Festivals are an enjoyable addition to the life of a community; they are a welcome break from the sometimes mundane run of the mill routine and offer us the opportunity to let our hair down. Read More
Welcome to the West Armagh Consortium's website. We hope that you will find this both interesting and informative. We would like to take this opportunity to give the reader some background to us.
The West Armagh Consortium (WAC) was constituted in November 2002 as a voluntary amalgamation of local community groups from Armagh City West. As a non-sectarian and politically unaffiliated umbrella organisation, the Consortium welcomes affiliations from all new and existing community and voluntary groups in our catchment area. The groups currently affiliated represent districts within the three electoral wards of Abbey Park, Callanbridge and Downs.
West Armagh Consortium is currently developing a vision and plan for our work and for the West Armagh area over the next 5 – 10 years. As an organisation we are community led and driven and keen to get as much input as possible from residents and representatives from local clubs and groups.
The first step in our planning process is to get feedback from local residents on the key needs and priorities for the area. Please complete this form and ensure that your views are reflected in any future development proposals for the area.
The survey is available online. Just follow the link at the bottpm of this article.
There was a fantastic turnout for the Glow In The Park Halloween event Sherrys Field Sports Complex on Wednesday night.The audience was treated to a dance routine designed and performed the kids from JoJo's Spotlight Studio.The music was provided by Marty Bratton and games stalls manned by Joey and Shae Freeman. This is the second year that this event has taken place and it has proved to be even popular this year with an increased turunout.
Congratulatons to Spotlight Studio dancers who put on very impressive dance routine.(Thanks to audience members for the pictures for their FB posts)
The National Lottery Community Fund has been directed by the Department of Finance to deliver Dormant Accounts funding in Northern Ireland to increase capacity, resilience and sustainability in the VCSE sector.
To ensure this funding has maximum impact in communitiies, they are now consulting with the sector. Their consultation will be open until Christmas 2019, with a view to opening the fund in early 2020.
The final of the John McGleenan Tournament that started off during the West Armagh Community Festival was held on Sunday morning on the Old Navan Ford Road. The under -14 girls tournament has generated fantasic attention, so much so that it has taken until now to complete the event. The two finalists were Anna Carson representing Ból Chumann Ná Mierleach and Michaela Greene representing Madden Road Bowls.Both girls gave a tremendous perfromance and in the end there was only yards seperating them. The victor was Anna Carson who lifted the John McGleenan Cup and in doing so also became an Ulster Champion.Well done to Anna and commiserations to Michaela.It was notable that the cup in its inaugural year was won by a granddaughter of John McGleenan
Pictured: Left Michaela Greene & Anna Carson Under 14 Ulster Finalists,holding The John McCleenan Cup ,sponsored by The West Armagh Consortium
The event is managed by the Navan Road Bowls Association who have also organised a youth road bowls coaching sessions taking place in Sherrys Field Sports Complex.These sessions are held weekly on a Tuesday nights and open to both boys and girls. For full report of the score follow READ MORE
Two charities benefited from the West Armagh Community Festival's fun raising venture that saw a number of hardy community activists climb Slieve Donard to hold a poc fada.£3,173.58 was raised and was divided evenly betwen the Lord Mayors Charity Fund and Lisanally Special School. Stephen Fields from West Armagh Consortium presented one of the cheques to the Lord Mayor Cllr, Mealla Campbell while John Fields presented the other cheque for Lisanally Special School to Eileen McCann.
What is Social Prescribing? It is a communinty approach to health and well being.SPRING is the Healthy Living Alliances' Social Prescribing Programme being delivered through its network of Healthy Living Centres.The West Armagh Consortium Healthy Living Centre,based at Sherrys Sports Complex is part of that network and where our local SPRING social prescriber is based.
The West Armagh Cosortium will be offering a free counselling service starting in early January. Counselling covers a wide range of issues and by its very nature is tailored to the clients individual needs.The service will be strictly managed in line with recognised and approved proceedures and protocols.Details of this srvice are contained within the poster below. Contact Emma to book an appointment.
The first of twelve sessions being delivered in the Healthy Living Centre at Sherrys took place today (Friday 13th).This course to help people suffering with chronic pain to self manage their condition. The course will run over a 12 week period dealing with different aspects of how living with chronic pain impacts on everyday life. The first session saw a presentation from a local pharmacis, Adrian McKeever. This was followed by a question and answer session.
Future sessions will cover different aspects of how to manage pain and ways in which to help sufferers.The course will run for a further 11 weeks and is already oversubscribed. However, it is intended to repeat the project in the new year.
Tuesday 11th September, designated as International Suicide Awareness Day, was marked by Drumarg Community Association with the official opening of its new communal garden. The garden located at the Ungola Road entrance to the estate has only recently been completed. In a fitting addition the group have included a bench dedicated to local resident Sean Óg Brady who sadly lost his life to suicide. In a short candle light ceremony the garden and the bench were officially opened. Fr. Cathal Deveney, who was born and raised in the area officiated at the ceremony.
West Armagh Consortium Healthy Living Centre are organising this course to help people suffering with chronic pain to self manage their condition. The course will run over a 12 week period dealing with different aspects of how living with chronic pain impacts on everyday life. It is free but there are a limited number of places.
