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Being a Master Saddler makes you a member of a very exclusive club, with only three in the province. One of them, James Adair plies his trade from his workshop in WIN Business Park, Newry.
Adding to his RDS Award in 2014, James has just had a hat trick in London, winning three prizes for his side saddle in the Society of Master Saddlers National Saddlery Championships. He took the Societies First Prize for side saddle, Premium Award for having over 85% of the marks and the Side Saddle Association Trophy, a trophy that has never made it out of England … until now.
Other competitors in the prestigious competition included the King and Queen of Denmark’s saddler and harness maker, the King and Queen of Sweden’s harness maker and Queen Elizabeth’s harness maker, so top competition indeed.
On Easter Monday next month you will find James demonstrating his saddlery work at Smithfield in Dublin as part of the Easter Rising Commemorations, thanks to an invite from RTE. He is also demonstrating at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May.
James is married to a Newry woman and is originally from near Cloughy on the Ards pennisuala. He is a registered member of the Society of Master Saddlers, Qualified Master Saddler and Side Saddle specialist and Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust Scholar.
When he was 12 or 13 he had a friend that kept greyhounds. Every dog had his own collar and lead and with 70 dogs that was a lot of collars that needed work done to them so a young enterprising James looked for a way to get them fixed.
“I remember taking a bag of collars into a local shoe mender in Newtownards one day in all innocence and I opened the bag and he came round and literally chased me down Regent Street in Newtownards, and I didn’t know what I’d done!
“It turned out another Greyhound man - his dogs killed his cat. He just seen Greyhound collars and I was going to get the brunt of it”
Not to be put off James then went to a local saddler, but he was up to his eyes so he started fixing them himself and as they say the rest is history.
A friend Joe Garvey a saddler in the Blues and Royals from the Household Cavalry came home and they got working together. James went to a Saddlery school in Salisbury. He had no notion of doing exams but his teacher had other ideas and forged his signature and James sat his first exam whether he wanted to or not.
James got his Master Saddler’s qualification and with the notion of doing side saddles, started repairing a few of them as well as taking on many other related jobs.
“I fix anything at all that goes on to a horse - collars, straddles, harness, all the bridle work, saddles, I’ve made saddles, all that sort of stuff”
On working on side saddles James says “I tend to get a bit lost in them, time disappears. This one took six weeks solid work to make it from scratch, and they’re not all eight hour days!
“When I do them they are 100% hand stitched, there’s no machines at all, and even some of the threads I make by hand”
With customers as far away as Cork and London, word of mouth is what usually takes them to him or sometimes they discover him on the Society of Master Saddlers Website or his own thejourneymansaddler.com site.
Over the years as well as equestrian items James has made thousands of belts, dog collars, cattle halters, Briefcases and bags, muzzles, prosthetics for Vets, even boots for cats and dogs.
While his main work is repair, since moving to WIN he has made numerous bespoke bridles including one for the Garda Síochána.
On sourcing his raw materials James reflects “We’ve no Tanneries in Ireland anymore unfortunately. For saddlery leathers you can’t really beat English leather for that. My doeskin comes from Germany for the seats in the Side Saddles. Linen, I can get here. Linen Threads, most of my threads were made in Hilden Mill
“There were Tanneries in Newry at one stage, The Tan Yard would have been up near Bagenal’s Castle and the hides would have been shipped out on the boats”
The last Newry Saddler who worked in Canal Street closed down in 1964!
“I think it was Kelly his name was” James remarks “At one stage leather would have played a big big part in Newry, you had leather sellers, you had boot makers, shoe makers, collar makers, harness makers and saddlers, it was a big big thing.”
Roll the clock forward half a century and the Journeyman Saddler is now established in Newry. The business is three years at Unit 2 RDC in WIN Business Park. Hours are usually 9-4ish, unless he is out fitting a saddle.
James runs regular workshops with a maximum of five students per course at their premises in Newry.
James can be contacted by email at enquiries@thejourneymansaddler.com or Telephone 077 4712 9161
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Being a Master Saddler makes you a member of a very exclusive club, with only three in the province. One of them, James Adair plies his trade from his workshop in WIN Business Park, Newry.
