To mark Titanic Belfast’s fifth birthday, Great British Bake Off Finalist, Andrew Smyth has engineered a bespoke birthday cake for the occasion.

Andrew, who is originally from Northern Ireland, the birthplace of the RMS Titanic, expertly designed the cake’s layers to showcase the enduring appeal of RMS Titanic, Belfast’s ship building heritage and the success of Titanic Belfast.

The bottom layer has taken inspiration from what first-class passenger would have experienced on board. The luxurious genoise sponge incorporates the flavours of fresh strawberries, grapes and pink roses that Lady Duff Gordon vividly remembers.

Whereas the top layer, shaped like Titanic’s funnel, takes a more modern twist as a chocolate madeira cake with a Bailey’s Cream filling, reflecting Titanic’s Northern Irish roots and celebrates the success of Titanic Belfast today.

Every week across Northern Ireland there are many fun and interesting events that take place and Tourism Northern Ireland has made a list of just some of them.

• What’s Happening at Carrickfergus Castle, Carrickfergus Castle, Co. Antrim, April 10 – 11. Visit Carrickfergus Civic Centre and talk to Historic Environment Division experts about recent discoveries, ongoing investigations and future plans for this internationally important archaeological monument. Full castle tours will also be available at 11:30 and 14:00 on both days with family fun activities including crown making and armour demonstrations.

• The Wedding Singer, Grand Opera House, Belfast, April 11 – 15. The year is 1985. Hair is huge, greed is good and rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey’s favourite wedding singer. When his own fiancée dumps him at the altar a seriously bummed out Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. Don’t miss your chance to join the party of the year – come to The Grand Opera House and see the musical that promises to get you up dancing faster than your Dad at a wedding, packed with songs which capture all the fun and energy of the Adam Sandler smash hit film.

• Easter Fun at Cockle Row, Cockle Row Cottages & Groomsport Harbour, Co. Down, April 16. Visit the picturesque setting of Cockle Cottage and enjoy a free family fun day from 14:00 – 16:00.  Activities include Plant and Play Garden Workshops, Easter crafts, archery the ‘Tales of the Wild’ Animal Roadshow.

• A Night to Remember, Titanic Belfast, Belfast, April 14. Join Titanic Belfast on this commemorative evening as you are taken on a journey of reflection, reliving the story of Titanic through the eyes of those whose lives were shaped by her journey. During this 90 minute experience, guests will be escorted by guides to key points in Titanic Belfast and SS Nomadic where a heart-felt story will be told. There will also be a candle lighting ceremony at 11:40pm on the slipways, marking the time that the ship struck the iceberg.

• The Wheels on the Bus, Navan Centre & Fort, Co. Armagh, April 15. Join Bus Conductor ‘Charlie Smiles’ is waiting to click your ticket as you go on a ‘sing-along-a-journey’! Make sure you’re full of song as ‘The Wheels on the Bus Go Round’ but like all adventures something gets in the way!  What could it be, well only one way to find out, hop on board and join in all the fun! This is a fun and interactive play with lots of audience participation, you’ll be moving and singing in your seats!

• Easter Celebrations, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Co. Down, April 16 – 18. If you’re looking for a place where the whole family can work off those chocolate Easter eggs, then the museum’s range of traditional Easter activities is just the ticket. Have a go at the Great Egg Trail in the Folk Museum and the Eggstreme Egg Hunt in the Transport Museum.  Don’t forget to bring your decorated egg to roll down Bleach Green Hill! You can even wear your Easter Bonnet to enter the Easter Bonnet Competition to win a prize!

• Early Times: Metals, Wealth and War, Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Derry~Londonderry, until April 15. Gold, jewellery, fine cloths, personal protection, battles for land, destruction of the forests and industrialisation. This exhibition by Council’s Museum Service explores the Bronze Age in the Causeway Region and displays many of the great archaeologist discoveries from the region.
• Variety Show, Castle Archdale, Co. Fermanagh, April 15. Are you ready for an Easter Extravaganza? Castle Archdale invite you and your little ones to the caravan park for a fun filled afternoon.  At noon there will be a Treasure Hunt around the site with the winner going home with a bumper basket of Easter eggs followed by a Comedy Variety Show at 3pm.  There will also be evening entertainment supplied by The Treblemakers.

