Local quarterly newsletter from Bushmills, Co. Antrim - featuring local events and personalities.
"About the project
Bushmills is a designated conservation village which has a long and colourful history. The Bushmills village forum works to bring local people together to improve their opportunities and create community cohesion.
National Lottery funding has enabled the forum to create a newsletter made by members of the community for fellow residents of the village to encourage people in the area to get involved in events and boost community spirit. The newsletter will act as a focal point for the village to find out what is going on in and around the area regarding community activities and developments. The forum is also an open location for groups to communicate to others about their organisation and what they are doing in the community, which gives local people and businesses an opportunity to promote their work, aims and objectives.
The newsletter invites people in the area to contribute which has encouraged more people to become involved in matters concerning the village. The newsletter has drawn more positive attention towards the village and has given Bushmills a presence, not only for members of the community, but for the thousands of visitors who visit the area each year."
Local quarterly newsletter from Bushmills, Co. Antrim - featuring local events and personalities.
"About the project
Bushmills is a designated conservation village which has a long and colourful history. The Bushmills village forum works to bring local people together to improve their opportunities and create community cohesion.
National Lottery funding has enabled the forum to create a newsletter made by members of the community for fellow residents of the village to encourage people in the area to get involved in events and boost community spirit. The newsletter will act as a focal point for the village to find out what is going on in and around the area regarding community activities and developments. The forum is also an open location for groups to communicate to others about their organisation and what they are doing in the community, which gives local people and businesses an opportunity to promote their work, aims and objectives.
The newsletter invites people in the area to contribute which has encouraged more people to become involved in matters concerning the village. The newsletter has drawn more positive attention towards the village and has given Bushmills a presence, not only for members of the community, but for the thousands of visitors who visit the area each year."
Local quarterly newsletter from Bushmills, Co. Antrim - featuring local events and personalities.
"About the project
Bushmills is a designated conservation village which has a long and colourful history. The Bushmills village forum works to bring local people together to improve their opportunities and create community cohesion.
National Lottery funding has enabled the forum to create a newsletter made by members of the community for fellow residents of the village to encourage people in the area to get involved in events and boost community spirit. The newsletter will act as a focal point for the village to find out what is going on in and around the area regarding community activities and developments. The forum is also an open location for groups to communicate to others about their organisation and what they are doing in the community, which gives local people and businesses an opportunity to promote their work, aims and objectives.
The newsletter invites people in the area to contribute which has encouraged more people to become involved in matters concerning the village. The newsletter has drawn more positive attention towards the village and has given Bushmills a presence, not only for members of the community, but for the thousands of visitors who visit the area each year."
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beam Te
Hello Readers - welcome to our latest edition of the Bush
aes
Sooo ee aga
Firstly you may have noticed that we have a new logo. The
funding we received from the National Lottery has come to
an end and we are indebted to the Community Relations
Council (RO) for funds to enable us to continue for another
year.
CeO en ec
CIS
‘Secondly, our production team has had a change
Anderson who was originally given’ |
ee ee oes
ee ee
Bob Hedley and myself has been joined by Sandra McVicker.
Carol deserves a big vote of thanks for her hard work in
PS eC ec ced
white sheet (remember that?) to the professional product
process, Peter Fall
eau eae oad
‘who provide us with the articles in the first place.
en Run anything to Vilas ood
“news Pe ecu acu
‘does something special we will be delighted to hear from.
co
We hope you enjoy this issue as much as you've told us you
enjoyed the last one.
aed
FORUM PROJECT
..UPDATE
re ey
Dunluce Presbyterian
Girls’ Brigade
“The Girls’ Brigade began this year on Friday Sth September,
with a Registration evening for al girs. This year we have
been blessed by the number of girls who have joined our
company - almost 80 girls and 11 Officers and associate
leaders .We have an especially large Explorer section, 3 -7
‘year olds, with 53 girls currently registered.
‘The girls will be taking part in a variety of activities to
cover the various section of their badge work the Explorers
have been following the set scripture course, doing crafts
and various games. Company section also follow the set
scripture course and all will be taking part in a self defence
course, The Juniors will also be doing baking and crafts,
Seniors and Brigaders will be looking at cooking methods
both here and overseas, and fashion.
Our Enrolment Service is on Sunday the 23rd of November
at 11.30am, with the girls taking part, reading, singing
and lifting the offering. We will also take part in the
Remembrance Day service at the Diamond on Sunday 9th
November and parade up to Bushmills Presbyterina Church
for the service there.
On the last Friday before Christmas break - 13th December
= we will be having partes for the girls of each section.
