Other News In Brief

Man Arrested On Suspicion Of Arson Following Building Damage In West Belfast

A man has been arrested on suspicion of arson and related offences following damage to a charitable organisation’s building in the Townsend Street area of west Belfast on 23 July.

On Wednesday 24 July, the man who is aged in his 40s was arrested in the west Belfast area. He remains in custody at this time assisting officers with their enquiries as the investigation continues.

West Belfast Neighbourhood Inspector Róisín Brown said: "Anyone who can help with our ongoing enquiries is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 19 23/07/24. We also wish to hear from anyone who would have any dash-cam or CCTV footage of the Townsend Road area and noticed anything suspicious, to make contact with police."

A report can be submitted online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/

or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org/

McEoin Community Park Reopens After Improvement Works

McEoin Community Park's recreation area has reopened to the public following redevelopment.

The park's reopening comes after months of collaboration between Longford County Council and the Longford Community Safety Partnership with local residents. McEoin Community Park serves many young families in the Farnagh area, featuring a multi-use games area (MUGA) for soccer and basketball, as well as a grass soccer pitch.

Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Mark Casey stated: "It is great to be here at the reopening of McEoin Community Park recreational area, appropriately held on National Play Day. This space will provide a safe, welcoming environment for families in the locality. I look forward to the development of this area as we await the outcome of a recent application for the Community Recognition Fund which seeks funding for a new walking track, a small pitch and play equipment Today’s event is a great example of what potential this space has."

Longford County Council Chief Executive Paddy Mahon said: "The Council is committed to developing and improving recreational spaces in our communities to improve the lives of our people. It is great to see so many people back enjoying this recreational area. Longford County Council thanks the local community for their engagement leading to the reopening of McEoin Community Park." The reopening was marked by an event on National Play Day, officiated by Longford County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr Mark Casey. Over 200 people attended the event, which featured a range of activities such as sports and games, face painting, and a sensory area with accessible play options. The reopening coincided with National Play Day, a nationwide celebration promoting play and recreational opportunities for children and young people.

2024 NI Social Media Awards Launch

The 2024 Northern Ireland Social Media Awards have been launched which will highlight the achievements of local individuals, businesses and organisations while celebrating the positive impact of social media.

Organised by leading digital marketer and industry mentor Niamh Taylor of Digital 24, this year's awards theme is 'This Is Me', emphasising authenticity and resilience in the face of adversity. Winners will be announced at the year's premier social event on Saturday 5 October at the Europa Hotel.

The independent panel of global expert judges, who each work with some of the world's biggest brands, includes Katie Philo, Head of Social at GQ Magazine in New York; Nimah Kuzbari White, Head of Brand at leading Irish lifestyle brand 4TH ARQ; Lachlan Stewart, Global Social Media at Canva and Sophie Miller, Founder of the global marketing company, Pretty Little Marketer and Beth Thomas, Content and Campaigns at leading social media consultancy Frankly.

The awards recognize how individuals, organisations and businesses are harnessing social media effectively and excelling in digital marketing to achieve their goals. There are 29 categories, including Best Use of Social Media across various industries, Most Impactful Social Media Campaign, Best Content Creator and Best Overall Use of Social Media.

Two new awards have been introduced this year – Best Use of Social Media in Media/Broadcast and Best Low Budget Campaign (Under £5k).

Last Year's winners included Ooh & Aah Cookies, Monday’s Child, Donate4Dáithí, Invest NI, Hastings Hotels, Kingsbridge Healthcare Group, Bellamianta and Irish FA as well as a host of Northern Ireland’s most popular social media influencers including Emma Kearney and Annalivia Hynds.

Founder of the NI Social Media Awards, Niamh Taylor said: "I’m delighted to announce the launch of the 2024 NI Social Media Awards. The awards were first launched in 2019, and every year we are blown away by the calibre of the entries from a diverse range of businesses, organisations and industries across a wide cross-section of industries. I am confident that this will be the case once again for the 2024 awards.

"This year’s theme, This is Me, underscores the importance of authenticity and strength, recognising the power of embracing who we truly are while navigating the challenges of the digital world.​ We have the most incredible panel of judges from across the globe and I’m excited for them to find out more about how individuals and organisations across Northern Ireland are excelling at social media and using the various platforms to grow, increase their sales, engage with their audiences and create awareness of important issues."