Award nomination for Irvine Library

After first calling in on the Provost's fundraising event in Cunninghame House it was onto Irvine Library for their MacMillan Coffee Morning.  I really enjoyed hearing about Irvine Librarys' nomination for an Ayrshire Business award this year in the "Employer Diversity" category.  It's always good to hear first hand the positive impact an inclusive approach to the workplace has on all.  An inclusive workplace that recognises the differing talents and needs of all is not just good for the place of work but for the community around it.  I commend the staff for their wonderful work and will keep my fingers crossed for a win!

Youth Legacy Ambassador

YLA Erin Mcauley collecting "Legacy Wishes" from Cllr Marie Burns and I

North Ayrshire "Rising Stars" praised in Scottish Parliament

Cunninghame North MSP Kenneth Gibson has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament praising North Ayrshires rising stars:

"That the Parliament congratulates all of the winners at North Ayrshire’s Rising Stars Awards 2013; understands that the awards celebrate the many and varied ways in which young people help to enrich the lives of others and support their community; further understands that the awards also recognise young talent including artists, academics, sportsmen and sportswomen, as well as those who are considered to be assets to their local community, and considers that North Ayrshire’s Rising Stars Awards, which are now in their second year, offer a great opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contribution made by the young people of North Ayrshire, who it believes are a credit to themselves and their communities and who offer a positive example to others."


The motion has received cross party support of MSPs from all over the country who clearly recognise what an asset our young people are to us here in North Ayrshire.

Please Support local Irvine band Culann

Excellent Irvine rock band Culann have been nominated for a Scottish Alternative Music award.  You can show your support by voting for them online at www.officialsama.co.uk/vote.co.uk

http://culann.bigcartel.com/

Irvine Harbourside, Hidden History and Positive Future

This morning I attended the launch of The Irvine Harbourside project and what a brilliant end to the week it was!  

The project is being led by Irvine Burns Club and is all about re-discovering and promoting the vibrant history and heritage of the area and celebrating it with all sections of the local community.  Town trails, interpretive signage and artworks, scots language links and events aim to heighten the profile and drive additional cultural tourism to the area.

"Kilmarnock Edition" Manuscripts can
be found in Irvine Burns Club

During Bill Nolan's presentation we heard one of the areas claim to fame is the role that the Harbourside played in bringing together Captain Richard Brown, a local seafarer, and a young Ayrshire Farmer, Robert Burns, during his stay in the town between 1781 and 1782.  As Burns freely admitted some five years later in a letter to Brown, it was his advice on hearing some of Burns poems that encouraged Burns "to endeavor at the character of a Poet" and have them published.  

Project Manager, Marion Francis was keen to stress that the project was not just for experts on local history, that everyone had a part to play.

Local people are being urged to get involved. Leaflets will be put through each door in the area, meantime, more information about getting involve can be found at irvineharbourside.org 

Hugely inspiring to hear about and great to see such enthusiasm and drive to create something positive for the area.  I look forward to helping in any way I can in the lead up to project completion in May 2014.

Pilot House restoration

Pleased to report that plans I first heard about back in May are workable.  There is much to do but I am sure we will see the Pilot House restored and providing benefit to the community not just as a visitor attraction but also in it's function as a monitoring station.

I'll update this as we progress......watch this space as they say.