Latest news with #Comber
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Children's camp cancelled as Orange lodge opposes GAA involvement
A cross-community sports summer camp in County Down has been cancelled after opposition to the involvement of a "small group of children from a GAA club". North Down Cricket Club, based in Comber, had planned to host the event for young people from different backgrounds, including some from East Belfast GAA, on Friday. However, a local Orange Lodge said there were concerns about the "perceived move of the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) into the local community", which it said had come from some local residents. The cricket club said following comment on social media, the "spirit of the camp was at risk of being lost" and it had decided not to proceed with the event. North Down Cricket Club said it had been an important part of Comber since 1857 "with deep roots, proud traditions, and a strong sense of identity". It added: "Cricket is a global game made up of many faiths and cultures, and that is reflected here at the green. What unites us is the game. "The sport summer camp was created to give young people from different backgrounds a chance to enjoy cricket, try something new, and simply have fun. "The plan was to involve 10 different local sports and community groups - including organisations supporting ethnic minority communities - with the aim of building friendships through shared activity. "A small group of children from a GAA club was just one part of that broader mix." The cricket club said as "reaction to the event grew, we felt the spirit of the camp was at risk of being lost". " With regret - and out of respect for all involved - we chose not to proceed," its statement added. Goldsprings of Comber Orange lodge posted a message on social media saying that "many local residents have raised reservations about the GAA's cultural and historical affiliations". "Specifically, there is unease regarding aspects of the organisation that have, in the past, celebrated or commemorated individuals associated with paramilitary activity. "For a shared and peaceful future, such actions are viewed by some as divisive and incompatible with a truly inclusive society. "Residents have made it clear that until the GAA takes meaningful steps to ensure it is fully inclusive and sensitive to the history and identity of the Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist (PUL) community, its presence in Comber would be viewed with regret and opposition by many in the Comber area," the lodge added. "This issue is not about opposition to sport, but about ensuring that all organisations operating in shared spaces demonstrate respect for all traditions and work proactively towards reconciliation and mutual understanding." A spokesman for the Orange Order told BBC News NI the organisation had no comment to make about the issue. In a statement, East Belfast GAA said it was "disappointed" that its youth academy members "won't be enjoying a planned community sports event". "This was a great opportunity to engage with those who share our values of respect, togetherness, and inclusion," it said. "The regrettable cancellation won't stop any of the organisations involved from continuing their great work in building bridges, promoting peace, and sharing spaces for sport." The club said it looked forward to "future opportunities to collaborate with like-minded groups from Belfast and beyond". In a post on X, First Minister Michelle O'Neill said: "Children should be allowed to play together at summer camp without facing intolerance. "These developments are deeply worrying and unacceptable. Sport has the power to unify. Political representatives must call this out. "We need to send a clear message that we will continue moving forward together to build a brighter society and overcome such unacceptable intolerance." Alliance assembly member Kellie Armstrong said North Down Cricket Club had encountered "hostility and bigotry from some quarters". "This summer scheme has now been cancelled due to some online commentary. "It is a disgrace the club felt it had to do that in the wake of such criticism. "Those who have criticised the club do not represent the vast majority of people in Comber or further afield in Strangford," Ms Armstrong added. "The people who have criticised the club and forced the postponement of the summer scheme need to realise denying children the right to play sport together for purely sectarian reasons is not acceptable on any level."
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Comber: Children's camp cancelled over involvement of GAA club
A cross-community sports summer camp in County Down has been cancelled after criticism of the involvement of a "small group of children from a GAA club".North Down Cricket Club, based in Comber, had planned to host the event for young people from different backgrounds, including some from East Belfast GAA. However, there was opposition from a number of local residents and a local Orange Lodge that said there were concerns about the "perceived move of the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) into the local community".The cricket club said following comment on social media, the "spirit of the camp was at risk of being lost" and it had chosen not to proceed. Club wanted children 'to try something new' North Down Cricket Club said it had been an important part of Comber since 1857 "with deep roots, proud traditions, and a strong sense of identity".It added: "At North Down, we welcome people from all walks of life. "Cricket is a global game made up of many faiths and cultures, and that is reflected here at the green. What unites us is the game."The sport summer camp was created to give young people from different backgrounds a chance to enjoy cricket, try something new, and simply have fun. "The plan was to involve 10 different local sports and community groups — including organisations supporting ethnic minority communities — with the aim of building friendships through shared activity. "A small group of children from a GAA club was just one part of that broader mix."As reaction to the event grew, we felt the spirit of the camp was at risk of being lost. "With regret — and out of respect for all involved — we chose not to proceed," the club's statement added. Lodge says some GAA actions are viewed as 'divisive' Goldsprings of Comber Orange lodge posted a message on social media saying that "many local residents have raised reservations about the GAA's cultural and historical affiliations"."Specifically, there is unease regarding aspects of the organisation that have, in the past, celebrated or commemorated individuals associated with paramilitary activity."For a shared and peaceful future, such actions are viewed by some as divisive and incompatible with a truly inclusive society."Residents have made it clear that until the GAA takes meaningful steps to ensure it is fully inclusive and sensitive to the history and identity of the Protestant, Unionist and Loyalist (PUL) community, its presence in Comber would be viewed with regret and opposition by many in the Comber area," the lodge added. "This issue is not about opposition to sport, but about ensuring that all organisations operating in shared spaces demonstrate respect for all traditions and work proactively towards reconciliation and mutual understanding."The Orange Order declined to comment.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Business
- CTV News
‘It was unbelievable!' Comber resident celebrating 100K lotto win
Tanya Heine of Comber is celebrating after winning a $100,000 top prize with Instant Crossword Tripler. Heine, a nurse and mother, is an occasional lottery player, and prefers playing Crossword and Bingo. 'It's a nice way to wind down after work,' she said. This is Heine's first big win – made all the more special since she won it over the Mother's Day weekend and during National Nursing Week. 'I played my ticket at home and didn't even realize I'd matched six words until I got to the last word,' Heine told OLG officials. 'I thought, 'There's no way,' so I cross-referenced all the words on the ticket multiple times to be sure. It was unbelievable!' With her winnings, Heine plans to share with those in need, 'I believe in putting good into the world … Being a good person is important to me, and that's why I'm a nurse. I'm going to quietly work behind the scenes to brighten people's days.' She also plans to use the winnings to invest, save for her children's education, and treat herself to some shopping. The winning ticket was purchased at Petro-Canada on Manning Road in Maidstone.