Adding to his RDS Award in 2014, James has just had a hat trick in London, winning three prizes for his side saddle in the Society of Master Saddlers National Saddlery Championships. He took the Societies First Prize for side saddle, Premium Award for having over 85% of the marks and the Side Saddle Association Trophy, a trophy that has never made it out of England … until now.
Other competitors in the prestigious competition included the King and Queen of Denmark’s saddler and harness maker, the King and Queen of Sweden’s harness maker and Queen Elizabeth’s harness maker, so top competition indeed.
On Easter Monday next month you will find James demonstrating his saddlery work at Smithfield in Dublin as part of the Easter Rising Commemorations, thanks to an invite from RTE. He is also demonstrating at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in May.
James is married to a Newry woman and is originally from near Cloughy on the Ards pennisuala. He is a registered member of the Society of Master Saddlers, Qualified Master Saddler and Side Saddle specialist and Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust Scholar.
When he was 12 or 13 he had a friend that kept greyhounds. Every dog had his own collar and lead and with 70 dogs that was a lot of collars that needed work done to them so a young enterprising James looked for a way to get them fixed.
“I remember taking a bag of collars into a local shoe mender in Newtownards one day in all innocence and I opened the bag and he came round and literally chased me down Regent Street in Newtownards, and I didn’t know what I’d done!
“It turned out another Greyhound man - his dogs killed his cat. He just seen Greyhound collars and I was going to get the brunt of it”
Not to be put off James then went to a local saddler, but he was up to his eyes so he started fixing them himself and as they say the rest is history.
A friend Joe Garvey a saddler in the Blues and Royals from the Household Cavalry came home and they got working together. James went to a Saddlery school in Salisbury. He had no notion of doing exams but his teacher had other ideas and forged his signature and James sat his first exam whether he wanted to or not.
James got his Master Saddler’s qualification and with the notion of doing side saddles, started repairing a few of them as well as taking on many other related jobs.
“I fix anything at all that goes on to a horse - collars, straddles, harness, all the bridle work, saddles, I’ve made saddles, all that sort of stuff”
On working on side saddles James says “I tend to get a bit lost in them, time disappears. This one took six weeks solid work to make it from scratch, and they’re not all eight hour days!
“When I do them they are 100% hand stitched, there’s no machines at all, and even some of the threads I make by hand”
With customers as far away as Cork and London, word of mouth is what usually takes them to him or sometimes they discover him on the Society of Master Saddlers Website or his own thejourneymansaddler.com site.
Over the years as well as equestrian items James has made thousands of belts, dog collars, cattle halters, Briefcases and bags, muzzles, prosthetics for Vets, even boots for cats and dogs.
While his main work is repair, since moving to WIN he has made numerous bespoke bridles including one for the Garda Síochána.
On sourcing his raw materials James reflects “We’ve no Tanneries in Ireland anymore unfortunately. For saddlery leathers you can’t really beat English leather for that. My doeskin comes from Germany for the seats in the Side Saddles. Linen, I can get here. Linen Threads, most of my threads were made in Hilden Mill
“There were Tanneries in Newry at one stage, The Tan Yard would have been up near Bagenal’s Castle and the hides would have been shipped out on the boats”
The last Newry Saddler who worked in Canal Street closed down in 1964!
“I think it was Kelly his name was” James remarks “At one stage leather would have played a big big part in Newry, you had leather sellers, you had boot makers, shoe makers, collar makers, harness makers and saddlers, it was a big big thing.”
Roll the clock forward half a century and the Journeyman Saddler is now established in Newry. The business is three years at Unit 2 RDC in WIN Business Park. Hours are usually 9-4ish, unless he is out fitting a saddle.
James runs regular workshops with a maximum of five students per course at their premises in Newry.
James can be contacted by email at enquiries@thejourneymansaddler.com or Telephone 077 4712 9161
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Newry Chamber of Commerce hosted a Business Lunch in the Canal Court Hotel today with deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MLA the keynote guest speaker.
President Michael McKeown, said, ‘Newry Chamber of Commerce was delighted to host this important Business Lunch with the deputy First Minister at a hugely important time in the history of this cross border community and indeed the island of Ireland. The outcome of the UK’s Referendum on EU membership and imminent Government elections on both sides of the border may impact our everyday lives and shape the way we do business in the future. It was important to hear from the deputy First Minister his comments on the matter and for him to hear the views from the Newry Business Community’.
