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06/10/2022
Other News In Brief
New Secure Bicycle Parking At CastleCourt
A new, free, secure public cycle parking facility has opened in Belfast, in a partnership between Belfast City Council and CastleCourt Shopping Centre with funding from the Department for Infrastructure.
'The Bike Yard' can be accessed via the pedestrian access to CastleCourt Carpark from Gresham Street and Smithfield Market and will be open from 7am-7pm Monday-Wednesday and Friday - Saturday, 7am-10pm on Thursday and 12-7pm on Sunday.
The facility can house 24 bikes and offers all-day on site security. Located within reach of City Hall, the new Ulster University campus, and the site of Belfast Stories, set to become a world-class visitor destination, it's in the heart of the city centre and accessible to all.
Belfast Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Michelle Kelly said: "Opening the Bike Yard in partnership with CastleCourt is part of our Bolder Vision - an ambitious blueprint to create a more attractive, accessible, safer and more vibrant city.
"We're passionate about promoting wellbeing for all, prioritising walking, cycling and public transport, creating lively, safe and green streets and removing barriers to movement between the city centre and surrounding communities. Providing secure cycle parking is another small, but important step to encouraging people to move away from relying on their cars to get around.
"The Bike Yard will benefit people working and studying in Belfast – as well as those visiting the city. Along with our Active Travel Hub which we're opening later this week at Cathedral Gardens, we hope to see more and more people choosing to cycle around the city – safe in the knowledge that their bike is secure while they work, study, or take some time out."
Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd said: "I am delighted to see the opening of the Bike Yard, a great, free cycle parking facility that my Department has funded. This will increase the opportunities for cycling to and from this city centre location and it supports my commitment to addressing the climate emergency and will also make a positive difference to wellbeing in people's lives."
Leona Barr, Centre Manager at CastleCourt Shopping Centre added: "With more people coming into the city on a daily basis, we're proud to be part of the solution to allow for more sustainable travel with Belfast City Council. The Bike Yard at CastleCourt will be free of charge, and is housed beside the car park office, giving cyclists that extra peace of mind."
Belfast Distillery Company Doubles Local Workforce
The Belfast Distillery Company has announced that is has doubled its workforce in Belfast, just weeks after the company broke ground on the £22m J&J McConnell's Distillery and Visitor Experience at Crumlin Road Gaol.
The newly expanded team widens the expertise and capacity of Belfast Distillery Company as they bring McConnell's Irish Whisky to bars and off licences from Belfast to Brisbane, and Boston to Berlin.
The latest additions to the BDC team include Dessie Roche, who joins the team as Commercial Manager having come from a background in accounting and international sales, and Joanne Paffey, who fills the role of Supply Chain Controller, bringing a wealth of experience in manufacturing and production planning. Conchúr Fitzpatrick has also come on board as McConnell's Brand Ambassador and will be involved in brand development, marketing, social media and sales, as well as travelling to Trade Events, promoting the brand in recently established markets.
This period of growth also sees the promotion of Sarah Kennedy to the position of Brand Manager, as the team ramp up their marketing communications across all channels and their distributor network.
Speaking on the appointment of their newest team members, John Kelly, CEO at Belfast Distillery Company said: "Thanks to the efforts of our existing team and the industry response received for the newly restored McConnell's Irish Whisky brand across the globe, Belfast Distillery Company has experienced rapid growth over the last six months. Even in a market as competitive as premium Irish whiskey, McConnell's is standing out both with traditional consumers, and those who are new to the category. The fact that we are expanding so rapidly to meet the demand is proof of today's positive performance and that the future is very bright for McConnell's Irish Whisky.
"Belfast Distillery Company and our McConnell's Irish Whisky brand is bringing Irish Whiskey distilling back to Belfast, and in support of that goal we need a strong team on the ground here in the city. We are often at events and trade shows across the US and Europe, and we are determined to build an ambitious and experienced team here in Belfast, which will be crucial to our continued success. We are delighted to welcome our new members to the team and look forward to seeing the positive impact we know they will have on McConnell's Irish Whisky."
Negotiation Is Only Way Forward In Brexit Talks – Alliance
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry has said that the only way forward on issues relating to Brexit is through negotiation, following the resumption of talks between the UK and EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
It's the first major talks since February, with technical talks coming before a meeting between Ministers. North Down MP Dr Farry said it was good discussions have now resumed.
Mr Farry said: "There has been little engagement since February, so it is good talks have now started again.
"A hard Brexit necessitates the Northern Ireland Protocol or some similar set of protections. However, the challenges it brings need to be minimised, but the relative opportunities need to be maximised. It is important Northern Ireland retains access to the EU Single Market for goods.
"The only way forward lies through negotiations. Trust is the key ingredient in both making progress and the functionality of many outcomes. By contrast, the Protocol Bill is a dead-end. Unilateral action and breaking international law are entirely counter-productive. Indeed, the Bill threatens Northern Ireland's access to the Single Market.
"There is a clear landing zone around many challenges. However, Alliance is under no illusion around the scale of the gaps needing to bridged, and the timescales that may be involved to reach solutions."