We have still a lot of badge work to complete so it will be
busy time for us all before we get to the Display in late
‘March but we aim to make the items interesting, enjoyable
and fun for the girl.
‘Thanks to all the officers, and associate leaders for their
support this year, we are very fortunate to have such a good
group of leaders, which is vital for the size of our company.
Thanks, Jeon,
Every Lord's Day
Breaking of Bread 1130am
Sunday School 3pm (Sept-May)
Gospel Meeting 7pm
Monday 7.00pm
Childrens Meeting (Oct- March)
Contact 028 2073 1258
for transport.
ge
tex
Wednesday 8.00pm
Prayer Meeting
& Bible Reading‘The Bushmills Education Project (BEP) has grown from
strength to strength over the last year due to the committment
and work of the Bushmills Residents & Environmental Forum
(BREF) and other supporting people, groups and organisations
such as: parents, carers and young people; the schools; Sure
Start; the churches; Education Welfare Service; Bushmills
Locality Group amongst many others! Through the Seeds 21
Group, people came together over the year to share information,
identify priority issues and work towards the Young Peoples
Festival and Young People’s Charter on education.
As part of its own commitment to involve and give the
‘community a voice in education, BREF started up the Bushmills
Homework Club which has been running successfully once a
week open to all primary school children from P4-P7; BREF is
also starting up an education based Youth Club on 7th October
for 8-14 year olds.
Other activities as part of the Bushmills Education Project have
included the successful delivery of the FAST programme in
Bushmills PS, the Essential Skills courses run by the Further
Education College in Dunluce School, the Bushmills Parents &
Carers Café and the development of the Young People’s Charter
on Education ensuring that young people’ voices are at the
heart of education in Bushmills.
‘The successful Young People’ Festival in June 2014, hosted
by Sarah Travers from UTV, was a celebration of all the work
achieved and particularly the work, talents and skills ofso many
young people in the area. The award to the most ‘Welcoming to
Young People Trader’ of the year was also presented to Sammy
and Anne from Sams Shop at the Festival with the event ending
with the launch and signing of the Young People’s Charter on
Education by Mervyn Storey, MLA.
We would like to thank all those who have been involved in
BEP and who are committed to improving education for young
people. We would particularly like to thank all the volunteers,
parents/carers and young people who have been and must
continue to be at the heart of the project.
If you would like more information on the Bushmills Education Project
then please visit our Facebook Page — Bushmills Education Project and/
or contact BREF at 028 2073 0500 or by email onb...f@hotmal.co.uk
err Charter on Ea tb Yb Pp Festa eid
‘On Wednesday 15th September the members held
their annual Autumn Outing. The members made
theirway by coach to Gracehill,a settlement founded
by the Moravians in 1759 and Nuts first conservation
area. After a most interesting walking tour and visit
to the church, a lovely meal was enjoyed by all in the
Millside Restaurant.
‘The members had a pleasant journey to Patterson's
Spade Mill. It was interesting to see spades being
made in the last working water driven spade mill in
the British Isles, and to learn how expressions such
as strike while the iron is hot’ originated.
After all this, members returned to their meeting
place, Bushfoot Golf Club, tired but happy!ee CRIT TTT BU) [ced
s ‘We have been blessed with a warm and wonderful
start to the autumn; however, with the end of the year
approaching fast some attention needs to be paid to our
Fee Sea eee en ar
the last of the summer colours and delights
Now is a good time to start thinking about planting.
Pees cm ne ao
pansies and polyanthus plants which will provide some
colour during the cold winter days before they erupt
BUSHMILLS BRANCH Saree
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION Peer ee
planning which tulips and daffodils to plant. Why not
try putting a large pot to use and tightly planting the
Five lca members were honoured tobe invited as quest to Coleraine Counds Puree ete cae MUD
reception for the Queen vist in June. A significant, and humorous, incident Peto ee Seca Omen ts
occured when one Bushmills lady was briefly spoken to by Her Majesty Pe ono eae
and Prince Philip at the same moment (and looking atthe other Bushmills
members asked the lady’ husband’ youn charge ofthese reprobates?” Don't forget to water your pots - even though we do get
Saat)
had a bref summer break before continuing with ther very busy programme.
