The Banbridge Chronicle

27/02/2025

💬 “I JUST want to do positive things in Jack’s name to help others…”

💔 The heartbreaking words of grieving Banbridge mum Lynne Metcalfe, who has spoken of her determination to help people in the local community struggling with their mental health.

🤍 Lynne is running a charity raffle supporting Changing Lives NI. A bucket collection will take place in Tesco’s Castlewellan Road store this Saturday from 9am to 9pm.

“I JUST want to do positive things in Jack’s name to help others…”

27/02/2025

➕ BLEND & Batch has teamed up with B Positive to launch an exciting new campaign.

☕ Now, with every takeaway coffee cup you can learn more about B Positive, a local charity founded by Banbridge boy Adam Watson during his fight with leukaemia.

💙 B Positive is very close to the hearts of Blend & Batch owners Peter and Marion Fairbairn.

💬 Marion said: “I hope people will enjoy their takeaway cups and keep sharing the love on social media, so we can spread the word about B Positive. The number 1 thing is to keep remembering Adam.”

BLEND & Batch has teamed up with B Positive to launch an exciting new campaign.

27/02/2025

🏆 PATRICIA Mulligan was feeling “mighty fine” after winning the Trailblazer title at the ‘Mighty Women NI Awards’ at the weekend.

✨ The glittering ceremony, celebrating inspirational Northern Irish women from all walks of life, was held in the Titanic Hotel, Belfast.

🎭 Patricia is the leading lady behind Banbridge Performing Arts Festival, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2024.

❤️ Fifty years on, Patricia is as passionate as ever about the event. “I just love it, I’ve always loved it!” she enthused.

PATRICIA Mulligan was feeling “mighty fine” after winning the Trailblazer title at the ‘Mighty Women NI Awards’ at the weekend.

27/02/2025

📚 RATHFRILAND WI, Rathfriland & District Regeneration Company and Hilltown Community Association are joining forces to organise and deliver what is believed to be the first literary festival to ever take place in Rathfriland.

📅 The Rath Literary Festival will be held from Friday, June 6 to Sunday, June 8 with leading poets, writers, story tellers and songwriters set to participate.

✏️ Local schools have been contacted and are invited to enter poster, writing or poetry competitions in advance of the festival with the winners announced in June.

RATHFRILAND WI, Rathfriland & District Regeneration Company and Hilltown Community Association are joining forces to organise and deliver what is believed to be the first literary festival to ever take place in Rathfriland.

27/02/2025

🎨 DO you doodle at your desk? Well, it could be the start of a new career...It was for Banbridge artist Michelle Wilson.

🖼️ She's now 'Friends' with celebs having painted portraits of pets for the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox, Chris Evans of Captain America fame and Vanessa Feltz, among others.

🌠 But that's just a small part of her portfolio and over the past couple of years Michelle has seen her career take off - at home and abroad.

💖 See this week’s Chronicle Woman to find out exactly what she's been up to!

26/02/2025

🏉 Banbridge Rugby Club’s ‘Strictly Scrum Dancing’ was a dazzling success!

🙌 The sell-out show was held in the Belmont House Hotel last Saturday night and raised a spectacular £19,000 for the club’s ‘Building for the Future’ campaign.

🏆 Adele and John lifted the glitterball trophy, after an evening of top-class entertainment!

💃 Well done to all the AMAZING couples…and keep dancing!

More 📷 in this week's Chronicle!

26/02/2025

🚲 THE Travers Eng. Annaclone GP will, once again, play host to the opening road race of the Irish cycle road race calendar for 2025 this Saturday.

🚴 Often cited and used as an early indicator of how well riders have prepared for a successful season, it’s also an event that has a habit of unearthing talent that can upset the seasoned performers.
As per previous years, two races will be hosted by Banbridge CC on the day. So, they're on the road again for a new 'cycle'.

🗞️ Full preview in this week's Chronicle Sport! 📷 Paul Hannigan

21/02/2025

🎉 MEMBERS of Loughbrickland WI certainly know how to enjoy themselves!

🎈 Brenda Richardson, the Federation Chair, joined institute members and guests at The Halfway House, Banbridge, recently for a special 70th anniversary dinner.

MEMBERS of Loughbrickland WI certainly know how to enjoy themselves!

21/02/2025

The accused was refused bail amid allegations he also ripped an IV line from his arm and flicked blood at a police officer called to Craigavon Area Hospital, declaring he was HIV positive.

A patient accused of hijacking a car after trying to seize control of an ambulance as part of a “bizarre rampage” must remain in custody, a High Court judge has ruled.

