South Antrim MLA Danny Kinahan emerged today as victor in the first ever MLA Art competition when his work ‘An attempt at homage to Basil Blackshaw’ was declared overall winner. The painting, made up of four blocks of colour with an etching of Parliament Buildings on each, was judged the best entry from the 44 entries submitted by one third of MLAs. Danny’s painting also won Best Painting and Constituency winner for South Antrim. The painting is in homage to Blackshaw’s The Barn (Blue), The Barn (Red).

Chief Executive Anne McReynolds said: “This exhibition shows more than anything that art is something that every single one of us can enjoy. The standard of entry is very high across various media – painting, photography and poetry and our experienced and expert panel of judges were singing the praises of all the entrants.”

South Belfast MLA Conall McDevitt’s poem ‘The peloton of hope’ was named Best Poem and Constituency winner for South Belfast. The poetry competition was one of the most difficult to judge. The panel of four were split evenly between Conall McDevitt’s poem and Barry McElduff’s ‘Carmen to Carson’ with the final decision being made by Davy Torrens, well known literature critic and owner of No Alibis bookstore.

The judges decision on Best Photograph was more straightforward with David McClarty’s image of Mussdenden Temple, located in his constituency, emerging as clear winner. The photo was also Constituency Winner for East Londonderry.

Thirty six MLAs – one third of those elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly – entered the competition which sought poems, paintings, drawings inspired by constituencies, political philosophy or simply a beautiful view. This was the first ever exhibition of its kind in the UK or Ireland, and Anne commended all those MLAs who submitted entries:

“We have received 44 entries from 36 MLAs from every single constituency. We knew when we launched the competition that there was a hidden Heaney or a modest Monet and we’re really pleased with the results and today’s exhibition. This is a fun event with a serious message. Art belongs to the entire community and when The MAC is open it will put Belfast and Northern Ireland on the global arts stage.

“By entering this competition, the MLAs have shown by example that all of us can enjoy the arts and celebrate what The MAC has to offer. Our panel of judges, including Wendy Austin, Eamonn Mallie and Neil Shawcross were impressed with the high standard of work across the board. And who knows, the work of some of our winners could be hanging in Parliament Buildings for many years to come!” she added.

Set to open in early 2011, The MAC will be in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter and will house two theatres, three major visual art galleries, a dance studio, education, workshop and rehearsal spaces, offices for resident arts groups, a resident artist and a café and bar.

“The project has been over ten years in planning and it would not have happened without a genuine cross-departmental effort involving DSD, DCAL, OFMDFM, DFP as well as the Arts Council, the Strategic Investment Board and Belfast City Council. The MAC opens in March 2012 and we truly believe it has been made possible thanks to the success of devolution and the work of those elected to the NI Assembly.

“The results are impressive and we expect to begin every new Assembly term with a similar call to our elected representatives,” she added.

For most hurling followers the mention of Clare throws up memories of warm summer days in the mid-to-late 1990s when the Banner County emerged as a real force in hurling, claiming the all- Ireland title in 1995 and 1997.

Ironic to think then that our first sight of them was in the league quarter-final in April 1994, when Antrim faced Clare at Croke Park, with the Saffrons starting as favourites. Antrim had started the league poorly in the winter of 1993 but home triumphs over Limerick and Waterford, and away victories in Wexford and Galway meant that Antrim had rallied well to finish in 4th place in Division One. Clare had won Division 2.

When we look at that Clare line out now, Davy Fitz, Brian Lohan, Anthony Daly, Sean McMahon, “Jamsie” O’Connor, P.J O’Connell and “The Sparrow” O’loughlin all lined out, it is hard to believe that Antrim were favoured, despite the presence of Jim Connolly, Gary and Gregory O’Kane, Ally Elliot, and Dominic McKinley in Saffron
that day.

Clare won with some ease and that was the day they announced themselves to the hurling world at large.

And in a link to today’s game that is the same “Sparrow” O’Loughlin who is now at the helm of Clare hurling.

Prior to that meeting the two counties had only met three times in the league, in 1970, 1980 and 1985 and Antrim failed to record a victory in those games. The 1980 game saw Antrim playing against the dying embers of the great Clare team from 1977/78 which lost two Munster finals to a three in a row All-Ireland Cork team, but managed to win the National hurling league back-to-back in those years, in a side featuring Sean Stack, Seamus Durack, Colm Honan and one Ger Loughnane.

