Bleary Rural UPDATE
SPRING 2010
ISSUE 4
Welcome to RURAL UPDATE,
a vital communication tool
with you the public.
This newsletter delivers to you all
the latest news and information of
events and activities in your rural
community. The Bleary Farmers’
Hall Management Committee
composed of 12 members meet
regularly and are tasked with
delivering a facility suitable to
everyone’s needs.
Our vision is to highlight our rich
and dynamic rural community centred around Bleary
Farmers’ Hall.
Remember to get right up to date by visiting Bleary Farmers’ Hall online:
www.blearyruralcommunity.com.
IN
THIS
ISSUE
N News from the Editor
N Bleary Farmers’ Hall Mangement Committee
N Ballydougan Patchwork & Craft Group
N Ballydougan Beading Group
N Ballydougan Bowling Club
N Bleary Young Farmers’ Club
N 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
Bleary Rural UPDATE
Welcome to this, the fourth
Rural Update.
News from
the Editor
I hope by now, you all look forward to
receiving a twice yearly copy of the
‘Update’.
2010 should again prove to be a busy year at Bleary Farmers’ Hall, with ever increasing
bookings.
The management committee work tirelessly on your behalf to provide a facility adequate
to everyone’s needs.
The vision and task of bringing any project to realisation is daunting but at present the
committee hope that 2010 will see many improvements at the Farmer’s Hall.
I am pleased to announce that a funding application has recently been submitted for urgent
upgrading works and additional storage facilities.
Your future support is needed, so please be prepared to support all activities.
John Harrison
BALLYDOUGAN
BEADING GROUP
Ballydougan Beading Group, a newly
formed group, is a rural craft group
holding workshops on
Monday afternoon’s from
2pm-4pm in Bleary
Farmers’ Hall.
Ballydougan Beading Group
offer guidance and support on beadwork
jewellery. Classes introduce you to the
basics of bead jewellery making and how
to finish your product using the simplest
of techniques.
Why not make contact, and who knows
you may well be on your way to a new
hobby or the
start of a new
career.
Contact:
Doreen 3883 1470
Ballydougan
Indoor
Bowling Club
Ballydougan Indoor Bowling Club, formed
in the early 1970’s continues to grow and
develop.
At the time of formation, there was no other
indoor bowling club in the rural area of
Bleary. The club compete within the West
Down League in competition matches and
also compete in friendly matches with
neighbouring clubs.
The Club currently meet in Bleary Farmers’
Hall, Upper Ballydougan Road, Portadown
on Wednesday evenings at 8.00 pm from
September through until April.
New members are always welcome. Why
not make contact and a member
will only be to glad to offer
training and guidance.
The club can be
contacted on: David
Malcolmson - ………….
Page 2
Bleary Rural UPDATE
Successful Harvest
Celebration at Bleary
BLEARY Farmers' Hall Management Committee (BFHMC) held a
highly successful dinner last Friday evening.
Around 130 people packed the Farmers' Hall for the Harvest themed
dinner and celebration festival. Chairman of BFHMC, Mr William
Robinson welcomed everyone to the Harvest Festival Evening and
wished all present an enjoyable evening.
A delicious four course meal, provided by members of Bleary Young
Farmers' Club and led by club member Suzanne Halliday was
enjoyed by all.
Entertainment for the evening took the form of musical items by
singer Kenny Paul, while Diane McCullough and Emma Smith
provided musical entertainment on the accordion and fiddle. Philip
Murdock, Jason Grant and Cathryn Murdock, also members of
Bleary Young Farmers', continued the entertainment with various
piping and drumming acts alongside a novelty 'Jack the Peg'.
Compere for the evening was Edward Campbell from Gilford.
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 kindly supported the Harvest Festival event.
