Month: June 2013

Down

Take a step back in time with a visit to Cockle Row Cottages in Groomsport. The cottages illustrate life for a fisherman and his family at the turn of the last century. Also houses a seasonal tourist information centre and shop. Open daily June, July and August. Saturday and Sunday join in the fun at Cockle Row from 2pm – 4pm. The cottages are open from 11am – 5pm.  For all our County Down events click HERE.

Tyrone

The Alley Theatre Strabane is once again hosting the Sounds Like Summer Competition. See a wide range of talented musicians as they battle it out to become SLS:2013 winner and join past winners such as Gerard i2, Conor McAteer, King Coma and Pavesi. Expect 5 nights of wonderful music from very talented musicians all eager to win the main prize of the production of their own original track.  Qualifying heats take place Friday, June 14th at 8pm and Saturday, June 15th at 8 pm.  Friday, June 21st and Saturday, June 22nd at 8pm.  For all our County Tyrone listings click  HERE.

Fermanagh

Tour of Fermanagh is a charity cycle challenge which is open to the general public and will raise funds for both the Lisnaskea Emmetts GAA club and the Clic Sargent childrens cancer charity.  Three individually tailored cycle routes (60km/100km/150km) will cater for cyclists of all abilities and fitness levels whilst showcasing the beautiful scenery and peaceful surroundings of  Fermanagh. The Tour takes place on Saturday 15th June with all routes starting  and finishing in Lisnaskea.  Registration open until 8:45am on the morning of the event.  For all our County Fermanagh listings click  HERE.

Derry

Enjoy a little quality family time at The Jungle Moneymore and partake in a tantalising array of exciting adventure-packed activities sure to contribute to the family album of happy memories. Every Sunday until Sunday 29th September, The Jungle will be hosting their infamous Family Fun Days with activities starting from only £3per person.  Activities are suitable for kids aged 6+ and include  Archery, Boat Rides, Crazy Golf Kart Challenge, Fun Zorbs, Llama Trekking, Paintball Target Range, Powerfan Drop*, Segways, Treasure Hunts and more. Hot food and snacks will be available onsite to ensure your energy levels are kept stocked all day. For all our County Derry/Londonderry listings click HERE.

Armagh

Enjoy archaeology days with a difference at the Navan Centre and Fort, as you get to witness what life would be like if the Georgians and the Celts swapped lives.  Visit the Iron Age dwelling and see how the Georgians are getting on in a Celts shoes. Can they manage cooking on an open fire? Are they comfortable in the Celts tunic and brat? Can they cope with bartering and self-sufficiency? All will be revealed at this Horrible Histories Life Swap on Saturday 15^th and Sunday 16^th June.   For all our County Armagh listings click HERE.

Antrim

Celebrate the start of summer this Friday 14^th and Saturday 15^th June at the Theatre at the Mill with a bright, entertaining and feel good show, The Magical Musical Theatre , filled with the big musical showstoppers from the West End & Broadway.  Take the Theatre at The Mill live band on stage, add 4 of Northern Ireland’s best musical actors to the biggest numbers from hits shows including Chicago, Fame, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Evita and many more.  For all County Antrim listings click HERE.

Belfast

In a first for this year’s Belfast Book Festival The Crescent Arts Centre will be taking over the Crescent Park on Saturday 15^th June to bring you an event for all the family, young and old. With children’s writers, storytelling, food and drink and loads and loads of books, the Book Festival invites you to enter the magical world of stories. With entertainment, art workshops and much more.  For all our Belfast events listings click HERE.

Don’t forget to enter our competitions -we have some great prizes up for grabs – go towww.whatsonni.com/competitions and good luck!

If you would like to see a boat race with a difference, come along to Antrim Lough Shore Park on Sunday 23 June from 12 Noon – 5 pm for Antrim’s first ever Dragon Boat Race.

