NEWS

First Steps Nursery staff and children have taken up residence in a new 6,500 sg ft. facility on the Dromore Road following investment in the nursery by local business owners and First Steps Directors, Barry Gray and Colin Dalton. The new facility will see the addition of a new After School service to meet local need and will generate 5 new jobs this year – bringing the total number of professional nursery staff to 30.

Mark Murnin former Chairman of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has completed 66 mile walking challenge he set himself earlier this year and raised an estimated £12k for three nominated charities namely, NI Air Ambulance; Newry Gateway and Glebe House.

16 year old Molly Walker from Jerrettspass was named Facce of Buttercrane 2019 – selected from the finalists at the Live SS19 Catwalk Shows including Carla Downey from Warrenpoint, Amy Connolly, Ravensdale and Anna McKnight, Forkhill.

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Join Buttercrane this Easter for a Peter Rabbit themed Eggstravaganza!

From the 19th – 28th April we’ll have lots to keep the kids entertained – Peter Rabbit the movie will run on mall, we’re hosting a Peter Rabbit Picnic on Mall and we’ll have an Easter themed Petting Farm (with lot of cute bunnies) too during Easter Week.

Chairman of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Mark Murnin Cllr, is to walk 66 miles across the District in a 3-day event this May to raise funds for his 3 chosen charities.

The Chairman’s Walk is a new initiative by Councillor Murnin as his year in office nears closure.
3 Day Charity Walk challenge will support the Chairman’s Charities: Northern Ireland Air Ambulance, Glebe House and Newry Gateway.

Life & Time, the new charity set up to deliver extra end of life care to people in the Rostrevor, Warrenpoint and Burren region, has officially been launched.
After almost a year since the concept of a community driven, end-of-life service was proposed through a series of open meetings in Rostrevor, Warrenpoint and Burren; Life & Time now have 19 trained nurses on the ground, providing additional end of life care in the community.

Buttercrane Shopping Centre celebrates 30 years in the heart of Newry City. First opening in November 1988, the centre represented a major investment in the City which was underinvested and had a high unemployment rate.
Peter Murray Centre Manager said,
“The Centre was home to some of Northern Ireland’s most famous high street brands which have disappeared in recent years such as Wellworths, Stewarts Supermarkets, Connors Chemists, Options, Adams Childrenswear, Virgin music, Etam, Chicago and Caroline Music.

“Change is always at the heart of the retail sector and as a Centre we continue to adapt, evolve and reinvent ourselves. We’re outward looking and progressive and that has stood the test of time.”
The centre now employs some 900 staff and contributes some £13M annually to the local economy.

Centre trading was positive in Buttercrane over the final quarter, specifically the Christmas period.
Peter Murray, Centre Manager reports: “Some stores performed particularly strongly and recording their best ever December trading figures in Buttercrane Centre, which is great news for the retailers concerned, Buttercrane Centre and indeed Newry itself. The impact of the Primark fire in Bank Buildings Belfast was felt widely by Belfast High Street traders but as a by product of that tragedy, many displaced Primark fans visited Buttercrane – as it is home to the largest Primark in NI at present,” Peter added.

The 19th Newry Business Annual Christmas Charity Dinner took place with over 600 guests in attendance in the Canal Court in December 18, raising an amazing £78,830 for 19 local charities. Recipients of the Dream Holiday were: Daisy Chapman from Dromintee Primary School; Calleigh Rodgers from Grange Primary School, Kilkeel; Clodagh and Niamh O’Donnell from St Mary’s Primary School in Ballyward and Ella Gribben from St Malachy’s Primary School in Castlewellan.