Clare also won a close tie in the 2001 league by 1-18 to Antrim’s 3-8 in Ennis, and of course just last year Clare triumphed by a point at Casement Park.

In the all-Ireland qualifiers in 2007 Clare also won out at Casement, so the Saffrons still await their first victory against the Banner.

Clare are steeped in hurling history, with a first all-Ireland victory back in 1914 featuring a 17-year-old Brendan Considine, and had a fine side in the early 1930s, losing the 1932 final to Kilkenny despite the best efforts of “Tull” Considine, who scored 8 goals in the semi that year, and the legendary Dr Tommy Daly in goal.

So a Saffron win against Clare has been a long time coming, and hopefully today could be the day that the Banner is finally lowered by Antrim.

Patrick McGinley
Antrim Supporter

If you thought that the Albert Clock was the only famed timepiece in Belfast, then you were sadly mistaken. The Alice Clock is located on the piazza at Fountain Centre. The Fitzpatrick Family (Owners of the Fountain Centre) commissioned Otto Buer, a family business in Lubeck Germany to design the quaint clock over 10 years ago, to celebrate the millennium. Described as a Glockenspiel, with 24 bronze bells and two sets of figures moving around three clock faces to various melodies. The figures – a millennium set featuring King David, John the Baptist, Joseph & Mary and a set of ten characters from Alice in Wonderland – were expertly carved and painted in Germany.

If you’re in and around the Fountain Centre, visiting Space Craft, Sawyers, Utopia or having a break in Caffe Nero, take 5 minutes out to admire this enchanting timekeeper. On the hour, they revolve around the clock pillar (decorated in mosaic by local artist Bernie Sutton), while the music plays. Installed on the glass on the piazza level is beautifully design narrative to give the viewer an indication of the clocks meaning. Come and see for yourself

The North West Region Waste Management Group (NWRWMG) has produced the third edition of its bi-annual magazine, Waste Watch.

The publication includes information on how the public can help contribute to the waste management effort in their area by focusing the3Rs of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. There is also a round-up of the work being carried out by the NWRWMG’s seven constituent councils, as well as an update on the £500m public procurement exercise to deliver new waste management facilities for the North West region.

wastewatch_awlores

A piece of East Belfast history that had become a familiar, and even beloved, sight is gone from its Woodstock Road spot.

The oddly endearing mural of the former Manchester United legend was a popular tourist attraction and much loved by the local community.

While I understand that there’s some nostalgia for the Best Mural, it’s not exactly a Banksy or Fairey and Murals of this kind were never built to last. The new mural, which is still in its early stages, has a tree at its centre which is said to represent “a map” featuring the main arterial routes in East Belfast. It is suggested that a number of well-known figures from the area will also be featured eventually, including a much smaller version of George.

The concepts of renewal and change are an integral part of our culture and it is refreshing to see the representation of these ideals in the re-imaging of murals around our city. Murals and their re-development provide an ongoing platform for debate and reflect the progressive vision of our city’s residents, as we take steps to provide a more welcoming environment and give our community something to feel proud of.

The issue is not just about replacing the Best murals but also about getting people to think more broadly about how arts and artists can improve their quality of life in local neighborhoods. Perhaps the image of a pot bellied George Best does not reflects the identity of East Belfast? Maybe this is why its being replaced with an image which proposes to chart the social, cultural and industrial heritage of the area.

This city is constantly changing and what a relief that is, it means it’s alive.

Oliver Slee in Moshi Village

Oliver Slee from Looe in Cornwall has taken on the awesome challenge of cycling from Johannesburg back to his hometown all in aid of Children in Crossfire. Oliver began this amazing challenge in June and over the past few months has made his way through several countries in Eastern Africa and is currently in Egypt ready to take on the final leg of this epic challenge by cycling through Europe towards home. During his travels Oliver got the fantastic opportunity of visiting Children in Crossfire projects in Tanzania. Oliver was able to visit St Amadeus Secondary School in Moshi which is a recently finished project which provides education to young people in an area where opportunities for a secondary education are minimal. Oliver also took part in the ‘ground breaking’ ceremony in the village of Miwaleni where Children in Crossfire is funding the building a health clinic which should be fully operational by June 2011

While he was in Tanzania Oliver met with Matt Banks Country Director for Children in Crossfire who comments “Oli is a very unassuming young man who just seems to take every day as it comes and doesn’t seem to think what he is doing is anything special! He did no training, has no GPS equipment and just takes whatever comes his way…this is real adventure!  When we told the locals what he was doing, they were amazed and they all started laughing and were hugging him and shaking his hand.  I never fail to be humbled by the lengths some people go to raise funds and awareness for our work, or the human spirit of adventure that some people embrace with a courage and commitment that most of us find excuses not to follow”.