At the event the deputy First Minister talked about the global economy, the priority the Executive places on growing the economy and the valuable contribution of local businesses.
The deputy First Minister said: “Events like this hosted by the Newry Chamber of Commerce and Trade are important as they provide a forum for an exchange of views on how we can collectively grow our economy. Newry has a vibrant business community with an abundance of entrepreneurial spirit and a thirst for success. This energy and enthusiasm has kept the wheels of the economy turning during what has been very challenging economic period
“At a time of elections, north and south and a referendum on Europe it’s vitally important the Executive, Invest NI, Councils and local stakeholders continue to work together to rebuild and rebalance our economy. We must support businesses and we have done that during this Programme for Government by almost £30million of support offered by Invest NI to locally-owned businesses in the Newry, Mourne and Down Council area.”
Speaking about the performance of the Executive, Martin McGuinness said: “Decisions taken by the Executive by locally elected and accountable politicians continue to make a real and positive difference to people’s lives. This Executive has created more than 40,000 jobs, spent over £90million a week delivering the range of health and social care services across the north, stopped the introduction of water charges, kept our rates bill lower than the rest of the UK, kept prescriptions free for everyone and protected free domiciliary care.
“In addition, we have supported our students with tuition fees for local students at Queen’s and Ulster University which are a third lower than those studying in England. We have stopped the introduction of the bedroom tax, unlike the rest of the UK, prevented unmitigated welfare cuts through agreeing a range of welfare changes to continue to support the most vulnerable across society, and provided free travel for pensioners.”
Event sponsor, Steven McDonnell, Recruitment Manager at Servisource, stated, ‘We were delighted to support Newry Chamber in hosting this business lunch event. As an organisation operating in this cross border region we recognise the importance of events like this in promoting this region as a key place to work and do business’.
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Newry based MJM Group are to buy Shackleton Barracks from the government after First Minister, Arlene Foster MLA and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MLA today announced their agreement to sell the former military base at Ballykelly to the Group.
MJM Group plans to create over 100 jobs initially on the 621.5 acre site and provide a range of facilities benefitting the local community.
Welcoming the sale, First Minister Arlene Foster said: “I’m pleased to confirm we have agreed to sell the Shackleton site to MJM Group.
“This site which was gifted to the Executive under the Agreement at Hillsborough Castle, presents a unique opportunity for MJM Group to maximise its potential.
“MJM plans for Shackleton include a private jet and rail carriage fit out facility, renewable energy and the company’s own IT service centre and facilities management services which will create over 100 new jobs.
“With NI Water’s plans to develop part of the Site for an Integrated Constructed Wetland and DARD’S plans for its new Headquarters, the entire Site will soon be brought back into use by the new owners. At a time when our manufacturing sector has had a number of disappointing announcements, this is a good day not just for Ballykelly but for the manufacturing sector of the wider North West.”
The deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness said: “Today is the start of the next chapter of the Shackleton story. The successful company MJM Group is a local company with global ambition.
“This investment will deliver huge social and economic benefits for local people. It may be the first private investment on the site but I am sure it will not be the last. MJM Group will now develop the site so some of the other initial sale proposals could well be part of their plans depending on commercial discussions and negotiations.
“A key aspect of MJM’s proposal was its commitment to providing significant community benefits, including a refurbished community building and outdoor recreation facilities. The site will now be accessible and become an important part of community life. The combination of private investment alongside DARD’s new headquarters bringing 600 jobs will be the economic injection the North West needs.”
Jarlath Quinn the Group Chief Executive said: "We are delighted to have been the successful bidder to purchase this 600 acre former military site in Ballykelly.
"We will endeavour to develop the site by establishing a number of new business ventures on the site such as a facility to refurbish and fit our private jets as well as having a specialist fabrication business on the Shackelton site and therefore creating significant employment in the local area.
"Other business ventures under serious consideration by us are the creation of one of the largest solar panel plants in Europe with the development of a 60MW Solar Farm at a cost of £60million.
"In addition MJM Group could also continue to facilitate the use of the site by film crews and would accommodate other business proposals from interested parties to help further develop the site to help achieve its full potential."
