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Mid Ulster focus
Mid Ulster focus
3
Contents
5
Spring clean
your garden
Oliver Corr
10
Spotlight on...
Joshua Cuddy
18-19
23
Cover
Story
Recipes
Warm yourself
up: vegetable
chowder
24-25
Big
Feature
Editor’s Letter
W
elcome
to the
March
edition
of Mid
Ulster Focus. As they say in
this part of the world there is a
“quare” stretch in the evenings
and hopefully we are over the
worst part of the winter weather.
Mid Ulster Focus had its
official launch at the Ranfurly
Arts Centre and we carry some
photos from what was a great
evening. We would like to
thank all those who attended or
contributed to the launch.
One of those who performed
at the launch was Cookstown
comedian Louise Taylor,
whom we feature on this
month’s cover. Our gardening
columnist Mary Doris gives
some sound advice on what we
need to do to prepare the garden for spring. Moyola Park
FC celebrated 135 years and
our photographer was on hand
to capture the event at Moyola
Park Golf club. Our correspondent Eimear Quinn brings
us a couple of stories about the
recently formed South Tyrone
Men’s Shed in Dungannon and
on First Step Women’s group,
also in Dungannon.
No matter what your
interests, we hope there is
something for everyone in Mid
Ulster Focus. The magazine is
now widely available in outlets
throughout the area.
If you have an interesting story to tell, or if you are
organising an event, please
contact the magazine at [email protected] or phone
07803729290.
If you are a charity, community or sporting organisation
based or operating in the Mid
Ulster area, let us know what
you are doing and we can give
you a platform.
Mid Ulster Focus is about
looking at the good things
happening in area and we hope
you make it a regular and enjoyable part of your month.
To view or buy any of the pictures in this magazine
go to www.midulsterfocus.com
Address:
26
Bella’s
corner
35
Cookstown
Citizen
How a bowl of eel soup
saved Mid Ulster
Mid Ulster Focus
18 Washingbay Road
Coalisland
Co Tyrone
BT714PX
Editor:
Oliver Corr
07803729290
Advertising:
Claire Quinn
07725898586
Administration:
Dolores O’Neill
[email protected]
Publisher:
Quinn’s Printers
Unit 3-6
RJ Hall Industrial Estate
BT13 2GA
Belfast
Design & Production
RE&D
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Belfast
BT1 1DN
02890554882
4
Mid Ulster focus
Motor Club rallies round
The Magherafelt and District Motor Club celebrated 36 years of motoring fun with an enjoyable night of
presentations to members and officials at its annual dinner, in the Shepherd’s Rest in Draperstown.
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Ciaran McMullan Award - Billy Regan. Presented by Patricia
Laverty.
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Driver Of The Year - Desi Henry. Presented by Patricia
Laverty.
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Marshal Of The Year - Bill Arbuthnot. Presented by Patricia
Laverty.
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Novice Award - Seamus Goodfellow and Ryan O’Kane. Presented by Patricia Laverty.
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Outstanding Performance - Kevin Bradley. Presented by Patricia Laverty.
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Team Award - The Stockman family and Ryan Morgan. Presented by Patricia Laverty.
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Tommy Hughes Award - Joe Rogers. Presented by Patricia Laverty.
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Tour Of The Sperrins Rally Clerk Of The Course - Stephen O’Neill. Presented by Seamus
McCusker.
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Ulster Rally and Circuit Of Ireland Rally Stage Commander - Patricia Laverty. Presented by
Lee Averall.
View and buy pictures @ www.midulsterfocus.com
Mid Ulster focus
gardening
5
Mary Doris
Spring Clean Your Garden
A
lthough it
can still be very
cold this month
with frosts, the
days are getting longer and the sun a little
stronger, making it a perfect
time for a garden spring clean.
No resting on your laurels this
month!
This list of jobs to do in the
garden will keep you busy in the
month ahead.
Flowers, Bulbs, and
Containers
• Protect exposed plants from
frost.
• Start to dig over any borders
you have and add as much
organic matter as possible - the
chilly winds really help to dry
out the soil.
• Make new beds and borders.
• Plant summer flowering bulbs.
• Cut down perennials that have
been left standing over winter.
• Remove the top layer of soil
from pot-grown shrubs and replace with fresh potting compost
that contains a slow-release
fertiliser.
• Add organic fertiliser to shrubs.
• Plant or move roses. Tip: They
like plenty of sun and benefit
from feeding with granular rose
fertiliser as they start growing.
• Dead head the flowers of Nar-
cissus (Daffodils) as they fade,
but allow the foliage to die down
naturally. This fattens up the
bulb for next spring.
Lawn and General
Maintenance
• If it is very wet, then keep off
the lawn as much as possible.
When the weather improves and
the lawn has had a chance to dry
out, give it a first cut with the
blades on the highest setting DON’T TOUCH THE LAWN IF
IT IS WET!! It will damage the
turf and compact the soil.
• Clean and repair garden tools.
• Book your lawnmower in for a
service.
• Check and repair garden furni-
ture. Check for rot.
• Remove moss and weeds
from paths and driveways. If you don’t
get this job done
now, it will be an
absolute nightmare for the rest
of the season.
The Kitchen
Garden
• If you haven’t done
so already, prune standard or
bush apple and pear trees before
buds break. Tips on pruning:
Keep the centre of the tree fairly
open to allow air to circulate
freely. Cut out crossing and rubbing branches to prevent disease.
PLANT OF THE MONTH
Pulmonaria ‘Blue Ensign’
(Lungwort)
Description: This is an excellent
ground cover plant that loves
growing in dappled shade. Plant
it somewhere where the beautiful
bright flowers can be fully appreciated. It is hardy, but don’t let
it dry out. Divide every 3-5 years
in autumn.
Soil: Well-drained
Flowering Period: March-May
Flowering Colour: Blue-violet
• Add organic fertiliser to fruit
trees.
• Finish pruning
gooseberries and red
and white currant
bushes.
• Plant pot-grown
fruit trees, strawberry plants and
rhubarb crowns.
• Start off seed
potatoes. Tip: Stand
the potatoes in empty egg
cartons with eyes uppermost.
• Plant shallots, onion sets and
early potatoes.
Putting your mind,
body and soul into
gardening
When you get out into the
garden, you should take a few
minutes and switch off from
everything else that is going on
in your life, and slow down your
thoughts. Enjoy being outside
in the fresh air, and just focus
on the trees and plants around
you. When you have finished
gardening, allow yourself to feel
a sense of achievement. And
remember that you are not only
improving your flexibility and
strength, but gardening can also
help in reducing the risk of heart
disease, diabetes and high blood
pressure as well as reducing your
stress levels.
6
Mid Ulster focus
For a Saintly cause
A charity coffee morning held at the Torrent Complex in Donaghmore organised by staff at Loane House
at South Tyrone Hospital Dungannon. It was held in memory of Patricia Brennan (née O’Hanlon) who
passed away last year. Proceeds went to the refurbishment of St Patrick’s Church Donaghmore.
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Mid Ulster focus
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Mid Ulster focus
Mid Ulster Focus Launch
Pictured at the launch of the new glossy monthly magazine Mid Ulster Focus at the Ranfurly
Arts Centre Dungannon
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Mid Ulster focus
it Makes You Think...
9
Martin J McGuinness
Lose the Blinkers…
W
e gave
Heaney a
good send
off, you
must admit.
I mean, for an atheist…’
The speaker was a handyman
who’d called to fix a leaking
tap. Two things left me speechless: his use of the royal ‘we’,
which seemed to include me but
exclude one of Ireland’s greatest
poets, and his absolute certainty
that the word “atheist” was appropriate.
‘I’m not sure I’d call Heaney
an atheist,’ I said, eventually.
‘Oh, he was. It said so in The
Irish News.’
It was not the first time I’d
come across this kind of Catholicism that was more concerned
with collective outer observance
than personal inner transformation.
It was as if the world was
divided into the good people who
went to Mass and everybody else
who didn’t; in fact that’s how you
could tell good and bad apart.
Many years ago, as an infant
attending St Peter’s Primary
School in Lancaster, I had a
teacher named Miss Turner. Every Monday morning she would
say, ‘Stand up if you didn’t go to
Mass yesterday.’ Invariably one
or two innocents would stand.
‘Why, Samantha? Why didn’t
you go?’
‘It was raining, Miss.’
‘Raining? That’s no excuse.
You’re not a little jelly baby.
You’re not going to be washed
down the drain, are you?’
‘No, Miss.’
‘Well, think on…’
Miss Turner was a strict disciplinarian. She was notorious for
never letting children go to the
toilet during class. Kids had no
alternative but to wet themselves
and live with that discomfort for
the rest of the day. Teachers got
Seamus Heaney
away with a lot back then.
