A wide and varied range of entertainment will visit Bardic with something to please everyone. From comedy and drama to musical theatre and country shows and everything inbetween.
Following the recent development of the Bardic Comedy Club, they have done their best to ensure that all tastes of comedy are catered for. Keith Farnan (Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow) and David McSavage from RTE’s The Savage Eye will visit in November. Wrapping up 2011 for the Bardic Comedy Club will see a Christmas Special with Tim McGarry’s – Irish History Lesson visiting on Dec 29th.
Internationally Renowned Medium – Margaret Hurdman visits the Bardic Theatre on Wed 26th October. Margaret is known for
her ability to connect with the other side and plays to sold out houses all over Ireland.
Fans of more upbeat and energetic entertainment will enjoy the range of live music and musical theatre. BEAM Creative Network stage their fantastic production of Punch! The Musical as part of Imagine Action project which features all young, energetic and enthusiastic local talent while renowned Belfast born opera and musical theatre singer Peter Corry will visit in December to perform a range of West End and Broadway hits in his Music Of The Night concert.
Die hard country music fans are even catered for with the arrival of Kenny Archer’s Old Time Country Show and are most certainly in for a Christmas treat when Bardic plays host to Ireland’s first Lady Of Country Music Susan McCann. Lovers of European pop group ABBA are infor a huge treat as Ireland’s top ABBA tribute – The Bjorn Identity visit on Sat 17th December.
All shows can be booked through Gene Stuarts, Dungannnon – Tel: 028 87 725286 while Punch! The Musical is available from BEAM exclusively on 028 87 769157.
For further info please visit www.bardictheatre.comwhere you can sign up to out mailing list.
Further to an recent enquiry about Christmas Ice Rinks this year I have done some investigating and found the following for those of you looking for some fun on two blades!! (search is ongoing!)
CARRICK
CARRICK harbour will be transformed over the coming months into a ‘winter wonderland’ with the opening of an ice skating rink.
The ice rink will open for business in the car park adjacent to Carrickfergus Castle on Saturday 29 October and remain open over the Christmas period until 7 January. The facility will use real ice and not synthetic ice common to other outdoor ice skating venues. The attraction is expected to draw thousands of people to Carrickfergus this winter.
The temporary ice rink will measure 600 square metres and will be covered by a massive marquee spanning almost half an acre. From the end of November a continental market will also open in the harbour car park and a ‘Santa’s grotto’ will be set up inside the marquee.
Source : Carrick Advertiser – click HERE to read the full article.
DONAGHADEE
Friday 2nd December to Sunday 4th December.
As part of the Christmas Festival synthetic ice rink will be operational throughout the weekend (skates provided). Santa, followed by a merry band of helpers, will parade through the town to his grotto where he will be available to meet the children. Shops will be open late and stalls will be in place to add to the festive atmosphere.
Fri 2pm onwards. Admission: Free (small charge for skating)
Source : Ards Borough Council – click HERE to skip to their website.
BALLYMENA
Fairhill have an extra special treat in store for you and the kids this Christmas!! From Saturday 10th – Friday 23rd of December Fairhill will be bringing you your very own indoor ice rink! What better way to celebrate Christmas and get into the festive spirit? Click HERE so see the information as listed on the Fairhill Shopping Centre Website.
Thanks to Tina Gough for sending us this one:
LISBURN
ICE SKATING, WATER BALL AND SANTAS GROTTO IN LISBURN!
Welcome to our fun filled Christmas On Ice!
You probably already know the Lisburn Leisure Park, for it’s great Restaurants, Omniplex Cinema, Laserforce Lisburn & Swimming Pool.
Well if that’s not enough, why not join us this Christmas Holiday for Ice Skating & Water Ball?
At Christmas On Ice, we offer fun for all the family; with our high quality 2500 sq foot fully enclosed Synthetic ice rink, we guarantee full functionality and perfect skating conditions each and every time whatever the weather.
Water Ball; Mad new activity, get In an Water-tight “Zorb”like ball & walk, roll or run on water “great fun for kids of all ages”
Plus Santa’s Grotto, for the little ones.
Skate & Dine Or Waterball & Dine with our partner restaurant Ed’s Bar & Grill & receive ½ price Adult Skating or Water Ball.
