NORTH DOWN – THIS WEEK & WEEKEND

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: A history of local Royal Visits

Tuesday 29 May to Sunday 1 July

North Down Museum, Bangor. For info & opening hours call (028) 9127 1200.

Sculpture Exhibition, Bangor Castle Walled Garden

Friday 1 – Saturday 30 June

Open 10am-6pm. Free admission.

Summer Entertainment in Bangor

Saturday 23 June

FREE. 3-5pm. This Saturday at McKee Clock, beside Bangor Seafront, leading children’s art charity Young at Art presents ‘Once Upon a Time’, a unique and  fantastic interactive storytelling piece that the audience can help evolve. For info on the full programme of events visit northdowntourism.com or call Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069.

Free children’s fun at Cockle Row Cottages, Groomsport

Saturday 23 & Sunday 24 June

Free event. 2pm-4pm. This Saturday is the SpongeBob Party with games, prizes, a disco and bubble machine and on Sunday enjoy Airbrush tattoos & crafts. The cottages are open daily in June from 11am to 5pm. For more info call Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069 or visit www.northdowntourism.com. Full Cockle Row Programme for June

Co. Down Fleadh Cheoil

Wednesday 20 to Saturday 23 June, Bangor, various locations

This event is held in Co Down each year and 2012 will be the first time that Bangor will act as host to this traditional music event.  A large number of participants,

of all ages, will attend and compete in both individual and group competitions and, as well as the main event on Saturday a series of other events, both formal and informal, will be held in the town in the preceding 3 days. Contact Colum McGinn, T: 07821 627 4554 or email cmcginn666@yahoo.co.uk.

NORTH DOWN – NEXT WEEK & WEEKEND

Queen’s Diamond Jubilee: A history of local Royal Visits

Tuesday 29 May to Sunday 1 July

North Down Museum, Bangor. For info & opening hours call (028) 9127 1200.

Sculpture Exhibition, Bangor Castle Walled Garden

Friday 1 – Saturday 30 June

Open 10am-6pm. Free admission.

Summer Entertainment in Bangor

Saturday 30 June

FREE. 3-5pm. This Saturday at McKee Clock, beside Bangor Seafront, Caolan McBride provides an enjoyable afternoon of magical illusions and theatrical storytelling. For info on the full programme of events visit northdowntourism.com or call Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069.

Sunday 1 July

FREE. 3-5pm This Sunday at McKee Clock, beside Bangor Seafront, The Great Mefiesto presents its vaudeville style circus show. For info on the full programme of events visit northdowntourism.com or call Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069.

Sunday 1 July

FREE. 3-5pm This Sunday at Ward Park, Bangor the Sinead Conway Band entertains with a mix of easy listening, swing & jazz – so bring your picnic and enjoy free live music in the park. For info on the full programme of events visit northdowntourism.com or call Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069.

Free children’s fun at Cockle Row Cottages, Groomsport

Saturday 30 June & Sunday 1 July

Free event. 2pm-4pm. Bring the little ones along to enjoy crafts and circus skills at Cockle Row Cottages, whilst at Groomsport Boat House there will be a Craft Fair. On Sunday, make your own Dangly Dragonfly &Reptile Road show. The cottages are open daily in June from 11am to 5pm. For more info call Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069 or visit www.northdowntourism.com. Full Cockle Row Programme for June

Kids Nature Trail, Castle Park Bangor

30 June 10.30am

Free Event – contact 028 9127 0069 or visit www.northdowntourism.gov.uk

Edinburgh Cup UK Dragon Yachting Championships

30 June – 7 July

RNIYC, Cultra – Contact Eileen Fulton 028 90 42 8041 or manager@rniyc.org

Late Night Art Tour

Wednesday 4 July, 6pm

Starting at North Down Museum, Bangor. Tickets £3 – For more information contact 028 9127 1200 or visit www.northdown.gov.uk/bookings

Other Summer Events…

OUTDOOR THEATRE EVENTS IN BANGOR

Groomsport Music & Fireworks

7 July

7pm – 11pm Live Music headlined by Glory Days The Bruce Springsteen Tribute Show.  11pm Fireworks Display.

