Bleary Rural PDATE
U
AUTUMN 2009
ISSUE 3
Welcome to RURAL
UPDATE. This newsletter
aims to bring you the latest
information and highlight the
important events in your local
area.
The Bleary Farmers’ Hall
Management Committee are
proud once again to be able
to highlight our rich and
varied rural community.
It is interesting to reflect on
what has been a very busy
and successful year,
particularly for those
organisations captured
within.
Blearyruralcommunity.com, with over 630 hits per month, continues to play a
pivotal role in showcasing the dynamic nature of activities happening within
Bleary Farmers’ Hall.
IN
THIS
ISSUE
◆ Ballydougan Patchwork and Craft Group
◆ Bleary Young Farmers’ Club
◆ Bleary Farmers’ Hall Management Committee
◆ Lurgan and District Horse and Cattle Show Society Ltd.
◆ Local History
DISCLAIMER - Rural Update is compiled by BFHMC and kindly funded by Craigavon Borough Council.
The views contained within are solely the responsibility of BFHMC and not that of Craigavon Borough
Council.
CRAIGAVON
Borough Council
Page 1
Presentation
of Quilts
Patchwork News
Craiagavon Area Patchwork and Ballydougan
Patchwork Group have presented three quilts
to a charity for sick children.
Blocks for quilts were made over the winter
months with three quilts completed and
presented to Mrs Betty Fiddes, Northern
Ireland Co-Ordinator for Project Linus.
Project Linus began in America in 1995 and
was brought to the UK in March 2000.
Project Linus was named after the security
blanket toting character from the Peanuts
comic strip. The late Charles Schultz, its
creator, was pleased to have Linus inspired
blanket makers help sick and traumatised
children.
Mrs Betty Fiddes is the Northern Ireland coordinator and accepts quilts and distributes
them to sick and traumatised children
throughout the province. If anyone would like
to know more about the project and perhaps
make a quilt for the charity, Betty can be
contacted on: 38840831.
For information on either of the
above patchwork groups contact
Doreen: 028 3883 1470
Page 2
Focus on
BLEARY YOUNG FARMERS’
CLUB
A challenge for local
Young Farmers’ Club
80 Goats for
80 Years!
Pictured at the launch of the challenge is YFCU President
Thoburn McCaughey, Carla Alderdice (Bleary YFC) and
Aoibheann Fearon, Bothar NI.
YFC is pleased to announce that as part of its 80th
anniversary celebrations it has teamed up with the charity
Bóthar.
Bóthar was established in 1991 and raises funds to provide
families in developing countries with the gift of a farm
animal to establish micro-farming units.
The challenge to YFC members is to raise funds to send 80
dairy goats to Bóthar’s projects in Africa as a celebration to
mark the 80 years of YFCU.
Events hosted by Bleary Young Farmers’ Club at Lurgan
Show proved to be a real success.
With a mix of fun activities and competitive challenges,
this ensured that the Young Farmers’ keep the late
Saturday afternoon packed with excitement.
The activities commenced in early morning with a mobile
display stand showcasing YFC activities and information.
By early afternoon, preparations for the Novelty Tug of
War were commencing. Teams from Annaclone &
Magherally, Bleary and Hillhall competed in a tightly
contested challenge. In the end, Annaclone & Magherally
senior team won the day.
Following this, a It’s a Knockout Challenge commenced.
Each team appointed a team mascot whom was in turn
provided with a novelty costume. A mix of chickens and
cows were now ready to enter the contest. The
competition course consisted of various obstacles such
as sack race, egg and spoon race, the soap bar challenge
and wheelie bin egg challenge.
Awards were presented as follows: First place: Annaclone
& Magherally; Second place: Hillhall; 3rd; Annaclone &
Magherally (Junior) 4th; Bleary YFC.
To conclude the afternoon’s activities, the annual tractor
handling competition was held. A reversing course
involving a tractor and implement, adjudicated under
timing conditions and penalties for straying off course,
tested the physical and mental ability of a number of
competitors.
Results were soon announced with John Porter,
Annaclone & Magherally lifting the Bleary YFC Tractor
Handling Perpetual Cup.
The winner of the female competition was awarded to
Suzanne Halliday, Bleary YFC who collected the Bleary
YFC Tractor Handling Perpetual Cup.
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Focus on
BLEARY YOUNG FARMERS’
CLUB
Build It Challenge
Bleary YFC were the victorious winners of the Co Armagh heat of the
annual ‘Build It Challenge’ which was held in June. The competition,
gratefully supported by Tesco Plc, involved members competing
together as a team effort to construct a bookcase from materials
supplied and the most basic equipment.
In the end, Bleary YFC took 1st and 3rd place respectively with their
two teams.