Fast forward a few decades
and I’m coming out of Mass in
Coalisland when an acquaintance
asks me what I’m at this weather.
I tell him that I’m training to be a
teacher of RE.
‘Don’t yis have to teach the
childer all that ol’ Buddhist nonsense these days?’ he asks, shaking his head with disapproval.
Every time I meet with this
kind of blinkered Catholicism, I
just want to disown it and stand
next to the excluded. Yet such
views are still prevalent, and it
is so difficult to hear a different
voice.
I spent some time in religious
life, and one of my favourite true
stories from those years concerns
a number of west of Ireland
religious students who happened
to be in Oxford, attending a talk
being given by a noted Dominican priest and theologian.
The Irish lads, whose religious
formation up to that point had included more gathering spuds and
cleaning windows than reading
Aquinas, had been forewarned
by their student master not to
let the side down by asking any
foolish questions at the end of the
lecture.
Well, the Oxford priest gave a
wonderful talk about his vision of
the Catholic Church in the modern era. The Church was reaching
out in friendship to the world,
showing respect not just to other
Christian denominations but to
other faiths as well. There were
inspiring buzzwords and phrases
like ‘inclusion’, ‘participation’,
‘unity in diversity’, and ‘respect
for persons’. Sure enough, at the
end of the talk there was time for
questions.
Brother Sean from Mayo
raised his hand: ‘D’ya tink, fadher,’ says he, ‘that the Protestants
will ever come over?’
The English Dominican looked
completely nonplussed and in
a Terry-Thomas accent asked:
‘Over where?’
Incidentally, one of my
favourite Seamus Heaney poems
is called “The Skylight”. On one
level, it tells simply of home
improvement, a skylight being
fitted, bringing light to a room
that had previously been dark.
But on another level, it is all
about being open to new ideas,
to new ways of seeing and letting
go of the kind of old certainties
that have ceased to be life-giving.
Initially the poet had been against
the project, yet he finds the new
light transforms not just the room
but his own take on life.
The closing lines of the poem
are full of joy and freedom:
For days I felt like an inhabitant
Of that house where the man
sick of the palsy
Was lowered through the roof,
had his sins forgiven,
Was healed, took up his bed
and walked away.
For me, Seamus Heaney is a
towering figure. He is to literature what Abraham Lincoln is to
politics.
His words are inspirational and
provide spiritual nourishment of
a very high order indeed.
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Mid Ulster focus
Spotlight ON
Joshua
J
Cuddy
What makes you angry?
oshua Cuddy is a singer, actor, and
general thespian from Dungannon.
When he isn’t treading the boards, he
can be found scurrying around. He
works closely with the Craic Theatre,
the Bardic Theatre and is one of the founding
members of the Castle Hill Theatre Group.
He also runs a social enterprise called Castle
Media which provides services that might
normally be outside of people’s budgets, such
as websites, printing and marketing materials.
If you could be invisible for one day
what would you do?
I’d sneak into a show or concert for free.
Afterwards in the pub I’d make people think
their bar stools were haunted.
What’s your worst habit?
Some people think I have a habit of ignoring
criticism, but what do they know?
Ignorance, stubbornness, an unwillingness
to learn, opposition to logical thought, and
irrationality when clear thinking is much more
useful. Has there been a defining moment
in your life?
Joining Craic Youth Theatre when I was 14.
I went there and had my eyes opened. It was
like the time at the Opera House all over
again. There I was, being part of the bright
lights and colours and making people laugh by
creating a whole new world for them.
want to be. And I never want that to change.
What are you watching on TV?
I normally end up watching some ridiculous
documentary. I don’t get a lot of time for TV.
What was your first record?
I’d have to say my memory. In my head is
the script for nearly every show I have ever
worked on and every number I’ve ever sung.
I’m stuffed full of facts and figures from
articles I’ve read, filled to the brim with quotes
from books and shows.
I was 14 and had taken a day trip to Coleraine
with friends. We wondered around Grahams
record shop. Then a song came on over the little stereo in the shop – It was In the Shadows
by the Finnish band The Rasmus. I had to
have it. So that was the day I bought the album
“Dead Letters” and from there my taste was
never the same.
If you could ask God one thing?
Who’s your favourite band/singer?
What is your greatest trait?
Why can’t celery taste like cake?
Did you have a role model?
There’s no one who I could cite as a role model, but I am inspired by people like Stephen
Fry and Oscar Wilde – people who lived for
learning, people who had opinions on matters
that most people don’t even consider
How do you describe Mid Ulster?
It’s cold and damp and full of ridiculous hills
and winding roads, cows hide around every
bend in the road and the sheep are downright
dangerous. The people can be stubborn and
headstrong too. But there are times when the
whole place is the only place you could ever
“Panic! at the Disco” simply because the music matured as I did. If I was forced to pick a
singer, I’d have to say Lady Gaga; the woman
has such a broad and versatile voice.
What’s your favourite film?
Disney’s Hunchback of Notre-Dame.
What is your happiest memory?
My very first visit to the Grand Opera House
in Belfast. I went to see the pantomime one
Christmas. I can’t even remember which one.
All I remember is the joy of being surrounded
by people watching this stage, this window
that looked into a totally different world.
What is the most embarrassing
thing you have done?
I was singing in the Dungannon Music Festival, one of the compulsory songs was a horrible syncopated mess of a tune. The song came
up and I began to sing, everything was going
well until the end of the song where I suddenly
forgot the words and the tune. The pianist continued on while I stood there with a scowl on
my face. Mortified wasn’t the word.
Your most treasured possession?
Coco. A clown teddy I was given for my first
Christmas. He has been everywhere.
Do you have a catchphrase?
No, but I do have an annoying habit of saying
“What Ho!” to people on the street. What’s your tipple?
Gin and Tonic, why? Are you buying?
Who would play you in a film of
your life?
Robbie Coltrane or Meryl Streep in a fat-suit. What song would you like played at
your funeral?
Cremate me, but load my pockets with
fireworks before you send me in and play the
1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky. Mid Ulster focus
11
NI Optometrist in the
frame for National Award
A
County Tyrone
optician is
focused on success after being
shortlisted for
a national award.
Noel McCrystal from McCrystal Opticians, Dungannon, is
the only contender from Northern
Ireland to reach the final of the
Optometrist of the Year category
in the prestigious 2015 Optician
Awards.
Mr McCrystal, who has been
in practice at McCrystal Opticians for over 20 years, said “I
am delighted and very proud to
reach the final and to fly the flag
for Northern Ireland in the Optometrist of the Year category.
“While winning would be fantastic, the awards ceremony is a
valuable opportunity to collabo-
rate with the UK’s finest industry
professionals and that is very
exciting. I am looking forward
with great anticipation to the preevent networking reception in
March as well as the final awards
ceremony in April.”
In recent years, Mr McCrystal has developed a significant
reputation in enhancing the lives
of those with Autism Spectrum
Disorders. Having faced personal
challenges with this learning difficulty, he has made it his mission
to understand and treat dyslexia,
ASD and visual eye stress, particularly in children.
He is one of the few practi-
tioners in the UK and Ireland to
offer the acclaimed Schoolvision
Programme and has received the
Outstanding Contribution to General Practice Award in both 2013
and 2014 from the Association of
Schoolvision Practitioners. McCrystal Opticians was recently
awarded the NI4Kids ‘Family
Friendly Business of the Year’
Award in 2014.
More information on the 2015
Optician Awards, including a
full list of award categories and
shortlists can be found at:
http://www.opticianawards.com/
opticianawards2015
#opticianawards
For more information on McCrystal Opticians:
www.mccrystalopticans.com
www.facebook.com/mccrystalopticians
Professional, independent
insurance services,
where your custom is valued.
Downpatrick & Armagh
Mid-Ulster Contacts :-
Martin McGeown 07725698051
Aidan Hughes 02844 615933
See website for full details of products & services!
12
Mid Ulster focus
A fiddle with tradition
New traditional Irish music band Cuig launched their new EP at The Ranfurly Arts Centre
in Dungannon. The band are made up of five phenomenal young musicians. Miceál
Mullen, Rónán Stewart, Ruairí Stewart, Eoin Murphy, Cathal Murphy.
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Mid Ulster focus
Waterboys
Modern Blues
Harlequin & Clown
The Waterboys are back with a new album a
long three years and four months since their
last release. The wait was worth it, as Modern
Blues is an album which ranks among the best
work Mike Scott has produced. First,
let me be clear this is not ‘Fisherman’s Blues’, ‘Room to Roam’
or even ‘An Appointment
with Mr. Yeats’. Modern
Blues is a ROCK album.