Check out their great menu’s & offers at www.edsbarandgrill.com
Motorcycle legend and winner of 11 Isle of Man TT’s, Phillip McCallen, was on hand to personally congratulate the Adelaide Advanced Motorcyclists at the group’s inaugural AGM at the office of Adelaide Insurance Services in Belfast on 20th October 2011.
Road Safety is at the heart of the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) – the UK’s leading road safety charity dedicated to increasing skills for all road users, raising driving and riding standards and helping to save lives on our roads. The Adelaide Advanced Motorcyclists is one of the 200 strong volunteer IAM groups throughout the UK. Since their official launch at the 2011 Adelaide Motorcycle Festival, the Adelaide Advanced Motorcyclists have ensured that 16 motorcyclists (and counting) have passed their IAM Advanced Riding Test, with no less than 16 qualified IAM Observers giving up their time to ensure that our roads are safer by ensuring that associates are more confident and capable by the end of their training.
As group President, Phillip along with members of the committee congratulated the members, associates and Observers for their efforts over the last year. Phillip McCallen commented on the group’s success:
“What this group has done in its fledgling year is outstanding! Our efforts in the second year will be to capitalise on the want and need for more advanced training. We must work together with all of the IAM groups in Northern Ireland to ensure that the road safety message is far reaching and not confined to one group… the potential here is huge and we need to be prepared to spread the word and let motorcyclists know that this facility is available to enhance their skills and maximise the whole riding experience by giving skills a boost and improving technique.”
The main focus of the Adelaide Advanced Motorcyclists is to help make riders safer and more responsible on our roads. Emphasis is on getting the maximum enjoyment out of the whole riding experience by boosting skills, improving technique & increasing ability and confidence. Once a rider passes the IAM Advanced Riding Test, they will be a more controlled, confident, and ultimately, a better rider. The group was set up to cope with the demand for more advanced rider training in Northern Ireland, the charity – Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has joined forces with a number of local interested parties i.e. BikeSafe, Phillip McCallen Motorcycles, the Quay Vipers Motorcycle Club, Top Dead Centre Motorcycle Club and Adelaide Insurance Services to form this new IAM Group. Road Safety is at the heart of the IAM, and the Adelaide Advanced Motorcyclists will continue to work with each of the IAM Groups in Northern Ireland to ensure that motorcyclists are aware that this advanced training exists.
Interested bikers should register their interest now in taking the IAM’s Advanced Riding by emailing the group: aam@adelaideinsurance.com or contacting 028 9044 2200
If they prefer to rather get involved in rider training & testing (Observing & Examining) please also get in touch.
Come along for a spook-tacular day of fun at Belfast Zoo’s ‘Boo at the zoo’ Halloween event on Saturday 29 October 2011.
Savio, the giant anteater, sniffs his spooky treat.
Enjoy eerie activities, including a ‘hallzooween’ trail, creepy crafts, reptile displays and animal feeding times. There will also be spooky story telling with Mr Hullabaloo and you can learn more about bats with the Northern Ireland Bat Group.
Children under 18 will get free entry to the zoo, on Saturday 29 October, if they are in fancy dress, and they can also enter our fancy dress competition (under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult)! You can also bring along your carved pumpkins and enter them into the ‘pumpkin patch competition’.
The fun doesn’t stop there, as every day from the 24 to 28 October, Belfast Zoo will be uploading, photos, desktop wallpapers and videos of the animals enjoying their special Halloween treats to www.belfastzoo.co.uk.
So grab your broomstick and bring your little horrors to Belfast Zoo to celebrate ‘Boo at the zoo’ on Saturday 29 October.
Business Live tour to promote exporting, importing & cross-border trade
Ian Jordan of Ulster Bank and Fionan Murray of Smallbusinesscan.com announce the package of Business Live events - which are free to attend for all small and medium-sized companies and will help firms doing, or thinking about doing, business outside of Northern Ireland - with Karen Loughrey of Ulster Bank, who advises all kinds of exporting and importing companies.
Previously untold stories of international business success will be shared with hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and aspiring entrepreneurs as part of a major events tour being organised by Ulster Bank in association with Small Business Can.
Business Live will feature 14 dates across the island – five in Northern Ireland – between November and March at which all types of business people will hear that trading outside of your home market is probably easier than many think.
