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South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Raglan butcher Neil James wins UK award
The award-winning butcher has scooped first prize in this year's Countryside Alliance Awards. Neil trades as N S James and can be found on Crown Square, Raglan. Previously, Neil topped the Welsh leg of the butchery section and won a trip to the House of Lords, where the Countryside Alliance UK finals were held. Neil then faced off against one Scottish, one Northern Irish and five English butchers in the high stakes final. Naturally, Neil's famous faggots and general expertise brought home the bacon. Neil's faggots are made from prime cuts of pork and lamb, sourced locally. The butcher uses named local farms to cut down on food miles and combines support for local farming and superb animal handling with secret spice mixes for both the lamb and the pork which are contained within the faggot. These are then combined to transform the much-maligned meat into a multiple award-winning treat. Neil continues to challenge the serotype of faggots being 'dull, poor man's food'. Like many an educated palate, Neil knows that good food comes from traditions and how folk had to learn and pass on simple tricks on how to make food go further and do better. N S James has previously been featured on BBC's Hairy Bikers programme, where Dave Myers challenged local youngsters to try the unfashionable food. Naturally, Neil's faggots won many young converts. Neil's commitment to the countryside won this compliment from the Countryside Alliance: 'With a steadfast commitment to low food miles and locally sourced livestock, they're not just feeding the community, they're nourishing its roots. 'Their in-house abattoir and hand-crafted produce demonstrate a level of care and expertise rarely seen today. Add to that their presence at rural events and support for local producers, and it's clear that N.S. James is more than a butcher, they are the beating heart of a thriving rural network, proudly flying the flag for farming and food heritage.' The Countryside Alliance Awards were born of a need to support and promote rural communities. They celebrate people going the extra mile to ensure that rural Britain's food and farming industry, small businesses, traditional skills, forward-thinking enterprises and, most of all, its people, can flourish. As a business, N S James, the oldest independent butcher in Wales, supply both the wholesale trade, award winning chefs, local institutions and its all-important shop customers.
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Quaint UK town hiding ‘Disney for history buffs' attraction that's loved by Countryfile star
AN unusual attraction that is a "Disney for history lovers" has been raved about by a Countryfile star. Matt Baker, currently appearing in 5 Beamish is a living museum in the North of England Credit: Alamy 5 There are old-fashioned shops in the recreated town Credit: Alamy When Sun Travel asked He continued: "It's the best open air museum in the world, without question. "Basically what they do is take down buildings in the North East and put them back up at "It's amazing, it's basically the North East through the ages and you can spend days there." Read More on UK Attractions It brings the history of North East England to life. You can have a Georgian experience at Pockerly Old Hall or see how families lived and worked in the years leading up to the First World War in the 1900s. One of the recent installations was Spain's Field Farm which stood for centuries in Eastgate near Weardale in Durham. It was then dismantled and transported to the museum, where it was been carefully rebuilt to show 1950s life on the region's upland farms. Most read in Family In 2024 Beamish opened a new 1950s town, which includes a toy shop, welfare hall and a cinema that had been taken from Ryhope in There's also a pub, a school, a dentist among its businesses and you can ride on the trams and buses, and explore the railway station too. Matt Baker Explores the British Isles 5 And there are old-school buses too Credit: Alamy Matt added: "There's loads of exhibitions and shops, you can have coal-fired fish and chips, it's the most brilliant day out." "It's like Disney World for history buffs - that's the only way I can describe it. You get transported back in time, it's a proper immersive experience." You can even see Matt on a trip to the living museum if you catch up on one of his previous shows. He told us: "I did a series called 'Travels with Mum & Dad' and we went all over the North East, so if you are fascinated and want to find out more watch that because we went to Beamish." 5 Matt Baker reveals the place in Durham everyone should visit Credit: Channel 4 Tickets to the open air museum are unlimited passes so once you've been once, you can visit for the whole year including daytime events. Adult tickets cost £33, senior and student tickets cost £25, children between 5-16 are £20. As for other places to explore around his stomping ground, Matt recommended He also suggested taking a walk in the Durham Dales and strolling along the coastline. Currently the Countryfile star is on an adventure He's found beautiful beaches on the Northern Irish coastline and discovered tasty sparkling wine at a Champagne-worthy vineyard in Kent. Watch the final episode Matt Baker's British Isles on Tuesday 24, at 9pm on More4. Catch up on all previous episodes on This And this 5 There are trams and tractors that you can hop on and off Credit: Alamy
Irish Daily Mirror
16 hours ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Rory McIlroy off to fast start at Travelers ahead of Royal Portrush Open
Rory McIlroy kicked off the Travelers Championship with a strong start, finishing just two shots behind the early clubhouse leader. The Masters champion had previously tied for 19th place at the punishing Oakmont course during the US Open – but he ended the weekend on a high note with a three-under-par final round, tying for the best score of the day. The Northern Irish golfer, who had his driver deemed 'non-conforming' ahead of last month's PGA Championship and subsequently missed the cut at the Canadian Open, was aiming to gain some momentum at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell as attention shifts towards the Open at Royal Portrush. World number two McIlroy landed a birdie at the second and then sank two more ahead of the turn at the final PGA Tour Signature Event of 2025. After picking up another couple, a further birdie at the 17th – from the best part of 30 feet having hit a fine recovery shot out of the rough and over the water onto the green – saw him finish six under with 64 to sit in a tie for second, two shots behind early clubhouse leader Austin Eckroat. American Eckroat hit a fine eight-under round, which included an eagle at the par-three 15th and a sixth birdie at the 18th. McIlroy's playing partner Keegan Bradley is also at six-under, having dropped a shot at the 12th, alongside Wyndham Clark, the 2023 US Open champion. "Overall it was a good start to the tournament, and I think when you're in a two-ball like that and we can sort of feed off one another a little bit too, that's nice as well," McIlroy said after his opening round. "I just want to see some good golf and see some better shots. I think if you concentrate on that and you are concentrating on your quality of golf and concentrating on just trying to play to the best of your ability, the result will take care of itself. "There's no point in thinking about the result right now. I'm just trying to play as good as I can and make good swings, and if I do that enough, more than likely I'll find myself in a position to have a chance to win." England's Tommy Fleetwood carded a first round of 66 to sit in a group tied for sixth. Scotland's Robert MacIntyre, runner-up at Oakmont on Sunday, finished one over following a double-bogey six on the 17th. World number one Scottie Scheffler, defending his Travelers Championship title, has been paired with newly-crowned US Open champion JJ Spaun in the later starters.
