Month: July 2012

The poetry sessions this year at Stendhal Festival of Art are back bigger and better on August 17 and 18 as this year our poetic justice comes courtesy of several leading local poets and is headlined by the wonderful Mark Niel.

Mark Niel is a Stand up Poet who brings smart lines and high-energy performance poetry to unsuspecting audiences. A different act or excellent MC, Mark has a regular weekly slot on BBC radio and has performed at major festivals such as Latitude and Green Man.

A frequent headline act on the Poetry Circuit, Mark has also made an impact on comedy and cabaret shows playing at many theatres and festivals. Undercutting his middle-class, middle-aged, middle-management image and his lyrical rants about his frequently misspelt name or frustrations of Fridges in shared houses have entertained audiences of all ages.

We are also delighted to be showcasing the very best in local poetic and spoken word talent and are delighted to welcome members of the Jane Ross Writers Group, The Flowerfield Writers group and the Derry Scriptwriters group to our all new Poetry Corner area at Stendhal this year.

Vin McCullough, Bernie Kerr, Freya Clements, Julianne Campbell, Lynne Edgar, Felicity McCall, Mary Hayward, Richard McKeever, Michelle McCartney, Ken McCormack, Mandy Taggart, Siobhan McKinney and Debbie McCune amongst others will be regaling us with poems, short stories, monologues and excerpts from their own novels throughout the day and everyone at Stendhal is delighted to have so many talented writers coming along to introduce poetry corner in style.

This year Stendhal is also delighted to announce that the craft fair will also return with aplomb this August in a brand new craft marquee.

Featuring the very best local craft creators, Stendhal invites you to be inspired by some fantastic handmade arts, crafts, clothing and accessories by Shianti Vintage, Rainbow Tye-dye, Speckled Hen Crafts, Celtic Gems, Naninui, No. 9 Crafts, Battfizzmelt, Icandy Jewellery, Urban Girl, Golly Molly Bags, Secret Swan Boutique, Shera Crafts and others.

Tickets for Stendhal Festival of Art are going fast so make sure to pick yours up soon at The Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Frank Owens, The Alexander Arms or on Ticketmaster soon to avoid missing out.

The NI International Airshow will be sponsored by insurance giant, RSA, when it returns to the seaside resort of Portrush on 8th and 9th September.

Coleraine Borough Council, the organisers of the show, has also confirmed that The Red Arrows will give their only display in Ireland this year at the popular event. The world’s top aerobatic display team joins an impressive line up of 20 aircraft each day which will feature a mix of jets, World War 2 fighters, stunt planes and helicopters.

Once again Ireland’s biggest air show will have no admission fee and continues to offer a wider range of attractions than in any other year.

As usual up to 100,000 spectators from all over the country are expected to attend the family event which, in addition to a comprehensive line-up in the air, will feature a non-stop programme of arena shows, family entertainment, sea manoeuvres and rescues, exhibitions, competitions, give-aways and the large trade village.

The horse shoe bay at the West Strand is one of the most picturesque settings of any UK airshow with crowds lining the beach, harbour and cliffs from Blackhill to Ramore Head.
The Northern Ireland Tourist Board has also confirmed financial support to the event as part of their Our Time, Our Place initiative.

The Mayor of Coleraine, Councillor Sam Cole said, “The airshow at Portrush is one of the most important dates on the North Coast in this special year of outstanding events. I am delighted that Council’s Events Team will again manage this popular highlight of the summer which is a key economic driver for the Borough. These type of events rely on support from the private sector and I am delighted to welcome our new title sponsor, RSA, along with the on-going support from Northern Ireland Tourist Board”.