The opening track ‘Destinies
Entwined’ positively explodes
into life with a mix of searing
guitar and fiddle solos complimented by Hammond organ. This is
maintained in the other ‘rockers’ on the album.
There are quieter reflective moments too like
the gorgeous ‘November Tale’, the album’s
first single, which finds Scott reflecting on love
and loss. Scott, Steve Wickham (fuzz fiddle)
and new Waterboy, (Hammond organist extraordinaire), Paul Brown and the other musicians are in blistering form here. As ever, Scott
manages to produce an album full of light and
shade, poetic lyricism and above all songs that
you want to listen to again and again.
Rating 5/5
Cúig
Cúig
Cúig are five young Irishmen and their newly
released self-titled EP features banjo, accordian, drums, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, uileann
pipes.
Two sets of brothers Rónán and Ruairí
Stewart, Cathal and Eoin Murphy together
with Micéal Mullen make up Cúig (five in
English). Cúig clearly demonstrate a respect
for the music’s origins while at the same time,
imbue it with a modern feel and sensibility
most clearly heard via the drums. This does
not in anyway detract from the ‘traditional’
feel of the music, rather widens its appeal.
There is no doubting the musicianship of the
five. I’m taken by how ‘sexy and modern’ the
accordian can sound in the hands of the right
player, in this case Eoin Murphy. The EP’s
By Eamonn
O’ Flannagain
REVIEW
five tracks include driving reels like ‘Tickle
the Monk’, a slow considered reel like ‘The
Pleasant Beggar’ and even a strathspey in the cleverly named track
3 ‘Three out of Five’. There is a
rawness to the playing which I
hope the band doesn’t completely
lose as they mature. Cúig like
Moxie clearly show that the future
of ‘traditional music’ is both relevant and assured. The EP’s five tracks
punch way above their weight.
Rating 4.5/5
Blackberry Smoke
Holding All The Roses
Rounder Records
I really got into Blackberry Smoke having listened to their superb live album ‘Leave a Scar:
Live in North Carolina’ released last year.
On the strength of that I attended the band’s
first ever Irish gig, in Dublin’s Academy, in
October, and what a cracking gig that was.
Ever since I have been awaiting the release
of the band’s fourth studio album - ‘Holding
All The Roses’. The album is unapologetic
classic ‘southern’ rock at its best. If
that genre’s future needs a guardian
it will surely sit easily on the
collective shoulders of Starr,
Still, Jackson and the brothers
Turner, the five musicians who
make up Blackberry Smoke.
The opening track ‘Let Me Help
You (Find The Door)’, ‘Fire in the
Hole’ and ‘Payback’s a Bitch’ are just
three examples of the type of driving rock that
make the band irresistible to their legion of
fans. The album also has its slower ballad or
more reflective moments in ‘Woman in the
Moon’ and ‘No Way Back to Eden’. ‘Holding
All The Roses’ is, as one might expect of an
album produced by Grammy Award winning
producer Brendan O’Brien, high on production
13
values. This showcases the band’s many musical
and vocal talents and announces them as serious
contenders for that ‘southern rock’ crown.
Rating 4/5
The Lone Bellow
Then Came the Morning
Descendant Records
The Lone Bellow are Zach Williams, Kanene
Doheney Pipkin and Brian Elmquist. Hailing
from Brooklyn they are back with their second
album and like their first it is full of beautiful
well crafted folk-rock songs. Singer/songwriter
Williams’ writing is as strong as ever, while the
interplay of the trio’s beautiful vocals and harmonies mark them out again as something special.
Stand out songs include the title track, ‘Marietta, ‘Call to War’ and ‘Cold As It Is’ but that is
not to say the rest are inferior. Their self-titled
first album (a must buy) fairly reached out and
grabbed your attention with its up tempo feel
good vibe and catchy tunes. The overall feel of
this album is a little more morose. Yet, it’s still
a good album. I’d recommend listening to their
first album first though. If you like that - jump in.
Rating 3.5/5
Gig Watch
Folk/Trad
More Power to Your Elbow
Burnavon, Cookstown - Friday 13 March
- 8.00pm
Jim McKee & Cormac
O’Kane
Square Box, Dungannon, Saturday 14 March
- 8.00pm
Country
Derek Ryan
Burnavon, Cookstown - Wednesday 25 &
Thursday 26 March - 8.00pm
Local bands and/or venues in the
Mid-Ulster area: if you want your album featured in a review or you have
a gig/s you want highlighted, contact
Éamonn via Mid Ulster Focus.
14
Mid Ulster focus
A massive thank-you
The Hub Centre in Cookstown recently held a celebration night to thank all the many
volunteers who undertake such valuable work at the centre in various roles
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OFFICIALLY MID ULSTER'S
BEST TAKEAWAY
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Advertising feature
pet care
Mid Ulster focus
15
With Eamon J Donnelly BVSC MRCVS (director) Parklands Vet group
Help your pet Age Gracefully
A
ging begins at birth, but its
manifestations are not noticeable for several years. The
average cat or dog is classed
as senior at seven years old.
Often, the first sign of aging in our pets is a
general decrease in activity levels, a tendency
to sleep longer and more soundly and loss of
interest in the goings-on in the home. Senior
pets are more susceptible to health problems
and behavioural changes.
Digestion can get impaired in old age.
The diet should be light but nutritious. Quantity of food per meal should be reduced and
frequency of feeding may be increased. It is
not advisable to make any sudden changes of
diet. Good quality senior foods are recommended which contain the correct nutritional
contents to meet the needs of the older pet.
Dental Disease affects around 85% of
dogs and cats over three years old. Not only
does dental disease result in infection and
tooth loss, but there can be more serious consequences. The bacteria that are harboured
in the plaque and tarter can enter the blood
stream causing problems in the heart, lungs,
liver, kidneys, and even the brain.
Arthritis Senior pets can start to feel
stiff and suffer pain in their joints. Although
some wear and tear is inevitable there are
many products available that can slow the
progress of arthritis and help promote the
healing of the cartilage in the joints.
Heart Disease Signs of heart disease
may include coughing, weight loss, lethargy
and a reluctance to exercise. Good management and advances in medicines may slow
down the progression of heart disease.
Thyroid disease is common in older
cats. The condition builds up over time and
can seem like signs of old age. Weight loss
with an enthusiastic appetite, hyperactivity and a fast heart rate are all symptoms of
hyperthyroidism. A simple blood test can
diagnose or rule out the condition.
Kidneys are vital for life and kidney disease is a common disease in older pets with
as many as 18% of the UK cat population being affected. Signs of kidney disease include
weight loss, lethargy, an increase in drinking
and urination, vomiting and bad breath.
Cancer is a problem in old age but please
remember that most lumps are not cancerous. Your vet should be made aware of any
growths you find on your pet.
Diabetes can give similar symptoms to
kidney problems. It is more common in older,
overweight pets so regular health checks are
important.
Older pets may need to sleep longer and
will appear less able to cope with changes in
their routine. A warm bed should be provided
in a quiet area where he can rest away from
visitors and noise. Sadly we cannot stop our
pets from aging. But take advantage of a free
senior and dog health check up by presenting
the coupon below at any of our clinics.
Free Health
Check up for all
senior Pets
Valid for
March Only
Cookstown
028 8676 5765
Coalisland
028 8774 1414
Dungannon
028 8775 2299
Portglenone
028 2582 1239
Aughnacloy
028 8555 7811
16
Mid Ulster focus
theatre
For the Love of the GAAme
By J.D. Harper
G
albally
Community
Centre was the
setting for the
latest Conor
Grimes and Alan McKee play ‘St
Mungo’s Luganulk’, which tells
the story of a team threatened
with relegation, who beat all odds
to work their way to the hallowed
turf of Croke Park.
Grimes and McKee perform
this quick-paced two-hander, currently touring GAA clubhouses
and community centres across
Northern Ireland, tapping into
the huge GAA market as well as
providing a welcome alternative
to conventional theatre venues.
Grimes and McKee star in St Mungo’s Luganulk
Anyone who has had a part in
GAA games, be it through playing, watching from the sidelines,
or indeed managing club life,
will recognise some, if not all
of the characters, which the lads
transform into.
With more than 15 characters
shared between them, some of
the highlights include Sean Savage, a local nature enthusiast,
Niall the Draper, and a rather
uncanny impression of a wellknown GAA commentator.
As the opening music blares
one might be forgiven for
deliberating whether it was the
GAA or ‘Rocky’ who had more
influence on the show, however
it’s not long before Grimes and
McKee show their true prowess
in front of a live audience.