Irish Examiner
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Snow Patrol crank up the heat in sun-soaked Cork
On the warmest day of the year, Snow Patrol cranked up the heat even further with a red-hot performance in Cork City. Taking to the stage shortly after 9pm at Musgrave Park, the band quenched the crowd's thirst for hits on an idyllic balmy summer's night. The Northern Irish trio were supported by two Belfast bands, The Florentinas and Esmeralda Road, who get the crowd in the mood ahead of the main event. Shortly before Snow Patrol's arrival on stage, the Florentinas dedicated a song to the main attraction, and told the Cork audience how grateful they were to be on Leeside. Snow Patrol then rocked Leeside as they opened their set with popular 'Take Back the City.' 'What a beautiful day it is in Cork, how are you doing?' Gary Lightbody uttered after the band performed two hits back to back. "It's so good to be back here in Cork again, in this incredible stadium. "We're going to play some old ones and some new ones. Don't be afraid if you don't know the new ones, we're learning them as we go as well," Lightbody added. As the evening sun shone brightly, the crowd, many in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and some older, went back in time for a night filled with nostalgia, dancing, and swaying as Snow Patrol sang some of their classics, including, 'Chocolate', 'Chasing Cars', and 'Open Your Eyes.' Frontman Lightbody then led the audience through some feelgood tunes from their latest record. There was pure excitement on the faces of die-hard fans, as they sank in for the night, showing off their finest Snow Patrol T-shirts, and eager to get a front-row view of the band they've waited to see on Leeside. Michelle Alexanderson from Seattle in the front row. Picture: Eddie O'Hare Snow Patrol has returned to Ireland for their latest tour supporting their newest album, The Forest is The Path. It's the first tour for the lads without long-term members Jonny Quinn and Paul Wilson. They are set to take to the stage at Belsonic 2025 in Belfast later on Saturday. The Snow Patrol performance was the latest gig in a series of concerts at the park. The summer gigs at the venue are set to close out with Madness on Friday before Nile Rodger's Chic, and Duran Duran take the stage on July 1. Concerts at Live at the Marquee are then set to follow suit next week with Picture This opening docklands the series on Wednesday. Read More Winning €250m EuroMillions ticket sold in Cork city centre
Daily Record
18 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rory McIlroy sent loud and clear Ryder Cup taster on day one at the Travelers
The superstar partnered with USA skipper Keegan Bradley and heard the support Rory McIlroy was blissfully unaffected by passionate home Ryder Cup backing as he sizzled back to form on day one at the Travelers Championship. The Northern Irish superstar had zest back as he blitzed to an opening bogey-free 64 at TPC River Highlands to sit within two shots of leader Austin Eckroat. McIlroy did so against the backdrop of regular 'USA, USA' chanting as he was partnered for the round by American captain Keegan Bradley at one of his local courses. The World No.2 didn't miss the noise, but smiled: 'There's definitely a lot more Captain America and USA chants out there, which is cool. It's cool for Keegan to be here, be the US Ryder Cup captain and, obviously, get all that support.' Bradley was thrilled by the backing and chants and said: 'I get them every week and I appreciate it so much. It's a thrill, something I didn't expect, but it's awesome.' Having suffered for long spells at the US Open last week, McIlroy took the momentum from his final-round 67 at Oakmont into Connecticut and beamed: 'It was good. This a nice tonic compared to last week. It's a slightly more benign golf course and the penalty for missing isn't quite as severe. "You can give yourself plenty of chances for birdies which Keegan and I did, so overall, it was a good start to the tournament and I think, when you're in a two-ball like that, we know we can sort of feed off one another a little bit, that's that's nice as well. I've always liked this course and I think the changes they've made have definitely been an improvement." McIlroy is now building for The Open at Royal Portrush and continued: "I just want to see some good golf, see some better shots and I think, if you concentrate on that and you're concentrating on your quality of golf and concentrating on just trying to play to the best of your ability, the result will take care of itself. There's no point thinking about the result right now. "I'm just trying to play as good as I can and make good swings and, if I if I do that enough, more than likely I'll find myself in a position to have a chance to win.' Much excitement in the States around the two-ball came from the fact that big-name TV broadcaster on NFL Adam Schefter followed the pair around. McIlroy said: 'I'm not a huge [American] football fan and didn't grow up with it, so it's probably lost on me a little bit, but obviously a lot of people thought it was really cool.' But Bradley was far more excited and said: 'It was great. Just hearing his voice is so iconic with football. I turn on the TV hoping to hear Patriot news and he's the guy. So that was really fun. "I was thrilled to meet him and have him out there. I was in getting stretched in the fitness trailer over here and Schefter's talking about me. He's a nice guy and I hope he does more.'
