The Market Place Theatre in Armagh is thrilled to be hosting ‘Shackleton’s Carpenter’, the story of Harry McNish, carpenter on board the doomed ship ‘Endurance’ on her Antarctica expedition.
‘Endurance’ sank amidst the ice floes, leaving Shackelton and his crew of 27 stranded. McNish, brilliant carpenter and shipwright, played an absolutely vital role in ensuring all 28 were saved, but in so doing, had to defy The Boss, and paid the price.
For all his bravery
and ingenuity, McNish was one of the very few who were never awarded the Polar
Medal. His health impaired by the experience, he emigrated to New Zealand where
his condition worsened, and he could no longer work.
Now, alone and
destitute, one still night on the dockside, he challenges The Boss one last
time. In his fevered mind he relives the Endurance expedition, pitting himself
against Shackleton and plagued by the ghosts of his past. How did he antagonise
the hero of Antarctica? How does he come to terms with it? On stage on
Friday 25th October.
Then on Saturday 26
October, be sure not to miss The Slocan Ramblers, the bluegrass band of the
moment, direct from Canada. Rooted in tradition yet fearlessly creative, The
Slocan’s have garnered a reputation for unforgettable live shows.
Their impeccable
musicianship, inventive approach, and old-time sensibilities make for a show
that hits every target. With an uncanny ability to convert anyone within
earshot into a lifelong fan, The Slocan’s have been winning over audiences
worldwide. They are a band at the very top of their game.
As
part of the ‘Taste the Island’ initiative for 12 weeks
DiscoverNorthernIreland.com will have the top three food experiences and events
in their weekly 10 things to do listing. DiscoverNorthernIreland.com has
stacks of fun things to do across NI, from family days out to gigs and cultural
events. Here are ten exciting things taking place this week including three
food experiences and events (14-20 October)
1. Dine
and Stay, Kilkeel, 19 October. A pop up restaurant in The Barn at The Green
Holiday Cottages will be the setting for a delightful evening meal. With a
focus on local produce and producers the menu will be based on the fishing and
farming heritage of the Kilkeel area.
2. Goatober
Supper Club, Ballycastle, 12 October. The forward-thinking
Broughgammon Farm is run by The Cole family, who aim to maintain high standards
in the industry by paying particular attention to animal welfare, the
environment and global food security. The theme for their supper club evening
this month will be goat.
3. Long
Meadow Farm/Cider Tour, Craigavon, 19 October. Immerse yourself in this
unique experience whilst being guided through our 30 acre orchard with various
plantations and see how the famous PGI Status Bramley Apple is grown,
harvested, processed and pressed to be transformed into brands of award winning
artisan ciders, apple juice and apple cider vinegar.
4. Wild
About Food: Brilliant Berries, Larne, 19 October. Autumn is the perfect
time to forage for wild berries and learn how to make your own delicious jam
and chutney. Walk led by Forage Ireland expert Dermot Hughes.
5. A
Night of Belfast Music, Belfast, 19 October. With proceeds going to Extern
charity, this show at the Empire features the talents of Leah McFall, David C.
Clements, LARKS, Emma Wallace and Rebecca Fitch. Enjoy some of the
hottest up and coming talent that the city has to offer while supporting a good
cause.
6. Aly
Harte Art & Food Workshop , Whitehead, 15 October. Aly Harte is a
talented local artist, who at this event will give you some fantastic painting
pointers in a perfect coastal setting, while Lighthouse Bistro serves delicious
freshly made canapés at the table using locally sourced produce.
7. The
Lurgan Lectures: ‘Place-names in Lurgan: From Plantation to Present,
Lurgan, 14 October. In this lecture at Brownlow House, Dr Frances Kane
and Prof Michael O’Mannion of the Northern Ireland Place Names Project will
provide an insight into the origins, meanings and transformation of the
townland names of Lurgan and the surrounding area.
8. Belfast
International Arts Festival, Belfast, 15 October – 3 November. This
festival brings an eclectic fusion of cutting-edge performances to Belfast with
world-class theatre, dance, visual art, music, film, literature and talks. With
over 200 events to choose from, the 57th edition promises to stretch minds,
challenge perceptions, and to surprise and delight audiences.
9. Athenry:
Dance of the Celts, Belfast, 16 October. Ta Da Irish Dance Company presents
the tale of the famous song ‘The Fields of Athenry’ as you’ve never seen it
before at the Cabaret Supperclub.
10. Ghosts
and Gourds Spooktacular, Ballynahinch, 19-20 October. Halloween is
approaching and at Rowallane Garden there is a strange feeling in the air. See
the garden come to life with mystical and magical myths inspired by local
folklore. Bring the whole family along for some good old-fashioned, eerie fun.
