Latest news with #BrianConnolly
Daily Record
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
South Ayrshire youngsters shine in DanceMania event
Primary and secondary school pupils performed at Ayr's Gaiety Theatre. More than 20 schools and community groups attended Ayr's Gaiety Theatre to take part in South Ayrshire's annual DanceMania event. DanceMania is a non-competitive showcase for primary and secondary school pupils, hosted and organised by South Ayrshire's Active Schools team. In preparation for the event, the groups were supported by school staff, local dance schools and 'Dance Leaders', who are S3-S6 secondary pupils from across South Ayrshire, to choreograph routines which they then performed on stage. The event is now in its third year and provides young people with the opportunity and experience to perform on stage in front of a live audience. Many of the participants had never been on stage before and the event provided the opportunity to build their confidence while having fun. Young people performed a variety of dance styles with lots of high energy and personality. Active Schools Young Ambassadors also supported the event by helping backstage and compering the evening. Leader of South Ayrshire Council, Councillor Brian Connolly, said: "DanceMania is a fantastic initiative that brings children together to celebrate creativity through the art of dance. It's inspiring to see young people embrace dance without the pressure of competition, fostering confidence, fun and community spirit. The young people who took part should all be very proud of themselves."
Daily Record
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Airshow Festival Village returns for two days of family entertainment
There will be a range of activities for all ages, including a climbing tower, laser tag, and axe throwing. The International Ayr Show's Festival of Flight village will bring a weekend of entertainment for the whole family this September. The event will take place on Friday, September 5 and Saturday, September 6 at Ayr's shorefront - with activities and attractions throughout the Low Green as well as breathtaking aerial displays. This year, there will be plenty of activities for all ages, including a climbing tower, laser tag, and axe throwing. Visitors can try the aircraft simulator or make their way to the fabulous lights and attractions of the fun fair. If you're coming to the airshow with the whole family, there's a wide range of activities to keep children occupied at the Family Fun Village – with face painters, glitter tattooists, a circus workshop, bubble football, a dinosaur show, a magic show and more. The airshow strategic partner, theSKYLAB, will return to the Festival Village with the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) marquee. With hands-on activities and representatives from companies from the Prestwick aerospace hub and across Scotland, attendees will be able to get a taster of all the impressive and interesting things that are going on in the world of STEM. Also returning will be the popular Army, Navy and RAF village. Organisers are especially pleased to welcome back the event charity partner to the festival site - the RAF Benevolent Fund. Representatives from the Fund will be happy to welcome festival goers to their marquee to chat about the invaluable support they provide to serving and ex-serving RAF personnel and their families. Attendees will be able to create the perfect memory of their visit by choosing a souvenir from one of the many vendors in our Local Trade Village, or from the airshow merchandise stall. There will be a food village with a wide variety of tasty treats to keep everyone fuelled up, plus a bar on site. Business owners are encouraged to register their interest in trading at the 2025 International Ayr Show via the online application form which is available on the aishow webpage. There will be a range of static exhibitions featured this year, showcasing vintage cars, vintage motorcycles, model aeroplanes, heritage emergency vehicles and more. There will also be a range of military museum exhibitions to view. With all this, plus daring aerial displays on both days, there's plenty to look forward to at the International Ayr Show – Festival of Flight. Leader of South Ayrshire Council, Councillor Brian Connolly, said: "After two successful years, The International Ayr Show – Festival of Flight has gone from strength to strength and I'm sure 2025 will be no different. With even more announcements to come, the line-up for both the aerial displays and Festival Village are promising a brilliant weekend." Depute Leader of South Ayrshire Council and Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Culture and Rural Affairs, Councillor Alec Clark, said: "We'll have an excellent range of activities on offer at the airshow this year – making it not only a worthwhile trip for all the aviation enthusiasts, but also a great day out for families. "It's exciting to have such a prestigious event to look forward to within South Ayrshire that draws in impressive crowds of both local people and visitors – just what we want and need for the area." Gavin Davey, Area Director for Scotland, Northeast England and Northern Ireland, at the Fund said: "We are delighted to continue our partnership with South Ayrshire Council at The International Ayr Show - Festival of Flight in September. "This outstanding event provides an invaluable platform to raise awareness of the vital support we offer to members of the RAF Family across Ayrshire, Scotland, and the wider UK. "We look forward to this year's event with great anticipation and are grateful for the continued warmth and enthusiasm shown by South Ayrshire Council and the local community. "The Ayr Show consistently offers a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere, and we are excited to strengthen our local engagement." CEO of The Skylab, Geoff Coxon, said: "The STEM village is a fantastic place to see what is happening at the amazing Prestwick aerospace hub and the rest of Scotland, with all of the companies bringing along the really exciting things they make. They will also bring interactive family activities such as mini drone flying, flight simulator, wind tunnel experiments and much more too. 'It is a great place to talk to the companies about career opportunities too. Even though you may not think it, there are so many transferable skills that be used in the aerospace industry, so you never know where your next career move will take you after the airshow. 'Our airshow is very special in that it is the only airshow in the UK where the flying display programme is specifically designed around STEM. So, all of the exciting displays you will see have real links with the engineers and companies in the STEM village. This way there is real context to what is happening in the STEM village on the ground. Make sure to listen out for the display commentaries that link all of these great companies, and their teams, to the displays from the Typhoon, Red Arrows and many others to come!"
Daily Record
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Brian Connolly named new leader as South Ayrshire council votes on new chief
Experienced independent Brian Connolly has been named as South Ayrshire Council's new leader. The Maybole member was voted in to lead the council on Tuesday morning and will see fellow Carrick independent, Alec Clark, perform the role as his depute. Cllr Connolly has managed to piece together the shattered remains of the previous administration which fell apart earlier this month. Four Tories quit their group and Martin Dowey resigned as council leader during a chaotic week at the start of May. Cllr Connolly has now emerged to lead – but was accused of propping up a 're-arranging of the deck chairs on the Titanic.' Labour leader, Duncan Townson, said: 'By voting this way, we're telling the people of South Ayrshire there are no consequences for bringing this council into disrepute.' Labour colleague, Brian McGinley, added: 'The credibility of this council is on the line. It's important we see a change. 'It's very clear that the same people are in this administration, just in different positions.' SNP leader, Julie Dettbarn, said: 'Over the last year I've witnessed things in this place that I never expected and it goes way beyond petty political bickering. 'It's an unedifying spectacle to watch the chairs being rearranged with the same people in them and think the public won't notice – well they absolutely will notice.' Labour's Ian Cavana added: 'In my 21 years here, I've never known this council to be so low. We have to change things. 'What's at stake here is South Ayrshire Council. This is just 'same old, same old.' People who've brought this council into disrepute are still here. 'This is the same administration that caused these issues.' But new depute council leader, Cllr Clark, said: 'I think Cllr Connolly is the man to take this council forward – he is a trusted businessman whose integrity shines through.' Iain Campbell also made an incredible return as Provost, claiming he was now politicially removed as an independent.