Jack McIlduff , Managing Director, RSA NI said “2012 is proving to be a significant year for Northern Ireland and RSA NI Insurance is thrilled to be involved with the Airshow, which is unquestionably one of the most prestigious events in the calendar. We are really excited about the line-up and are particularly delighted that the RSA NI sponsorship has contributed to bringing the Red Arrows back to the North Coast for another breathtaking display. It is certainly shaping up to be a wonderful family orientated weekend of fun and entertainment and we look forward to being part of it”.
NITB’s Events Manager Eddie Rowan commented, “Northern Ireland Tourist Board is delighted to once again support the NI International Airshow in this fantastic year of the ‘ni 2012: our time, our place’ programme. Portrush has recently hosted the most successful ever Irish Open and combined with the ever popular Airshow, there is significant increased visitor appeal to the North Coast. We are confident that this will be a truly unique and stand out event in this year’s packed programme.”

The event opens at 11am each day with air displays from 12noon-5.30pm. Organisers are promising more surprises in the coming weeks but in the meantime details and pictures of the aircraft can be found on niinternationalairshow.co.uk or on Facebook (PortrushAirshow) and Twitter (PortrushAirshow).

The world’s largest public art exhibition of life-sized cows has been herded into Northern Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has moooved in on the act with its very own ni2012 cows.

The art exhibition will see up to 200 fibre glass cows transformed into magnificent sculptures by local artists and community groups and NITB’s herd of cows have been designed using the ni2012: our time, our place colours of pink, blue and yellow.   The ni2012 cows are visiting towns and cities around Northern Ireland during the summer for one week at a time and after appearances in Portrush, Derry~Londonderry, Bangor, Warrenpoint and Omagh the cows are grazing in Armagh w/c July 30^th on the Mall. The cows will then moove onto Belfast, Enniskillen and Downpatrick and NITB is encouraging people across the country to be the first to greet the cows.

The ni2012 herd could move to any location at any time in search of greener grass so look out for them wherever you are.  To follow the cows as they travel around Northern Ireland visit www.ni2012.com.  Pictured is one of the herd at the Killnasaggart Pillar Stone in County Armagh.  The pillar is thought by some to go back to pagan times and that originally a small stone bearing two semicircular indentations lay in a cavity on top of the pillar stone.

The story goes that there was once a famous cow in the glen that gave milk in abundance to everyone who came. One day a person attempted, when milking the cow, to procure the milk through a sieve. The cow was so angry that she stamped her foot into this small stone and fled the glen never to return!

Join the National Trust on Sunday 5 August from 12 noon to 5pm for some kite flying fun at Downhill Demesne, Castlerock.

The high-flying spectacle will offer fun for all family as a kaleidoscope of kites of all sizes fly over the stunning coastal estate.  There will be kite performers and a wild geese parachute display.  To add to the festive atmosphere there will a kids area to make crafts, bouncy castles, exhibitors, craft and food stalls and much, much more…

Toby Edwards, National Trust Site Manager for Downhill Demesne said:

“This is Downhill’s second year holding the Kite Festival and we’re looking forward to a fantastic day out for everyone.  The festival isn’t just about watching the professionals – you can bring your own kite, make one on the day or buy one from the experts and fly it in the wonderful landscape of Downhill Demesne.   This promises to be a spectacular event full of colour and fun – so bring the family along and let’s go fly a kite.”

Festival highlights will include Wild Geese display, Blo-karting demonstrations, hot air balloon display and variety of exhibition stands.

Marvel at the amazing displays of interesting shapes, sizes and colours of kites as the experts work their magic in the sky.  Bring your own kite and enjoy a fun packed day with attractions and entertainment for all the family.

If you don’t feel like flying a kite, then why not just come and watch one of the most colourful and exciting events on the North Coast this summer.

Bring your own kite and enjoy an action packed day with attractions and entertainment for all the family.

What a great way to spend a summer day!

Admission: Adult £4.50, Child £2.25 and Family £11.25.

National Trust Members Free Admission

For more information contact 028 7084 8728 or find us on Facebook.

It was a glorious day in May 1911 when Titanic’s anchor first arrived into Belfast after its travels from Netherton, England.

