
Day Trip to Copelands for Twitchers
The planned day trip to the Observatory on 24th
May has still plenty of places available. The day will consist
of a full conducted tour and free time to walk around the west
and north sides of the island. Suitable clothing and a packed
lunch and drink will be necessary, and day visitors are asked
to take all their left-overs and rubbish home. Depending on demand,
another day trip may be arranged in June. The charge is £12
per adult and £8 per person under 17.
First Breeding Record in Ireland
The story began on the 25th April 2004 when Anthony McGeehan found an adult Ring-billed Gull at the Common Gull colony on Big Isle, Copeland Islands, Co. Down. The bird appeared to be holding territory. It, or another adult, was then seen again by Wilton Farrelly at the same location on the 8th May.
Click Here for more on Copeland Islands...
Secretary: Neville McKee
mobile 07770368856
Website:http://www.cbo.org.uk/
Speak directly to a cancer care nurse for: Easily understood information, Services in you area, Someone to talk to

Tom Frawley is the current Northern Ireland Ombudsman.
"The purpose of my Office is to ensure that every citizen
in Northern Ireland is served by a fair and efficient public administration
that is committed to accountability; openness; and quality of
service."
If you have a concern or complaint, he can be contacted at Ombudsman
Trading Standards Service is to promote and maintain fair trading, and protect consumers
Consumerline is a telephone and online consumer advice service for Northern Ireland.
"Our telephone advisors will listen to each caller's query and provide clear, practical advice on a wide range of consumer issues."
With UK consumers generating over £25 billion worth of postal sales per year, it's fair to say the majority welcome the information and special offers they receive by post. However, it's also understandable why some people might take a different view.
The MPS is there to make your choice known - so you get the mail you want and need.
Unwanted, unread Direct Mail has no place in anyone's home. And if you're not interested in receiving it, they will update their records for Direct Mail companies to see and adjust their lists as you request.
Problems with Mailings from Overseas?
Mailings from overseas promoting lotteries, or get rich quick schemes, are more often than not misleading and fraudulent.
Our advice is not to reply and to put it straight in your recycling bin.
It's a difficult problem to solve but the Office of Fair Trading
is working on it, you may like to send any copies you receive,
including the envelope, to the European Enforcement Team at the
Office of Fair Trading at Fleetbank House, 2-6 Salisbury Square,
London EC4Y 8IJ.
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You can use CoveBay.net to send an email to the Prime Minister
Gordon Brown,on the issues that matter to you most.
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Minister
Chief Constable's Report 2006
The 2006 report emphasises the reduction of crimes reported in the last 12 months. A reduction of 2% in reported crime last year is claimed by the PSNI as proof of their "constantly updated police methods, and technigues" . Crime statistics are relegated to the back of their report. Clearance rates for all crimes are just 23.6% - that is less than 1 in 4 crimes solved.
Domestic Burglary clearance is 11.3%, and theft from motor vehicles 4.6% clearance rate.
The cost of Policing in N. Ireland was £743 million. Police pay £484 million, with £150 million of that spent on Police pensions.
Local Police Contacts
The Community Beat Officer for Groomsport is Constable Anne
Hiles stationed at Bangor PSNI Tel Number 02891474983
Anne is part of the Outer Sector Team led by Sergeant Keith Hutchinson
also available at the above number.
Constable Hiles runs 2 police surgeries a month in the Parish Hall Groomsport on Wednesdays 3-4pm.
There are no specific statistics relating to Groomsport, but figures quoted in the recent District Commanders report refer to the North Down Area which incorporates Holywood, Helens Bay, Crawfordsburn, Bangor and Groomsport.
Domestic Burglaries are down 34%, robberies down 24%, violent crime has increased by 10%.
Non Emergency telephone number is 0845 600 8000
Crime Stoppers number is 0800 555 111
North Down District Policing Partnership
Tel: 028 91278054
E Mail dpp@northdown.gov.uk
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The Eagle Wing, a small wooden sailing ship of 150 tonnes was
built for the move to America, ready for the risk of travelling
the vast Atlantic Ocean. The Eagle Wing set sail from Groomsport
on September 9th with 140 passengers who prayed to God for safe
carriage, amongst them were Ministers representing Ulster and
Scotland, in respect to Scottish Presbyterian families who had
come to Ulster some 30 years earlier.
Dark clouds hovered as the ship headed in the direction of Newfoundland. The winds grew powerful and as a storm grew its force tore the sails and the seas created a leak. The fear grew with the storm and after much consultation and prayer the decision was made to turn the ship back in haste to the shores of Ireland, which were nearer than those of Newfoundland, concerned that it was God's will that they return home as He had spoken "by His winds and other dispensations".
