CREDIT UNION ART COMPETITION

18/02/2015 by borderroamer

Sarah Leddy from Inniskeen is congratulated by compere Marty Whelan (left) and Martin Sisk, President ILCU (right), for winning first place in the Credit Unions’ annual Art Competition (11-13 category). Photo: ILCU

INNISKEEN STUDENT WINS PRIZE IN NATIONAL ART COMPETITION
A secondary school student fom Inniskeen, County Monaghan, Sarah Leddy, has won first prize in the Irish League of Credit Unions annual art competition in the 11-13 year-olds category. She received her award at Croke Park last Sunday. Sarah is a past pupil of St Daigh’s National School, Inniskeen, and currently attends St Vincent’s Seconday School in Dundalk.

Her winning picture depicted the theme ‘ARTFEST’ and was singled out for special mention by the event compere, Marty Whelan of RTE. The competition, one of the biggest art of its kind for both children and adults, has been running for 31 years and is open to entrants of all ages.

This year it attracted over 30,000 entries through 300 credit unions nationwide.
The theme ‘ARTFEST’ was open to interpretation by each entrant and aimed to celebrate the creativity, imagination and vibrancy of the budding artists. The competition is about encouraging and rewarding self-expression, creativity and imagination among young artists throughout Ireland. Entrants are free to express their creativity using a wide variety of media.

The competition required entrants to draw or paint posters on the theme using pencil, charcoal, pen or ink, felt-tip markers, crayon, pastel, water colours, gouache, acrylics, oils, poster colour or collage.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, the President of the Irish League of Credit Unions, Martin Sisk, said: “We wholeheartedly support the artistic development of people young and old in our communities across the island of Ireland. The artists here should be extremely proud of themselves and the quality of the artwork displayed is truly outstanding. It is interesting to see how uniquely each of the artists interpreted the theme ‘Artfest’. Well done to everyone involved”.

Marty Whelan who was hosting the event for the fourth year running said he was delighted to be involved. “It is a pleasure to meet such an array of talented artists and give them the opportunity to showcase their creative ideas and gain national recognition for their ability. It is always great to see competitions like this support the arts and give people the opportunity to explore their creative side”, he said.

The judges for this year’s competition were: John Walsh, Creative Director FOCUS Advertising Agency; Ursula Retzlaff O’Connell, Artist; John Farrelly, Cartoonist and Graffiti Artist, VENTS.

ART COMPETITION WINNERS

GENERAL CATEGORY

Category	Name	Credit Union
7 yrs & under (G)	Luke Collins	Drogheda Credit Union
8 to 10 years	Clodagh McDonagh	Macroom Credit Union
11 to 13 years	Sarah Leddy	Inniskeen Credit Union
14 to 17 years	Shania McDonagh	St. Colman’s (Claremorris) Credit Union
18 years & over	Alex Wright	Rathmore and District Credit Union

SPECIAL CATEGORY

Category	Name	Credit Union
7 yrs & under (S)	David Donoghue	Tallaght and District Credit Union
8 to 10 years	Frank Graham	Naas Credit Union
11 to 13 years	Aoife Brady	Togher Credit Union
14 to 17 years	Christina McConnell	Derry Credit Union
18 years & over	Venus Reilly	Gorey Credit Union
Group	Class 3, St. Brigid’s Special School	Castlebar Credit Union

This Page 1 story and many more can be found in this week’s edition of The Northern Standard.

TITANIC RESTORATION

17/02/2015 by borderroamer

Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices Photo: HLF website

Good to see some progress regarding the plans to restore the currently derelict Drawing Offices at the former Harland and Wolff headquarters, where the Titanic was designed. A £4.9 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) will enable The Titanic Foundation Ltd. to restore the building, unlocking plans to transform the site into a luxury Four Star hotel.

The Harland and Wolff Headquarters Building and Drawing Offices on Queen’s Island in Belfast were the control centre for the largest shipyard in the world. It was here that Belfast workers created and designed over 1,000 ships including the White Star Olympic Class Liners – Olympic, Titanic and Britannic and naval warships such as HMS Belfast. The Harland and Wolff building has been vacant since 1989 and has been considered ‘at risk’ for almost a decade.

The restoration of the B+ listed building into an 84-bedroom boutique hotel has the potential to create over 100 local jobs. The Lottery grant will specifically focus on developing the two historical drawing offices as spaces for public use. The boutique hotel will also tell the story of Belfast’s industrial heritage, focusing on the authentic spaces – Board Room, Telephony Room and Entrance Lobby – as well as the fixtures and fittings that relate to the local shipbuilding industry.

