Other NI News In Brief

What's The Beef?

This week's Balmoral Show Winner of the Tesco-backed Rib Eye Steak competition was Ernest Colhoun from Strabane (centre front) who is seen her receiving his prize from Tesco Commercial Manager Cliff Kells and competition host Gillian Cahoon. A fry-off took place between eight NI meat producers to see who's steak would be crowned 'Best Ribeye'. A panel of blind-folded judges decided the winner on taste alone.

Royal Stamp On City Hall

The Prince of Wales yesterday visited Belfast City Hall to view the results of the building's £11m refurbishment. Prince Charles was welcomed to the city landmark by Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Naomi Long, alongside Dame Mary Peters in her role as Lord Lieutenant and the Chief Executive of Belfast City Council, Peter McNaney. As well as meeting Belfast City councillors and their spouses and partners, His Royal Highness met representatives from various groups and organisations across the city. The Prince met architects, crafts people and technicians involved in the City Hall refurbishment project, see: City Hall Gets Royal Seal Of Approval

Prince's Trust Boosted

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales has delivered a personal address to around 80 guests attending a Prince's Trust seminar on 'Working in Partnership' held today at Hillsborough Castle. The seminar focused the work of the Trust with the public sector and challenges organisations to explore the potential of working together to improve delivery and reduce costs. He noted that, this year in Northern Ireland, the Prince's Trust will support over 3,000 young people in their efforts to get their lives working towards achieving their full potential. Later, Prince Charles is expected to undertake a number of other engagements as part of his three-day trip.

McAleese Hails 'Peace'

Irish President Mary McAleese has said this is a time of profound transformation in Northern Ireland. Speaking in her hometown of Belfast she said that as citizens can work together to form one reconciled community out of two divergent traditions, with a once-fraught cross-border relationship now characterised by a growing good neighbourliness and co-operation. Ms McAleese said that "peace is not perfect" and has its would-be wreckers, as well as the predictable challenges that come from delivering effective government. However, she said all around there was evidence of the growing benefits that come from the resource of dialogue and collegiality in the civic, commercial and political spheres. Ms McAleese was speaking in Belfast during a visit to the annual Balmoral show at the King's Hall.

Burger Jobs On Way

Fast-food chain, McDonald's is to create over 60 new jobs as part of a £3m investment that will see it revamp nine of its restaurants in Northern Ireland. The redesign plans, which will run until the end of the year, will see the fast food giant remodel its outlets in Omagh; Newtownabbey; Glengormley; Enniskillen; Portadown; Cookstown; Connswater; Dundonald and Strand Road in Londonderry. The burger chain said the investment is to be made after its local business gained market share in 2009. It will build on the £1.5m that has been invested into McDonald's Northern Ireland restaurants in the last few years by the businessmen who own and operate the restaurants, the company said in an announcement made at the Balmoral Show this week. See full story on: Burger Chain Creates NI Jobs

Farm Security Underlined

Justice Minister David Ford has urged the farming community not to be victims of organised crime. The Minister, who also chairs the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF), was speaking during a visit to the OCTF stand at the Balmoral Show. "Organised crime gangs want to make a profit and they will try and do it wherever they can. The agri-sector is not immune from this threat and we have seen some sophisticated attempts by crime gangs to dupe local farmers and line their own pockets. I would also remind farmers of the need to store their legally held weapons and ammunition securely and in line with the legislation so it does not fall into the hands of these crime gangs," he said.

M1 Maintenance Announced

Northern Ireland's Roads Service has announced plans to carry out major maintenance work at Sprucefield Bridge on the M1 Motorway. The road works will run from 24 May to 30 August 2010 and Mark McPeak, Roads Service's Project Manager said: "Sprucefield Bridge was built in 1966 and now requires important maintenance work to ensure its continued high performance in coping with today’s traffic volumes. "These essential works will include replacement of bearings, waterproofing the deck, joint replacement, concrete repairs, surfacing and replacement of the drainage system," he said, noting that the works operations and traffic management arrangements have been carefully programmed to minimise inconvenience to the travelling public, local residents and businesses. However some disruption will be unavoidable.

SF Féin Says 'Get Rail' In Donegal

A Sinn Féin Seanad senator has again called on Irish Transport Minister, Noel Dempsey to set in place plans for the extension of rail services for Donegal and the North West as a priority. Speaking during a debate on transport, Pearse Doherty said that in order to pursue the project all political parties must unite to achieve what is so desperately needed for Donegal and for the North West, the Donegal Democrat reports. "I have raised this issue time and time again and yet very little work has been done by government," he said. "Donegal is one of five counties in Ireland with no access to rail services. Such a situation in the 21st Century situation is ludicrous and one which, with a united effort and political will could be rectified.

(BMcC/GK)