Drumbeg Community Association

Drumbeg News

Volume12 Issue 2 Autumn 2014 Online Edition

Belfast City Council potential site at Dundrod for Burial Lands - by Tony Hegarty

At a meeting on 11 September 2014 of Belfast City Council Parks and Leisure Committee they considered a report on issues relating to the above proposal.

A number of issues were highlighted in relation to Access, Environmental, Geoservices and Planning. The expert opinion concluded that there is a high risk of not achieving planning approval on the basis of a second access and archaeological impact and possible contamination uncertainties

The Committee agreed that:

Negotiations continue at Dundrod to ascertain whether or not a smaller portion of the site could be used for burial lands.
A workshop be held early in the next year, at which all the information previously submitted to the Committee in relation to burial sites be presented to enable the Members to review the current burial policy and the provision of
crematoria
An update report be submitted to the Shadow Strategic Policy and Resources Committee.

Point 2 above is the most relevant item as regards Drumbeg.

We continue to monitor this situation.

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Drumbeg and District Residents’ Association 31st Annual Show by Brian Bloomfield

The Drumbeg and District Residents’ Annual Show took place on Saturday 6th September 2014 in the Parochial Hall Drumbeg. It was to be opened by Hannah Kee a recipient of a kidney, but, as Hannah was not home from Berlin, her father Gardiner Kee, who donated a kidney to his daughter, opened it on her behalf. Any funds raised at the Drumbeg Show and the collection at the Drumbeg Community Service on Sunday 7th September in St Patrick’s Parish Church will be donated to the Northern Ireland Kidney Research Fund.

The Methodist College Junior String Quartet provided the musical entertainment for the afternoon.
The competition categories included flowers, vegetables, floral art, home baking and preserves, photography, craft and categories for children and were all well supported.

Trophies awarded were
Drumbeg Residents’ Association Cup 1990 – Best in Show - Vivienne Kirk
Drumbeg Residents’ Cup 1992 – Fruit or Vegetable - Maureen Scott
Rose of Drumbeg – Special Class Prize - Rosalind Bloomfield
Drumbeg Cup – Young Persons’ section - Sam Nixon
DRA Jubilee Cup – Judge’s choice from the non-cup winners - Carmel McBrien
Mark Crowe Cup – Floral Art - Elma McDowell
The Farris Cup – Home Baking and Preserves - Avril Keys
DRA Diamond Jubilee Cup – Photography and Craft - Eva Orr
Drumbeg Parish Cup—Jams - Anne McGettigan

Much work and preparation for the Annual Show was carried out by a dedicated committee team and support from the local community was much appreciated. Lisburn City Council was represented by
Councillors Brian Bloomfield and James Baird.

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Drumbeg Art Club by Michael Boyd

The Art Club continues to be a very popular weekly activity. It meets each Thursday in the Parish Hall from mid September until the end of May when it breaks up for the summer.

Last May the Club put on its 13th Annual Art Exhibition. Once again it was a very successful event attracting great interest.

The exhibition is very much a social event for folks to come along to view the work of local artists, have a cup of tea and a chat with friends. It was pleasing to report that 26 paintings were sold out of 111 items for sale. There were also record sales of Cards and Notelets. As a result of commission on sales, sales of cards and notelets the Art Club was able to hand over £450 to Drumbeg Parish Church for the Fabric Fund.

The Art Club is for fun and fellowship for the benefit of the local community.

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DOGS (Drumbeg Occasional Golfing Society) by Michael Boyd

The DOGS continues to grow in numbers and has now 49 members
At the AGM last October Moira McKelvey was re-elected as President and Tony Hegarty was elected Captain for 2014. Tony had three outings during the year. The first was November outing at Massereene Golf Club, the second was March outing at Shandon Park Golf Club and third was his Captain’s Day at Malone in May.

Captain’s Day saw a record entry of 36 golfers with a further 11 guests coming along for the evening meal. While the weather on the day was largely good, the golf had to be halted at the 14th hole due to lightening in the area- a first for the DOGS.
Tony thanked everybody for their support at his Captain’s Day and after the meal presented the prizes. The following were among the winners:-

Winner - 9 holes competition- Moira McKelvey
Best Team- Frank Young, David Denton, Wendy MacLaughlin and Diane Andrews
Best Female- Heather Head
Best Male- Frank Young

DOGS President’s Day 15th September 2014

Moira McKelvey’s President’s Day was at Dunmurry Golf Club on Monday 15th September. The beautiful September weather continued and the sun shone all day enhancing the excellent condition of the Golf Course. Twenty-five golfers took part with eight guests and non playing wives joining for the evening meal.

