Recreation

Local government reorganisation in 1973 brought fundamental changes and one of the most important of these was the new role that was given to local authorities in relation to the provision of recreation facilities. Lisburn Borough Council is thus charged with a responsibility to provide adequate facilities for recreational, social, physical and cultural activities in the Borough and to pro-vide tourist amenities, entertainments and other activities.

PARKS AND SPORTS FACILITIES
The Borough Council provides parks and sports facilities in Lisburn, Dunmurry, Moira and Hillsborough.

At LISBURN, the Recreation Centre at Warren Park includes parkland, out-door facilities and changing rooms. These outdoor facilities include children's play areas; a pitch and putt course; putting green; three football pitches; a rugby pitch; two hard porous pitches (one with floodlights); a running track; a bowling green and tennis courts-all served with adequate car parking. There are plans, too, to build an indoor recreation centre on the same site, a building that will provide facilities for many sports as well as for community and arts activities.

In the centre of the town at Market Place, is the indoor swimming pool which is one of the busiest in Northern Ireland. It is close to bus and rail stations, has its own car park and caters for galas and other events as well as for general swimming. Details from the manager - Tel: Lisburn 2306.

Just outside MOIRA are the 44 acres of Moira Demesne which have been developed and provide picnic areas, children's play areas, a transit caravan and camping site and, of course, car parking.

Duncan's Park and the land around it has been developed for recreation purposes with paths through the woodlands and with a children's play area. Here, too, a car park is provided.

At GLENMORE, HILDEN a site alongside the River Lagan has been developed from former industrial premises. This centre includes a large hall, committee rooms, coffee bar, changing rooms, a children's play area, two football pitches and two squash courts.

Community Activity Centres are currently being built at TWINBROOK, KNOCKMORE and SEYMOUR HILL and these centres will provide opportunities for sport, social and cultural activities.

A wide range of sports clubs is found in the Borough and an important role is played by the LISBURN SPORTS ADVISORY COUNCIL. It was active in the former Borough and then in 1975 it adopted a new constitution which ensures that it provides a service to the enlarged Borough of today. It advises the Borough Council on the collective opinions of local sports interests on such matters as the improvement of existing sports facilities and the provision of new ones. It encourages participation in sports and physical recreation and makes sure that the public is aware of the sports opportunities in the area. Full details of the Council and its work can be obtained from the Honorary Secretary at The Borough Offices, The Square, Hillsborough (Tel: 682477).

A Directory of Sport is issued by the Council and it gives details of clubs with the following sports: -
Aero-model flying; angling; archery; Association football; athletics; badminton; basketball; billiards; bowling (outdoors and indoors); boxing; camogie; canoeing; clay pigeon shooting; cricket; cycling; darts; gaelic football; golf; hockey; hurling; karate; keep-fit; life saving; motorsport; netball; orienteering; pigeonracing; riding and showjumping; rugby football; snooker; squash; sub-aqua; swimming; tennis; table tennis; taekwondo; water skiing.

As well as these sports there are TWO PRIVATE GOLF CLUBS in the Borough. These are the Dunmurry Golf Club with an 18 hole parkland course at Upper Dunmurry Lane, Dunmurry and the Lisburn Golf Club with an 18 hole parkland course at Hillsborough Road. A public nine hole course is under construction at Aberdelghy near Lisburn.

Close to the village of Maze is the DOWN ROYAL RACECOURSE, the oldest in Ireland and the venue, every July, for the Ulster Harp Derby.

Part of the Dundrod motor-cycle circuit is within the Borough.

THE ARTS
Co-operating with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Lisburn Borough Council holds dramatic and orchestral concerts, art exhibitions and other cultural events.

The Lisburn Arts Advisory Council was formed in 1975 to promote arts and cultural services working in conjunction with both the Borough Council and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Members are drawn from the Borough Council, local organisations and the general public and cultural activities promoted include drama, music, the visual arts and photography. Many events are presented each year and the Council aims to widen its scope in the future. Full details of the Council and its work can be obtained from the Honorary Secretary at the Borough Offices, The Square, Hillsborough (Tel: 682477

MUSEUM OF LOCAL ANTIQUITIES
The Lisburn Borough Council will open during 1981, a local museum in the Assembly Rooms at Lisburn's Market Square. This project is one in which the Borough Council and the Lisburn Historical Society have worked together.

TOURISM
The Borough's many tourist assets include its attractive villages; historic buildings and monuments, beautiful scenery, excellent hotels and country farm-houses.

A major tourist attraction is Lough Neagh whose 65 miles of shoreline is well wooded and has small hidden harbours and sandy beaches. At Moira, close to the Lough, is the Borough Council's transit caravan and camping site.

Much of the Lagan Valley Regional Park lies within the Borough and it has within its 4,140 acres, much to interest the tourist. The Park extends from the first lock at Stranmillis as far as the Union Locks at Sprucefield.

Tourist information - including a guide to the Lagan Valley, a folder on Lough Neagh and details of Moira's camping and caravan site and accommodation in the Borough can be obtained from the Borough Offices at The Square, Hillsborough. (Tel: 682477).

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
The Borough Council has two community centres in Lisburn. The West Lisburn Community Centre is widely used for social and recreational activities whilst the Bridge Community Centre at Railway Street was acquired in 1979 and provides further much needed facilities.

The Council has also, since 1973, provided services to local community associations in the form of grants to help with running costs of community or resource centres or to help community associations with their administrative expenses.

In 1975 the Central Committee of Lisburn Borough Community and Tenants' Associations was formed to promote the welfare and benefits of community associations; to establish liaison with statutory and voluntary bodies and represent their views to the Council; to inform these bodies of all Council decisions and to maintain and improve community services. Full details from the Committee's Honorary Secretary at The Resource Centre, Town Hall, Castle Street, Lisburn.