Tyrone Constitution, News for Tyrone and Ireland

Leading charity, Action Cancer and independent retail group, Centra have announced the winners of their fifth annual Health Action Awards. In the Western Education and Library Board region Omagh High School and St. Patrick’s Primary, Newtownstewart have won awards, recognising their proactive approach to health promotion activities for pupils.

Sixteen winning schools impressed Action Cancer with their commitment to healthy eating, extra-curricular exercise, safe sun education and cancer awareness programmes.

The awards are part of Action Cancer’s ongoing Health Action initiative, which offers a range of health promotion roadshows for primary and secondary schools, as well as further education colleges, and is sponsored by Centra.

Developed specifically for Northern Ireland schools, Health Action aims to educate young people on the importance of a healthy diet, care in the sun and the need to take exercise in the fight against cancer. The award-winning programme is supported by the 86 Centra retailers across the province, who have raised £270,000 to fund Health Action over the past four years.

Action Cancer’s Health Promotion Manager, Emily Magrath congratulated the winners; “Each year in the award applications we see the excellent health promotion work being done in schools across Northern Ireland. It is always difficult to choose the winners, but the top schools this year really shone, with a wide range of healthy activities for pupils.

“The aim of the awards is to encourage schools to do as much as they can to improve the health of young people. The winning schools have shown real commitment to the health of the young people in their charge.

She added; “With Centra’s help Action Cancer’s Health Action programme continues to make a positive impact, delivering healthy lifestyle messages to more than 70,000 schoolchildren since 2003.”

All sixteen schools receive a Health Action trophy and the winning primary and secondary school in each Education and Library Board will be given a £200 cash prize, to be spent on school equipment. Awards will be presented at a special ceremony in October.

Centra Brand Manager, Nicky Kelly commented; “Centra retailers, very often parents themselves, understand the importance of health education for young people and proactively support Health Action by promoting the scheme locally and fundraising for its running costs. We are proud to support the Health Action Awards as they help motivate schools to deliver high quality health promotion activities and this will hopefully save lives in the future.”

For information on the Health Action Awards, or to get your school involved in the Health Action programme contact Action Cancer on 028 9080 3344. A full list of Health Action Award winners is available at www.actioncancer.org

HIC’s new policy document system isn’t affected by Royal Mail strike

If the Royal Mail strike goes ahead next week, there’s going to be one business less affected than most.

Specialist insurance broker Herts Insurance Consultants (HIC) recently introduced a new system to distribute insurance documents online, allowing customers to print out the documents themselves and circumventing the postal system.

The system, Ecomail, means that customers not only don’t have to worry about the postal strike, but they get their documents within minutes of finalising their insurance details, instead of several days later.

“This is timely news for those waiting for their insurance documents before they can tax their vehicle and hit the road”, says Andy Morton of HIC.

“We introduced Ecomail because people often need documents faster than the modern postal system could deliver. And now that most of our customers have computers and colour printers, it makes sense to send their documents via the internet.”

“I believe we are the only insurance broker doing it this way. It’s definitely the way forward – it saves time, money and paper. And during the postal strike, it’s going to save everyone’s nerves too.”

HIC says that bypassing the postal strike isn’t the only benefit. The Ecomail system is also reducing the company’s costs such as postage, so that it’s not under the same pressure as other insurers to increase premiums. And it’s significantly reducing environmental impact, reducing the amount of paper needed, since envelopes and covering documentation don’t need to be printed, and fuel isn’t used in postal delivery of the paper.

“Ecomail is strictly optional”, Andy Morton emphasises. “They can choose to receive their policy documents by regular - er - ‘first class’ post so to speak. But increasing numbers of our customers are voting with their mouse, and the postal strike is making this option even more attractive.”

HIC is the enthusiast’s car insurer with a passion for motoring that translates into great deals on car insurance. For more information visit www.hertsinsurance.com or call 08451 290290.

- Climate Change Expected To Be Issue for Students

Belfast, Thursday 22nd June 2007: With climate change at the forefront of the minds of weathermen, politicians and concerned citizens’ alike, it is no surprise that our secondary school students are beginning to ask questions. What will the world be like when they are adults? What will it be like for their children and their children’s children?

