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Festival fun with an innovative way to give back to the community

Paul McCusker,festival at the Pavilion at Flax Centre car park as the Ardoyne & Marrowbone community Festival sets up. Picture by Hugh Russell.
Paul McCusker,festival at the Pavilion at Flax Centre car park as the Ardoyne & Marrowbone community Festival sets up. Picture by Hugh Russell. Paul McCusker,festival at the Pavilion at Flax Centre car park as the Ardoyne & Marrowbone community Festival sets up. Picture by Hugh Russell.

A north Belfast festival has come up with an innovative way to help families living in poverty by asking people who attend events to pay an 'admission fee' of an item of food for the local food bank.

This is the first year of the Ardoyne and Marrowbone festival, with organisers saying the emphases is on community wellbeing for all generations living in the area.

Almost all the events, which include health and wellbeing classes, concerts, talks and discussions are free.

They include mother and toddlers events right up to a special screening of The Quiet Man for the older residents of Ardoyne and the Bone, with a pavilion marquee erected in the grounds of the Flax Centre.

The festival has replaced the Ardoyne Fleadh which stopped in 2015 due to lack of funding.

Those attending the events are asked to bring an item of tinned or dried food as an 'admission fee', donations will go to the North Belfast Advice Partnership Food Bank, which has provided emergency food hampers to over 600 families and hot meals to almost 8000 people since it was set up two years ago.

Ardoyne and Marrowbone festival committee Stephen Konrad, Paul McCusker, Marie McKee and Gareth Gilvary at the Flax Centre Pavilion, those attending are asked to donate items to the local food bank. Picture by Hugh Russell.
Ardoyne and Marrowbone festival committee Stephen Konrad, Paul McCusker, Marie McKee and Gareth Gilvary at the Flax Centre Pavilion, those attending are asked to donate items to the local food bank. Picture by Hugh Russell. Ardoyne and Marrowbone festival committee Stephen Konrad, Paul McCusker, Marie McKee and Gareth Gilvary at the Flax Centre Pavilion, those attending are asked to donate items to the local food bank. Picture by Hugh Russell.

SDLP councillor Paul McCusker, who is one of the festival organisers, said it was about the community giving a hand up to those in need.

"A few of us got together and thought a festival that really put community at the centre of the program was greatly needed.

"We got funding from the Flax Trust and put the program together really quickly, that said it's very inclusive with events for all generations.

"The idea of asking for donations to the food bank is because there are so many people now, experiencing emotional, health or financial problems who rely on the food bank.

"It just seemed like an appropriate gesture and we know the people of the Ardoyne and Bone areas will really embrace this throughout the week long program of events", he added.

The Ardoyne and Marrowbone festival will run from August 18 until Sunday 27, while programs have been delivered to most of the homes in the area, updated information can be found on Facebook and Twitter by searching #ArdBoneFest or calling 02890 715165.