Northern Ireland boasts an irresistible collection of
places to stay including beautiful B&Bs, luxurious spa hotels and great
value self-catering properties. Discover NI has selected the best offers of the
week to help you plan a short break.
· 1
x Night B&B, La Mon Hotel & Country Club, Co. Down from £85 per room
per night
The four-star La Mon Hotel and
Country Club is a superb venue, located just 15 minutes from Belfast and George
Best City Airport yet in the heart of County Down. Whether you want to relax
and unwind in the spa or get out and explore the area, the hotel provides the
perfect base for both. Offer includes overnight accommodation with breakfast
the following morning. To book call 028 9044 8631. Offer available until 15
November 2019.
· 1
x Night B&B, Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel & Lodges, Co. Fermanagh from
£140 per room per night
The award winning four-star
Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel boasts an idyllic setting on the shores of scenic
Lough Erne, bordered by private grounds and gardens, but just one kilometre
from the historic town of Enniskillen. Offer includes overnight accommodation
with breakfast the following morning. To book call 028 6632 3481. Offer
available until 15 November 2019.
· 1
x Night B&B,Causeway Hotel, Co. Antrim from £99 per room per night
The three-star Causeway Hotel is
conveniently located close to Northern Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage
Site, the Giant’s Causeway, providing the perfect base to explore the Causeway
Coast. Offer includes overnight accommodation with breakfast the following
morning. To book call 028 2073 1210. Offer available until 15 November
2019.
Co Down author, model and blogger Patience Bradley and Co Antrim author and entrepreneur Dr Ava Eagle Brown alongside Julie Reid, Libraries NI Service Development Manager with chartered marketer Christine Watson of Training Matchmaker ahead of the blogging inspiration event Derry Central Library on Thursday October 17th (6.30pm) as part of the Libraries NI and Training Matchmaker #GetBloggingNI series.
Get inspired to blog in Derry Central Library
Derry Central Library will host a free Blogging Inspiration session on Thursday 17 October from 6:30pm with well-known authors and bloggers Patience Bradley and Dr Ava Eagle Brown sharing their journey into blogging, their life experiences and years of expertise.
The Libraries NI event is designed to encourage potential bloggers to get started and will provide hints, tips and tricks towards success as well as giving participants an inside glimpse of the enjoyment of being a blogger. The session will be facilitated by chartered marketer Christine Watson of Training Matchmaker and will be hosted by journalist and content creator, Tina Calder of the Content Club and Excalibur Press.
Back row: Tina Calder (Journalist and content creator, Content Club and Excalibur Press), Julie Reid (Libraries NI Service Development Manager), chartered marketer Christine Watson (Training Matchmaker). Front row: Co Down author, model and blogger Patience Bradley and Co Antrim author and entrepreneur Dr Ava Eagle Brown. All pictured ahead of the blogging inspiration event Derry Central Library on Thursday October 17th (6.30pm) as part of the Libraries NI and Training Matchmaker #GetBloggingNI series.
Patience Bradley, model, author and blogger explained her path into blogging had its beginnings when she was making journals.
“Finding blogging in my later years has given me an incredible lease of life. I am now able to blog about my life, my passions and my interests as well as then using that content to fuel my career as an author.
“Currently my blogs are health, fashion and wellness related and I’m looking forward to launching my doggy blogs later this year.
“I’m delighted to be on board with Libraries NI because I want to prove that no matter what age you are, you’re never too old to blog. And if I can do it having struggled with lifelong dyslexia then anyone can.”
“Libraries NI is pleased to offer this free Blogging Inspiration event to introduce people to the art of blogging,” said Julie Reid, Libraries NI Service Development Manager. “Storytelling is forever evolving and blogging, vlogging and podcasting is quickly becoming the new platform for telling stories through text, images and video. Whether you’re blogging for business, documenting your family history or keeping a record of travelling expeditions, you’re using the power of words to tell a story.
“We’re delighted to once again team up with Christine Watson to present this event at Derry Central Library on Thursday 17 October and look forward to welcoming speakers Patience Bradley and Dr Ava Eagle Brown as well as host Tina Calder to the Library.”
Co Antrim author and entrepreneur Dr Ava Eagle Brown and Co Down author, model and blogger Patience Bradley will be speaking at Derry Central Library on Thursday October 17th (6.30pm) as part of the Libraries NI and Training Matchmaker #GetBloggingNI series.
Explaining her path to become a blogger, author, entrepreneur and blogger Dr Ava Eagle Brown said: “I am delighted to be involved in such a great initiative as the blogging inspiration session in Derry Central Library.
“I started blogging as a way to deal with struggles in my life – it was a way to heal.
“Blogging helped me write my books The Mango Girl and The Musings & Thoughts of Ava Eagle Brown.”
