The Banbridge Chronicle

15/11/2024

🤍 Supporting the broken-hearted 🤍

A community support and remembrance event will be held in Banbridge this Sunday evening at 6pm.
The event has been organised by outreach charity, J29 Project, to provide an opportunity for the local community to come together and show support and solidarity to those who have been bereaved due to su***de.
It will be a time to simply stand together as a community - and is open to everyone.
The event will take place in the J29 Project car park, on the side of Downshire Place. It will begin at 6pm sharp, and last no longer than 15 minutes.
Those attending are asked to be in position in the car park before 6pm, to allow for a prompt and dignified start.
The running order is as follows: brief welcome; light in the darkness; two minutes’ silence; lone piper; disperse.
The organisers say: “We fully acknowledge this event will go nowhere near to taking away the pain of so many local families but, as a community, this is an opportunity to publicly express support to those left broken-hearted.”

15/11/2024

🚗 A reminder that the new road layout at Downshire Bridge (The Cut) in Banbridge will take effect from 7pm this Sunday (November 17).

🚧 Road resurfacing and new layout works will start at 7pm this Saturday evening, through to 7pm on Sunday.

❗ The key changes coming into effect from this Sunday will be:

* The introduction of two ‘Give Way’ signs and road markings at the top of Newry Street and Bridge Street. This means drivers should stop and give way on their approach up the legs of ‘The Cut’.

* The traffic priority will now be for vehicles moving through Scarva Street and Rathfriland Street.

* The existing pedestrian crossing on Scarva Street has been moved closer to the junction with Bridge Street.

* A second pedestrian crossing on Rathfriland Street, close to Menary’s shop corner, which aims to create a safer street crossing for pedestrians in this area.

To view a video animation of the new road layout and changes
visit www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/banbridgepublicrealm

14/11/2024

🎅 Santa Claus is coming to Banbridge on Friday, November 29, and Banbridge Chamber of Commerce is delighted to be able to support the event with the chance to win £1,000 worth of shopping vouchers!

🛍️ Chamber president, Michael Donaghy, said the fabulous festive giveaway was an opportunity to spread some seasonal cheer and thank shoppers for their continued support.

💬 “This Christmas we would like to give something back to those loyal shoppers who have supported us, and welcome new visitors to Banbridge, a town known throughout Northern Ireland for its friendly, family stores."

👇 Find out more about the amazing giveaway!

SANTA Claus is coming to Banbridge on Friday, November 29, and Banbridge Chamber of Commerce is delighted to be able to support the event with the chance to win £1,000 worth of shopping vouchers!

14/11/2024

🎨 A talented Banbridge artist has designed beautiful hand-painted Christmas cards which he is selling on behalf of the Southern Area Hospice.

🎄 This is the third year that Mark Douglas has embarked on the festive fundraising venture for the charity.

🤍 The Newry hospice is especially close to Mark’s heart as his mum, Margaret, passed away there in November 2013. Mark and his family will never forget the wonderful care that she received in her final days.

👇 Read the full story...

A TALENTED Banbridge artist has designed beautiful hand-painted Christmas cards which he is selling on behalf of the Southern Area Hospice.

14/11/2024

🎁 Caring Dromore High School pupils have donated a record number of shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts to Blythswood Ireland, which will be distributed to vulnerable communities across Eastern Europe.

🤍 All of the 542 shoeboxes were donated in memory of much-loved Year 12 student Kenadie Porter, who passed away suddenly in September.

👇 Read more...

CARING Dromore High School pupils have donated a record number of shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts to Blythswood Ireland, which will be distributed to vulnerable communities across Eastern Europe.

14/11/2024

🤍 Today is World Diabetes Day, and Banbridge besties and Diabetic Duo, Ellen Watson and Beth McDaniel, have shared their story of living with Type 1 diabetes.

👇 Read the article below!

TO mark World Diabetes Day (November 14) TikTok stars and ‘diabesties’, Ellen Watson and Beth McDaniel, have shared their inspirational story of living with Type 1 diabetes.

14/11/2024

🖊️ To mark this time of remembrance, well-known Ballyvarley lady Nancy McMahon, has penned the following poignant poem, entitled ‘War’.

Appalling, is the conflict long
That rages on for many a year
Exploding shells, a constant hell
The roar of guns, stark lonely fear.
Though men will climb from sheltering trench
Through clinging mud and yellow clay
And race along the broken wire
To kneel, “at ready” in the mire.
Yet as they face the enemy
They’ll see in other youthful eyes
The pain and fear reflected there
But duty, dark, upon them lies.
Then rifles raised, one cannot dwell
On death across this bloodied earth,
A barrage cuts through the smoky air
Young lives, half-lived, and dying there.
No pity now, this gruesome task,
Must “be the scene” till bitter end
And nerves of steel and beating heart
Will give them courage to respond,
As men strive to make sense of all
And bravely hold, in common bond,
Each other’s lives, as comrades fall,
They briefly mourn, but carry on.
War, cruel, lonely, dark and driven,
Let peace, our watchword
Now be given.

14/11/2024

🗞️ In this week’s Chronicle, we have coverage of Remembrance Day services across the district.

👏 This beautiful poppy display was handmade by the ladies and friends of Banbridge Methodist Church.