Grimes quickly seizes upon a
phone ringing in the front row,
while both actors respond skillfully to the sound of a late arrival
being ushered in, by suggesting
another player had arrived…even
if the heels did ‘sound a bit high
for training.’
Both performers use their stage
experience and improvisation
skills to captivate their audience
and smooth over anything remotely unpredictable. One wonders whether there is more room
for the spontaneity displayed
within the script itself.
There are certain moments
where it feels as though the script
may need to be slightly adjusted the ascendancy through matches
falls a little flat after the breakneck build-up of the first act, and
the clarity of character transition
waned somewhat toward the
end, slight flaws in an otherwise
entertaining evening.
While not yet quite as slick as
(previous offering) The
History of the Troubles
(Accordin’ to My Da!)’ there is
no doubt Grimes and McKee
have tapped into another winning
formation, which will undoubtedly flourish in the months ahead.
To their credit, Grimes and
McKee have effortlessly demonstrated the support for arts in the
community. The atmosphere was
friendly and inviting, while raffle
tickets sold during the interval
mimicked the community and
tradition the play, at times, pokes
fun at.
With proceeds going to
‘Helping Hand’ at Belfast
Hospital for Sick Children, in
memory of 10 month-old Eoin
Cush, the evening was a brilliant
example of communities
rallying round a good cause and
the arts being an integral part of
that.
A standing ovation at the end
of the night demonstrated how
this play captured the hearts of
those who witnessed it.
St Mungo’s Luganulk will be
touring across NI in the coming
months so if you do have the
opportunity, get a ticket, sit back,
relax, and make doubly sure your
phone is switched off.
Mid Ulster focus
Books
The Lew Griffin Novels by James Sallis
Amazing Grace
G
race Clunie is an Anglican Priest
as well as the Director of Celtic
Spirituality based at The Navan
Centre in Armagh. The book contains practical inspirations for the contemporary
spiritual journey.
In fewer than 60 pages Grace introduces six
aspects of Celtic spirituality. These are: the creation - our relationship with the rest of creation.
Hospitality – relationships with ourselves and
others. A Way of Living – how what we believe
is foundational to lifestyle. Creative spirituality – relating to the spiritual with the whole of
our humanity. Pilgrimage – our spiritual journey.
And, the Other World – death, saints and angels.
It’s easy to see how Celtic spirituality appealed to Grace. She writes: “Through Celtic
spirituality comes a call to a deeper, more interconnected and aware way of being.” This
includes a greater respect and an appreciation
“which perceived the Sacred Presence, not only
in human beings, but in all of creation.”
“Hospitality,” she says, “calls us to be open,
non-judgmental, generous and gentle in our attitudes to ourselves and to one another, recognising the sacredness of the soul.”
The final chapter concerns our deep-seated
fear and denial of the fact of death. In it she
quotes John O’Donohue in his book, “Anam
Chara” who wrote: “For the Celts the eternal
world was so close to the natural world that
death was not seen as a terribly destructive or
threatening event. When you enter the eternal
world, you are going home to where no shadow,
pain or darkness can ever touch you again.”
I found the book a simple introduction to Celtic spirituality. Further details
can be found on the website
www.celtic-spirituality.net
or by writing to Grace at The
Navan Centre, 61Killylea
Road, Armagh, BT60 4LD.
By Ian Moore
17
I have never been able to appreciate listening to
jazz but if I could I think these novels by James
Sallis would be its literary equivalent.
James Sallis is an American crime writer,
best known for this series of novels featuring
the character Lew Griffin and set in the heart of
New Orleans.
Lew works in turns throughout the novels
as a private detective, lecturer and writer. An
African American, he is also a flawed and
complicated man. We follow his story through
the decades, as he grows, changes, and matures
- much like his city.
He is a tough cookie, and finds relationships
difficult but finds comfort in alcohol.
The Long-Legged Fly is the first title in the
series and shares its name with a poem of Yeats.
The novel begins by Lew accepting a missing
person’s case in New Orleans which takes him
to the French Quarter where he discovers his
own son has been kidnapped.
Gritty and insightful
the books will immerse
you in a different world.
But give the reader a
feel for the heartbeat of
Louisiana. The writing
itself is as important as
the plot.
18
Mid Ulster focus
cover story
Stand up
and be
counted
Louise Taylor left Cookstown to go to college, Nearly 20 years
later she’s back with a family – and she’s having a big laugh
L
ouise Taylor is a woman who
wants to make people laugh.
She is an actress/comedian
who has just moved back to her
hometown of Cookstown after
many years living and working in Brighton.
Louise went to school in Cookstown but
moved to Manchester to complete a degree in
the late 90s. She then signed up to a programme called the Japan Exchange and Teach
English (JET) which allowed her to live and
work in Japan while being able to travel all
over Asia. After Japan Louise moved to
Brighton where she met her husband Stefan.
It was in Brighton that she developed
her love of the stage, training as an actress
and playing many and varied straight roles.
However it was when she got the opportunity
to play comic roles that she found her real
passion for making people laugh. Along with
three other writers and a company of eight
actors she established a sketch group comedy
group called “The Scary Mary Sketch Show”
and with the group she honed her comedy
writing skills.
As Louise says herself “the only time you
can really tell if something you have written
is really funny is you present it to an audience
of strangers. It is a constant process of writing and re-writing material and seeing how it
works on the stage”.
It was when her husband bought her a place
on a stand up comedy workshop that Louise
took the plunge into working as a solo comedy performer. The workshop was run by Jill
Edwards who has worked with well known
names on the comedy scene including Jimmy
Carr, Sean Walsh and Shappi Khorshandi.
As she describes herself, “working with Jill
Edwards I gained experience and confidence
The Scary Mary Sketch Show
in a relatively short period of time that would
have taken years to obtain had I gone straight
out in to the pubs and clubs.
“Within the workshops you are given a safe
and supportive environment to try out and develop material and to find your comic voice”
Stand up comedy can be a tough a business
and Lousie has had the odd tough gig where
things didn’t quite go to plan. Her worse
experience was when an over excited and
slightly tipsy Belfast man heckled her mercilessly in a club in Brighton. “He threw me
completely and wouldn’t keep quiet. He was
so excited that I was from Cookstown but he
wasn’t helping me one bit.”
Louise has a tried and tested way of dealing
with the post-mortem of a gig. She uses a bit
of advice given by English comedian Sarah
d
Mid Ulster focus
19
cover story
Millican. No mater how well or badly the
show has gone you are only allowed to think
about it until 11am the next day. After that
you must let it go and move on otherwise
you could analyse the thing to death, leaving
you with either an inflated notion of yourself
or completely blow your confidence so that
you would never go back on stage again. The
show must go on.
Louise then went on to enter the prestigious
“So You Think You Are Funny?” competition
which is the leading amateur comedy competition in the UK and has seen the likes of
Peter Kay, Lee Mack, Sarah Millican, Johnny
Vegas, Dylan Moran and Jack Whitehall as
winners or finalists in previous years.
The competition’s showcases are held
throughout UK and Ireland and the
winners are invited to take part in
the finals at the Edinburgh Fringe
Festival in August. From the Regional Showcases, 55 performers were invited to perform and
Louise made it through to the
semi finals.
Louise with husband
Stefan and their children
moved back to Cook-
stown last summer. At Christmas she was
invited by Carol Dooey from The Hub
Centre in Cookstown to perform at
the annual Christmas show in The
Burnavon Theatre and this proved to
be a fantastic debut ‘home’ performance.
The Hub centre helped Louise
organise and promote a successful comedy workshop based
on the Jill Edwards model of
standing up and giving it a
go. As Louise says herself “all that is required
is a sense of humor and the ability to enjoy a
good laugh”.
She hopes to run a number of workshops
in Mid Ulster with the hope that there would
be a performance in some of the local theatres
or arts venues by some of the people who
participated in them. As well as developing
the comedy courses Louise is hoping to make
an impact on the comedy scene and hopes to
get an opportunity to display her considerable
talents as a stand up to a wider audience.
Free Admission
Our Services/ Facilities Include:
Visitor Information Centre
Conference Facilities available to hire
An Award winning education programme on offer for schools and community groups.
Our Square Box performance area has a seating capacity of 98.
A variety of arts activities on offer to suit all age groups.
Coffee Shop
Free Wi-Fi access
Tel: 028 87728600 E: [email protected]
@DungannonArts
www.dungannon.info
20
Mid Ulster focus
A starter
for ten in
jobs plan
I
n the next few weeks all
eyes will be on 10 Downing Street and who will
occupy it after the election. Locally, the number
10 may have more relevance and
be of greater importance as a new
initiative was launched in Dungannon last month to create jobs.
