By Carmel Robinson
The locals are kind and generous as well as friendly and chatty. If you walk down the streets of Lurgan or Portadown, people will nod, say hello, toot their horn or give a wee wave. We all love a good gabble. And despite our differences over the decades we are good and supportive neighbours. Music is steeped in the soul of the people of Co Armagh from traditional Irish music to flute and accordion bands as well as plenty of rock and roll, indie and soul. With great local bands such as Flash Harry, Billy Elvis, The Bonnevilles, Decky McKerr and Black Gold, Lurgan town is full of talent. In Portadown we recently lost rock legend Les Binks of Judas Priest. We have the most beautiful countryside, parks and the incredible Lough Neagh on our doorstep. There is the magnificent Lurgan Park and the People鈥檚 Park in Portadown but also Maghery Country Park and Oxford Island as well as the renowned Peatlands Park nearby. We have some of the best businesses in NI from Almac in Craigavon which employs thousands of local people to Moy Park in Portadown not to mention Rushmere Shopping Centre. And plenty of home grown businesses such as Sona Kitchens in Lurgan, Foxberry Strawberry Farm and McKeever鈥檚 Sports as well as Wilson鈥檚 Country in Portadown and Viet By Vee restaurant plus many more. How amazing to have Craigavon Area Hospital on our doorstep. Despite its dated buildings and over-crowded Emergency Department, surgeons, doctors and nurses as well as all the fantastic ancillary staff continue to provide some of the best care possible. There are issues and appointments are not easy to come by, however all in all, it is an amazing service and requires more investment. One thing that irritates me most is the lack of investment in mental health services, particularly for our children and young people. Compounded with years of neglect and an explosion in illegal drugs across the area, mental health workers both in the Bluestone Unit and in the community are struggling to cope with the demand for services.