Bleary Farmers’ Hold
Annual General Meeting
Chairman - Mr William Robinson
Vice Chairman - Mr John Harrison
Secretary - Miss Suzanne Halliday
Assistant Secretary - Miss Heather Walker
Treasurer - Mr Kenneth Harrison
Bleary Farmers’ Hall Management Committee
(BFHMC) recently held their annual general
meeting earlier this year.
Public Relations Officer/ Grants Co-ordinator Mr John Harrison
The chairperson for the event was Mr George
Chambers. A large turnout of members were
present along with a number of apologises having
also being 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.
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.
ATE
Mr Chambers 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:
Page 3
DIARY D
2010
arch
Friday 12th M
atricks
‘80 Years’ St P
Table Quiz
Stew Night &
7.45pm
rs’ Hall
Bleary Farme
Bleary Rural
E
T
A
D
P
U
80 Years of
Exactly 80 years ago on, a meeting was held
in Corcreeny Orange Hall, Gibson’s Hill, under
the guidance of Mr Andrew Gilchrist. That
significant date was Thursday 6th February
1930.
The 1930 meeting was to have a significant contribution
from guest speaker Mr Dick Kimber, the organiser of YFCU
Club’s throughout the Northern Ireland.
ss
Caroline Je
Jill Poots &
Club President Helen
Campbell
& Husband Edward
The first meetings were held in Bleary Old Schoolhouse,
now Knocknamuckley Parish Hall.
Mr George Chambers was to be elected the Club Leader,
while the duties of Secretary and Treasurer were
respectively entrusted to Miss Doreen Uprichard and Miss
Mary Morrow. Dr McNabb was elected Patron of the Bleary
club and served in this capacity for many years.
orman,
Elizabeth G
eby
, Jade Ogl
ay
lid
al
H
Louise
Philip, Suzanne, Jason
After the guest speaker had finished, a decision to start a
club was unanimously agreed.
The election of office bearers was to follow marking the
official start of a club. This resulted in Mr Andrew Gilchrist
being duly elected Club Leader, while a Mr Gilpin from near
the Clare became the first club chairman. The first initial
members consisted of Mr M Humphries, Ringer Hewitt, G
McCaw, J McCormick & V Harper.
This significant step followed on
the heels of the formation of a
number of clubs within a few
weeks. In chronological order
as
follows:
Limavady,
Islandmagee,
Ballywalter,
Kilbride and Bleary and
Lylehill.
This therefore makes Bleary
YFC, the fifth oldest club and
the second oldest active
en.
ck
ra
cC
M
la, William
working club in Ulster.
William, Pau
Unfortunately, little other information still exists
from these early years and by the Second World War the
club appears to have diminished. The issue of the war effort
could be contributed to
the demise of the
club.
With a need again
for rural youth in
1962, Bleary YFC
e
n
u
J
th
was reborn.
5
y
Saturda
DIARY DATE
2010
Lurgan Show
0 Years’
Bleary YFC ‘8
ut
It’s a Knocko
Challenge
mbers, &
rs, Alan Cha
Past membe , Edith and Norman
bers
Anne Cham
Harrison
President Thoburn Mc
Caughey
and wife Claire
However, with a few difficult years with membership
around the turn of the new Millennium, the decision to
reform the Club was taken in August 2004. After the first
meeting, the duty of club leader was assigned to Miss Julie
Menaul, while the position of Treasurer was appointed to
Mr William McCracken and Secretary, Miss Helen
Robinson. Former member Noelle Menaul was duly elected
Club President.
Bleary YFC can therefore be regarded as one of the oldest
rural youth organisations in the British Isles, and it’s easy to
see why it has lasted 80 years as the overall Young
Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster currently have a membership of
nearly
2,500
members.
Bleary YFC has
now increased to
forty members
and what better
way to celebrate
this
achievement than with
our
eighty
anniversary.
rs
t membe
st and Presen
Under
the
Selection of Pa
rsary Dinner
at 80th Annive
Page 4
Bleary Rural
E
T
A
D
P
U
Bleary YFC
motto ‘Better Farmers, Better
Countrymen, Better Citizens’,
Armour believed that all clubs
must encourage members’
creativity and this was achieved
through an educational program
and competitions.