The following Friday evening, the competitive challenge continued,
with the John Bradley Challenge held at Craigavon Water Sports
Centre.
Teams from across the province competed in raft building and a race
on Craigavon lakes.
Club Preview
Bleary Young Farmers’ Club continues
to flourish as the club is gearing
towards celebrating it’s 80th anniversary
next year.
2009 is a special year for the Young
Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster, a rural youth
organisation with fun and adventure at
its core. The organisation exists ‘‘to
provide young persons in the rural
community with enjoyable opportunities
for personal and social development’’.
This year the organisation is celebrating
its 80th anniversary.
Early next year, Bleary YFC, having
been the sixth club formed, will also be
celebrating its own anniversary. It was
back in 1930 that a number of young
persons from the wider Bleary area
meet in a hall at Gibson’ Hill and
declared the formation of Bleary YFC.
With over thirty members, ranging from
12 years through to 25 years, Bleary
YFC is the place to be.
The club exists to provide pathways to
friendship, acahivement and a chance
to take control. Local clubs are run by
young people for young people and
although ‘farmers’ may be in the name,
the various clubs exists regardless of
personal circumstances and either
urban or rural background.
The Bleary club as part of the large
circuit of YFC clubs host a number of
annual competitions on both a county
and province-wide basis. There is
something out there for everyone.
Various competitions include the Arts
Festival, Beef stock judging, Build It
Challenge, Choir Festival, Craftwork
Competition, Dairy stock judging, One
Act Drama, Fencing Competition, Floral
art, Five- A-side Football Contest,
Group debating, Home Management
Competition, Machinery handling, NI
Table Quiz, Photographic Competition,
Public speaking, Sheep judging, Silage
assessment,
Soil
assessment,
Something from Scrap Competition,
Swimming Gala, Tag Rugby and TugO-War competition
On this basis, the past 12 months have
been extremely active for all the
members as almost all of the above
competitions have saw competitors
from Bleary YFC.
Some of the competitions have been
entered for the first time, when in
early December last year, Bleary
competed in the Choir Festival. By
mid January, Bleary were back on
stage with the Arts Festival
competition and the club’s theme‘Farmers Special Blind Date’.
The competitive theme has continued
with the John Bradley Raft Race
Challenge Competition, Girls Five- ASide Football Competition and the Tag
Rugby competition.
Page 4
2009 has also been extra special as
many members have signed up to the
Millenium Volunteer scheme.
Back in April, the club launched a new
club rugby shirt and most importantly
everyone is grateful to our sponsors- T
H Troughton, Poyntzpass, Valtra,
Alderdice Fuels, Dromore and Richard
Gilpin Contracts, Gilford.
So if you are aged 12-25, have nothing
to do on Friday evenings and you want
fun and adventure, then Bleary YFC is
the place to be!.
A new and exciting season of club
meetings will commence in early
September.
For more information on the club, why
not contact the Club Secretary; Nicola
Harrison- 078 35388332; e-mail
[email protected]
or
view
blearyyfc.bebo.com.
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Focus on
BLEARY YOUNG FARMERS’
CLUB
A reflection over the past 12 Months!
Bleary Young Farmers’ supported the
Ulster Farmers’ Union Africa Appeal
through a donation. Club Leader,
David Meredith made the presentation
to Mr Robin Anderson, UFU Lagan
Valley. It was most appropriate to have
Robin Anderson accept our small
donation to this fund, as Robin is a
former member of Bleary YFC.
Back in late September, four members
participated in the annual swimming
gala and congratulations go to all who
participated and showed support on
the evening of the event.
The Harry Ferguson Celebration
Committee also offered their thanks to
the club in September when they
attended a club meeting and made a
very kind donation to the club for their
help back on Saturday 16th August at
the unveiling of the Harry Ferguson
memorial garden. The club were most
delighted to be able to have helped
with such an historic event and many
thanks to everyone concerned. Club
members afterwards then enjoyed an
excellent evening Ten Pin Bowling at
the Odyssey, Belfast.
‘Challenge Yourself’ was the theme
for a November meeting. Club Leader,
David Meredith provided a power point
presentation on ‘Know Drugs’ while
Thomas Lennox, Collone YFC
entertained members to a presentation
on his recent exchange trip to Finland.
Bleary were to savour success in the
awards at the annual County Dinner
Dance in late November.
For the second consecutive year,
Bleary were awarded Club of the Year.
Last year’s win was the first victory
since 1979 and this was certainly
added to at this year’s event.
Club Leader, David Meredith picked up
an award for Club Leader of the Year,
while Heather Walker picked up an
award for Treasurer of the Year. John
Harrison, Public Relations Officer also
was awarded PRO of the Year.