A new, free, secure public cycle parking facility has opened in Belfast, in a partnership between Belfast City Council and CastleCourt Shopping Centre with funding from the Department for Infrastructure.
'The Bike Yard' can be accessed via the pedestrian access to CastleCourt Carpark from Gresham Street and Smithfield Market and will be open from 7am-7pm Monday-Wednesday and Friday - Saturday, 7am-10pm on Thursday and 12-7pm on Sunday.
The facility can house 24 bikes and offers all-day on site security. Located within reach of City Hall, the new Ulster University campus, and the site of Belfast Stories, set to become a world-class visitor destination, it's in the heart of the city centre and accessible to all.
Belfast Deputy Lord Mayor, Councillor Michelle Kelly said: "Opening the Bike Yard in partnership with CastleCourt is part of our Bolder Vision - an ambitious blueprint to create a more attractive, accessible, safer and more vibrant city.
"We're passionate about promoting wellbeing for all, prioritising walking, cycling and public transport, creating lively, safe and green streets and removing barriers to movement between the city centre and surrounding communities. Providing secure cycle parking is another small, but important step to encouraging people to move away from relying on their cars to get around.
"The Bike Yard will benefit people working and studying in Belfast – as well as those visiting the city. Along with our Active Travel Hub which we're opening later this week at Cathedral Gardens, we hope to see more and more people choosing to cycle around the city – safe in the knowledge that their bike is secure while they work, study, or take some time out."
Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd said: "I am delighted to see the opening of the Bike Yard, a great, free cycle parking facility that my Department has funded. This will increase the opportunities for cycling to and from this city centre location and it supports my commitment to addressing the climate emergency and will also make a positive difference to wellbeing in people's lives."
Leona Barr, Centre Manager at CastleCourt Shopping Centre added: "With more people coming into the city on a daily basis, we're proud to be part of the solution to allow for more sustainable travel with Belfast City Council. The Bike Yard at CastleCourt will be free of charge, and is housed beside the car park office, giving cyclists that extra peace of mind."
Belfast Distillery Company Doubles Local Workforce
The Belfast Distillery Company has announced that is has doubled its workforce in Belfast, just weeks after the company broke ground on the £22m J&J McConnell's Distillery and Visitor Experience at Crumlin Road Gaol.
The newly expanded team widens the expertise and capacity of Belfast Distillery Company as they bring McConnell's Irish Whisky to bars and off licences from Belfast to Brisbane, and Boston to Berlin.
The latest additions to the BDC team include Dessie Roche, who joins the team as Commercial Manager having come from a background in accounting and international sales, and Joanne Paffey, who fills the role of Supply Chain Controller, bringing a wealth of experience in manufacturing and production planning. Conchúr Fitzpatrick has also come on board as McConnell's Brand Ambassador and will be involved in brand development, marketing, social media and sales, as well as travelling to Trade Events, promoting the brand in recently established markets.
This period of growth also sees the promotion of Sarah Kennedy to the position of Brand Manager, as the team ramp up their marketing communications across all channels and their distributor network.
Speaking on the appointment of their newest team members, John Kelly, CEO at Belfast Distillery Company said: "Thanks to the efforts of our existing team and the industry response received for the newly restored McConnell's Irish Whisky brand across the globe, Belfast Distillery Company has experienced rapid growth over the last six months. Even in a market as competitive as premium Irish whiskey, McConnell's is standing out both with traditional consumers, and those who are new to the category. The fact that we are expanding so rapidly to meet the demand is proof of today's positive performance and that the future is very bright for McConnell's Irish Whisky.
"Belfast Distillery Company and our McConnell's Irish Whisky brand is bringing Irish Whiskey distilling back to Belfast, and in support of that goal we need a strong team on the ground here in the city. We are often at events and trade shows across the US and Europe, and we are determined to build an ambitious and experienced team here in Belfast, which will be crucial to our continued success. We are delighted to welcome our new members to the team and look forward to seeing the positive impact we know they will have on McConnell's Irish Whisky."
Negotiation Is Only Way Forward In Brexit Talks – Alliance
Alliance Deputy Leader Stephen Farry has said that the only way forward on issues relating to Brexit is through negotiation, following the resumption of talks between the UK and EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol.
It's the first major talks since February, with technical talks coming before a meeting between Ministers. North Down MP Dr Farry said it was good discussions have now resumed.
Mr Farry said: "There has been little engagement since February, so it is good talks have now started again.
"A hard Brexit necessitates the Northern Ireland Protocol or some similar set of protections. However, the challenges it brings need to be minimised, but the relative opportunities need to be maximised. It is important Northern Ireland retains access to the EU Single Market for goods.
"The only way forward lies through negotiations. Trust is the key ingredient in both making progress and the functionality of many outcomes. By contrast, the Protocol Bill is a dead-end. Unilateral action and breaking international law are entirely counter-productive. Indeed, the Bill threatens Northern Ireland's access to the Single Market.
"There is a clear landing zone around many challenges. However, Alliance is under no illusion around the scale of the gaps needing to bridged, and the timescales that may be involved to reach solutions."
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:A dry night, save for a few light showers around the coasts, with prolonged clear spells and light winds bringing a frosty dawn for many in central and southern parts. Minimum temperature -3 °C.