20/02/2025

🚲 KEEN cyclist Andy Smyth is gearing up for the challenge of a lifetime in support of Cancer Fund for Children’s Daisy Lodge.

☀️ The Rathfriland man, now living in Moneyslane, has signed up for the ‘Chase the Sun Ireland’ challenge on June 21, and is hoping everyone will get behind his fundraising drive.

👇 Read more about Andy's challenge!

KEEN cyclist Andy Smyth is gearing up for the challenge of a lifetime in support of Cancer Fund for Children’s Daisy Lodge.

20/02/2025

🛍️ MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed the completion of the £6million Banbridge public realm scheme.

💬 She said: “This project has provided a much-needed boost, ensuring that Banbridge remains a thriving hub for commerce and community life."

UPPER Bann MP Carla Lockhart has welcomed the completion of the £6 million Banbridge Public Realm Scheme.

20/02/2025

🌸 BANBRIDGE’S tidy volunteers will be out in force this Saturday (February 22) as they continue to keep the local area tidy through litter picking in various locations around Banbridge!

🙌 Join in and make a difference!

BANBRIDGE’S tidy volunteers will be out in force this Saturday (February 22) as they continue to keep the local area tidy through litter picking in various locations around Banbridge.

19/02/2025

🏉 It was a winning weekend for the brilliant senior sides at Rifle Park - men and women!

🙌 Three tries in a 15-minute second-half purple patch saw Bann pick up a bonus point victory over visiting Ballymena in the All-Ireland League.

⭐⭐ Meanwhile, Banbridge Women completed the double over Malone in their final away game of the league season, having also beaten the Belfast side in a pre-Christmas showdown in town.

🗞️ Full coverage in this week's Chronicle Sport!

19/02/2025

🥅 Banbridge Town ⭐ Lewis Hunter has always been a fan favourite - and the admiration is mutual! The Northern Ireland Regions’ Cup goalkeeper and now Town captain is praising local supporters for sticking with their team through the thick and thin of a tricky few weeks at Crystal Park. He feels there's now light at the end of the tunnel. 🙌

💬 Speaking to Chronicle Sport after Saturday's latest battling performance - a 2-2 draw with Oxford Sunnyside - the Lenaderg man said: "I was talking to a couple of fans in the bar after the game and they said everyone on the sidelines watching can see how hard each and every player is working and they said that's all they can ask for."

⚽ Lewis also has kind words for the Town management and his teammates as they prepare to host Lisburn Distillery on Saturday. Full story in this week's Chronicle! 📷 Colin Lavery.

17/02/2025

🤍 THE funeral of mum-of-two, Sarah Reid (née Macauley), who died suddenly in New York last week will take place on Wednesday.

It is understood that Sarah, who was from Ballyroney, had been on holiday with her husband Darren as part of her 30th birthday celebrations, when she fell seriously ill.

The funeral will take place from Sarah’s parents’ residence in Ballyroney on Wednesday (February 19) at 11am, followed by a service in Derrygortreavy Parish Church, Dungannon.

THE funeral of mum-of-two, Sara Reid (née Macauley), who died suddenly in New York last week will take place on Wednesday.

14/02/2025

📚 Bridge Books presents ‘Barry Flynn in conversation’ at Mulholland's on the Square, Dromore, on Monday, February 24 at 7.30pm. Barry will be chatting about his new book, The Little Book of Irish Football.

☘️ The Little Book of Irish Football is a compendium of fascinating, obscure and entertaining stories about the Beautiful Game on the Emerald Isle.

⚽ It brings to life some of the long-lost tales about how the game grew and thrived across the island. It also explores the division of football in Ireland and the famous players and teams that have stolen the headlines over the decades.

* The book will be available to purchase on the night.

13/02/2025

🤍 A YOUNG Ballyroney woman, who passed away suddenly in New York earlier this week, has been remembered as a “bubbly, happy girl who adored her family”.

Mum-of-two Sarah Reid (née Macauley) is understood to have been on holiday with her husband Darren as part of her 30th birthday celebrations, when she fell seriously ill.

Former local councillor and UUP chair Jill Macauley said Sarah’s tragic passing had sent "a shockwave of sadness and disbelief through our local community in Ballyroney, where she was born and grew up."

A YOUNG Ballyroney woman, who passed away suddenly in New York earlier this week, has been remembered as a “bubbly, happy girl who adored her family”.

13/02/2025

📅🌻 Tidy Banbridge are holding their next community litter pick on Saturday, February 22!

🙌 All volunteers welcome!