June 2024
ERANO launches ‘Our Home’ photography competition to celebrate International Refugee week.
Omagh based refugee support group ERANO has launched a photography competition as part of its Refugee Week celebrations, aimed at refugees who have settled here in Northern Ireland. The photography competition created under the theme ‘Our Home’ is focusing on celebrating Northern Ireland refugees from across the world now living and located in the community. The competition is open to all refugees living in Northern Ireland with prizes of £300, £100 and £50 available to the winners placed 1st, 2nd and 3rd, agreed by a panel of judges.
The idea behind the competition is to encourage refuges from all ages, throughout Northern Ireland to share their memories and unique perspective of what ‘Our Home’ means to them. The ‘Our Home’ theme encourages participants to share images of what makes our collective home, from the home we have created for our families, to the places we meet and call home, where we gather together, share memories, cook and live, through to how we all make our home here on planet earth, our collective home.
Commenting on the ‘Our Home’ photography competition, Mary Lafferty, Project Manager with ERANO said; “ERANO works daily to help people make this area home, to settle, build connections, educate and learn new skills and create new beginnings in the Fermanagh Omagh District Council area. We recognise that for many people, making a home once is a huge responsibility, so to leave a home and all of your belongings, and resettle a family and loved ones many thousands of miles away from home must be immensely difficult for many refugees and asylum seekers. This competition embraces their courage and resilience in making a new life and a new home.
The competition celebrates the many people who have made new lives for themselves and their families here and made a new home for themselves, one they now call ‘Our Home.’ We want to acknowledge this through the competition and shine a light on what ‘Our Home’ means to people who have settled here. We are excited to have a number of local judges and are really looking forward to see what images are captured by local refugees living here in Northern Ireland reflecting what this means to them.” Mary added.
The competition is open to all refugees and asylum seekers living in Northern Ireland. Images taken can be sent with a short descriptor, name and contact details of entrant via email to erano.omagh@gmail.com, or contact ERANO office 07783 706598 for more information. Closing date 21st June 2024.
June 2024
From kitchen table to multi million-pound brand, new look Naturo unveiled by Mackle Petfoods.
County Armagh company Mackle Petfoods has unveiled a complete rebrand of its award winning Naturo Natural Petfood range and announced 12 new additions to its current range for cats and dogs increasing from 45 to 57 products. Naturo, which was created at the kitchen table of owner John Mackle in 2010, provides 100% natural food to pets, using high-quality ingredients and providing healthy diets for cats and dogs alike. Today Naturo is the No.1 natural wet dog food brand in retail*, sold worldwide across grocery and pet trade, generating £30m annually across Naturo eCommerce and retail. *(Source: IRI Grocer Retail 12/23)
The rebrand was made across the whole Naturo product range, trays, cans and pouches. It includes the addition of their exciting new cat and dog food products catering for kittens to senior cats, and puppies to senior dogs. The rebrand promotes the natural ingredients and benefits to pets and their owners who want the best for their furry friends. The Naturo range focuses on foods for pets with sensitive guts and allergies, reflecting the customers'' needs towards their family pets. Ingredients for the healthy clean food recipes are locally sourced where possible, with recipes created by Naturo’s in-house expert pet nutrition team, and contain no artificial flavouring, colours, or additives, with 100% traceability from farm to bowl.
New Naturo ranges launched in the rebrand include Naturo puppy 400g trays for larger breed puppies, and Naturo 150g & 100g pouches for dogs. In addition, brand-new recipes for kittens, senior and indoor sterilised cats have been created to help improve cat health throughout all stages of life. These contain natural antioxidants from blueberry, cranberry and pomegranate. Built on 6 key nutrients - protein, carbohydrates, omega oils, prebiotics, minerals, and vitamins, Naturo recipes are individually created and brought together to provide quality nutrition to help with growth, digestive systems, coat maintenance, healthy hearts and wellbeing, and vitality.
Commenting on the relaunch, Naturo brand Marketing Manager with Mackle Petfoods, Eva Mooney, said; “We are delighted to share this refresh of our Naturo brand which focuses on the benefits and nutritional value of the product range, placing pets and their owners at the heart of our brand. The brand refresh reflects the excellence across all ranges, and alongside new recipes, the most important thing is the same excellent quality products remain for pets to enjoy.
