Latest news with #Warrenpoint
BBC News
24-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Deli Lites: Warrenpoint food company to create 130 jobs
A Warrenpoint food company that currently produces 84,000 sandwiches a day hopes to expand substantially thanks to a £19m investment in jobs and well as a number of high street cafes, Deli Lites has a large manufacturing base at the Milltown Industrial Estate in the County Down firm currently employs more than 300 people, but will invest more than £6m to add a further 130 jobs, including skilled positions and 10 management the firm's customers are supermarkets, coffee chains and international airlines. Co-founded by husband and wife Jackie and Brian Reid, the firm hopes a further £12.8m investment in automation will help it broaden its product range, increase on-site capacity and reduce firm currently has four premises at Milltown, but given its proximity to Warrenpoint Port and the main motorway network, finding suitable industrial space in Warrenpoint has been a long-term of this, Brian Reid said the expansion will see the further expansion of existing sites rather than the development of a new one."We're going to invest money here in Warrenpoint, in south Down," he said."But space is at a premium in the industrial estate that we are in. "But we have a plan to invest heavily in the capital, the automation and the AI integration here at Warrenpoint to make it into a world class manufacturing site. "That'll allow us to service customers wherever they are in the world." Like many manufacturing businesses, finding staff has been a challenge."It isn't at all easy, but we have a great team in the business that will be focused on going out and recruiting these people," Ms Reid said."There's incentives for our staff to see if they have friends or family that would be interested in a career here. "This isn't just operative level on the floor. There are careers here in technical, sales, marketing, commercial, logistics."Speaking at Thursday's launch event, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: "This is a company looking for new markets for their products and this investment will allow them to do that. "They've based themselves locally, they already employ over 300 people locally and are going to employ more people locally so this is a major announcement here today." The project has been supported by Invest NI's Agri-Food Investment Moody, Invest NI's director of food and drink, said: "The food and drink sector is very important to Northern Ireland and has been very heavily dependent on labour."But we have a productivity challenge in the sector so this initiative is about helping business to become more competitive, more productive and more efficient."Good jobs are obviously an element, but the productivity piece is the key element. "There is an expectation when you invest in automation that you won't be investing in jobs. "But what we are finding is that there is an investment in high value jobs."
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ulster Fleadh: Warrenpoint on song with traditional music and dance
Forty thousand singers, dancers, musicians and supporters are expected in Warrenpoint this week for the 2025 Ulster is the first time the town in County Down has hosted the celebration of traditional Irish music, dance and language in 16 by the local branch of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, the cultural festival runs from 20 to 27 July and features competitions and sessions across a number of the All-Ireland Fleadh taking place in Belfast next year, organisers are hopeful their "semi-final" event can showcase the region as a potential host for a future All-Ireland Fleadh. An estimated 600,000 people attend the All-Ireland Fleadh each Quinn, the chairperson of this year's Ulster event, says more than 3,000 people will take part in the main competitions at St Mark's High School next then, it is hoped bars, cafes, halls, squares and parks in Warrenpoint and nearby Rostrevor will be alive with traditional music."There were 30 to 35,000 people at last year's event in Dromore in County Tyrone," he said."The projection for this year is 40,000. That's because Dromore is a small town and doesn't have the same number of facilities we have here in Warrenpoint. "So the town is going to be very busy with live music, dancing and singing all the way through the week." The festival began on Sunday night with a céilí (traditional dance) in Rostrevor Square that served the dual purpose of bringing the curtain down on the village's annual Fiddler's Green the week ahead, Mr Quinn says that planned and impromptu sessions will take place in a variety of venues."We have sessions planned for each of the pubs and clubs and people to lead those sessions but we know that as soon as the pubs open and people wander in for a coffee that someone will have a guitar with them, or a tin whistle or a set of pipes and they'll keep playing until they're thrown out – probably the following Sunday."As well as making full use of the town's Edwardian bandstand, a gig rig and artisan market will be erected in the town park. The full Fleadh dream With the full Fleadh coming to Belfast next year, Mr Quinn says the dream remains to bring the event to the shores of Carlingford Lough."It's always in the back of your mind - that would be the dream," he said. "But a lot of work goes into this. We've a small committee and they have been superb. "This is about trying to get a name for this place and getting people into this part of the world."
Belfast Telegraph
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Belfast Telegraph
‘The gifts he has given will not be forgotten': Standing ovation at funeral for Game of Thrones star
Drama group where Warrenpoint actor started his career pays tribute to 'raconteur, wit and mimic' Mourners gave the late Warrepoint Games of Thrones actor Peter Ballance a standing ovation as his coffin left a Requiem Mass earlier this month. Speaking at the funeral, Fr Gerard Sweeney accused successive governments of 'destroying the arts'.