TEN is the brainchild of
Dungannon Enterprise Centre,
which aims to create 10 new jobs
within 10 weeks with help from
10 local businesses. It is hoped
the initiative will roll out across
the province and go some way
to providing employment for the
thousands of unemployed.
Speaking at the launch event at
the beginning of February, Brian
MacAuley, Chief Executive of
Dungannon Enterprise Centre,
said: “This evening 10 local
businesses pledged to create a job
in 10 weeks. I was overwhelmed
by their enthusiasm and desire to
come on board.
“A job gives someone possibil-
ity. For some it means wealth,
or a holiday, or a new car. For
others it may mean a home and
a mortgage or being able to get
married.”
Kevin Hughes of Rathgael
Furnishings, which is one of the
businesses committed to creating
a job, added: “I am delighted to
be involved and look forward to
giving something back.”
The businesses taking part
come from a number of sectors
including manufacturing, retail
and services, and have already
started their journey by working with mentor Andrew Dobbin
from The Business Mindset.
The businesses are aware of
the challenge they face. Stephen
Salley of HBK architects admitted he wasn’t feeling completely
confident of creating a job at the
start the programme, but continued: “I feel that I need to look in
that direction to keep business
coming through the door and
be flexible enough to react to
customer needs.”
A number of local experts in
accountancy, business consulta-
tion, banking, web and graphic
design are also volunteering their
time to support the businesses
that have signed the pledge.
Mr MacAuley said: “I would
like to acknowledge their support. They are doing this because
they believe that by growing
local businesses they are making
a difference to our community.”
Dungannon Enterprise Centre
has been at the forefront of job
creation in the area for over 20
years. In December, 2013, they
converted a 4,000 sq ft warehouse unit into a space for 13
small businesses through the
installation of recycled steel containers. The CUBE has become a
huge success with a waiting list
for those who wish to rent the
self-contained units.
Dungannon Enterprise Centre,
Dungannon and South Tyrone
Borough Council and Tyrone
Times have sponsored the TEN
initiative.
For further details please
contact Brian MacAuley at
Dungannon Enterprise Centre
on 028 877 23489.
Karen Adamson of Dungannon Enterprise Centre with Kevin Hughes and Sinead Hughes.
Mid Ulster focus
Columist
21
Eimear Quinn
A Woman’s work ...
O
n first entering First Steps
Women’s Centre
on William
Street, Dungannon, you are
met with a calm and welcoming
atmosphere. It’s hard to believe
the relaxing scene once you’ve
witnessed the hard work that
goes on behind the scenes.
The idea for the centre came
from a discussion amongst a
group of women in January of
1997. They discussed the possibility of founding a group that
can provide support for women
in the surrounding area and their
dream became reality the following year.
Since then, the centre has
relocated – first from Feeney’s
Lane to Thomas Street in 2007
and then to their current location
on William Street.
Joan McCool is the Life Skills
Co-ordinator for First Steps and
has been with the centre since
2004. She says the move to Thomas Street was when the centre
really “took off”.
Initially the centre was opened
part-time - opening from 10am
to 2pm every Tuesday, Thursday
and Friday. It has since progressed into a full-time venture,
with a professional and dedicated
team of staff who provide a
welcoming space for women to
learn, share and socialise.
The centre offers a wide range
of programmes, courses and activities, such as IT Programmes,
numeracy and literacy classes
and ESOL courses for those
wishing to learn English.
Not only are the classes tailored and timed to accommodate,
they also offer transport with a
minibus driving around the district up to four times a day.
For those with younger children, there are childcare facilities
within the building with trained
staff members, two of whom are
bilingual, for children without
English as a first language.
In 2009 the centre received
funding towards employing a
Health Promotion Worker, which
has proved very successful.
Claire Henry, the current
Health Promotion Worker,
spoke of the work she does
in promoting good health and
wellbeing: “We run things like
stress management and we do
physical health things like yoga
and walking programmes where
we also provide information on
healthy eating. We do a cooking programme, which is about
eating healthy and cooking on a
budget.”
Recently, the centre began
offering a free benefits checking
scheme and also counselling, in
an effort to make sure the women
receive all the support necessary
to pursue their ambitions.
It is clear that the wellbeing of
the women attending the centre is
of paramount importance to the
staff at First Steps. Everything is
catered for in order to relieve the
pressures of everyday life and allow the women to be themselves.
Chief Executive Michael McGoldrick elaborated on this point:
“This is the first step back into
the rest of whatever it is they do,
whether it’s education, training,
employment or volunteering. We
want to make people feel at ease,
because if you’re not at ease it’s
difficult to feel confident and
secure.”
As well as supporting the
women attending the centre, the
staff have been recognised twice
by receiving the Investors in
People Silver certification.
To maintain the high standard
of service, the centre relies on
funding. This year they are
waiting on news of a crucial application, and a negative decision
would be detrimental to the work
they carry out.
Despite this, they are remaining positive and are currently in
the midst of organising an event
for International Women’s Day,
which this year falls on March
8th.
Michael commented on why
it’s important to celebrate International Women’s Day, saying:
“There’s an Australian politician
who has said he wants to get
women who have had children
back to work quickly. Where’s
the sense in that?
“We believe it’s important
to give women the recognition
for their achievements, whether
that’s motherhood, getting an
accredited qualification, getting
back into employment or trying
something new.”
There have been so many success stories from First Steps that
it would impossible to share them
all. The centre has proven itself
to be advocates for women in the
local area.
It is a place where trust can be
built and stories can be shared.
There is always a listening ear
and an immense network of
support for whatever it is you
require.
Take your ‘first step’ and drop
in for a cup of tea or coffee at
any time because they are always
happy to see a new face.
NEW
YANKEE STORE
MEADOWLANE SHOPPING CENTRE, MAGHERAFELT.
Mid Ulster focus
22
Because I’m Happy…
This year’s UN
International Day
of Happiness
is celebrated
on March 20th.
Elaine Curry,
Director of Calm
Confident Kids
offers some advice
on happiness and
how to live in
the moment
O
h I do love that
Pharrell Williams song and
on good days
could dance and
sing to it
around the kitchen. As
long as no-one can
see me.
So what is happiness? According to Psychologists, “Happiness
is a mental or
emotional state of
well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment
to intense joy.”
Today we live in a fast paced
society and are used to instant
gratification. If we want information we Google it; if we want to
read a book we download it; if
we want to buy something we go
shopping on the internet (with
express delivery of course). We
do not have to wait for anything
but does it make us any happier?
Just stop for a minute and
I Am Happy & Content
Pose of the Month – The Happy Baby. Try it at home with the wee ones!
appreciate what really
makes you happy. It
can be as simple as
sitting having a chat
to your children about
what they did at school.
Watching your baby trying to crawl. Getting out to
enjoy the garden. Taking time
for a cup of tea and a laugh with
your partner or friend.
So, how can we manage our
happiness and that of our family?
Well, to start with we are all in
charge of our own minds and
happiness. However, we can
teach our family how to manage
their happiness. Teach by example, by breathing techniques, by
loving ourselves, by accepting
ourselves and our family. Most
importantly we can be happy by
practising mindfulness.
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Happy Baby
Being fully present in the
now and not living in the past or
future.
One of my favourite ways of
teaching happiness and contentment to children is the game,
‘What was good about today?’ –
a simple game in which everyone
gets a chance to say one good
thing that happened to them that
day. It is a lovely thing to do at
dinner as a family or before bed.
Contentment: now there is a
barrier to happiness. If we are not
content we will not be happy. We
need to learn to be happy with
the here and now not the ‘I will
be happy when…’ scenario. Yes,
there are things that we think
would make us happy; bigger car,
smaller waist, more money, more
time, that designer handbag.
Would they really? What about
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being content with your car (it’s
easy to park), your figure (I am
beautiful the way I am) etc. Let’s
start with loving our life as it is.
Yes, we would all like to make
improvements but we have a
good life now.
Appreciate what you have, not
what you think you want. Live
in the present, live in today and
learn to love your life. Choose to
be happy right now!
Elaine Curry from Maghera
is Director of Calm
Confident Kids, yoga-inspired
health classes with a holistic
approach to mind and body
well-being for the whole
family.
Find out more at http://www.
calmconfidentkids.co.uk
Become a Calm
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Mid Ulster focus
FOOD
23
Cook with Claire
Vegetable Chowder
Keep the early spring chills at bay with this simple to make
delicious treat for all the family . . . and it won’t break the bank
This vegetable chowder is adapted from an
American recipe. In the U.S. they use cups for
measuring. It’s quite a liberating way to cook.
