Sunday 31 March 2013

Happy Easter

Easter crafts.face painting,traditional music & Ark Farm small animal road show are all on today. Visit Cockle Row Cottages in Groomsport for a step back in time between 2pm & 4pm today the 31st March.



Sunday 24 March 2013

Whitethorn today

We are four days into spring and this is the weather!! Let us hope for better over Easter!

Thursday 21 March 2013

Festival marks 400yrs of Bangor Co Down


Festival marks 400 years of Bangor



A SPECIAL festival - Bangor 400 - has been launched to mark the 400th anniversary of the formal creation of Bangor. 


The festivities were announced at the North Down Museum where a new exhibition, on display until April 28, has been created to celebrate the origins and growth of Bangor.

Taking centre place at the exhibition is the Bangor Royal Charter, signed by King James I on March 18, 1613, which declared: “and forever hereafter shall be one entire and free Borough of itself, by the name of the Borough, and be nominated and called from henceforth the Borough of Bangor.”

Other festivities that Bangor resident can expect include a 400 themed carnival parade on April 1, when over 300 local children and young people will take to the streets followed by King James who will be carrying the Town Charter.

Theatre lovers are in for a treat as there will be a production of Shakespeare’s tragic love story Romeo & Juliet held in the surroundings of Bangor Castle’s Walled Garden on July 25.

Sunday 17 March 2013

Happy Saint Patrick's day


Happy St Patrick's day!!


Archbishop of Dublin Diarmuid Martin said St Patrick's Day was a time for Irish men and women around the world to "celebrate Irishness" and "celebrate our identity".

In Belfast, Sophie Habibis from the X Factor and the Red Hot Chilli Pipers took to the stage at Custom House Square.

Saturday 16 March 2013

Latest forecast

We have had a good fall of snow in the last couple of hours and it looks like there is more on it's way.

 Be prepared bring your wellie boots. Signs are covered with snow and you may not beable to read them but this is what you are looking for.
Welcome to Whitethorn Cottages with snow.

We now have no green grass left we are just white with snow.
Happy Saint Patricks day.

Friday 15 March 2013

Celebrate St Patrick's Day




Be part of Belfast’s St Patrick’s Festival and enjoy exhibitions, music, talks, arts and crafts workshops, children’s colouring competition, tea dances and films all celebrating St Patrick. The festival highlight will be the annual parade and concert on Sunday 17 March 2013. Belfast City Centre will come alive with the annual carnival parade involving community groups from throughout Belfast, professional and amateur performers, musicians and acrobats. The parade leaves Belfast City Hall at 12noon and travels to Custom House Square where there will be a free outdoor concert from 1pm-3pm with an eclectic range of entertainment, including traditional Irish, Ulster Scots, pop and multicultural music and dance. 



St Patrick’s celebrations will also be taking place in St George’s Market with a weekend of family activities including dance displays and more. The Ulster Hall will be holding musical workshops, talks and literary sessions and a photographic exhibition, as well as St Patrick’s dances on Sunday 17 March.  Belfast’s Waterfront Hall will host the annual St Patrick’s Day concert in partnership with BBC Northern Ireland on the evening of Sunday 17 March. Free tickets to this event will be allocated by random draw. You can apply for tickets from 4-18 February 2013, through the BBC Shows, Tours and Events website www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours

There will also be a number of events happening within local communities to mark St.Patrick’s Day. These events are funded by the Council’s Good Relations Unit to assist local organisations to celebrate the day. 

Wednesday 13 March 2013

The latest news



Mervyn Jess went along to meet Northern Ireland's latest celebrity
An abandoned dog, found in a sack on a Northern Ireland riverbank, has claimed a top award at Crufts.
Becky was a six-week-old pup when she was saved by passers-by, seven years ago.
She was adopted by retired teacher Margaret McKnight and at the weekend was picked by former Eastenders actress Pam St Clement as the champion mongrel.
The Scruffts awards have been going for 12 years but this is the first time they have been part of Crufts.
Margaret, from Bangor, County Down, told how the dog had been saved from extinction.
"A litter sack was dumped in the towpath near Lisburn and a couple of ladies saw the gentleman leaving the sack and they went over and lifted it," she said. "The rest is history.
"Assisi animal sanctuary got them all homed and I got the only blonde in the litter, which turned out to be Becky.
"I had her DNA taken a few years ago and she really is a mongrel of mongrels.
"She has a lovely personality and she is a really friendly dog.
"She is a 'pets-as-therapy' dog so she is used to meeting and greeting people.
"We have dogs in the charity who would go into nursing homes, units for people with Alzheimer's or special schools, all sorts of places where you don't normally have a dog."
Margaret also paid tribute to the Kennel Club for introducing the new category for mongrels to the competition.
"This is new, but it is wonderful that they have acknowledged this wonderful variety of dogs that are out there and that make super pets," she added.
"They might not have the breeding but they certainly have the temperament and the good looks."