The grant has been awarded through HLF’s Heritage Enterprise programme. It is designed to help when the cost of repairing an historic building is so high that restoration simply is not commercially viable.

Kerrie Sweeney, Chief Executive of Titanic Foundation, was delighted with the announcement: “Titanic Foundation in partnership with Titanic Quarter Ltd has been working on this project over the last two years. It has been a long process but worth it. With HLF’s support we will safeguard the drawing offices for future generations and unlock the commercial potential of the entire building as a boutique hotel with heritage at its core. This is a truly unique and authentic project for Belfast that could not have happened without the support from Heritage Enterprise Scheme.”

Head of HLF NI, Paul Mullan Photo: HLF

Head of the Heritage Lottery Fun in Northern Ireland, Paul Mullan, looks at the history of the building where the Titanic was designed:

By the first half of the 20th century, Belfast was one of the world’s most dynamic industrial centres. It was within the walls of Harland and Wolff’s HQ where the leading minds in ship design and engineering broke new ground to produce ships that were the envy of the world.

Sadly, the decline of city’s shipbuilding industry was mirrored in the steady decline of Harland and Wolff’s HQ. Once a symbol of Belfast’s international importance, just over a decade ago it was placed onto Northern Ireland’s buildings at risk register.

But that memory of a dynamic shipyard has awoken in recent years. Today, Titanic Belfast is an incredibly successful tourist attraction. The SS Nomadic, which was built to ferry passengers to and from the Titanic, has been brought back to its former glory and is the highest rated tourism attraction in Belfast. Close by, HMS Caroline is undergoing a transformation from being a forgotten piece of naval heritage into a museum which will tell a story of sea battles from both the First and Second World Wars.

The result is more than one million visitors to the Titanic Quarter each year. With this success comes a return to fortune for the derelict Harland and Wolff HQ. £4.9m from our Heritage Enterprise programme will convert the building into an 83 bedroom hotel, with the potential to create over 100 jobs.

The £27m development will bring much wider economic benefits by bringing more visitors and investment to Belfast. This unique hotel will gives new purpose to an important part of Northern Ireland’s built heritage, building on the Titanic theme of the Quarter whilst providing a stunning setting for visitors.

It also shows how we can use historic buildings creatively, in a way that helps people fully appreciate its past whilst enjoying its present uses and harnessing the collective resolve of both the private and public sector for the benefit of everyone.

We now need to bring this sense of purpose to our many other buildings at risk by challenging not-for-profit groups to partner with commercial operators to bring back into use those buildings which provide us with a direct link to our past.

This isn’t a nice to do but something that has a strong economic and revitalising value. Over two years ago a report on the economic value of Northern Ireland’s historic environment marked out this opportunity, making a strong case for this type of investment. Today, in the Titanic Quarter and across the UK, Lottery money is helping people to realise the untapped potential of our vacant and underused historic buildings.

HIT FOR 6 AND 4 AND 6 AGAIN

16/02/2015 by borderroamer

Irish Cricket Union logo

Many years ago on a beautiful summer’s day in County Tyrone, Ireland’s amateur cricketers caused a sensation when they dismissed the West Indies for 25 in the lovely surroundings of Sion Mills. Some said it was thanks to the copious amounts of Guinness that had been available for the visitors the night before! That happened in July 1969 and I remember what a surprise result it was.

Fast forward nearly 46 years and Ireland have done it again, this time in the World Cup at the Saxton Oval in Nelson, New Zealand. A great result over the twice World Champions, by four wickets and with 25 balls to spare. Great to watch (on UTV highlights) those fours and sixes being added to the scoreboard by the Irish batsmen.

The other teams in Ireland’s group are holders India, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Pakistan – who Ireland shocked in 2007 – and their next opponents, United Arab Emirates. The top four will reach the quarter-finals.

“On this performance, they can certainly look to get out of the group,” said former England spinner Graeme Swann. “They will still be underdogs when they play bigger teams but they have destroyed West Indies and every other so-called big team in the group will have watched this and will be very nervous about them now”, he told the BBC.

ICC Cricket World Cup Pools

Ireland captain Will Porterfield said the team were aiming for the knockout stages after their latest victory over a Test-playing nation. “It’s fantastic to win. This sets us up nicely for the next few games,” he said. “The belief has been growing within the squad for a long time and we know what we are capable of, not just in this game but the other games in the competition as well.”