Working with our in-house nutrition team we have refreshed some recipes to build on the already excellent Naturo products reflecting our ongoing relationship with pet owners, who like us, want the best for their pets. Given the company focus on excellence in our products, and ensuring the best quality nutrients in Naturo, we wanted to use the rebrand to share with our customers how much we, like them, really care about their pet’s nutritional needs and how we deliver those with Naturo natural petfood. Every Naturo pet is one of our family.” Eva added.
Adjustments to recipes include an increase in meat content in some ranges and the introduction of added ingredients across the mix of vegetables and fruit within recipes for pets. The rebranded Naturo creative and product range has now commenced a full roll out to customers and suppliers across UK, Ireland and Northern Ireland and is available across Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys and Supervalu.
March 2024
Young at Art partners with Victoria Square to bring family fun to Belfast Children’s Festival.
Belfast Children’s Festival (8-16 March), the largest family festival on the island of Ireland, will bring family fun to Victoria Square this year as it partners with Northern Ireland’s premier retail and leisure destination. The partnership sees Victoria Square host free activity as part of the Family Festival Day Out on Saturday 16 March 2024.
Launched last month, this year’s circus themed festival will welcome crowds to ‘big top’ venues including The Lyric, The MAC, Belfast Cathedral, Culturlann MacAdam Ó Fiaich and Crescent Arts Centre.
Speaking about the partnership with Victoria Square, Young at Art Director, EibhIín de Barra said:
“We are so excited to work with Victoria Square as a partner for this year’s festival and a host venue for the Family Festival Day Out on 16 March as we bring together everything from the big top circus to sea, land and the world of creativity in between.
“The Family Festival Day Out, which is free to attend, reflects Victoria Square’s focus on family and creative activities, as well as providing the opportunity for children and young people to work with sustainable materials provided by Victoria Square. We can’t wait to see the artwork created during the free workshop, which will be facilitated by artists from Young at Art.“
Looking forward to the Festival and partnering with Young At Art for the family fun day to be held in Victoria Square Centre Manager, Michelle Greeves, added:
“We are thrilled to be working with Young at Art and Belfast Children’s Festival this year for the Family Festival Day Out, the final day of the Festival. As a whole family destination, the free family fun day reflects Victoria Square’s focus on family and diversity, and our passion for undertaking experimental activities as we continue to provide creative spaces for families to explore and enjoy. The theme of ‘Under the Dome’ give us the opportunity to work with and repurpose environmental and sustainable items from Victoria Square reflecting our sustainable ethos. We are really excited to see what will be created by children of all ages during the workshop and to be involved in this year's Festival as a partner.”
Families visiting Victoria Square during the festival and family fun day can explore the centre which offers something for everyone from world class fashion brands and eclectic eateries to an eight-screen Odeon Cinema.
Over 100 events and performances will take place during the festival, which features productions from the Netherlands, Scotland, England and Ireland, local artists, firm festival favourites like Baby Rave and several UK and Ireland premiers.
The Belfast Children’s Festival is principally supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and by Belfast City Council. View the festival programme at www.youngatart.co.uk. Young at Art welcomes requests from community groups for subsidised tickets. To apply, contact via bookings@youngatart.co.uk
February 2024
ERANO hosts event to celebrate international women refugees in Silverbirch hotel.
Omagh based refugee support group ERANO is this year holding an International Women’s Day event in the Silverbirch Hotel in the town. The group which was created in 2021 is bringing together entertainment and speakers on Friday 8 March from 7- 10pm in the hotel focusing on and celebrating all women from across the world including women now living and located in the community having come here seeking asylum.
The free event which will reflect the many cultures now residing in the district and will welcome several female speakers from different countries telling their asylum/refugee stories and the challenges they faced along their journey. This is an opportunity to hear the voice of women, who fled war and destitution, to come to Northern Ireland. Local female influential speakers will also feature including County Tyrone author, Emma Heatherington the international best-selling author of fifteen novels, including the IRISH TIMES and AMAZON chart toppers, and Louise Cullen who is Agriculture and Environment correspondent with BBC Northern Ireland.
