Latest news with #MaryPeters
Belfast Telegraph
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
‘I hope it inspires people to get outdoors': Woodland walk opens in Lisburn named after Lady Mary Peters
A woodland walking trail has officially opened in Lisburn named after Lady Mary Peters, the first landmark of its kind to be named after the Olympic gold medallist. It was officially opened on Thursday by the athlete who was joined by the Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh, Councillor Kurtis Dickson. The woodland trail, set within the scenic grounds of Aberdelghy Golf Course, was proposed by pupils at Fort Hill Integrated Primary School in recognition of Lady Mary's historic victory at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. Lady Mary said that she was 'deeply honoured' and that, knowing the idea came from young people in the local area, makes it 'even more special'. The 1.2km walk links the Lagan towpath with the golf course and travels down Conway Lane reconnecting with the towpath. Over the past 12 months pupils at Fort Hill Integrated Primary School have worked with Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council to participate in a series of planting schemes designed to enhance the biodiversity of the area. Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, Councillor Kurtis Dickson, said: 'This woodland trail is a fitting tribute to Lady Mary Peters — a local legend whose achievements continue to inspire generations. It's a wonderful addition to our parks network, offering a peaceful and scenic route that celebrates both her legacy and the natural beauty of our area." Speaking at the launch, Lady Mary Peters said: "I am deeply honoured to have this beautiful woodland walk named after me. Knowing that the idea came from young people makes it even more special. I hope this space inspires people to get out and enjoy the outdoors and cherish our natural environment." Watch: Lady Mary Peters visits NI school 50 years on Councillor Jonathan Craig, Chair of the council's Communities and Wellbeing Committee, said: 'Lady Mary's Woodland Walk is a shining example of how we are enhancing biodiversity while creating beautiful, accessible green spaces for everyone to enjoy. 'Our parks and open spaces across Lisburn & Castlereagh are among our greatest assets. 'Projects like this demonstrate our commitment to protecting nature and promoting wellbeing through enhancing and developing our parks and outdoor spaces." To support local wildlife, a native hedgerow has been introduced, featuring species such as Blackthorn, Crab Apple, Hawthorn, Hazel, Holly and Rowan trees—providing both habitat and nourishment for birds and other wildlife. Additionally, native wildflowers and pollinator-friendly bulbs have been planted to sustain vital pollinators throughout the seasons.
Belfast Telegraph
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
Watch: Lady Mary Peters visits NI school 50 years on
Lady Mary Peters has visited St Michael's school in south Belfast after she visited the school 50 years ago. At the special assembly, pupils asked Lady Peters their burning questions, including who her sporting hero is and her favourite fictional characte, The 1972 Olympics gold medalist reunited with former pupil Michelle Cody-O'Connor, who appeared in a photo alongside the sporting legend in 1975.
ITV News
29-04-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Lady Mary Peters reflects on golden moment
A look back with Northern Ireland's golden medal winner Mary Peters, to when she lit up the Munich Olympics.
BBC News
25-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Cardiac rehabilitation: 'I feel fitter than ever after my heart attack'
"At 85 years of age I never thought I would be going to the gym or walking laps of Mary Peters track."Those are the words of Joe Connolly who is recovering from a heart attack and attending the cardiac rehab service at the Belfast Health months ago, Joe woke up in the middle of the night feeling pressure across his chest."I didn't collapse, there wasn't a sharp violent pain, I wasn't sweating - I just felt this unusual pressure," he was no ambulance available, so he was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital by car where an electrocardiogram confirmed a heart was still wearing his slippers when he left his home in south Belfast. He had lifted his glasses and mobile phone as he passed the hall BBC News NI's health correspondent, I am used to telling patients' stories but Joe isn't just any patient - he's my dad and this is our family's story of a heart attack, a cardiac nurse and how we all learned to live again. My dad has been active all his life - even in in November, in the early hours of a Saturday morning, our world was shaken when his heart decided to hold a mini protest.I woke up to seven missed calls and a message to ring my older picked up and calmly said: "Dad is OK, but he's had a heart attack and is in hospital, mum is with him."What happened that night is now a familiar story in the initially thought it was just indigestion. But as the pressure and my dad's worried expression increased, she dialled to my mum, a "lovely woman with a Scottish accent" asked her to describe his symptoms and the advice was for him to chew four aspirins without dad said within fifteen minutes of doing so, the pressure had call handler said an ambulance would not be available for maybe hours and suggested my mum or someone else could take him to minutes later dad was at the emergency department - thanks to my was an anxious he was admitted to a ward, and we waited for a diagnosis and treatment plan. A weekend admission meant we had to wait until Monday, when a consultant said dad needed a stent procedure to unblock an said a stent was like the refill of a ballpoint pen and when inserted into the artery it allowed the blood to flow to the heart.A second artery which was described as "furry" could be treated with slot to have the procedure became available during visiting hours - a porter and nurse arrived and whisked him was back within the hour. Drowsy, slightly bruised but relieved."A few weeks after leaving hospital I received a call from the cardiac nurse Susan Kane and that's when things turned around for the better - she is my go-to and at the other end of a phone," he said. My dad is being cared for by the cardiac rehabilitation a week, dad joins about 15 other men and women who are recovering from heart disease - including angina, a heart bypass or a stent procedure - in south Belfast at the Olympia leisure nurse Susan Kane says it is all about "helping people to feel better about themselves, to help their heart health and mixing helps their emotional health too".Between April 2023 and March 2024, 346 people took part in the cardiac rehab service at the Belfast Trust - by the end of March, 263 had completed the programme and were a similar picture across each of the health trusts where teams including physiotherapists and dietitians are led by cardiac is gentle aerobic exercise, cycling and resistance training with light weights."What's important after a heart attack is to be back doing your normal activities again and for your family to treat you normally so you can start feeling like yourself," said Susan."Whether you are 45 or 85 after a heart attack life is not over and you can lead a healthier life, even compared to what you did before."Her mantra is "your heart loves to walk" and she encourages everyone in the group to enjoy the advised us not to wrap mum and dad in cotton wool but to encourage them to get out and about, and to get back to playing indoor bowls.I now recognise that I was overly protective in the weeks, even months, after my dad's heart attack and it's taken a long time not to think the worst every time the phone and dad are active, their diet is better and their outlook on life is Sunday, dad celebrated his we left the restaurant, he said he was grateful to be here, that he's never felt as fit and that it feels good to have reached the grand age of 85.