Visit www.northdowntourism.com for more information

Theatre at the Walled Garden

Together with North Down Borough Council, Quantum Theatre presents two spectacular outdoor theatre events set in the beautiful surrounds of Bangor Castle Walled Garden. Tickets on sale now, £5 (subject to availability). To book, call (028) 9127 0069. Click the links for further info.

Wednesday 15 August – The Tales of Peter Rabbit & Benjamin Bunny

Thursday 16 August – A Midsummer Night’s Dream

A new website, BeachNI.com, packed full of information on the range of outdoor activities you can do at the seaside was launched by Environment Minister, Alex Attwood at Crawfordsburn Beach, Co. Down. Northern Ireland is well known for its array of clean, beautiful beaches and with this newly launched ‘one stop shop’ website, you can now easily find out which ones are perfect for surfing the waves, trekking on horse back or enjoying a stroll.

From left to right: Patricia Magee (Tidy NI), Environment Minister Alex Attwood, Stephen Finlay (NITB), Mark Strong (Coleraine Borough Council), Richard Gillen (Limavady Borough Council)

The websites’ launch fits neatly with the announcement that Northern Ireland’s beaches are cleaner than ever before with 11 beaches recently awarded Blue Flag status, including Crawfordsburn, for the first time.

Minister Attwood commented at the launch “A key action identified by the ‘Good Beach Summits’ was the need for better public information on beaches and it has been a key priority of mine to ensure the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) developed this website to showcase beaches in Northern Ireland which have been designated as EU Bathing Waters. BeachNI.com should be the first port of call for both visitors and locals who want to enjoy a day at the beach”.

BeachNI.com was developed by Outdoor Recreation NI (formerly CAAN) on behalf of NIEA offering detailed information which has been supplied by each beach manager, on each beach including the facilities available, outdoor activities and outdoor providers, travel information, nearby walks and cycle routes as well as containing beach related news, event and blogs.

“The new website has been developed in line with Outdoor Recreation NI’s suite of outdoor activity websites and therefore highlights the range of activities that can be undertaken at each beach. Visitors to the website will now be able to find out information on the beaches to go for a walk on, go out surfing on or just relax on” commented Angus McRoberts, NIEA Water Management Unit.

To plan your next visit to one of Northern Ireland’s beaches look no further than www.beachni.com

SIXTY people from across Northern Ireland have been given the chance to be involved in the Irish Open thanks to a partnership between the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) and Volunteer Now.

People of all ages and walks of life applied through NITB and Volunteer Now’s call for “Welcome Ambassador” volunteers. There was a large response and the lucky selected will have an important role in welcoming visitors to Northern Ireland’s biggest golfing tournament in 60 years which takes place at Royal Portrush from Wednesday 27^th June – Sunday 1^st July.

The Welcome Ambassadors will receive WorldHost ambassador training and volunteer to help welcome, orientate and signpost visitors attending the Irish Open, covering at least two days each.  They will also have a chance to watch the tournament, with the European Tour offering each volunteer a ticket for one of the competition days.

There was a fantastic response to the call for volunteers with applications from a cross-section of the community including students, unemployed, the business community and retirees as NITB Industry Development Manager Carolyn Boyd explains.

“We are delighted to have had such a great response to our recent call and we have identified a range of dedicated and motivated individuals with great people skills who are proud of Northern Ireland and who want to help us make our visitors feel warmly welcomed when they arrive in Portrush later this month,” said Carolyn.

“This call for Welcome Ambassadors forms part of NITB’s focus on helping to create the best possible experience for the 100,000 plus visitors who will attend the tournament,” she added.

Wendy Osborne OBE, Chief Executive with Volunteer Now said: “This volunteer initiative provides a unique opportunity for the community to become involved in what is a very exciting event for the North Coast and Northern Ireland. Volunteers will enhance the experience of every visitor to the Open through their welcome and in turn they will gain experience of the tourism and events, meet new people and know they have helped support the delivery of the Irish Open Championship.

