Month: September 2019

A unique and fun night for mums, Mother Tongue, goes on tour this autumn with dates in Belfast and Omagh.

The event, created by Mothership Events, gives panellists and attendees the chance to talk about the challenges of being a mother in 2019.

From hilarious stories and serious discussions to interesting revelations, the Mother Tongue events are a chance to meet other mums and talk about issues that affect them every day and enjoy a laugh together.

The Belfast event takes place on September 19 at the Black Box, while the Omagh show on October 10 will be at the Silverbirch Hotel.

Founder of Mother Tongue, Treena Clarke explained that there are too few chances for mums to get together that these events are a must.

“How often do we, as mums plan to meet up with our girlfriends and we need to get a date in the diary months in advance. It’s so hard juggling everything and we often forget about ourselves in the midst of work, kids, family and life in general,” she said

“The Mother Tongue events were created as a space to give mums the chance to not only get together but to meet other mums and talk about everything that affects us as mums – one guest from the last event called it ‘Like Loose Women only talking mums stuff with wine’.

“We talk about stuff that matters but we also have a laugh”.

Both the Belfast and Omagh events are packed with fascinating expert speakers –  as well as a virtual goody bag of discount vouchers worth £150 and the chance to win prizes with the ‘Treat Seat’ special.

Event host is business owner, commentator and mum Tina Calder.

“When it comes to being a mum it’s easy to think you’re the only person in the world worrying about the small stuff.  It’s also easy to think you’re failing when you’re trying your absolute best,” she said.

“What I love about these Mother Tongue events is that we can all just sit back, relax and be honest with one another about the things that worry us, annoy us, scare us or just generally make us laugh.

“Becoming a mum was the single most amazing thing that’s ever happened in my life and for reasons I’ve never been able to explain it gave me a confidence, drive and ambition that I’d never had before.

“Mother Tongue is a safe place to talk about all those things that bring us joy and heartache through our powerful journey of motherhood.

“Not just that, there’s a glass of wine and a lot of laughs, it’s the perfect girls’ night out.”

Both events will see five speakers take to the stage, with supper included in the price – with the bar open when the event starts at 7pm.

Tickets for both events are available here: https://mothershipevents.com/events

Speakers in Belfast will be:

Maria Rafferty – The Healthy Hormone Coach
Michelle Bradley  – Author
Sinead Sharkey Steenson – Generation Women/Career Reboot
Mags McAlpin – Creating Retail Magic Laura Steerman – Quaint Baby Ultrasound Steph Willis Lawlor – MumsNI

Speakers in Omagh will be:

Sinead Wilcox – Sinead Wilcox Consulting
Orla McIvor – Eden Energy Practitioner
Sinead Sharkey Steenson – Generation Women/Career Reboot
Sinead Norton – Mums at Work Laura Steerman – Quaint Baby Ultrasound

Flowerfield Arts Centre is giving you the chance to see the all-time classic film ‘The Quiet Man’ for free later this month.

Two screenings will take place on Wednesday 25^th September, including a ‘dementia friendly’ option at 11am aimed at older people and community groups and a later show at 7pm which is open to all.

Directed by John Ford, who can forget the battle of the sexes between American Sean Thornton (John Wayne) as he returns to his Irish roots and homeland and the feisty Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O’Hara). A comedy romance, this film charmed international audiences with its heart-warming depiction of rural Ireland

Due to its running time (129 minutes) there will be a short interval with tea, coffee and refreshments.

This project was made possible through funding from the National Lottery awarded to the British Film Institute (BFI) and managed by Film Hub NI, Queens University, Belfast

Although admission is free, please reserve your space by calling 028 7083 1400. Group bookings welcome.

Destination CQ (Cathedral Quarter Business Improvement District) has launched its autumn and winter programme of the popular ‘Lunchtime Learning’ events to support businesses in an ever evolving landscape.

Focusing on the challenging digital footprint the free 45 minute events are designed for all businesses in the Cathedral Quarter, and are held in the Black Box.

CQ BID manager, Gareth Neill, said that these sessions have been designed to help all to enhance their online marketing profile particularly around positive engagement with new and existing customers.

“After the fantastic success of our first season of Lunchtime Learning, we are back again with a new batch,” he said. 

“Evaluation after our last series, merited further  sessions based on marketing and digital media and we are delighted to have curated a range of industry leaders from across the Cathedral Quarter to take part”

“This is part of the BID’s commitment to provide additional training and business support to businesses operating in Cathedral Quarter & Smithfield; we have an energetic and enthusiastic business community who are keen to learn, upskill, and share best practice amongst each other in the area.”

“The sessions have been sold out; with an average rating of 4.5/5 across all our speakers and content choices. It’s a great opportunity to escape the office, learn something new and network with neighbouring businesses.

Full details and how to sign up are here: https://www.cathedralquarterbelfast.com/lunchtime-learning/

The upcoming sessions include:  

11th September – An Intro to Google Ads 

18th September – SEO for Beginners

25th September – Email marketing

2nd October – Brand & Design for SMEs

9th October – LinkedIn for Business 

16th October – Websites for SMEs 

In addition to the Lunchtime Learning series there will be bespoke ticketed three-hour workshops for advanced social media learning.

