Now in their seventeenth year together, ‘Talon’ have been recognised at the ‘National Tribute Awards’ as the ‘OFFICIAL UK No. 1’ Eagles tribute show.

Their latest production will feature all the classic Eagles hits including ‘Hotel California’, ‘Lyin’ Eyes’, ‘Take It Easy’, ‘Desperado’, ‘Take It To The Limit’, ‘Life In The Fast Lane’, ‘The Last Resort’ and many more.

The show features a host of world class musicians but it is the immensely powerful vocal harmony and exact musical production on which Talon have built their reputation that continues to be the highlight of the evening.

Talon – The Best Of Eagles will perform for one night only at The Market Place Theatre in Armagh on Thursday 11^th September at 8pm. Tickets are priced £19 each.

On Thursday 18^th September, a powerful compendium of the finest World War 1 writings, ‘Anthem For A Doomed Youth’, will commemorate the Centenary of the Great War in 2014. The programme includes the works of Wilfred Owen, Siegfried Sassoon, Isaac Rosenberg [The Immortals, Spring 1916, Break of Day], together with moving stories from both sides of No-Man’s Land such as Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet On The Western Front and the legendary Christmas Truce. Using evocative lighting and sound effects, the WW1 trenches will be brought vividly to life in a powerfully moving tour de force.

Tickets for ‘Anthem For A Doomed Youth’ are priced £14.50 and £12.50 (concession), and can be booked on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.marketplacearmagh.com

And to keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews.

ULSTER BANK BELFAST FESTIVAL AT QUEEN’S HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF ARTS AND CULTURE AS A DRIVING FORCE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND TOURISM

Susan McCleary, Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s and Susie McCullough, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, today launched the Festival’s 2014 ‘Postcard Campaign’ shining a spotlight on the vital role of the arts for tourism in Northern Ireland.  The Festival “Postcards” will target tourists from all over Ireland and GB providing a snapshot of what is on offer at Ireland’s leading international contemporary arts festival.

A recent NITB Visitors Survey found an 11% increase on the previous year in visitors reporting ‘opportunities to attend local events and festivals’ as a reason to visit Northern Ireland.  In addition an independent economic assessment showed that the 2012 Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s generated £577,180 in tourism revenue including £112,637 on tourism accommodation and £464,543 on food and drink, transport and shopping. The Festival also provides an important role in business development creating an annual equivalent of 311 full-time jobs and a total benefit to Northern Ireland businesses of £2 million.

Susie McCullough, Director of Business Support and Events, NITB, said: “NITB is delighted to be supporting the 2014 Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s, showcasing a variety of world class arts performances across the city of Belfast.  The research carried out on the 2012 festival indicated that 92% of spectators felt that the festival improved Northern Ireland’s reputation as a tourism destination, and 72% of spectators that attended stated that the festival made them feel more proud of Northern Ireland.”

Richard Wakely, Director, Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s, said, “These report findings demonstrate that the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s provides significant economic benefits for Northern Ireland, creating employment and reinforcing the message to visitors and potential visitors that we have an outstanding cultural tourism product to offer.  The festival not only offers high-quality international acts but we also place a huge emphasis on showcasing and celebrating the exceptional talent we are fortunate to have in the region.  The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s connects Belfast to the world and the world to Belfast and this year we have 17 days of world-class arts featuring performers from 18 countries with 110 events and 26 premieres.”

The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s presents great and diverse works of art from home and abroad, bringing audiences something very special that they cannot see elsewhere, all combining to deliver one unique festival which runs throughout the city from 16 October – 1 November.  The 2014 festival features performers from 18 different countries covering classical and contemporary music, film, dance, theatre, talks and visual arts, many of which are EU, UK and Ireland premieres.

The festival would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and public sector funders including Title Sponsor, Ulster Bank, Principal Funder, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Queen’s University, Belfast City Council, British Council, O2 International Sim, Belfast Harbour, Arts & Business NI and Department for Social Development, plus, the many venues, performers and partner organisations whose commitment and passion bring the arts to life for all to enjoy.

The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s box office officially opens on 4^th September but some shows are currently on sale check-in at www.belfastfestival.com for details.