“We are delighted to be working in partnership with NITB on this pilot initiative which links to our legacy objectives for 2012,” Wendy added.

In 2013 the Rainey Endowed School, Magherafelt will celebrate it’s 300th Birthday.

The Rainey 300 team have numerous exciting events and activities for everyone to get involved throughout 2013 and join in with pupils – old and new, to celebrate with a Gala Concert, a ‘Past & Present’ Sports Day and a Gala Dinner.  The team also intend to publish a permanent memento in the form of a Rainey Endowed Memoirs book and aspire to leave a lasting legacy with a comprehensive list of contacts and details of Former Pupils.

One of the main purposes of the events is to identify former pupils who have distinguished themselves Academically ,in Sports and the Arts; as well as those who have made Social and Civic contributions and achievements in Business over the years, record them and celebrate the achievements and excellence of the Rainey and its pupils  If you know of any former pupils who you feel should be recognised throughout any of these areas email us atRainey300@hotmail.com with further details.

Another objective of the celebrations is to forge much stronger links with past pupils by building a strong database of their details to keep them informed of the activities at the Rainey Endowed and update Rainey 300 about their achievements, or those of their contemporaries. Above all we would ask all Former Pupils to join the’ Former Pupils Association’ and provide full contact details and if possible those of their former classmates so that the Former Pupils Association can keep everyone informed of activities within the School.

During the Tercentenary year the Rainey will highlight the gratitude owed to the founder of the school – Hugh Rainey, a wealthy merchant in the Magherafelt district . In his Will, Hugh Rainey wrote “that what I have left may not only be for a generation or two, but that it may be for many not yet born “, and so ‘The Rainey’ was founded.  A service of Thanksgiving will be held in 2013 to allow the local community to give their thanks towards the legacy of Hugh Rainey.

So if you are a former or current pupil and would like to get involved in Rainey 300 here’s how –

The Rainey Endowed Book will be published as a permanent souvenir of the Tercentenary and made available for sale during the year from the School, the Former Pupils Association and at many of the planned events.

A gala night will be held in the Grand Opera House, Belfast, on the 18th October 2013. The show “50 Shillings and a New Suit of Clothes” will be directed by Mr Ashley Fulton and will involve former Rainey pupils and some of our current pupils. The performance will include a massed choir, soloists, instrumentalists and scenes from various productions and dramas. This promises to be a spectacular event, drawing on all the rich talent of the Rainey school, past and present. If you or someone you know may be interested in taking part, please complete the online application form available from the school website http://www.raineyendowed.com/ and click on the link ‘50 Shillings and a New Suit of Clothes’.

There will be numerous sporting events featured among the activities such as a Rugby and Hockey Match with pupils past and present held on Friday 12^th April 2013 with a Gala Dinner afterwards for invited guests involving pupils, members of School’s Cup teams throughout the years and those who have excelled in the field of sport.

An Open Day at the Rainey will also be held on Friday 29^th September 2013 to allow former pupils to take a step back in time and meet former class members from years gone by.

If there is anything that past pupils feel they would like to include in our Rainey 300 Memoirs we would appreciate it if you could get in touch!

The Rainey 300 Team would like to appeal for as much information as possible to allow Former Pupils to engage much more extensively with the School and for the School to have a record of the fantastic achievements of former pupils of the Rainey Endowed.

For further details

Contact Victoria / Valerie Lynn at Rainey300@hotmail.com

Follow us on Twitter – Rainey_300

Add us on Facebook –  Rainey 300

The best of Northern Ireland’s digital talent will be competing for awards success at the second annual DANI Awards this autumn.

The DANI Awards, organized by Tyrone based DANI, Digital Advertising Northern Ireland – a leading organisation helping companies do better business online, will recognise the excellence of companies and individuals in the digital media sector in the province.

There are a total of ten categories and a judge’s outstanding achievement accolade, given to an individual who has contributed to and advanced the growth of digital media.  2011’s recipient was Russell Moore of Think RLA.