Presentations on Climate Change will be just some of the special attractions at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2008. Details were announced today of the forthcoming exhibition along with a call to action from organising sponsors BT to encourage Northern Ireland students to think about their project topics now and to start working on them during the summer months.

Global warming and widespread drought? Snow in June? Warm sunshine in January? Heatwaves in March and torrential rain in July? Will Northern Ireland one day see major hurricanes and tidal waves? These questions and many more are being asked on the global stage as well as at home. The students entering the exhibition are very aware of the environment around them and have major concerns about what the future holds for them. Consequently it is expected that there will be an increase in the number of projects entered this year.

Speaking at the launch, Minister for Education, Caitríona Ruane, MLA, said, “This competition is a great success story in terms of encouraging girls and boys to enjoy science and technology. It is very well established as a showcase of talent, creativity, and enterprise.

“The competition gives students an invaluable opportunity to learn more about the world of science and technology and to have fun; I encourage every student in the North to think seriously about entering. It is a great occasion to meet students from all over Ireland and to exchange ideas. It also offers great opportunities for the future for those who go on and win the competition.”

Peter Morris, Head of Consumer, BT in Northern Ireland said, “The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition represents a major commitment not only to the education of our young people, but also to the successful economic future of the island.

“We would like to take the opportunity to call upon schools, especially those that have never entered the competition or haven’t done so for a number of years, to encourage students to decide on a project and to start work on it over the summer months. The originality and quality of the projects entered into Young Scientist never ceases to amaze, and this year we look forward to seeing an increase in the number of entries from the North,” he added.

This is the 44th year of the exhibition which is the biggest of its kind in Europe. Plans are already afoot to stage another visually dramatic and interactive exhibition for both exhibitors and visitors to enjoy.

Participating schools in Northern Ireland can now apply for a grant scheme under which BT will assist in students’ accommodation costs. Projects from those schools that qualify to compete in the exhibition may be awarded either £70 for an individual entry or £140 for a group entry, subject to a maximum grant of £700 per school and other applicable terms.

Now is the time for students to begin putting those thinking caps on. The summer break offers students the perfect opportunity to select and start work on a project topic. The closing date for entries is 5th October 2007.

The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2008 will take place in the RDS, Dublin 4, from 8th – 12th January 2008. For more information, please visit www.btyoungscientist.ie or call 0800 917 1297.

Green fingers and their owners were under starters’ orders today as the 29th Translink Ulster in Bloom competition got underway.

Launched this week (at Downpatrick’s Ballydugan Mill) by Translink, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and the Northern Ireland Local Government Association (NILGA), the competition is open to all villages, towns and cities in Northern Ireland, with judging taking place during July and August.

Speaking at the event Translink Chairman, Mrs Veronica Palmer encouraged the 121 participants in this year’s competition to give free rein to their creativity and competitiveness in order to impress the judges and produce their best blooms to date.

“We are amazed each year by the dedication and attention to detail of all the Ulster in Bloom contenders, not to mention the vast number of hours that go into planting, pruning, watering – and occasionally talking to plants! – in order to produce the best results.

“However the beauty of the Ulster in Bloom competition is that the fruits of our entrants’ labours are not just competition entries, but also provide enormous pleasure to local residents and tourists to Northern Ireland.

“I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all those with an interest in gardening who use their talents in this way to the benefit of the wider community.“

NILGA President Sean McPeake added: “The heart of the competition is about caring for the environment and it’s lovely to see cities, towns and villages clean, tidy and tastefully decorated with flowers, shrubs and trees. There is no entry fee to participate and NILGA would like to call upon every council and community to give the Competition the support it deserves and warmly congratulate all those councils already involved.”
Mr Patrick Stapleton, NITB Board Member said; “Since 1979 this event has grown to become a household name across Northern Ireland. Who would have thought back then that the event would become so successful, or indeed that Northern Ireland would be named as a must-see travel destination by the world’s leading travel publication, Lonely Planet?