This Sunday’s Bluegrass Picnic in Ward Park will mark the end of the hugely successful Open House Festival and North Down Borough Council’s popular Summer Sundays programme – an end of summer party to end them all!

The headline act “I Draw Slow,” are an American Bluegrass five-piece who play a distinctive blend of American bluegrass and Irish sensibility into something special – a kind of ‘greengrass!’  Leading the group are singer Louise Holden along with her brother (and guitarist) Dave who also writes a lot of their material. The songs are mostly rooted in the percussive sound of driving double bass, fiddle and claw-hammer banjo, but they can also display more subtle shades of mystery and melody. It is an assured sound, with a spine of American folk and bluegrass that makes a perfect fit for a festival finale!

As well as your country soul, we’ll be taking care of your country stomach, with lots of food available for sale on site. There will also be crafts on sale.

To keep the kids happy, there will be face-painting and balloon modelling with co-ordinated games and crafts taking place on site too.

Speaking about the event and North Down Borough Council’s Director of Development Services, Christine Mahon said: “We’ve had a fantastic summer of events in North Down, with The Seashore Festival, Summer Sundays and Open House to name but a few and don’t forget we still have Aspects Literature Festival to look forward to at the end of September. We are delighted to be working with Open House for the Bluegrass Picnic, the perfect ending to the summer and would encourage everyone to come down to Ward Park and join in  the fun.”

The Bluegrass Picnic has all the ingredients for a fun family day out so get down to Ward Park, this Sunday 31 August, from 3pm – 5pm to get in on the action at this totally FREE event.  And don’t forget to pack your picnic!

With cookery demonstrations on the Flogas kitchens, cocktail making by Viva bar’s mixologist, top quality street food and an artisan producers village, Cider Makers’ Row with delicious local ciders and apple juices, live music, children’s activities with the Navan Centre’s Educational Department, a fascinating insight into the relationship between honey bees and apple orchards with a real beehive on the Ulster Beekeepers’ Association stand, plus, of course, Northern Ireland’s three EU PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) status foods all together for the first time ever – there’s plenty to see, do and entertain at the Armagh Bramley Apple Festival next weekend.

Being held at the Shambles Market Yard in Armagh City on Saturday 6^th September from 10am until 6pm, the free-to-attend Armagh Bramley Apple Festival promises to be a great day out for young and old alike.

If you don’t know much (or anything at all) about what PGI means for a food product, you can learn all about it at the Festival, where Armagh Bramley Apple, Comber Early Potatoes and Lough Neagh Eels representatives will be on hand to give you the inside track on what makes these three iconic Northern Irish products unique and special – there’ll even be water tanks with live eels!

So make sure you put the date in your diary and come along – and bring your very best Armagh Bramley Apple Tart with you too, as you could be walking away with a fabulous hamper of Armagh Bramley goodies if your tart is deemed ‘best in show’ in a blind tasting. There’ll even be a bag of Neill’s Flour for every entrant.  All you need to do is deliver your tart to the Armagh Bramley Apple display stand before 4pm, provide your name and contact number and then go enjoy the Festival until judging of the Neill’s Flour Best Armagh Bramley Apple Tart takes place at 4.30pm – simples!

The Armagh Bramley Apple Festival is part of Armagh City & District Council’s Armagh Bramley Development Programme, which is funded through the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (NIRDP) and administered through Southern Organisation for Action in Rural Areas (SOAR), the Festival is set to showcase Armagh Bramley Apples in their rightful place at the heart of the County’s historic tradition of culinary apple production and as an iconic Northern Irish food product that we should all take more pride in and celebrate for its unique characteristics.

PAULO HEWITT CHATS WITH PAUL STAFFORD

Mod fans are in for a treat this September 27^th when the one of the most famous Mods of all Paulo Hewitt will be making an appearance at The Aspects Irish Literature Festival. The event which is taking place in The Festival Marquee in The Walled Garden will feature Paolo in conversation with local celebrity hairdresser and well-known Mod Paul Stafford.

