Down
The Ards International Guitar Festival is back with a bang from 11th to 15th April with a fresh new programme of guitar inspired gigs, free fringe events, guitar clinics with industry professionals and an exhibition featuring many of your guitar heroes by Steve McDowell. Expect a jam-packed line-up of blues, folk, rock, bluegrass and classical for guitar aficionados across the borough. Highlights of this year’s festival include Hungarian born/LA based guitarist Daniel Marx, Classical virtuoso Craig Ogden and a Saturday line-up featuring John Tracey, Clive Carroll and the fantastic Martin Simpson. The Ivy bar welcomes plenty of action with late gigs featuring BOWANA and the Woodburning Savages.
Armagh
Come along to taste and buy a range of locally sourced produce this Saturday 14th April at the Argory. The once bustling Courtyard at The Argory will come alive with cookery demonstrations, shopping and music from 11.00 am to 4.00pm.
Fermanagh
The Lough Erne Canoe Rally this weekend, 14th and 15th April, is a not for profit, competitive canoeing/kayaking event open to all abilities and age groups. A fantastic weekend of craic and competition on Upper Lough Erne! No experience is necessary and all entries are welcomed! The idea of the event is that all individuals must choose a boat and compete in the same boat across all disciplines; gathering points in each discipline. Entry fee includes access to all events, BBQ dinner on Saturday evening, entry to fancy dress disco, bar and prizes. Accommodation can be organised through SHARE starting from £10 per person.
Tyrone
Textile Arts Workshop, An Creagan, Saturday 14th April. Textile Artist Andrea Hayes will show participants a variety of contemporary textile techniques that she uses to create her on artwork. Individuals can create a similar variation to one of Andrea’s pieces or if they have a scene/image they would like to recreate they can bring do this also. This will include using specialist paints to paint backgrounds, access to a wide variety of fabrics for applique and fusing fabrics together and using fine metal such as copper and how to incorporate this into their very own artwork. 14th April, 10am – 4pm Cost: £35 – includes lunch.
Derry/Londonderry
On Saturday 14th April the Parish of St. Lurach’s Maghera & Killelagh are delighted to be hosting Linen in the Bible Exhibition in the beautiful and tranquil setting of their Georgian Rectory. The Exhibition has been very graciously co-ordinated by Mr Bruce Clark who is a member of the Clark Family who established William Clark & Sons Linen Factory over 300 years ago in Upperlands. The Exhibition illustrates the use and symbolism of linen in the Bible as well as a display of images and objects that recall linen-making in modern Ireland. Visit the Exhibition, partake of afternoon tea and take a guided tour of the Rectory with historian Dan Calley.
Antrim
The new one-day Ballymoney Spring Festival on Saturday 14th April, has 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. Ballymoney Old Vehicle Clubs, Vintage and Classic Car Show will bring their annual show to the Joey Dunlop Centre. The event will then conclude with a cavalcade through the streets of Ballymoney. 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.
Belfast
Abigail’s Party, 14th April to 5th May at The Mac, is one of the most iconic stage plays of the 20th century, thanks partly to its legendary 1977 ‘Play for Today’ production on BBC1. From a time when the height of urban sophistication was cheese and pineapple on a stick, served nonchalantly on a Lazy Susan comes a tragi-comedy about social climbing, prejudice and fear of not doing ‘the done thing’.
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Jacqueline McGonigle