📷 Alan Weir.

13/11/2024

👏 A Banbridge family have raised a fantastic £4,000 for the Southern Area Hospice Services.

☕🎂 The Bickerstaffs held a hugely successful coffee, cake and tea morning, and auction of paintings, in Bannside Presbyterian Church Hall.

❤️ The event was superbly supported by the local community who gave generously to such an important cause, which is close to the family’s heart.

💬 The hospice said: “We would like to thank Anne, Rodney and all their family and friends that supported this hugely successful coffee morning.
“It is a phenomenal amount to raise and will help us at Southern Area Hospice to continue providing specialist care.”

🗞️ Full story in this week’s paper. 📷 Billy Maxwell.

13/11/2024

🎈🎂 A special Dromore girl, who is adored by her family, celebrated her 11th birthday last Wednesday (November 6).

❤️ Chloe West has had health battles from birth, but has courageously fought them. She was born with a hole in her heart and Down’s syndrome and, at just six months old, she underwent major heart surgery in London.

⭐ Today, she’s quickly growing into a “mini teenager” and mum and dad, Andrea and David, are so proud of her!

13/11/2024

⭐ Banbridge actor Conor Quinn is currently starring in the award-winning stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in London’s West End.

🪄 The Chronicle caught up with Conor to find out more about his magical new role!

🎭 Read the full interview in this week’s paper - out tomorrow!

13/11/2024

⚽ Banbridge man Stephen Teggart says he feels loved and respected again after his loan move from Glenavon to Armagh City.

💬 The 26-year-old midfielder is currently out injured for a couple of weeks, but is having a ball at Holm Park. He told Chronicle Sport: "I feel loved again, Shea (Armagh manager, Shea Campbell) has been good to me, I want to play for him. There's a bit of mutual respect between the two of us and that wasn't the case at Glenavon."

🔵 'Teggs' shares further thoughts on the Glenavon situation and the lifelong fan tells us who he was supporting on the sideline as the Lurgan Blues were KO'd by his current club in the cup last week.

📰 All in this week's Chronicle! (📷 Stephen on the right, courtesy of Armagh City).

13/11/2024

🚴 In Chronicle Sport this week - 80 not out. Not a cricket story, it's cycling!

🎉 Members of Bann CC have just celebrated the local institution’s 80th anniversary at their annual awards night!

🍾 It was party time for the famous club, highly-respected and admired at home and abroad.

📷 Report and picture special on the big occasion in the Chronicle, out tomorrow!

13/11/2024

🤍 This week in Chronicle Woman we feature the fabulous Ellise Kernaghan.

👰 She had a fairytale wedding during the festive season of 2021 and is now helping others to live their wedding dream. That's because the former Miss Annett from the famous Rathfriland clan has opened her own business, The Bridal Edit.

💬 We get the inside story on that exciting venture. Also hear about the family - hubby Johnny, little Zach, inspirational mum Chantelle and social media influencer sister Taylor.

⭐ Ellise also has a touching tale about the late, great Olivia Newton-John.

🗞️ Full feature in Chronicle Woman!

08/11/2024

Banbridge Musical Society are hosting their Movie Musicals extravaganza next weekend - here are all of the details!

08/11/2024

💔 In a heartbreaking tribute, Shay Molloy said: “Conor was the most loving, kind, funny, big brother I could have ever asked to be in my life." 💔

THE family of Conor Molloy have said their “hearts are shattered” after the 23-year-old Gilford man sadly passed away in Australia.

08/11/2024

💔 ‘Our hearts are shattered’ 💔

THE family of Conor Molloy have said their “hearts are shattered” after the 23-year-old Gilford man sadly passed away in Australia.
In an emotional Facebook post, brother Shay thanked everyone - from near and far - for their love, prayers and support.
He said: “Our beautiful Conor has peacefully passed away in Sydney, surrounded by people who loved him very deeply.
“Thank you to the staff and doctors at RPA in Sydney who cared for our Conor with such respect, kindness and love to him and our family & friends.
“Conor was the most loving, kind, funny, big brother I could have ever asked to be in my life.
“Whoever met him, I know, will be thankful for the time with him. He was a very special person, a good man.”
He added: “Mum & dad, myself & sister thank everyone from the bottom of our broken hearts for all the support from our wee village Gilford, Ireland, Sydney, and round the world for our travel, prayers, candles, messages.
“Honestly, we felt every one of them and they will help carry us on our heartbroken journey back home to Ireland to lay our beautiful Conor to rest in forever peace. Love from your little bro ###.”
A fundraising page to support Conor and his family, set up by the caring Gilford community, has raised almost £35,000.
Donations can be made via: www.gofundme.com/f/gilford-abc-fundraiser-for-the-molloy-family

07/11/2024

⛰️ BANBRIDGE school teacher, Caroline McGrath, put her best foot forward recently when she took part in the Big 3 Irish Mountain Trek, raising funds for Cancer Focus NI.

👏 It was a weekend to remember and a resounding success for Caroline and her team of fellow trekkers as they raised an incredible total of £30,000!

👇 Read the full story!

BANBRIDGE school teacher, Caroline McGrath, put her best foot forward recently when she took part in the Big 3 Irish Mountain Trek, raising funds for Cancer Focus NI.