Young Farmers Clubs are run by
young people, for young people,
and will always be a keystone of
the rural community.
rers
Office Bea
Bleary YFC
Some of Bleary YFC Me
mbers at Dinner
80 Years celebrated at
Hillsborough Castle
In late August 2009, as part of the YFCU 80th
anniversary year celebrations, representatives from
Bleary YFC were invited to a reception at Hillsborough
Castle.
Invited guests were able to browse around the ground floor of
the magnificent castle and after a group photo on the front
terrace, the main proceedings of the evening began.
Guests joined in the Throne Room to receive a welcome from
YFCU President Thoburn McCaughey with guest speakers
being former president Joe Patton and junior member Charlotte
Collins.
Guest Speaker Joe Patton (Past President of
YFCU) addressing guests at the 80th
anniversary evening held recently at
Hillsbrough Castle.
After the main speeches, a representative of Bleary YFC was
invited forward to accept a certificate in recognition of the club’s contribution to the YFCU over the
years.
The evening was a special opportunity for the club and may we henceforth proceed into this year’s
events remembering the 2009/2010 theme ‘Help and Encourage Others’.
Bleary members receiving a
certificate for the club’s
contribution to the YFCU
over the years
(l-r) John Harrison,
Carla Alderdice,
Suzanne Halliday,
Heather Walker,
Diane Halliday,
Nigel White,
Nicola Harrison.
Page 5
DIARY
DATE
2010
Friday
30th J
‘80th A
nnivers uly
ary Lad
and La
s
s
s
i
e
s
T
Road R
r
un leav actor
i
Farmer ng Bleary
s’ Hall.
Bleary Rural UPDATE
Bleary YFC is named
best club in Armagh
BLEARY Young Farmers' Club had a very successful night at the Co Armagh
Annual Dinner held recently with several club members taking home many of
the coveted trophies.
The highlight of the evening however, was for Bleary YFC to again be
awarded with the Automart Gravel for the best club in Co Armagh, this for
the third consecutive year.
It was a wonderful achievement for the club and its members. Well done to
everyone who has been involved with the club and has competed in
competitions throughout the past year. Keep up the good work and
endeavour to make this year even better.
David & C
arla
‘Best Clu
b Award’
Bleary YFC Co Armagh winners in various competitions over the past year
have been as follows:
Swimming Gala - Over 16 Male - Nigel White;
Silage Assessment - 12-14 Years - Philip Boyes;
14-16 Years - Louise Halliday; 16-18 Years - Diane
Halliday; 18-21 Years - Richard Boyes;
Dairy Cattle Judging - 12-14 Years - Andrew Boyes;
14-16 Years - Louise Halliday; 16-18 Years - Diane
Halliday; 18-21 Years - Suzanne Halliday;
Sheep Judging - 12-14 Years - Andrew Boyes;
14-16 Years - Stuart Hanna; 16-18 Years - Diane
Halliday; 21-25 Years - Nicola Harrison; Beef Judging 12-14 Years - Andrew Boyes; 14-16 Years - Louise
Halliday; 16-18 Years - Diane Halliday; 18-21 Years Some Club members with County Cups
Suzanne Halliday; 21-25 Years - Nicola Harrison.
County Cups were awarded on the basis of competition points and allocated as follows: Ulster
Young Farmer Senior Section Competition Winner - Richard Boyes; Dairy and Beef Judging
Competitions (18-21) - Suzanne Halliday; Dairy, Sheep and Beef Judging Competitions (16-18) Diane Halliday; Best Public Relations Officer - John Harrison.
80 Goats for 80 Years Fund Continues!
Bleary YFC is pleased to announce that as part of the club’s ongoing 80th anniversary celebrations it
continues to fundraise for the charity Bóthar.
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. To date around £18,000.00 has successfully been
raised.
