th SECRETARYS REPORT 2023 {AGM 27 Feb 24) Leslie J Morrow (Secretary) {Glenarm Village Committee Ltd) I would like to thank all members for supporting the Village Committee over the past Year. Thanks to the Office Bearers for taking on responsibility for the various roles Within the Committee. Ashleigh Moran {Chairperson), Mona Hyndman (Asst Secretary), Frances Wilson (Vice Chair), Sharon Boyle (Treasurer) Greer McNally {Asst Treasurer). Thanks to Steering Group members for attending meetings during 2023 and to Steven Kirby for reporting back to Village Committee. Steering group: Adrian Alexander Mona Hyndman Moran Steven Kirby Asleigh Leslie J Morrow Dave Wall Frances Wilson Eglinton Yard plans took up much dlscussion time during 2023. Andrew Mcmullan from Council has been very helpful and good at keeping me informed of progress. In 2023 the new roof was fitted to barn; the walls were all chipped and cleaned. The windows were grilled as requested by Steering Group rather than being built up. The entrance unto New Row was opened as requested by Frances and a metal grilled gate fitted. Same type of gate at back of yard facing unto river. Currently waiting on the electric being connected, yard being stoned, and walls whitened. Phase 2 plans being discussed at present and funding being sourced by Council. Toilet Block refurbishment has been completed to a high standard. Opening event attended by Mayor Gerardine Mulvenna, Frances Wilson and Leslie J Morrow plus Council representatives. Event was reported in Larne Times. Martin Mcclure completed replacement Mosaic on the refurbished building. Friendship Club continued in 2023 and my thanks to Mona and Frances for assisting in this Community Event each week. Elaine Boyle was also a great help with poems/quiz and games. We joined in with the Presbyterian Church Christmas Lunch in Dec 23 and this was enjoyed by everyone. Thanks to Mary Hasting for making this available to Friendship Club members. What's On: Kerry Rhodes volunteered to do a What's On for the village and this has been published toward the end of 2023 with copies available in shop etc. All local churches/events are invited to advertise their activities. Thank you, Kerry. New members: Sonja Allen was accepted as an Associate Member until AGM when full membership will be proposed. Markets: Thanks to Deb Biddleston who continued to run the market stalls and to all who he5ped put up and down the gazebos including Deb's own family. Money from the markets is donated between Village Committee and Seaview Integrated. New Sheds at Marina: Council completed erection of 2 sheds at the Marina beside the Rowing Club. These are good quality sheds and have been invaluable for storage of gazebos etc. Mains
electric installed by Council as well. The Pigeon Club agreed to remove the old shed and that site is now clear. Christmas Tree lights Switch On: This was another successful Community Event with a very large attendance and thanks to our chairperson and teacher in Seaview Integrated, Ashleigh Moran, for organising the Seaview schoolchildren to sing Carols. Thanks to Barry Morrow for the sound set up. This year refreshments were again provided by Country Diner and our thanks to all who helped with gazeboes etc. Selections boxes were purchased in Wilsons Stores for all the children who received same from Santa. Councillor Andrew Clarke again welcomed everyone and welcomed Mayor Gerardine Mulvena to speak and do countdown for switch on. Dave wall donated lights for the Christmas Tree in addition to those supplied by Council. Christmas Lights: The lights were erected again by Glenarm in Bloom, and this involves a lot of hard work. Unfortunately* not all the light5 were operating over Christmas due to supply problem at electric termina15. But the lights that did work were an excellent addition to the Village at Christmas. Councillors: The Village Committee continues to have the support of three local Councillors.. Andrew Clarke, Gerardine Mulvenna and Maureen Morrow. This is greatly appreciated by the Committee. It was an additional pleasure to have Gerardine as Mayor in Mid and East Antrim in 2023. The final Steering Group meeting of the year was held in Mayors Parlour, Town Hall, Larne and thls was a very pleasant venue to have a meeting hosted by Gerardine. The pop-up restaurant at Marina was operational for a short time and will return in Spring 2024. Food was excellent and this was very popular while there. The Telephone Box on Altmore Street has been refurbished by Dom Troulan and this has proved very popular for tourists and villagers. Rosie Schaap volunteered to maintain the phone box as a Libraryi assisted by Dom when necessary. Thank you, Dom and R05ie. Collection Boxes: Dom a150 suggested to the Committee that he would provide collection boxes to be placed in the local shop/pubs. This has been a successful source of funds for the Committee with money collected to go towards Village improvements such as painting derelict buildings etc. The Youth Committee have worked in conjunction with Michael Crooks {Dept Education). Michael has a regular booking for the Bridge Hall and provides different activities for the young folk in the Village. Highlight of the year was Michael taking a group of young people to Dublin for a weekend. A successful grant application jointly with Michael and Village Committee for £6000 approx. funded this. Village Hall: A grant application was successful for replacing the door and frame. The new door was wider, the floor made wheelchair accessible. Total cost including payment to contractor Seamus Hunter £1700 and grant paid out 100%. Leslie has taken responsibility for booking the Village Hall and it is being used on by groups such as Wildlife, Glenlough Choir, Erskine Financial, Friendship Club, Angling Club, Property Companyp N l Museums, Preservation Trust, Berth Holders, Hill and Moorland Groupi Michael Crooks (Youth), N l Opera. Knotweed: a group of volunteers from Village Committee and the Village, lead by Dave Wall formed a group to tackle the knotweed problem in the village down by the river and at the rear of houses in Toberwine St. Grant funding has been applied for and Antrim Estates has already donated £500 towards costs. This will possibly be a five-year project starting off with training the volunteers to combat the weed.
Coronation: members of the Village Committee assisted with the event held a Glenarm Castle for the Coronation of King Charles. Glenarm host Waterford: Village Committee hosted a group from Waterford in conjunction with Mid and East. Ashleigh welcomed the visitors and explained the aims and objectives of the Village Committee, e.g. Committee Background (How constituted, the different groups it represents etc) Aims and Objectives for group and the village Past and present projects (Property development etc) lan Bradley did presentations on the history of Glenarm. Stephen Montgomery did a presentation on local busine55 Steen50n Jewellers. A walkabout the Village followed including the Eglinton Yard which would result in funding for the restoration. Feedback from the Waterford group was very positive on their visit to Glenarm. Waterford Visit: Two members of the Village Committee were then invited to accompany Mayor Gerardine Mulvena to a special event in Waterford. Frances Wilson and Rosie Schaaps accompanied Gerardine to Waterford and really enjoyed the whole experience of exploring Waterford and finding out how they do business. An overnight stay was included. A funding initiative between Mid and East Council/waterford/ Glenarm/ Portglenone resulted in funding for part of the Eglinton Yard. Future joint funding is an ongoing discussion. Seaview Integrated School: Frances organised a fund-raising event for the school in the Village Hall in conjunction with members of the PTA. Defibrillator Training: This was provided by Jason Marriott. Jacky Geary and Stephen Rhodes attended and are now qualified to use defib. Workshop: Sonja Allen organised a full day craft workshop before Christmas in Village Hall.