CORONATION STREET SET

15/02/2015 by borderroamer

Rovers Return, Coronation Street Tour

If you follow the best-known TV soap in these islands, Coronation Street, then you might like to visit the set if you are ever in Manchester. The old Granada studios was opened up for tours last year, after filming of the thrice-weekly series was transferred to the new Media City at Salford. Visit the Rovers Return and see The Kabin and many more familiar locations. It’s not yet clear how long these tours will be available so take the chance now while you can. Get a first hand insight into how the show is made. An adult ticket costs £16.50 and the tour lasts around one hour.

CALORIES ON MENUS ‘UNWORKABLE’

14/02/2015 by borderroamer

Restaurant Proprietors Conor Mee & Charlotte Carr Photo: Courthouse Restaurant/Pat Byrne

Calorie Information on Menus Will Not Work: Local chef and proprietor of the award-winning Courthouse Restaurant in Carrickmacross, Conor Mee, says he believes the government proposal to introduce calorie information on menus will not work. He told the Northern Standard the measures outlined in the Heads of a Bill designed to help tackle the problem of obesity would be unpoliceable. The Cabinet has approved proposals requiring all food outlets to post the information at the point where the food is ordered, whether at tables or counters. Drafting of legislation is expected to start immediately and should be ready for enactment by next year.

Adrian Cummins, CEO RAI Photo: ITIC Ireland

Chief Executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, Adrian Cummins, said the introduction of calorie information on menus would have devastating effects on the restaurant industry, costing €5,000 on businesses and would have a knock-on effect in other sectors. The aim of this Bill is to encourage people to choose healthier options and to tackle the growing problem of obesity in Ireland. Mr. Cummins also commented, ‘I urge the government to reconsider this Bill in the interest of the restaurant industry and tourism’.

Mr Cummins reiterated that the ‘Nanny State’ proposals are an unnecessary burden on the restaurant owners, as the measures would be virtually impossible to monitor.

“How does the government propose that this will be monitored? Will inspectors be paid to eat out in all of Ireland’s 22,000 food outlets and check if each menu has calorie counts on them? Any chef will tell you that menus in restaurants vary from day-to-day and therefore calorie counting would be highly inaccurate anyway.”

The proposed laws will require all menus, including boards, leaflets, digital menus or other forms, to display the amount of calories alongside the price in the same font size and colour. The RAI represents the interests of its members and lobbies government on various issues.

Calorie counts on menus have already been introduced in the United States, with disastrous results. Five out of six customers paid no attention to the information, according to a study by New York University.

IRISH POST 45th BIRTHDAY

13/02/2015 by borderroamer

In order to celebrate the 45th birthday of the Irish Post newspaper in Britain I have republished this article and photo from Birmingham. The picture was taken by fellow Dubliner and photojournalist Brendan Farrell outside the beautiful headquarters of BBC in the Midlands at Pebble Mill. I had just started working in 1975 for BBC Radio Birmingham as a reporter (News Producer was the official title as it covered a multitude of roles).

Brendan Farrell also persuaded me to become involved with the local Rose of Tralee selection. On a number of occasions I performed the same role as Gay Byrne, asking the prospective Roses all sorts of questions about themselves! But no-one offered to perform a jig or a reel for me!

Congratulations to the Irish Post on your 45th Birthday and Many Happy Returns!

TAOISEACH IN MONAGHAN

12/02/2015 by borderroamer

Northern Standard Thursday 12th February p.1

My front page story in this week’s Northern Standard Thursday 12th February including a brief interview I got with Enda Kenny as he was leaving the Monaghan Education Campus after the official opening. He was already an hour behind schedule, heading for Virginia in County Cavan, but provided me with a few good quotes about how important a day it was for Monaghan, and the impact of the new Campus and 200 new jobs at Combilift would be ‘phenomenal’.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny unveiling plaque at Monaghan Institute with Director Dr Fiona McGrath, Cllr Padraig McNally & Joe McGrath, Chair CMETB (left) and CEO CMETB Martin O’Brien, Heather Humphreys TD & Michael Moriarty ETBI Photo: © Michael Fisher

“This was a wonderful day for Monaghan, according to the Taoiseach, putting the county back on top. Speaking to the Northern Standard after a major jobs announcement by Combilift and the official opening of the Monaghan Education Campus, Enda Kenny T.D. praised what was going on in both locations and said the impact of the two developments would be phenomenal.

It was all about the future, he said. He said the mix of sport, learning, community and culture at the Education Campus would yield benefits not only for the schools, but also for the community, town and county. He welcomed the news that Combilift is planning to link in with Monaghan Institute to develop a new apprenticeship course for educating mechanics and said this was how industry would be able to diversify and create sustainable jobs nationwide.