This exciting new dragon adventure is guaranteed to impress participants and spectators alike! Dragon Boat racing is an ancient Chinese tradition over 2000 years old and is one of Britain’s most competitive water sports. It’s a great way to raise money and it’s spectacular, colourful, exciting and fun!

This extremely popular event will see teams from local businesses row Dragon boats along the Six Mile Water River against the clock in a knockout race to win the title of Dragon Champions. This will be a fantastic day out for all the family. As well as the river race, spectators can enjoy a Chinese dragon display, a display from World of Owls, arts and crafts, radio roadshow and mobile animal farm. Everyone is invited to dress up as dragons and there will be prizes for the best dressed!

Money raised from the event will go towards the CLIC Sargent Homes from Homes Appeal to deliver 2 new homes from homes in Belfast, providing free self-catering accommodation for children receiving cancer treatment and their families, within walking distance of the hospital.

The Dragon Boat Race is free of charge to the public. Limited disabled parking will be available at the Lough Shore Park and a free bus service will be running regularly from nearby overflow carparks.

To find out more information about entering a team contact

CLIC Sargent T: 028 9072 5780

For further information about the event contact Antrim Borough Council

T: 028 9446 3113

The weekend of 29^th & 30^th June will be a particularly busy one for Bangor as the Town comes alive for its special Bangor 400 Seashore Festival. This event is one of many on North Down Borough Council’s busy events schedule to mark 400 years since King James I granted the town it’s charter.

The Festival will include a display of 400 cars, from vintage to performance, at The Town Hall the cars will then  Parade around the town on the Saturday at 6pm, led by the Central Band of The RAF.

At 3pm on the Saturday, there will be a very special musical display by The Central Band of The RAF and The 152 (U) Tpt Regiment Bugles Pipes & Drums on The West Lawn in front of The Town Hall. Established in 1920, the internationally renowned Central Band of The RAF is one of the premier military bands, and is always in great demand, performing more than 370 engagements a year and representing The Royal Air Force at every major event.

Armed Forces activities will be taking place on The Eisenhower Pier including The HMS Bangor which will be moored alongside and opened to the public on both days.   On Sunday 30^th June at 3.00 pm over a hundred veterans will meet at Ward Park for a service to commemorate the Battle of the Somme and be led off to parade through the Town Centre by The Central Band of the RAF and the 152 (U) Tpt Regiment Bugles Pipes and Drums.

Animating The Town on both days will be a special maritime-themed street entertainment programme, featuring fantastic street theatre acts and live music guaranteed to thrill young and old alike.

Acts like Hoop La La, a circus hula-hoop and acrobatic trio, who’s shows bring together acro-balance, dance, comedy and, most importantly, Hula-hooping!

The Swimmers are 1920s styled bathers who promenade inside their striped bathing huts, lifting the canvas to engage in dry land drills and life saving with passersby.  They will be in Bangor on both days showcasing their talents!

Belfast Swing Dancers will be performing dance displays on The Pier and providing live music will be The Lightning kids, a sharply dressed, young, and versatile 4 piece cover band from parts unknown with one common goal and message; “get paid to have the craic!”
Commenting on the event, North Down Borough Council’s Tourism Manager, Alison Stobie said; “As our Bangor 400 events programme continues and this will be a very great weekend for Bangor, with so much happening in the town continuing to mark this special anniversary.  We are always delighted to greet the HMS Bangor back to our shores and are very honoured to have the Central Band of The RAF perform at The Town Hall. We would encourage everyone to come down and join in the festivities over the weekend.”

Other Town Centre attractions that weekend will be the return of the ever popular Fun Fair at The McKee Clock Arena and a special food fair featuring lots of local food traders which will be taking place in The Sunken Gardens and along The Promenade.   Family activities will also be happening at Project 24 and of course there’s the usual range of entertainment at Pickie Park.

For further information on this event please contact Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069 or email tic@northdown.gov.uk.

This Summer at Theatre at The Mill, Newtownabbey, children aged 5-10 can follow the yellow brick road and travel ‘Over the Rainbow’ with Mr Hullaballoo and get the opportunity to sing, dance and perform in their very own show.

