Sunday 20th May at 8.30pm on BBC 2 NI

Join journalist and TV presenter Dermot Murnaghan as he talks about uncovering the history of Armagh – his childhood home.  He discusses Primate Richard Robinson’s 18th century vision for the city and its impact on the people.  Dermot shares the simplicity of his historical discovery, chatting to locals, visiting public buildings, viewing old maps and taking an alternative look at the city streets.

Tune in this Sunday evening at 8.30pm on BBC 2.

Watch a preview here of Armagh’s History as Dermot returns to discover its hidden history.  Dermot takes a journey through the city streets of Armagh and uncovers the impact of Primate Richard Robinson’s 18th-century vision that he had for the city.

All residents can collect their free compost from Armagh, Markethill, Keady and Tandragee Recycling Centres on Saturday 12th May 2012. Due to the popularity of this giveaway and limited availability, customers are advised that they should come early to avoid disappointment.

Mayor Freda Donnelly commented, “Composting makes good sense for the local environment and it returns vital organic matter and nutrients to the soil and it reduces the amount of waste send to landfill. Compost Awareness Week highlights to the residents of Armagh City and District, one of the reasons we should be using the brown bin for our food waste, including meat, fish, etc and also garden waste. This is a great idea for residents with brown bins to see the finished product from recycling via their brown bin”.

For those residents who do not have a brown bin, free home composters are available which can be collected at the Recycling Centres at Armagh, Keady, Markethill and Tandragee. Just come along with a recent utility bill to collect your free composter.

The compost is supplied by Natural World Products. This compost is made up from the food and garden waste collected from your brown bin. Approximately 3700 tonnes of organic materials was diverted from Landfill in 2011 via the brown bin scheme.

If you require any further information, contact the Recycling Helpline 028 3752 9624.

Prince Charles visited Armagh Gaol. Upon arrival HRH was greeted by the Lord-Lieutenant of County Armagh, The Rt Hon The Earl of Caledon.

Armagh Gaol dates back to between 1780 and 1819 and is an integral part of Armagh’s history – historically, politically, socially, architecturally and aesthetically. It ceased to exist as a prison in 1984. Armagh City and District Council is currently promoting a major urban regeneration project involving the old Armagh Gaol. The Council has partnered with a private property development company which previously completed, in partnership with The Prince’s Regeneration Trust, a very successful similar project in the old Gaol in Oxford.

Inside the Gaol HRH heard an outline of the building’s history from John Briggs, Chief Executive, Armagh City and District Council. Moving to the “hub” HRH met representatives of The Prince’s Regeneration Trust and the Osborne Group.

Viewing a scale model of the regeneration project, HRH heard an overview of the project from Trevor Osborne of the developer, the Osborne Group. Moving on HRH viewed the East wing, including three of the cells which will be developed into an en-suite bedroom.

Outside in the Courtyard HRH listened to an overview of the impact of the proposed development.

Meanwhile the Duchess of Cornwall attended the Big Jubilee Lunch at the Palace Demense as part of the Eden Project which is encouraging people to have lunch with their neighbour once a year.
The Duchess arrived in a horse-drawn carriage, guests at the Big Jubilee Lunch included Saints & Scholars School, Olympic Torchbearers and representatives from Freedom of the City recipients.

Get your free big lunch pack here.

Due to a number of forthcoming events, both Pools at the Orchard Leisure Centre will be CLOSED on the following dates:

• Saturday 19th May from 4.00pm – close
• Friday 1st June from 6.00pm – 9.00pm
• Saturday 16th June from 3.00pm – close

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

For more information on the swimming pools at the Orchard Leisure Centre please click here.

Mayor of Armagh Freda Donnelly and Minister Danny Kennedy launched Armagh’s first ecar charging point.

Mayor Freda Donnelly said, “I am delighted to unveil Armagh’s first Ecar charging point along with Minister Danny Kennedy. I hope this charging point will encourage individuals and businesses to take advantage of the savings that can be made from taking the step from petrol or diesel to electric. Rapid charging points will charge a vehicle to 80% in only 25 minutes and while we appreciate it is a costly step for motorists to take, there is government grants and other financial incentives available to save on the price on a new electric or van. This initiative is a very positive way forward to making Armagh a greener and more vibrant place to live and visit”.

