Everyone lends a hand to ‘Tidy our town’

There is a buzz around Ballycastle as people see this grand old run down building becoming a bright beacon at the Seafront which will welcome The Olympic torch in few days time.

Local People from all backgrounds are getting involved from Shopkeepers to Councillors and not forgetting the ordinary man, woman and indeed Children from the town are also getting their hands dirty.

One of the organisors Mr Conor Maguire explained how the local school children are getting involved “We are delighted that the three local Primary Schools have got involved; the Children have been busy painting and drawing pictures which all have relevance in some way to Ballycastle, five pictures from each school have been selected and will be blown up in size and transferred onto a laminate type material these will be secured onto the boarded up windows of Parkmanor and of two other properties in Castle street which are the next target of the ‘Tidy Our Town’ campaign. Out of theses 15 Drawings one from each school has been selected as ‘A Gold Medal Winner’ in keeping with the Olympic theme but the organisers are not disclosing who got GOLD until the Drawings go up! So watch those spaces that were boarded up and see them transform into beautiful works of art”

The organisers Mr Michael Magee and Mr Conor Maguire still insist that funding from Mr. Attwood’s Office at Stormont must be allocated to Ballycastle to help the town help its self,

“While it is understandable that Portrush has been granted funding due to the Irish Open Golf Competition being held there in coming months, it must not be forgotten that Ballycastle is the gateway to the Glens, Rathlin Island and to The North Coast and with the new visitors centre due to open at the Causeway there simply must be and without further delay an allocation of funds to allow Ballycastle to get the tidy up it too deserves.”

Mr. Maguire goes on to say “The Torch, The Golf and The Summer will see a major influx of tourists and visitors to this area and we need to be presenting Ballycastle at its best, not only will this allocation of funds help to Tidy Our Town but it will also provide, all be it in the short term, much needed employment for some of our local trade’s men and woman”

The Tidy Our Town Team wish to thank all who have helped with funding and with donations of materials so far “your contributions are all very much appreciated” said Mr Magee “a special thanks going to the Ballycastle Chamber of Commerce and to Moyle District Council for their support, but the biggest thanks of all must go to the People who bothered to give up their time and who came out to Tidy Their Town” Mr Magee concluded.