Exploris to reopen this summer

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From the Ards and North Down Council website:

Friday 12th February 2016

Exploris, our aquarium and seal sanctuary in Portaferry will reopen in summer 2016

This photograph shown Exploris Aquarium and Seal Sanctuary in Portaferry

Exploris Aquarium in Portaferry will reopen in the summer following an investment of almost £1.5M in refurbishment works and with a new operator, the company responsible for the success of Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast.

Following a special council meeting on 11 February 2016,  Ards and North Down Borough Council confirmed that construction work will start on site after Easter to facilitate the centre reopening in the summer. The work represents an investment of almost £1.5M; £914,000 from the Department of the Environment and the remainder is from the council and new operator.

Crumlin Road Gaol Ltd (CRG) will operate the Aquarium and Seal Sanctuary on the council’s behalf. CRG has enjoyed outstanding success with Crumlin Road Gaol, one of the top three visitor attractions in Northern Ireland. They have a partnership with Oceanworld Aquarium in Dingle, County Kerry to assist with the development of specialist educational and conservation programmes about marine life at the Aquarium.
 

Kieran Quinn, Managing Director with CRG Ltd said:

“It’s going to be an exciting opportunity working with Ards and North Down Borough Council and other stakeholders in the Portaferry area to create a first class visitor attraction that will be entertaining and educational for visitors. With the expertise of Kevin Flannery and his colleagues from Dingle Oceanworld, we will have the right team in place to ensure the aquarium becomes one of the best in Europe. We anticipate this project will be a catalyst for regeneration in Portaferry and the surrounding area and we aim to create 35 jobs at the facility.”

 
The contract with CRG Ltd is for a minimum of 25 years and offers a long-term and sustainable future for the Aquarium. CRG Ltd has committed to investing at least £2M in the facility during the contract.
 
Welcoming the announcement, Mayor of Ards and North Down, Alderman Alan Graham said:
 
“Ards and North Down Borough Council could not be more delighted to make this announcement and confirm details for the reopening of Exploris this summer. We are very pleased to have appointed such an innovative company as Crumlin Road Goal Ltd to operate the Aquarium and Seal Sanctuary for us. Their proposals are robust and promise to deliver a first class visitor attraction that will contribute to public understanding of marine life and make a very strong contribution to the regeneration and economic life of Portaferry, as well as the wider Ards and North Down area.
 

He continued:

“We are very grateful for the financial support provided by the Department of the Environment for the refurbishment works. We appreciate the support provided by Minister Durkan and his officials throughout the process of securing this grant.”

Happy Christmas from Portaferry Gala

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We’d like to wish all the readers of our website, especially those abroad, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy 2016.
This site has now been running since 2003 and we know readers and fans of the Gala are based all over the world.
If you can’t join us in person during Gala Week 2016, we hope you’ll join us here for the latest Gala News and information.
We hope you all have a great Christmas, relax and enjoy some family time.

 

Carol Ship Weekend

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The PAST Carol Ship has sailed for another year. It was great to see Strangford and Portaferry lit up and to hear the various choirs voices drifting across the Lough. From local craft beers to Seaweed Fudge, from Driftwood Christmas Trees to Hand knitted Christmas Jumpers. Portaferry and Strangford are firmly in the mood for Christmas 2015.

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Gala 2016….here we come :)

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A big “thank you” and a warm welcome to all the new members who have joined following this year’s AGM.
The planning of Portaferry Gala 2016 is getting underway. We’d also like to thank all the outgoing members who have put so much hard work into Gala over the last number of years, especially our outgoing Chairperson, Caroline Mageean.
Enjoy the rest and sit back and enjoy next summer.

ferry times consultation open now

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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

Write to –

Mrs K McMahon
TransportNI
Strangford Lough Ferry Service
Rathkeltair House
Market Street
Downpatrick
BT30 6AJ

Telephone: 0300 200 7898

Read the document by clicking here

So Ends Gala Week 2015

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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 🙂