Danny Kennedy said: “The ecar Project in Northern Ireland is changing the way we think about transport and I congratulate Armagh District Council on being one of the first Councils in Northern Ireland to embrace the new technology. “The jointly led ecar Project in Northern Ireland, sees the Department for Regional Development and Department of the Environment work with Councils to move closer to delivering cleaner and more sustainable transport in Northern Ireland for everyone. “While most drivers will recharge their electric cars at home overnight, the growing number of public charge points offers ecar drivers the convenient facility to ‘top-up’ away from home, if necessary. “Whether we use the car for personal or commercial reasons, electric vehicles, with a typical range of around 100 miles on a full charge, now offer a tangible alternative to petrol or diesel fuelled vehicle.”

Over 40 public ‘opportunity’ charge-points are now available in cities across Northern Ireland including Armagh, Belfast, Londonderry, Newry, Enniskillen and Larne. Over the next year this number will increase to around 140. Special rapid chargers will also be introduced close to major roads that can charge a vehicle to 80% of its capacity in just 25 minutes. Charge Points in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland are fully compatible. There are charge point location maps and more general information at www.nidirect.gov.uk/ecar

Anyone, including business users, can take advantage of a Government grant that offers a saving of up to £5000 off the list price of a new electric car or up to £8000 off the list price of a new electric van.

The first 300 private or business users who buy an electric vehicle qualify for a £1,500 grant to install a charge point at their home or workplace.

Other financial incentives include exemption from fuel duty, vehicle excise duty, company car tax, van benefit charge and fuel benefit charge. Business users can also benefit from enhanced capital allowances.

Armagh City and District Council are proud to celebrate the first anniversary of the opening of Clare Glen Caravan Park. Funding secured from The Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme has greatly enhanced all the facilities within the Glen and Caravan Park, which in turn has seen a considerable increase in the amount of visitors using their caravans, mobile homes and tents on the site. Between April 2011 and March 2012 over 60,000 people visited Clare Glen for various activities including running, walking and cycling. The Caravan Park experienced its largest attendance figures to date with 715 caravans/mobile homes and 88 tents using the site over the past twelve months. Part of Clare Glen’s success should be attributed to its new website www.clareglen.co.uk; which is very informative, easy to navigate and is updated regularly with pictures and information.

The Council are continuing to improve and maintain the natural and built environment at Clare Glen which is set in a delightful 55 acre retreat with winding walks along the river Cusher. Armagh City and District Council have began an extensive management programme this year to reduce non native aggressive plants from taking over the area, leaving room for the rich herbaceous layer and diversity of mosses to flourish again. The newly opened section which had been previously overgrown provides stunning views of the bluebell wooded area – now an endangered species and provides vistas through and across the river to the entrance.

Jonathon Ellis, Parks Manager said, “We intend to open the Glen up more, allowing sight of the stone bridges and the winding river which has created this unique setting. Sections were landscaped in the past when it belonged to a private Demesne; our future works programme will address these issues as we enhance the picturesque qualities of the site”.

Wetland habitat areas have been created within the Alder Wet Woodland area to allow meadowsweet, creeping buttercup and canary grasses etc, each year Armagh City and District Council intend to open and rejuvenate more areas within the site providing more seating and unique pathways to explore.

The Glen just outside Tandragee provides a great experience of our natural landscape with a caravan park, toilets, waterfalls and dramatic views associated with steep glens… a highly refreshing outdoor experience and its free!

Councillor Freda Donnelly, Mayor of Armagh City and District congratulates Brian and Eithne Vallely following their recent success as the recipients of this year’s Gradam Aitheantais/Contribution Award.

Mayor Donnelly commented “Over the years Brian and Eithne have put Armagh on the map for all the right reasons. Lifelong champions of traditional music, they taught music to hundreds if not thousands of young people. As founders of the Armagh Pipers Club and the William Kennedy Piping Festival they have attracted people from al over the world annually to our city. They are an amazing couple with so much drive and enthusiasm and inspire so many people from all different cultures and traditions. Brian and Eithne have both given so much of their time to the community life in Armagh, not just through your music and art but also through Armagh Athletic Club”.

Recent test results have confirmed that these alarms may not detect certain levels of Carbon Monoxide and as a result have been taken off sale. All existing stock has been quarantined while recalling those already sold.

WE WOULD ASK ANY CUSTOMER IN POSSESSION OF THE ABOVE CARBON MONOXIDE ALARMS TO STOP USING THEM IMMEDIATELY.

