th SECRETARYS REPORT 2024 (AGM 25 Feb 25) Leslie J Morrow (Secretary) (Glenarrn Village Commlttee Ltd) I would like to thank all members for supportlng the Vlllage Committee over the past Year. Thanks to the Office Bearers for taklng on responsibility for the varlous 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 2024 and to Steven Kirby for reporting back to Village Committee. Also, to Dave Wall and Mona Hyndman for mlnute keeping. Steering group: Adrian Alexander Mona Hyndman Moran Steven Kirby Asleigh Leslie J Morrow Dave Wall Frances Wilson Eglinton Yard Electric now connected, yard stoned, and walls whltened. Phase 2 plans on hold during 2024 due to funding not proceeding through the Shared Ireland project. Opening Event was th held on 14 May 24 with Ald Gerardine Mulvenna as Mayor performed the opening ceremony and plaque on behalf of the Council. Ashleigh Moran (Chalr Glenarm Village Committee) replied on behalf of GVC. Seaview Integrated School children attended with their music teacher Anna Hill and supported by Prlncipal Mr Barry Corr. John Mcveigh, Philip Thompson and other Council Representatlves were in attendance. Secretary Leslie J Morrow had invited representatives of various other Groups wlthin the Village to attend. Stephen Wylie was there to represent the Contractor who had carried out the work to restore Barn and Yard. Events using the E Barn in 2024 included: Deb organised a Vintage Motorcycle Show Sept 24. Larne Baptlst Church held annual church outlng and BBQJune 24: Halloween event Nov 24: Market the I, Saturday each month: Twilight markets Dec 24. Friendship Club continued tn 2024 and my thanks to Mona and Frances for assisting in this Community Event each week. Elaine Boyle was also a great help with poemslquiz and games. We Jolned in with the Presbyterian Church Christmas Lunch in Dec 24 and this was enjoyed by everyone. Thanks to Mary Hasting for maklng this available to Friendship Club members. A Story Telling programme was Introduced in 2024 and is contlnulng into 2025 every 2 weeks. The day was changed from Tuesday to a Thursday at 2pm to 3pm to try and suit more folk who attend. Glenarm in Bloom: The team continue to plant and weed the flowerbeds although on a smaller scale than previous years. What's On: Kerry Rhodes volunteered to do a What's On for the village and this has been published during 2024 every 2 months with copies available in shop etc, All local churches/events are invited to advertise their activltles. Thank you, Kerry. New members: Sonja Allen was accepted into full Membershlp at the 2024 AGM. John Dougan joined as Associate member and will be proposed for full membershlp at the 2025 AGM.
Markets: Thanks to Deb Biddleston who continued to run the market stalls and to all who helped put up and down the gazebos including Deb's own family. Money from the markets is donated between Village CommSttee and Seavlew Integrated. Christmas markets were held in Dec and were very successful. Markets are held the first Saturday of each month. Christmas Tree Lights Switch On; This was another successful Community Event wlth a very large attendance and thanks to our chairperson and teacher In Seaview Integrated, Ashlelgh Moran, for organising the Seaview schoolchildren to slng Carols again thls year. Thanks to Barry Morrow for the sound set up. This year refreshments were agaln provided by Country Diner and our thanks to all who helped with gazeboes etc, Selectlons boxes were purchased In Wilsons Stores for all the children who received same from Santa. Councillor Andrew Clarke again welcomed everyone and completed the switch on. Tractor parade was introduced in 2024 with 3 tractors on display including a mini tractor. Thls was popular and requests were made to expand thls for next year. Christmas Lights: The lights were erected again by Glenarm in Bloom, and this Involves a lot of hard work. Unfortunatelyi not all the lights were operating over Christmas due to supply problem at electric terminals and the high winds. The lights that did work were an excellent additSon to the Village at Christmas. Frances Wilson, Robert Smyth and Charles Meban are the main drivers of this project agaln in 2024. 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. The Telephone Box on Altmore Street which had been refurblshed by Dom Troulan contlnues to be used as a library and looked after by Rosie Schaaps. Collectlon Boxes: This has been a successful source of funds for the Committee with money collected golng towards Village improvements. Our thanks to Wilsons Stores (Charlene), Coast Rd Inn (Patricia) and The Bridge Tavern (Stevie) for displaying the collection boxes in their premises. The Youth Committee have worked in conjunction with Michael Crooks (Dept Education), Michael has a regular booklng for the Bridge Hall and provides different activities for the young folk in the Village. Village Hall: Leslie and Jacky Geary continue to be responsible for the Village Hall and it Is being used by groups such as Wlldlife, Glenlough Choir, Erskine Financial, Friendship Club, Angling Club, Property Companyp Preservation Trust, Michael Crooks Iyouth), N l Opera. Knotweed: a group of volunteers from Village Committee and the Village, led by Dave Wall formed 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 successfully applied for {approx. £8000) and Antrim Estates had already donated £500 towards costs. Dave Wall gives regular updates on this and has worked hard with the team who include Jordan Mcwhirter (Antrim Estates) and David Little who Is a friend of Dave from Ballygally. Halloween Event: Joanne Troulan was appointed Events Manager and assembled a Team to organise an event at Halloween, This was very successful with the EglSnton Barn and Yard as the central meeting point. Nicola Reid had a contact for a FSreworks Display and Selina Alexander arranged with a local farmer (Hugh Mccambridge) to use his land at the top of quarry for the display. The Eglinton Yard was used as a viewlng area, and it was great to see the crowd who attended enjoying the show. Music was provided beforehand 5n the Barn by some local artists,
Colin Unvln, Barry and Ruth Morrow. Band was Colln McGurk and the Boogie Men. Katrina Turner played and sang for the first session. There was a tractor run, face paintingi fancy dress, window dlsplay competition wlth prizesi pumpkln carving sponsored by Wilsons Stores. Ice Cream and Food van also in attendance. Thanks to all the Team who helped In any way to make thls Event successful. Bachelors Walk: Work was completed in 2024 to make the walk safe and is now being used again by Villagers and visitors. Quarry: No progress on the Quarry In 2024 other than discussions at Steering Group meetings. Steven Kirby represents the Village Committee very well at these meetings and reports back to GVC. Housing has now been proposed in the quarry and currently under discussion along with access to the site from Coast Rd.