4th August this year marked the centenary of the dedration of war and a
single candle was it during a brief ceremony atthe war memorial to honour S
cic Gi sr EWA Rat SEL AG aan Gp and Reems ecm UE en Teo
‘music in the Parish Centre recalled the events leading up to the outbreak of Ne dd
‘WAI. Later that evening a church service took place and during that the church much to take on why not try starting your own wee
lights wee tured off one by one until the church was in complete darkness, Leia OEE INE Gao eee ly
and the Branch President lt a candle at pede 1:00 pm, ~ one hundred peat maa hala Maden EEE Hs
eats they ines te tedrclon eae in 1914 Ree esate Ld
era ogen eet eren tenet
Sone ner aera td
The annual cream tea inthe Vilage Hall attracted lots of people and was a
definite sucess. In July, a motor ike run to various localesin North Antrim was
followed by a barbecue - an enjoyable afternoon, though ona ovey day such S e ee aan
as that was there were many other entertainments to choose from and there x
was only a moderate crowd in attendance for our BBQ.
The evening of 20th July saw the annual wreath-laying ceremony at the
CGuseway cliff tops memorial which honours the two WWII amen who
perished thee, and attendance was again good.
Members asisted atthe WWI exibition in the Parish Hall, serving tes and
manning the door and generally helping out as needed, The event was very
popular and Glenda Rodgers generously donated 50% of the funds raised from
itto the Branch.
‘Ata military vice shown Portrush the Branch ran a stalling memorabilia,
‘At the Portrush ir Show we sold programmes and raised some funds, and we
had outa outagain atthe Salmon and Whiskey Festival as wellas selling teas
atthe Gymkhana, Smal efforts in themselves, perhaps, but they all contribute
to our fund-alsing objective forthe Poppy Appel.
‘A Branch Youth Section had been talked about and planned for sometime, and
‘thas now come to futon, t meets atthe Vilage Hall on the 2nd and 4th
Thursday ofeach month from 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Membership a present is 14
youths between the ages of 12-17 and we hope and plan for this to grow,
Preparations are ongoing forthe Poppy Appeal and Remembrance Fesivalin
Dunluce Schoo! on 7th November. Tickets ar aallable at £7 each and can be
purchased from any Branch member or at Sams paper shop.
The 1913/ 1914 Poppy Appeal raised £11, 880— the highest total ever.
Sincere thanks to the residents of Bushmills and District for theit generosity,‘was celebrated for the second year at the Causeway. Last time it w
eee eee tenes
series of large marquees, with outdoor displays of potato harvesting
‘machinery and the massive tractors required to pull them. One
vintage potato spinner attached to a Massey 35 was located on the
grass right up on top of the Visitors’ Centre ~ what a contrast to the
Sr entnge tn ta
The Festival was originally conceived as a tribute to John Clarke, a
man from the Causeway area and someone who devoted many years
to producing different varieties of potato, with ongoing research and
Mae ieee ee cee ol
expert on the science of potato breeding, producing dozens of
varieties, some of which are still widely grown, He is honoured with
a blue Ulster History Circle plaque at Innisfree Farm where he once
lived and which now belongs to the National
eect
me
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ete ese Ce Ur ee a
Reena CO Cuneo rd
coffee from a church group; knitwear; baked potatoes; hamburgers;
Perea Pie ee eae
to cater to just about every taste and desire, and considerable crowds
of people thronged the Festival throughout the whole day.
Inside the hotel itself, several stands promoted food technology
Pee ent ame caer ome ee ac
Pee ee cee ane cs
guests. Topics were varied and interesting: the John Clatke story;
David Langford, the noted potato variety collector, presented ‘Potato
Varieties Galore’; Carol Hall from AFBI recommended growing your
own, even if the spuds were only planted in a bucket; Donna Wi
from the Loughry Campus lectured on the importance of potatoes
Pert
a
Cookery demonstrations were given throughout the day in a large
marquee devoted solely to that purpose — it was a very professionally
set up arrangement reminiscent of a TV studio. Local chefs from
hotels and restaurants prepared their specialty potato dishes and
made them available for testing and tasting to the audience. Paula
McIntyre had been on BBC radio that morning, talking about the
Festival, and her afternoon cookery session and demonstration was
very interesting
Helicopter rides proved to be a popular feature, with several older
ladies even going up for a second flight to make sure they had seen
all the local scenery the way they wanted to. Model aircraft were on
ana ete gem ee ons
wind direction and the proximity to the chopper flight path.
A vintage car parade drove very slowly through the site at one point
aeRO an Rm mcm
erent
‘Main sponsors of the Festival were the Northern Ireland regional
Food Programme and UTV. The National Trust deserves special
Pen roe en eR eRe ere
Pe ene nae eae ars
‘The Northern Ireland Potato Festival Committee is grateful to all
those who helped to make the day the success it undoubtedly was.
Organisations at
DUNLUCE
PARISH
CHURCH
successfully start new season of activites.
Thefollowing organisations meet weekly...