Brian McConville the Group Chairman added: "We believe our proposal clearly stated our initial plan was to create a 100 jobs on site however it is my vision that at Ballykelly there will be at least 1,000 jobs on this site once it is fully developed as the opportunities that it will present are enormous. Our proposal also demonstrates significant benefits that will be attractive to the local community as a result of the MJM proposal to develop the site over the next number of years and also highlights the environmental benefits which arise as a result of this proposal. This is indeed a very historic day for MJM and our management team.”
The deal has also been welcomed by Conor Murphy MLA “I’m delighted that this site has gone to MJM Group and it’s appropriate that the site will now be used for the benefit of the people of the north,” he said.
“MJM are a real local success story and their plans to create over 100 jobs on the site, with a view to 10 times as many being employed there once its redevelopment is complete, show that regardless of their global ambition and success they remain committed to Ireland.”
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Around Noon Sandwich headquarters at Greenbank are in the running for a top building awards. They join a shortlist of 46 projects over 8 categories including other local project Acton House near Poyntzpass.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) NI has announced the shortlisted buildings and structures in the running for their RICS NI Awards 2016.
The sandwich producer’s new headquarters has been shortlisted in the Commercial category of the awards, which take place in May.
After celebrating 25 years in business in 2014 and having gone through successive years of steady growth, the company had reached capacity in its previous facilities. The business purchased a former meat processing factory, which was renovated to provide an office building to the front with client parking, and a large production facility to the rear, meeting all day-to-day needs of this growing company.
The RICS NI Awards 2016 are made up of a total of eight categories showcasing a wide variety of building projects this year. The categories are:
· Building Conservation
· Commercial
· Community Benefit
· Design through Innovation
· Infrastructure
· Regeneration
· Residential
· Tourism & Leisure
The winners of each category will also be in contention to win the top prize, Project of the Year.
The shortlist for the RICS NI Awards 2016 includes schemes, projects and public spaces from across all six counties including the restoration of Mount Stewart in Newtownards, The North West Regional Science Park in Derry/Londonderry, the RNLI Life Boat Station in Lisbellaw and the Galgorm Resort & Spa in Ballymena. (A full list of shortlisted projects can be found in Notes to Editors.)
RICS NI Awards Judging Chairman, Alistair Dunn commented; “The variety of projects that make up this year’s shortlist demonstrates how important the built environment is to Northern Ireland. From hotels and structures that support the development of our tourist industry, to residential areas that provide housing for communities, and projects that drive economic development, this shortlist has it all.
“Each project is a worthy winner and I look forward to recognising them all, and indeed the Project of the Year, at the gala ceremony in May.”
The RICS NI Awards 2016 will take place on Friday 6 May at La Mon Hotel & Country Club, hosted by Property Developer and TV presenter, Gary McCausland.
Northern Ireland winners will also be considered for the overall RICS Awards that will be announced at a gala event in London in October.
Further information about the awards is available at www.rics.org/awards
The Full Awards Shortlist
Building Conservation
· The Restoration of Beresford Obelisk, Limavady
· The Restoration of Acton House, Poyntzpass
· The Restoration of Mount Stewart, Newtownards
· The Graduate School, Queen’s University
· Sion Stables, Sion Mills
· Portico – formerly Portaferry Presbyterian Church, Portaferry
· St Patrick’s Church, Donaghmore
· Carlisle Memorial Church, Belfast
Community Benefit
· SERC Performing Arts, Computing & Engineering Campus, Bangor
· SPACE Project, People’s Park, Portadown
· Girdwood Community Hub, Belfast
· Hamilton Road Baptist Church, Bangor
· RNLI Lifeboat Station, Lisbellaw
Commercial, sponsored by Sika
· 19-17 Meeting Street, Magherafelt
· 19-21 Broad Streer, Magherafelt
· Castle Veterinary Hospital, Downpatrick
· City Quays 1, Belfast
· RNLI Lifeboat Station, Lisbellaw
· Around Noon, Newry
· North West Regional Science Park, Derry/Londonderry
Residential
· Lime Court, Peter’s Hill, Belfast
· Circular Road, Creggan, Derry/Londonderry
· Grillagh Water House, Maghera
· 19-27 Meeting Street, Magherafelt