Paolo Hewitt is an author, journalist, producer and broadcaster. He has written over twenty books covering music, fashion and football. He is highly regarded by Mod audiences for his writing in the genre, and for Aspects will read from The Sharper Word, a Mod Anthology.

Aged 19, Paolo started work as a journalist at Melody Maker. His beat included bands such as Dexy’s Midnight Runners, the Special, Madness, The Jam and American r’n’b, both old and new. In 1983 he published his first book, The Jam: A Beat Concerto and moved to NME. Within a year he was writing mainly about the emerging Hip Hop scene, later becoming the first writer to cover the Acid House explosion. Since 1990 Paolo has been freelance and has written for a number of publications in the UK, including The Guardian, and The Independent, as well being as publishing a series of well-received biographies including definitive works on The Beatles, Oasis, Paul Weller and The Small Faces.

In 2003 he published a very well-received memoir detailing his time in care entitled The Looked After Kid and since then has been an active advocate for children in care. Inspired by the book, the BBC dedicated a whole season of programmes to the issue of care. Part of the season included a documentary which focused on Paolo’s journey. In 2014 Paolo will publish the follow-up, But We All Shine On, which describes his inspiring journey to track down some of the children he grew up with. He hears their remarkable stories and makes new discoveries about himself, his friend and the power of the human spirit.

Following Paolo’s appearance, there will be a special screening by Queen’s Film Theatre of The Beatles’ classic A Hard Days Night. Made at the peak of Beatlemania, the movie chronicles a day in the life of the band as they leave Liverpool for London to perform a TV special. This new digital restoration promises to be a joy for cinema fans – a fantastic ending to a great evening’s entertainment.

Now in its 23^rd year, this year’s Aspects line-up is packed with something for everyone. Running from September 25 – 28, the festival highlights include; Falkland’s War Veteran Simon Weston OBE in conversation with Gerry Kelly, Sheena Wilkinson reading from her collection of short stories The Great War, Virginia Ironside will be performing her one-woman show based on her book Growing Old Disgracefully and lots more! For the full line-up, please download a programme at www.aspectsfestival.com

Tickets are available at www.northdown.gov.uk/bookings, from the festival Box Office at North Down Museum (028 9127 1200) and from Bangor Visitor Information Office (028 9127 0069).

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland over the next week (September 1 – 7).

• Hillsborough International Oyster Festival 2014, Hillsborough Village, Co Down, September 2- 7. Enjoy an action packed week of fun at the internationally renowned Oyster Festival. Set in the historic, picturesque Georgian village of Hillsborough, Co. Down, the Festival is famous for its fundraising, food and festivities with a packed programme of activities and entertainment.

• Belfast Tattoo 2014, Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Co Antrim, September 4 – 6. The finest musicians and dancers from across Ulster will entertain in a passionate show of pipes, drums and a whole lot more.

• Air Waves Portrush, West Bay, Portrush, Co Antrim, September 6 – 7. Get ready for fun! Air Waves Portrush returns for another year with the world famous RAF Red Arrows (Sunday) and the only two flying Lancasters in the world. Visitors will get to see Jets, helicopters and formation teams with play zones provided for kids!

• Armagh Bramley Apple Festival, The Shambles Yard, Co Armagh, September 6. Discover more about what makes Armagh Bramley Apples so special direct from the growers who produce them and you can even watch local chefs create mouth-watering apple-iscious dishes. Check out the exciting and refreshing hand-crafted Armagh Bramley Apple juices and ciders that are being produced right here on your doorstep.

• Hairspray – The Broadway Musical, Millenium Forum, Co Londonderry, September 2 -7. Enjoy the Smash hit Broadway Musical Hairspray. Winner of eight Tony Awards including Best Musical, Hairspray is a big, bouncy bouffant of a musical, piled high with laughter, romance and deliriously tuneful songs.

• Voices of Africa, Ardowen Theatre, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, September 4.  The New Beginnings choir are visiting Northern Ireland with their ‘Voices of Africa Tour’, an evening that will not disappoint filled with energetic African songs and dance which people of all ages will be enthralled with.