Don’t worry if you don’t have a proper set of
measuring cups. Simply use any large cup or
mug. The proportions will stay the same, you’ll
simply have slightly more or less broth!
Preparation time: 30 minutes
Cooking time: 25 minutes
Serves 2 (approximately)
Ingredients
• 1/2 cup chopped red or green pepper
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 1 cup chopped celery
• 1 cup diced cauliflower
• 1 cup diced carrot
• 1 cup diced broccoli
• 3 cups fresh chicken stock
• Salt to taste
• Ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 1-2 cups milk
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
• 3 cups grated cheddar cheese
Method
• Sauté the peppers and onions in butter
until tender.
• Add remaining vegetables, stock, salt and
black pepper; bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat: simmer covered for 20 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.
• Combine flour and milk until smooth; stir
into pan.
• Bring soup to a boil; cook and stir for 2
minutes. Mix in the parsley. Just before
serving, stir in the cheese until melted.
24
Mid Ulster focus
Big feature
JFK, My Father, and Me
T
he assassination of
John Kennedy was
the first world event
to have an impact on
my life, and I think
my late father, Christy McGuinness, who died March 2005 is
responsible for that. I was only
four and a half at the time, but can
still remember him telling me to
be quiet so that he could hear the
news. He even told me to listen.
“This is important,” he said. “President Kennedy has been shot.”
My dad had no real interest in
news. He preferred American
westerns. That Friday was different, though. We all watched the
When shots rang out in Dallas in
1963, Martin J McGuinness didn’t
realise his life had changed forever
news. After that first weekend,
the assassination gradually
ceased to feature on my
father’s radar, but for me
an acorn had been planted
that would grow through
the years into a
mighty oak.
Dad was
an Irishman
living in
Lancaster,
not exactly hostile, but neither
was it wholly welcoming. In
the 1950s it was not uncommon for rooming houses
in England to display signs
which read, “No dogs. No
Irish.” The Irish tended
to form a subculture
within certain English
cities, but America
was a different
story… Kennedy
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in the White House seemed like a
perfect manifestation of the special
relationship that existed between
Ireland and the USA.
My dad had this saying, “It takes
the Yanks.” By this he meant that
America always had the resources
to pull off something spectacular,
whether it was going to the moon
or making movies. One night
we were all watching the classic
Howard Hawks film Red River.
When it came to the scene of the
great cattle stampede, my Dad
was glowing with appreciation
and excitement as he turned in his
armchair and said, ‘It takes the
Yanks’.
Mid Ulster focus
25
big feature
At school I especially liked
history, and one day the assassination of JFK was mentioned. I
spoke more than most during class
discussion and my teacher, a man
named Mr Pearson, saw fit to lend
me an LP record called Four Days
that Shocked the World, Nov 2225th 1963. It featured the actual
radio broadcasts leading up to the
assassination and its aftermath.
I listened repeatedly to that
record and soon had many of the
commentaries off by heart. On the
way home from the youth club,
my friends would look amused
(and bemused) as I put on my own
American accent: ‘The President’s car is now turning onto Elm
Street…’
By 1978 I was living and
working in London. One night
I drinking near the Strand when
I fell into conversation with an
American. I had recently read
Frederick Forsyth’s The Odessa
File, a book that begins with the
contention that everyone knows
exactly where they were and what
they were doing when they first
heard about the Kennedy assassination. I decided to test the theory
on my older American drinking
buddy: ‘Sure, I was in my office
in New York. Someone came in
and said, “Kennedy’s been shot”. I
just looked up from my desk
and said: “That’s okay, I
didn’t vote for him”.’
With some difficulty, I refrained
from punching
this guy.
It was not until
the early 90s,
in Tunisia of all
places, that my interest in the subject
reached new heights. I
was working at a university, teaching when I also met
a Dallasite for the first time, a man
named Garron Wheeler who taught
linguistics.
Garron had grown so weary of
Kennedy he told me how relieved
he had been one time in Rome,
when he’d been introduced to a
group of students as someone from
Dallas. An Italian man had smiled
and said: ‘Ah, Dallas, then you
must know JR.’ It was such a joy
to hear the name of the soap opera
villain, rather than having to recall,
yet again, the stain on the city
caused by the killing of Kennedy.
While I was still in Tunisia,
Oliver Stone’s JFK opened in
London and I determined to see
it. One Friday afternoon I flew out
from Tunis to London, saw the film
on Saturday in Leicester Square
and caught a flight back to Tunis
on the Sunday. I left the
cinema a confirmed
conspiracy theorist.
Years later,
after seeing
the ABC
documentary
Beyond Conspiracy (which
features a
devastating critique of the film),
I realised I had been
taken in by Stone’s
fanciful myth-making.
By this time I had become a
member of a religious order and
was developing a more heightened
sensitivity to the kind of unhealthy
attachments that took away from
rather than added to my life. There
were times when I wished I had
never “gotten into” the Kennedy
assassination. I decided to stop
reading about the subject.
All went well until 2011, when
Stephen King’s 11.22.63 was
published. I had never read any of
King’s novels, though I enjoyed his
memoir On Writing. My decision to read the new novel was
not taken lightly. I had a sense of
standing at the top of a slippery
slope. But I convinced myself that
I had outgrown all that JFK stuff
and could now take it or leave it.
Not true!
Once reading began the dry tinder was instantly aflame. I blazed
my way through 11.22.63 in two
days, splashing water on my face at
times, as I defied the need to sleep.
Sometimes I wonder how different my life would have been if,
instead of telling me to watch TV
that Friday evening so long ago,
my father had told me to go and
play with my toys. Would I have
succumbed to JFK-itis? Would
I have travelled to Dallas last
November?
In the song “Graceland,” Paul
Simon sings about a pilgrimage
to the home of Elvis he just has to
make. I had similar feelings about
Dallas. My trip was part holiday
but more a pilgrimage, and I too
had reason to believe that my journey might turn out to be graced.
It’s too early to say if it was.
I spent a lot of time in Dealey
Plaza, walking along Elm St, up
the grassy knoll, and visiting the
Sixth Floor of the Texas School
Book Depository. But I also went
to Pioneer Plaza, in honour of my
dad. I could picture his reaction
to the scale of these incredible
sculptures that commemorate those
huge western cattle drives of the
mid nineteenth century. Looking
around in wonder, he would turn to
me and say, ‘It takes the Yanks’.
26
Mid Ulster focus
bella’s corner
Heels and
Hangovers
- my life as
a singleton
S
itting at the table
and my mother
speaks up: “We
should go and see
‘Fifty Shades of
Grey’ together.” Am I hearing
this???????
How did I get to this point,
a 30-something singleton with
a love of all things, which are
usually bad for me? High heels
I usually can’t walk in unless I
am slightly tipsy. Which brings
me to my love of a tipple, which
usually clouds my judgement
and leads me to my disastrous
choices in men!!
ACTION REQUIRED
Hoke out my trusty trilogy of
‘Fifty Shades’, a three-books-inthree-days read.
Then straight to my favourite
Whatsapp group, ‘Ladies Night
Out’. The gang consists of the
Yummy Mummy, the Stepford
wife, the Wag, Timebomb, the
county’s very own Cara Delevingne and The Queen. Just 257
notifications later, it’s decided
there’s nothing else for it but to
head for the Balls on the Falls at
the bottom of the M1.
Hotel booked, restaurant
booked, VIP booked!
Six days later, we arrive at the
hotel and decide it would be rude
not to go and test a few cocktails.
Why, on a Saturday afternoon, do
these taste so good?
We arrive for dinner slightly
It’s days of wine but not roses for intrepid reporter
Bella, who’s looking for love in all the wrong places
me, complimenting my hair, my
late. The restaurant is fab, and
outfit. I am loving this place.
dinner is spectacular. Several
The night proceeds. I chat to
courses (not all solid) later, we
several beautiful men, surely
head for the pubs and clubs.
I have to pull? I receive what
Eventually making it to our final
seems like several thousand
destination of the night, one
compliments, even get a phone
of Belfast’s newest and hottest
number. He wants to meet
nightclubs.
tomorrow, to go shopWe arrive at the door to be
ping?!
greeted by a pack of what can
As I head back
only be described as ‘Millies’.
over to the ladies, I
They are less than impressed
give them an update.
with us being let straight in (they
I can see several
had only booked queue hop, ha
different expressions
ha). This is verbally expressed
until the Queen breaks it to
by the ‘Braceface’ of the pack.
me gently that I won’t be pulling:
Quote: “Sure, they are in their
they are all gay. We are in the
30s. Look at the cut of them:
VIP at a gay engagement party.
quiffs are so last year.” Wouldn’t
To say I’m “dying” next mornmind, but there they stand in
ing is an understatement. The
1990s full length formal dresses
same sentences keep repeating in
and tiaras with bad fake tan and
my head #lifeproblems. Maybe
hair bleached to within
Braceface was right? Are we all
an inch of its life.
past it? Surely not???
