Over 1,000 People Enjoy Action-Packed Newry Water Festival

More than 1,000 people enjoyed an afternoon of activity, entertainment and community spirit at Newry Water Festival, held at Albert Basin on Monday 31 August.

Organised by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council’s Newry District Electoral Area (DEA) Forum and Neighbourhood Renewal, the free event brought families, residents and visitors together for four hours of land and water-based activities, while also providing opportunities to engage with local organisations and services.

Throughout the afternoon, Albert Basin was transformed into a busy hub of activity, with a wide variety of attractions for all ages. Water-based activities included paddleboarding and traditional Canadian boats, while activities on land ranged from a climbing wall and dunk tank to trampolines, face painting, arts and crafts and much more.

New elements were also introduced to this year’s festival, helping broaden the range of activities and make the event more inclusive. These included a surfing simulator and a dedicated sensory space, providing a quieter, lower stimulated environment for children and families who would benefit from time away from the busier areas of the festival.

Alongside the activities, the festival provided an opportunity for people to connect with organisations working across the Newry area, learn more about local services and access information relating to health, wellbeing, community safety and volunteering.

The event was delivered with the support and involvement of a wide range of partners, including the Department for Communities, Arbour Housing, Radius Housing, Newry BID, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP), Southern Health and Social Care Trust Promoting Wellbeing Team, Volunteer Now, The Quays Shopping Centre, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Welcoming the success of the festival and the strong support for the event, Newry DEA Forum Chairperson, Councillor Aidan Mathers said, “It was fantastic to see more than 1,000 people enjoying Newry Water Festival and creating such a positive community atmosphere at Albert Basin.

“The festival is about bringing people together and providing a free, enjoyable and accessible day for families, while also connecting them with the many organisations and services working within our community. It was particularly pleasing to introduce new elements this year, including a sensory space, helping to make the festival more inclusive and ensure there were opportunities for even more children and families to enjoy the day in a way that suited their needs.”

Cllr Mathers added: “An event of this scale is only possible through partnership working. I would like to thank everyone involved, including our funders and partners, Council officers, emergency services, community organisations and volunteers, as well as everyone who came along and helped make the festival such a success.”

The festival demonstrated the value of partnership working in delivering accessible community events that encourage participation, promote health and wellbeing and provide opportunities for people from different backgrounds to come together and enjoy a shared space.