Badminton Club (11-1718) Monday 6.30pm-10pm
Contact: Nial Mehaffey 07713602191
‘Indoor Bowling Cub Monday & Wednesday 7.30pm
Contact: Mrs Maureen Batten 028 2073 2400
Anchor Boys Wednesday 6.30pm-Bpm
Contact: George Ramage 07765503200
Youth Club (P4-Yr9) Thursday 6.30pm-8pm
Contact: Grace Dunbar 028 20732915
‘Boys’ Brigade junior & Senior Sections
Friday730-9.30pm
Contact George Ramage (Capt) 07765503200
Lighthouse Cub Sunday @ 11am
Contact Kay Smyth 028 2073 0389
Ghoir Wednesday 7.30pm
‘Mothers’ Union monthly 2nd Tuesday 7.30pm
Contact: Daphne Bustard 028 2073 1715On Saturday 4th October, which was a peach of a
day (a peach between two storms) the Bushmills
Hospice Support Group held their annual Coffee Day
in Portballintrae Village Hall. Our village group has
been busy raising funds since its conception in 1988,
care
‘The majority of funding to support NI Hospi
‘comes from local people as the government only
funds half of the E6million annual running costs. At
this time of looming government cuts we do worry
if we will feel “the chop” to funds over the next few
years.
BUT, dont think that our little group is all doom and
gloom! If you had been in the kitchen in the Village
Hall today, you would certainly have enjoyed the
“craic” amongst “the workers’. ‘They will certainly
agree when I say we are not getting any younger, but
wwe can still laugh at ourselves and have fun.
Not only was there coffee/tea, scones, pancakes and
tray bakes provided by contenders comparable to
those on ‘The Great British Bake Off, but also we
had on sale our usual Hospice Christmas cards and
a beautiful selection of hand knitted items donated
by Dawn and Hazel Graham, and ably helped by
Rosemary Dunbar. ‘Thank you so much ladies! We
really do appreciate your input to our fund raising
efforts
We also appreciate the help of Jimmy Wilmot, the hall
caretaker, who is always very willing to help us, when
needed, ‘Thank you Jimmy!
Lastly we would like to thank all those who came
and supported us during the day, or sent a donation,
helping us to raise the wonderful sum of £1108. For
those who couldn't make it, you missed the social
event of “the season’, great baking and good craic.
Jackie Cole
were pleased to welcome this year’s new intake.
Sixty pupils arrived from sixteen different local
pemary schools ~ all raring to go!
aT a) | tt i
rT '
CORON
SD) ee PERU acd
rer ELBUSHMILLS PARENT AND
TODDLERS’ GROUP
has now been in operation for thirty years. For all that
time the group has met in the Community Centre, one
of the first local community groups ever to use it for
‘meetings - incredible to think that the Centre has been
there for that length of time!
es
Juliet McMullan (above) has been involved right from
the very beginning of the project, and she started it when
the Toddler group that was once based in the Hamill
Hall ceased to be. She identified a need and moved to fill
that gap, and has been heavily involved ever since. Juliet,
attends at the Centre four mornings a week when the
group is in operation, and though the numbers vary from
year to year the absolute need for such a facility is still
very much present
‘The Bushmills group is afiliated to Early Years, a
national body, and enjoys the support of that umbrella
organisation, Providing liability Insurance is a significant
and necessary expense each year and since the group
has had very, very few grants of any kind over the years
then they are obligated to raise funds for running the
facility - mainly by selling tickets for Christmas and
Easter Hamper draws. A small fee per family is charged
for each child attending, though the money raised from
this barely covers the hall rental and the group always has
to make very careful use of whatever money they have
available
‘The children can look forward to having a fuss made of
them on their birthdays, and a group Christmas Dinner
takes place each year in the community centre; a few
days later Santa makes a vist.
‘The group is open to everyone in Bushmills and District,
and disability facilities are also available if required.
Anyone who wants to bring along a child or grandchild
will be made very welcome. The hours, from Monday to
‘Thursday, are 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon,
Look forward to seeing you!Bushmills and District Community Association
meets on the third Tuesday of each month in The Bushmills Community
Centre at 8pm. There are a number of planned events over the coming,
‘months and everyone is welcome to attend.
Quiz Night
Friday 21st November 2014 in The Causeway Hotel at Spm.
Senior Citizens Christmas Lunch
‘Thursday 11th December 2014 in Dunluce Parish Centre at 1.00pm
Flags and Emblems Talk
‘Tuesday 20th Jan. 2015 by Lyn Moffat BCRC
in the Community Centre at 8.00 pm.
Night at the Races
Saturday 21st February 2015 - venue will be announced at a later date.
