The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland over the next week (July 8 – 14).
Belfast Hills Heritage Festival 2013, various locations, Belfast, June 29 – July 8. Uncover the hidden history of the hills during this 10-day series of events including children’s storytelling, fossil hunting for dinosaur bones, pond dipping for water creatures, a bus tour, arts and crafts and much more.
Early Christian Life on a Monastic Island, Devenish Island, Co. Fermanagh, July 7 – 28. St Molaise will tell you all about how he founded the island monastery and its many transformations from a simple wooded church to an Augustinian Abbey. Find out about his way of life in the 6th century, the Vikings who raided and how, far from being a quiet place, Devenish was on a main ‘highway’ of Lough Erne.
Perfect Little Planet – Digital Theatre Show, Armagh Planetarium, Co. Armagh, various dates in July and August. Imagine you could take the ultimate space vacation – where would you go to find that ideal place? A family from another star system travel through the solar system looking for the perfect vacation spot.
Belfast Orangefest, city centre, Belfast, July 12. A showcase of Ulster’s rich heritage and culture with marching bands, fife and drums, flute music and the Lambeg drum. The programme will be running from 10am – 5pm with a parade, cookery demonstrations, a mini market and street circus entertainment.
LinkFest, various locations in the City of Derry, July 12. LinkFest is a local music festival which promotes established and up-and-coming bands and artists, mainly from the city but also throughout Ireland. There will be acts performing, a series of panel based discussions and talks on the various aspects of the music industry.
The Siege of Carrickfergus and Re-enactment, Carrickfergus Castle, Co. Antrim, July 13. An event which brings history to life with a re-enactment of the siege of Carrickfergus Castle and the landing of King William followed by a Pageantry parade to meet King William upon his landing.
Glenelly Rockin’ By The River Festival, Plumbridge, Co. Tyrone, July 13 – 21. An annual festival with a range of family fun including a vintage day, a charity walk, an underage disco, a variety concert and music.
Kids ‘mini-beasts’ Nature Trail and Bird Box Making, Crawfordsburn Country Park, Bangor, Co. Down, July 14. A guided woodland walk that will take you and your little ones on a mini beast and scavenger hunt. Enjoy woodland games, pond dipping and also make your own bird box to take away and put up in your garden to encourage nesting birds to visit.
Pottery for Children with Frances Sweeney, Strule Arts Centre, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, July 15 – 26. These workshops will give children an unforgettable opportunity to explore one of the oldest forms of art in the history of the world. Suitable for 8+ years.
Titanic Pilgrimage, Titanic Belfast, Queen’s Road, until September 28. A reflective and emotional talk with Chris Bennett, the Titanic Quarter Chaplin, every Friday and Saturday at 2pm. Take a 30-45 minute walk up and down the historic slipways, reflecting on the story of Titanic through first-hand witness accounts and other recordings of the disaster.
