Eagle Wing Celebration 6th to 8th September 2024
The weekend of events were well attended and well received. I am attaching a report of the weekend which includes some photos taken at events.

On 1st September, Radio Ulster’s Kintra programme broadcast a 12 minute item about the Eagle Wing Celebration. It can be heard on the BBC Sounds app until the end of September.

Hallowe’en
Discover Groomsport and Ards and North Down Council are holding a joint event for children on Sunday 27th October from 2pm to 4pm.
Cockle Row Cottages will have animals from Blackberry Farm, spooky stories with Marianne McShane and a Hallowe’en trail along the shore. At the Boathouse there will be Hallowe’en crafts and games. There will also be a fancy dress parade, with prizes, from the Boathouse to Cockle Row. If you have children or grandchildren, please let them know or bring them along.

Discover Groomsport Annual General Meeting
Our AGM will be held on Thursday 14th November at 7.30pm at the Boathouse. I will be sending you the agenda and papers for the meeting next month. After the meeting there will be refreshments and the opportunity to have photographs scanned for our Digital Archive.

Groomsport in Bloom
I am sure that everyone appreciated how well the village looked this summer. Much credit for this must go to the Village Association’s Groomsport in Bloom group – a hard-working group of volunteers led by Peter Kelly. Discover Groomsport has a representative on the group. The results of the Ulster in Bloom competition are due to be announced soon. We all hope that the village will again do well in the Large Village category.

Other Village Activities
Last year we set up a Link committee, chaired by Maureen Irwin, one of our trustees. Its purpose is to provide a meeting place for organisations in the village where they can share their plans for the next few months and, hopefully avoid the dates of events clashing. The Link committee met recently and the following events were mentioned.

September
20th 10.30am. Collection of tools for Solidarity. Walter Nelson Hall.
21st 2.00pm. Pet Blessing in the grounds of Parish Church.

October
5th 10.30am. Leisure Group Coffee Morning. Walter Nelson Hall.
6th Harvest Festival, Parish Church.
13th Harvest Festival, Presbyterian Church.
19th 2.30pm. Afternoon Tea in aid of Open Doors. Guest speaker on “The Royals”.

November
5th 2.30pm. Tuesday Club. “All our yesterdays” with Dr David Irwin. Parish Halls.
9th 10.30am. Coffee Morning in aid of Hope Christian trust, Gaza. Walter Nelson Hall.
17th 7.00pm. Donaghadee Community Choir. Presbyterian Church.
29th 7.30pm. “Showtime: songs from the shows” by Fortwilliam Musical Society. In aid of a school in Kenya. Walter Nelson Hall.

December
3rd 2.00pm. Tuesday Club. Open Meeting. Afternoon tea and magician. Parish Halls.
13th 7.30pm. Carol Service. Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
22nd Carol Service. Parish Church.