This year European Heritage Open Days (EHOD) have over 400 properties and events across Northern Ireland opening FREE OF CHARGE and Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in throughout the event.

• Bus Tour Of Belfast Historic Buildings, Tour Departs From Athletic Stores, Queen Street, Belfast, September 11. Belfast Civic Trust will run a bus tour of the city telling the story of its history through its architecture. The tour will include buildings such as Belfast City Hall, St Peter’s Cathedral, St. Anne’s Cathedral, Clonard Monastery, Queen’s University, Customs House and other important buildings. Booking essential – telephone (028) 9054 3022.
• Giant’s Causeway Visitor Experience – Guided Tour, 44 Causeway Road, Bushmills, Co. Antrim, September 12. The award winning Giant’s Causeway Visitor Experience, designed by architects Heneghan Peng is an architecturally stunning and sustainable venue combining innovation, precision and craftsmanship to create a building that sits within the beautiful Causeway landscape. There will be two free guided tours of the Visitor Centre focusing on the architecture and sustainable features of this very interesting building. Architectural interest tours at 12pm and 2pm (40mins). Booking essential – telephone (028) 9054 3022.
• Carrick-A-Rede, Whitepark Road, Ballintoy, Co. Antrim, September 12. Suspended almost 100 ft (30 m) above sea level, the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge was first erected by salmon fishermen 350 years ago. Today it is a popular tourist destination, attracting thousands of thrill-seekers (and birdwatchers!) to the North Coast every year. If you are bold enough to cross the 65 ft (20 m) bridge, stretching from the mainland to ‘Rocky Island’, you will be rewarded with fantastic views of Rathlin Island, Scotland and the Causeway Coast. Get a bird’s eye view of the clear, green water flowing around the ancient caves and caverns far below – if you dare to look down. Open Saturday 9am to 6pm with free guided tour at 10am (1.5 hrs). Booking essential – telephone (028) 2073 3419.
• Kevin McAleer, Omagh Library, Irishtown Road, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, September 8. Local comedian Kevin McAleer drops in to the library for an evening of vintage comedy in which he will attempt to condense thirty years of talking nonsense into an hour. His carefully worded scripts have been compared to the likes of Beckett or Flann O’Brien, while the timing and delivery are uniquely his own. Expect plenty of word play, bad puns and concentrated laughs from an original master of the comedy craft. Suitable for adults only. Booking essential – telephone (028) 8224 4821 or email omagh.library@librariesni.org.uk.
• The Argory, Moy, Dungannon, Co. Armagh, September 12. The Argory was built in the 1820s, a handsome Irish gentry house surrounded by a 130-hectare (320-acre) wooded riverside estate. The former home of the MacGeough Bond family, a tour of this Neo-classical masterpiece reveals it is unchanged since 1900. The eclectic interior still evokes the family’s tastes and interests. Outside there are sweeping vistas, superb spring bulbs, scenic walks and fascinating courtyard displays. A second-hand bookshop, adventure playground and Lady Ada’s award-winning tea-room provide retreats for children and adults alike. Opening times 12 – 5pm.
• The Inniskillings Museum at Enniskillen Castle Museums, Co. Fermanagh, September 12. A visit to the award-winning museum is a journey through more than 300 years of world history as encountered by two famous regiments. Be inspired by the heroism of the men and their families who served over the world and view a rich collection of personal stories, weapons, uniforms and regimental silver. You will be given the opportunity to use our handling collections and see uniforms and items that soldiers carried with them from different periods of time. Opening times 2 – 5pm.
• Springhill, Moneymore, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry, September 12. Experience the beguiling spirit of this inimitable 17th-century ‘Plantation’ home, with its walled gardens and parkland, full of tempting waymarked paths. There are ten generations of Lenox-Conyngham family tales to enthrall you, as well as numerous portraits, much furniture to admire and not forgetting Ireland’s best-documented ghost, Olivia. The old laundry houses the celebrated Costume Collection, which features some fine 18th to 20th-century pieces that highlight its great charm and enthralling past. Opening times 12 – 5pm.
• Mount Stewart, Portaferry Road, Newtownards, Co. Down, September 12. Following a three year £7million restoration programme, this 18th Century house has been significantly transformed, making it a must-see attraction on the island of Ireland. On Saturday Mount Stewart will be offering free entry to all visitors giving them the opportunity to view collections of national and international significance. Visitors can experience and explore the house at their leisure and learn more about the family and the important role they played in local and international history. You can also take a stroll around the stunning formal gardens which reflect a rich tapestry of design and planting artistry, making them so unique. Opening times 10am – 5pm.
• BBC Screenings, Building Britain: Belfast – City Renewal, Belfast Central Library, Belfast. September 10. Glenn Patterson reflects on Belfast’s industrial heritage and plans for the future. His film includes interviews with architects and developers and footage of early building work at Titanic Quarter. Starts at 6.30pm.
• Ring Of Gullion Coach Tour, Bagenal’s Castle, Castle Street, Newry, Co. Down, September 12. Fully guided coach tour taking in the most impressive sights and monuments the Ring of Gullion has to offer. Una Walsh will lead you on your journey through the breath taking landscape of the area whilst enlightening you about the rich natural, built, archaeological and cultural heritage, not forgetting the many myths and legends in which the area is steeped. Booking essential – telephone: (028) 3082 8590. Opening times 10.30 – 4.30pm.

Please note most events require pre-booking. For more details on these and other events click on www.discovernorthernireland.com/events, visit your local tourist information centre or log onto www.facebook.com/discovernorthernireland. 

