Give Blood in July

Friday, 14 June 2013 11:42

There are two opportunities to give blood locally in July!

The N.I. Blood Transfusion Service's Bloodmobile will be in the Northumberland Street car park (behind shankill leisure centre) on July 2nd from 4PM-8PM and at Cavehill Methodist Church Hall on July 4th from 2PM - 4PM & 5.15PM - 8PM.

If you would consider taking blood, then please consider donating.

Graveyard Tour Brings History Alive

Thursday, 13 June 2013 10:08

Where can you find millionaire businessmen, with the poor and desolate; war heroes and traitors; Loyal Orangemen and a Nationalist MP all together?  You can find out on Monday 24th June in Shankill Graveyard (Spoiler: the answer is, in the Shankill Graveyard!)

"Bringing Our History Alive" is a Shankill Area Social History (SASH) event for all ages that will bring the fascinating history of the Shankill Graveyard and the people buried there to the local community. Through music, art, guided tours, historical talks, archive photographic exhibition, and characters in period dress, your history will be brought alive for the day.

The proceedings, starting at 10.30AM and finishing at 1PM, will involve the unveiling of a striking ceramic art piece which SASH have been working on with artist Daniela Balmaverde highlighting the Graveyard's history.  The unveiling will be by renowned local poet and historian Albert Haslett who may even treat us to a wee reading of one of his many poems about the Graveyard or the history of the Shankill.

Music will be provided by local musician and songwriter Jackie McArthur, who has written many songs about the social history of the Shankill.

Informative and engaging tours of the graveyard will be provided by local historian Bobby Foster and you may even bump into a few Victorian gentry, soldiers or mill workers while on the tour.

The event will conclude with talks on significant characters from the area and a photographic exhibition in the neighbouring St Matthews Parochial hall.  Throughout the event there will be food and refreshments, and best of all everything is free and everyone is welcome.

New Initiative Targets Young People

Monday, 13 May 2013 10:15

Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness have announced a significant new initiative, which includes among proposals, 10,000 'paid' placements for disadvantaged young people, 16-24 year old.

The main points from the release are as follows:

• The creation of 10,000 one year placements in our new "United Youth Programme"
• 100 Shared Summer Schools / One or two week Summer Camps
• 4 Urban Village Regeneration projects for large scale urban regeneration in targeted areas of deprivation
• 10 Shared Educational Campuses to be commenced within 5 years
• 10 new Shared Neighbourhood Developments
• Creation of a significant Cross-Community Sports Programme
• A 10-year Programme to reduce and eventually remove all interface barriers, working together with the local community

Click this link to read the full press release from OFMDFM http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/media-centre/executive-statements/statement-090513-together-building.htm

A Night With George in the Boys’ Model

Friday, 03 May 2013 10:48

According to the play's central character, Bridie Murphy, "there isn't a woman in Belfast that wouldn't do six months for George Clooney!" A Night With George is a powerful and provocative new drama, and it's coming to Belfast Boys' Model School on Saturday 11th May at 7.30PM.

Tickets for the event are £12 (£10 concession) and are available from Liz Gough (028 9056 4056 This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

For more information, please visit artemisni.org/ANightWithGeorge.

Attachments:

A night with George Flyer.pdf

[A night with George flyer Boys' Model]

608 Kb

Local History in BBC Slideshow

Tuesday, 30 April 2013 13:42

As Belfast celebrates the 400 year anniversary of receiving a Royal Charter, the BBC has produced a beautiful slideshow of photographs dating back to the early 1900's.

The photos show life through the lens of photographer Alex Hogg, who captured snapshots of working class industrial Belfast, including the heartland of the Linen industry: the Shankill.  The photos depict men woman and children in dirty streets and working in the Mills; as well as well-to-do ladies and gentlemen in their finest.

Not every photo is marked with the location of where it was taken, but many of those that have, are local to the Shankill area.  Photos of existing and lost streets include:

• Gardiner St.
• Ross's Mills
• Upper Malvern St.
• Boyd St. (Peter's Hill)
• Abbey St. (Peter's Hill)
• Cowan's Court (Shankill)

To watch the BBC's 6 minute slideshow, narrated by Dr Olwen Purdue of Queen's University, click this link.

You may even see your street, or your great grandparents!

_{Source: BBC History via Rights4Seniors on Twitter}

Unionist Forum in Shankill (updated)

Monday, 22 April 2013 12:36

The Shankill is the next stop for the Unionist Forum as it continues its community engagement tour.

The Spectrum Centre (Shankill Road / Tennent Street), will host the Forum this Thursday, 25th April at 7PM.

A panel of leading politicians and activists will engage with the audience in a question and answer session.  Panellists will represent the DUP; UUP; PUP; TUV; UKIP; UPRG; RITC; RHC and Loyal Orders.

The event is open to all and is free.

(update 24/04)

Leading politicians are among those now confirmed for the Unionist Forum for the Shankill leg of it's tour on Thursday night.

The panel will include Nigel Dodds (DUP); Tom Elliott, former UUP leader; Jim Allister (TUV); Billy Hutchinson (PUP); Isaac Andrews (UPRG); Mervyn Gibson (Orange Order) and Jim Wilson (Red Hand Old Comrades). A UKIP representative is to be confirmed. Shankill community worker, Jackie Redpath will Chair the panel, which will take questions from the floor.