Latest news with #CountyArmagh
BBC News
a day ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Cost of living: 'Forgotten about' Lurgan parents rely on £20 summer scheme
"Forgotten about" parents are calling for more financial support for children's activities during the summer comes as research by Ulster University suggests more parents are cutting back on children's sports due to the rising cost of living.A number of parents whose children attend Clann Éireann summer scheme in Lurgan, County Armagh, spoke to BBC News costs just £20 a week and is able to keep costs low as it is run mainly by volunteers. Seana McConville, who volunteers at smaller sessions in the club that are adapted for children with additional needs, like her son, said if her child was going into childcare over the summer she would have to pay for one-to-one support for said families like hers were "forgotten about"."I'm a full-time worker and every other year I would have to work term time, which is less money throughout the year in order to be able to take off the summer," she said."But that's not good for me or my son, because we are then tied to just being in the house. "I miss the social side of being at work and the rest of the year you can struggle because your wages are less." The Clann Éireann summer scheme runs for two weeks and this year 180 children are Coleman has worked at the club for 30 years and is a classroom assistant at the local said it was a lifeline for many parents."We know people are trying to cut corners on food, clothes, for basic toiletries, that's the way it's going, like back in your mummy's day nearly," she told BBC News NI. School uniforms and PE kits Ulster University surveyed 855 research suggested 37% of parents reduced spending on sports and 35% said their child had missed out because they could not afford also found 30% of parents were unable to afford clothing and equipment needed for Science lecturer at Ulster University, Maria O'Kane, said at this time of the year researchers heard a lot about the cost of school uniforms and PE kits as families were beginning to budget for them ahead of the new school year."Maybe it comes at the sacrifice of a family holiday or a family day out," she said."We heard in the interviews even going for an ice-cream is a luxury they just couldn't afford any more." Mum-of-six Natalie Geoghegan said the sharing of Gaelic kits at Clann Éireann helps keep costs down."With football, you need the latest kit, but with this gear, it's not the latest - one from four to five years ago is just the same, you've got the badge and you're part of the group," she her family, holidays are a luxury that do not happen every year."You like to try and get away because life is hard and you like to get away in the summer, but you have to cut back in general on things like clothes and [use] hand me-downs," she said."When they're in school all year, there's a routine. I'm lucky I'm at home - I'm not working - but for me to entertain them in the house and run the house, it's mundane for them for me to try and do everything." While Clann Éireann is proving to be an affordable option for these parents, Maria O'Kane said summer schemes do not always suit working families as the hours can be quite short and they can be expensive."That puts another pressure on families if their child is expected to attend," she added. Single mum Nicola Fagan said she felt many parents were "left in limbo" over the summer."Not everyone has grandparents or family who are going to cater to your needs," she works overtime to save for the summer months and her children's many activities."I try my best to make ends meet so they can get to everything they want to do and their friends are involved in," she said."It's a whole lot of pressure because you don't want them missing out on anything that everybody else is doing."I come last all the time and I wouldn't have it any other way, because you aren't going to have your kids for a very long time when they are small so as long as they are happy I can do without for another couple of years." Summer anxiety She said the summer scheme had given her children opportunities and day trips that they would otherwise not have had."It would have been an anxiety for me over how much it would be and what you are going to have to cut back on," she said."Or are you going to be caught out in a week's time thinking, 'I shouldn't have spent that money because I need diesel in the car or extra electric because Finnian hasn't turned off his PlayStation overnight?'"It's stuff like that you need to think about when it comes to money and cost of living." The survey also suggested that more limited disposable income would mean siblings had different is the case for Claire King who said: "From my older child to my younger child, he doesn't get as many days to soft play areas or trips to the zoo, things like that."Between camps, feeding them, childcare costs - they've all gone up in prices, so it is definitely more expensive than it has been in the past."
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Lurgan: Windsor Avenue residents return home after arson attack
Residents in Lurgan, County Armagh, have returned to their homes after an arson attack on Saturday happened at a derelict property in Windsor Avenue at about 01:00 BST.A number of residents had to leave their properties while the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) tackled the injuries were reported, NIFRS said, but significant damage has been caused. DUP councillor Peter Haire told BBC News NI that "somebody could have been killed"."We are lucky there were no injuries," he said."There are businesses and houses right beside and we could be looking at a different story today."This is a listed building and it was once beautiful to look at. "The owners don't live in the country. It's devastating."I appeal to those behind this arson attack to stop."