When you’re a child summer can seem to last forever and with the unpredictable Northern Irish weather it’s not always easy to find activities to keep youngsters busy.

This unique summer adventure for little ones will allow them to spend a week taking part in a fun and structured theatre school environment from Monday 1 – Saturday 6 July and will end with a performance for all family and friends to watch their little ones shine live on the stage.

Those taking part will get the opportunity to improve confidence, develop new skills, make great new friends and use their imaginations as they enter a into a world fantasy with Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and Toto the dog. Places on this workshop are £110 which includes 7 free tickets to the performance on Saturday 6 July.

Theatre at The Mill also has workshops running throughout July and August for older kids, including ‘Oliver Twist’, ‘The Nutcracker and Hairspray’ and ‘Grease’ which will all be directed by leading theatre professionals from NI and London’s West End as well as the internationally recognised Guilford School of Acting.

Places for all workshops are limited, so don’t miss out and book your child’s place online at www.theatreatthemill.com or through box office on 028 9034 0202.

This Summer at Theatre at The Mill, Newtownabbey, children aged 5-10 can follow the yellow brick road and travel ‘Over the Rainbow’ with Mr Hullaballoo and get the opportunity to sing, dance and perform in their very own show.

When you’re a child summer can seem to last forever and with the unpredictable Northern Irish weather it’s not always easy to find activities to keep youngsters busy.

This unique summer adventure for little ones will allow them to spend a week taking part in a fun and structured theatre school environment from Monday 1 – Saturday 6 July and will end with a performance for all family and friends to watch their little ones shine live on the stage.
Those taking part will get the opportunity to improve confidence, develop new skills, make great new friends and use their imaginations as they enter a into a world fantasy with Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion and Toto the dog. Places on this workshop are £110 which includes 7 free tickets to the performance on Saturday 6 July.
Theatre at The Mill also has workshops running throughout July and August for older kids, including ‘Oliver Twist’, ‘The Nutcracker and Hairspray’ and ‘Grease’ which will all be directed by leading theatre professionals from NI and London’s West End as well as the internationally recognised Guilford School of Acting.
Places for all workshops are limited, so don’t miss out and book your child’s place online at www.theatreatthemill.com or through box office on 028 9034 0202.

After sell out performances in 2011 & 2012, Theatre at The Mill’s audience favourite ‘Magical Musical Theatre’ will return on Friday 14 & Saturday 15 June to start summer on a high note with some big musical showstoppers from the West End & Broadway.

This year’s production will feature hits from Chicago, Fame, Les Miserables, Phantom of The Opera, Wicked and many more and will be performed by a number of Northern Ireland’s best musical theatre actors, a talented live band and energetic dancers. Local stars Ceara Gallagher and Lesley Henry will be joined by graduates from Guildford School of Acting Conservatoire, Nick Corre and Gary Mitchinson.

Director Ian Kells commented,

“During rehearsals the cast and I have had a great time recreating the joy and laughter as well as many of the key dramatic moments from a wide range of musical theatre shows.  Whatever your particular musical tastes, I hope that our selection of music will invoke memories of great shows of the past as well as renew your enthusiasm for the shows which are the hit musicals of today.”

The show is packed with magical musical moments for all, in an entertaining and feel good performance to kick start your summer, tickets from £9 are available online at www.theatreatthemill.com or through Box Office on 028 9034 0202.

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland over the next week (June 10 – 16).

• Game of Thrones Exhibition, Titanic Belfast, June 8 – 18.  This hotly-anticipated exhibition is designed to transport viewers into the breathtaking and enchanted world of Westeros and will feature over 70 original artefacts including props and costumes.

• Incredible Edible Leaves, Antrim Castle Gardens, Co. Antrim, June 11.  Spring is a time of fresh green growth and quite a lot of it is edible and delicious.  Enjoy a walk around Antrim Castle Gardens and identify wild edible leaves such as wild garlic, nettles, chickweed and dandelion before making a salad to take home.