The anchor was made by Hingley’s and transported by 20 shire horses through the streets of nearby Dudley on the start of its journey to Belfast.  The anchor arrived on the Heysham boat and was pulled by another 16 shire horses through the streets of Belfast to the H&W shipyard.

Today, 100 years on, the cast of The Titanic Boys recreated this famous arrival and paid their respects to the men who build the world’s most famous ship.  To celebrate the launch of this spectacular new musical, Martin Lynch and JJ Gilmour and their team transported a life-sized replica of the anchor, pulled by shire horses, from The Harbour Commissioner’s office, through Belfast City Centre, to the new Titanic Belfast, where, to the delight of the Belfast public, they performed a sneak preview of the show.

Waiting at Titanic Belfast to greet the anchor was East Belfast’s Sammy Wilson, Minister of Finance and Personnel, and relatives of the Guarantee Group – the nine Belfast men whose tragic story is documented by Lynch and Gilmour’s The Titanic Boys.

Two weeks before the Titanic was due to depart, designer Thomas Andrews selected four young apprentices to sail on the maiden voyage as part of the nine-strong Harland & Wolff Guarantee Group. They were to act as trouble-shooters, dealing with snags and problems and taking notes for improving the ship.

The Titanic Boys is the powerful true story of nine ordinary Belfast men who found themselves at the centre of an extraordinary world event. They knew the Titanic better than anybody else in the world. They built it. Sailed on it. And died on it. For the first time – this is their story.

With fantastic music and songs by JJ Gilmour (Dancing Shoes – The George Best Story) and Martin Lynch’s unerring accuracy for the Belfast character, this show is a roller coaster of highs and lows, featuring laugh-out-loud comedy alongside some of the most powerfully poignant scenes you’re ever likely to witness.

The World Premiere of a new Musical by Martin Lynch and JJ Gilmour: The Titanic Boys produced by GBL Productions will open on Wednesday, 8^th August, (closing 25^th August) 2012, at The Grand Opera House, Belfast.

Tickets for The Titanic Boys are selling fast. To book your tickets today, please contact The Grand Opera House Box Office on 028 90 241919 or log onto www.goh.co.uk.

A special thanks to Northern Ireland Tourist Board, The Europa Hotel, Titanic Belfast, Corry’s Timer Yard and White Star Momentos kindly Supporting The Titanic Boys.

With special thanks to George Fawcett of George Fawcett Carriages for providing the beautiful horses.  For bookings visit www.georgefawcettcarriages.co.uk

While the Ulster Grand Prix and the North West 200 are now well known to motorcycle road racing fans in Ireland, there was a time when the Enniskillen 100 was equally prestigious.

Between 1929 and 1952, seventeen races were held on the six and a quarter mile triangular course between Mossfield, Sydaire and Ballinamallard. Many of the leading Irish and overseas riders of the day competed in the race over the years and local heroes diced with famous names like Artie Bell from Belfast, Joe O’Neill from Dublin and many others. The Enniskillen 100 was always held on a Wednesday afternoon, as that was the half-day for shops in Enniskillen.

Unusual aspects of the event include the fact that the race scheduled for 22^nd June 1949 had to be postponed to 21^st September, because a heat wave had melted the tar and left the circuit in a dangerous condition. Even more unusual is that the winner of the 1936 race, Percy Farlow from Maguiresbridge, had an artificial leg.

The last Enniskillen 100 was held on 20^th August 1952. There was no race in 1953 because an application for a Road Closure did not reach Fermanagh County Council in time. Interest and enthusiasm waned and in 1955 the Killinchy 150 took the place of the Enniskillen 100, which was consigned to the history books.

Interest in the Enniskillen 100 did not disappear totally however and a group of local enthusiasts, mindful of the fact that the 60^th anniversary of he last race was approaching in 2012, persuaded Fermanagh District Council to assist with plans to revive the event in some shape or form. Various ideas and options were explored, including the possibility of running a parade type event for vintage racing motorcycles on the old course. As a Road  Closure could not be obtained, the organising committee decided to hold an ‘Enniskillen 100 Revival’ event at Enniskillen Airport on 25^th August 2012.

