Month: October 2012

Fun, Food & Fireworks

Venue: Seapark Recreation Grounds, Holywood

Date: Saturday 27^th October

Time: 4pm – 8pm

Cost: FREE

Seapark Recreation Grounds in Holywood are the place to be on Saturday 27 October! The fun starts at 4pm with a children’s fun fair and food stalls and at 6pm live music from local band “The Jukes” playing popular music from recent years. Following “The Jukes” performance the skies will come alive with another of North Down’s spectacular fireworks displays starting at 8pm.

Cockle Row Cottages Halloween Fun

Venue: Cockle Row Cottages, Groomsport

Date: Sunday 28^th October

Time: 1pm – 4pm (Cottages open 11am – 5pm)

Cost: FREE

On Sunday 28^th October there’s something chilling in the air and some spooky goings-on at Cockle Row Cottages! Cockle Row Cottages, Groomsport will be open from 11am-5pm, with free family fun including Casey’s creepy creatures, JungleWorld animals, ghoulish crafts, traditional music & balloon modeling taking place from 1pm-4pm.

Have a Spooky Halloween at North Down Museum

Venue: North Down Museum, Bangor

Date: 27^th & 28^th October

Time & Cost: Various – See Event details

Don’t miss out on the variety of activities we have planned for Halloween this year – guaranteed to please all your little ghosts and ghouls! We are determined to  have a creepy Halloween, with a range of activities guaranteed to appeal to all ages including storytelling, crafts, face painting and a treasure hunt!

Halloween Family Festival

Venue: Ulster Folk & Transport Museum , Cultra

Date: Wednesday 31^st October

Time: 10am – 4pm

Cost: Admission Costs

Experience the ancient festival of Halloween with a murderous twist. This Halloween why not have some spooky family fun at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum?

With all this and more there’s nowhere quite like North Down to enjoy a “ghoulish Halloween” so come on down and join in all the spooky festivities.

For more information on all activities in North Down this October please contact Bangor Tourist Information Centre on T: (0)28 9127 0069 E: tic@northdown.gov.uk or visit our website northdowntourism.com

Stena Line car-cation survey reveals the majority of people would like to holiday with the future Queen.

VOTED the most stylish woman in the world, the Duchess of Cambridge has also been revealed as the most desirable ‘celebrity’ people in Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain would like to car-cation with, according to Stena Line.

Northern Ireland’s leading ferry company ran a series of Facebook polls amongst customers in the UK and Ireland to discover people’s car-cation habits. The car-cation trend centres around using the family car as one of the main focal points of the holiday and the freedom it provides to bring unlimited luggage.

Forty one per cent of people chose Prince William’s wife Kate as their ideal travel companion with Irish pop duo Jedward coming second at 25 per cent.

With unrestricted baggage when travelling by ferry, many people revealed bizarre and personal items they took with them on a car-cation. These included everything from the sentimental giant teddy bear to a life-size cardboard cut-out, a bag of potatoes and amazingly a washing machine!

While it takes most people a week to unwind on a holiday abroad, with a car-cation in the UK and Ireland, 70 per cent of people said they can relax straight away.

Stena Line’s Head of Marketing Orla Noonan said the research results revealed that people now like to create a ‘home from home’ on holiday and the car-cation is the perfect way to do this.

“The results show that ferry travel is one of the most relaxing ways to holiday. It’s such a unique, enjoyable and stress-free travel experience. As the survey shows, 70% of people unwind immediately when travelling on a car-cation while it often takes much longer to unwind if you experience stressful travel queues and hidden costs,” said Orla.

“The wonderfully wacky items people bring on their car-cation is fascinating, as it’s important they are comfortable travelling and bring everything they need with them. With a car-cation you can even take the kitchen sink, or rather the washing machine!

“Whether you are travelling for the weekend, a week or longer, visiting friends or family or simply taking a leisurely break – a car-cation is the easiest way to getaway.

“When travelling with Stena Line, Kate can bring as many different outfits as she needs to and Jedward don’t have to worry about running out of hair gel, they can just take it all with them!” Orla added.

To book a car-cation click on www.stenaline.co.uk, call 08447 70 70 70 or contact your local travel agent.

Derry based dance company, Echo Echo, are on tour with a new production which sees them merge visual arts, music and dance with outdoor pursuits- all inspired by a hidden cove near Shroove, on the North Donegal coast.

The director, Steve Batts, discovered the Port-a-Doris cove a few years ago. It became the setting for one of the company’s 2011 projects and proved to be a magical, inspiring place- looking out towards Downhill beach on the other side of Lough Foyle.

During that site-specific project, many local residents came to visit and told stories of the cove having been a place where people proposed to their sweethearts and carved their names. They came to dance there too, many years ago, in secret. Interesting that Echo Echo had returned in 2011 to dance too.