West Armagh Consortium are members of the Southern Regional Healthy Living Alliance (SRHLA)and are providing the a Healthy Living Centre (HLC) for this area at our premises on Cathedral Road. Also based at the HLC is a Social Prescribing project for this area. There are three Social Prescribers for the SRHLA and one will be based at WAC offices in Sherry's Field Recreational Centre.
There was a wee grey toy rabbit lost during Sundays parade. It was lost around the Charlemount area. It is a childs' comforter . If anyone knows anything about this can the get in touch. 07759949314.
In a follow up to this story, there is a happy ending. The grey rabbit was handed in at the Shambles Yard were the council had organised a family day. A council worker took it to lost and found and when she seen our social media posts contacted the consortium. We are pleased to say that rabbit and child have been reunited, much to the relief of the child's parents, who said that 'it restores you faith in human nature when your realised that someone made the effort to return the toy'
The streets of Armagh were thronged with people who came out to enjoy the community parade organised in response to the ABC Councils decision to change its own St. Patricks Day Procession. Lead by a flag party consisting to 25 national flags and walking behind the St. Patricks Flag, the parade made it way through the streets for its finishing point at Sherry Field Sports Complex. Even the odd shower of rain couldn't dampen people’s spirits who can out in their droves to both spectate and walk in the parade.
The organisers have thanked everyone who helped out with the organising of the parade and the many individuals and business who donated money that was used put the parade over. Speaking on behalf of the organising group, Stephen Fields said “The response to the news that the council had changed the St. Patricks Day parade has been phenomenal. The community stepped up to the plate and came out in force. This was very evident in both the turnout and the volunteers who helped out in every way. This included the making of flags/bunting, the donations of materials, the stewards, messages of support and willingness to be involved. Due to the complete lack of consultation on the part of the council (council has still not responded to our initial letter), we only had just over 4 weeks to organise this parade and it could not have been done without this support. A big thank you to all and all credit is due to the community.
“Sundays parade was an example of inclusiveness. We sought to include as many as possible and to do so in a festive and community spirited manner. Numerous people have thanked WAC and the organising group for putting on the parade, but the real thanks goes to the people who by their actions over the weekend completely vindicated our decision to go ahead and organised the parade in response to the council’s disgraceful decision to change the day.”
It has been described as one of the biggest and colourful parades in years going back to the time when the community used to organise monster parades through the town. Those parades were at a time when the council hardly recognised St. Patricks Day but eventually through constant pressure from local representatives the council began to take the day onboard. However, that has not been a smooth journey, they have almost been dragged kicking and screaming to the conclusion that as a public body they should be supportive of everybody's expressions of culture and views. Nevertheless and even to this day, they have sought to mitigate against the parade and any sense of Irishness . Their choice in bunting omits the recognised colours of green and white. They have a lengthy list of pre-conditions for those wanting to take part in the parade , so much so, that in recent years there has been very little community buy in. This in turn has forced the council to rely more and more on professional street performers. While such acts are very colourful, they alone cannot command the support and widespread community participation.
It was smiley faces all round at the childrens' party held in Sherrys recently marking the end of Carnival . The party was organised by our local polish group POLACY to mark the end of Carnival which is a pre-Lenten event. Such events are traditional in many countries and there are many similarities in how this time is marked.
ThePolish Carnival season includes Fat Thursday (Tłusty Czwartek), when pączki (doughnuts) are eaten, and Śledzik (Shrove Tuesday) or Herring Day. The Tuesday before the start of Lent is also often called Ostatki (literally "leftovers"), meaning the last day to party before the Lenten season.
The traditional way to celebrate Carnival is the kulig, a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the snow-covered countryside. In modern times, Carnival is increasingly seen as an excuse for intensive partying. As can be seen from our pictures,everyone certainly enjoyed the event.
Latest News
FREE COUNSELLING SERVICE +
The West Armagh Cosortium will be offering a free counselling service starting in early January. Counselling covers a wide range…Read More
Closure of Breast Cancer Unit at Craigavon highlighted +
The audience attending the meeting to discuss the closure of the Breast Cancer Clinic at Craigavon Hospital. There was a…Read More
FOGRA - A HAPPY ENDING +
There was a wee grey toy rabbit lost during Sundays parade. It was lost around the Charlemount area. It is…Read More
End Of Carnival Party +
It was smiley faces all round at the childrens' party held in Sherrys recently marking the end of Carnival . The…Read More
SUCCESSFUL DAY ON THE BANKS OF THE CALLAN RIVER +
There was a great turnout for the litter pick along the banks of the Callan River on Saturday. Organised by…Read More
LOCAL CHILDREN ARE TARGETED BY VANDALS. +
Some of the glass placed on childrens' play equipment The West Armagh Consortium is calling on the youths responsible for…Read More
THE HAUNTED WALK AT SHERRYS +
Halloween entertainment for all the family. Everyone welcome. Admission is FREE A few snaps of the night The Haunted Walk…Read More
Physical Acivity Programme +
We all know that a persons health and well being has a number of factors; diet, positive mental attitude and…Read More
Local Charities Benefit From Festival Run +
Deputy Lord Mayor of ACBC, Cllr, Paul Duffy pictured with those attending the presentation evening. Two local charities were presented…Read More
ONLINE SCAMMERS TARGETTING GROUPS +
Following an attempted online scam received by the WAC this morning we would urge people to be vigilant as in…Read More
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Registered with The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland NIC100377
Welcome to the West Armagh Consortium's website. We hope that you will find this both interesting and informative. We would like to take this opportunity to give the reader some background to us.