An award was made to Julie Menaul
for the highest marks in the Home
Management Competition while Nicola
Harrison was awarded for highest
points in the beef and sheep judging.
An award for highest points in the
Dairy judging went to Richard Boyes.
December brought many hours of
intense practice for the annual YFCU
Choir Festival, a new competition for
Bleary to compete in.
An excellent evening of entertainment
was had by all members with the club’s
chosen song ‘Mighty to Save’ delivered
in a perfect manner. Although no
prizes were to be gained, well done to
all involved and we hope to be back
next year.
2009 bounced in with a bang and
Bleary were busy practising for the Arts
Festival with the chosen theme
‘Farmers Special Blind Date’ a much
amusing
title.
An
excellent
performance
was
provided
in
Craigavon Civic Centre, with a second
performance in Tandragee Golf Club
for the Mullahead Ploughing Society
Awards dinner.
February brought the usual annual
challenge of selecting office bearers
for the year ahead. The end of
February saw Bleary back at the
Mullahead Ploughing match with their
usual trade stand and an excellent day
was enjoyed by everyone.
By March, the stage in Bleary Farmers
Hall resembled a country cottage for
what promised to be an evening of
laughter. A three act play entitled
Second Honeymoon was performed,
with the evening concluding with a
presentation of club awards.
For the first time in eighty years,
County Armagh Young Farmers were
to host the annual YFCU Conference
in Armagh city in mid April.
Another important event for Bleary was
the launch of new club rugby shirts to
which the club is most indebted to all
their sponsors.
May and June saw the start of outdoor
activities with the annual BBQ in early
May and an action packed day at
Lurgan Show in early June.
Bleary YFC have many new events
planned for the months ahead so
remember to keep up-to-date. Be sure
to support all activities so that we can
become Better Farmers, Better
Countrymen and Better Citizens.
BLEARY TAKE TOP AWARDS!
It was a case of success topped by
even more success for Bleary YFC at
the
recent
Beef
and
Sheep
Stockjudging competition.
The Co Armagh and Down competition
held near Hillsborough saw over 130
competitors compete in this the first
heat of the competition.
In the beef judging competition, Bleary
took the top three positions in the 1214 age group. Club members Andrew
Boyes, Philip Boyes and Adam Holmes
each took first to third place
respectively.
The 14-16 age group again saw Bleary
take the top two positions with Louise
Halliday placed first, while Carla
Alderdice was placed second.
The success in the competition was to
continue with Diane Halliday taking first
place and Jill Poots, second place in
the 16-18 age group.
In the 18-21 age group, Suzanne
Halliday took first place while Nicola
Harrison took first place in the 21-25
age group.
The sheep stockjudging competition
proved to have no different results.
Page 5
In the 12-14 age group, Andrew Boyes,
Philip Boyes and Adam Holmes were
again place first to third place.
In the 14-16 group, Stuart Hanna took
first place while Louise Halliday was
placed second.
In the 16-18 age group, Diane Halliday
took first place, followed closely by Jill
Poots in second place.
Suzanne Halliday was to take second
place in the 18-21 group, while Nicola
Harrison took first in the 21-25 age
group.
Focus on
BLEARY FARMERS’ HALL
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Bleary
Farmers’ Hold
Celebration
Dinner!
Bleary Farmers’ Hall Management Committee
(BFHMC) held a highly successful fundraising Dinner
when almost 100 people packed the Farmers’ Hall.
Chairman of BFHMC, Mr William Robinson
welcomed everyone to the Harvest Festival Evening
and wished all present an enjoyable evening.
Members of Bleary Young Farmers’ Club led by club
member Suzanne Halliday served a delicious fourcourse meal, which was enjoyed by all.
Entertainment for the evening took the form of
musical items by Dromore artist Trevor Dixon & Ann
Moore, James Francey accompanied by Rachel
Thompson , and Jason, Philip and Cathryn,
members of Bleary Young Farmers’ Pipes & Drums.
Bleary Farmers’ Hall Management Committee would
like to take this opportunity to thank the members of
Bleary YFC, parents and friends who helped, all the
artists who provided entertainment and to all those
who supported the event.
A special thanks is also expressed to Craigavon
Borough Council who supported the event.
Bleary Farmers’ Hold Annual General Meeting
Bleary Farmers’ Hall Management Committee
(BFHMC) held their annual general meeting
earlier this year.
The chairperson for the event was Mr James
English. A large turnout of members were
present along with a number of apologises
having also been accepted.
Following on from the Chairman’s remarks
since the last AGM, the Secretary delivered a
detailed report while the Treasurer give a
detailed account of all income and fund raising
ventures.
