TRIPEND (Tackling Rural Isolation and Poverty Encompassing Newtownhamilton and District)
The very successful TRIPEND Project funded by DARD Rural Challenge Programme is now complete.
The project aimed at people in the Newtownhamilton area was delivered by way of a Club which met on Thursday afternoons in various Orange Halls within Newtownhamilton District. Attendees gained information from speakers from organisations such as Rural Transport, PSNI Community Safety, Warm Homes Scheme and others. They also enjoyed Cookery demonstrations, dancing and trips to Kilkeel, Armagh Fusiliers Museum and Banbridge.
Many very positive comments have been received from participants and as a result of this a new club - 4OTC Newtownhamilton is continuing the work commenced through the TRIPEND Project. Please see our News Sheet for details of activities of this group.
TRIPEND Launch
County Armagh Community Development recently received funding from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Rural Challenge Programme to assist in delivering a new project to help target isolation and social exclusion in the Newtownhamilton area.
Gerard Treacy from Department of Agriculture and Rural Development helped launch the programme on Thursday 29th April at 2.30pm in Newtownhamilton Orange Hall. He is pictured above with David McMullen, Jim Copeland and Samuel Courtney.
Working with community groups in Newtownhamilton, the County Armagh Community Development Committee, through this project, will attempt to meet a very real and established need in this rural area.
Brian Groves explaining the benefits of Rural Transport to attendees.
TRIPEND Best Practice Visit to Kilkeel
On Thursday 26th August 28 people from the rural area of Newtownhamilton went on a bus trip to the Silent Valley where they visited the dam. This was the first time most of the people had been to the Silent Valley and most didn’t realise there were two dams.
From here they proceeded to the Nautilus Centre in Kilkeel where they listened intently to the history of the Harbour and the fishing industry. They then watched a seafood cookery demonstration and got to sample the produce.
After lunch they went to Reivers House, the home of the Schomberg Society in Kilkeel. Here they received a detailed presentation on the work of the Schomberg Society & the Thistle Club by Mr James Donaldson. A delightful display of Highland dancing was given by local young people from the Scottish Dancers.
One participant said ‘A great day that had to be enjoyed by everyone and I learnt something new today - that there are two dams in Silent Valley.’
