... THE investment of [pounds sterling]15 million in a new Trauma and Orthopaedic Unit at Craigavon Area Hospital has been welcomed by the Southern Health & Social Services Council, the patient 'watchdog' body. Mrs Lynne Cairns, Chairperson of the SHSSC, said, "We are delighted ...
Trocaire's Lenten campaign focuses on equal rights.
Mar 06, 2007 ... TROCAIRE the overseas development agency, has launched its Lenten campaign with a focus on equal rights for women and men in the developing world. The start of the campaign also sees the launch of the agency's 'Just World' (www.trocaire.org/justworld) online community, a ...
Urgent business appeal from chamber as Dromore town's website launch date looms.(Website overview)
Mar 06, 2007 ... THE launch of Dromore Chamber of Commerce's new website - www.dromoreonline - is looming. The Chamber hopes to launch the site early in April and in the meantime it is appealing to any local businesses who want to be included in its database to get in touch. ...
Aoife gets on her trike thanks to 'whizz kidz'.
Mar 06, 2007 ... A BANBRIDGE mother has spoken of her delight after her daughter, who has Downs Syndrome, received a specially adapted trike - thanks to a Tesco appeal. Roma Gribben said her daughter Aoife, who also has learning difficulties, would gain independence from the trike supplied by ...
Lagan Valley Unionists in 'upbeat' mood.
Mar 06, 2007 ... "THE tide of current affairs now flows firmly in favour of Unionism and in favour of this, the true Ulster Unionist Party." That was the view of outgoing chairman Barry Fitzsimons at the Lagan Valley Constituency AGM held recently in Lisburn. Mr Fitzsimons also ...
Church welcomes international theatre organist.
Mar 06, 2007 ... FIRST Dromore Presbyterian Church is planning a concert featuring international theatre organist Richard Hills. The concert, which will be held on Friday, March 9, will also feature Belfast-based contralto Jennifer Bourke, while the accompanist will be Dromore woman Lynn Jordan ....
Woman advised to let dog stray.
Mar 06, 2007 ... A BANBRIDGE woman who rescued a dog has claimed the council advised her to let it stray. The woman said she found a labrador last Tuesday and contacted the council but was told the matter would not be dealt with until the following morning. She explained: "It was an ...
Calvert accuses DUP of biggest U-turn in 35 years of NI politics.
Mar 06, 2007 ... ANTI-Agreement Unionist candidate for Upper Bann, David Calvert, has accused the DUP of the biggest U-turn in 35 years of politics in Northern Ireland. "It is now official - the DUP will share power with Sinn Fein/IRA and will accept Martin Mc Guinness as equal First Minister ...
Winners announced.
Mar 06, 2007 ... THE winners of a draw for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children organised by Stewart McFadden have been announced. First prize went to Andy Redpath, ...
Dromore minister is appointed new Presbytery Moderator.
Mar 06, 2007 ... DROMORE minister the Rev. Gary Trueman was recently appointed as the new moderator of the Dromore Presbytery. Mr. Trueman, of Banbridge Road Presbyterian Church, succeeds another local minister, the Rev. Keith Duddy of First Dromore Presbyterian Church, in the post. ...
Gospel singer George Hamilton IV pays tribute to town's famous poet.
Mar 06, 2007 ... WELL-known Country Gospel singer George Hamilton IV teamed up with some local musicians to pay tribute to Banbridge poet Joseph Scriven at a recent service in Lisburn's Church of the Nazarene. During the service George told how in 1845 Joseph Scriven, then a member of ...
Annual variety concert.
Mar 06, 2007 ... POYNTZPASS Silver Band are hosting their Annual Variety Concert on Thursday, March 15, at 8pm in the Legion Hall in the town. The band shall be taking part with individual members also doing their 'party pieces'. They will be joined, as in previous years, by the choir ...
Gardiner calls for increase in housing associations.
Mar 06, 2007 ... MANY families are worried about their children's ability to get a first foot on the housing ladder, local Ulster Unionist Assembly candidate Sam Gardiner has said. Mr Gardiner is calling for a massive expansion of the number of housing associations in Northern Ireland and for a ...