• Beginner’s Dressmaking, Homecraft Revival, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, June 14.  A one day course which will teach people who already have basic sewing skills how to make a new top.  Learn how to read patterns, pick suitable fabrics, how to cut pattern and the sewing techniques needed to complete your top.

• Phil Coulter & Friends Live with the Ulster Orchestra, The Venue 2013, Co. Londonderry, June 14 – 15.  Undoubtedly one of the highlights of the City of Culture programme, Phil Coulter will return to the ‘Town He Loves So Well’ for a unique and historic event for one of the most ambitious concerts he has ever performed in his hometown.
• Ducklings and Dabblers, Castle Espie, Wildfowl & Wetlands Centre, Co. Down, June 15.  This workshop is for anyone who enjoys sketching and using watercolours – illustrating the new arrivals and feathered residents in the reserve with artist Bernice Anderson.  Price includes lunch and Downy Duckling Tour.

• Vintage Tractor and Vehicle Extravaganza, Divis Mountain, Belfast, June 15.  Come and see a glorious convoy of vintage tractors, cars and motorbikes before watching them make their way to the top of Divis Mountain.

• Northern Ireland Open Farm Weekend 2013, various venues, June 15 – 16.  Open Farm Weekend is taking place in Northern Ireland and once again the public will be invited to visit a number of farms to learn about the story behind local food and its link to nature.  Also get the chance to explore your local farm, learn about its history and interact with the animals.

• Archaeology Days: A Horrible Histories Life Swap, Navan Centre & Fort, Co. Armagh, June 15 – 16.  Visit the Iron Age dwelling and see how the Georgians get on in a Celts shoe.  Can they manage to cook on an open fire? Are they comfortable in the Celts tunic and brat? Can they cope with bartering and self-sufficiency?

• Father’s Day Fun, Crom, Newtownbutler, Co. Fermanagh, June 16.  Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon this Father’s Day and celebrate the beauty of nature and wildlife at Crom.  Take part in craft activities, trails, egg and spoon races, hoopla and challenge your dad at archery.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Mount Stewart, Newtownards, Co. Down, June 16.  Join Mount Stewart for a celebration of transport from classic to contemporary.  Enjoy amazing cars in all shapes and sizes as well as a range of fun activities including pleasure flights, model plane workshops and vintage and collectibles stalls.

Down

Join the RSPB for a night at the movies at Comber’s Tudor Cinema on Thursday 6^th June.  Sit back and enjoy this special screening of Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic 1963 classic ‘The Birds’ and help support the RSPB’s work with people and wildlife across Northern Ireland.  Cinema snacks will be provided on entry.  Doors 7.15pm  for 7.45pm start.  This event is part of Love Nature, running until 8 June.  For all our County Down events click HERE.

Tyrone

The Greenvale Hotel in Cookstown is the venue for a charity comedy night on Friday 7^th June.  With the fantastic combination of Sean Heagarty, Gary Lynch, Cormac Cookie O’Donnell / Igor Bolshoikirov, and the singing sensation that is Phil McEwan, this event guarantees laughing indulgence but without the guilt because it’s all for charity – two to be precise – The Alzheimer’s Society & The Garden of Hope, Kenya.  For all our County Tyrone listings click  HERE.

Fermanagh

The Fermanagh County Fleadh Derrylin takes place this weekend.  Friday 7th: Dartry Ceili Band 8pm and supporting artists.  Saturday 8th: Fior Ceili with Martina Duggan / Gig Rig / Singing Session / Music Session with Kevin Rowsome (Renowned Uileann Piper) & friends.  Sunday 9th; Gig Rig Parade & Vintage Car Rally / Singing Session / Old Time Dance featuring Ceili TimePun and Street sessions throughout weekend / 50th Anniversary Photographic Display.  For all our County Fermanagh listings click  HERE.