Julie Reid, Libraries NI Service Development Manager with chartered marketer Christine Watson of Training Matchmaker ahead of the blogging inspiration event Derry Central Library on Thursday October 17th (6.30pm) as part of the Libraries NI and Training Matchmaker #GetBloggingNI series.
Christine Watson said blogging is no longer the preserve of the few.
“In recent years there has been a surge in interest in blogging, vlogging and podcasting across Northern Ireland.
“It’s a fantastic way to connect with like-minded people, immerse yourself in your passions, keep your mind healthy and active and an excellent excuse to get out and about and use your local library.
“Both Patience Bradley and Dr Ava Eagle Brown aren’t just bloggers, they are women who have taken their passions and turned them into a way to keep connected with their peers and communities.
“Our speakers challenge the stereotype of what a blogger is and show the real mental, physical and emotional benefits of expressing ourselves online in a responsible, measured and healthy way.
“Attendees at the Blogging Inspiration event in Derry Central Library will be sure to leave with the motivation, encouragement and practical knowhow they need to begin or amplify their blogging journey.”
The event in Derry Central Library is part of the ongoing Libraries NI series of #GetBlogging series which will run into 2020 across Northern Ireland.
Officially presented by Training Matchmaker in collaboration with Libraries NI, previous events in the #GetBlogging series included Blogging Inspiration sessions, a six-week get Blogging Course and five Blogging for Wellness roadshows.
This event is free and booking is essential. Book your place at Derry Central Library on 17 October at: trainingmatchmaker.eventbrite.com
I have to say for Autumn and coming in to Winter one of my staple pieces is a good Statement coat, this one I’m wearing here I recently picked up in Savida at Dunnes and I think the colours are perfect for Autumn. The rich brown is great to make any all black outfit, an Autumnal dream.
Vinyl
Vinyl Coats are very on trend this year and you don’t just have to stick to black, you can find vinyl trench coats in green and brown tones too, which are perfect for this season. Green itself is a very on trend colour this year and will definitely compliment most outfits.
Faux Fur
Chunky faux fur coats are definitely going to be a big trend this year, neutral tones like cream and beige are very popular for these coats and they can look great with an all neutral toned outfit, with tones of whites and light brown. Coming in to Winter these types of coats are also great for keeping you warm and cosy.
Padded/Puffa
Padded and Puffa coats haven’t gone anywhere and are still bang on trend for this season. Consider a longer and oversized style of puffa coat, for an instant fashion week chic look. These coats are perfect for daytime as they are also waterproof and will go with pretty much any outfit. They are the type of coat you can throw on over any outfit before you leave the house and still look put together.
Longline
This season, the bigger the coat the better. Floor length coats are very in and can instantly take a simply jeans and top to a dressy and stylish outfit. These types of coats are everywhere and camel and beige colours are especially on trend. Wrap up with a scarf to break up the top of the outfit and you have the perfect Autumn/Winter outfit.
Checked Pattern
Like the one I’m wearing in this picture I think checked coats are a great option to go for, they instantly give an expensive feel to any look. If you aren’t comfortable wearing colour you could even go for a black and white dogtooth style check which would be easy to pair with any outfit.
The Belfast International Arts Festival gets underway this week and runs from 15 Oct – 3 Nov in various locations across Belfast. This week’s top picks are:
Inspired visually by the likes of Shane Meadows’ This is
England, this reimagined classic directed by Oonagh Murphy is not to be
missed! Met with controversy when it was first staged at the Abbey
Theatre in 1907, John Millington Synge’s brutally hilarious masterpiece, The
Playboy of the Western World, is about life on the margins and the lengths we
go to, to create a reality more exciting than the place we find ourselves.
Combining choreography, microscopic science, digital sound
and laser projections, experimental Japanese choreographer Hiroaki Umeda draws
inspiration from elements invisible to the naked eye. The dancer’s own body and
movement becomes part of the throbbing, ebbing cellular projections all around
him. A precision-sharp, captivating, super-intelligent and totally
immersive experience.
Pioneering Japanese sound artist ASUNA presents 100
Keyboards (literally!) featuring 100 battery operated keyboards, which
create an intriguing and fascinating ambient wash of overlapping notes and
sonic textures that envelop the audience from every direction. A truly
unique performance!
Hip-hop, cumbia, dancehall and reggae collide in this
powerful performance. Hailing from Cuba where her father, Jesus ‘Aguaje’
Ramos, is the artistic director of the Buena Vista Social Club, La Dame Blanche
delivers an irresistible Afro-Cuban mix, which compels the body to dance!
Selling fast.
Drag ball culture, for years an LGBTQ+ subculture, has come
into the mainstream eye through TV shows and drag clubs. Govinden illuminates
themes of race, gender, and sexual orientation within society through the lens
of the vogue ball community. The Belfast International Arts Festival gets
underway this week and runs from 15 Oct – 3 Nov in various locations across
Belfast.
