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More than 1,000 people attended Newry Water Festival at Albert Basin last Monday 31 August. The free event offered four hours of land and water based activities alongside opportunities to engage with local organisations and services.
Albert Basin was transformed into a busy hub of activity for the afternoon, with attractions catering for all ages. Water based activities included paddleboarding and traditional Canadian boats, while those on land ranged from a climbing wall and dunk tank to trampolines, face painting and arts and crafts.
with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Newry District Electoral Area (DEA)
coordinator Padraig Harte (third right). Included are Councillor Killian Feehan,
Beverly Maguire (Quays Shopping Centre), Sean McKevitt (Neighbourhood
Renewal Coordinator) and Raquel Rodrigues (Volunteer Now).
New additions to this year's festival included a surfing simulator and a dedicated sensory space, offering a quieter, lower stimulated environment for children and families who would benefit from time away from the busier areas of the event. Organisers said the new elements helped broaden the range of activities on offer and made the festival more inclusive.
The event also gave people the chance to learn more about local services and access information on health, wellbeing, community safety and volunteering, with organisations working in the Newry area on hand throughout the afternoon.
Newry Water Festival was organised by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council's Newry District Electoral Area Forum and Neighbourhood Renewal. It was delivered with the support of a range of partners, including the Department for Communities, Arbour Housing, Radius Housing, Newry BID, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Policing and Community Safety Partnership, Southern Health and Social Care Trust Promoting Wellbeing Team, Volunteer Now, The Quays Shopping Centre, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
Newry DEA Forum Chairperson, Councillor Aidan Mathers, welcomed the success of the festival and the strong support for the event. He said: "It was fantastic to see more than 1,000 people enjoying Newry Water Festival and creating such a positive community atmosphere at Albert Basin.
"The festival is about bringing people together and providing a free, enjoyable and accessible day for families, while also connecting them with the many organisations and services working within our community. It was particularly pleasing to introduce new elements this year, including a sensory space, helping to make the festival more inclusive and ensure there were opportunities for even more children and families to enjoy the day in a way that suited their needs."
Cllr Mathers added: "An event of this scale is only possible through partnership working. I would like to thank everyone involved, including our funders and partners, Council officers, emergency services, community organisations and volunteers, as well as everyone who came along and helped make the festival such a success."