Classic jazz music will be played during the evening and there will be spot prizes as well as an opportunity to meet with and hear from local women who have made the district their home. There will also be an opportunity for open speech where women can share their stories and experiences with each other.
Commenting on the evening, Mary Lafferty, Project Manager with ERANO said; “ERANO is really looking forward to this evening as we celebrate international women the world over. Many women have come to the Fermanagh and Omagh area in recent years as a result of war and upheaval in their home countries, seeking help and support and making this area their home. We are delighted to have made so many new friends in the area and wanted to create this evening in the Silverbirch Hotel as a celebration of the strength and power of women and the collective and brilliant outcomes we can create when we all come together as one regardless of where we are from.”
There are limited spaces available for this free event, so attendees are encouraged to book early by contacting Mary Lafferty at ERANO 07783706598, or OLHA 07392974801 to book your place
February 2024
Sport NI issues final call for votes for top sporting moment of last 50 years celebrating the organisation delivering sport to change lives.
Sport NI, the leading body for the development of sport across Northern Ireland is issuing a final call to sports fans and organisations to vote for their top ten sporting moment of the last 50 years, before votes close on Friday 16 February 2024. The organisation is celebrating its golden anniversary year, having been established 50 years ago, on 31st December 1973, and is commemorating the milestone by highlighting the impact sport makes on people, communities, and the ability to create world class sports people.
The public is encouraged to be part of the celebration and choose their top sporting moments created by sports people from Northern Ireland since 1973, building on trailblazers like Lady Mary Peters, Gold winner at the 1972 Olympics, and the phenomenal George Best who retired from Football on 1 January 1974! The body has compiled a list of top sporting moments from local heroes and leaders across a wide range of sports and the public can vote online until 16th February for their favourite sporting moment.
The top sporting moments have been selected by Sport NI staff, with many household names making the top ten. From Dennis Taylor to AP McCoy, Kelly Gallagher to Michael McKillop sporting achievements and celebrations have been captured featuring sporting winners and leaders across a wide range of sporting disciplines. The top ten sporting moments shortlisted are:
1. Joey Dunlop – 1st TT win in 1977
2. Northern Ireland men’s football beating Spain in the World Cup in 1982
3. Dennis Taylor winning the World Snooker Championship in 1985
4. Wayne McCullough winning silver in Barcelona in 1992
5. Ulster Rugby winning Heineken Cup Final in 1999
6. Tyrone GAA’s 3 in a decade in the 2000’s
7. Michael McKillop and Jason Smyth winning their first gold medals in the Beijing Paralympics in 2008
8. AP McCoy’s Grand National Win in 2010
9. Kelly Gallagher winning gold at Sochi in 2014
10. NI women’s football qualification to the Euros in 2022
Since its creation as the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, Sport NI has worked with sports governing bodies, clubs, members, coaches and officials to develop sport from grass roots to elite level. Currently, through its £8.1m National Lottery funded Sports System Investment programme Sport NI is supporting over 400,000 people involved in sport here, developing the next generation of sporting participants, leaders and champions.
Richard Archibald, Interim CEO at Sport NI, said; “Sport NI has always focused on developing and supporting excellence across sport in Northern Ireland. In the last 50 years we have all celebrated some of the most magical and memorable sporting experiences.
Woven through these and many other notable moments is the passion, commitment, focus and drive of our sports people, spending hours, days, weeks and years practising and finessing their skills to compete and win, often on a global stage.
These ten moments are just the tip of the sporting iceberg in terms of talent and achievement, which we want the public to celebrate with us.” As well as celebrating the historic moments Sport NI is also using this milestone to highlight how sport is changing and how it needs to change in the years to come.
Richard continued, “Sport is constantly evolving and changing, and in curating these moments it is clear that whilst there has been a lot of progress and investment in the last 50 years, there is much more to be done in terms of diversity and inclusion. As we mark this milestone, Sport NI wants to empower more women to achieve and have their voices heard at all levels of sport. “We have some outstanding female competitors paving the way for the next generation. In the past year we celebrated athlete Ciara Mageean setting a new Irish record in the 1500-metre final on the track, Clare Taggart being crowned Boccia World Champion and talented teenager Molly McKenna winning gold at the Trampolining World Championships.