Organised in association with Smallbusinesscan.com, the series will kick off on the evening of November 16 at Riddel Hall, Belfast and culminate in Cookstown’s Burnavon Arts Centre on March 5 – taking in key towns and cities along the way.
On stage will be entrepreneurs who are trading successfully cross-border and internationally to share and discuss their experiences, mistakes and accomplishments with the audience of would-be, emerging and established exporters, importers and cross-border traders.
The events, which are free of charge to attend, will centre around an informal panel discussion chaired by entrepreneur and co-founder of Smallbusinesscan.com Fionan Murray, and will feature the opportunity for questions, networking and the chance to engage one-to-one with experts from Ulster Bank and other organisations, including InterTradeIreland.
Emma Jones, the influential author of Go Global: How to Take Your Business to the World, and an adviser to governments on the subject of enterprise, will kick off the first event in Belfast and will participate in the discussion and Q&A.
Panellists will range from online entrepreneurs whose micro businesses are selling over the internet around the world, to larger manufacturing companies with a footprint in established and emerging overseas markets. Firms who have significantly increased their customer-base and turnover by selling across the border will also feature prominently.
Many of the panellists are companies whose inspirational cross-border and international trade stories are little-known, and sharing them at the events is intended to provide motivation to other SMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs, says Ian Jordan, Head of Business and Commercial Banking NI at Ulster Bank.
He continues: “When you can communicate with potential customers and suppliers across the island and around the world 24/7 at little cost through the internet, it opens significant opportunities. This is one of the reasons why more and more SMEs are able to widen their customer-base and enhance their business by trading outside of their home market”.
“Exporting and importing aren’t just for larger companies with significant resources and cash reserves; we also see lots of potential for small and micro businesses, particularly online. That will be a key message of Business Live.
“I would encourage all SME owners to come to the events, including aspiring entrepreneurs, as there will be something for everyone to learn from the discussion, and the potential to meet and network with a wide range of like-minded business people and experts,” Mr Jordan says.
“As an all-island bank, and as part of an international group with people on the ground in 37 countries, we feel that Ulster Bank is very well placed to help SMEs to explore and capitalise on their potential to do business outside of their home market,” Mr Jordan adds.
The sounds of Belfast Music Week with MTV will be echoing throughout the concert halls, clubs – and now cinemas – of the city too, as QFT presents Mix Tape, an eclectic selection of sounds on screen from Sunday 30 October to Saturday 5 November.
We press ‘play’ on QFT Mix Tape on Sunday 30 October with The Story of Lover’s Rock, which explores the origins of the genre also known as ‘romantic reggae’ which developed in Britain in the late ’70s and ’80s against a backdrop of riots and racial tension. Music industry legend Terri Hooley will be raiding his DJ box for a special reggae set before the film in the Jameson Bar at QFT, from 4pm.
On Monday 31 October, QFT pays tribute to the unsung heroes of the indie record shop with a double bill featuring the fantastic new documentary Sound It Out and the big screen adaptation of the Nick Hornby classic High Fidelity. Jeff Doherty (Dragon Records) will be Djing in the Jameson Bar at QFT before and after the screening of Sound it Out.
Delivering a raw, energetic performance in front of a crowd who are clearly loving the show, The Rolling Stones: Some Girls, Live in Texas (Tuesday 1 November) is a never-before-seen concert movie which captures this world famous band at the height of their musical career.
Capturing the uniquely powerful live experience of Iceland’s Sigur Rós on film is no mean feat, but then again Inni (Saturday 5 November) is a concert film like no other. Directed by Arcade Fire collaborator Vincent Morriset, the film offers an intimate, emotionally charged and cinematic portrait of these four extraordinary musicians.
Tickets for all QFT Mix Tape screenings are £6 full price, £5 concessions and £4 students, children and QFT Film Card holders. For further information and online booking, please visit www.queensfilmtheatre.com
The National Trust are celebrating after receiving a fantastic accolade at the 20th Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism Awards held at the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, Co. Down.
Alastair Walker, Site Manager for Giant’s Causeway, Alexandra Mehaffy, Tourism Development Manager for Giant’s Causeway, Paul Grant, Stenaline, Award Category Sponsor and Eamonn Holmes.