Mr James English proceeded to thank the
committee for the kind invitation to chair the
meeting and then declared all offices now
vacant.
The election followed and the management
committee resulted as thus:
Chairman- Mr William Robinson
Vice Chairman- Mr John Harrison
Secretary- Mrs Doreen Moffett
Treasurer- Mr Kenneth Harrison
Public Relations Officer- Mr John Harrison
And the following committee members: Miss
Carla Alderdice, Mr James Blane, Mrs Mary
Bloomer, Mrs Nora Johnston, Miss Nicola
Harrison, Mr David Malcolmson, Mr David
Meredith and Miss Heather Walker.
The Chairman then thanked the committee for
his re-election and the work of the entire
Page 6
committee over this past year. A vote of thanks
was proposed by Kenneth Harrison to James
English for so ably chairing the meeting and
carrying out the election.
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Lurgan & District Horse and Cattle Show Society Ltd
(Founded 1912)
Show Success in spite of Rain
The organising committee of Lurgan Show held their 97th Show on Saturday 6th June in
the spectacular setting of Lurgan Park.
The main sponsor TESCO have ensured the continuance of this now legendary Show
which has been part of Lurgan for almost a century. Show Secretary Michele Doran
comments “Each year we work tirelessly to ensure that the Lurgan Show, showcases a
terrific family fun filled day for all members of the community. Last
year as the organisers saw a huge depletion of local sponsorship,
the show was at a major crossroads. Organisers either had to
find major sponsorship or call time on the show. Fortunately, a
sponsorship deal was offered by TESCO which undoubtedly
saved the show. It is wonderful to see TESCO giving back to the
local community and supporting events such as the Lurgan
Show.
Colin Hampsey, Corporate Affairs Manager for Tesco said, “We
are delighted to be involved with the Lurgan Show for what was
our 2nd year of a 3 year partnership. We already support the nearby Mullahead Ploughing
Championships each year, as well as having strong links with Young Farmers Clubs
and other shows throughout the province. It is important for us to involved in shows such
as the Lurgan Show supporting the local farming community, and hope everyone will
come along in great numbers to enjoy what is a fantastic, well-run show”.
The Show also receive a grant from Craigavon Borough Council and the committee are
deeply indebted to the same for their financial and practical support as Leanne McShane
and her team in Lurgan Park work alongside the show committee to assist at every turn.
Local sponsors such as Nigel O’Hara Jewellers, Farm Rite and Ulster Carpet Mills also
support the show faithfully each year commented Michele.”
The entries in all sections increased this year and with the attractions of many qualifiers
in the Horse section, this year’s show had in access of five hundred entries. It is certainly
a day when the country comes to town with over 650 classes for Horses, Ponies,
Clydesdales, Carriage Driving, Donkeys, Sheep, Goats and Cattle.
A call at Kings Park Primary School this year was certainly something extra special with
there being over 3500 entries in the Primary School
section, this having been the largest entry for quite
some years. All varieties of craft and art were on
offer- Floral art, baking, Sugar craft icing, plate
Lurgan
painting, miniature gardens, the list is endless as is
& Distr
ic
the talent which is displayed year on year.
Cattle
Show S t Horse and
A World War 2 re-enactment, Stick Carvers, a craft
ociety
their an
wil
n
village, chainsaw wood carving, musical
Presen ual Dinner an l hold
ta
d
entertainment and vintage vehicles, helped to add
Friday tthion of Award
18 Se
s on
to the carnival atmosphere.
ptembe
@8pm
r
.
On the day there was also a grand prize draw for
Venue
six £50 TESCO gift cards, sponsored by TESCO
is Edem
Countr
ore Go
as well as 3 Rotary watches, sponsored by Nigel
y Club
lf &
.
T
ic
kets ar
O’Hara Jewellers, Portadown.
availab e currently
Further details may be found on the web site
le from
t
Secret
or
by
www.blearyruralcommunity.com
ary on he Show
07732
contacting
the
Show
Secretary
on
17221
4.
07732172214.
Diary D
ate
Selection of images from Stephen Greenaway Photography, Lurgan
Page 7
Local History
Townlands
Townlands in the locality and what they mean:
Ballynagarrick - The place of the rocks
Ballydougan - The place of Dougan
Ballygargan - The place of little stones
Ballynaghy - The place in the field
Ballymacanallon - The place of the beautiful person
Bleary - The place of O’Leary
Brackagh - The speckled place or the haunt of badgers
Cranny - A place full of trees
Clare - A plain
Corcreany - Round hill of the trees
Knocknamuckley - Hill of the pigs or pig-sties
Moyallon - The beautiful plain
a d - The long ridge
Mullahea
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