“As we look to diversity and inclusion, our work with gender, ethnically diverse communities and LGBTQ+ is, and will remain, a key focus for Sport NI in developing and delivering our plan, The Power of Sport. We want to pursue this conversation and better understand the challenges faced, as we encourage and shape a more welcoming inclusive sports culture in Northern Ireland for the next 50 years.”
Colum Boyle, Permanent Secretary, Department for Communities, added; “Across the last 50 years we have celebrated many remarkable sporting achievements. We have watched from the edge of our seats, the sidelines or stands, memorable successes by local sports people at youth and grassroots levels through to those competing and excelling on the world stage.
“Increasing participation in sport and physical activity is a key component of the Department’s Active Living Strategy and our aim is to see more people, be more active, more of the time. In pursuing that goal and through the ongoing work of Sport NI and other partners, I am confident we will see future generations of world class athletes and talented sports people emerging to create many more iconic moments in the years ahead.” To vote for your top NI sporting moments of last 50 years visit www.sportni.net/50th-anniversary-top-ten Cast your vote by 16 February 2024.
January 2024
Sport NI encourages public to vote for top sporting moment as it celebrates 50 years of delivering sport to change lives.
Sport NI, the leading body for the development of sport across Northern Ireland is celebrating its golden anniversary year, having been established 50 years ago, on 31st December 1973. The organisation is commemorating the milestone by highlighting the impact sport makes on people, communities, and the ability to create world class sports people.
The public is encouraged to be part of the celebration and choose their top sporting moments created by sports people from Northern Ireland since 1973, building on trailblazers like Lady Mary Peters, Gold winner at the 1972 Olympics, and the phenomenal George Best who retired from Football on 1 January 1974! The body has compiled a list of top sporting moments from local heroes and leaders across a wide range of sports and the public can vote online until 9th February for their favourite sporting moment.
The top sporting moments have been selected by Sport NI staff, with many household names making the top ten. From Dennis Taylor to AP McCoy, Kelly Gallagher to Michael McKillop sporting achievements and celebrations have been captured featuring sporting winners and leaders across a wide range of sporting disciplines. The top ten sporting moments shortlisted are:
- Joey Dunlop – 1st TT win in 1977
- Northern Ireland men’s football beating Spain in the World Cup in 1982
- Dennis Taylor winning the World Snooker Championship in 1985
- Wayne McCullough winning silver in Barcelona in 1992
- Ulster Rugby winning Heineken Cup Final in 1999
- Tyrone GAA’s 3 in a decade in the 2000’s
- Michael McKillop and Jason Smyth winning their first gold medals in the Beijing Paralympics in 2008
- AP McCoy’s Grand National Win in 2010
- Kelly Gallagher winning gold at Sochi in 2014
- NI women’s football qualification to the Euros in 2022
Since its creation as the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, Sport NI has worked with sports governing bodies, clubs, members, coaches and officials to develop sport from grass roots to elite level. Currently, through its £8.1m National Lottery funded Sports System Investment programme Sport NI is supporting over 400,000 people involved in sport here, developing the next generation of sporting participants, leaders and champions.
Richard Archibald, Interim CEO at Sport NI, said; “Sport NI has always focused on developing and supporting excellence across sport in Northern Ireland. In the last 50 years we have all celebrated some of the most magical and memorable sporting experiences.
Woven through these and many other notable moments is the passion, commitment, focus and drive of our sports people, spending hours, days, weeks and years practising and finessing their skills to compete and win, often on a global stage.
These ten moments are just the tip of the sporting iceberg in terms of talent and achievement, which we want the public to celebrate with us.”
As well as celebrating the historic moments Sport NI is also using this milestone to highlight how sport is changing and how it needs to change in the years to come.
Richard continued, “Sport is constantly evolving and changing, and in curating these moments it is clear that whilst there has been a lot of progress and investment in the last 50 years, there is much more to be done in terms of diversity and inclusion. As we mark this milestone, Sport NI wants to empower more women to achieve and have their voices heard at all levels of sport.
“We have some outstanding female competitors paving the way for the next generation. In the past year we celebrated athlete Ciara Mageean setting a new Irish record in the 1500-metre final on the track, Clare Taggart being crowned Boccia World Champion and talented teenager Molly McKenna winning gold at the Trampolining World Championships.
