back in blog mode

I've been away awhile from this portal and really got out of the habit of keeping this blog current so this week I'm going to make a big effort getting back in the swing of things.
First off, bit of a summary of recent happenings. The choker, AKA fringe lily, is dispersing. Council officials did spray some chemicals on the plant during September and it does seem to have worked but I was later told that this is the time of year for the blasted thing to die anyhow, so the proof of the pudding is going to be next Spring....
Cliftonville FC's new stand is ready and I understand the team are playing Linfield tomorrow in a match thats going to be broadcast on the telly, so it'll be interesting to see how the stand can handle all that testosterone and also what impact, if any it will have on the Wateworks park itself considering home fans must now enter through the Waterworks Cliftonville Road entrance.
New parts for the children's play park on the lower Cavehill Road side arrived this week which is great to see meanwhile the fishermen have been fishing like mad men with a whole host of competitions. And of course coming up soon is a winter-themed country fair organised by the Friends of the Waterworks team... so in all, quite a bit has been going on.
I still walk through the park most days and despite its familiarity and being right on my doorstep I never tire of it.

Rest in peace Archie Girvan

It was with deep regret that I learned Friends of the Waterworks treasurer Archie Girvan (pictured on the right along with Mark McCutcheon and Joanie McGuinness) died this week.

I met Archie some years ago through the Waterworks and for me he was a great man, always friendly, courteous and kind.

Archie has played an invaluable role in North Belfast. 

In today's Belfast Telegraph there are heartfelt messages of sympathy expressed from a range of community organisations including the North Belfast Employment Centre; Westland Community Group; North Belfast Partnership Board; Friends of the Waterworks; North Belfast Community Support Group (NBCSG) and the North Belfast Play Forum.

Archie was a member of all these groups at one stage or another in his lifetime and he achieved great results along with his team members in getting the job done, building up partnerships and promoting North Belfast.

I've included a great photo of Archie taken as far back as 2001, if computer date records are to be trusted, and it features Archie, in his role as member of the North Belfast Play Forum, on the unfinished site of the Waterworks multi-sports arena. 

The pitch has turned out to be one of the biggest success stories of this city and is used by sporting enthusiasts of all ages, from all communities. Midnight Soccer tournaments are even hosted regularly its that popular.

Brian Mullan who is secretary of the NBCSG and chairman of the Waterworks group said he was devastated by Archie's death.

He paid tribute to Archie and his unwavering cross-community efforts saying he will be missed by many. 

It's very true. The gap left in this community by this gentle soul will be hard to replace.

water lily action

As everyone knows the top pond of the Waterworks is being choked with water lily so it was good news to finally hear that Belfast City Council (BCC) are finally going to get the finger out and spray the plants with some sort of eco-friendly but not fish-friendly herbicide.

It's going to take several years to complete as the work will be carried out in stages because "there is a risk of small scale loss of fish" the council said.

This week BCC's elected representatives held their monthly meeting and during that emotionally charged meeting where incinerators and a civic reception for soldiers coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan was debated, DUP councillor Ian Crozier demanded that the council foot the bill for any dead fish and replace them instead of the Fishing Waterworks club.

stuck in the middle with you

This swan and her cygnets find it hard going making their way through the Waterworks top pond 

Support return of children's festival

I've been informed that Young At Art, who helped to bring this year's hugely successful Children's Festival back to the Waterworks need encouragement letters from all you punters out there.

For me this is a no-brainer and it should absolutely return. 

Everyone I have spoken to about the event which ran for two days at the end of May said they thought it was a brilliant event, which provided tons of family fun events, never before seen in the park. Over 11,000 people turned up and they came from miles around to see the viking boat glide through the waters, shop, eat or watch movies in the open air.

So get on the computer or write a letter to Young At Art, and address it to Ali FitzGibbon, 15 Church Street, Belfast BT1 1PG or email her at ali@youngatart.co.uk

You'll be helping a fabulous event return to our shores so get to it!

Top pond needs deflowered

The amount of weed in the top pond is incredible at the moment and for those fishing it's proving to be incredibly difficult to fish as well as reel in.

At a Friends of the Waterworks meeting in Belfast Castle the group was informed that in July action would be taken.

Apparently the best time to kill the plants is when they are in bloom and thats just about now.

In recent weeks I've noticed more and more experienced fishermen out in their waders trying to catch some fish.

Casting their lines I'm told is much too problematic close to the pathways. 

So lets see if Belfast City Council take the action they've promised. At the moment it looks like almost 50 per cent of the water is now covered with this plant life. As much as it may look pretty to the passerby, it needs cut back drastically in order to preserve the eco-system that thrives beneath its ever-increasing stretch.

New signs

My earlier post suggested that new signs with park rules for the Waterworks could be on their way, have to point out that in fact the new signs which I spotted yesterday at the Cavehill/Westland Fire Service entrance are in fact a map of the park. I would say this signage will be extremely useful for wheelchair users, indicating where the steep slopes run.
I'm pretty sure ties into health and safety legislation and new laws that require public spaces and businesses have appropriate disabled access points and information.
I'm still wondering if those signs designed by local school children will indeed be erected, they too would be another asset to the park.