Derry

Following hot on the heels of the Gruffalo’s sell out tour and his monstrous West End success comes the GRUFFALO’S CHILD – with attitude!  Just how brave is she? Find out for yourselves by joining her at the Millennium Forum 7^th – 9^th June.  The Gruffalo said that no Gruffalo should ever set foot in the deep dark wood…  One wild and windy night the Gruffalo’s child ignores her father’s warning and tiptoes out into the snow. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn’t really exist… does he?  Tall Stories Theatre Company returns, bringing Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s award-winning sequel to life in this magical, musical adaptation.  For all our County Derry/Londonderry listings click HERE.

Armagh

The Armagh County Show is back this year in the beautiful setting of Gosford Park on Saturday 8th June. An annual one-day Agricultural Show and Country Festival which celebrates the best of local agriculture and the rural way of life held.  A great day out for all the family with something to interest everyone.  Come early to avoid the rush.  Gates open 9.00am.  For all our County Armagh listings click HERE.

Antrim

Carrickfergus Sailing Club invites you to ‘Try a Boat’ on Saturday 8^th June at Carrickfergus Harbour.  Get active and come sailing. Enjoy the benefits of this healthy activity: a family and social activity, building confidence and self reliance. Suitable for all ages, abilities and disabilities.  For all County Antrim listings click HERE.

Belfast

Check out the Belfast Barge this weekend for sailing instruction with the Ocean Youth Trust at the Odyssey Arena. Then visit the Belfast Barge to explore the stories of the men and women who have worked and lived in Belfast through our interactive museum.  You will also have the opportunity to watch a documentary video about the early settlement of Belfast. There is also a free walking tour, free art class and music showcase.  For all our Belfast events listings click HERE.

Don’t forget to enter our competitions -we have some great prizes up for grabs – go to www.whatsonni.com/competitions and good luck!

For more details on these and other events across Northern Ireland, news and competitions see www.whatsonni.com, follow us @whatsonni and like us at fb.com/www.whatsonni. Add your  events FREE OF CHARGE at www.whatsonni.

Belfast’s colourful, citywide celebration of the written word, the printed page, the editorially edifying and the laudably literary returns from 10-16 June 2013.

The third Belfast Book Festival boasts an impressive programme, glutted with big international names alongside the shiniest local talent from the big, broad world of words and literature.

The written word is showcased in all shapes, hues, contexts and forms, offering something for all tastes as venues right across the city play host to readings, workshops, theatre, music, film, talks and more!

The festival line-up is as eclectic as it is acclaimed, Scotland’s Makar (National poet) Liz Lochhead opens the Book Festival, setting an outrageously high standard for the festival week. One of the world’s most celebrated travel writers Paul Theroux brings his latest book The Last Train to Zona Verde: Overland from Cape Town to Angola to a Belfast Book Festival audience. The Boy with the Striped Pyjamas author John Boyne will be reading from his new book This House is Haunted, legendary music / cultural commentator / motormouth Paul Morley joins the Book Festival to discuss new book The North which takes in everything from Wordsworth to The Smiths.

Internationally famed psychoanalyst Stephen Grosz discusses his bestselling book, The Examined Life, and controversial food writer and household name Jay Rayner is a Greedy Man in a Hungry World. Memoirist, novelist and activist Linda Grant is also making a hotly anticipated visit to Belfast’s Crescent Arts Centre for the festival.

Voica Versa brings the freshest and finest local performance poetry to BBF13, Sinead Morrissey will be reading from her latest poetry collection Parallax, and will be joined by fellow Belfast poetical luminary, Martin Mooney. Up and coming Belfast poet Geraldine O’Kane leads an exciting multi-disciplinary evening of dance, painting and performance in response to her work, in Poetic Perspective: Through Artists’ Eyes. The startling, award-winning poet Dave Lordan reads from his fiction debut First Book of Frags. The incendiary,’30 under 30’ Irish short story anthology is represented by five of the best young Irish writers, reading their work for the Festival.

