Latest news with #Magherafelt
Belfast Telegraph
6 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Paul Jordan eager to join list of NI winners at Armoy's ‘Race of Legends'
Since the Irish national road race was first run in 2009, only Ryan Farquhar, Michael Dunlop and Davey Todd can lay claim to having won the blue riband race. Held each year in memory of the legendary Armoy Armada road racing quartet of Joey Dunlop, Frank Kennedy, Mervyn Robinson and Jim Dunlop — who competed together at Irish road races from the mid to late 1970s — the race has been dominated by Michael Dunlop, whose victory in 2023 was his 10th Legends success. The Isle of Man TT record-breaker is absent this year, as is English rival Todd, who was a winner of the big race in 2022 and 2024. A new name will be added to the trophy today, with Magherafelt racer Paul Jordan putting down a marker yesterday after he claimed pole position in qualifying on the Jackson Racing by Prosper2 Honda. Jordan lapped at 106.324mph, but Republic of Ireland rider Mike Browne was only a few tenths of a second slower on his Honda at 106.087mph. Manxman Conor Cummins is another chief contender on the Burrows Engineering/RK Racing BMW along with fourth-fastest Michael Sweeney (MJR BMW) and Yorkshire's Jamie Coward on the KTS Racing BMW, who made his return from injury at the Southern 100 this month following a crash at the North West 200 in May. Phil Crowe, the runner-up last year behind Todd, also can't be ruled out on his BMW. Jordan, though, will be fired up to emulate fellow Ulster winners Dunlop and Farquhar by winning the Superbike showdown. The 34-year-old is having a fine season, winning his first race at the North West 200 in the Supertwin category and securing another rostrum at the TT, again in the Supertwin class. Jordan, who also finished fourth in the second Supersport race at the TT in June, set a new lap record as he won the Supertwin race at Armoy yesterday and finished a close third in the Supersport race. However, he has been eager to prove himself on the 1000cc machines and a win today would be a feather in his cap. 'I was able to do the lap times (in Superbike qualifying) on my own, so that will only help me,' Jordan said. 'It's been good, a win and a third, so it's good for the team and good for me. 'A backmarker just played a bit of a part on the last lap there (in the Supersport race), which sort of ended it (challenge for second place), but I'm happy. We'll get another go at it tomorrow.' Browne will be aiming to double up in the Supersport class on the BPE by Russell Racing Yamaha after his win last night, while Jordan will fancy his chances of a repeat in today's Supertwin race. Dan Sayle sealed pole in the Moto3/125GP class with Ballymena's Barry Davidson quickest in qualifying for the Lightweight Supersport/GP250 race on the Bry Joinery 250 Honda. Former MotoGP star Jeremy McWilliams is competing on a 400 Kawasaki in the Lightweight race and was third fastest in qualifying on his return to the event after a long absence. Andy Farrell starts from pole in the Classic Superbike race with Sam West also on the front row in second place.
BBC News
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Teenage artist meets McIlroy at Portrush
A lovely moment here at Royal Portrush as local teenager Lucia Heaney has her portrait of Rory McIlroy signed by the man 15-year-old from Magherafelt won Tourism Northern Ireland's art competition with her portrait of the Grand Slam winner with Lucia's winning design featuring the Harland and Wolff Cranes and the Giant's Causeway.
Belfast Telegraph
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Magherafelt singer makes return with new album: ‘I was making music in the background the whole time'
The Magherafelt singer-songwriter, who is proudly connected to his Northern Irish roots, says his album, Space Hurts, which is due for release on June 20, has a 'bit of everything'.