The courageous attempt to start a new life in America had disappointingly been aborted, however on the return of Eagle Wing to Ulster there was a natural outpouring of relief and thanksgiving.
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Groomsport Community Page
This year, there may be good news for some ratepayers
aged 70 or over, who live on their own.
Under the new Lone Pensioner Allowance scheme pensioners
who qualify will be entitled to a reduction of 20% on their 2008/2009
rate bills.
The new scheme is not means-tested, so details of income and savings are not needed, and getting an application form is easy:
if you own your home, simply phone the helpline on 084 5300 6360, minicom 084 5300 6361; or
if you rent your home, contact the Housing Executive on 084 4892
0902.
24,500 births were recorded in Northern Ireland in 2007, 1,200 (5%) more than in 2006. The biggest annual increase since 1979, and the fifth annual increase in a row. For the first time in over a decade the "average" number of children born per woman in N. Ireland is now above two.
Thre are a number of reasons for the increasing number of births: More females in their thirties are having babies, with the birth rate of women in their thirties having increased by over 15% in the last decade.
Secondly, significantly more babies are being born here whose mother was born outside Britain and Northern Ireland. Last year 1,900 new mothers in Northern Ireland were themselves born outside Britain and Northern Ireland. In Particular last year there were 800 babies born in Northern Ireland to mothers from the eight new central and eastern European EU countries compared to 10 such births in 2001
In Co. Down 344 births (36.1%) in 2007 were outside marriage MORE...
Foundation for Sudden Infant Death (FSID) offers you the very latest research-based advice on safe baby care, information on the latest research, as well as support and information initiatives.
Add this site to your "Favourites" and visit regularly
Sign up to receive the latest news by email send your request and
full contact details to office@fsid.org.uk

The increase in ocean temperatures, and rising sea
level -- all documented results of a warming atmosphere -- are making
trouble, even for Groomsport. The entire coast of Ireland is threatened
by rising seas and stronger surges during storms, the effects of
increasing warmth in the atmosphere and ocean. This casts doubt
on the future of the apartments and homes that crowd the East Coast.
From February 2008 the Groomsport police surgery will be held once
a month, on the first Wednesday of each month in the Church Hall
as usual.
Posters are in the Church Hall and also in the Spar and our community policewoman Anne Hiles can be contacted at Bangor Police Station Tel 0845 600 8000 Extension 13808
E-mail: northdown@psni.pnn.police.uk
"I may not always be on duty but someone will always pass
a message on" - Ann Hiles

Photo by Tommy Shannon
What is the history, and your memories of Groomsport House? .Who built it, and who were the first family? If you have any local knowledge of this magnificent building, photographs and stories, please send them to editor@covebay.net
The
Hallidays Tearfund
Coffee Morning on Saturday 27th was a fantastic success! Thanks
to the very efficient leaflet delivery by three girls from Cove
Bay and a friend from the Village, number 22 Cove Avenue had over
80 visitors for coffee and scones, helping to raise an incredible
£1400.00 for a fantastic charity. "As a family, we were
blown away by the support and enthusiasm of our neighbours and were
delighted to make lots of new friends in Cove Bay so thank
you to everyone concerned. It was so good
. We might just do
it again next year! "
Next on the agenda is a repeat performance of last years Carols in the Cove anyone play a portable instrument!?? Id love to hear from you seven weeks to practice!
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), is a voluntary organisation,
supported by donations, gifts and bequests. Ireland has 43 RNLI
lifeboat stations. During 2006, around the coasts of Ireland, RNLI
volunteer crews rescued 990 people. Portaferry's lifeboat launched
25 times and rescued 35 people.
RNLI
Portaferry Helmsman Simon Rogers was awarded RNLI's 'Thanks of the
Institution on Vellum' for his role in the search for the missing
crew of the fishing vessel Greenhill, which sank off Ardglass, County
Down, on 19 January 2006. His crew, Philip Sands-Robinson, Hugh
Edwards and Sinead Breen received Vellum certificates. The search
and rescue operation saw one man saved by the Portaferry Lifeboat,
'Blue Peter V', but sadly two lost their lives after their fishing
vessel sank.
Living in Cove Bay, or the Groomsport area?
Help us to keep you, and all your neighbours informed, entertained,
and up to date with local information.
Our website www.covebay.net can only work if YOU contribute, comment,
criticise!