“The Ulster in Bloom competition is an invaluable tool in attracting visitors; it also ensures that their stay in Northern Ireland is even more pleasant. On behalf of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board I would like to congratulate and thank all of the partners involved in organising this event which seems to go from strength to strength every year,” he said.

30.06.07 (Sat)

All Ireland Liam MacCarthy Cup Hurling Championship

Round 1

Casement Park 2.30 Aontroim v An Clár
Referee: Tiernach Mahon, Fear Manach

Portlaoise 7.00 Laois v Gaillimh
Referee: Dominic Connolly, Cill Chainnigh

Parnell Park 3.00 Baile Átha Cliath v Corcaigh
Referee: Seamus Roche, T. Árann

Limerick/Thurles 3.00 Luimneach/Tiobraid Árann v Uíbh Fhailí
Referee: T.B.C.

All Ireland Christy Ring Cup Hurling Championship
Group 2A
Round 3
Newry 3.00 An Dún v Maigh Eo
Referee: Ger Devlin, Ard Mhacha

Pairc Tailteann 3.00 An Mhí v Ciarraí
Referee: Declan Magee, An Dún

Iar Mhí bye
Group 2B
Round 3
Maghera 3.00 Doire v Cill Dara
Referee: James McGrath, Iar Mhí

Arklow 3.00 Cill Mhantáin v Ceatharlach
Referee: Anthony Stapleton, Laois
Londain bye

All Ireland Nicky Rackard Cup Hurling Championship

Group 3A
Round 2
Keady 7.00 Ard Mhacha v Tír Eoghain
Referee: Fergus Devereux, Cill Dara
Sligeach bye

Group 3B
Round 2
Pearse Park 3.00 Longfort v Dún na nGall
Referee: Brendan Sweeney, An Cabhán
Liatroim bye
Group 3C
Round 2

Lisnaskea 7.00 Fear Manach v Muineachán
Referee: Tony Carroll, Uíbh Fhailí
Ros Comáin bye
Group 3D
Round 2
Dundalk 7.00 An Lú v An Cabhán
Referee: Martin Mulholland, Doire
Warwickshire bye

01.07.07 (Sun)

Bank of Ireland Leinster Senior Football Championship

Semi-Final
Páirc an Chrócaigh 2.10 Laois v Loch Garman
Referee: Martin Sludden, Tír Eoghain

Guinness Leinster Senior Hurling Championship

Final
Páirc an Chrócaigh 4.00 Loch Garman v Cill Chainnigh *Live RTE2
Referee: Pat O’Connor, Luimneach

Bank of Ireland Munster Senior Football Championship

Final
Killarney 2.00 Ciarraí v Corcaigh *Live RTE2
Referee: Martin Duffy, Sligeach

“Copyright © 2006 G.A.A./Cumann Luthchleas Gael. All rights reserved. No use or reproduction permitted without formal written licence from the copyright holder.”

Northern Ireland is a hum of excitement as the fresh new music education magazine- musicINmotion is launched! The magazine’s founder Stephen McLoughlin has for many years realised a niche in the market for a music magazine with an educational slant in the province…and it has finally arrived!! It is currently a quarterly magazine intended to encourage and enthuse local musicians of all abilities to reach beyond their expectations and to enjoy music in its fullest sense. Stuffy, boring, high-faluting are far from words we would use to describe it, here at musicINmotion we believe that music should be enjoyed by all and are committed to raising the profile of music in Northern Ireland.

musicINmotion is bursting with articles on local people who have furthered their love of music in performance and as a career. We also focus on local music schools and see how students in the province are excelling I their instruments. In this our first issue we have interviews with the famous singer/songwriter Duke Special and assistant composer for the Ulster Orchestra- Brian Irvine!

The pages are packed full of the witty charm unique to Norn Irnd and they are lining the shelves of all good newsagents province-wide. It is your chance to see what’s going on musically throughout the province and be encouraged to get that instrument out and enjoy making music.