The core of the Revival event will be demonstration runs and parade laps by a wide variety of historic motorcycles, on a course laid out at Enniskillen Airport. It is planned to have static displays, guided bus tours of the old circuit, a PSNI BikeSafe event, displays of historic racing and rally cars and a selection of other attractions for motorsport enthusiasts and the general public alike.

A motorsports Event Management company, Real Time Promotions, has been brought on board to assist with the organisation and support obtained from Fermanagh District Council. While the heat wave of 1949 is unlikely to be repeated in the damp summer of 2012, the organisers are confident that the Enniskillen 100 Revival on 25^th August at Enniskillen Airport will provide a mix of nostalgia and excitement an that the event will become an established fixture on the Fermanagh events calendar.

Further Information can be obtained from Eddie McGovern Fermanagh District Council, Town Hall, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, BT74 7BA or by calling +44 (0)28 6632 5050.

Michael McGarrity on +44(0) 28 68628111.

Wayne Owens, Real Time Promotions +44(0)2892 662422

This Thursday evening the Belfast style thermometer is set to go haywire as Andrew Mulvenna hosts the ‘Nite Tribe’ collection at his Mid Summer Style Party.

The charity event (in aid of Ovarian Cancer Research and Angels of Hope) hosted by the twice NI Hairdresser of the Year, will open with a fashion show featuring clothes from the homegrown talents of Reudi Maguire and hair and beauty by Andrews award-winning team.

Belfast based Ruedi Maguire’s signature look combines luxury silks and chiffons with leather to create a unique and effortlessly chic style. For the Nite Tribe show, Ruedi’s collection has taken colourful, feminine style and given it an edgy, metropolitan flare for the modern day women.

Leading makeup artist Michael Phillips, (whose credits include Gok Wan’s ‘How to look good naked’, MTV EMA Music Awards, Attitude Magazine, and is the face of New CID Cosmetics with brand founder Kelly Colman on QVC UK, Italy and Germany), will be flying in to lend his expert advice on what’s hot and what’s not within the fabulous New CID make up range this season. Michael Phillips (Mikey) is then set to style the glamorous A-list bridal party of Rochelle Wiseman from The Saturdays, who is marrying JLS member Marvin Humes this weekend for one of the most talked about weddings this year.

Andrew Mulvenna, host of the event said ‘We are very much looking forward to launching the new seasons trends which feature striking natural looks with metallic flashes. Belfast women have a great new romance with style going on, our job is to help them maintain a fashion forward look and to help them feel good about themselves. The Mid Summer Style Party is a celebration of looking good and feeling good, it’s also an opportunity to support two fantastic charities, Ovarian Cancer Research and Angels of Hope, which safeguard the health and wellbeing of women. Both charities are close to our hearts as sadly we lost our close friend and colleague Grainne to cancer last year, tonights event is also a celebration of her life.’

Throughout the Salon, Style Zones will offer guests an opportunity to learn more about hair up-styling, seasonal make-up tips, and skillful blow-drying. The new revolutionary wonder tool, Kerastase’s Micro Scanner will be exclusively launched and demonstrated on the evening. This breakthrough device (available only at Andrew Mulvenna Hair Salon) analyses hair to detect the best-suited products to pamper each individual client, helping them achieve luscious locks.

With a fabulous raffle to raise money for the charities guests will, upon a donation, receive a luxury goody bag filled to the brim with hair and beauty treats.

The Mid-Summer Style Party will be held this Thursday from 6pm at Andrew Mulvenna’s hair spa, located on 10-12 Cromac Street, Belfast, with all funds raised being donated to Ovarian Cancer Research and Angels of Hope.

Stendhal Festival of Art is delighted to announce its comedy line-up for this year’s festival which takes place at Ballymully Cottage Farm, Limavady, on August 17 and 18.