BBC News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Warrenpoint: Residents have 'had enough' of port stenches
People living in a County Down beauty spot have "had enough" of industrial stenches coming from Warrenpoint Port, campaigners have said. Liz Weir said she was sometimes driven out of her home by the smell of compacted rubbish from a waste management firm at the harbour. Re-Gen has been working in Warrenpoint for more than 12 years and told BBC News NI its facility was "regularly inspected by independent and statutory bodies".But Ms Weir said: "You get sometimes a big waft of air… it would make you gag." BBC News NI first reported the issue in 2023, and at that time Re-Gen said it was taking steps to reduce odours from stockpiled waste nearly two years on, campaigners insist not enough is being done to address concerns about the thousands of tonnes of waste stored at the port. Ms Weir has attended every public meeting and protest about the issue since she first noticed the said there were occasions when her family could not use their garden or even open their windows. "My husband is not a well man and the fact that he has to get into the car and go somewhere to get fresh air is just not right," she said. What is causing the stink? Much of the smell in recent years has been blamed on the storage of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) at Re-Gen's Warrenpoint facility. The firm processes black bin rubbish from a number of Northern Ireland councils, much of which cannot be recycled. The unrecyclable waste is packed into bales and driven to Warrenpoint to be shipped to places like customers burn the waste to produce electricity. Resignations over port pong Earlier this month, two councillors quit the board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority (WHA) in protest over the failure to resolve the odour problem. When Sinn Féin's Jim Brennan resigned, his party insisted it would not re-engage with the board "until there is a complete and permanent end to all RDF activities" at the Social Democratic and Labour Party then pulled out councillor Laura Devlin, saying there was "strength in the message of leaving the board together".Independent councillor Jarlath Tinnelly is the last politician on the board. Mr Tinnelly questioned what quitting said he was staying on to represent the public from within WHA's boardroom. "We have made incredible strides over the past 12 months," he said. "So much so that in this calendar year of 2025, the average weekly stock of RDF being stored on site is less than 50% of actually what is permitted."The councillor added he was "not in denial" over the smell but it had "diminished greatly over the past number of months". Smelly telegraph poles He pointed to a separate issue when "an exceptionally large" consignment of telegraph poles were imported during last month's Wake the Giant of the public lodged at least 25 formal complaints about a pungent smell, described as a mix of creosote and outdoor cleaning Tinnelly believes the incident reignited concerns over Re-Gen's unconnected waste operation. WHA chairman Gerard O'Hare issued a statement apologising "for the odour that came from a cargo of telegraph poles" and pledged they would not be imported through the port O'Hare declined a BBC interview request about Re-Gen's facility but said WHA is meeting the firm "to discuss odour concerns and to agree a solution". 'It's like putting aftershave on a dirty nappy' Colum Sands, from the campaign group Rostrevor Action Respecting the Environment (RARE), said the telegraph poles incident must not distract from the ongoing Re-Gen dispute. "We're in a town of breathtaking beauty and the breath of the town is being taken away by a stench," he Sands insisted it was "a long-term smell" which would "continue to be there so long as black bin waste comes into Warrenpoint Port". He also questioned Re-Gen's practice of spraying the bales with odour treatment."As someone said to me the other day - it's like putting aftershave on a dirty nappy, rather than changing the nappy," he campaigner called the resignations a "positive" development."Sheer pressure and, I'd imagine, vote counting forced a number of politicians to make a move and of course it's very welcome," he said. Inspectors identified problems at Re-Gen The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) conducts regular inspections to ensure Re-Gen complies with its waste spokesman said monthly off-site odour assessments conducted between January and July 2025 "did not detect any odours attributable to the licenced waste facility".However, NIEA said some previous inspections identified "minor non-compliances".These included "storage outside the licence boundary, control of pests, exceedance of the three-month storage limit and control of odour" in also recorded "further non-compliance" on odour control in June NIEA added that Re-Gen "implemented measures to address these issues and bring themselves back into compliance". Re-Gen insists it is "fully compliant with all industry regulations". "Since June 2024, NIEA has carried out 13 inspections, all resulting in full compliance, including the most recent on 8 July 2025," the company said. Ms Weir is aware inspectors carry out "sniff tests" near the she explained the problem, and her family's plans, are determined by wind direction."If you're out here and there is a south-westerly wind - which is the prevailing wind in this area - we get the smell," she said.
The Irish Sun
23-04-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Teenager Dylan Holmes left stunned in interview as he emulates idol Rory McIlroy with shock West of Ireland win in Sligo
GREYSTONES teenager Dylan Holmes secured a remarkable victory in treacherous conditions at the West of Ireland Amateur Open on Tuesday. The 18-year-old managed to hold off the challenge of Warrenpoint's Colm Campbell in a tense final to win 2&1 and capture one of Ireland's most prestigious amateur titles. Advertisement 2 Dylan Holmes secured the West of Ireland Amateur Open on Tuesday Credit: ©INPHO/Ben Brady 2 The 18-year-old's won on his debut in the event at County Sligo Golf Club Credit: Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Ben Brady The youngster started the week as a MASSIVE 150/1 outsider to lift the trophy in the west of Ireland. He now becomes the youngest defending champion of the tournament since Rory McIlroy claimed back-to-back victories in 2005 and 2006 - Masters champion McIlroy was just 16 when he claimed his second title. Holmes joins an illustrious list of Irish golf icons including McIlroy, Shane Lowry, Padraig Harrington and Paul McGinley, all of whom earned their first major amateur title at this very event. To make things more impressive, it was the 18-year-old's debut in the event at County Sligo Golf Club. Advertisement read more on golf Following Holmes' breakthrough in Sligo, the Leaving Cert student spoke to The final at County Sligo Golf Club was played in relentless wind and rain. But he didn't care as he was overjoyed with the triumph. Advertisement Most read in Golf "I was just really nervous coming down the stretch there. I did something similar in my previous matches and managed to get it done on 18. I'm sad that it's over." His father was on the bag for the week, just as Rory McIlroy's dad Gerry had been during his son's early triumph in 2005. Shocking moment 'biggest snake ever' slithers across golf course terrifying fans Asked about giving his father a perfect birthday gift, Holmes responded: "I didn't get him anything. " for him as well, which is nice. He was brilliant caddying for me all week and then was just outstanding as well." Advertisement Despite what was at stake for the teen, Holmes still thought about watching idol He told 'Watching Rory [was more stressful] – at least you have some sort of control over the situation when you're doing it yourself.'