• Bushmills Village Walk, Park and Ride car park, Bushmills, Co Antrim, September 2. Bushmills, beside the River Bush, is steeped in history – several mills were sited on the River Bush processing everything from spades to flax and corn to timber. Join in on a leisurely stroll though the village whilst learning all there is to know about this conservation village. Pre-booking is required.

• Paranormal Tours, Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast, until September 6.  The Crum is one of the most haunted buildings in Belfast with paranormal activity rumoured since it closed. This tour will take you to the various hot spots of the Gaol where paranormal activity has been reported and the guide will tell you all about the harrowing stories associated with these areas.

• Newtownstewart Fish Fest 2014, Strule River Banks, Co Tyrone, September 6 – 7. Enjoy two days of free family-friendly entertainment centred on fly tying and casting demonstrations, youth angling workshops and competitions, and general fun day activities.

• Island Hopper Day Trip, Clearsky Adventure Centre, Castle Ward Estate, Strangford, Co Down. September 7. See the stunning sights on an island hopping kayaking tour of Strangford Lough. Watch the beautiful scenery go past as you paddle around the Lough under the supervision of our fully trained and experienced staff before stopping off on one of the islands for lunch. Over 18s only.

Down

Take time away from the fast pace of everyday life this Sunday and experience the serenity of a trip around the beautiful and mystical Strangford Lough.  Enjoy the magnificent scenery and plentiful wildlife, see where Saint Patrick first came ashore and discover how the Lough helped to aid the pillage and plunder of the Viking raiders as we offer you an insightful tour of one of Northern Ireland’s most beautiful bodies of water.  Tour departs Portaferry Slipway.

Tyrone

The Belvoir Players present The auction in Killybuck at the Burnavon Theatre Friday 29^th August. Set in 1914  in North Antrim, Aunt Rebecca has a farm of land to sell. Her nephew would like to buy the farm but since he refuses to marry the girl his aunt has chosen for him,  she refuses to lend him the money to do so.  The local auctioneer  sets about thwarting the old girl’s wishes and by some very devious means conspires to get the farm for Robert John.  Prepare to be moved, amused, and entertained by this charming piece of Ulster theatre folklore.

Fermanagh

This Saturday 30^th August treat yourself to a luxury Crom Castle Cruise and Dine. Your cruise will depart Share Village at 4pm and navigate through the maze of islands on Upper Lough Erne to Crom Boat House, where you will dine in the opulent surroundings of the West Wing – Crom Castle. Indulge in a four course set dinner served in the Victorian Conservatory. Your return cruise will get back to Share Village before dark.

Derry

The Walled City Tattoo outdoor spectacle, which was one of the highlights of the 2013 UK City of Culture, will comprise a 500 strong cast of local, national and international performers. The production will entertain and delight up to 15,000 people in Northern Ireland’s largest, bespoke Amphitheatre when it returns to the city’s Ebrington Square from 27th to 30th August.

Armagh

Fancy yourself as a Jedi?  Do you have the force?  If so then make the journey to Armagh Planetarium this Saturday and Sunday where the Emerald Garrison will be training some future Jedis..  Young visitors will have the opportunity to don the famous brown robe, pick up a light sabre and learn a few Force skills from an Emerald Garrison Master!  Trainees must stay vigilant as there has been a disturbance in the force and Stormtroopers,  lead by Darth Maul himself, have been rumoured to be nearby.  Can our young Padawan defeat the Dark Side and win the day?  Only time will tell.  May the force be with you!  The Planetarium will also be running digital theatre shows, space themed arts and craft workshops, launching rockets and there will be Stormtroopers keeping the peace along our corridors.  This is a weekend not to be missed!

Antrim

The Braid Film Theatre Ballymena presents Frozen the Singalong this Saturday. The film’s plot sees Fearless Anna setting off on an epic journey with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven-to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. If you missed the film in the cinema first time round, or you just fancy a good old sing along with onscreen Elsa, Anna and Olaf, then this event in the Braid’s very own film theatre is the one for you and the perfect way to bring the summer holidays to a close.