Get set to laugh the night away with the brilliant comedic stylings of Phil Kay and Dave Thompson.  Scotsman Phil Kay’s comedy is a unique blend of energy, improvisation and leaps of imagination that take his audience on a joyride they’ll never forget. Even Phil has no idea what might happen when he unleashes his crazy brand of improvised comedy mayhem. He possesses the rare gift of creating a space where audiences feel like they are kids again, all taking part in a practical joke.

Phil launched his stand-up comedy career with a bang in 1989, quickly garnering a host of awards, nominations and glowing reviews. Since then, the plaudits have never stopped as he conquered first the live stage and then television, with appearances on such shows as Phil Kay Feels, (Ch 4), Next Stop Phil Kay (Ch 4), Edinburgh Nights (BBC1), Montreal Festival of Fun (Ch 5) and plenty more besides including a couple of appearances on QI.

Phil’s first love, however, remains live stage work ¬ and only by watching his live performances will audiences really see him at his very best. Phil Kay is stand-up comedy’s answer to spontaneous human combustion ¬ a rare, explosive and always surprising phenomenon that simply cannot be contained in a box or represented on a cathode tube.  Phil tours Britain constantly and is a firm favourite at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where he performs yearly to sell-out crowds and critical acclaim. Over the years he has completed several highly successful tours of Australia, performing at the Adelaide and Melbourne Festivals.

Since then, he has travelled the length and breadth of the globe administering his special blend of comedy genius.
“You have to be born with comic talent such as his… It’s a gift from the gods, a freewheeling mind that’s utterly without boundary.” ***** (Metro).  Cited as: “One of the funniest joke writers in the country,” by Time Out Magazine, Dave Thompson may be best known for playing Tinky Winky in the Teletubbies, especially after he was sacked in July 1997 because the BBC thought his interpretation of the role was ‘unacceptable’.

Dave also plays a semi-regular character in both series of Al Murray’s sitcom Time Gentlemen Please, and has two cameo roles in Ben Elton’s feature film Maybe Baby. Dave has appeared in ITV’s The All New Harry Hill Show, and TV Burp! and plays various roles in Harry Hill’s stage show, Wild Horses.  Dave is an international stand-up comedian and compere, known for his brilliant one-liners and odd persona. He has written for Harry Hill’s TV Burp! and The Sketch Show, which were broadcast on ITV. Both series of The Sketch Show have sold around the world, including to CBS in America.

He also co-wrote (with Jim Tavare) part of the book Sit Down Comedy, which was published in August 2003. Dave also writes for other stand-up comedians appearing live and on TV. These include Bruce Forsyth, Boothby Graffoe, Jim Tavare, John Moloney, Dominic Frisbee, Phil Davey, and Tony Law.  “Dave Thompson is hilarious and goes down a storm with the crowd.” (DAILY MAIL).

For further details on what else is on offer at Stendhal Festival of Art visit www.stendhalfestival.com.

LEADING ferry company Stena Line and celebrity chef Kevin Woodford have really pushed the boat out this week to launch a mouth-watering new menu to cater for all tastes.

Woodford, who is currently one of the celebrity chefs on ITV’s This Morning with presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, has been working with the ferry company for three months across all five of its Irish Sea routes.

His aim is to fine-tune the skills of Stena Line’s culinary team by working directly with the chefs through a series of onboard and offshore workshop and he believes that the partnership has been a recipe for success.

“Training is my passion,” said Kevin, “so I was delighted to be approached by such a fantastic company, and seeing the menu in print and in action really is the icing on the cake.

“The chefs are enthusiastic about what they do and I was thrilled to be able to ignite their passion by sharing my years of experience with them to create this new menu,” he added. “I believe that we have a fantastic product which will enhance the dining experience of the thousands of passengers who travel with Stena Line on a daily basis.”