22nd June 2007

Following Tuesday’s announcement that world class acts The Killers and Kasabian will be playing at this year’s fantastic Tennent’s Vital festival, Tennent’s Lager are delighted to announce more of the line up for the second day of the festival as mixologist du jour Mark Ronson and The Strokes’ own Albert Hammond Jr performing his solo material!

On Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd August, Belfast’s Ormeau Park will play host to Tennent’s Vital. The recently announced venue change means that even more music fans will be able to enjoy the festival which is undoubtedly the highlight of the Northern Irish music calendar.

Tickets for are on sale now, so music fans should buy now to avoid disappointment!

Tuesday
Wednesday
Razorlight
Manic Street Preachers
Many more to be confirmed…..
The Killers
Kasabian
Mark Ronson
Albert Hammond Junior
New York born Mark Ronson became a regular at downtown hip-hop spots and quickly made his name as a highly respected DJ on the New York club scene in the early 1990’s. He was soon a highly in demand DJ, being called on for celebrities’ private parties. Noted for his diverse, genre-spanning selection, he is influenced by both the hip-hop scene of New York and the indie uprising of the UK. Having released a cover of Radiohead’s ‘Just’ last year, Ronson has not been off the nations airwaves since. His album ‘Version’ has spawned a slew of hits that include a masterful reworking of The Smiths classic ‘Stop Me’ and a delightful take of last year’s Tennent’s Vital headliner Kaiser Chief’s ‘Oh My God’ which features the delightful vocals of the inimitable Lily Allen.
Better known for his guitar genius as part of influential New York post punk outfit The Strokes, Albert Hammond Jr released an album of solo material, ‘Yours To Keep’ on Rough Trade records last autumn. Featuring guest appearances from Sean Lennon, Ben Kweller, the Moony Suzuki’s Sammy James Jr and band mate Julian Casblancas, Hammond notes that he has been “waiting to make an album like this for years”. He has recently been seen touring with Incubus and will accompany Bloc Party on part of their forthcoming world tour. With musical accomplices this revered, who knows who’ll join in his Tennent’s Vital set!

Elaine Forbes at Tennent’s Lager commented:
“Northern Ireland is an ideal environment for this truly unique urban music festival, as it is a very rich and musically diverse province. All of us at Tennent’s Lager can’t wait to join even more music fans at Belfast’s Ormeau Park for this sensational line up at Tennent’s Vital 07.

Watch this space as we will be announcing much more of the outstanding talent that will be performing at this year’s Tennent’s Vital in the coming weeks and months.”

Tickets for Tennent’s Vital 07 are on sale NOW!
Tennent’s Vital 07
Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd August
Ormeau Park, Belfast

Ticket Prices:
Tuesday 21st August - £38.00 (strictly limited to 6 per person)
Wednesday 22nd August - £38.00 (stricty limited to 6 per person)
Two Day Ticket - £70.00 (strictly limited to 6 per person)

In Person:
Virgin and Ticketmaster outlets

Telephone:
24 hour hotline: 0870 243 4455 (Ticketmaster)

Online:
HYPERLINK “http://www.vital07.com” www.vital07.com or HYPERLINK “http://www.wonderlandpromotions.co.uk” www.wonderlandpromotions.co.uk

For band biographies, logos and press shots, please contact:

Tennent’s Vital 07 Press Office
Liana Mellotte | Material
T: +44 (0) 141 204 7970 | F: +44 (0) 141 221 8643
M: +44 (0) 7967 188549 | E: HYPERLINK “mailto:liana@materialmc.co.uk” \o “mailto:liana@materialmc.co.uk” liana@materialmc.co.uk

Wonderland Promotions Press Office
Anita Gibney | Wonderland Promotions
T: +44 (0) 28 90222777 F: +44 (0) 28 90222770
M: +44 (0) 7802 700512 E: HYPERLINK “mailto:anita@wonderlandpromotions.co.uk” anita@wonderlandpromotions.co.uk

Stephen Curran | Wonderland Promotions
T: +44 (0) 28 90325942 E: HYPERLINK “mailto:stephen@wonderlandpromotions.co.uk” stephen@wonderlandpromotions.co.uk

This 4-weekly, 52 page comic reunites some of the biggest names in the
business to bring the eternal struggle between Autobots and Decepticons to
audiences old and new. Whether you remember Megatron as a smoking Walther
P-38, or your Transformers adventure begins with their war on our world, the
publication of Transformers Comic heralds a triumphant return for the robots
in disguise…

Legendary Transformers writer Simon Furman brings his dark materials to the
first issue, and many more to come, with all-new self contained stories
tying straight in to the IDW prequels. He teams up with the prolific and
iconic artist Geoff Senior, who’s wielding his pencils and inks for the new
Transformers generation.