Managing Director of DANI, Naomh McElhatton commented, “We have been responsive to the explosive growth in the UK online market, recognising the power of the Internet.  DANI helps businesses connect with their potential customers online and we will recognise the pivotal players at the awards.  Last year’s inaugural awards were the first of its kind in Northern Ireland and we are looking forward to seeing how the advancement of technology has been implemented to create business success”.

The awards are supported by Invest Northern Ireland and University of Ulster.

Brian Dolaghan, Head of Technology and Services, Invest Northern Ireland said ‘We are delighted to sponsor the DANI awards as Northern Ireland companies are already enjoying global success in the technology and digital sector. This is a business sector where there are increasing opportunities for local businesses to grow and develop in export markets.

Entries for the ten categories can be submitted online with the winners being announced at a black tie gala ball on September 13^th at Titanic, Belfast. A panel of industry experts will judge the DANI Awards.  The judges, drawn from various design, technology and marketing disciplines are Fiona McMahon, University of Ulster; Mike Fleming, Fleming Steele; Gareth Dunlop, Fathom; Nicola Bothwell, NB Chartered Marketing; Nick Sunderland, Why Projects and Farhad Koodoruth, Blowfish Digital.

The award categories are:

1. Best B2B Campaign
2. Best B2C Campaign
3. Best Viral Campaign
4. Best Visual Design (Webdesign)
5. Best E-commerce Site
6. Best Mobile Phone App
7. Best use of Social Media (Corporate)
8. Best use of Social Media (SME)
9. Best use of Search
10. Best Overall Online Strategy

Entries can be submitted online at www.thedaniawards.co.uk.  Closing date for entries is Friday 10^th August 2012.

Belfast City Council is running a new business programme and hosting an upcoming event for aspiring entrepreneurs.

The High Growth Pre-Enterprise Programme will offer support on setting up and building a business and assistance in areas such as finance, sales, marketing and product development.

15 places are available in the new programme which will include a number of masterclasses, a Business Challenge session and one-to-one mentoring.

The programme is funded by the council, Invest NI and the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland. To apply for a place, people should contact the council’s Economic Development Unit on 028 9027 0229 or email lynnr@belfastcity.gov.uk

Budding entrepreneurs in the Belfast area thinking of starting their own business can also get advice and support through an upcoming enterprise event – `Start Up Belfast` – organised by the council.

‘Start Up Belfast’ will be a ‘one-stop shop’ event with a business advice clinic, workshops, networking opportunities and exhibitions from business support organisations. It will take place in the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue next Wednesday (20 June) from 9am- 2.15pm.

Attendees to the event will get the chance to find out more about ‘Getting Started’; ‘ Financing Your Business’; ‘Top Tips for Marketing Your Business’; using Social Media to promote your business and ‘Selling Online’ and what not to do.

For further information or to register for the event, contact the council’s Economic Development Unit on 028 9027 0229

A host of stars from Hollywood screen, entertainment, and sport are now on course to take part in the Irish Open Pro-Am at Royal Portrush Golf Club on Wednesday June 27.

Principal sponsor of the Irish Open, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB), has revealed that Moonrise Kingdom, Lost in Translation and Ghostbusters! star Bill Murray will be joined by his brother Joel, star of the newly released God Bless America, and well-known for his roles in The Artist and hit TV series Mad Men.

Irish-American actor Aidan Quinn, whose credits include Desperately Seeking Susan, The Mission, Legends of the Fall and Michael Collins, has also accepted an invitation to play.

Recording artist and Australian X Factor judge Ronan Keating and Northern Irish football legends Martin O’Neill and Pat Jennings are also expected to compete alongside rugby stars Andrew Trimble and David Humphreys, while former jockey and National Hunt trainer Tom Taaffe is another well-known name chomping at the bit to play the famous Portrush course.

NITB Chief Executive Alan Clarke is looking forward to showing these high profile visitors the many sights Northern Ireland has to offer during their visit to what promises to be one of the largest events on the 2012 tourism calendar.