Belfast
Ravara Productions present Little Shop of Horrors at the Stranmillis College 27^th to 30^th August. A down-and out skid row floral assistant becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers an exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood. One of the longest-running off-Broadway shows of all time, this affectionate spoof of 1950s sci-fi movies has become a house-hold name, thanks to a highly successful film version and a score by the song writing team of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken, who redefined the animated musical film with Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Beauty And The Beast and Aladdin. Charming, tuneful and hilarious, with tongue firmly planted in cheek, Little Shop Of Horrors never fails to entertain.
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.

“Singlehood really shines in its sheer honesty…ridiculous,heartbreaking, hilarious…” Irish Times ****

“Thoughtfully presented in a frank, truthful and engaging manner..entertaining and thought-provoking..” Journal.ie

“Honest, funny and at times a little sad, Singlehood will be enjoyed by singletons and smug marrieds alike.” Metro Herald ****

http:www.umckproductions.com

One week before hitting Dublin’s Olympia Theatre with new cast member comedian PJ Gallagher (Naked Camera), Singlehood the show that’s already wowed audiences in Vicar Street and was a Dublin Fringe Festival sell-out, makes it’s Belfast debut is coming to the Lyric for two nights only. Tickets priced at £12.50.

Singlehood brings the raw and revealing stories of real life singletons to the stage to hilarious and devastating effect. With a fantastic ensemble of seven performers including comedians PJ Gallagher and Eric Lalor, Singlehood is an exclusive look at the personal triumphs and losses we all experience but seldom articulate, framed by a stomping single’s soundtrack and original sounds by Aidan Strangeman, winner of So You Think You’re Funny? 2014.

The experience of being single in today’s society is a prevalent one as people choose to marry later in life, find themselves single after separation or, increasingly, choose to live alone. Added to that the massive momentum of online dating and the appeal for this show is clear; as well as offering big laughs Singlehood is a thought provoking show looking at how we organise ourselves differently in this increasingly global and fractured society. In making Singlehood Ireland is at the cutting edge of exploiting this single experience for stage.

Conceived and Directed by Una McKevitt
Written by Una McKevitt, David Coffey and Cast.

Cast: PJ Gallagher, Eric Lalor, Aine McKevitt, Joanne McNally, Rory Murphy, Dee Roycroft and Aidan Strangeman.

Tickets for Singlehood are priced at £12.50.

For more information please see http://www.lyrictheatre.co.uk/whats-on/specific/on-stage/singlehood

Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s launches new EMBRACE creative learning programme with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.

The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and have introduced a new programme of participatory and creative learning activities to Ireland’s leading international contemporary arts Festival for 2014.  Entitled ‘EMBRACE’, the initiative aims to increase access and participation in the Festival through reaching out and engaging with communities, families and groups across the city of Belfast.

There is something for everyone with over 20 different workshops, talks and masterclasses allowing audiences the unique chance to get ‘up close and personal’ with world class artists. Whether it’s the chance to write songs with award-winning singer-song writer Lizannne Knott, dance with New York’s Bessie Award winner Camille A Brown, get up close with the world’s most celebrated Flamenco dancer Israel Galván or simply strum the guitar with one of the world’s most versatile female guitarists -the EMBRACE programme offers something totally different.

In addition, there will be a range of family and schools workshops including a composition session with the Schubert Ensemble, poetry workshops with Poetry Ireland and Safari face painting and puppet making.

Noirin McKinney, Director of Arts Development at the Arts Council, commented: “There’s so much great art on offer during the festival and, as the principal public funder, it’s very important to us that it is available to everyone. So we’re delighted to help introduce a brand new strand of the programme to this year’s festival, that for the first time will give audiences opportunities to engage with and discover much more about their favorite artists and performers, for little or no cost. Embrace reflects our ambition to bring great art within the reach of everyone.”

The new EMBRACE programme also features Belfast based dance company, Maiden Voyage, who will premiere their 20^th original production, Neither Either, at the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s, in a co-production with Liz Roche Company, Dublin.  The dance workshop, aimed at schools, takes its inspiration from the writings of the great Seamus Heaney and is a free workshop with the aims of promoting a healthy and active lifestyle, removing the barriers to dance activity such as financial cost and opening up dance performances to everyone including those with visual impairments.