A bespoke sold out 3-hour workshop taking a Deep Dive into Instagram Ads with expert Gil David was held last week, with further workshops around Google Ads & Email Marketing; these are hands on session walking you through the steps needed to create a great campaign and maximise your results.

EXTRA DATE: Waterfront Hall, Belfast: 29 November

ON SALE NOW!

REWORKED EP1 OUT NOW VIA POLYDOR RECORDS

Snow Patrol confirm their Reworked tour for Dublin’s Olympia Theatre on 26 November 2019 and Waterfront Hall, Belfast on 28 November 2019 – EXTRA BELFAST DATE NOW ADDED.

On this tour, Snow Patrol will play re-imagined versions of tracks from their catalogue, as well as new songs from their Reworked album.

The band’s forthcoming Reworked album, which includes three new songs as well as 13 re-envisioned versions of classic songs, and celebrates Snow Patrol’s 25th anniversary as a band. Snow Patrol’s Reworked is available for pre-order here on all formats via:  https://snowpatrol.com/

Snow Patrol’s Reworked EP1 is available now via Polydor Records. The EP includes “reworked” versions of “Crack The Shutters,” “Chocolate,” and “Open Your Eyes,” as well as the previously released new song, “Time Won’t Go Slowly.” Snow Patrol’s Reworked EP1 is available here.

Snow Patrol’s album Wildness, their first studio album in seven years, was released last year reaching #2 in the UK album charts and going gold in the process. The band recently performed to 35,000 fans in Bangor, Northern Ireland at their own festival Ward Park 3, which celebrated the music of Northern Ireland with all 11 artists on the bill from NI, and featured a career defining performance by the band, including a special guest appearance from Bono.

This year Snow Patrol’s hit Chasing Cars was announced by the PPL as the most played song on UK radio of the 21^st Century.

Over a twenty-five year career, Snow Patrol have carved out a unique place for themselves. Since their 1998 debut, Songs for Polarbears, the band have racked up an impressive number of critical and commercial accolades, including over 17 million global album sales, 1+ billion global track streams, 5 UK Platinum Albums, an Ivor Novello award and have been nominated for a Grammy and Mercury Music Prize.
www.snowpatrol.com
www.facebook.com/snowpatrol
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www.twitter.com/snowpatrol
www.youtube.com/snowpatrol

TICKETS FOR THE WATERFRONT HALL ON SALE NOW

Tickets for the Waterfront Hall are available:

In person at the Ulster Hall box office

By Telephone: 028 9033 4455
Book On Line: www.waterfront.co.uk / www.ulsterhall.co.uk

In person: From 100 Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide 
By Telephone (24 Hour): Northern Ireland – 0844 847 2455
Book On Line: www.ticketmaster.ie

A new Bangor dog park was officially opened near the Seacliff Road during the recent ‘Summer Fun for Cool Canines’ event that was organised by the Dogs Trust charity in conjunction with Ards and North Down Borough Council.

With the hot sunshine beating down, plenty of dogs and their owners were already making use of the enclosed park. The new facility allows dogs to roam freely without fear of escape and owners can relax on benches while keeping an eye on their four-legged friends.

All received a warm welcome from members of the Dogs Trust charity who raised awareness about the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars while providing practical tips to keep their four-legged friends cool and safe during warm days.

Even the dogs were supplied with free doggy ice cream, water and enjoyed a pool party!

Mayor of Ards and North Down, Alderman Bill Keery, said:

“The new dog park is a fantastic new facility for dog owners in Bangor. It’s perfectly located near the coastal path and will give owners the chance to let their dogs run freely in a safe environment.”

“Officially opening the park alongside the Dogs Trust charity event provided a great opportunity to raise dog owners’ awareness about the dangers that their pets face on hot days.”

Just a few minutes in a hot car can prove fatal for dogs and yet every year animal welfare charities and the police receive thousands of reports of animals being left alone in cars on warm days. The summer is now coming to a close but dog owners should always be wary of leaving their dogs in hot environments.

Laura McAnea, Campaigns Manager at Dogs Trust, said:

“Many people still believe that it’s OK to leave a dog in a car on a warm day if the windows are left open or if they’re parked in the shade, but the truth is, it’s not.”

“A car can become as hot as an oven very quickly, even when it doesn’t feel that warm and a dog can die in a hot car in 20 minutes. When it’s 22 degrees outside, in a car it can reach an unbearable 47 degrees within the hour.

Dogs Trust and the Council advise that if you see a dog in distress in a hot car, call your local Animal Welfare Officer who will liaise with the PSNI to organise the rescue of the dog. This will help ensure the dogs can be removed from the car as quickly as possible, in a safe and legal manner.

To find out more about caring for dogs in hot weather, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.

TREAT yourself to a luxurious Autumn break at the Culloden Estate & Spa and take advantage of the Rest & Revive package from only £100pps*.