• Ballymoney Spring Fair, Ballymoney Town Centre, Co. Antrim, April 15. Ballymoney Town will mark spring with an Easter Eggs-Stravaganza Spring Fair. A Fantastic fun day off live entertainment and Children’s Activities in Megaw Park, to include stunt displays, Punch and Judy Shows a free bouncy castle & assault course, face painting and much more. Ballymoney’s Castlecroft Square will see the return of the ever popular Artisan Market with a diverse mix of local produce, intricate gifts and exquisite Art and Ballymoney old vehicle club are holding a Motor Show at Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre grounds concluding with a Cavalcade through the town.

• W5 Goes Wild, W5 at Odyssey, Belfast, until April 30. W5 goes wild with a new augmented reality experience!From 1 April, the augmented reality technology will transport visitors to a range of exotic locales to meet some incredible (virtual) animals. Relax by a watering hole as elephants, rhinos and giraffes stop by for a drink. Chill out on the ice and meet polar bears, penguins and seals or stand at the oceans edge and watch as dolphins and whales swim by.

From 15^th – 18^th April, Bus Conductor ‘Charlie Smiles’ is waiting to click your ticket as you go on a ‘sing-along-a-journey’ at the Navan Centre & Fort, Armagh.

Make sure you’re full of song as ‘The Wheels on the Bus Go Round’ but like all adventures something gets in the way!  What could it be, well only one way to find out, hop on board and join in all the fun!

This is a fun and interactive play with lots of audience participation, you’ll be moving and singing in your seats!

Come and join us as we board Bertie the bus for another great Easter adventure with craft, songs, a trail and of course our ever popular living history show.

Fantastic Easter fun for all the family. Booking is essential on www.armagh.co.uk/easter

For information please contact: Navan Centre, 81 Killylea Road, Armagh.  BT60 4LD.  Tel 028 3752 9644 or www.navan.com

A large and talented cast from Abbots Cross Presbyterian Church performed ‘Naaman the Musical’ on 16 and 17 March in The Theatre at The Mill.

 

The show was such a success, councillors from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough suggested they do another performance for the very worthy cause of the East Africa Famine Crisis Relief.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor John Scott has played a pivotal role in facilitating a special charity performance on Thursday 13 April. All tickets are priced at just £10 and are available from the theatre box office T: 028 9034 0202 or online www.theatreatthemill.com  Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor John Scott commented, “I would urge people to show their support and buy a ticket for this fantastic musical, Naaman. By doing so you will enjoy a great night out at the theatre whilst helping raise funds towards the African famine crisis”.

This musical production is adapted from the bible story of Naaman. As commander of the Aramean army, Naaman has power, wealth and fame but he discovers he has an incurable disease. His only hope is to return to the land of Samaria, where he previously attacked and plundered, to ask for a miracle cure from the prophet Elisha.

This show has drama, comedy and lots of music – making it a great night of entertainment for all ages. So whether you have seen the show before and want to see it again, or you missed it first time round, please purchase your tickets and take pleasure of knowing that you have contributed to help the famine victims in Africa.

Ballymena retailers come together to show off town

SHOPPERS bound for Ballymena on Saturday 8^th April are in for a real treat as an exciting day of fabulous fashion has been planned across a number of key town centre venues.

The local retailers and managers of eateries have lots of great offers on as part of a fantastic Ballymena Means Fashion event, which will be hosted by town traders from the Ballymena Business Improvement District (BID).

The dedicated day of fashion will include numerous exciting offers in the town’s popular independent boutiques such as 31 at Greenvale Street, Marmalade and Primrose, a fashion show at Fairhill Shopping Centre, discounts and spot prizes in McKillens Shoe Shop, as well as fashionista cocktails in the Front Page Bar and an afternoon tea with a fashionable twist in the Adair Arms Hotel.

In addition, Camerons, The Tower Centre, Wallace’s, Bluebird, Peacocks, David Bellingham Menswear, Ultimate in Fashion and Outdoor Adventure will also be offering fashion tips and great offers throughout the day for the whole family.