In 2012, the dancers have taken it one step further and created an original performance inspired by their memories and experience of Port-a-Doris. The production will include set design by acclaimed Belfast-based visual artist Dan Shipsides and an original music score by talented local composer Christopher Norby- who has composed for Ulster Orchestra and NI Opera.

Echo Echo Company Manager, Ailbe Beirne, said:

“Echo Echo’s team of artists and collaborators are of the highest professional level for this project so we must thank the Legacy Trust for the funding support to make it possible. The company has built up a very loyal and interested local audience but I think there are many more people out there who will enjoy this live performance work. It’s very cutting edge and combines different art forms, music, theatre, video, lighting, to make something that is very difficult to describe in words. Maybe that’s what quality work should be, and it’s hopefully what we will see a lot more of in 2013 and in years to come.”

Echo Echo is considered to be one of Ireland’s leading dance companies and is known for it’s innovative projects and unique performance style. The Cove will be in Black Box, Belfast on Friday 12th October, Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick on Saturday 13th before finishing the tour in Echo Echo’s hometown Derry-Londonderry at The Millennium Forum on Wednesday 17^th October.

The Cove is funded through Legacy Trust UK’s Challenge Fund, which is managed by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. Legacy Trust UK is creating a lasting impact from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games by funding ideas and local talent to inspire creativity across the UK.

For full details about the performance or any of the work that the company does, visit www.echoechodance.com

National Poetry Day, on Thursday 4^th October, sees the launch of Funeral Services Northern Ireland’s first National Poetry Competition.

As the theme of this year’s National Poetry Day is “Stars”, Funeral Services Northern Ireland anticipates that this inaugural poetry competition will give entrants the opportunity to honour those stars who watch over them with their eulogy poems.

The closing date for entry is Friday 26^th October and an awards event to celebrate the creativity of those entering the competition will be held at Parliament Buildings, Stormont, on Friday 2^nd November.  Regional winners will be invited to read their poems at the event before the overall winner is announced in front of an invited audience.

Judges, Beverley Brown, general manager Funeral Services Northern Ireland; Marie-Louise Muir, BBC arts and culture broadcaster and author of blog “Marie-Louise Muir’s Arts Extra”; Patsy Horton, Chair of Publishing NI and managing editor Blackstaff Press; and poet Paul Maddern, Tutor in Creative Writing at the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen’s University, Teaching Fellow at Leed’s University and author of poetry collection “The Beachcomber’s Report”, gathered at Belfast’s oldest library, The Linen Hall Library, to launch the competition with up and coming poet Stephanie Moore.

Beverley Brown, Funeral Services Northern Ireland, says, “Caring is at the heart of Funeral Services Northern Ireland and this competition allows us to give a voice to people who want to honour those they care about. We’re excited to be launching our first poetry competition in celebration of National Poetry Day and look forward to reading entries from aspiring poets.”

Speaking about the relevance of poetry in today’s society, Paul Maddern said, “The eulogy is one of the most relatable forms of poetry. Not everyone has read “The Iliad” but most people can recall a eulogy that had the power to touch them and make them think fondly of someone they cared about.”

Patsy Horton, of Publishing N.I., says, “This Funeral Services Northern Ireland poetry competition is a fantastic opportunity for aspiring poets to showcase their work and Publishing N.I. is delighted to be a part of it. Northern Ireland is rich in literary history and we hope entrants will be able to draw on this inspiration when it comes to submitting their work.”

Since 1994 National Poetry Day has engaged millions of people with poetry through a range of live events and web-based activities. Such a variety of poetry is written and read that each year the day is given a new theme, in order to highlight particular poets and styles of poetry.

Funeral Services Northern Ireland invites entries from poets over the age of 18 who are resident in Northern Ireland and are currently unpublished. The closing date for entries is 26^th October and the total prize fund is £950. Full details of how to enter and terms and conditions can be found online; www.fsni-nationalpoetrycomp.co.uk

Northern Ireland’s silver medal winning Chambers brothers are teaming up with Outdoor Recreation NI to call for kids and families all across the country to get outdoors and active this Sunday as part of National Trails Day 2012.

Now in its fifth year, National Trails Day boasts sixty FREE canoeing, mountain biking and guided walking events taking place on local trails throughout Northern Ireland and Richard  Chambers believes initiatives such as this are exactly what is needed to ensure a successful Olympic legacy here in Northern Ireland.

Richard Chambers commented, “The London Olympics was a great platform for sport and we need to keep this momentum going and National Trails Day is a great opportunity for us to do just this. There really is such a variety of events taking place this Sunday and we would love to see kids and families all across the country out enjoying our local trails.”

All events are completely free of charge and many are suitable for kids and families however pre-registration may be required. Visit www.nationaltrailsday.co.uk for more information.

