Portglenone Enterprise
Group Ltd
Portglenone is an important crossing on the
River Bann 10 miles west of the town of Ballymena. The villages
of Clady and Innisrush form an integral part of the district.
The ward of Portglenone has a population of approximately 4,000
people and was one of the early settlements on the River Bann.
Once a centre for the linen industry, for a
grass seed market and for salmon fishing the town is now a bustling
local shopping and service centre. Northern Ireland’s only
Cistercian Monastery is located on the edge of the town and attracts
large numbers of visitors each year. Portglenone also has a forest,
which is particularly beautiful especially in the bluebell season
as the photograph below shows.
Portglenone Enterprise Group was established
in 1995 and became a company limited by guarantee in 1997. The
company currently has 13 Directors and 18 other members. The company’s
objectives include:
- To identify and advance existing potential
for employment, enterprise, transport and amenities, arts and
crafts, and recreation facilities and cultural activity in the
district;
- To seek the views of and encourage support
from the community in relation to the above;
- To develop a strategy which will guide and
monitor progress.
In July 1996 the group launched their Village
Development Plan which was carried out by consultants and was
funded by Ballymena Borough Councils’ Local Economic Development
Strategy.
The group has employed a Community Development
Officer since January 1998 who has assisted them in implementing
some of their plans. Some of the projects the group has been involved
in are summarised below.
New Marina
One of the largest projects to be completed in Portglenone (at
a cost of £400,000) was the new Marina on the River Bann. Mr.
Danny McNeill of the Rivers Agency officially opened this Marina
in June 1998. The 18 berth Marina provides excellent facilities
for local boat owners and day-trippers alike. It is the only one
of its kind on the Lower Bann River with onsite electricity and
water facilities. All available long stay berths have been taken
but four remain for day-trippers. Ballymena Council has plans
to increase the number of berths at the Marina in the near future.
Photography Competition
Early in 1998 the Enterprise Group held a local photographic competition
to provide pictures that could be used for postcards. Two winners
were chosen, the first photo was of the marina at night (photo
above) and the second was of Portglenone Forest in the bluebell
season (photo below). The winners each received APS cameras and
their photographs are now for sale in local shops in the form
of postcards for tourists.
Local Primary Schools Competition
The community development officer introduced the idea of a local
quarterly newsletter which would inform the local community of
the projects and work that the group is undertaking and any other
events/activities happening in the local area. The local school
children were given the task of coming up with a name for the
newsletter. Three local schools participated in the competition,
which was judged by a former newspaper reporter and the winning
name was 'The Bannside Bulletin'.
Successful Lobbying
For some time the Enterprise Group had been lobbying the Department
of the Environment to improve a very popular footbridge joining
the settlements of Clady and Innisrush. In the autumn of 1998
this work was eventually carried out with the provision of steps
and a ramp, railings and a coat of paint.
Community Consultation
In May 1998 the Enterprise Group carried out a community consultation
in the settlements of Clady and Innisrush. The aim of this consultation
was to ascertain what types of developments the local people in
the area wanted to see for their local areas. This would then
allow the group to carry out work that the community felt was
necessary. This has lead to proposals for a small Environmental
Scheme for the settlement of Innisrush.
Local Community Festivals
Portglenone Community Association has been running a successful
community festival for a number of years. In 1998 and 1999 the
Community Association and the Enterprise Group joined forces to
run the festival. In 1998 to coincide with the opening of the
Marina the above organisations along with the River Bann and Lough
Neagh Association organised a very successful Boat Rally and a
day of fun on the Bann at Portglenone.
The group is currently making preparations for community celebrations
during the Millennium.
Youth Photography Project
The Enterprise Group organised a youth photography project involving
nine young people from both sides of the community. The principal
aim of the project was to bring together young people from differing
backgrounds in the local area and to find out what their opinions
of their local area are through photography. At the end of the
five-month project a booklet was produced containing photographs
of the local area taken by the young participants. This booklet
is for sale locally with proceeds going to further youth work
in the area.
Market Square Environmental Improvement
Scheme (EIS)
The group's most recent project has been the transformation of
the villages Market Square. This environmental work was carried
out over a six month period at a cost of approximately £250,000.
The scheme included:
Ø a reorganised car parking layout
Ø a widened pedestrian footpath
Ø resurfacing of all car parking and pedestrian areas
Ø addition of semi mature street trees
Ø provision of street furniture including seating, litter bins,
railings, amenity lighting and bicycle stands
Ø ducting of overhead BT cables
Ø provision of a new bus lay-by and bus shelter
Ø provision of space for civic feature.
The difference this scheme has made to the
Market Square is evident from the photographs below.
Before the Project
After the Project
Children In Need
In November 1998 Portglenone along with Belfast and Derry provided
the locations for an Outside Broadcast for the BBC's Children
In Need Appeal. On the night around £20,000 came to Portglenone
for the Appeal. There was music and fun to suit all ages at the
Marina Complex along with the BBC's Hugo Duncan.
Summer Scheme
Portglenone had its first children's summer scheme in July 1999.
Thirty-three local children between eight and twelve years of
age participated in the two-week scheme. Activities were based
at the local community centre and included games outside and in.
Four day trips were also organised and enjoyed immensely by all
the children and leaders. It is hoped that there will be another
scheme next year.
The group has other projects planned for the
remainder of 1999 and into the next Millennium.
Watch this space for further updates in the
future.
Portglenone Enterprise Group
34 Main Street
Portglenone
County Antrim
Northern Ireland
BT44 8AB
Phone : +00 44 (0)1266 820150
Fax(by arrangement) : +00 44 (0)1266 820150
Email :
