Hope everyone enjoyed the 2015 Community Bonfire and Fireworks, thanks to Liam McVeigh and Jim Mullan for some great pictures, click here to see them all.
Fireworks 2015
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ferry times consultation open now
From the DRD NI Website:
Consultation opened on 05 October 2015. Closing date extended to 11th December 2015 at 17:00.
Summary
The proposed change is to introduce a sailing from Portaferry at 7.20 am on weekdays all year round.
This would be offset by dropping the last two sailings in the evening (Sunday to Friday) from 1 October to 31 March. From 1 April to 30 September the existing evening sailings will be unchanged.
Over the course of the year, the total number of sailings offered by the ferry service will be the same.
Background
TransportNI is considering an amendment to the Strangford Lough ferry service timetable to provide an additional early morning sailing from Portaferry on weekday mornings.
Over recent years TransportNI has received several requests for a permanent early morning sailing from Portaferry. The first sailing from Portaferry on weekdays is at 7.45 am and is generally at full vehicle capacity.
Since 2011, an additional sailing at 7.15 am from Portaferry has been provided during the annual refit of the MV Portaferry II. During the refit the smaller ferry, the MV Strangford, is in service and does not have the capacity to cope with the demand for the normal first sailing at 7.45 am. The early sailing is welcomed by many commuters from Portaferry who either have to travel by road to get to work on time or get to work later than they would prefer.
Passenger count records show that, on weekdays, the early morning demand exceeds the demand for the last sailings in the evening. In response to this demand and requests from the public and public representatives, TransportNI has decided to explore the possibility of making the early sailing permanent.
Ways to respond
Email –
roads.strangfordferry.feedback@drdni.gov.uk
TransportNI
Strangford Lough Ferry Service
Rathkeltair House
Market Street
Downpatrick
BT30 6AJ
Write to –
Mrs K McMahonTransportNI
Strangford Lough Ferry Service
Rathkeltair House
Market Street
Downpatrick
BT30 6AJ
Telephone: 0300 200 7898
Read the document by clicking here
Street Party on the Square
On Saturday the 26th a Cancer Research street party took place on the Square with bouncey castle, tea, sandwiches, buns and music. It was to thank Portaferry community for all their fund raising over the years.
So Ends Gala Week 2015
We’d like to thank everyone who helped make Gala Week 2015 the successful event it was – from the Sponsors to the Public who involve themselves in the many events across the week, we really, really couldn’t do it without you.
As you may be aware not only is our Chair stepping down this year, but so are a number of other Gala Committee members. Having served on the Gala Committee for a number of years, they feel it’s time to retire. We wish them all the best and thank them for all they’ve done over the years.
Of course, this leave us with a number of gaps for the future.
We have appealed time and time again for more volunteers and once again, have to point out that the reality is, without a Committee, there can’t be a Gala.
So, if you’d like to come on board, with ideas and enthusiasm, now is the time to do so.
Portaferry Gala is YOUR festival for YOUR town. We attract a massive crowd across the week and we do require people to work behind the scenes – from sandwich making to barrier lifting, from sweeping floors to answering phone calls. Please get in touch if you’d like to be involved. info@portaferrytown.com
Thanks so much for making Gala 2015 an event the whole Town can be proud of 🙂
Dumigans Win the Po!!!
Fancy Dress on the Square
Pictures from the Fancy Dress are now online, click here
Building a Soap Box
Thanks very much to Melanie Heanue for sharing the pictures of her Abbey Flyer as it was being constructed for this year’s Soap Box Race – a fantastic piece of work it was too.
Click here for the pictures.
Pitchin’ The Sheaf
Well done to John Murray, Michael Vaugh and Danni Boyd,
all winners in this year’s Sheaf Pitchin’.
Video from Sunday
Peter Lyons has sent us a little video he put together of the Irish Dancing on Sunday afternoon – many thanks Peter.
Soap Box Races
Well done to everyone who took part in the Soap Box Races and thanks to all the crowds who came out to Windmill Hill to lend their support. Lovely sunny afternoon fun, for pictures click here.