BBC News
05-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Warning of mass exodus of Northern Ireland GPs to private sector
A GP who wrote a scathing letter to Northern Ireland's health minister accusing him of "complete disrespect" for general practice has said those working in the sector are at their "wits' end".Dr John Diamond, who has served his community in Magherafelt for 25 years, says GPs are angry about chronic underfunding and unsafe his letter to Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, he warned of an exodus from the NHS to private Department of Health said the minister "remains open to discussion as to how best to secure the future of general practice so that it can remain a central part of primary care services now and in the future". Two weeks ago Nesbitt imposed a disputed funding package that was overwhelmingly rejected by said a package of £9.5m additional funding was offered to GPs and said he was "disappointed" the BMA negotiators recommended to their members that they reject the offer.A total of 99.6% of GPs who took part in the referendum voted to reject the Diamond, who is based at Garden Street Surgery in Magherafelt and Bellaghy Medical Centre, said "when general practice goes, the NHS goes"."There are now three tiers of patients in Northern Ireland: the people who have plenty of money who can afford to pay, the people who have insurance and everybody else. "Most people fit into the everybody else category."Every day in life I am saying to people I will send them off and they will be seen in six, seven, eight years, in some cases, and sometimes never."I know I will be looking after them for years on end while they never get their treatment."I appreciate that waiting lists are a problem, but they are a symptom of a system of a failing system."He said decisions "that haven't been made properly by our politicians" are to blame. GP taking 4,000 phone calls a week Dr Diamond said GPs do more than 90% of all consultations on the NHS. "Up to two years ago, it was 5.4% of the budget, it's probably less than 5% of the budget [now]."He added: "I would argue that if you compare the funding that we get in our region compared to others in these islands, we are very much the poor relation by a long way."Most developed countries would say you should be spending at least 10% of your budget within general practice within primary care and we are far, far from that."Dr Diamond said there are between 3,500 and 4,000 phone calls to and from his surgery on an average week, before they even see a doctor said he is in the latter years of his career within general practice and had envisaged he would see it out in the NHS."But the youngsters coming through are not accepting that," he said. "They don't want 20 years of a constant battle to get anything done. They want a system that works better for them and better for their patients."For sure, they are plotting what we can do next."He said he would like the minister to "sit down properly with our representatives and have a discussion about the needs that general practice has and respect those needs rather than just dismiss us". 'Matter of regret' In a statement, the department said it was "a matter of regret" it had not been able to reach agreement in relation to the 2025/26 GMS (General Medical Services) contract. It said the minister stated on 19 May that "he remains open to discussion as to how best to secure the future of general practice."The £9.5m associated with the 2025/26 GMS contract represents additional investment in core GP services, with no 'strings' attached in terms of additional workload, or no requirement for additional patient consultations," it said."Total investment in GP services this year will be more than £414m. "Given the extreme budgetary challenges facing the department, however, the minister has made clear to the BMA that the £9.5m contract offer, which will provide support directly to GP practices in Northern Ireland, was the best and final offer for 2025/26."It added: "The department and minister remain committed to the principle that GP services should remain free to all patients at the point of access and do not agree that the privatisation is the way forward for GPs."
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Jonathan Anderson's success 'means everything' to Magherafelt
People from the hometown of fashion designer Jonathan Anderson have expressed their pride that he is to take on a new role at the world famous brand, from Magherafelt, County Londonderry, is known for his innovative styles having previously designed outfits for the likes of Rihanna and Ariana Grande. On Monday, he announced he will be the creative director of both the women's and men's collections at the French fashion house. Sharon McCracken, who is head of art at Anderson's old school Rainey Endowed, said the success of the world-renowned fashion designer "doesn't surprise us".She said even as an A-level student, his work was exceptional. "I was a trainee teacher at the time - his work was amazing, so very creative."So it doesn't surprise us at all that he has had the success that he has," she said."Even then the whole flair and creativity of his work stood out - it was just way beyond anybody of that age group."Before his move to Dior, Anderson spent 11 years as creative director of Spanish luxury fashion house Loewe. He stepped down from that role in March and the following month he confirmed he was to become the artistic director of Dior menswear. Then this week, he became the first designer to head both the women's and men's lines at the company. Inspiring the next generation Pupils at Rainey Endowed described Anderson's journey as "very inspirational". Heidi, who is currently studying A level art, has already met the designer and hopes to follow in his footsteps. "I was over in London and I met him in his shop, and then he invited me to his fashion show."He's lovely, he seems very humble," she said. "I used him as my artist reference quite a lot for my schoolwork as he shows a lot of diversity in what he can do." Fionn is also an art student at the school and admires Anderson's work."I really like what Jonathan is doing. I love his collections. "It's really good having someone so famous like him coming from Magherafelt." 'He's mentioned quite a lot' Glenda Wilson is the manager of Jude Law Boutique in Magherafelt and said Anderson's success means everything to the town."He's mentioned quite a lot in the boutique - mostly through Loewe. You see quote a few ladies carrying Loewe handbags," she said. "I've a few of his sunglasses as well from his previous collection. "Let's just see what he does with his next collection - I might have to purchase a few things."