“As we look to diversity and inclusion, our work with gender, ethnically diverse communities and LGBTQ+ is, and will remain, a key focus for Sport NI in developing and delivering our plan, The Power of Sport. We want to pursue this conversation and better understand the challenges faced, as we encourage and shape a more welcoming inclusive sports culture in Northern Ireland for the next 50 years.”
Colum Boyle, Permanent Secretary, Department for Communities, added; “Across the last 50 years we have celebrated many remarkable sporting achievements. We have watched from the edge of our seats, the sidelines or stands, memorable successes by local sports people at youth and grassroots levels through to those competing and excelling on the world stage.
“Increasing participation in sport and physical activity is a key component of the Department’s Active Living Strategy and our aim is to see more people, be more active, more of the time. In pursuing that goal and through the ongoing work of Sport NI and other partners, I am confident we will see future generations of world class athletes and talented sports people emerging to create many more iconic moments in the years ahead.”
To vote for your top NI sporting moments of last 50 years visit www.sportni.net/50th-anniversary-top-ten Cast your vote by 9 February 2024.
August 2023
MIRRORBALL brings fear, prejudice, love, and kindness face to face at the Lyric this autumn.
MIRRORBALL, the musical from Replay Theatre Company, is set to return to the Lyric Theatre for a week-long run following it’s world premiere in March 2023.
Based on the real-life experiences of Belfast performer, Matt Cavan and his drag persona Cherrie Ontop, Mirrorball will explore the immense potential of creativity when our worlds are turned upside down by life circumstances. The show had its world premiere in March this year at Belfast Children’s Festival, to rave reviews.
Written by Patrick J O’Reilly, with original musical compositions by Garth McConaghie, Mirrorball celebrates creativity, authenticity and the power of the imagination to make a better world for ourselves. Matt Cavan who will play himself will perform alongside some of our best homegrown Northern Ireland talent including Gerard McCabe, Richard Croxford, Jack Watson, and Colette Lennon who will take to the stage as Billy Normal, Sasha Supper, Nigel, and Maureen.
Commenting on the week-long run at the Lyric, Mirrorball Director, Janice Kernoghan-Reid said, “Replay Theatre Company are thrilled to bring Mirrorball back out to play again, and to share this show with audiences at the Lyric this September. Mirrorball is full of pizzazz, it’s fun and high energy, with a lot of heart and some show-stopping tunes. If just one person leaves the theatre feeling uplifted and maybe even less alone, our work here will be done.”
Show co-creator Matthew Cavan added; “We were blown away with the audience response to Mirrorball at Belfast Children’s Festival earlier this year, so it makes sense to return, and it is so exciting to bring the show to the Lyric again. It feels like we are bringing Cherrie home!
The blessing of being an artist is being able to take difficult things from your life and create art, hopefully something that will leave a lasting impact. It’s a scary thing to put your life on stage, but I feel we’ve created something very special that I am really excited to share with our audiences at the Lyric again this autumn.”
Tickets for Mirrorball priced from £15 are available via the Lyric Theatre box office, Mirrorball | Lyric Theatre Belfast. Mirrorball will run from 15-21 September 2023.
November 2022
Mackle Communications secure 3-year contract with Belfast Arts Organisation, Young At Art.
Armagh Public Relations consultancy, Mackle Communications have been awarded a 3-year contract to deliver Communications and Marketing to young At Art and Belfast Childrens Festival from 2022 to 2025.
The contract will see Mackle Communications, owned by Maurica Mackle, work alongside Young At Art to deliver branding and advocacy, sponsorship, marketing, communications, event management support and evaluation for the organisations Belfast Children’s Festival which takes place every year in March.
Mackle will deliver a full public relations campaigns for the festival and work with press to raise awareness of the works of Young At Art and Belfast Childrens Festival, which is the largest children’s festival on the island of Ireland, attracting over 12,000 participants annually, and support its Education and Engagement programme which engages a further 2,500 young people.
In addition, the Mackle team will deliver print, digital, video/photography, distribution and communications materials including Belfast Children’s Festival brochure and Young at Art’s annual report.
