ARKHILL Open Farm located in Garvagh in the Borough of Coleraine is currently participating in Farm Fixer, a new television series to be broadcast in the autumn.

Helping farms diversify their business, Nick Hewer of the Apprentice fame and Lord Alan Sugar’s advisor, will be presenting the programme and helping eight farming businesses look at new opportunities for their future development.

One of the recognised opportunities was to become part of Coleraine Town Centres’ Causeway Speciality Market. Seen here filming at the Causeway Speciality Market in Coleraine, Waddell Media is developing the programme for BBC, as business partners Paul Craig and Richard Brown attract potential businesses to their stall.

Coleraine Borough Council has been working to develop the Causeway Speciality Market and welcomes new stall holders. The Market celebrates its sixth anniversary this coming April.

The Ireland team to play Italy in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday has been named and coach Declan Kidney has opted for an unchanged lineup.

THE nominations have been flooding in for The Coleraine Times Person to Be Proud Of.

Last week we launched a search to find find the person who made Coleraine most proud during 2011.

And we’re delighted to say we have received scores of nominations by readers through our Facebook and Twitter pages, e-mail and post.

The Coleraine Person To be Proud Of is a new award launched by the Times to recognise the huge contribution made by a great many people from the borough.

Do you know someone who helps to make Coleraine special? Is there an individual, a volunteer, local personality or someone else who deserves recognition for their achievements or for the community spirit they have shown?

If you have someone in mind, we want you to contact us as we draw up our shortlist for the inaugural Coleraine’s Person To Be Proud Of award.

Coleraine Times editor David Rankin said: “There are a great many people from Coleraine who, over the years, have made the borough very proud of what they have achieved. During 2011 this tradition was continued by a number of people.

“Several people from the borough have made national and international headlines in 2011 but our Coleraine Person To Be Proud Of award is not just about recognising those worthy individuals, it’s about recognising the people who work hard on the ground to improve life in their own communities.

“In short, we want your opinion on the person who made the borought most proud in 2011.

“With your help we are drawing up a shortlist of names and our readers will get the final say on the winner when the list is published later this month. But I’d advise readers to be quick as the closing date for nominations is Friday, February 24.

You can email your nominations to news@colerainetimes.co.uk, contact the editorial team on 028 703 57610 or call into our office at 5 Stone Row, Coleraine.

You can also nominate through our Facebook site or Twitter, @coleraine_times.

The final shortlist for Coleraine’s Person to be Proud of 2011 will be revealed in The Coleraine Times on Wednesday, February 29 when readers will be able to vote for an overall choice.

See this week’s Times for the fabulous prize list.

]]> 1.3541459 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:57:55 +0000 http://www.colerainetimes.co.uk/causeway_hotel_to_undergo_50k_refurbishment_1_3541273

THE National Trust has announced that improvements are to be made to the Causeway Hotel.

This will involve the refurbishment of all of the hotel’s bedrooms and public areas at a cost of approximately £500,000. The hotel will close for three weeks from until March 12 to allow the improvements to take place. Work is being undertaken by Gilbert Ash Fit Out and leading local interior designer Andrew Brennan.

The Giant’s Causeway will remain open to the public throughout the refurbishment and catering services will be provided from a mobile catering unit.

In addition, the adjacent Nook Bar will also be open for business providing a full range of services.

Existing and future visitors to the hotel seeking accommodation will be directed to nearby hotels during the refurbishment.

Colin Tweed, Acting Manager of the Causeway Hotel, said: “Whilst the Causeway Hotel will not be open to visitors for three weeks, we have plans in place to ensure that they are catered for during the refurbishment process. When we re-open, visitors to the hotel will benefit from the improved facilities.”

Esther Dobbin, the National Trust’s Project Operations Manager, commented: “This work will allow us to really improve the offer provided at the Causeway Hotel for hotel residents and visitors to the Causeway alike.

“We are pleased to be working with some of the best companies Northern Ireland has to offer in the fields of building and design.

“The refurbished hotel will be complimentary to the new visitor facility when it opens to the public this summer.”

]]> 1.3541273 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:32:28 +0000 http://www.colerainetimes.co.uk/jury_sworn_in_for_spiers_trial_1_3542387

A JURY was sworn in yesterday for the Antrim Crown Court trial of four men facing charges arising out of the death of a 28-year-old man, Trevor Spiers, allegedly murdered outside Shenanigans’ night club in Portstewart.

The only other details surrounding the death of Mr Spiers, on December 13, 2009, that were given was that a second man, Michael Black, was also injured and assaulted during the same incident.

During the jury selection Judge David McFarland said that the trial, being held in Coleraine Courthouse starting today (Tuesday), is expected to last at least six weeks.

However, the jury panel were only told that which that Mr Spier’s died as a result of an incident outside the north coast nightclub, and that Mr Black was also injured at that time.

Judge McFarland said that of the four men, one of them Francis Paul McCormick, (33) of Queens Court, Coleraine denies the murder of Mr Spiers and assaulting, occasioning actual bodily harm to Mr Black.

McCormick’s 22-year-old nephew Paul McCormick from Edenmore Way, Ballymoney, is accused with him of assaulting Mr Black. TO PAGE 3

A third accused, Robert Peter Henderson (25), of Greenhall Manor, Coleraine, denies assisting the alleged offenders by disposing of a necklace.

All three defendants, along with 33-year-old Luke McArthur from Portstewart Road, Coleraine, are also charged with having unlawfully fought and made an affray, all on the same date.

Initially during the jury selection, two members of the panel, a sheep farmer, and a machinist, were excused as were three others who later admitted going to Shenanigans’ nightclub on various occasions.

Then after prosecution lawyer Neil Connor formally identified over forty witnesses to the jury panel, including Mr Spiers’ mother, Mrs Colette Gaile, a family friend was also excused from the proceedings.

Two others, were also later allowed to stand down until eventually six men and six women were impanelled to hear the trial.

Judge McFarland warned them not to discuss the case, even during the trial, given “the great pains we have gone to ensure you do not know anyone involved in this case”.

The judge explained that by getting into a discussion they may “innocently” be told something “about the case and that would be entirely wrong”.

However, Judge McFarland also told the jury panel that under no circumstances should they conduct their own internet research into the background of the case or the personalities involved.

Judge McFarland, who warned this was a strict instuction they were being given, said anyone who did so would be guilty of a contempt of court and would be dealt with accordingly.

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