Mr Kenny also confirmed that the government is still committed to contributing €50 million towards the development of the N2/A5 road scheme from the border towards Letterkenny and Derry, half of the amount this year and the remainder next year.”

Taoiseach Opens New Education Campus: Northern Standard 12/02/15 p.1

Opening of Monaghan Institute: Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD unveils plaque in the main entrance hall.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny unveiling plaque at Monaghan Institute with Director Dr Fiona McGrath, Cllr Padraig McNally, Joe McGrath, Chair CMETB, Sean Conlan TD & Brendan Smith TD (left) and CEO CMETB Martin O'Brien, Heather Humphreys TD, Caoimghín Ó Caoláin TD, Matt Carthy MEP & Michael Moriarty ETBI Photo: © Michael Fisher

Taoiseach Enda Kenny unveiling plaque at Monaghan Institute with Director Dr Fiona McGrath, Cllr Padraig McNally, Sean Conlan TD & Brendan Smith TD (left) and CEO CMETB Martin O’Brien, Heather Humphreys TD, Caoimghín Ó Caoláin TD, Matt Carthy MEP & Joe McGrath, Chair CMETB (right) Photo: © Michael Fisher

BOSE FACTORY TALKS

11/02/2015 by borderroamer

Bose factory, Carrickmacross Photo: © Michael Fisher

Union representatives and local politicians have welcomed the decision by the US-based management of Bose to extend the operation of the Carrickmacross plant until June. SIPTU Industrial Organiser Jim McVeigh met the Human Relations Director Barry Weaver in Carrick a week ago and is due to hold more discussions with him tomorrow (Thursday). It was agreed that the closure announced on January 22nd would be postponed beyond April, while talks continued on acceptable redundancy terms and other issues. Mr Weaver also met the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton T.D. in Dublin along with Pat McAdam of Bose Carrickmacross.

Sean Conlan T.D. Photo: © Michael Fisher

Fine Gael T.D. Sean Conlan said since the closure announcement was made he had lobbied both Mr Bruton and the IDA to ensure everything within their power would be done to save the 140 jobs. Following this representation Mr Bruton agreed to meet a delegation of Bose workers, the IDA and a SIPTU representative in Carrickmacross last Friday. A very constructive meeting took place with all involved and they discussed the future prospects of the Bose workers along with the need to ensure that
redundancy packages acceptable to the workers are put in place.

Deputy Conlan said the Bose plant was a state of the art plant and very well placed geographically given its close proximity to Dublin airport and the port. He said it was of the utmost importance the Industrial Development Authority used every resource available to market this plant globally in the best possible way in an effort to attract a new employer, and he was hopeful one would be found. The IDA who were represented by Emmanuel Dowdall confirmed that their eighteen overseas offices were looking for an alternative employer.

SIPTU Industrial Organiser Jim McVeigh Photo: © Michael Fisher

Jim McVeigh of SIPTU said the focus was on asking the IDA to try to attract other investors and to ensure alternative employment for the Bose workforce. Mr Mc Veigh added: “We welcome the agreement by the company to delay the proposed closure while other opportunities are examined by all of those concerned including the Minister and the agencies responsible for finding alternative employment. The closure of this plant, in Carrickmacross since 1978, is devastating for our members, a dedicated and skilled workforce, and for the town and surrounding areas in county Monaghan”.

MONAGHAN DESIGNERS

10/02/2015 by borderroamer

MONAGHAN DESIGNERS SHOWCASE THEIR WORK FOR BUYERS

Liz Christy & Louise Loughman at the RDS Photo: © Michael Fisher

Three County Monaghan designers hope their displays at an important trade exhibition in Dublin will bring them new business at home and abroad. Liz Christy brought some of her latest work from her studios at Annyalla near Castleblayney to Showcase 2015 at the RDS. She was joined in the main exhibition hall by her friend Louise Loughman. Making up the Monaghan trio was an up and coming international fashion designer from Broomfield, Natalie Foreman.

Liz Christy, Swallow Studios, at the RDS Photo: © Michael Fisher

Textile designer Liz was launching a new luxury collection of silk and marino wool stoles and scarves for ladies and gents, hand-woven by her at Swallow studios. The designs are inspired by Monaghan heritage, including Carrickmacross and Clones lace, and the paintings of Irish artist Roderic O’Connor. She says her love of colour echoes what she sees around her each day in the drumlin countryside: fresh hues of springtime crocuses and bluebells, vibrant highlights in the summer landscape, rich shades of autumn and shimmering, water-filled winter scenes.