“The Irish Open is a fantastic opportunity for those involved in local tourism and sport to showcase our fantastic facilities here in Northern Ireland and the quality of the event is reflected in the attendance of such high profile guests from sport and screen.

“Their attendance will further raise the profile of Northern Ireland golf as an exciting and fast developing destination. We have a full programme of activity planned for these guests to make sure that their trip is a memorable one and many will be staying on to enjoy the tournament, see other parts of Northern Ireland and sample a wide variety of other golf courses.

“This is one of the most eagerly anticipated Irish Open tournaments in the history of this prestigious event as the competition makes its long awaited return to Northern Ireland for the first time in almost 60 years. With our three home grown major golf champions, a world class course and a fantastic line-up competing for the prize, it’s really no surprise that this event has captured the imagination of celebrities and public alike,” he added.

With the Irish Open now only two weeks away, the European Tour is expecting the event to be a sell-out with a crowd of 100,000 expected over the four days from Thursday June 28 to Sunday July 1.

NITB’s Alan Clarke said that it’s still not too late though to catch Rory McIlroy and company in action.

“Tickets have been selling like hot cakes since going on sale,” said Alan, “but although Saturday and Sunday are pretty much sold out, there is still some availability for Thursday and Friday’s play with a variety of accommodation and package options still up for grabs. I would urge however that people book in advance and don’t risk turning up on the day and expecting to get in”.

For more information on accommodation offers for the Irish Open as well as details on all of Northern Ireland’s golf courses and other ni 2012 events, click on www.ni2012.com or www.discovernorthernireland.com. Advance day tickets for the Irish Open are available for £30, a saving of £5 on the gate price, with four day season tickets priced at £70, a saving of £10. Advance concession day and season tickets are priced at £20 and £50 respectively. Hospitality packages are sold out for the first two days, but are still available on Saturday and Sunday.

And this is YOUR opportunity to get involved in the show.

We are looking for fun, outgoing people who are prepared to be blown away by the fascinating art of mind reading.

IT COULD BE A LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE!
So if you like a laugh and enjoy trying new things, get in touch with your name and contact number for details on how to apply.

Email: pickme@wild-rover.com
Or phone 028 9050 0758

Note: Participants must be over the age of 16

This year’s Belfast Book Festival returns with a mix of new writing, star performers, workshops, films, lectures, launches and discussion. As with last year, the Festival will be wide ranging and typify the energy books create when they are read, written and debated. Our belief is that a Book Festival should reflect all readers, and be accessible to all.

The Belfast Book Festival 2012 features something for everyone, politics, culture, music, films, comedy, poetry, history and drama. For a second year the Festival will bring books to life in the city of Belfast:

Monday 11th June – Dr Eamon Hughes (QUB) opens the Festival with his lecture ‘Literatures of Belfast’ looking at the strange and unknown history of Belfast writing. Avalard Press brings its reprint of Robert Cromie’s lost 1896 sci-fi classic The Lost Liner, a book which imagines the aftermath of the world’s largest liner, built in Belfast, sinking 12 years before a much mentioned ship did the same. In Whiterock Library, Gerry McCullough talks about her e-publishing sensation Belfast Girls. We’re delighted to welcome the iconic Irish writer Colm Toibin at 7pm to the Festival to discuss his latest work New Ways to Kill Your Mother. Finally the day is rounded off by Glasgow-based comic and writer Ian McPherson, introducing the profundity of Fiacra MacFiach and his book The Autobiography Of Ireland’s Greatest Living Genius.