We make it into
the VIP and all is
going great. It is
PANIC
full of hot men, and
Three days later, her voice keeps
I mean full. I think
creeping into my head.
I have died and
I spend my workgone to heaven.
ing day “prowling”
Head straight to
through the interthe bar. I hardly
net, trying to block
have time to
out the voice in my
look around
head, when I hear:
when this
“Sorry, excuse
Adonis starts
Jamie Dornan: Sadly me.”
not at the nightclub
to chat to
“Yeah?” I reply,
not even looking up.
“I have an appointment here at
11am.”
That’s when I look up and
the most gorgeous athletic man
is standing in front of me. He is
massive. Massive hands, massive
beard, just massive. He gives
me his name and details so I start
“creeping” on him on Twitter
and what happens? I hit
the follow button. Ok,
don’t panic, just keep
following him. Then
panic hits and I
unfollow!!!!
The following
Monday, our newest
member of staff starts. You
guessed it: Mr Massive!!!
Why oh why am I not small
enough to hide under my desk?
He introduces himself to us all
but not a word or remark about
Twitter. The cringing starts
to ease in my stomach. That
evening he comes over to my
desk to say he’s heading home.
“Hope we are not too scary for
you?” I joke.
“Not at all,” he says, with a
wink. “See you later. Oh, and
thanks for the follow.”
Oh, dear god help me. Is he
the one?
Unnecessary purchase of the
month: a pair of fabulous Miss
KG Adele, in pink. Cause you
know what they say: “Pink, pink,
makes the boys wink”.
Love, Bella xxx
Mid Ulster focus
fashion
27
Caroline O’Neill
A Gentleman always dresses
for the Occasion
H
ard to believe
this is now the
second edition of
Mid Ulster Focus
and what an
exciting few months it’s been for
everyone involved.
Mid Ulster Focus Fashion
I was delighted to attend the
launch of Mid Ulster Focus in
February and I have to say I enjoyed the night thoroughly.
Wine and Nibbles got the
evening off to a great start and
allowed time for us all to mingle
and get to know everyone involved in the magazine.
The night was a roaring success
and a credit to all involved and
I have no doubt the Mid Ulster
Focus will soon be a regular
magazine in all local homes.
I have to say in my new role as
fashion expert for the magazine
I was impressed by how well the
men all turned out. Of course the
ladies all looked fab but I was
paying attention to the men.
Everyone had made a great
effort – style ranged from suits
(First time I have seen our editor
Oliver Corr in a suit) blazers and
jeans, to open neck shirts and
trousers.
It was plain to be seen that
fashion is becoming more important for men and they are paying
a lot more attention. I was also
delighted to spot a few DIGG customers present, great ambassadors
for my shop!
Fifty Shades of
Grey
February brought
us the much hyped
‘Fifty Shades of
Grey’ The men, as
we ladies know, are
however, somewhat
confused by it all.
They see women reading it on
buses, hear them talking about
it in offices and it discussed in
newspapers and magazines. But
they haven’t read it.
So, I am going to let you men
into a few secret. If the lady in
your life keeps asking ‘Why can’t
you be more like Christian Gray?’
Don’t start getting wild and
wonderful ideas. She probably
just means you should take more
pride in your appearance – Nothing looks better than a properly
fitted suit.
Since this film has been
released, a lot of men have been
rushing to the local independent
stores to be measured for that
fitted suit.
No matter who you are, no
matter what social status you
have, you should dress well. You
never know when it will bring out
the inner “ANA STEELE” in your
lady (you all know what I mean
ladies, lol)
To Beard or not to Beard?
Beards are having a moment.
Quite a long moment, as it turns
out. Sometimes beards are in,
sometimes moustaches, or sideburns and whiskers. Sometimes
nothing at all.
However in the fashion world,
a beard is now seen as quite a
trendy thing and a man is making
a bold statement when he grows
one –“ I am a confident man not
afraid to stand out.” A
beard is now the new
accessory to a suit – I
often hear guys saying:
“I’ll grow my beard for
that day” in DIGG when
they are buying a suit for
a wedding. The beard has
evolved and it’s the must
have accessory of 2015!
Confirm your style
Confirmation Season has
well and truly kicked off
with many local parishes
having their confirmation
in February.
The little men and women
making their confirmation
have become more fashion
focused, stating exactly the
look they want for their big
occasion.
Confirmation is no
longer the conservative
event we have seen in
years gone by.
Now boys wanting to
make a statement in their
blazer, shirt and dressy
jeans styled with either Converse
or that tan Brogue like their
dad. Some may even throw
in a bow tie or a pair of
braces just to stand out that
bit more.
And One Direction has
definitely guided the
younger generation in the fashion
stakes. I love helping to style young
guys in DIGG
especially on a
Saturday when a
father and son might
pop in and get kitted
out to complement
each other’s style.
28
Mid Ulster focus
puzzles
Sudoku
Crossword Clues
Scribble board
Answers on page 30
Across
1. Contribute, give (6)
4. Demise, end (5)
8. Jeopardy (5)
9. Sank the Titanic (7)
10. Certainly, distinctly (7)
11. Indian dress (4)
12. Deceive (3)
14. Sung in church (4)
15. Reveal, display (4)
18. Fasten, attach (3)
21. Idol, venerated image
Tel: 07518 765029
No 7 Annagher Rd Coalisland
(4)
23. Wander aimlessly (7)
25. Gift (7)
26. Acclimatise, modify
(5)
27. Appoint, nominate (5)
28. Affluence, riches (6)
Down
1. Portray, illustrate (6)
2. Baby’s room (7)
3. Forgiving, lenient (8)
4. Means of losing weight
(4)
5. Stadium, amphitheatre
(5)
6. Scottish meat pudding
(6)
7. Resin used to make
gramophone records (5)
13. Heighten, intensify (8)
16. Weirdo, eccentric (7)
17. Small alcoholic drink
(6)
19. Barren, deserted (5)
20. Walking aid (6)
22. Very overweight (5)
24. Loaned (4)
Answers on page 30
Mid Ulster focus
kids puzzles
29
30
Mid Ulster focus
puzzles
Answers
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Mid Ulster focus
31
sport
Team up for a great March
GAA - County
March sees the 2015 Allianz National Football Leagues continue
at pace. Fans will have plenty of
action to enjoy with all county
teams playing three games in
just four weeks making it a key
month for all.
Senior Football:
Tyrone & Derry
After mixed results so far in the
NFL Division 1 Tyrone and Derry will be hoping for improved
results in March.
Tyrone face champions Dublin
in Croke Park on Saturday 7th
March and the lads end the
month with a trip to Ballybofey
to play Donegal on 29th March.
Derry host Mayo in Celtic Park
on Sunday 8th March, and travel
to Clones on Sunday 15th March
to take on Monaghan, before a
mouthwatering trip to Croke Park
on Saturday 28th March to play
Dublin. Tyrone and Derry then
play each other on Saturday 28th
February in Healy Park, Omagh.
U21 Football
Championship
The Ulster and All-Ireland U21
Football Championship is played
from March to April. and is seen
as a guide to the future successes
of a county’s senior team.
Derry begin their campaign
on Wednesday 11th March with
a home tie against Down. The
winner will face Monaghan in the
Quarter-Final on Wednesday 18th
March. Tyrone play Fermanagh
in Healy Park, Omagh, in the
Quarter-Final on Wednesday 18th
March. Both sides will fancy
their chances of reaching the
semis on Wednesday 1st April
and maybe the Final on Wednesday 8th April.
Schools
Tuesday 17th March sees the
conclusion of two of the provinces biggest and most prestigious schools competitions, Gaelic
Football’s MacRory Cup and
Rugby’s Schools’ Cup.
MacRory Cup
The MacRory Cup is one of the
the most coveted prize in Ulster
Schools. The Cup, first donated
by Bishop MacRory in 1923, is
contested by 10 and the number
of genuine contenders makes the
outcome unpredictabile.
St. Mary’s Grammar School
Magherafelt, St. Patrick’s College Maghera and St. Patrick’s
Academy Dungannon are all
hoping for a good cup run.
Schools’ Cup
The Schools’ Cup is the world’s
second oldest rugby competition
(after the Hospital Cup) having
been competed for every year
since 1876. The traditional St
Patrick’s Day Final at Ravenhill
is one of the great occasions in
the rugby calendar. As well as the
main School’s Cup competition,
the tournament also includes the
Schools’ Bowl, Medallion Shield,
Subsidiary Shield, Schools’ Trophy, and the U16 High Schools’
Trophy.