Some of the best family-friendly FREE events on offer are listed below, but you can visit www.nationaltrailsday.co.uk for more information on all the family events taking place, free on charge on Sunday 7^th October.

County Down

Adventure Family Forest Walk – Tollymore National Outdoor Centre

Rugged forest paths (wellies essential)… wild snacks (bravery essential)…and great wildlife (quietness helpful!!)… will all be part of this family adventure walk through Tollymore Forest Park. On this walk, your guide will share stories of the forest as you wade through streams and look out for the wide variety of Tollymore’s unique wildlife. This family adventure is the perfect way to discover the hidden secrets of Tollymore Forest Park!

County Antrim

Carnmoney Wild Side Walk & Family Fun Activities – Glengormley

Follow in the footsteps of Viking Raiders as this self-guided trail leads you on a voyage of woodland discovery, guaranteed to inspire and enthuse. Simply step out at your own pace and marvel at the Hill’s fantastic views, woodland and wild inhabitants as you walk.  There’s plenty of wildlife to spot on your walk, including the long-eared owl and sparrowhawk. Buzzards can be seen soaring over the trees and the Irish hare is in residence up at the summit of the Hill. Back at the bottom of the Hill you can enjoy some free children’s arts and crafts and the chance to chat about your discoveries with the Woodland Trust and Newtownabbey Council staff.

County Londonderry

Fun Guided Cycle Tour in the Woods – Cam Forest

This fun based cycling event is organised by the Forest Service Northern Ireland and leads through Cam Forest which overlooks the beautiful Roe Valley. This is not an energy demanding event and is intended for all ages and abilities who wish to enjoy a leisurely cycle around a woodland route whilst finding out information about how the forest is managed for timber and biodiversity. Participants must bring their own bicycles and safety helmets and children under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

County Tyrone

Enjoy a wild day out in Gortin Glen Forest Park

Drop into Gortin Glen Forest Park between 2pm and 4pm to enjoy the new red squirrel trail, go nuts about all the autumn craft activities and take part in our ‘Build a Red Squirrel Badge’ competition! You can also speak to members of the West Tyrone Red Squirrel Group to find out what is happening to help the reds in the wider area. This event which also falls during Red Squirrel Week is completely free of charge and is a perfect day out for all the family.

County Fermanagh

Florence Court Scavenger Hunt & Guided Walk

Surrounded by lush parkland and thick woodland, with the imposing mass of Benaughlin rising in the background, Florence Court enjoys a majestic setting on the Fermanagh-Cavan border. Solve the clues along the trail on a Scavenger hunt that will take you to Florence Court’s hidden gems including a water-powered sawmill, ice house, and thatched summerhouse. As you follow the trail through the forest be sure to keep an eye out for the famous Florence Court Yew – reputedly the ‘parent’ of all Irish yew trees.

County Armagh

Family Eco-Trail Challenge – Lurgan Park
Want something different to do with the kids that’s fun, educational and most importantly free?! Then come down to Lurgan Park for an afternoon of exploration along the exciting interactive Eco-trail. In a team you must work together to navigate your way around the trail completing a fun activity sheet as you go. Find out if Dad has the best navigational skills, if mum is the smartest or if the kids really are the fastest as you solve the clues along this mysterious trail. Once you’ve completed the trail spend some time in the state of the art play park with slides, swings and water features. This is sure to be a fun family day out for all and entry to the park is free for all National Trails Day participants.

Belfast

Normans, Trees and Dukes: Guided Family Walk – Belvoir Forest Park

Walk along woodland trails and listen to fascinating stories about the earliest locals of the Belvoir area. Did you know that this forest contains some of the oldest oak trees found anywhere in Ireland or that Norman knights once lived here? We’ll also be meeting up with some colourful characters along the way who all have their own tales to tell!

These are only a selection of the family-friendly activities on offer across Northern Ireland as part of the National Trails Day celebrations on Sunday 7^th October. For a full list of free events taking place on your local trails, you can visit www.nationaltrailsday.co.uk. Pre-registration is required for some National Trails Day events so make sure to book your free place now to avoid disappointment.

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 12 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland over the next week (October 8 – 14).

• Belfast Restaurant Week, various locations across Belfast, October 6 – 13.  A citywide celebration of local cuisine with over 70 restaurants and many events taking place including food tours and taster sessions to highlight award-winning chefs, superb natural produce and a diverse range of cuisine.

• Tales of Sorcerers and Spells, Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick, Co. Down, October 10.  Storyteller Siaran Brooks tells the tale of The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and other magical tales and gets the audience to help with actions and sound effects.

• William Conor Exhibition Talk, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Holywood, Co. Down, October 10.  Part of the Making Connections afternoons for the over-50’s, this talk will explore the artworks featured in the exhibition in detail.