Tuesday 12th June – The Festival visits the Lyric Theatre on Tuesday afternoon to meet Barry Cassin, the renowned Abbey and Lyric actor in conversation with the great Irish playwright Eugene McCabe. Then at No Alibis Bookstore, Paul Charles, the Irish writer introduces his new novel, The Last Dance about the life of the Showbands in the 1960s. Kate Fearon brings City of Soldiers her account of a year working in Helmand Province in Afghanistan. The Ulster Museum launches 26 Treasures, a multi media event which brings together writers such as Lucy Caldwell with the burgeoning craft and design world in Belfast. At the Oh Yeah! centre Dublin writer Tony Clayton-Lea launches his new book 101 Irish Records (You Must Hear Before You Die) featuring music from up and coming singer Soak from Derry. Liam Carson rounds off Tuesday in conversation with the Belfast poet, Martin Mooney, about his touching Belfast memoir Call My Mother a Lonely Field.

Wednesday 13th June – Another busy day on Wednesday sees a one-man lunchtime performance of Oscar Wilde’s De Profundis at the Crescent Arts Centre, and Linen Hall Librarian John Killen introduces his work on Four Friends, a new book about the relationships between NI literary icons Michael McLaverty, Roy McFadden, Robert Greacen and John Boyd. At 6pm the Belfast poet Gerald Dawe brings together a group of friends to celebrate the publication of his Selected Poems, and publishing guru Nicola Morgan will dispense her advice on getting published in the Crescent Arts Centre at 7pm. Later two tyros of literature, Keith Ridgeway and Richard Beard meet Belfast literary blogger John Self at the Crescent Arts Centre (CAC). The evening finishes at the Black Box cafe with Voica Versa, a poetry collective featuring some of Belfast’s best young poets.

Thursday 14th June – Thursday lunchtime at the CAC presents the brilliant pairing of Moyra Donaldson and Bernie McGill, both local writers building international reputations, while the Linen Hall Library hosts Professor Michael Slater, the renowned Charles Dickens expert, commemorating the bicentenary of Dickens’s birth by discussing the great writer’s link with Shakespeare. Back at the Oh Yeah! Centre, the living legend of rock writing Charles Shaar Murray joins Stuart Bailie, and Pat Long, author of NME at 60 in a discussion of the legendary rock and roll newspaper. At the Crescent Arts Centre, Derry crime writer Brian McGilloway discusses his new Inspector Devlin novel concerning The Disappeared with No Alibis proprietor and king of crime in Belfast, David Torrans. The night ends with local poet Ben Maier, with the world premiere of his Edinburgh-bound music and poetry show An Imaginary Circus.

Friday 15th June – At lunchtime the CAC welcomes Irish writers Claire Kilroy and Aifric Campbell to discuss writing about the financial meltdown. The evening sees local singer songwriter Andy White take to the stage introducing his new collection 21st Century Troubadour a 300 page confession of life on the road. Andy will bring music, poetry and humour to the show, and the Festival is delighted to welcome him to the Crescent Arts for what should be a unique evening. Friday ends with the renowned Poetry Slam with competitors vying for the Belfast Book Festival Slam crown.

Saturday 16th June is family day with children’s writers Garrett Carr, Derek Keilty, Liz Weir, Sheena Wilkinson all appearing at the CAC and the new Laureate na nÓg Niamh Sharkey appearing at Eason’s bookshop. For adults there is Malachi O’Doherty at Ormeau Library at 2pm with his new memoir of cycling, health and mortality and English writer Jen Campbell appears at Waterstone’s with her book Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops. Also first-time writer Alrene Hughes brings her book on Blitz-torn Belfast, Martha’s Girls to Eason’s. Saturday night sees a special gig with Tolu Olorunda, a writer on hip-hop, race and youth culture appearing direct from Chicago speaking on No Country for Youth: Hip-Hop, Education, and Hope in Dark Times

Sunday 17th June – Sunday brings Irish fiction writers Christine Dwyer Hickey & Eilis Ni Dhuibhne, reading from their latest works, The Cold Eye of Heaven and The Shelter of Neighbours for a Sunday afternoon of high class literature. On Sunday evening three of Northern Ireland’s brightest and best musicians gather at the Crescent Arts Centre to showcase the interface between songwriting and literature, Shauna Tohill, Peter McVeigh and Aaron Shanley. Sunday ends with our Amanda McKittrick Ross: The World’s Worst Writer event. Gather together and compete to see who can read the longest section of the Larne lady’s prose. Drink will be taken.