Once those shapeshifting robots have you hooked, it seems there’s no escape:
Transformers Comic editor Steve White started life as a humble colourist on
Marvel’s Transformers title way back in Œ86. Now he¹s transformed into the
driving force behind this title.

Steve White, Editor of Transformers Comic said:
It’s been kind of weird to be returning to Transformers after 20 years,
especially as it’s with all the same faces I worked with originally ­ Simon,
Geoff, Andy Wildman, Robin Smith, Richard Starkings. Feels like I’ve slipped
back in time. But then you take one look at the movie and you realize just
how false that assumption is! Even the comics represent a quantum jump in
technology, and I think we¹ll find we have a whole new generation of fans
who’ll go see the movie and pick up the comic ­ and have no idea about the
longevity of the franchise and how it¹s evolved! Most of them probably won¹t
have been born when I first worked on Transformers ­ but the talent of the
artists and writer are still there and it¹s going to be brilliant!

Kids can catch up with the Transformers characters every four weeks with
Transformers Comic, on sale at all good retailers from 19 July, priced
£2.60.

The iconic bubble writing that adorns the front of The Beatles’ 1965 Rubber Soul album is about to go on sale at Bonham’s valued at £10 000.

The trademark stretchy font, which has been credited with launching a swarm of imitations, was created in 1965 by Charles Front, a young advertising executive who accepted the job on the side from his friend, the photographer Bob Freeman.

Freeman was responsible for the photo on the cover of Rubber Soul, which inspired Front with its slightly stretched look. ‘I had in my head the shape of a glob of latex or something viscous,’ explains the now-retired illustrator. ‘So I sat in my studio and drew the letters on cartridge paper using brown gouache, which I thought matched John Lennon’s jacket in the photo.’ He was paid 25 guineas for his trouble and never credited for the design.

The mocked-up album cover was taken by the pair to Abbey Road for inspection by ‘the boys’, who unanimously approved. While the album went on to be named one of the 100 best albums by Time magazine in 2006, the original lettering sat in a box at Front’s house for more than 40 years until his wife suggested he sell it, rather than having to decide which of his two children to pass it on to.

‘To me it was just another job,’ says Front, who went on to design album covers for Peter, Paul and Mary and Cliff Richard. ‘But I hope whoever buys it will have a love of Beatles’ memorabilia.’

Bonham’s Beatles specialist, Stephen Maycock, says it’s rare to sell just the lettering from an album cover. ‘Everyone uses computers now, but in the old days, albums were built up from mixed media, adding several different components,’ he explains. He adds that it is possible that Front’s lettering went on to be copied around the world. ‘It was certainly the first time the UK had seen this style,’ he explains.

Sinn Féin Newry Armagh MLA Cathal Boylan has called on Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minster Nigel Dodds to have early discussion with both the Environment Minister and the Health Minster to address the serious concerns that people have about the North-South electricity inter-connector.

Mr Boylan said:

“I am disappointed that there have been no official discussions between DETI and the Environment Minister and no discussions at all between DETI and the Health Department about the North-South electricity inter-connector.

“This is a huge issue for local people who have very genuine concerns about the inter-connector.

“Joined up government is about all of the relevant agencies and government departments working together. I would have though that such an important issue as this demands that Nigel Dodds engages with both Arlene Foster and Michael McGimpsey to plot a way forward.

“The inter-connecter is an important project that is an essential component in the development of the all Ireland energy market. However, the health concerns of local people must be taken into account and all options, including the possibility of laying cables underground, must be fully explored.” ENDS