DVCA

Doagh Village Community Association, in preparation for the forthcoming Doagh Ancestry Project, has launched the first of its computer skills courses for the over 50’s.

The Doagh Ancestry and Heritage Project will post a significant amount of local history and other interesting information online for those interested in learning more about Doagh’s rich heritage and for those attempting to enhance their own geneological projects and studies of local family history. People will also be able to contribute to this interactive process by providing local information and personal accounts of their own. Although the Doagh Ancestry Project will produce occasional papers and publications from time to time, there will hopefully be much more information available on the internet, through its dedicated website.

In order that more people will be in a position to access this fantastic online resource, DVCA in conjunction with support from Doagh Primary School and Newtownabbey Borough Council, has begun the first of its 12 week IT skills courses to boost people’s confidence and knowledge of computer use. The principal of the school, Mr B Thompson, firmly believes that being placed at the heart of the Doagh community the school should be used more by the community to enhance the quality of life in the village. The building lies empty most evenings after school and could be available to provide a positive and valuable resource.

As there is already a significant waiting list of students, DVCA is determined to continue to try to further meet this growing need. There is therefore another course planned for the spring of 2012. Details will be announced within the next month or so. Anyone interested in participating should contact Alice Andrew or Bob Adams from the Association.

A Lambeg Drumming Match was held on Saturday evening, 9 July and hosted by the members of Doagh Fife and Drums Club. Sixteen  drums competed for the first time for the Hugh McGrugan Memorial Cup. This match had been postponed on two previous occasions due to bad weather but fortunately this time no such problems  prevented  the match taking place.

To mark his many years of service to the Doagh Club and to the members of the County Antrim Drumming Association, a short service was held prior to the event, at which a Drum was dedicated in honour of the late Hugh McGrugan.

Hugh was a founder member of the County Antrim Drumming Association and a member of the Doagh Club until his death two years ago.

DOAGH VILLAGE COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION held its annual St Patrick’s Social and Irish Stew Night in the Torrens Memorial Hall in Doagh on Saturday evening. Irish Dancing was provided by the 7 Towers School of Irish Dancing representatives, Tracey Montgomery and Sarah Mulligan, and a demonstration of gymnastic dancing and movement given by Girls Brigade member, Katie Andrew. Music was provided by local singer, Philip Stronge.

A good turnout of local people were also treated to a bowl of hot “Irish Stew” followed by Apple Tart and Cream.

The Association Chairman, Leith Burgess, thanked all who turned out for this annual event but he especially welcomed the participation of the families with young children who attended. He pointed out that these young families were Doagh’s future generation and it was good to see them becoming involved in the village’s activities. Doagh was fast becoming a “dormitory community” with many of the growing number of families failing to actively engage in the community life of the village. He explained that the present members of the DVCA were long past their youth and so were in danger of losing touch with the aspirations and needs of their younger neighbours. He would welcome hearing the views and opinions of this section of the community and he invited anyone interested to attend one of the monthly DVCA meetings to express their views and hopefully become more actively involved in community life. This would help inform the committee as they begin to plan their programme for the coming year to ensure that it can make provision for everyone.

He also reminded people of events organised for the next two months. The annual Variety Concert was being held in Doagh Primary School on Tuesday, 12 April at 7.30 pm. The Senior Citizens’ Outing on Wednesday, 18 May will begin with a guided Tour of Stormont followed by a visit to Bangor. As places for the trip were usually quickly taken up Leith advised any Senior Citizen wishing to participate to contact Alice Andrew or any of the DVCA Committee members to secure a seat.

Leith also announced that DVCA were considering organising a Computer Course for the over 50s. He asked if anyone over 50, interested in attending a "Silver Surfers" computer course submit their names to Alice or to any of the committee, If there was sufficient interest then a course would be set up in the village next autumn.