Commenting on the new contract with the team from Young at Art, Maurica Mackle, owner of Mackle Communications, said;
“We are thrilled to be working with the team from Young at Art again, and are excited for the 2023 Belfast Children’s Festival, and helping Young at art deliver the communications and marketing required to support the annual festival. The festival is growing in energy, enthusiasm and ambition every year, and we are really excited to work with Young At Art, and will no doubt bring our own inner children to the contract, which will mean a lot of fun for all!”
Eibhlin De Barra, Director of Young at Art, added;
“Young At Art are excited to be working with the team at Mackle Communications to plan our children’s festivals for the next 3 years. We are about to turn 25 and have much to celebrate to make sure our festival is even more far reaching and engaging audiences from young children through to their families and grandparents, than ever before. Everyone loves Belfast Children’s Festival, and we know that the plans already in development, supported by Mackle Communications will make for an enjoyable programme of delivery in 2023 and beyond.”
The contract for Young AArt, Belfast Children’s Festival commenced in November 2022 and run for 3 years.
Last month, Mackle Communications and Belfast Children’s Festival received a silver award at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations Awards for the 2022 Festival in the ‘Low Budget Campaign’ category.
July 2022
Glenpark Estate celebrates Tourism NI investment support
Glenpark Estate, located in the Gortin Glens, an area of outstanding natural beauty in Tyrone owned by local family, Richard and Selina Beattie is celebrating the opening of a series of new facilities thanks to over £97,600 in funding from the Tourism NI Experience Development Programme. The family have worked with Tourism NI to deliver on their ambitious plans to turn the site into an active tourism experience with a focus on days out, food and quality outdoor experiences.
Visitors to the new Glenpark Estate can now enjoy a new visitor welcome area, new walks and tourism experiences including farm tours, cookery experience and a new children’s play area, all supported by Tourism NI through the Tourism NI Experience Development Programme. The caravan and camping site have reopened, and a new outdoor cooking area has been created. New signage has also been created to guide visitors around the site. Activities including mediation, yoga and Thai Chi are all available to book during the year at the Estate. A new website and branding is also in place.
Already Glenpark Estate is well established as a days out and wedding venue and offers accommodation, as well as a number of restaurants. The newly established open farm is host to animals including Valais Black nose sheep, highland & longhorn cattle and deer. Tours of the farm are available and can be prebooked through the Estate team. The Estate has a strong focus on local food and sourcing, with weekly menus, created by Head Chef Paul Quinn. The farm shop on site, also hosts seasonal produce, local artisan food, baking and local arts and crafts.
Welcoming the investment from Tourism NI Experience Development Programme, Richard Beattie, owner of Glenpark said;
“We are delighted to see the success of Glenpark Estate already and are thrilled to see the site working so well and becoming established as a great day out for families and friends wanting to explore, meet up or relax in this lovely area. From the outset, we have wanted to create Glenpark Estate as a vibrant multi visitor site and its really thriving among the Sperrins as a great place to visit. We are now offering accommodation on site, caravanning, camping, retail, outdoor activities and handpicked outdoor and cooking experiences on site. All are environmentally friendly and sustainable, and we have a rich annual events programme – the Estate now has so much to offer.”
“Working to deliver tourism excellence in Glenpark Estate through the funding from Tourism NI Experience Development Programme, we have created a natural outdoor experience on the site, embracing all of the key assets and natural elements of the existing site and maximising and further focusing on its position adjoining the neighbouring Gortin Glens forest park, including trails and a new children’s play area,” Richard added.
Welcoming the developments in Glenpark Estate, Sheena Dickson, Landscape & Activities Tourism Manager from Tourism NI added;
“We are delighted to support the exciting new developments at Glenpark Estate which will see a range of new food and outdoor experiences come to life across the estate. The evolution of new tourism experiences like this shows that innovation continues to be at the forefront of the development of the industry here. I have no doubt that this exciting addition to Glenpark Estate will be central to the visitor experience in County Tyrone, creating new and compelling reasons to visit the area.”
Since opening its doors, the estate has already welcomed over 250,000 visitors, and plans are in development for creating more events and activities on the site. Glenpark currently employs 75 staff across all areas of the Estate.