Attended by more than 400 travel and tourism industry VIP’s and decision makers from all parts of the UK and Ireland, the annual Awards ceremony was organised by the province’s travel newspaper, Northern Ireland Travel News.
Nominated and short listed for the Award of Best Northern Ireland Visitor Attraction, the Giant’s Causeway was listed alongside other highly popular attractions the Marble Arch Caves, The Ulster American Folk Park, Old Bushmills Distillery and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum.
Award nominations in each category came from readers of the NI Travel News and in voting for their favourite attraction they were encouraged to consider: staff efficiency & friendliness, environment, parking, signposting, exhibitions & audio-visual, tour guides, special needs facilities, restaurant & toilet facilities, baby changing and value of money.
Commenting on the award Max Bryant, General Manager for the North Coast said;
“We’re absolutely delighted to have won the award for Best Visitor Attraction for the third year in a row. Annually we receive over half a million visitors from all over the globe but this award was voted for locally which makes it all the more special. It just confirms how important and cherished the Giant’s Causeway is to Northern Ireland people and how collectively confident we are in moving on.
It’s an exciting time for the Giant’s Causeway with the new visitor centre beginning to take shape. We made every effort over the summer to make a visit to the Causeway as smooth as possible and I’d encourage everyone to come and visit the site and see the breathtaking views of this World Heritage Site.”
To date A Giant Cause has raised over £850,000 as part of the final £2.5million funding needed to complete the £18.5million World Class Visitor Experience. The funds raised will go towards a new visitor centre, restoring the headland, building new car parks and ensuring the conservation and protection of the Causeway for future generations.
The new Giant’s Causeway Visitor Experience will be completed by summer 2012 and visitors are still encouraged to come and visit the site throughout the build process as it is business as usual.
Artists impression of the new Giant’s Causeway Visitor Experience.
London/Belfast, Thursday 20 October 2011 – MTV today announced that it will be conducting a search for more than 1500 of Northern Ireland’s most enthusiastic music fans to be part of the glittering 2011 MTV EMA, which will take place from Belfast’s Odyssey Arena, City Hall and Ulster Hall on the night of 6 November 2011. The “2011 MTV EMA” will premiere on MTV on Sunday 6 November at 9pm GMT and is sponsored by Dell, Replay, Hyundai and Swatch. Local host city support is provided by Belfast City Council and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.
From 0800 on Sunday 30 October, MTV will be at the Waterfront Hall, 2 Lanyon Place, Belfast where they will be casting for music lovers over the age of 16 who can prove that they are effervescent, energetic and up for the 2011 MTV EMAs!
The successful 1500 will not only be given either standing or seated tickets (one per person) for the 2011 MTV EMA ceremony at the Odyssey Arena but some will also have the opportunity to get up, close and personal with some of the biggest artists in the world as they walk the famous EMA red carpet.
To be in with a chance of being selected for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, entrants must:
Attend MTV’s casting event at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast in person on Sunday 30 October from 0800.
Be over 16 and able to show photo ID (drivers’ licence or passport).
Be dynamic, confident and effervescent with a clear love of a wide variety of music.
Be happy to follow clear instructions
Commented Richard Godfrey, Executive Producer, 2011 MTV EMA: “ Our priority is ensuring that as many Northern Irish music fans as possible can be part of the 2011 MTV EMA so we’re looking for anyone with lots of enthusiasm to literally be part of the ceremony. The search will be open to anyone that is over 16, but there’s no upper age limit – we’re just looking for fun, charismatic people that love music as much as we do!”
MTV’s casting for 1,500 music lovers to be part of the 2011 MTV EMA marks the third and final initiative that the network is staging for Northern Irish music fans to be part of the 2011 MTV EMA.
On Sunday 16 October, MTV distributed 15,000 tickets for its 2011 MTV EMA event at City Hall, which will also take place on 6 November and feature Snow Patrol and Jason Derulo – with a track from Snow Patrol’s performance being beamed into the ceremony at the Odyssey Arena.
In addition, tickets to the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ 60-minute set, which will take place from the intimate Ulster Hall on 6 November, will go on sale from Ulster Hall on Saturday 22 October from 0900 at a cost of £42.40 sterling per ticket (including booking fee – maximum two tickets per person).