Monday 18th June – Belfast Book Festival Extra brings Sophia Hillen to the Crescent Arts Centre to discuss her last book, May, Lou & Cass: Jane Austen’s Nieces in Ireland, the link between Jane Austen and Ireland, The Sunday Times’s Stephen Price will talk about his work The Earl Bishop concerning one of the most interesting characters of Ireland’s history, Frederic Hervey, Bishop of Derry and the 4th Earl of Bristol. And finishing the Festival is Mike Scott who brings his memoir of a life as one of the cultural icons of the 80s and 90s, Adventures of the Waterboys.

Our Festival partners, the QFT will also show four films throughout the week, concerning the strange lives of writers. They are: The Hours, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Shadowlands and Prick Up Your Ears.

For further details and to arrange an interview please contact Hugh, Hilary or Melissa at the Crescent Arts Centre – (028) 9024 2338 bookfestival@crescentarts.org

For more information, and to book tickets please see: www.belfastbookfestival.com
www.facebook.com/BelfastBookFestival www.twitter.com//BelfastBookFest

Two Mid-Ulster women will be scaling new heights in aid of charity in the coming weeks as they take on the 6 Counties 6 Peaks Challenge.

Emma McCann and Pauline McGurk will take on not one but six of the highest mountains in Northern Ireland in a unique fundraiser for the Ulster Cancer Foundation.

And, if that wasn’t challenging enough, Emma and Pauline have vowed to complete all six peaks in just 24 hours.

The intrepid pair will be setting off on their daring adventure from Slieve Donard Hotel at 3am on June 23^rd and from there will travel across all six counties and to the peaks of Slieve Donard in Co Down (850m),  Slieve Gullion in Co Armagh (573m), Cuilcagh Co Fermanagh (666m), Trostan Co Antrim (550m), Sawel Co Derry (678m),  and Mullaghcarn Co Tyrone (542).

Both women are hugely experienced hikers and fundraisers and between them have raised almost £50k for various charities over the years. Emma is well known for her work with the local Lions Club and Pauline is a volunteer for North West Mountain Rescue Team and together they have the attitude and altitude to make this challenge a roaring success.

Donations can be made through their justgiving page http://wwwjustgiving.com/Emma-McCann1

Alternatively you can text donation to PEAK06 £(your amount) to 70070 (must be in capitals letters and leave a space before the pound sign) and your chosen amount can range from £1 to £10.

The girls are hoping to raise £3859 which is £1 for every metre they will be climbing on the day.

In addition you can log on to Facebook and check their progress over the coming weeks as well as give them some much appreciated encouragement. The page can be found at http://facebook.com/6counties6peakschallenge and this will be updated throughout the day on June 23^rd.

Show your support and join them through this amazing journey of endurance.

Speaking about Emma and Pauline’s challenge, Paul O’Gara from Ulster Cancer Foundation said:

“As challenges go they don’t get much bigger than this.

“Emma and Pauline will be pulling out all the stops in their bid to raise money for Ulster Cancer Foundation and we would ask everyone to support them and the charity as they prepare for what will be a very intense 24 hours on June 23^rd.”

“We are one of Northern Ireland’s leading cancer charities and we provide a range of services for people who have been affected by cancer. Our Family Support Service is a free service available to families across Northern Ireland, provides one-to-one support to help reduce the impact of cancer on family life, and aims to minimise the long-term effects on the emotional well-being of the entire family unit. These services are only possible due to the on-going support of the general public.”

The Ulster Cancer Foundation is one of the North of Ireland’s leading Cancer charities committed to tackling cancer by supporting cancer research, providing services for cancer patients and their families and by educating people on how they can reduce their risk of the disease. All funds raised for the Ulster Cancer Foundation are spent locally to help and support people with cancer in N. Ireland. If anyone requires any further information on the services or work of Ulster Cancer Foundation please contact Paul O’Gara 07585956807 E: paulogara@ulstercancer.org