What big brand would you like to see in Armagh?
Also, Armagh police officer dismissed, plus family firm, Autobits Motorstore, relocating to new city business park..
Welcome to the Armagh I newsletter. Great to have you here! This newsletter lands in your inbox every Tuesday and Friday morning. Help us to connect with others by sharing this edition…..go on! If you have received this newsletter and haven’t already subscribed, you can subscribe here
In a previous newsletter we covered the topic of Armagh being the only city on Northern Ireland not to have a McDonald’s – it’s fair to say we had a McFlurry of responses!
The idea sparked fury from litter-sick locals close to an existing McDonald’s, but on the whole, the consensus was that Armachians are hungry for a good ole McChicken Sandwich or Happy Meal.
This in turn, opened a debate about what other outlets Armagh was shy of – what about an Asda, Tesco, Greggs or Burger King? Asda was once muted for the Home Bargains site on the Alexander Road. They pulled the plug and it was a case of Asda la vista for those plans…
Hot topic in our Barrack Street office is the lack of a Yodel or Evri drop-off point with Kellie demanding this atrocity be immediately rectified.
Of course, there is the argument that we should support our independent retailers - of which Armagh has a bounty of. Surely we are able to find independent substitutes for most high street big brand names?
On the other hand, as with other major cities in Northern Ireland, both should be able to exist in reasonable harmony. For a city resident, it’s about having options.
There isn’t so much a need for these chains as there is a want. So, have your say… if you could pick any big brand to land in the city centre what would it be?
Headlines…
Armagh police officer dismissed after taking home bike belonging to vulnerable man
Lurgan man to honour memory of beloved Caoimhín with ‘Taghnevan to Anfield’ fundraiser
Man (33) arrested after attempted child abduction in Lurgan
Crossmaglen man faces second stint behind bars if he fails to pay £70,000 con
Hundreds of concerned Co Armagh parents benefit from infant feeding support
Southern Trust needs to find £47.3m just to break even
Waringstown to host annual cavalcade in aid of kidney disease charity
Residents complain after paramilitary flags erected in Lurgan
New Grange Farm Factory Shop to open at William Sprott in heart of Portadown
Owners of popular Michelin-recommended Moy restaurant announce shock closure
A 33-year-old man has been arrested following an attempted child abduction in Lurgan on Wednesday.
Look Back…
In March 1983, The Armagh Observer reported on a young boy’s lucky escape after a fishing expedition went wrong.
The then 13-year-old, Patrick Tennyson, became trapped in the River Callan after slipping on an old water pipe as he attempted to cross the waterway.
Patrick managed to avoid being carried away by clinging to a piece of drift wood. He said: “I tried to climb out but it was too risky. I thought someone would have heard me long before they did”.
Poor Patrick had been in the water for almost five hours before his calls for help were eventually heard.
His saviour was named as a Mrs. Eilish Curry who, after hearing his cries, alerted the emergency services.
After a short stay in Armagh City Hospital, Patrick was released home. He was back in the classroom only a few days later - and returned to fishing “as if nothing ever happened”.
Ticket giveaway
We have teamed up with The Market Place Theatre to give away a family pass to “Bad Dad” this event will take place outdoors at the Palace Garden, Palace Demesne, Armagh. Join Heartbreak Productions for this warm-hearted tale that follows the highs and lows of a father-son relationship. Click on the image below to enter!
As always, (apart from last week - due to a lack of tickets) we have our weekly cinema ticket giveaway! To enter simply click below, fill in the details … and please remember, if you enter the winner is announced every Friday in this newsletter!
Past issues
Is there a stigma in using a local foodbank?
Kill for proper sushi bar. Just a wee one, serving proper sushi like.
I would hope the urge to join the slide of Western Civilization with Armagh's very own McDeath would pass.
In its place, a local restaurateur to offer high quality burgers made from Irish grass fed beef, eschewing the McDeath model of downed, crippled and cancerous cows for maximum profit.