Please return any alarms to the place of purchase.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

For further information please contact your local Council Environmental Health Department on 028 3752 9626.

Sustainable Construction Firm Green Future Introduce the First Zero Carbon Home Accredited Under The Government Low Carbon And Zero Carbon Homes Scheme

27 March 2012 – Environment Minister Alex Attwood MLA and Irish Environment Minister Phil Hogan T.D officially open Northern Ireland’s first zero carbon home. The ‘Green Future House’ built by Armagh based construction firm Green Future NI Ltd is the first ever in the province to be awarded five years of free council rates under the Low Carbon and Zero Carbon Homes Scheme.

This ground-breaking zero carbon conventional build home based in Armagh is a mile-stone in the history of eco-homes and energy efficient buildings in Northern Ireland – four years ahead of the government target, which decrees that all new homes should be zero carbon by 2016.

Minister Attwood said: “Energy efficient homes have lower running costs and as such also have an important role to play in reducing fuel poverty. I therefore wish to encourage those in the building industry to take on the challenge of improving the energy efficiency of their houses and recognise the wider role they have in improving the lives of the poorest in our society and in shaping a clean and green future for everyone.”

“Improving the energy efficiency of housing provides an opportunity to develop new ideas in design and construction and I welcome the innovation which has been shown in the building of these Zero and Low Carbon homes of the future”.

John McClatchey Managing Director of Green Future said: “Our main aim is to promote and spread the use of affordable energy saving technologies in private as well as public developments. We built Northern Ireland’s first Zero Carbon house to demonstrate Green Futures commitment to building sustainable homes. We wanted to create an eco-home conventional in its design and cost but leading-edge in terms of its green credentials, we are very proud to have achieved this”.

“As MLA for the Newry Armagh constituency and a member of the Assembly’s Environment Committee I have taken a keen interest in this exciting initiative, the North’s first ever zero carbon rated house”. Said Cathal Boylan MLA

Cathal Boylan continued “I wish to commend Green Future and its Managing Director John McClatchey, whom I have assisted on this project over the past number of months. I believe that this sets the benchmark for other housing providers and marks the way forward for future house builds across the country.”

A record breaking level of air tightness was achieved in this house which boosts negative C02 emissions. The University of Ulster’s Centre of Sustainable Technologies is currently researching the thermal performance of the “Green Future House” with findings to be published in May 2012.

As the standard of sport in Armagh continues to grow, the Sports Forum is in the privileged position of sifting through nominations for 12 award categories which showcase the wealth of talent in the area.

Chairman of Armagh Sports Forum David Livingstone acknowledged that this event which keeps going from strength to strength, gives us the opportunity to showcase some of the best sporting talent in the Armagh City and District.  “It never ceases to amaze me how much sporting talent we have, from Primary School right through to senior level and every year we see the dedication and hard work put in throughout the year, paying off by receiving an award.”

Maeve McKeffrey Brand Manager for Linwoods, who have been headline sponsors for the last five years, said: “We are delighted to support the Armagh Sports Forum Annual Awards. Linwoods is an Armagh based company so the awards provide a perfect platform for us to support the development of grassroots sports in the area. The sponsorship is a perfect fit for Linwoods range of Healthy Super Foods, which are an ideal way to add a healthy and nutritious boost to an active lifestyle.’’

All sports clubs from the area will be given the opportunity to set up an exhibition showcasing their facilities and achievements on the night.

Clubs and schools will receive their copies of the nomination form in the next few days and these will also be available at Council facilities and offices. Alternatively you can nominate online or download a copy of the nomination form below. You can also nominate online for the Coaching for the Future Award. Nominees can only be nominated if the individual or club resides in the Armagh City and District Council area. Criteria can be read here. Teams with individuals residing outside of the Council area cannot be included in the selection process. The closing date for nominations is Wednesday 18th April 2012.

Nomination Form Sports Awards 2012
Coaching for the Future Award 2012
Criteria for Awards 2012

The categories of Award are as follows:

• Junior Male of the Year
• Junior Female of the Year
• Sports Man of the Year
• Sports Woman of the Year
• Coach of the Year
• Junior Team of the Year
• Senior Team of the Year
• Disabled Sports person of the Year
• School Team of the Year
• Community Sport Award
• Coaching for the future Award

If you require any further information on any of the categories please contact the Council’s Sports Development Unit on 028 3752 9636 or email Armagh Sports Forum