BBC News
5 days ago
- BBC News
Katie Simpson: New charity 'a legacy' to murdered young showjumper
The family of a young showjumper whose death led to a policing controversy say a new charitable trust in her name will help other Simpson, 21, died six days after being admitted to Altnagelvin Hospital in August Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) initially treated her death as suicide, but her family raised questions about the direction of the original police probe and the case was eventually upgraded to a murder investigation.A showjumping trainer, Jonathan Creswell, 36, died in 2024 while on trial for the murder of Ms Simpson, who was from the village of Tynan in County Armagh. On Friday, some members of her family attended the official launch of The Katie aunt, Paula Mullan, told BBC News NI that she hopes the charity will help other families."This charity is going to help so much and so many people, that they don't feel alone and that they're being answered, their questions to be answered."Another aunt, Colleen McConville said: "The very sad thing is it's happening too often. "This charity will help straight away from the onset, not down the line, which is harder to be investigated, so it will give families direct and quick answers." The Katie Trust has been founded by James Brannigan, a retired PSNI Detective Sergeant who led the murder investigation, with the support of Katie Simpson's relatives."This Trust is here to listen, when so many have not. It is here to ask the hard questions, when others will not," Mr Brannigan said. "And above all, it is here to stand beside families, not in opposition to law enforcement, but in service of justice and truth."In January 2025, the justice minister announced she was setting up an independent review into the case of Jonathan had been jailed for six months in 2010 after pleading guilty to assaulting a girlfriend. Katie Simpson never regained consciousness following the incident at a house in Gortnessy Meadows, Lettershandoney, in August the first and only day of his trial for murder, it was alleged that Creswell strangled her and tried to cover it up by claiming she had hanged who had denied the murder and rape of Ms Simpson, was found dead at his home shortly before he was due to attend the second day of his trial in April previous day, during opening submissions in front of a jury, a prosecution lawyer outlined how Creswell allegedly raped, strangled and killed Ms prosecution had also outlined how Creswell had previous "illicit" sexual relations with Ms Simpson and attacked her after discovering she was in a relationship with another younger Simpson lived with Creswell and his partner Christina, who was her sister, at the time of her had been described as an abusive and controlling women avoided jail last year after admitting offences connected to her Robinson, Rose De Montmorency-Wright, and Hayley Robb were given suspended prison sentences.
BBC News
7 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Lurgan: Harv Smyth to become next head of Royal Air Force
A former fighter pilot from County Armagh is to become the next professional head of the Royal Air Force (RAF).Air Marshal Harv Smyth, who was born and educated in Lurgan, is to to take up the role of chief of the air staff in Secretary John Healey confirmed on Wednesday that the King had approved the appointment. AM Smyth will succeed Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton following his promotion to chief of the defence staff.. AM Smyth joined the RAF in 1991 as a direct entrant after leaving school. He spent 15 years as a frontline Harrier pilot and weapons instructor and flew hundreds of operational missions over Bosnia, Kosovo, Serbia, Iraq and chief of the air staff is responsible for the strategic planning and delivery of all RAF operations, people and capability. The position is accountable to the defence secretary for the fighting effectiveness, efficiency and morale as well as the development and sustainment of the Smyth said he was "deeply honoured to have been selected". The appointment comes at a transformative time for the RAF as it moves to warfighting readiness following the publication of the Strategic Defence Review. "The Strategic Defence Review makes clear the need for us to rapidly evolve and modernise to meet current and future threats and I am enormously proud to lead the Service at such a crucial point in our history", he added. 'Flying the flag' Upper Bann MP Carla Lockhart welcomed AM Smyth's appointment. "This is an incredible achievement and a truly proud moment for his family," the Democratic Unionist Party politician said his journey from Lurgan to the top of the RAF was a "powerful reminder of what can be achieved with determination and integrity". "He is flying the flag high for Lurgan, for Upper Bann and for Northern Ireland", she said.
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The Twelfth: Little drummer boys practice all year for parades
The Twelfth of July is the biggest day of the year for marching bands and their spectators in Northern Saturday, Orange Order parades are taking place to memorialise King William III's victory over King James II at the Battle of the Boyne in July the majority of those taking part in the parades are adults, the future of such events, and the bands' memberships, rely on new, younger, members coming through, like two-year-old Teddy and eight-year-old caught the drumming bug early. "He gets up in the morning and he starts to drum, and he drums all day, and that's just it," Teddy's mum Claire told BBC News toddler from Portadown, County Armagh, got his first drum on his first birthday."He'd be sitting in his high chair with his spoons in his hand and he was always drumming, always banging," Claire credits Teddy's father's family and Rectory Community Action Group for nurturing Teddy's love for drumming through group sessions with local bands."We would attend quite a few band parades throughout the year and it's just something that he really, really loves," she said."He's in awe every time he sees them going past, and he loves the Lambeg drum as well, it's not just the side drum, he's obsessed with drums in general."They hope that one day Teddy will drum for Portadown Defenders Flute Band, which Teddy calls "the red band".After sharing videos of the young drummer on social media, Claire says the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive."They are just completely baffled by how someone so small can play the way he does," she added. Meanwhile Ronnie, joined the Robert Memorial Flute Band in Crawfordsburn, County Down, last year and practises his drumming every two favourite things are building Lego and playing his the help of his mum and dad, he has been sharing his passions on TikTok, amassing more than 300,000 views on clips of him playing the drum and cymbals."What I'm most looking forward to about the Twelfth is parading with my band," he told BBC News NI."It's good to see all different bands all parade together with lots of people and all my family coming to watch."Like many others marching across Northern Ireland, Ronnie will be marching alongside a member of his cousin, Jamie, "is the main drummer" and brings him along to practice and to parades. Band captain Adam Griffith, from Robert Memorial, says "it's a really proud moment when you're walking alongside your children or other family members"."It's tradition for a lot of families and it's brilliant to see the young ones coming through, enjoying themselves. "We have kids with additional needs and learning difficulties who struggle in a lot of other situations and they come to us and go through the ranks and they thrive."It's amazing watching them all develop."
