Lurgan Townscape Heritage Scheme

10/09/2026

Interesting workshop coming up at the The Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre, Armagh tomorrow (Friday 11 September), which is being organised by our friends over in Community Development as part of the Culture in the Park weekend.

Book your place here: https://form.jotform.com/262302485065050

The workshop will explore languages and their associated cultures between Ulster and Scotland as part of the FLOURISH (Framing the Legacy of our Irish and Scottish Heritage) project. In this first workshop, we will focus on the Irish language, Ulster Scots, Scottish Gaelic and Scots language.

For further details on Culture in the Park events including the extravaganza in Lurgan Park on Saturday 12 September see: https://www.armaghbanbridgecraigavon.gov.uk/cultureinthepark/

Abccultureni Love Heritage NI Craigavon Historical Society Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council Urban ABC

23/06/2026

Congratulations to Maghery filmmaker Colm Laverty and the Northern Ireland Screen for winning a FOCAL International award for the documentary '𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐧, 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲', which can be viewed at
https://ow.ly/mRg350ZewJH

The award for Best Use of Footage in a Factual of Natural World Production, recognises the film’s innovative use of archive footage, with the FOCAL International Awards celebrating excellence in archival storytelling across the creative and cultural industries.

We were proud to have played a part in the film's creation, having been asked to conduct the new interviews around which the film was structured. A big thank you is owed to Brian, Clive, Isobel and Michael for taking part and providing their memories and thoughts.

Watch the film: https://ow.ly/mRg350ZewJH

Love Heritage NI McCreanor & Co Architects Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland South Lough Neagh Regeneration Association Loughshore Care Partnership

🏆 Craigavon, New City, from filmmaker Colm Laverty and Northern Ireland Screen’s Digital Film Archive, has won Best Use of Footage in a Factual or Natural World Production at the .

Exploring the story of Craigavon, the ambitious new city project developed around a vision of modern, high-tech communal living, Craigavon, New City combines material preserved by the Digital Film Archive with contemporary interviews to reflect on the hopes, complexities and legacy of the project sixty years on.

The award recognises the film’s innovative use of archive footage, with the FOCAL International Awards celebrating excellence in archival storytelling across the creative and cultural industries.

Watch the film here: https://ow.ly/mRg350ZewJH

FOCAL International

21/05/2026

Thank you to everyone who joined us last week for our seminar on '𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭: 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧', led in conjunction with Institute of Historic Building Conservation • Northern Ireland Branch at Brownlow Castle.

If you missed the event or would like to revisit it, have a watch of the recording below put together by the folks over at BNL Productions - a big thank you to them for sorting out the audio visual side of things on the day.

Speakers included:

- 𝐃𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐞, Senior Architectural Advisor of the National Built Heritage Service within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage who provided a talk on the history of windows and fanlights in Ireland.

- Heritage carpenter 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 of J.B. Heritage Joinery, who facilitated a session focusing on practical tips for repairing and prolonging the lifespan of sash windows.

- 𝐋𝐲𝐧𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐲, general manager at Quorn & Loughborough Glass (https://tatraglass.co.uk/), who delivered a presentation on the different available types of heritage restoration glass, including a discussion on their properties and uses.

This seminar was made possible thanks to the support of the Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund through the Lurgan Townscape Heritage Scheme.

The National Lottery Heritage Fund Love Heritage NI The Architectural Heritage Fund National Churches Trust CITB Northern Ireland Urban ABC Abccultureni The Royal Society of Ulster Architects

18/05/2026

Thank you to Love Heritage NI for these lovely comments regarding our seminar, Glazing the Past, which we held last week at Brownlow Castle.

It was very informative day and a special thanks to our speakers Dr Nessa Roche (National Built Heritage Service), Jonathan Black (J.B. Heritage Joinery) and Lynn Bellamy from Tatraglass (https://tatraglass.co.uk/) for their insight and experise on all things windows!