Gospel and Ulster Scots Concert
Friday 20th March 2015
Talk and Walk on Blackrock Strand followed by BBQ
‘Tuesday 16th June 2015.
Annual Festival will be held in July 2015
‘The Ivy Leaf Club for over 50s Keep Fit Exercises in The Community Centre
each Tuesday from 12,30 to 1.30. This term activities in The Positive Steps
Programme concentrated on Healthy Minds and is enjoyed by all
participants
‘Anew programme will start in January 2015 on Friday mornings from
10,00am until 12.00.
It is hoped to start the Luncheon Club in The Dunluce Parish Centre on 2nd
Friday of each month at 12.30pm. starting January 2015.
More details will be available closer to each event.
DR Occ}
OEE
Largerange of Hand Crafted Gifts
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Peace
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HOMEWORK
Co-operative
Book Table
The used-book table in the Co-operative
shopat the bottom of the town recently
passed a significant milestone in their
continued fund-raising activities. The
magnificent sum of £20,000 has been
raised and distributed to local charities,
and since the books are sold at either
50p or £1 that means that many
thousands of books have been stacked
on and sold from that small table -
probably up to 30,000 of them.
All the receiving and handling and
setting out on display of these
thousands of books, all the added work
of keeping the money received for
them in a container separate from the
tills, is done on an entirely voluntary
basis by Co-operative staff. This has been
going on for several years now and the
ook table is a very popular feature
with locals and with the visitors who
throng our area in the summer months.
Please continue to support this very
worthwhile charity fund-raising effort.
ptyCAUSEWAY COAST
PEACE GROUP
Over 50 members of Causeway Coast Peace Group met in the
‘comfortable surroundings of Bushmills Presbyterian Church
Hall, where they were welcomed by the Leader Eleanor Duff.
She informed members that the theme for the year was
‘Welcome the Stranger’, and said new residents have a real
role to play.
Rev Noel McClean presented thought provoking devotions
and was duly thanked by Eleanor, who in turn introduced our
first speaker of the new season - Kate Carroll, widow of PC
Steve Carroll who was killed in 2009 whilst serving in PSNI.
Kate who emphasised she was not a victim, but a survivor,
spoke in a moving way, about how essential it is to bring
peace by the best of our ability, and wished she could have
done something prior to Steve's killing, In a non judgmental
‘way and with no bitterness Kate said “despite our differences
‘we can live together” and quoted the wonderful example of
Derry/Londonderry and their City of Culture Year success.
Steve Carroll had had such a zest for life, and this is what
prompted Kate to take a stance against the bitterness and
hatred that, if not nipped in the bud now, will spread like
wildfire throughout the communities. So to fulfil Steve's
dream of a shared society, Kate founded the Steve Carroll
Foundation in 2012 to provide a permanent memorial to
her husband, with the following aims - to acknowledge and
reward inspirational young peacemakers across N.Ireland
who have demonstrated through sustained action their desire
for a shared future, and to help people to help themselves,
so that they in turn will be able to help others. Through the
Foundation it is hoped people will live in a better and united
society. Kate said “we have to move on - look into the past,
and learn - and then move on” She emphasised we must listen
and try to understand the other's point of view, and have the
courage to compromise. “Hope will always triumph over
despair” In the five and a half years since Steve's death she has
endeavoured to help people get on in life, and feels she and
her husband were a link in the chain of change for peace. She
finished in a hushed room by asking everyone present to give
the’'sign of peace’
‘The next meeting of the Peace Group takes place on Tues
18th November, 10am, in the Mill Rest, with Guest Speaker,
Peter Osborne, Chairman of Community Relations Council,
everyone welcome,
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|It is over two years since we opened our charity shop in Bushmills and it has
been a real success story! Thanks to public donations of clothes, books, bric
a brac, ete, we have been able to contribute 50,000 pounds to help vulnerable
children in the UK and throughout the world
Our shop is staffed by volunteers who give up their time to help sort, price and
sell our wares... but we really need more help to run our busy shop! If you like
meeting people and have a few hours to spare once a week , we would love to
hear from you
‘Autumn is approaching and now is the time to sort out your wardrobes, draw
ers, and kitchen cupboards. Please donate any unwanted items or clothes that
no longer fit! And we will sell them to raise further funds for Save The Children
A huge thank you to our customers, volunteers and donors, We couldn't do it
without you !
‘Our Christmas Fayre (including cake stall) will be held on Saturday 15th No-
‘vember at the Youth Hostel in Bushmills from 2 - 5pm, Why not come and buy
your Christmas presents and support the work of Save the Children in the UK.
ildren
Thank you to the
Community Relations Council
for their sponsorship of the
newsletter