Football Pitch Complete

Newry's youth will be having a ball quite literally, thanks to a funding 'kickstart' from Social Development Minister Nelson McCausland.


Work on a new football pitch in the Carnagat Estate in Newry has been completed, funded by a grant of £94,924 from the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund.

Minister McCausland said the project is an excellent example of working in partnership.

He said: "I know there has been a demand for a purpose built sports facility in Carnagat for some time now and I was able to see this at first hand when I visited the estate in October 2011 to carry out the sod cutting ceremony.

"Work is now complete on a state of the art polymetric playing surface, suitable for a range of sports, including 5 a-side football and basketball. I welcome the news that the pitch is now available for use by residents, and in particular young people of the area and I hope that they quite literally have a ball using it!"

Lo Criticises McKinney's Comments

Alliance South Belfast MLA Anna Lo has criticised comments in the News Letter from new SDLP MLA Fearghal McKinney in which he tried to justify the decision by SDLP Councillors to support the naming of a play park in Newry after convicted terrorist Raymond McCreesh. Mr McKinney claimed that the SDLP were trying to end division in the Council and that they would suffer for the wider good by supporting the naming of this play park after Raymond McCreesh.

Anna Lo MLA said: "I am disappointed by the attempt by Fearghal McKinney to justify the naming of a play park after a convicted terrorist. Fearghal's comments are a backward step for the SDLP, as his predecessor Conall McDevitt had actually stated that his colleagues had gotten it wrong when they had supported this proposal.

"It was wrong for the SDLP to support this proposal; there should not be any attempt to justify what they did."

Ulster Carpets Named UK Exporter Of The Year

Ulster Unionist MEP has welcomed the news that Craigavon company, Ulster Carpets, has been named UK Exporter of the Year at the Private Business Awards in London.

Mr Nicholson said: "I am delighted to see that Ulster Carpets has been recognised in this way; being named UK Exporter of the Year out of 700 nominations is a great triumph for the company.

"Ulster Carpets is a true success story for Northern Ireland, and it is great to see the company grow from strength to strength while continuing to show its commitment to its workforce here in Northern Ireland."

(CD/JP)