‘The Kevin Woodford Menu Range’ uses locally sourced, highest quality ingredients and introduces new dishes such as Yellow Thai Vegetable Curry with Jasmine Rice, Freshly Roasted Joint of the Day with Mash and Root Vegetables plus healthy snacks such as Chilled Salad of North Atlantic Prawns  dressed with a Lemon and Coriander salsa.

Popular favourites such as freshly prepared stone baked pizza and lasagne have been tweaked to taste even more delicious and ‘meal deals’ have been created to make sure hungry passengers get the best value on mouth-watering dishes.

The culinary partnership was set up as part of Stena Line’s plan to develop its onboard food offering for customers and comes on the back of company research which shows that quality food provision scores consistently in the ‘Top 5’ requirements of an enjoyable ferry travel experience.

Jamie Christon, Stena Line’s route director for central corridor and head of onboard support services for the UK and Ireland, is delighted with the results and believes the menu will be a huge success. He says:

“Our goal is to help take our food proposition to a higher level and I am confident that The Kevin Woodford Menu Range will do just that. Our chefs have worked to capacity with Kevin and I look forward to hearing customer feedback on the new taste of Stena Line.”

Launching this year’s NSPCC Hack (Hike Against Cruelty to Kids) in association with SPAR in the heart of the Mourne Mountains is local beauty, Jenny Curran, who is helping the NSPCC call on all walking novices or enthusiasts to put their best foot forward and raise vital funds for the charity.

Taking place on Saturday 15^th September 2012 the challenge offers trekkers of all abilities the chance to take in some of the most dramatic scenery and breathtaking views, whilst raising money for this very worthwhile charity. This year, walkers are offered either a 12 or 20 mile route, dependant on their ability and how adventurous they are feeling!

Karen Walker, NSPCC community fundraising manager, said: “Training for the HACK is a great way to start a keep fit campaign and taking part is an amazing challenge and experience. The HACK will be a fabulous day out in the great outdoors and a valuable opportunity to help the NSPCC raise money to support its projects and services in Northern Ireland and across the UK.  Why not sign up with a group of friends or colleagues and make it a real team challenge.”

Now in its fourth year, the NSPCC Hack is a well established event on the walking and fundraising calendar in Northern Ireland. This year, the NSPCC is delighted to welcome on board SPAR as title sponsor. SPAR has been a corporate charity partner with the NSPCC for the last 5 years, but this is the first time it will be sponsoring this challenge. A team of 17 budding walkers from Henderson Group (SPAR) took part last year and raised over £4,000, which was an incredible effort.

Paddy Doody, Sales and Marketing Director for Henderson Wholesale (SPAR) said: “SPAR already has a close relationship with the NSPCC in Northern Ireland and we are delighted to be sponsoring this local challenge. Having first-hand experience in taking part, we at SPAR are keen to get behind this event again and encourage everyone to put on their walking boots – have fun and be healthy, whilst making a difference in helping vulnerable children throughout Northern Ireland.”

The HACK challenge can be great fun, but is hard work. Both routes for the HACK are a demanding physical challenge, and the NSPCC recommends people who register, undertake some training beforehand.  Average walkers should complete the walk comfortably within 12 hours with more experienced faster walkers aiming to complete the long route within eight hours. There will be checkpoints and marshals on route, with radio contact between all checkpoints and the control centre. The terrain is very varied and the weather conditions can change quickly, so suitable walking boots, clothing and accessories, such as a rucksack, are recommended for all walkers.  Check out the training tips section on the NSPCC website www.nspcc.org.uk/hack for more information.

The HACK is open to people aged 18 years and over.  The registration fee is £20 for the 20 mile challenge and £10 for 12 mile challenge. For further details and online registrations and payments, please log on to www.nspcc.org.uk/mourneshack or contact the Northern Ireland NSPCC Fundraising office on 028 90 351135.  Final registration date is 30 August 2012.

Once the registration is complete, entrants will receive a walker’s pack outlining their start time and giving further details of the route. Participants can then begin collecting sponsorship pledges from friends, family and colleagues.