Man hospitalised after Loughgall home gutted by fire
Plus, Richhill School of Music to close after 18 years
Good morning. This morning’s newsletter reflects quite a weekend. Aside from a serious hit-and-run, and tragic holiday accident abroad, we also have the story of a Loughgall house fire. The blaze, according to one local resident we spoke to, could have claimed the life of the man inside had it not been for the quick actions of neighbours returning from a night out.
Also, after 18 years, there will be no encore for Richhill School of Music as it plays its final note later this morning. Scott spoke to owners Leslie and Sharon Brownlee on their decision to call it a day. Both these are newsletter firsts 👇
A man was rushed to hospital following a house fire in Loughgall in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Emergency services were tasked to the scene in Annahugh Park shortly before 1am.
Neighbours raised the alarm and managed to get the man, who was inside the house on his own at the time, out before the blaze caught hold – completely gutting the inside of the house.
One resident told Armagh I how neighbours, who happened to be returning from a night out, noticed the flames and alerted the person inside.
Fire and ambulance crews were quick on the scene.
A number of direct neighbours, including an elderly lady, were evacuated from their homes for a period of four to five hours as fire crews dealt with the incident.
A spokesperson for the NI Fire and Rescue Service said: "Crews from Armagh, Portadown and Lurgan fire stations attended the incident shortly after 1.20am.
"The incident occurred in a mid-terraced bungalow and firefighters entered the property using specialist equipment and extinguished the fire using two hose reels.
"One occupant was transferred to the care of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. The cause of the fire was accidental. The incident was dealt with by 3.30am."
A NIAS spokesperson commented: "We received a 999 call at 1.46am on Sunday, June 23 following reports of an incident in Annahugh Park area. NIAS despatched one emergency crew to the incident.
"Following initial assessment and treatment at the scene, one patient was taken to Craigavon Area Hospital by ambulance."
🎵 A Co. Armagh music school is set to play its final note after 18 years with the owners set to retire.
Richhill School of Music (RSM) will close at the end of June 2024.
The school was established in 2005, by Leslie and Sharon Brownlee, who saw a need for music tuition in the area.
Speaking to Armagh I, Sharon and Leslie said it has been a "delight" to see hundreds of pupils progress in their musical abilities and talents.
They said: "After eighteen thoroughly enjoyable and busy years at RSM and after much thought and reflection we have concluded that it is time for us to announce that we are retiring from RSM and the school will therefore close at the end of June 2024.
"A special thanks to Kerry who has tutored with us for the whole eighteen years!" Read the full story here.
Plus…
🗞️ Co. Armagh Orange lodge opens new hall nine years after arson attack gutted homeplace
📚 Book shop owner questions Council's nonsensical hanging basket decision
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What’s On…
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Armagh Jobs
We have more new job openings on armaghjobs.com. Check them out below.
🆕 IT Hub require IT Technician for Armagh.
🆕 Redrock Machinery require Junior Administrator.
🆕 Armagh City Hotel require a Receptionist and Chef de Partie.
🆕 Re-Gen Waste require Accounts Assistant and Management Accountant.
✅ Little Orchard require Deputy Managers and Nursery Assistants.
✅ Mark’s Pharmacy require full-time Supervising Pharmacist for Ardee.
✅ Noel Conn & Company require Receptionist, Cleaner and Accounts Administrator.
✅ Clogher Valley Care require Domiciliary Care Workers based in Armagh.
✅ Creighan Contracts require an Accounts Technician / Assistant Accountant.
✅ Traynors Moy require Car Part Sales Advisor.
✅ Sunnymead Residential Living require Registered Residential Home Manager.
✅ Mount Charles have a number of full time roles across Armagh and beyond.
✅ Armagh City Hotel require part-time Housekeeper and Receptionist.
✅ Mount Charles require Cleaning Operatives and Catering Assistants.
🛎️ If you have a job and want to advertise it to 40,000 daily users on www.armaghjobs.com and www.armaghi.com, as well as more than 9,000 people on this newsletter and our 100,000 social media followers, get in touch.
🤔 Conundrum
Well done to those of you who guessed Friday’s conundrum… The latest is that we only own half of it anyway.
The answer: Newry
Today’s conundrum is this…
A famous Robert Frost Poem..
Where in Co Armagh are we talking about?