High winds warning – power and travel advice

With high winds forecast for some areas, disruption to traffic or travel could be a consequence. Power cuts are also a possibility. There are things you can do to prepare in case your electricity goes off. There are practical steps you can take if it does.

Traffic and travel

High-sided vehicles are most affected by windy weather, but strong gusts can also blow a car, cyclist, motorcyclist or horse rider off course. This can happen on open stretches of road exposed to strong cross winds, or when passing bridges or gaps in the hedges.

In very windy weather a vehicle may be affected by turbulence created by large vehicles. Motorcyclists are particularly affected, so keep well back from them when they are overtaking a high-sided vehicle.

Motorists are also advised to drive with care due to possible wind-blown debris.

If there are any problems on the roads as a result of high winds, you can get the latest updates on the  TrafficwatchNI website.

If you’re planning to travel by air or sea, you should check with the ferry company or airline in case there are any delays or cancellations.

Preparing for a power cut

It’s important to be prepared for a potential loss of power. You should:

  • know where your household fuses and trip switches are so that you can check if the problem is with your electrics only
  • test smoke alarms regularly and
  • keep a supply of new batteries in torches and radios (for checking updates on news bulletins)
  • keep a supply of candles
  • if you have a baby at home, make sure you have a supply of pre-prepared formula baby milk (if used) and prepare a flask of hot water to heat bottles and baby food (it is always safer to make up a fresh feed; when this is not possible, feeds should never be stored for longer than 24 hours)

If you depend on electrical equipment that is vital to your health, contact Northern Ireland Electricity Network (NIE) to get on their Critical Care Register:

If your electricity goes off

If your electricity goes off, you should:

  • check your fuses and trip switches – then check if your neighbours are without power
  • leave one light on
  • leave your fridge/ freezer switched on with the door shut to maintain a low temperature
  • check that other electrical appliances and machinery are switched off at the wall
  • preferably use a torch, oil or gas lamp as a source of light rather than candles
  • if you must use naked flames, please take extra care and make certain that they are put out before you go to bed
  • check on elderly or vulnerable neighbours in your area to make sure they are okay
  • if you are using a generator, be careful where you site it in case of carbon monoxide poisoning

Reporting a power cut

If your power is off and you want to report it or get more information, contact NIE’s Customer Helpline or visit their website:

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Check in with someone if worried about their mental well-being

Check in with someone if you’re worried about their mental well-being and ask them how they’re feeling. Mental health problems can affect anyone at any time of life and in different ways. Anyone who is in distress or despair can contact the Lifeline helpline on 0808 808 8000.

Start a caring conversation

Start a caring conversation with someone you’re concerned about and let the person know about that concern.

Give them the space to explain what’s going on with them and how they’re feeling. 

Offering a gentle word of support and listening in a non-judgemental way can make all the difference. Encourage them to tell their story in their own way and at their own pace, and let them know that you will support them to find the help that they need.

By asking the person the questions, ‘are you feeling a bit low?’ or ‘are you worried about something?’ you’re acknowledging their distress and giving them the chance to talk about something that is probably very frightening for them.

It’s even ok to ask someone if they have had thoughts about harming themselves or about suicide.

Talking about how they’re feeling could be the first step towards recovery.

You can find information on what you can say and do to help someone on this Public Health Agency leaflet. 

Training courses 

There are a number of training courses available in mental and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention.

You can find out more at this link:

Recognising potential warning signs

There are some early warning signs that may indicate mental ill-health or a mental health problem, including:

  • mood swings or a consistently lower mood
  • lack of care for personal appearance or personal responsibilities
  • increased use of alcohol or other drugs
  • talking about not wanting to live
  • a loss of interest in doing things they previously enjoyed
  • withdrawing from social activities or spending less time with family and friends
  • disturbed sleep, perhaps not getting enough sleep or sleeping too much
  • eating less than normal or overeating, perhaps losing or gaining weight
  • being more irritable, over-sensitive or aggressive
  • having difficulty following a conversation, remembering things or concentrating
  • experiencing recurrent physical symptoms such as aches and pains or unexplained illnesses
  • a drop in work performance
  • doing things that don’t make sense to others
  • hearing or seeing things that no-one else can hear or see

Someone who’s having suicidal thoughts may not ask for help, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want help and support. It can be difficult finding the words to express what they’re feeling.

You can find out more about what to do if you think someone might be in need of immediate help on the Mental health emergency – if you’re in crisis or despair page.