About the 2011 MTV EMA
The 2011 MTV EMA will be hosted by Selena Gomez. Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Jessie J, LMFAO, Snow Patrol and Jason Derulo are confirmed to perform, and Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi, Jenni “JWOWW” Farley and Awkward star Ashley Rickards are confirmed to present. Queen will be honored with this year’s Global Icon award and will also take the stage for a special performance. More performers and presenters will be announced in the coming weeks. Viewers can vote for their favorite EMA artists by visiting www.mtvema.com. Lady Gaga leads the pack of EMA nominees with six nods, with Katy Perry and Bruno Mars following closely behind with four nominations. Adele, Justin Bieber and Thirty Seconds To Mars are each up for three awards. Other EMA nominees include Foo Fighters, Snoop Dogg, My Chemical Romance, Jennifer Lopez, LMFAO, Jessie J, Beyoncé, Coldplay, Eminem, Arcade Fire, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Far East Movement, Kanye West, Linkin Park, Wiz Khalifa and Kings of Leon. Richard Godfrey and Bruce Gillmer are Executive Producers for the “2011 MTV EMA.” For all MTV EMA news and announcements, check out EMA on Facebook and follow us @ EMA Twitter. For MTV EMA press materials, please visit press.mtvema.com.
BUCCANEERING CREWS FROM CZECH REPUBLIC, USA AND COSTA RICA SHARE CAPTAIN MORGAN’S BOUNTY
Monday 17th October: After three days of high-spirited competition and legendary parties on The Captain’s Island, the event reached a fitting finale as buccaneering crews from Costa Rica, Czech Republic and USA agreed to share Captain Morgan’s bounty, walking away from The Island with a doubled prize pot. Instead of one team winning the full $15,000 bounty available, the three teams decided to share the prize and because of this display of Captain-like camaraderie, Captain Morgan increased the prize to $30,000. Actress Mena Suvari, reporting from The Captain’s Island throughout, was on-hand to award the prize to the victorious three teams.
Teams from 13 different countries battled it out in a series of challenges developed to test their Captain-like traits over the course of the three day adventure in the Caribbean. The Leadership Challenge on Day One, won by the team from USA, involved a beach-based assault course which tested team-working and of course, leadership. Day One also saw an historic Determination Challenge where teams had to hold the Captain’s Pose for as long as possible. The team from the Czech Republic narrowly beat the UK team in a final that lasted a grueling 42 minutes – setting a new world record!
Day Two started early for all crews involved, with Captain Morgan and his Morganettes waking guests on his Island before sunrise to undertake a devilishly difficult giant puzzle. The Czech team won their second chest of The Captain’s Island by completing this Clever Thinking Challenge in the quickest time.
The afternoon witnessed crews showing what they’re made of in the Bravado Challenge. Teams leapt from Captain Morgan’s ship before racing to find an underwater key which unlocked a padlock the teams had to locate in a tank filled with unspeakably slimy things. From there the teams raced to one of the Captain’s chests to attach the padlocks. In a tightly fought contest, the Costa Ricans managed to finish the course in the quickest possible time.
The last day on The Captain’s Island saw a momentous battle for the fifth chest – and final chance to win The Captain’s Bounty – in the Camaraderie Challenge. After a morning where crews created their finest sea-worthy rafts, the race was on to complete a course with all three members on the raft and return to the beach with their vessel still intact. The USA team was the eventual winners beating closest rivals the Czech’s, who were on the hunt for a third chest, by 20 seconds.
Captain Morgan commented: “Wow, what an incredible three days on my Island. I knew competition from the 13 countries taking part was going to be fierce but I was amazed by the shows of camaraderie throughout. There was a lot at stake – a $15,000 bounty should not be taken lightly – but to see those guys from Czech Republic, USA and Costa Rica decide to share the winnings was awesome. It made me proud and I’d invite them to join my crew any day.”
Ireland Captain, Ross McDonald, from Belfast, was overjoyed by the experience: “We have had an amazing few days on the island with Captain Morgan and Mena Suvari! The challenges have been… interesting! The others teams were fantastic and the guys from Czech Republic, USA and Costa Rica deserved the cash prize.”
The Captain’s Island may be over for this year, but the spirit of Captain Morgan lives on. For more pictures, commentary and videos of The Captain’s Island, visit the Captain at www.facebook.com/CaptainMorganIreland.
The Captain’s Island contest is only open to 18 years olds and older.