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DRA Annual Outing by Jane Steel
On the 10th June 2014 at 10am, 29 of the more senior members of Drumbeg Residents Association, set off in 2 mini-buses for a trip to North Antrim. We had an interesting journey through Antrim and arrived for a lovely lunch at the Royal Court Hotel, Portrush, overlooking the White Rocks.

At 2pm we came to the Causeway Centre and the heavens decided to open! Luckily we were able to shelter inside. Some of our party did venture down to look at the marvellous rocks, in spite of the rain.

Around 3pm we began our journey home via the Coast Road. We came through Ballycastle, Carnlough and Ballygally. We enjoyed seeing the pink bicycles, pink tractors and bunting, remnants of the GIRO cycle race, held earlier.

I think everyone enjoyed their day out and I would thank Margaret for organising our lovely lunch. Thanks too, to Peter and Leo, our very capable
drivers.

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Congratulations to Becky McNeice

Becky McNeice, just 14, has played in the Ulster Under 18 Team at Donaghadee winning two of her three matches. Yet again she played in the Mary Fitzgibbon foursomes in Greystones, reached the semi finals of the Ulster Girls Championship Plate Match Play and represented her club, Malone, in various competitions. Becky continues to play for her school, Hunter House, and has already won her honours pocket.

She is always practicing and her parents find it hard to keep her off the golf course. All this hard work has shown results as this year she has reduced her handicap from 17.6 to 10.3. We wish her continued success.

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Drumbeg WI by Maureen Toner

The first meeting of Drumbeg WI  after the summer break took place on Thursday 18th September 
The new president Olive Palmer chaired the meeting welcoming everyone with a special word for two new members.
The speaker for the evening was Jim Bradley whose subject was The Heritage of the Belfast Hills .Next month we will have a member of the Fire Authority bringing us up to date on  Fire Safety.
Our WI continues to thrive. We entered the WI section of the City of Belfast Autumn Flower Show where two members won prizes .The walking group  meets on Wednesday morning and the craft group on Wednesday afternoon
Our meetings are held in Drumbeg Orange Hall on the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7-45pm Anyone wishing to join would be made very welcome.

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Patchwork and Quilting Class by Susan Kee

The Quilting Group meets every 2nd and 4th Monday in the ‘Cooper’ hall from 7-9pm
It is a fun class showing you all the techniques you need to make patchwork projects.  Beginners are very welcome. 
Places are limited so please contact Susan Kee asap who will give you more details. 

The aim is to provide a relaxing evening where you can enjoy the creativity patchwork provides and fellowship with other members. 
We have been working on a quilt for Habitat for Humanity's trip to Ethiopia.

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Drumbeg Gardening Club by Betty Morrison

Our programme over the past year included memorable evenings with talks, demos, seed swaps, plant sharing, quizzes, raffles and garden visits all adding to our enjoyment and know - how. There were highlights aplenty but the pinnacle of the gardening year was for many of us, the May visit to Mount Stewart Garden near Greyabbey. Sunlight on the Lough glittered and dazzled as we arrived for a guided tour led by Neil Porteous, Head of Gardens for the National Trust. There was great anticipation and the evening did not disappoint. We strolled through formal gardens, sunken gardens, along a Dodo terrace and past topiary forms characteristic of the idiosyncratic style of Edith, Lady Londonderry, the driving force behind the design of this garden. Neil Porteous imparted a wealth of information and his passion for both plants and gardens had us enthralled. Classical influences, Celtic themes, legends and myths were brought together to create a unique tapestry of rare plants, bulbs, vines and shrubs. Colour and fragrance abound.Structure, a strong feature of the gardens, has been accentuated through the different levels of the sunken garden, the raised pergola covered paths, high clipped yew hedges, classical architecture, towering trees and statuary. Massive planters filled with white tulips glowed like candlelight and in the borders and beds an array of plants had us scribbling notes for future reference.Our walk through the woodland areas and along the lake led to the family burial ground of Tir N'an Og set high above the surrounding gardens. This tranquil area, normally closed to the public is the resting place of the once powerful, wealthy and glamorous Londonderry family. 'The Land of the Forever Young' lives on and Edith's free spirit, is I believe, still tangible.The tour culminated far beyond the gardens in the glasshouses and tunnels where plants are propagated and cultivated to ensure the continued growth and diversity of this superbly atmospheric garden where history and horticulture are inextricably linked.

You can see our 2014-2015 schedule on the Residents, website. New members are very welcome.

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Flower Arranging by Clara Crookshanks

The Flower Arranging Class meets on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month in the Drumbeg Church Hall from 10.30am to 12 noon.
New members are always welcome

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