Oliver said of his trip to the projects “I had a whole day with Children in Crossfire where I was shown around various projects. It was an amazing day and I learnt a lot about the charity and was very impressed with how they run everything. Children in Crossfire ensure that the community is involved and that eventually they can leave the project with the locals with the proper knowledge of how to run the school or health clinics etc. It was great to see where the money raised by everyone at home was going and that it is a genuine worthwhile cause”.

CIC ensure that the community is involved and that eventually they can leave whichever projects they are doing to the locals,with the proper knowledge of how to run the schools or health clinics ect..i got to speak to the children in the schools and answered questions about the cycle and took part in ‘the breaking of the ground’ ceremony where a new clinic was just beginning to be built.It was great to see where the money raised was going and that it was a genuinly veryworthwhile cause.There are a few pictures of this day on the children in crossfire facebook page.

Oliver is keeping Children in Crossfire and his family and friends up to date via his face book page as often as he can. To keep up to date with Oliver’s epic trek join his face book page at ‘South Africa – Looe…by bicycle’.  If you would like to donate money to Children in Crossfire to support Oliver’s trip you can do so at http://www.justgiving.com/Oliver-Slee.

Has Oliver inspired you to do a challenge? Contact Children in Crossfire on 028 71269898 or e-mail events@childrenincrossfire.org to find out information on a range of international challenges on offer for 2011.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama & Richard Moore, Founder of Children In Crossfire.

This Sunday 24th of October at 22:15pm be sure to watch Richard Moores documentary on UTV.

A powerful and poignant documentary which follows Richard Moore the man the Dalai Lama calls ‘my hero’ and Charles Innis the British Soldier who blinded him, as they travel to India for a personal meeting with the Dalai Lama (Patron of Children in Crossfire)

and charts their journey to forgiveness and friendship.

Children in Crossfire, 2 St Joseph’s Avenue, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6TH
+44 (0)28 7126 9898
www.childrenincrossfire.org

Guests heard from the inspirational Dr. Trish, who works in the Ocean Road Children’s Cancer Institute in Tanzania, as well as Richard Moore and John Linehan about their experiences in Africa. The evenings aim was to give you an insight into the tremendous work of Children in Crossfire.

Trish Scanlon, Gerry Kelly, Richard Moore, Jonathan Dobbin and John Linehan at the baby Grand Belfast October 2010

a CIC project is the only cancer ward in Tanzania, restoring hope to families of children with cancer where treatment is totally free. Children arrive extremely unwell, usually with end stage disease. Even at this late stage most children are offered curative treatment. From 60-80 inpatient children receive treatment daily, sharing 17 beds. These are managed by Dr Trish a wonderful team of Tanzanian nurses who have perfected the art of lifesaving on a shoestring
All investigations, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, food for the children and transport home are provided free of charge and are only possible thanks to people like you. The medical treatment is also complemented by a range of non-medical activities that include a daily education programme for children well enough to attend, music and play therapy,  nutritional, educational, entertainment and social programme.

Children In Crossfire & Dr Trish have pledgeded to raise £339,000 over the next 3 years to support our Ocean Road project

The Ocean Road Project, Tanzania

Damian Murray & Ronan Kelly of St John’s GAC Drumnaquoile.

Want to work somewhere fast paced and fun where no two days are the same?

Fancy the challenge of dealing with some of Northern Ireland’s best known companies?

Do you want to work for a Belfast-based firm whose horizons stretch from Dublin to London to Dubai?

Stakeholder Communications is one of Northern Ireland’s largest and best known communications firms, specialising in public relations, public affairs, design and event management.  We need a bright, confident, self starter to manage our reception, act as PA for our Group Chief Executive and help PR executives as and when required.

If you think that’s you, please send your CV to johnny.quinn@stakeholdergroup.com