Two local schools will be participating in the various competitions Rainey Endowed School,
Magherafelt and Royal School,
Dungannon.
field put the result beyond doubt
in the 82nd minute.
Netball
Cookstown High School’s
Intermediate and Minor Netball
squads took part in the SELB
League Finals earlier this year.
The Intermediate squad faced
a very experienced Sacred Heart
Newry side and after a spirited
performance were unfortunate
to see the gold medals go to the
girls from Newry on a scoreline
of 24-12. The Minor squad took
on St. Paul’s Bessbrook, a side
they had played and been beaten
by in the early stages of the competition. The Cookstown girls, on
this occasion, coming out on the
right side of a 10-9 win to bring
the SELB Trophy and the gold
medals back to their school.
Bowls
Cookstown Parochial recently
won their fifth All-Ireland Club
Championship title, at the Belfast
Indoor Bowls Club. Strabane
Cricket Club’s single shot win
over Cookstown High in the
semi-final spoiled hopes of a
derby final. Cookstown Parochial, who had defeated Michelin in
the semi-final, beating Strabane
in what was a keenly contested
final.
Appear in the next
Mid-Ulster Focus
If you know of an individual/
team/club that should be
included in our monthly
feature please get in touch
with PhillyMc:
Email: phillymc.mufocus@
outlook.com
CANNING
DRIVING SCHOOL
Round-Up
The first few months of the year
have been very exciting for many
local teams in a variety of sports.
Soccer
Moyola Park and Tobermore
United put in sterling performances in the fifth round of the
Irish Cup against Glenavon and
Linfield respectively. Moyola
looked like they were going to
record a shock result over holders Glenavon at Mill Meadow,
leading 2-0 at half-time, before
the Lurgan Blues fought back to
win 3-2 with a last gasp winner.
Tobermore went 1-0 down with a
25th minute own goal and Lin-
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32
Mid Ulster focus
feature
Helping to Shed those
feelings of loneliness
T
he first Men’s
Shed was opened
in Australia as
a grassroots organisation aimed at
promoting positive mental health
and emotional wellbeing in men.
It’s a space where men of all ages
and backgrounds can come and
work together, socialise and connect with their local community.
It has since taken off and currently, there are over 1,000 Men’s
Sheds in Australia and in the UK
and Ireland there are over 200.
Dungannon will soon have its
very own South Tyrone Men’s
Shed, thanks to the hard work
and determination of locals
Raymond Corey and Teresa
Donaghy.
by
Eimear
Quinn
Raymond remarked on some
of the inspiration behind the
project, by saying, “Sometimes
men reach a stage in their lives,
especially in rural areas, where
they find themselves isolated
and lonely. We want to try and
change that.”
In September of last year,
Raymond and Teresa began a
journey to search for the perfect
premises. What they found had
been right under their noses all
along - the old Convent building
on Northland Row.
The building, which dates back
to the late 1800s, has been given
a new lease of life. It was once
a school and former pupils have
visited the site as news of its
renovation spread.
One lady, who
visited, wrote on
the South Tyrone
Men’s Shed
Facebook page
saying, “Today I
walked through
the corridors
and climbed the
stairs of my childhood; remembering old friends
and teachers. It is wonderful to
see that it has found a new lease
of life”.
From the outset, they just
knew that this building was “The
One” and work began almost
immediately. With the help of
industrious committee members
and volunteers, the work was
made lighter and their vision
began to take shape.
Also credited
with supporting
the work of the
Shed are those
who helped fund
the project and the
immense support
from Dungannon
and South Tyrone
Borough council.
In January of this year, the
Shed was visited by the Rt Rev
Dean Curry, Jim McQuaid - the
Vice Chair of Dungannon &
South Tyrone District council
Mid Ulster focus
feature
- and Michelle Gildernew, who
also extended their support for
the project.
The organisation’s vision statement is a powerful one – “Motivated men confidently organising
and sharing their own vibrant
space for the benefit of their community.”
Commenting on this and their
goals for the shed, Teresa said,
“We want to promote confidence
and build self esteem in people.
Once we have everything up
and running, we hope that the
men can take ownership of what
they’ve achieved and bring their
skills out into the community.”
Raymond further mentioned,
“It’s a place where people can
come to make friends and together they can help the community.
There’s nothing really like this
in the area. We want people to
feel welcome and to know that
they can drop in anytime and get
involved. Or just to have a cup of
tea and a chat.”
There will be a wide range
of courses on offer once the
building officially opens, such as
Woodwork, Photography, Computer classes and Essential Skills.
As well as the Men’s Shed
taking place downstairs, upstairs
you will find local artist Martin
Cullen and the social enterprise
group, Fifth Element.
Martin spoke of his intentions
to bring art to the forefront of
peoples minds in the Dungannon
area, stating: “Most Men’s Sheds
concentrate on building and
engineering. We’d like to bring a
bit of the arts into it with pottery,
cabinet making and woodcarving.”
Also on offer in the near future
are classes in Gaelic, with the
possibility of a cookery class
taught solely in Gaelic, and a
poetry session in Ulster Scots.
This diverse range of activities and interests means there’s
something for everyone and that
all needs are catered for.
“The Men’s Shed is whatever
the men want. We’re not going to
tell them what to do. If somebody
comes in and wants to do something, we’ll try and get a bit of
funding and do it,” Martin added.
Although there is a minimum age limit of 18, there is
no maximum age limit. All are
welcome to come and enjoy the
space; whether you’re a 65year-old gent who is looking to
learn something new or if you’re
relocating from another country
and would like to meet some
interesting people.
There’s still some work to
be done in the building, so the
chance to become a volunteer
early on is available.
It’s clear to see that this project
is taking care of its members
well before opening hours. By
providing a warm and welcoming
environment, men can comfortably participate and share their
interests.
You can follow the journey
of the Men’s Shed on their
Facebook page – South Tyrone
Men’s Shed. Here you can keep
up-to-date with what’s happening
as this exciting enterprise nears
completion and opens for the
general public.
33
34
Mid Ulster focus
Kicking up a storm
Moyola Park FC celebrated its phenomenal 135th anniversary with a black tie
Gala Night held at the Moyola Park Golf Club on Saturday, February 14th
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View and buy pictures @ www.midulsterfocus.com
Mid Ulster focus
35
Eel not be comin’ back
From the archives of the
Cookstown Citizen
March 6th, 1799
E
el Soup Saved Mid Ulster
From Ruination.
Residents from Magherafelt, Cookstown and Coalisland and their surrounding areas
can thank a ‘dose of the skitter’ for
the preservation of their proud placenames as an entry from the 6th March
1799 edition of The Cookstown Citizen explained in great detail.
John Bull, a London cartographer,
arrived in Cookstown under the
instructions from his paymasters to
rename many of the local towns,
villages and townlands in order to
reflect geographical landmarks and its
people as opposed to maintaining a
connection to their Gaeilge roots.
His records show that Clonoe and
its surrounding townlands had already
been renamed before Bull visited a
shebeen in Brocagh for an ‘Eel
Supper’ washed down with a tankard
of Campbell’s Sauce.
Derrytresk had become Wetlands
under the new directive, with Bull
noting:
“One cannot cycle from A to B in
Derrytresk without footwear normally
associated with feeding seals at
London Zoo.”
Derrylaughan was now Rampartville, Brocagh had been renamed
Badgertown whilst Stewartstown had
the new moniker of simply ‘Tin’.
All names had been submitted
and passed by the House of Lords in
London just as Bull stopped off in
Campbells in Brocagh for refreshments before addressing Ardboe and
Cookstown.
It is not known whether the cartog-
rapher was deliberately poisoned but
a local journalist for the Cookstown
Citizen described his last day in
Tyrone:
“The already unpopular Bull had
gained a rowdy protest following by
the time he arrived in Ardboe. As he
inspected the surroundings it was noticeable he had become pale green in
complexion. Locals were calling him
‘greenhorn head’ and ‘oul Bull balls’
long before he soiled himself in clear
view of the protesters who cheered at
the sight. To the chants of ‘Skittery
Bull’ and ‘Yellow Trail Man’, John
Bull left on his bike, never to be seen
on Irish soil again.”
Little did people know but a bowl
of eel soup in Brocagh prevented
Mid-Ulster as we know it from being
wiped off the face of the map in 1799.
TAKING BOOKINGS NOW!!!
MOTHER’S DAY MARCH 15TH
51 DUNGANNON ROAD COALISLAND
TEL: 028 87747956
MOB: 07731348408