To get you ready for the big fashion event, Chocoa is hosting a Friday evening Fashion Tea on the 7^th April 2017.  Keep an eye on the Facebook page for further details.

Ballymena BID manager Alison Moore commented; “Ballymena Means Fashion is gearing up to be a very special event.  The town has so much to offer in the way of fabulous fashion through its various range of independent retailers and high street brands, which really do cater for everyone.

“The fashion event is a great way to involve as many retailers and businesses as possible and will be a fun day out for those who want to see what’s in store in the local shops for the coming season as well as supporting your local town.  Ballymena is certainly becoming a fashion hot spot and the day promises to be filled with events and offers that should appeal to all ages.”

So whether you wish to purchase something special for a particular occasion or need a few additions to your wardrobe, or chill with a Grace Kelly cocktail in The Front Page, come along to what will be an exciting and unique event in Ballymena’s town centre.

Check out Ballymena Means on Facebook and www.ballymenameans.com for full details.

Ballymena Means Fashion Events:

Friday 7^th April 2017

Chocoa, Friday Night Fashion Tea

 

Saturday 8^th April 2017

Fairhill Shopping Centre Fashion Show 1pm – 3pm

Remus Uomo, Fairhill, Buy two shirts and receive a third free

Tommy Hilfiger, Fairhill, Discounts throughout the day

Marmalade, Dresses and Daiquiris

Adair Arms, Afternoon Tea with a Fashionable Twist, booking essential £12.50 per person 2pm – 5pm

Primrose Boutique, Exclusive discount on the day including lucky dip with up to 30% off, pink fizz too.

Tower Centre, £100 gift voucher for winner of Best Dressed Shopper social media competition

Sam’s Yard, Tower Centre, Buy any suit and receive a shirt and tie for free

Ultimate in Fashion, In house models from 1pm – 3pm, soft drinks and prosecco served, spot prizes, 10% discount all day

David Bellingham Menswear, Discounts throughout the store, including a suit event with a selection of suits starting at £99

Camerons, Free scarf on all fashion purchases over £40; free prize draw; £10 voucher when you spend more than £60 on fashions; free refreshments

Bluebird, Discount throughout the day on children’s and babies’ clothing

Wallace’s, Free shoes with every man’s suit purchased (excludes suits already discounted), Plus 10% off all Ladies fashions and footwear when you spend £60 or more

McKillens Shoe Shop, £500 worth of vouchers in spot prizes throughout the day

Front Page Bar, Fashionista Cocktails from 11.30am to close

Middletown Coffee, 10% off Bradley Mountain range for any customer

31 at Greenvale Street, a glass of Prosecco

Peacocks, spend over £35 on full price items and receive £5 off

McKillens Fashions, Free scarf on all fashion purchases over £40, free prize draw, £10 voucher when you spend more than £60 on fashions, free refreshments

Just Boutique, Free scarf on all fashion purchases over £40, £10 voucher when you spend over £60

W5’s brand-new multi-sensory activity zone for 3-11 year olds opened to the public on 1 April 2017. This amazing new space themed area forms part of W5’s exciting redevelopment and renewal programme.

The Spacebase adventure begins at the base of the giant rocket on the Launchpad. To get to the top children can make their way up through the launch gantry or take the challenge of climbing the through spider tower webbing inside the Rocket. From there they can make their way through the tunnels to Spacebase itself or zip back down to earth inside the spiral slide. Spacebase houses a wide range of equipment such as tube slides, foam hills, horizontal and vertical rolls, web step stones and much more.

Exploration is key at Spacebase. Children are encouraged to find out about the universe with state of the art wrist band technology that turns them into space explorers, encouraging them to discover fun facts about our solar system within the activity zone to complete their mission!

Adults can relax in a dedicated seating area and treat themselves to a hot beverage from our Spacebase coffee dock while watching their children play and have fun. Free WiFi is also available throughout the building.

Spacebase is open 7 days a week and is also available for group visits, school trips and birthday parties! Spacebase is a new add on experience only available to W5 visitors and costs an additional £3.50 per child.

 For further information about Spacebase, visit www.w5online.co.uk.

