An International Festival with the participation of all communities and cultures was just one of the suggestions at the February Newry 2020 Meeting. Photograph: Columba O'Hare
After last months very successful inaugural Newry 2020 meeting in Sugar Island where many ideas both old and new were discussed, the second public meeting will take place this Tuesday night the 11th of March at 7.30pm in the Sugar Supper Club, Sugar Island, Newry at 7.30pm. All are welcome
Newry 2020 is a newly formed group with the aim of helping make Newry fulfil its untapped potential as a vibrant, exciting place to live and work and an attractive destination for tourists.
Following on from last month already there have been several initiatives set in motion including a new Festival that will run from the 12th to the 14th of September the Iúr Cinn Fleadh and the proposed
festival of windows that aims to encourage local businesses to keep their shop front shutters open permanently or at least to midnight.
Ideas Discussed at the February Meeting Included (In no particular order)
Revisit the Newry Masterplan - people don’t know about it See it at www.dsdni.gov.uk/newry-city-centre-masterplan.pdf
Need to widen discussion beyond business people and involve young people
Need a theme - eg, maritime, gateway to South Down, etc
Lesson from Galway - need to concentrate facilities
Need to market Newry addressing legacy issues and security
Look at Westport - has worldwide reputation
We need a welcoming atmosphere
Urban park is key - should be bus depot
Redevelopment of the Albert Basin as a city park was another topic discussed at the February Newry 2020 meeting. Photograph: Columba O'Hare
Pedestrianisation needs to be a reality
Newry should promote itself as being in the centre of beautiful landscapes - outdoor activities
Link Albert Basin into cycle path
Newry themed as an Eco-town to help connect to our natural environment.
Green park in centre will change impressions
“Slow cities” - originated in Italy
Technology to host info about events in Greater Newry
Business events network
Cultural trail - historical tours of Newry - need to make this visible - they’re out there but they’re hidden
Urban Geological Tour
ToursInNewry.com?
Quality assurance needed - by council - online reviews?
Tourist info should be in centre of town
Hook in with Low Carbon City initiative?
Maritime theme - evolve this idea - maritime heritage tour?
Public consultation on Albert Basin - refer to masterplan - educate people as to what is in it
Parks - community facilities for various ages - eg, skateboards, velodrome
World Music Festival - a week of variuos world music - eg, West African drumming, reggae, dancing, South American - celebrate the food of these countries. Go to all the pubs / coffee shops in Newry - ask them to host
Use empty buildings - pop-up spaces
St Christopher’s Park - needs to be used for events / theatre / etc - needs a bridge to Newry Shamrocks
Parks - community / children’s entertainment in centre / fitness / theatre / education / conference centre / open gyms - look at Boyle / Bingo setting up an events space
Hill Street - open up and brighten up - graffiti on shutters - or just get rid of them
Youth Groups - giving more opprortunities - promotion
Regenerate Mary St and Market Place - for local and international craft space
City Centre Living - apartments / night life
Festival of Arts - with SRC
Woolworths / pop-up / regenerate space
World Music evening - build a culture night - bring jazz/folk/south american bands & food
Revive market space for bank holiday weekend / Sunday / International Farmers Market / puppet shows / open air theatre / something for adults
The Hub - business speed dating
Biz Camp - business connections and fun events - Air Hotel - Air BnB
Lodging letting of rooms in houses to visitors - kind of like an exchange
Set up charity vehicle for community events / networking / marketing - set up people to run it
Look at festival for summer 2014
One central website for events / initiatives
A pedestrianised city centre - cafe culture - cycle friendly
Enhanced quality of life - space to enjoy life
Family life - city park
Use empty shops to showcase local businesses
Get up off our butts and do it for ourselves
Rejuvenate already existing committees in Newry with youth
Shutters get painted
pubs - music nights
culture nights
Identify influential bodies and speak to them
Get a boat on the canal - form the youth marine corp
Multi story car park at north street flats
Play park at cathedral car park
Streets on to Hill Street cleaned up
Regeneration programmes
Glass/feature over Bridge over canal
Guerilla gardening
Tax office etc all higher level floor with ground floor shops etc & unground car park etc
City centre living ( apartments on Hill Street etc )
Exhibitions on the street - Shops become an art gallery
Large city centre student life - large campus with students living in city centre
SRC - festival of arts - student pieces exhibited
Roseleen - pride of newry
Tow path through the centre centre with markers
Plaques at historical sites, eg history of golden teapot
Why should people have to leave Newry at the weekends for leisure and enjoyment?
Development of Arts and Cultural activities
Incorporate Mary St into Newry Market as a dedicated Arts, crafts, culinary, fashion quarter
Make Newry people proud of Newry - empower them to take action and own an agreed vision
An international festival that really achieves the participation of all communities and cultures
Better support for festivals to feed into this
Signage should reflect reality of a multi-lingual society
Creation of an integrated marketing plan for Newry CIty
Major signature week-long festival focused on canal and river
Co-ordinated promotions for “nights out” by pubs and eateries
Shopkeepers to take responsibility for footpath outside their premises - don’t be afraid of “claims”
Brighten up shop fronts - do away with shutters at night
Create a traders’ fund to sustain revitalisation activities
Pilot a late night “shutters up” evening with street entertainment
Focused publicity for events, timed for maximum effect
Monthly events guide - or quarterly. Full year is too long
Guerilla playpark in Marcus Square
Easter egg hunt - picnic in the city event
Bi-lingualism and creative arts - looking at ways to encourage participation and create events
“Coder Dojo” - a programme to teach children about programming and games - will run every two weeks
Support Local businesses
Where possible develop mutual support for “competitors” - eg, tweet about events
Canal - cafe barge / re-opening
Tunnel - Gallows Hill re-opening
Hill Street - new night life
Skateboard park
Potential change - citizen-lead
Big Ideas - garden for locals and visitors
Canal - use for public - bars
Venues - make the city attractive - open up / clean it up
Central cultural hub / venue
Town Hall and Arts Centre need updating - need to fulfill potential