DIARY DATE
2010
ugust
Friday 20th A
‘80 Years’
t & BBQ
Treasure Hun
ers’ Hall
leaving Farm
@ 7.00pm
Further fundraising is planned by
Bleary YFC at the forthcoming
Mullahead & District Ploughing
Society’s annual match to be held
on Saturday 27th February 2010.
Please generously support the
club.
Page 6
Bleary Rural UPDATE
BALLYDOUGAN
PATCHWORK AND
CRAFT GROUP
Day in April and an end of year outing usually in
May.
The annual Visitors Day has always been a
great success with usually over one hundred
ladies attending to hear a very
entertaining speaker and see the work
of the members.
The Ballydougan Patchwork and
Craft Group have been enjoying
another successful season.
An invitation is extended to you to
come along to the Visitors Day to
be held on Wednesday 28th April
2010.
An average of 45 ladies meet on
Wednesday mornings from 10.00
am – 12.30 pm in Bleary Farmers
Hall.
For information on the
Ballydougan Patchwork & Craft
Group, please telephone
3883 1470.
The task is to learn new patchwork
skills and also share knowledge of
other crafts. Mrs Sheila Tinsley, the
resident tutor has taught a variety of
patchwork techniques. The Group is fortunate
to have Sheila as a tutor as she is a skilled
teacher and needleworker.
Social events throughout the year include an
outing to Knit and Stitch in Dublin, Christmas
Lunch in the Hall, a trip to the Knit and Stitch
Exhibition in the Kings Hall, Belfast, a Visitor’s
YFC Members attend
Co-Operation Ireland Conference
Late last August, Bleary Young Farmers’ Public Relations Officer, Jill Poots returned from a five day
conference at Trinity College, Dublin hosted by Foroige.
The conference was organised by the Albert Schweitzer Leadership for life programme.
The conference, designed to engage and inspire students to become leaders and good stewards
within their communities focused on community service, multi-culturalism, health and well being and
environmental solutions. The conference, a cross- cultural learning experience was delivered via
lectures, workshops and team building events. Some 215 young
people attended the conference, a truly
international affair with attendees from
across the UK, Ireland, United States,
DIARY
Nigeria and South Korea.
DA
L/R: Gordon Cromie, Rachel Martin,
Mark McAuley, Jill Poots and Adam Porter
at the conference.
Jill commented “the course has
helped both personal development
and furthered my sense of
responsibility. The whole idea behind
it in trying to teach young people
real leadership skills was most
impressive”.
Page 7
2010 T E
Sunday
19th Se
p
‘80 Yea tember
rs’
Bleary
YFC An
nua
Harves
t Servic l
e
@ 3.00
pm
Bleary Rural UPDATE
Local History
Ballydougan
Bleary
Modern Ballydougan lies on the boundary
between Counties Armagh and Down.
The hamlet of Dowgane first appeared in
1611 as part of an area within a townland
then known as Ballydromneskie. By the
middle of the century, the townland of
Ballydoogan is cleary cited on the
boundary of Lower Iveagh with an area
within marked Shian. This clearly has been
preserved in the modern name of a hill in
the townland- ‘Shanes Hill’.
As mentioned earlier, Bleary is a townland
within the parish of Tullylish. Bleary first
appears in 1611 as a small hamlet within
the townland of Bleary. The earliest
spelling which clearly refers to this area is
Blyery, but from the 17th century onwards,
the spelling is more commonly noted as
Bleery or Bleary.
There is some slight confusion as to were
the present ‘Dugan’ originated. It may be
plausible that the Dugan is an offshoot of a
surname Dunganes, established tenants in
Co. Armagh in 1609.
Bleary as a townland appears to have
replaced an earlier name referred to as
Ballytullyconally meaning townland of the
hillock of O’Connelly or O’Leary as
sometimes noted. As for the ‘hillock’, the
highest ground in the townland lies east of
Bleary near an area known locally as
‘Wells Cross’.
Page 8