You can find out more about mental health at the pages below:

Lifeline

If you or someone you know is in distress or despair, contact Lifeline on:

This is a confidential service, where trained counsellors will listen and help immediately on the phone and follow up with other support if necessary. The helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Locations to visit over European heritage weekend

European Heritage Open Days (EHOD) (Saturday 9 September to Sunday 10 September) offers the opportunity to visit historic buildings and places of interest, free of charge – some of which aren’t usually open to the public. With events kicking off tomorrow, below are some final ideas of where to visit over the weekend.

Kilwaughter Castle, Co Antrim

Visit the ruins of a 400-year-old castle, later remodelled by architect John Nash, with an original tower house.

There’ll be a talk and guided walk from the castle towards the large artificial lake created for the Agnew family who lived here and were the tax collectors for Co Antrim.

Poyntzpass, Co Armagh

The village of Poyntzpass, Co Armagh is steeped in history and there is lots to do in the village on Saturday 9 September.

There will be a guided walk taking in some of the village’s interesting sites – the 100-year-old stone ‘Face in the Wall’, the Newry Canal, and the Red Hand Inn, scene of a gruesome murder in days of yore.

Visit Poyntzpass railway station – the Victorian signal-man’s cabin is the only one of its kind on its original site in Northern Ireland with all of its equipment intact.

There’ll be an exhibition at the Credit Union, and refreshments are available at the former village courthouse where a variety of petty misdemeanours were dealt with in this building for over 100 years.

Belfast City Hall – adults’ cryptic challenge and children’s puzzle challenge

Are you and your family partial to puzzles? Kids crazy for conundrums? Test your brain power and explore the grounds of Belfast City Hall for a cryptic challenge. Discover the secret symbols and hidden heritage to be entered into a prize draw.

There’s also a special children’s challenge – they can explore the City Hall grounds and gardens and to discover Belfast’s past to be entered into a prize draw.

Mountains of Mourne Country Cottages – Hanna’s Close, Co Down

These eight cottages, dating back to the 1600s, are now restored and maintained. Most of them have granite open fireplaces and granite floors.

There will be talk on the history of the ‘Clachan’, an Irish settlement, and insight into the daily lives of the people and how they lived.

Waterways Ireland Archives open day, Co Fermanagh

Waterways Ireland headquarters will be open for guided tours of its archive and building in Enniskillen.

Housing a collection of original engineering drawings, maps, and toll books from the 1800s, the archive offers a unique insight into Ireland’s industrial past.

More information on the Waterways Ireland website.

Creggan Country Park, Co Londonderry

This self-led nature trail is perfect for families looking to explore nature on their doorstep. Work together to find 10 hidden tiles along the trail showing mammals, birds, and invertebrates on the site. Solve the clues and write down your answers to claim a prize at the activity centre. 

Knockmany Passage Tomb, Co Tyrone

Discover the remains of a passage tomb situated on the summit of Knockmany in the forest park with archaeologist Edith Logue.

The cairn and the passage are no longer present, but the stones of the chamber are visible and are decorated with characteristic passage tomb art, including spirals, zigzags, and circles. 

European Heritage Open Days

If you want to find out more about what and when properties are opening, what events are on, and if you need to book, you can get information and download the brochure at the following link:

Keep up-to-date with European Heritage Open Days on Facebook and on Twitter (@ehodni).

The weekend promises to have something for everyone so why not come along and enjoy a little bit of history right on your doorstep?

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New places to explore as part of heritage event

This year properties and locations are opening to the public for the first time during European Heritage Open Days weekend (Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September). Almost 400 buildings are part of the event.

Carnfunnock Country Park

Among the highlights of the new locations is Carnfunnock Country Park. It offers over 191 hectares of mixed woodland and colourful gardens against a backdrop of spectacular coastline, with panoramic views of the Antrim coast and North Channel. 

Cornmarket Yard, Enniskillen

In Enniskillen, visit the Cornmarket Yard, open this year for the first time. This was the site of fairs in the olden days and the local volunteers will help visitors discover the history of the area.

The Market Cross in the centre of the yard has a history of its own to tell. There’ll also be a local history fair and a demonstration of crochet-work on Saturday 9 September.

Ennish Scutch Mill, Dungannon

Why not take the opportunity to visit a property not normally open to the public, such as Ennish Scutch Mill in Dungannon. A small family-owned 18th Century mill complex, it was originally a corn mill and later converted to a flax scutch mill.

Now restored to full working order by its current owner, there will be ‘scutching’ (beating the flax) demonstrations showing how flax plants become linen threads at this traditional stoned building in a beautiful riverside location. 

Killymoon Castle, Cookstown

Killymoon Castle in Cookstown (pictured) was built for James Stewart in 1671 and has recently had extensive restoration. Designed by the famous London architect John Nash, the castle was Nash’s first Irish design and cost £80,000. 

