It’s party time in many local villages

In The Villages Together area some villages are celebrating the Olympic Torch passing through and others are celebrating the Diamond Jubilee.

In the villages along the main route from Newbuildings through to Strabane lots of activities are planned for the Olympic Torch coming through – at Strabane Primary School on 31st May ay 8pm Bready Reformed Presbyterian Church is holding an event on the life of Eric Liddell (on whom the film Chariots of Fire was based), in Artigarvan the school is getting ready to hold its Olympic themed Sports Day on 1st June.

On 5th June the torch finally makes its way through The Villages Together area and will start with local people in Newbuildings welcoming the Torch at 7.44am and this is followed by Jubilee celebrations later in the day.

Magheramason will be next at 7.56am followed by a breakfast party and early morning cricket games.

From there the Torch arrives in Bready at 8.06am where there will be music, dancing and breakfast followed by Jubilee Coffee morning at 11am.

In Ballymagorry local people will welcome the torch at 8.22am with fun, games and food.

The Villages Together would remind anyone attending the Olympic Torch activities should be at the roadside at least 30 minutes beforehand.

Jubilee celebrations have already started in some villages and will continue over the next week with a Jubilee Fun Day in Fox Lodge on 2nd June.

On 3rd June it’s all happening in Donemana with a Jubilee Tea Party at Earlsgift at noon and a Jubilee Church Service with Strabane District LOL 14 at 3pm walking to the Presbyterian Church.

On 4th June there will be a Jubilee street party at Lisnaragh Road in Donemana.

It runs from 2pm until 4pm with lots of fun and games for all the family.

On the night of 4th June a Jubilee Beacon will be lit at Dullerton Hill and everyone is invited to attend that from 9.45 (beacon to be lit at 10.15) and the next day 5th June a Jubilee band parade will be held in Donemana at 8pm.

Local people have lots to choose from over the coming weeks and are encouraged to support all the events that are taking place.

A spokesperson for The Villages Together said: “As always more volunteers are welcome to help out and while time is getting slim everyone is invited to take part in some way and encouraged to offer their talents to make this year one to remember.

“More information on the events is available by contacting the offices on 7184 1735 (offices operate on a part-time basis so callers should leave a message if no reply) or by email – [email protected] or through tvtbready on Facebook.”

The Villages Together includes Magheramason, Ballymagorry, Donemana, Newbuidlings, Artigarvan, Bready and everywhere in between!