Richard Wakely, Director, at the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s, commented, “This new initiative is representative of what the Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s  can achieve. Providing new and unique cultural experiences for audiences whilst also reaching out across the city to engage with schools, families and communities. It will deliver the arts to individuals who perhaps have never previously engaged with Festival and hopefully encourage them to get involved, be inspired and experience the joy that the arts bring.  There really is something for everyone so don’t miss out!”

The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s presents great and diverse works of art from home and abroad, bringing audiences something very special that they cannot see elsewhere, all combining to deliver one unique festival which runs throughout the city from 16 October – 1 November.  The 2014 festival features performers from 18 different countries covering classical and contemporary music, film, dance, theatre, talks and visual arts, many of which are EU, UK and Ireland premieres.

The festival would not be possible without the support of our sponsors and public sector funders including Title Sponsor, Ulster Bank, Principal Funder, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Queen’s University, Belfast City Council, British Council, O2 International Sim, Belfast Harbour, Arts & Business NI and Department for Social Development, plus, the many venues, performers and partner organisations whose commitment and passion bring the arts to life for all to enjoy.

The Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s box office officially opens on 4^th September but certain shows are currently on sale on line. For shows currently on sale and to find out more about how to get involved in EMBRACE, check-in at www.belfastfestival.com

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland over the next week (August 25 – August 31).

• NI Open Challenge, Galgorm Castle Golf Club, Ballymena, Co Antrim, August 28 – 31. The stars of the fairways will make a welcome return to Ballymena this year in what promises to be a spectacular occasion for all the family with a designated food village in the grounds of the estate plus an interactive golf village behind the 18th.

• Walled City Tattoo, Ebrington Square, Co Londonderry, August 27 – 30. The Walled City Tattoo returns to Ebrington Square in Derry~Londonderry with four nights of breathtaking, unforgettable entertainment. Over 550 local, national and international musicians, dancers, motorcyclists, acrobats and actors will entertain up to 18,000 people in the open-air amphitheatre.

• Festival of Speed, Balmoral Park, Halftown Road, Lisburn, Co Antrim, August 30 – 31. The festival will be alive with the sound of horsepower.  There will be rallying on the new, all access spectator stage along with all manner of exotic machinery, off road driving action, motorcross, auto testing, family carnival, segway experience, music stage and much more.

• Armagh Gaol Guided Tours, Co Armagh, August 29 – 30. Take up this once in a lifetime opportunity by exploring the local Gaol steeped in heritage that dates back to 1780’s. The Gaol is due to be redeveloped so there is little time left to investigate the historic landmark.

• 23rd Annual Bluegrass Music Festival, Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co Tyrone, August 29 -31. Enjoy a ‘toe-tappin’ and ‘knee-clappin’ good time which is fun for all the family, especially fans of Bluegrass and American Folk music. There’ll be strumming on the porches of log cabins, dancing in the cobbled streets and jamming outside the General Store with food and drink available all weekend.

• Antiques and Collectables Fair, Argory, Co Tyrone, August 25. Get thrifty with a fantastic range of antiques and collectables for sale accompanied by the sounds of jazz in the Courtyard. Sure to be an interesting and enjoyable way to spend your Bank Holiday.

• Crom Castle Cruise and Dine, Share Discovery Village & Crom Castle, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, August 30. Your cruise will navigate through the maze of islands on Upper Lough Erne to Crom Boat House, where you will dine in the opulent surroundings of the West Wing of Crom Castle. Indulge in a four course set dinner served in the Victorian Conservatory.

• Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, Upper Malone Rd, Belfast, Co Antrim, August 31. Listen to the wonderment that is Dynamic Brass in the stunning setting of Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park this Sunday.

• East Coast Adventure, Mountain Bike Centre, Rostrevor Forest Park, Co Down, August 31. Get on your bike with Mucky Pups Youth Club that teaches a range of skills from bike safety to cross-country cycling. It is perfect for getting kids interested in cycling and outdoor activities.

• Jazz in the Gardens, Mount Stewart, Portaferry Road, Newtownards, Co Down, August 31. Bring your picnic and settle down on the lawn with your family and friends to enjoy an afternoon of jazz in the beautiful gardens at Mount Stewart.