European Heritage Open Days

If you want to find out more about what and when properties are opening, what events are on, and if you need to book, you can get information and download the brochure at the following link:

Keep up-to-date with European Heritage Open Days on Facebook and on Twitter (@ehodni).

The weekend promises to have something for everyone so why not come along and enjoy a little bit of history right on your doorstep?

More useful links

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European Heritage Open Days bringing history to life

European Heritage Open Days (EHOD) (Saturday 9 to Sunday 10 September) offers the opportunity to visit historic buildings and places of interest, free of charge – some of which aren’t usually open to the public. This year’s event will see a cast of characters at many of the sites, bringing history to life.

County Antrim

Pogue’s Entry, Antrim

Childhood home of author Dr Alexander Irvine, the cottage gives a rare insight into how many Irish working class families lived in the latter half of the nineteenth century. There will be living history, storytelling, and traditional craft activities on offer and gardeners will be on hand to answer your questions.

Carrickfergus Town walls

Carrickfergus Town walls are the oldest stone town walls in Northern Ireland, building started in 1608. Although parts of them have been removed over the years, the circuit can still be traced around the town centre. Meet the man-at-arms on Saturday 9 September as he patrols the walls.

County Armagh

Navan Centre and fort

Enjoy a flavour of the historic Navan Centre and fort.  Be welcomed to Navan by the Celtic characters, learn of the myths and legends of the Ulster Celts in a short tour. 

Belfast

GI’s Jitterbug NI War Memorial Museum

Visit the museum to learn about Northern Ireland’s role in WWII and the 75th anniversary of the arrival of US Forces.  An American Red Cross Club dance will be recreated, sample American candy, listen to 1940s music played on a gramophone, and take part in swing dances with the Ballroom Blitz Formation Team.  

Discover Ulster Scots Centre

Come and discover Ulster Scots music, dance, history, and heritage in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter. Visit the spacious exhibition gallery with live folk music performances, Highland and Scottish ceilidh dance workshops, or try on some period costumes from the early 1600s.

County Down

Ballycopeland Windmill

Meet the miller who will explain how the daily grind was done for the farmers of the Ards peninsula and filled the breadbaskets of County Down – 18th century high-tech engineering requires skill and hard work.

Dundrum Castle

Meet the Norman man-at-arms and survey his armoury of weapons, perhaps try on some chain mail, and feel the weight of a sword.

Greyabbey

Come and meet the Cistercian monk who walks the cloister and tends the herbs, vow of silence temporarily suspended…

Bangor Castle

Experience a behind-the-scenes escorted tour with a costumed guide to see the main rooms originally used for entertaining on the ground floor level, as well as a chance to see ‘downstairs’ as a comparison.

Visitors will also have the chance to see some of the local council’s painting collection, some of which are original to the castle.    

County Fermanagh

Devenish Island

This island community was founded in the sixth century, burned in 1157 by vikings, and in the Middle Ages it flourished as the parish church and St Mary’s Augustinian Priory.

Best known for its intact round tower, there is lots to see and explore. Meet the early Christian monk and saint, and see how you would have fared as a scriptor monk copying holy texts with a goose quill pen, inks and pigments.   

Tully Castle

A fortified house and bawn built in 1619 for the Scottish planter Sir John Hume. He occupied the house until 1641 when it was captured and burned on Christmas Eve by Rory Maguire. A place of beauty with a tragic history, you can meet living history re-enactors who will bring this castle to life once again.

County Londonderry

School master’s treasure hunt

The year 1617 saw a Free School built within Derry Walls. Follow a trail of hidden clues and help the school master find his salary. Seek help from living history performers along the way and discover another story connected with the building of the Walls. You could win great prizes too. Part of Derry Walls Day 2017. 

Martello Tower

Meet the 19th century artilleryman as he patrols the tower and explains the importance of this strategic lookout post, and his role in keeping the big guns ready. See uniforms, field kit, and hand weapons of the Napoleonic soldier. 

Bellaghy Bawn

Once used as a doctor’s surgery, come and meet a barber-surgeon from the 17th century and see how his medicine compares to modern methods. Cures for the plague and the pox guaranteed! 

County Tyrone

Benburb Castle

Meet the soldiers who lived here, see weapons demonstrations, and hear the history of this amazing place. A new exhibition, ‘Wildlife of the Blackwater Valley’, will be open; take a wildlife walk with experts, and spot some of the creatures in the Valley Park. Something for all the family.

European Heritage Open Days

If you want to find out more about what and when properties are opening, what events are on, and if you need to book, you can get information and download the brochure at the following link:

Keep up-to-date with European Heritage Open Days on Facebook and on Twitter (@ehodni).

The weekend promises to have something for everyone so why not come along and enjoy a little bit of history right on your doorstep?

More useful links

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