We'll be sharing a film of the event in the next few days so keep an eye out for that if you missed it or would like to revisit the presentations.

13/05/2026

Have a watch of the film below to find out a bit more about the restoration works that have commenced at 38 Church Place, one of the priority building restoration projects within the Lurgan Townscape Heritage Scheme.

These works have been made possible thanks to the joint investment of MMG Buildings Ltd, the Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund through the Lurgan Townscape Heritage Scheme.

We are looking forward to seeing the building transformed over the coming months, restoring it back to the day-to day life of the High Street.

Urban ABC The National Lottery Heritage Fund Love Heritage NI McCreanor & Co Architects Ulster Architectural Heritage The Royal Society of Ulster Architects Institute of Historic Building Conservation • Northern Ireland Branch Des Cairns Architecture Abccultureni The Architectural Heritage Fund

21/04/2026

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟-𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞-𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: Friday 24 April 2026, 10.30am to 12.00pm
𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞: Lurgan Library
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1985804058395?

Learn how to navigate the pitfalls of self-publishing and find a market for your novel in this practical workshop aimed at emerging writers.

Over the course of two hours, you’ll learn about the practicalities of the process – from cover design to ISBNs – and consider the ancillary skills such as editing, marketing and promotion that you’ll need to give your novel the very best chance of finding its audience.

Aimed at both emerging writers whose debut novel is just about ready to make its way into the world, and traditionally published authors interested in hybridising their career, this workshop will help you set yourself, and your novel, on the path to success

𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐫

Jo Zebedee is a science fiction and fantasy writer based near Belfast. She is the author of Abendau book (an extensive Space Opera series, Tickety Boo Press, 2015), and writes genre books set in and around Northern Ireland. Best known for Inish Carraig, set after an alien invasion of Belfast, her first fantasy book, Waters and the Wild, was released by Inspired Quill in 2017. As well as writing novels, she blogs, mixing writing advice, motivational blogs and business modelling for writers. She also delivers courses in writing speculative fiction, and provides coaching services to writers

14/04/2026

𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐭: 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐰 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: Wednesday 13 May 2026, 11am to 2pm
𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞: Brownlow Castle
𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1986980357738?

Join us at our upcoming seminar where three experts will provide an insight into the repair, conservation and restoration of historic windows.

Held in conjunction with the Northern Ireland branch of The Institute of Historic Building Conservation, this seminar will provide an insight into history of window types in Ireland, along with considerations for their repair, maintenance and restoration.

Aimed at architects, building owners and heritage professionals, the seminar will include presentations by:

- 𝐃𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐚 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐡𝐞, Senior Architectural Advisor of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and author of the Department’s 𝐴𝑑𝑣𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑆𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑠: 𝐴 𝐺𝑢𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑝𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑊𝑖𝑛𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑠. In her talk Dr Roche will be providing an insight into the historic development of window design in Ireland including fanlights as well as guidance regarding their conservation.

- Heritage carpenter 𝐉𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤 of J.B. Heritage Joinery, who will be facilitating a session focusing on practical tips for repairing and prolonging the lifespan of sash windows.

- 𝐋𝐲𝐧𝐧 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐲, general manager at Quorn & Loughborough Glass (https://tatraglass.co.uk/), who will be delivering a presentation on the different available types of heritage restoration glass, including a discussion on their properties and uses.

There will also be an opportunity to ask questions throughout the day, so if you have a burning question on windows this is the event for you!

The seminar will be held at Brownlow Castle in Lurgan and will commence at 11am and finish at around 1pm.

This seminar is made possible thanks to the support of the Armagh City, Banbridge & Craigavon Borough Council and The National Lottery Heritage Fund through the Lurgan Townscape Heritage Scheme.

Love Heritage NI The Royal Society of Ulster Architects The National Lottery Heritage Fund Northern Ireland Urban ABC CITB Northern Ireland Abccultureni Ulster Architectural Heritage The Architectural Heritage Fund McCreanor & Co Architects Des Cairns Architecture