Whether it’s timely regional foreshadowing or simply spellbinding discourse, Belfast Book Festival is also proud to present Unstated: Writers of Scottish Independence – an evening of discussion about the vibrant cultural autonomy that Scottish writers have established, more passionate and imaginative than the near-moribund political debate on independence. Featuring a panel of writers and academics including Peter Geohagen, Aonghas MacNeacail, Aaron Kelly and Denise Mina, this event promises to stand apart from the facile game of counter-claim dominating the Scottish press.

New Voices of Crime does exactly what it says on the tin and finds No Alibis book shop proprietor David Torrans introducing Claire McGowan and Thomas Mogford, two of the brightest names in crime fiction in the UK and Ireland.

The screening of Janapar: Love on a Bike features the intrepid Thomas Allen who left friends, family and promising career behind to set off with a bike, armed only with a tent and a video camera. Ten thousand miles later, join him at the Belfast Book Festival.

The venerable tradition of Irish publishing is strongly represented by Lagan Press and Liberties Press, who invite festival goers to a series of literary lunchtimes with readings and discussions.

Elsewhere there’s an evening in the company of one of the rising stars of local letters Nathaniel Joseph McAuley, who will premier the next chapter of his work in progress The Joiner’s Song at the Belfast Book Festival. This latest instalment, entitled The Dyer’s Notes on Indigo perfectly represents McAuley’s expansive vision in this episodic collection of poems and songs from the perspective of various rural tradesmen. Community Arts Partnership showcases work from Moments the painstakingly and lovingly collected poetry anthology public submission.

Author Leesa Harker and playwright Martin Lynch talk fags, flegs and filth as they discuss Harker’s Red, White and Blue trilogy whilst actress Caroline Curran brings Harker’s unforgettable anti-heroine Maggie Muff to lurid life.

Family fun comes courtesy of Illustrate Summer Stories – Watercolour Postcards which offers children a chance to create and post stunning artwork to friends, the Children’s Poetry Prize will find all young readers walking away with a small gift and, in a Book Festival first a free Family Fun Day in Lower Crescent Park, with children’s writers, storytelling, food and drink, games and loads and loads of books.

Melody and words comes together with Malojian hosting The Art of Songwriting and Performance and I Have Travelled this Country – the collected songs of Cathal McConnell and Gerry O’Connor.

Dramatic performances include Parnassus‘ I, Kavanagh – Noel McGee’s one man show on the influential poet, Black Egg Production’s Love for Sale, – an adaptation of the deliciously grimy Bukowski short story of nearly the same name. Wireless Mystery Theatre present the witty, the wicked The Play of the Book and there’s a howlingly good mini-season of movies on The Beats at the QFT.

Festival Co-ordinator Hugh Odling-Smee said:

“This year’s Festival again restates our belief that books are for everyone. We’ve got stellar writers from across the world, debates, launches, music, theatre, film and art all created to lure even the most unsuspecting into the magical world of books. If books create worlds to escape into, then we’ve tried to create one week where all of the city and its visitors can let their imaginations and creativity soar.”

Damian Smyth of principle funder The Arts Council Northern Ireland added:

“Belfast has long been famous as a city of readers and writers and the Belfast Book Festival perfectly captures the moods of invention and reflection and fun which only a book can excite. The Arts Council is delighted to support this Festival – reading is still a private and intimate joy, but when it goes ‘live’, on song, outdoors or on stage, this is where public funding rightly comes into its own”

The Belfast Book Festival 2013 is also supported by Belfast City Council’s Community Festivals Fund.  Alderman Christopher Stalford, Chairman of the Council’s Development Committee, commented:

“On behalf of the Council, I would like to congratulate the organisers for another excellent quality programme, which showcases the best of our local literary talents alongside reputed international writers.  The 2013 Festival is a credit to all concerned and I urge booklovers to support it.”

For complete programme and further information on the Belfast Book Festival please go to www.belfastbookfestival.com