· Ballymagarry Project, Portrush
· Ballymacrea Project, Portrush
· Old Church Square, Grahamsbridge Road, Belfast
· Killynure Green, Belfast
Regeneration
· Lime Court, Peter’s Hill, Belfast
· Circular Road, Creggan, Derry/Londonderry
· 19-27 Meeting Street, Magherafelt
· Refurbishment of Seaview Hall, Glenarm
· Space Project Peoples Park, Portadown
· Castle Veterinary Hospital, Downpatrick
· Girdwood Community Hub, Belfast
· City Quays 1, Belfast
Infrastructure
· Lagan Weir Footbridge, Belfast
Tourism & Leisure
· Schomberg House, Belfast
· Galgorm Resort & Spa, Ballymena
· Galgorm Great Hall Refurbishment, Ballymena
Design through Innovation, sponsored by Forbo Flooring
· Grillagh Water House, Maghera
· Lagan Weir Footbridge, Belfast
· Girdwood Community Hub, Belfast
· The Wellcome Wolfcome Institute for Experimental Medicine, Belfast
· City Quays 1, Belfast
· Ballymagarry Project, Portrush
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3D was the talking point when the i3 Business Support Centre at Southern Regional College held their Tech, Tourism & Reality Event recently in the Greenshoots Incubation Centre at the college’s Greenbank Campus in Newry.
The event included a presentation from the i3’s Innovation and Technology Specialists for Tourism (Kieran Swail), Digital/ICT (Matt Johnston) and Digital Collaboration (Peter Monaghan).
After the presentation the group participated in an interactive workshop. The group was given a demo on Oculus Rift (3D headset), Augmented Reality, 3D Models, 3D Printing and use of a 3D Scanner. At this workshop the group had the opportunity to individually speak to the Innovation & Technology Specialists for advice on how Digital Innovation could help develop their business needs.
The Innovation and Technology Specialists at SRC can provide a range of support to your business to encourage innovation and business growth through a variety of funded programmes. For further information, please contact SRC’s Business Support Centre (i3) on 028 3025 9664 or email i3@src.ac.uk
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A special meeting has been organised for next Wednesday the 9th of March to discuss the Review of the Non Domestic Rating System.
The meeting has been organised by Newry MLA Conor Murphy and the Assemblyman is encouraging anybody concerned about the way the business rates system is run to attend and have their voice heard.
“Rates, as you know, is a huge issue for businesses in the area and I want to give Newry businesses the opportunity to register their views with the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) regarding the review of the rating system they are carrying out,” he said.
“While the consultation process has closed, this meeting will be attended by officials from the DFP and NIIRTA so attendees will still have a chance to influence upcoming changes to the system, such as the various reliefs that are in place, the length of time between valuations and how rates are calculated.
The MLA concluded “The issue of non-domestic rates goes straight to the heart of the commercial viability of the city centre so it’s crucial that businesses attend this meeting and put forward their case for a rates system that does not endanger local businesses and jobs."
The meeting will be held on Wednesday, 9th of March in the Renaissance Suite II, Bellinis at 7.30pm.
Guest speakers will include Brian McClure (Head of Rating Policy, DFP) and Glyn Roberts (NIIRTA Chief Executive) with other speakers to be confirmed.
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One of Newry's most successful entrepreneurs, Brian Conlon, Chief Executive and founder of First Derivatives, was the keynote speaker at the 15th annual InterTradeIreland Venture Capital conference held in Belfast today.
The conference this year concentrated on the theme of ‘Growing Successful Businesses’, and brought together an audience of more than 300 delegates comprising entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, business angels, other investors and start-ups who may be seeking investment.
Attendees heard about the meteoric rise of Newry-based First Derivatives which was set up in 1996 with a starting capital of just £5,000 - 20 years later the company is now one of only two plcs in Northern Ireland. Under the watchful eye of Brian, the company floated on the London Stock Exchange in 2002 and is now the largest publicly quoted technology company on the island of Ireland.
Success like this doesn’t happen by accident and Brian shared his valuable experiences of growing the company which now employs more than 1,500, people with a keenly engaged audience. His early training as an accountant and knowledge of global financial markets gave him the confidence and experience to guide the company through its early years.