Do you have any photographs of the area before the houses were built?
Have you something you want to get off your chest?
Want to publicise a local event?
If you are a Church, group, club, etc, please tell us (by email)
about your organisation, events, people, and contact details.
We are waiting to hear from YOU.
You can contact us at: editor@covebay.net
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Donaghadee 1897
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Lady Sylvia Herman
Councillor Peter Weir MLA will hold a Constituency Surgery in Groomsport Boathouse on 21st January, 4th February, and 18th February 2008, and thereafter the 1st, and 3rd Monday each month.
Tel: 02891 454500 Peter Weir Website
Groomsport residents raised a number of issues of concern in the questionnaire circulated by the Village Association earlier this year. The Committee brought these issues to an inter-agency meeting in April and a second follow-up meeting in June. more.....
This FREE service is brought to you by the British Bankers' Association (BBA), the Building Societies Association (BSA) and National Savings and Investments (NS&I).
mylostaccount.org.uk
brings together the three tracing schemes of BBA, BSA and NS&I
into a single website. This means that anyone with a dormant or
lost account with a bank, a building society, NS&I
or all three can initiate a search simply by visiting this
website and completing only one application form.
Meetings are on Thursday evenings from about 7:00pm till late. Adult members usually arrive from 7:30 onwards with league games scheduled to start at 8:00. More details...
Venue: Groomsport Parish Hall, Main Street, Groomsport

Click on the Photograph for more Groomsport dogs
Send your dogs name and picture to editor@covebay.net
We are looking for fellow backgammon players who fancy a social
game or two with a view to starting a North Down Club. Beginners
and established players would be welcome. Will meet in Groomsport
on Monday evenings. Please email Gavin Walker to register your
interest.
E-Mail: gavin@twworks.co.uk
If you missed his programme today, or want to hear it again.
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Can you recommend a local tradesman?
Electrician, Painter, Plumber etc. - Tell us about them
Dogs on the Beach
Walking the dog on the beach is one of the great joys of living in Groomsport, but, some dogwalkers are not clearing up after their dog. Please keep a close watch on your dog, and don't leave anything on the beach. Owners of dogs are required by law to pick up after their dog has fouled. Failure to remove faeces could result in an fixed penalty fine £50. Badly fouled areas are patrolled by the Council's Dog Warden.
The Dog Warden can be contacted at the Town Hall on 02891 270371 or out of hours for urgent matters such as detained strays, on 07803186340.
Bus Service to Bloomfield
The Easibus runs from Groomsport to Bloomfield Centre then on into Bangor Monday to Friday at; 10.15am, 12.15pm, 2.45pm, 5.15pm. There are also some evening buses.
Places of Worship
Groomsport Parish Church, Donaghadee Road, Groomsport
Rev Duncan Pollock
Tel: (028) 9146 4476
Groomsport Presbyterian Church, Main Street, Groomsport
Rev. D. Roger Purce
Tel: (028) 9146 4259
Website:
Groomsport
Presbyterian Church
EMails to: rpurce@presbyterianireland.org
Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Donaghadee Road, Groomsport
Rev Jeff Ballantine
Tel: (028) 9145 0198
St. Comgalls Presbytery
27 Brunswick Rd, Bangor
Fr James Donaghy & Fr Henry McCann
Tel: (028) 9146 5522
Website: St
Comgall's Presbytery
EMails to: stcomgalls@btconnect.com
Most Holy Redeemer
Sheridan Drive, Bangor
Father Joe Rooney
Tel: (028) 9146 5425
Useful Contacts
Belfast Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre
HM Coastguard
Bregenz House
Quay Street
BANGOR
Co.Down
BT20 5ED
Tel: 028 9146 3933
Fax: 028 9146 5886
Ward Park Lawn Tennis Club
Ward Park, Gransha Road, Bangor
Secretary: Mr. C. Holmes
Telephone: +44(0)28 9146 2835
Groomsport Football Club
Secretary: Mr. Billy McAnenney
Telephone: +44(0)28 9146 1932
Telephone: +44(0)7812 042833
Bangor Police Station
(North Down District Command Unit)
1-3 Castle Park Avenue
Bangor
Co Down
BT20 4BS
Tel 0845 600 8000
Fax 028 9147 4971
E-mail: northdown@psni.pnn.police.uk
Report
a Fault to N.D.B.Council
Highways, Street Name Plates, Street Cleaning, Litter, Dog
Bins, Dead Animal, Fly Posting, Abandoned Vehicles, Fly Tipping
etc.
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