• Magners Comedy Core Live, Mandela Hall, Queen’s Student Union, Belfast, October 11 – 13.  Nine big name comedians will be crammed into three amazing nights of comedy.  Stand ups Daniel Sloss, Seann Walsh and PJ Gallagher will each headline an evening with support from some of the hottest up and coming acts.

• Stranger in Strabane, The Alley Theatre, Strabane, Co. Tyrone, until October 12.  An exhibition featuring four of Strabane’s most renowned artists who together are promoting a growing number of independent artists in the area.

• Animal Farm, Island Arts Centre, Lisburn, October 12.  Guy Masterson stars in this hilarious and terribly poignant version of George Orwell’s classic novel.

• The Neil Diamond Songbook, The Market Place Theatre, Co. Armagh, October 12.  Popular singer Brendan Quinn performs a two hour musical masterpiece highlighting the songs and life of the great Neil Diamond such as Sweet Caroline, I’m A Believer and Red Red Wine.

• Jumping Clay Workshop, Meadowbank Sport Arena, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry, October 13.  Come along to make your own unique and innovative model with Jumping Clay.

• Autumn Pumpkinfest and Scarecrow Pageant, Castle Ward, Co. Down, October 13 – 14.  Pick, scoop and carve a pumpkin, solve the clues at the pumpkin people murder mystery party, browse the extensive display of local crafts and sample some organic pumpkin soup.  Bring along your very own scarecrow to enter the fabulous Scarecrow Pageant.

• Fermanagh District Council Walking Festival, various locations, Co. Fermanagh, October 13 – 15.  A weekend walking programme with different grades of walks in beautiful locations throughout Fermanagh.

• Autumn Festival, Crawfordsburn Country Park, Helen’s Bay, Co. Down, October 14.  Experience the rich sights, tastes and smells of the autumn season with many fruits, nuts and berries including the Grand Display of over 100 different varieties of apples, pears and fungi.

• Time Travel through Lurgan, Oxford Island Nature Reserve, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, October 14.  Enjoy a fascinating journey of discovery following the rich heritage, architecture and development of Lurgan including places of interest such as Shankill Parish Church, Brownlow House and Lurgan Park.

Northern Ireland wine buffs can turn top palates into top prizes, as details of the second ChildLine Fine Wine Challenge were unveiled today.

The annual interactive wine-tasting quiz – organised by NSPCC and supported by JNwine – is calling for corporate entrants to tease their taste buds and win exclusive prizes including a holiday to Morocco and an exclusive case of Ridge Monte Bello 2010 fine wine with each bottle personally signed by the winemaker. Also up for grabs are tickets to top class sporting events, sold out concerts and the Chelsea Flower Show preview which attracts many well known celebrities.

The event takes place on 19 October at Riddel Hall, Stranmillis, where teams will be invited to pay to bend the rules in their pursuit of the ChildLine Fine Wine Challenge trophy, with professional wine experts providing hints, tips and cheat notes in return for charitable donations. Guests will also enjoy a champagne reception and supper accompanied by an excellent array of independent and unusual wines, expertly sourced by James Nicholson.

Last year the inaugural event raised more than £11,500, which went directly towards helping ChildLine in Northern Ireland continue to offer advice and invaluable support to children and young people.

Wine Merchant James Nicholson said Northern Ireland businesses have a chance to enjoy a unique evening and get behind NSPCC’s ChildLine service:

“Smart businesses in Northern Ireland know their wines and are committed to making a difference. The Fine Wine Challenge is the only competition of its kind to take place here. It’s a fresh way for companies to have a lot of fun, sample some top quality wines and raise money for a very worthy cause. Our team of experts has handpicked a selection of interesting wines that will make this a night to remember, so please join us as we help to raise funds for ChildLine.”

The ChildLine Fine Wine Challenge is supported by a wide range of organisations from across Northern Ireland, all of whom will be put through their paces by host Tim McGarry during the entertaining and interactive quiz.

Dearbhla McGrath, NSPCC development manager, said: “This is the second time Northern Ireland wine fans can use their taste buds to win fantastic prizes. Most importantly, the support of local business people will help the NSPCC raise the funds it needs to ensure that every child who plucks up the courage to contact ChildLine gets to speak to one of our counsellors.”

“Last year’s event was a major highlight for us and for all the guests who helped make it such a success. There has been phenomenal demand from local companies to make this a regular occasion and it’s pleasing to announce the second competition and make it an annual event. We wish the best of luck to all competing for the ChildLine Fine Wine Challenge trophy!”

The ChildLine Fine Wine Challenge takes place on 19 October at Riddel Hall, 185 Stranmillis Road Belfast from 6.15pm. To purchase a table or individual tickets, please contact Dearbhla McGrath on 020 3222 4279 or by emailing northernirelandappeals@nspcc.org.uk.  Tables are limited and booking early is advised.