Liz is a former pupil of Ardscoil Lurgan in Castleblayney, where one of her teachers was Louise Loughman’s mother Patricia. She went to Galway to study textile design in the mid-1980s and Louise ended up sitting beside her in the same class. Both took the opportunity of doing a course to help start their own business. In 1987 Liz approached the owner of Cleo’s in Dublin’s Kildare Street, Kitty Joyce (who died last year). Her outlet was known as the home of Irish linen and tweed and soft couture knitwear. She became Liz’s first customer and subsequently acted as her mentor.

Liz moved to Annyalla and has worked there since 1996, opening up her studios with one loom in 2004. Now she has four hand looms installed. In 2008 she introduced a range of sheep-design fridge magnets which have been quite popular. In the past her creations have been sold in outlets such as Kilkenny Design, House of Ireland and GlenAran.

The RDS exhibition attracts buyers from all over Ireland from craft shops and other outlets. It also provides an opportunity to meet buyers from abroad. As she was speaking to the Northern Standard Liz had a visit from a Japanese buyer, one of the main markets for such garments. Since the first day she went into business her creations have been exported, with the USA being the main market.

Louise Loughman, Castleblayney, at the RDS Showcase Photo: © Michael Fisher

Louise Loughman from Castleblayney was attending the Showcase for the third time with her own stall. In the past she teamed up with Liz, having been based at Swallow studios where she did weaving. Now she is running her own business. Her wallhangings are a combination of batik art and silk painting. The designs she uses are based on the Children of Lir and the Brendan voyage.

The third Monaghan representative was Natalie Foreman. For all of them this was an important opportunity for bringing in business and developing their plans for the future.

NATALIE B. COLEMAN

For the second week in a row, a talented young person educated in Carrickmacross was in the large hall at the Royal Dublin Society showing their creations to the wider world. Fashion designer Natalie B. Coleman (the ‘B’ stands for her late mother’s name, Bridie) was at the Showcase exhibition. The event was intended to celebrate and promote Irish designers and more than 460 took part.

Talking to the Northern Standard, Natalie said she makes clothes that are delicate, romantic, cool and feature lots of print. They are also driven by a narrative. She pointed out to me some of her creations that are hand illustrated and printed on silk organza, with designs based around Enid Blyton’s The Enchanted Wood.

Her work has already been shown abroad, with most of her business done in Paris during fashion week. Berlin, Copenhagen and Amsterdam have also witnessed her designs. Natalie has been to New York and in June will be in Los Angeles. She goes back to Paris in March and will be in Shanghai in China the following month. So this former pupil at St Louis Secondary school in Carrickmacross has enjoyed international acclaim.

After doing her Leaving Certificate Natalie went to the Limerick School of Art and Design. She did her MA at Central St Martin’s University of the Arts in London. She set up her business in a studio in a garage at her family home in Corleygorm, Broomfield and in 2011 established her own womenswear label. She designs wedding dresses by commission. Her father Francie Coleman is well-known in the Donaghmoyne area for training the Ladies GAA Football team.

In 2012 Natalie was awarded the Golden Egg Innovation Award for Designer of The Year. She was recognized as the National Designer of the Year 2012 by Image Magazine at KFW and also received the Future Maker Award from the Crafts Council of Ireland. Her label has been featured extensively in magazines and periodicals both nationally and internationally. Natalie has dressed Irish stars such as Kathyrn Thomas, Sharon Corr, Charlene McKenna and Laura Whitmore as well as many others.

MONAGHAN SUNSET

09/02/2015 by borderroamer

Travelling back from Dublin to Monaghan late on Saturday afternoon, there was a most colourful sunset. I was driving along the N2 past the GAA county training ground at Cloghan near Castleblayney so I could not stop to capture the beautiful colours on camera.

The leafless tress were black shapes silhouetted against an orange background. A great scene for any landscape artist. Luckily my wife who was also driving to Monaghan had stopped her car and taken out her camera.

Michael Fisher's News

Monthly Archives: Feb 2015

CREDIT UNION ART COMPETITION

TITANIC RESTORATION

HIT FOR 6 AND 4 AND 6 AGAIN

CORONATION STREET SET

CALORIES ON MENUS ‘UNWORKABLE’

IRISH POST 45th BIRTHDAY

TAOISEACH IN MONAGHAN

BOSE FACTORY TALKS

MONAGHAN DESIGNERS

MONAGHAN SUNSET

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