Although the Titanic lies in 13,000 feet of water, the enduring story still captures minds and hearts throughout the world.  To mark the anniversary, when a team led by American oceanographer Dr. Robert Ballard and French diving engineer Jean-Louis Michel discovered the world’s most famous ship’s final resting place, here are 30 things you may not know about the Titanic and its home – Titanic Belfast:

The Ship Itself

1.       Titanic’s design was conceived over a glass of wine and fine food! Lord Pirrie and J. Bruce Ismay decided speed would be balanced with quality of accommodation. It is rumoured that when Pirrie enquired as to the length of the ship, Ismay replied, glass of wine in hand, “build me a stable ship that will not disturb the sediment in these fine wines.”

2.       Titanic (271m) was long enough to span three tempestuous Atlantic Ocean wave crests.

3.       Due to the size of the Olympic-class ships, in which Titanic was one of three, the shipyard, Harland and Wolff in Belfast had to prepare for two years to be able to build them!

4.       At the time, Belfast was the fastest growing city in the British Empire, it was the linen and ropework capital, with the largest ship building firm in the world. Evidence of this can still be seen throughout the city today.

5.       The ship had three wheels for steering!

6.       Titanic’s funnels were wide enough to drive a train through!

7.       Facilities on board included a gym, pool, Turkish bath, a kennel for first class dogs, and a squash court. The first class cabins on Titanic, where the same standard as hotel cabins, second class was as good as first class on other ships.

8.       The famous staircase, which was among the most luxurious appointments on the ship, was inspired by the staircase at Belfast City Hall, which can still be visited today.

9.       Titanic was stocked with literally tons of food and drink – including 40,000 eggs and 15,000 bottles of ale!

10.   Titanic was launched in 62 seconds on 31^st May 1911. The Olympic, and the tender ships, Nomadic and Traffic left Belfast, drawing over 100,000 spectators and journalists travelling from London and America.

11.   Titanic now lies 370 miles off the coast of Newfoundland, nearly two and a half miles (4000m) below sea level overlooking a small canyon below.

12.   There is no light at this great depth and little life can be found. At Titanic Belfast, visitors can view Dr Ballard’s high definition footage of what Titanic looks like today and can learn more about individual items in the wreckage using the interactive pods.

Titanic Belfast – the Home of the Titanic

13.   Titanic Belfast is built where the Titanic was designed and launched.

14.   The Titanic and SS Nomadic have been re-united again in Belfast. Visitors can experience both the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience together with the SS Nomadic, an authentic piece of Belfast’s industrial heritage, as well as the award-winning Discovery Tour, which highlights the famous barrel-vaulted Harland & Wolff Drawing Offices, the slipways and the building’s iconic structure for one price.

15.   Titanic Belfast is the world’s largest Titanic visitor experience.

16.    It has welcomed approximately 2.5 million visitors from over 145 countries.

17.   From HM Queen Elizabeth, Film director James Cameron, British Prime Minister David Cameron, Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Former United States Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton to Michael Buble have all visited Titanic Belfast.

18.   It can hold over 3,547 visitors at any one time, the same number as the capacity of Titanic!

19.   Titanic Belfast’s overall shape represents the bow of the ship.

20.   The hulls are the same height of Titanic from keel to Boat Deck!

21.   40,000 tons of concrete was used in Titanic Belfast’s foundations, nearly the same as for Titanic.

What’s new at Titanic Belfast

22.   The world-class exhibition, which has been described by the Prime Minister as ‘absolutely brilliant’ and ‘magnificent and dramatic’ by TITANIC movie director, James Cameron, has recently redeveloped three galleries,  which capture the excitement of launch day, as well as the ship’s maiden voyage. Utilising Pepper’s Ghost illusion that was featured in the James Bond movie, Diamonds Are Forever, as well as fellow world class attractions such as the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland, Titanic Belfast recently introduced Fredrick Dent Ray, a dining room steward and survivor. Visitors will hear what it was like to work on board at the Palm Court Café.

23.   At Titanic Belfast, guests are now transported onto Titanic’s deck promenade as part of the experience. Guests can walk on deck, look out to sea, hear the ocean, hold onto the railings and feel the ships engines rumbling as if they were on the ship itself.

24.   The last letter ever to be written on board the Titanic by Essex-born Esther Hart and her seven-year-old daughter Eva just eight hours before the ship hit an iceberg and sank in April 1912 is on display. It recently sold at auction for a world record sum of £119,000.

25.   A note from the Titanic assistant ship’s surgeon Dr John Simpson, which was believed to long-lost, is also on display at the exhibition.

26.   Titanic Belfast is home to the historic plan, commissioned by the Board of Trade for the British inquiry, was designed and prepared by White Star Line architects. It is the second most expensive Titanic artefact in the world.

Outside Titanic Belfast

27.   It’s not only the galleries that tell the story of the Titanic but the surrounding buildings. On the plaza surrounding the Titanic Belfast is one of the largest maps of the Northern Hemisphere at 10,000 m2 and follows the route of the Titanic from Belfast.

28.   The wooden benches encircling the building and are spaced in Morse code sequence. Moving clockwise around the plaza they read “DE (this is) MGY MGY MGY (Titanic’s call sign) CQD CQD SOS SOS CQD” – the distress message that Titanic sent after hitting an iceberg.

29.   On the slipways, there is life size plan of Titanic’s Promenade Deck which is inlaid in white stone, where the ship would have been constructed, outlining where the liner’s lifeboats and funnels and benches on board would have been.

30.   The Slipways have its own Memorial garden, where four grass lawns alternate with timber decking to illustrate the proportion of those who lost their lives and lived from each of the passenger classes and crew.

To delve deeper, visit the home of the story – Titanic Belfast. For more information, visit www.titanicbeflast.com.