Enjoy luxurious overnight accommodation, complimentary room upgrade, a selection of tasty local treats, full Irish breakfast and use of the spa facilities.

This magnificent hotel, recently named one of the top 10 snazziest hotels in Ireland by leading independent Irish travel and culture website, Ireland Before You Die, is just six miles from Belfast and the perfect location for guests to completely unwind and relax with roaring log fires and views over Belfast Lough and across County Antrim.

The Culloden Estate has 98 stunning bedrooms and suites, luxurious spa and a range of dining options including Vespers Restaurant serving modern cuisine using only the finest and freshest local ingredients; The Lough Bar offering light snacks and the hotel’s famous decadent Afternoon Tea and the Cultra Inn, a cosy bar and bistro which nestles within the Estate and is perfect for a tasty lunch, evening meal or pint by the fireside. 

For further information or to book go to www.hastingshotels.com or call 028 9047 1066.

*Terms and conditions apply. Subject to availability.

For those unfamiliar with graphic design the thought of writing a brief for the talented wizards can seem a little daunting. But it should not be. Like drafting any other part of your marketing and communications plan it is about explanation.

And, that explanation should be broken down into similar steps to your marketing.

The first thing to include is your company profile. A short synopsis of what you do, including history and your clients or customers. This will help the graphic design team focus on the industry you operate in.

Perhaps the most important area in the brief will be the aims: what you and your company want to achieve with the design. Is it a complete re-brand, is it a new brand or is it for a campaign?

This will explain what you expect in terms of scope of the project and helps once consulting with the design team later on in the process.

Equally as importance is your company’s target audience. Young and funky, edgy people, a business-to-business campaign, or an older audience all will influence the design. This is time to consider carefully that audience. A short audit of your type of client may help clarify this.

The media format is something that you should also consider. A full suite of material could include stationery, leaflets, stands, website and other key elements. It could also be as simple as a leaflet and well-designed advertisement.

As you consider the breadth of what you want, do not forget social media. Whatever you want designed must have elements that work across multiple social platforms appropriate to your target audience.

At this stage it is important to include others in your team. They can provide valuable input, and help you revise the brief.

Of course, this is the hard part – money. You need to be clear about how much you have to spend on the design and the products it is to be used on. Be clear on this and be certain about the timescale that the project has to be delivered. Above all, remember that the cheapest option may not provide the quality you expect.

The life of the design brief does not end once you have appointed a designer. Before they start work meet with them and agree all of the above elements. An experienced graphic designer will be able to tweak the brief and help you work through what is exactly to be delivered. Chiho Tang, Owner of Oranga Creative said: “It’s great to meet with a client for coffee, to understand what they want, cause often the client can’t articulate what they actually want in just their brief alone and having a chat with them can fully allow us to understand their needs and be able to meet them with our designs.”

Also agree with the design team progress reporting, presenting of drafts and keep in contact – without pestering them. Let them get on with producing a design right for you.

To find out more about Oranga Creative’s Graphic Design services visit: https://www.facebook.com/orangahq/

After owner Emma Bricknell sent social media into a spin with her provocative ideas for advertising, Made In Belfast launched their weekend brunch menu recently.

The risqué and controversial concept ad campaign involved imagery of both men and women “licking” a sausage.

And when Emma uploaded it to social media sites like Facebook, the commentators went wild.

“When I floated the idea of a sausage about to be eaten in a provocative manner it was a bit of fun designed to promote the idea of weekend dining outside the normal lunch and dinner menus,” she said.

“And, after the success of the launch we have people wanting to know more about it and be there come Saturday and Sunday.”

Offering a range of dishes on Saturday and Sunday, the brunch menu at the Talbot Street venue was launched last weekend and already interest is burgeoning.

Attendees at the launch also got a further taste of Emma’s cheeky side with napkins emblazoned with Made In Belfast’s iconic lips and the slogan “bite me”.

Emma believes taking risks in business is essential and sometimes it’s important to stand out from the crowd.

She added: “It’s up to everyone in business to keep on innovating and using the immense creative talent here in Northern Ireland to develop. I firmly believe that being continuously able to change and shape the business is key to the ongoing success of Made In Belfast. That, and the amazing team we have. We’re very lucky.

Featuring outdoor bred meat in sausages and bacon, fresh produce, the brunch menu retains Made In Belfast’s ethos of supporting local sustainable farmers. Vegetarian and vegan options are also included.

Meanwhile Made In Belfast looks forward to expanding to four restaurants with the forthcoming Lisburn Road development.

“While we are planning our fourth city restaurant we never rest on our laurels. The brunch menu is something we’ve been developing for some time” said Emma.

“Next up I think will be a refurb at our city hall restaurant, it’s important to keep things fresh.”

The brunch menu is on offer Saturdays from 10:30 am to 12:30pm, and on Sundays from 10am to 12:30 pm at Made In Belfast in Talbot Street, Cathedral Quarter, Belfast.

The full brunch menu can be found at madeinbelfastni.com