 

It features exhibitions, events and programming from all five accredited museums in the Causeway Coast and Glens area from April – August.

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Alderman Maura Hickey, said: “The Museums Service has put together another packed programme which takes us right through the summer season.

“There is a fantastic variety of events on offer across the Borough, with plenty of opportunity for practical involvement. One of the key strengths of our Museums Service is its geographical spread, with outlets right across the area making the programme accessible to all. I would encourage everyone to visit their local Museum, and discover more about the rich history of our area.”

Highlights over the coming months include the NW200 Faces and Places exhibition which runs from 27^th April to 28^th August in Ballymoney Museum. Enter the ‘Capture the Moment’ photographic competition to win some great prizes and come along to our NW200 ‘Make and Take’ day on Saturday 6^th May at Ballymoney Museum for some fun crafty activities suitable for all the family.

‘Irish History Starts Here’ opens in Coleraine Museum at Coleraine Town Hall on 1^st August and will run until 21^st September. Discover more about the fascinating history of Coleraine, from the earliest known settlement in Ireland at Mountsandel to the first planted town of the official County Londonderry plantation. You’ll also be able to explore some of our famous characters such as Hugh Thomson and Sam Henry.

Ballycastle Museum with its wonderful arts and crafts collection and Green Lane Museum with artefacts telling the story of the Roe Valley in the 19^th and 20^th century will re-open for the season at Easter. Garvagh Museum’s exhibition ‘Images of a Lost World’ will open in Garvagh and District Development Association Building on 19^th May. Limavady Museum at Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre will be hosting the fabulous ‘Sanskriti’ exhibition between July and September with associated art workshops.

To find out more, please pick up a brochure at one of the Museum venues or visit www.niarchive.org to download a copy.

 

Known as the home of the legendary road racing brothers Joey and Robert Dunlop, Ballymoney is pulling out all the stops to attract new visitors to the town with its first ever Spring Fair in April.

Vintage cars, family fun, mouth-watering delights, intricate crafts and traditional music! These are just some of the activities in store at the action packed one-day event on Saturday 15^th April.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has lined up a packed programme of events and activities that will take place at Ballymoney’s Castlecroft Square, Megaw Park, The Diamond area in the town centre and the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre.

From an Easter Egg Hunt Challenge, to Punch and Judy Shows, children’s craft workshops, and much free family entertainment to participate in throughout the day.

Visitors can take in the daredevil manoeuvres of the Trialstar stunt team at Megaw Park, get a chance to get up close and personal with a variety of owls, lizards, spiders and other creepy crawlies, or try their hand at have a go Archery.

There will be a vast array of music with every taste catered for and a vintage motor show that will conclude with a cavalcade and parade through the town, sponsored by Smyth’s Eurospar.

The Naturally North Coast & Glens Artisan Market will be on hand at Castlecroft Square to offer exceptional locally grown and produced food and drink and high quality hand-crafted goods created by the very best the Causeway Coast and Glens has to offer. Many of Ballymoney town centre’s retailers will be participating in a promotional event offering discounts throughout the event, supported by Ballymoney Chamber of Commerce.

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Alderman Maura Hickey, said; “Ballymoney Spring Fair coincides with the completion of a £220,000 Revitalise project, funded by the Department for Communities and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, to help transform the town centre. We hope this event, coupled with the enhanced presentation of the town and the warm welcome of the local people, will attract new visitors to the area.

“Council’s Events team have really pulled out all the stops to ensure an action-packed day, with a number of fantastic family friendly events and attractions across all our sites. There really will be something for everyone with a vast array of children’s activities, live music, craft market, artisan foods and a vintage motor show.”

“With so much on offer, we are looking forward to making Ballymoney Spring Fair an annual signature event for the town.”

Christine McKee, Events Manager at Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s said: “Ballymoney has a unique offering when it comes to shopping and eating out, with many independent and family run businesses. The Spring Fair is designed to complement this, and the event provides the perfect reason to come and explore what the town has to offer. I would encourage everyone to visit on Easter Saturday and avail of a packed day of free family fun and festivities.”

For more information on the Ballymoney Spring Fair visit: www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com/