Other News In Brief

£500,000 Kilkeel Roadworks Scheme To Begin On 16 Sept

A new £500,000 programme of carriageway resurfacing works in Kilkeel, to begin on 16 September, has been announced by Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd.

The resurfacing scheme will involve the asphalt resurfacing of a 1.4 kilometre stretch of the Newcastle Street Road from a point 120 metres south of Mill Road junction to approximately 50 metres north of Mourneview Park.

The Infrastructure Minister said: "This is a substantial investment for the Kilkeel area which will deliver significant benefits for residents and road users . The investment demonstrates my commitment to improving our road network, which is vital for connecting our businesses and communities. This work will greatly improve the strength and surface quality of this section of the road network to the benefit of local residents, businesses and those travelling in the Kilkeel area. Work is expected to be substantially completed by Sunday 17 November 2024. I would like to thank residents, local businesses and commuters for their patience while this essential infrastructure work is carried out."

To facilitate the safe delivery of the scheme it will be necessary to implement daily lane closures from 09.30 am to 16.30 pm, Monday to Friday, from Monday 16 September to Friday 01 November 2024.

Over-night and Sunday road closures will be required to facilitate the final resurfacing works, the dates for which will be confirmed later.

The Department has programmed the work operations and traffic management arrangements to minimise inconvenience however, while steps have been taken to accommodate local access and Translink bus and school services throughout the scheme. Road users should expect some delays and are advised to allow additional time when travelling in the vicinity of the works and are asked to comply with all temporary traffic restrictions.

Subject to favourable weather conditions, the works will be substantially complete by Sunday 17 November 2024, however the Department will keep the public informed of any change.

Alliance Councillor Condemns Those Response For Hotel Arson

Alliance Enniskillen Councillor, Eddie Roofe, has expressed his "shock and condemnation" following a fire at the derelict Railway Hotel on Forthill Street.

It’s been reported that the blaze, which was first reported to emergency services in the early hours of Wednesday morning (11 September), is likely to have been deliberate.

Cllr Roofe has said: "This is a shocking and incredibly saddening incident.

"The Railway Hotel is an iconic establishment in the local community here. Their Sunday roasts were a staple for my family and many others, and its absence has been starkly felt on Forthill. That it could have been purposefully attacked is absolutely disgraceful, and I would encourage anyone with any information that may be useful to the police in their investigations to please get in touch or report it anonymously.

"I want to extend my thanks as well to the NIFRS for all their hard work as they continue working to contain the blaze, and I sincerely hope adjacent businesses remain unaffected.

"I would also stress that people stay well clear of Forthill Street and the surrounding area as emergency services remain on-scene, and plan alternative routes for their journeys."

Lord Mayor Welcomes US Ice Hockey Teams To Belfast

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Micky Murray, has welcomed US Ice Hockey teams to the city ahead of the 2024 Friendship Four U.S. college ice hockey tournament.

With both individual game tickets and four-game weekend passes already on sale, the University of Notre Dame, Harvard University, Boston University, and Merrimack College will compete for the coveted Belpot Trophy at The SSE Arena, Belfast on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 November. Founded by The Odyssey Trust and held in Belfast since 2015, the Friendship Four is the first and only National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division One men's ice hockey tournament to take place outside of North America, with 24 games played across six tournaments to date.

Cllr Micky Murray, said: "It's great to meet with US athletic officials and commissioners in Belfast today as they finalise plans for the upcoming Friendship Four ice hockey tournament at The SSE Arena In November. It's always an exciting time for the city as we welcome friends, colleagues, and visitors from our Sister City, Boston, and beyond around Thanksgiving. The Friendship Four provides the opportunity to promote the city as a welcoming visitor destination, explore further ways to enhance our Sister City connections and promote the city through the international media and social media coverage this tournament generates.

"We're really looking forward to seeing Harvard University, Boston University, Merrimack College, and the University of Notre Dame compete in this year's Friendship Four and these next few days are pivotal in ensuring the players, coaches, and athletic staff all have the best possible time during their stay in Belfast. The Friendship Four is a super opportunity for people to enjoy high calibre live college ice hockey, and I look forward to seeing huge crowds at The SSE Arena, giving a warm Belfast welcome to our travelling teams."

The high-profile four-game ice hockey tournament is designed to promote education, social welfare, and community interaction, building on the Sister City agreement between Belfast and Boston, which was signed a decade ago. The Sister Cities agreement aims to foster stronger economic development, trade and investment, tourism, youth, cultural, faith-based exchanges, and educational linkages between the two cities, as well as increased awareness of Belfast and Boston being high-growth cities in the connected health and life sciences, creative industries, tourism, financial services, and knowledge economy sectors.

Robert Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive Officer of The Odyssey Trust, said: "Ahead of what is shaping up to be the biggest tournament to date, we are proud to welcome representatives from the competing schools to Belfast. For nearly 10 years, the Friendship Four has been underpinned by a desire to provide unique and memorable experiences for North American student-athletes, both on and off the ice, and to offer them not just the opportunity to play ice hockey but to have a rounded, cultural experience right here in Belfast, so being only two months away from the return of the tournament is very exciting."

Individual tickets and weekend passes for all four games are on sale now.