Belleek Village - the website for information on all local Belleek News, activities and events
Belleek & District
Community Partnership
Unit 2
The Craft Village
Belleek, Co. Fermanagh
t. 0286-865-9701
f. 0286-865-9701
email here
Belleek Erne Partnership
YOUR CHALLENGE
What have ‘It’s a Knockout’ and Peace and Reconciliation got in common? More than you might think, according to the organisers of a Cross Border Knockout Challenge to be held in Ballyshannon. The event is part of ‘Strengthening Cross Border Communities’, a Cross Border Project between the Donegal town and Belleek, five miles away in Co Fermanagh. Project Officer, Isobel Cleary explained, “It’s a Knockout was conceived as a fun event which would give local people the opportunity to team up ‘across the Border’, for a light-hearted social occasion. We were quite surprised to learn that a similar idea had been suggested by a UK Government Committee in 1975, as part of a ‘normality drive’ aimed at bringing back the sporting, cultural and entertainment events that had stayed away in the early 1970s, and creating an atmosphere in which ‘normality activities’ flourished. The Belleek-Erne Partnership’s Project is part-financed by the European Union through the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation managed for the Special EU Programmes Body by the Cross Border Consortium. So it’s quite pleasing to think that 32 years after it was first suggested, we are now planning an event which will highlight the ‘sunny side of life’ in this border region, and demonstrate real cross border co-operation at a truly ‘grass-roots’ level. ‘The purpose of the event is not to pit Belleek and Ballyshannon against each other, but to encourage joint teams from both towns, with a common interest, be it business, service, sporting or social, to pool their resources and vie with each other for the supreme accolade which is the Belleek Erne Partnership’s Knock-out Champion of 2007. The event will be held again in Belleek in 2008. ‘We guarantee fun and side splitting laughter for all, participant and spectator alike. The games are devised and managed by ‘Knockout Challenge’, a company with 15 years experience offering fun and exciting games shows run in a light hearted atmosphere. ‘To date we have had great interest expressed from all sorts of teams: Butchers, Hotels, Pubs, Firefighters, Estate Agents, GAA, Charity Fundraisers, Postmen, Surfers, Newsagents, Women’s Groups…the list goes on”, the spokesperson explained. The games, with intriguing names such as The Caterpillar Race, P-P-P-Penguin Dash, The Slide of Doom, have been designed so all abilities can enjoy them. There will be extra points for teams who come in fancy dress, best designed Joker Board, Best Behaved team etc., so it is not necessarily the most athletic team who will win! The event will take place on Sunday 19th August from 5 pm until 7 pm at the Lakeside Centre, Ballyshannon followed by live outdoor music from Moondogs from 7 until 9 pm. There will also be water sports, bouncy castle and much, much more! ‘So… have the Publicans got the bottle for it? Will they enter into the spirit? Could the Beauticians face up to it? Have the Butchers got the guts to enter? Can the Hairdressers head off all challengers? Can the Posties deliver on time? Will the Firefighters suffer from burn-out? Or are the Footballers ahead of the game? The answers to all these questions – and more that we haven’t even thought of yet – to be found at the Lakeside Centre, Ballyshannon on Sunday 19th August.’ There will be bus transport from Belleek to Ballyshannon (please book by phoning 028 68659041) and a shuttle bus service from the Ballyshannon Market Yard car park. Just make sure that you’re in good voice on the day to cheer your team on and have a good time. No grumpy faces or serious people allowed!
Check out Knockout Challenge Website: www.knockout-challenge.co.uk
Contact Belleek Erne Partnership
Isobel Cleary / Leza Monaghan
(028) 68659041
bepartners@freenet.co.uk
www.thebep.org
List of Local Communiuty Groups in Belleek
Belleek Erne Partnership
Belleek Young People Project
Devenish Football Club
Erne Music Group
Little Rascals
St. John The Baptist School
Stepping Stones
The Belleek and District Community Partnership
Wark Hall