BBC News
26-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Comber: Festival celebrates 'early' harvest of earlies potato
Returning to Comber in County Down this Saturday is the annual celebration of the town's famous potato. The Comber earlies are the first harvested new season potatoes in Northern Ireland and have protected geographical indication (PGI) status. One grower has described this year as "a really good growing season", with a dry early May and rain when needed, making these Comber earlies even Orr is a fourth-generation potato farmer and chairman of the Comber Earlies Growers Co-Operative Society. 'Micro-climate' in Comber Just days before the festival he has been harvesting one of his fields which sits nestled between Strangford Lough and the foot of Scrabo said the Comber crop is unique because it is the first new potatoes harvest each year due to the micro-climate around the lough. "We are below Scrabo Tower here so the soil is free-draining," Mr Orr explained."It allows the soil to drain quickly in the late winter and early spring which allows us to get them planted. "The proximity to the lough stops the frost, and then the micro-climate in this Comber area all contributes to the ideal growing conditions." Mr Orr said this field was planted on 12 February and the harvest was about two weeks early due to the sunny weather in late March and April, combined with the rain of recent weeks. "They are really good this year," he said. "They've matured and they've been in the ground that wee bit longer, and all that sun helps them to really grow out and mature, and leads to the flavour." "You need the correct conditions all along right from planting, through growing and then at the end to let them finish out to mature and bulk up, so there's a big range as to what your yield is."But this year looks a reasonably good yield so far, with the potential to go on to be very good if we get the right conditions." What are Comber earlies? Also called new season Comber potatoes, these vegetables have enjoyed Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) since protects the geographical names of food, drink and agricultural products as intellectual property by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra).The granting of PGI status means the new season Comber potato is among an elite group of high quality European products, including Parma ham, Champagne wine and Stilton potatoes planted, grown and harvested within the protected geographical indicated area can be marketed as Comber earlies, and only those harvested in May, June and July are eligible for the status. What activities are at the Comber Earlies Food Festival? The annual festival is organised by Ards and North Down Borough Council and supported through the Comber Regeneration Community Partnership and the Comber Earlies Growers' this year's Comber Earlies Food Festival, there will be live cooking demonstrations throughout the day, including TV chef Anna Haugh, as well as local local restaurateurs, and chefs from the South Eastern Regional entertainment includes tractor rides, a soil pit and sensory activities, as well as potato stamping, paper potters, potato face painting and a golden spud will be live music from the String Ninjas and the Cool Hand String free-to-attend festival will be held at the Comber Leisure Centre car park on Saturday 28 June from 11:00 to 17:00 BST.
Agriland
11-06-2025
- Climate
- Agriland
Tillage: Potato canopies now meeting between the drills
Most main crop potato canopies are now 'meeting between the drills', according to Teagasc agronomists, with the recent rains having boosted growth rates across the country. Meanwhile, the threat of blight remains a very real one. Teagasc has updated its proposed blight spraying schedule, taking crops through to their later growth stages. This is particularly relevant this year as growers are expecting a much slower die-back of canopies, given the restriction on chemicals now available to them. The updated Teagasc fungicide spraying programme now contains a 15th and 16th application recommendation, covering the late season period. The 15th applications features Infinito at a rate of 1.6L/ha, with the final fungicide application comprising a mix of Ranman and Shirlan. Teagasc agronomists are stressing the absolute need to apply all fungicides at their recommended rates, whether they are used individually or in combinations. Only in this way can the use of existing blight fungicide chemistries can be retained for the long-term. New season potato crops Meanwhile first earlies grown in Co. Wexford are now in the shops. The quality of this year's crops is reported to be excellent. And it is the same story in Northern Ireland, where Comber earlies are in the shops now. Wilson's County sales and marketing manager, Joanne Weir said: 'We are delighted to have local new season crops in the shops so early. 'Last year crops were not harvested until the last week of June. 'New season Comber potatoes remain a firm favourite with consumers of all ages across Northern Ireland.' Meanwhile, weather extremes are not new phenomena for local potato farmers. Newtownards Co. Down-based grower William Gilmore said: 'Normally the issue is a combination of too much rain and cooler than normal temperatures. 'But this year the polar opposite has been the case. The new season crops have been coping with almost drought-like conditions for the past six weeks and more. 'Thankfully the rains have returned. But, as of a few weeks ago, it was fast becoming a 'touch and go' situation. All the crops were crying out for rain.' Making the difference for Gilmore were the excellent planting conditions that were the order of the day between the end of January and the middle of March. This year he is growing a range of new season potato varieties, including: Home Guard; Accord; Queen's Navan; and Sagitta.