Enterprise Trade and Investment Minister, Jonathan Bell, who officially opened the conference, said: “The Venture Capital conference continues to be highly relevant for the development of the Northern Ireland economy. High growth businesses are a key driver of economic growth, not just because they generate significant employment, but also because their dynamism stimulates competition and innovation throughout the economy as a whole.
“Supporting ambitious entrepreneurs to develop innovative start-ups is critical to our future prosperity. InterTradeIreland is providing businesses with an opportunity to access investment and increase their propensity for growth. Working together we can foster, develop and enhance our reputation for entrepreneurial success.”
Margaret Hearty, Director of Programmes and Business Services at InterTradeIreland said; “Starting the process of securing Venture Capital funding can seem very daunting and overwhelming. The latest quarterly Business Monitor Report has revealed that almost half of companies (45%) felt that they were in a good position to apply for funding, but 77% had no knowledge of other options open to them including venture capital, crowd funding and private equity.
“With so many different opportunities now available the conference aims to highlight the range of funding options, hear from companies who have benefitted from some of them, discuss how best to access them and offer practical advice on how to ensure that a potential funding option or investor is the right match. The vibrant and buoyant venture Capital and Business Angel sector is a positive sign of a growing modern economy with research consistently showing that Venture Capital backed businesses achieve stronger turnover and profit than firms without.”
InterTradeIreland offers SMEs a number of equity supports including masterclasses in pitching, business planning workshops, regional equity advisory clinics and the very successful All-island Seedcorn Investor Readiness Competition which was also launched for 2016 at the Venture Capital conference.
Another local contributor to the conference, and past Seedcorn regional winner, was Philip McAleese, CEO of successful Newtownards-based cycling technology company See.Sense, who shared his experience of two successful crowd-funding campaigns on Kickstarter. His second product, ICON, met its funding goal in under a day and went on to achieve nearly 1,000 backers and more than £80,000 in just 30 days. See.Sense has gone on to win multiple business and design awards and now employs 10 people.
Margaret finished, “The economic outlook is bright with innovation and availability of Venture Capital at very high levels. The conference is an excellent way for smaller, start-up companies to ‘get in front of’ the right people and has once again proved extremely popular within the investment community, having been booked out well in advance. With business confidence continuing to grow, innovation is blossoming, leading to the development of attractive entrepreneurial prospects for primed venture capitalists.”
The InterTradeIreland Venture Capital conference was kindly supported by Crescent Capital, Mills Selig and Kernel Capital.
For more information on the InterTradeIreland Venture Capital conference, including presentations from the event, please visit http://www.intertradeireland.com/vcc
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Staff at Apple Tree Dental Care in Newry have been named NI Dental Practice of the Year at last weeks prestigious NI Healthcare Awards in the Europa Hotel. The practice provides general dentistry, implant services and sedation service for nervous patients.
The award win comes as the practice celebrates a decade in business. The practice was also a finalist in ‘Hygienist of the Year’ (Zara McKibbin) category.
The Healthcare Awards – now in their 17th year – recognise outstanding skills, achievements and innovations in the medical, pharmaceutical and dental industry.
Dr Conor McEnhill, Practice partner, said: “To win NI Practice of the Year is a fantastic way to begin a year of celebration as Apple Tree mark 10 years in business. I’d like to congratulate the whole team who consistently deliver the highest standards of client care which contributed to our success.”
In their comments the judges said the work of the two practice principals Conor and Katrina was extremely impressive in growing their practice over the last decade. “Their engagement with the community in Newry was clearly demonstrated through the range of activities and events the practice has undertaken in local schools and with other youth groups. At all times the patient-centred practice philosophy was extremely clear as was their commitment to patient education and prevention,” they concluded.
Apple Tree, in Newry’s Old Gasworks, employs a team of 8, and provides general dentistry and implant dentistry including sedation service for nervous patients. Previous awards for the company include Best Implant Smile 2012, Dr Conor McEnhill (UK Aesthetic Dentistry Awards) and Best Dental Care Professional for Hygienist Zara Mc Kibbin (Irish Dentistry Awards 2014).
The Apple Tree team were the only local dental practice to be listed in this year’s NI Healthcare Awards.
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