Killyleagh community group planning celebration events

Killyleagh community group planning celebration events

11 October 2017

THE Killyleagh Community Association is planning Halloween and Christmas celebrations in the town.

The organisation is also keen to forge a closer working relationship with the town’s business community and work alongside it to promote what Killyleagh has to offer and encourage people to shop locally.

Traders joined members of the business community at a meeting in the Bridge Community Centre last week when plans for the Halloween and Christmas celebrations were discussed.

Work has started on Halloween celebrations which will take place at the end of the month with a businessman agreeing to provide a permanent Christmas tree at the top of High Street this December as part of the town’s festive fair.

Councillor Billy Walker has praised the work of the community group over the past eight months and is to contact Newry, Mourne and Down Council to see if it can provide help with a ‘shop local’ initiative in the town.

“The community group is keen to support the Killyleagh business community and hopefully attract some new investment to the town. A number of businesses have sadly closed over recent years but there is a determination to reverse this decline.” he explained.

“We do not have a clothes shop in Killyleagh and given the size of the town I hope that maybe someone will consider opening one. There is clearly a need for such a business.”

Councillor Walker said he was encouraged by the number of business owners who attended last week’s meeting and believes Killyleagh will be the major winner with traders and the community group working in harmony. He also revealed the community group is considering entering Killyleagh in next year’s Ulster In Bloom competition.

“A year ago Killyleagh was in turmoil,” he declared. “There were anti-social behaviour problems but things have settled down and great credit must go to the Youth -In project which provides a range of initiatives for young people. Moving forward, the community group is keen to secure funding to help finance a range of new initiatives to help raise the profile of the town.”

Councillor Walker added: “Over 4,000 people attended a summer festival organised by the town’s community group and it has established a firm foundation for future success. I hope traders will continue to take a keen interest in what the group is doing and work alongside it.”