Breath-taking aerial acrobatics on an impressive steel
spiral sculpture. The all-female cast combine raw strength, tenacity and
vulnerability, accompanied by a live musician and special sound machines to
create a suspense-filled dreamlike journey into human fragility and power.
Part of FranceDance UK 2019 and generously supported by the
Institut Francais du Royaume-Uni.
Newtownards weekly market returns on Saturday from 8.00am to 4.00pm to Conway Square. This market caters for all your needs with a diverse range of stalls including local fruit and vegetables, seafood and meat, tools, clothing and accessories, toys, flowers and plants, to name just a few. Something for all the family!
Armagh
The Björn Identity, Ireland’s greatest tribute to the world’s most famous super group – ABBA, make a welcome return to the Market Place Theatre Armagh this Friday evening. Re-live or newly discover the magic of the ‘Swedish Super Group ABBA’ and their musical legacy that lives… ‘On and On and On’.
Fermanagh
To the Moon and Beyond
is a free and spectacular light show that is quite simply ‘out of this
world’. Definitely one for all the
family at Broadmeadow. There are 4 separate shows this Friday evening, each
lasting approximately 20 minutes. From 7.00pm
with the last show taking place at 8.30pm.
Tyrone
To celebrate Positive Ageing Month, The Alley Theatre in
Strabane is showing the classic movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid this Friday
afternoon. Movie begins at 1.30pm and admission is £5 which includes tea &
shortbread after the film.
Derry/Londonderry
This Saturday The Inishowen Gospel Choir brings their varied
repertoire to the intimate setting of The Playhouse, joined by three of the finest
soul, gospel, jazz and blues singers in Ireland – Mirenda Rosenberg, Amanda St
John and Jaime Nanci. Tickets £12.
Antrim
Step back in time to delve into the designs, fashions and way of
life in the 1940s and 50s, while enjoying a vintage crafternoon tea at the
Island Arts Centre Lisburn this Saturday. With displays, demonstrations and
hands-on opportunities you will see, touch and hear stories about fascinating
memorabilia from the vast Living Vintage collection.
Belfast
The
Jail of Horror at Crumlin Road Gaol, described as one of Belfast’s most
fearsome scare attractions, is back and it’s bigger and better for Halloween
2019. Visitors, if they dare, will enter the off-limits dungeon of D Wing and
face all their fears on an intense scare after scare journey which only has one
way out!! Runs 11th to 31st October!
For
further details on these events and to add your events free go to whatsonni.com.
Follow us on twitter @whatsonNI and on facebook at fb.com/www.whatsonni for
news, competitions and what’s on near you.
Northern Ireland boasts an irresistible collection of places to stay including beautiful B&Bs, luxurious spa hotels and great value self-catering properties. Discover NI has selected the best offers of the week to help you plan a short break.
· Spooky
Stayover,Stormont Hotel, Belfast £65 per person sharing
There are no tricks, just
treats for everyone during your stay at the four-star Stormont Hotel on the
edge of Belfast City with its Spooky Stayover offer. This contemporary hotel
sits adjacent to Stormont Castle and Parliament Buildings, providing a unique
location perfect for beautiful walks. Offer includes Halloween themed afternoon
tea for two and luxury overnight accommodation with a full Irish breakfast the
following morning. To book call 028 9065 1066. Offer available from 26 October
until 31st October 2019.
· 1
x Night B&B,The City Hotel Derry, Derry~Londonderry from £109 per
room per night
The four-star City Hotel is
renowned for providing outstanding service, excellent food and facilities at
competitive prices. The hotel is located steps away from the historic
City Walls and is the ideal base to explore Portrush, the Giant’s Causeway and
Derry~Londonderry itself. Offer includes overnight accommodation with breakfast
the following morning. To book call 028 7136 5800. Offer available until 15
November 2019.
· 1
x Night B&B, Mellon Country Inn Hotel, Co. Tyrone from £88 per room per
night
The three-star Mellon Country
Hotel is nestled in the foothills of the Sperrin Mountains, overlooking the
River Strule, the region’s most popular spot for leisure activities like
walking, cycling, fishing and golf. An ideal location to discover the natural
beauty of Tyrone with the Ulster American Folk Park and beautiful Gortin Glen only
minutes away. Offer includes overnight accommodation with breakfast the
following morning. To book call 028 8166 1224. Offer available until 15
November 2019.
As
part of the ‘Taste the Island’ initiative for 12 weeks
DiscoverNorthernIreland.com will have the top three food experiences and events
in their weekly 10 things to do listing. DiscoverNorthernIreland.com has
stacks of fun things to do across NI, from family days out to gigs and cultural
events. Here are ten exciting things taking place this week including three
food experiences and events (7-13 October)
1. Slow
Food Festival, Derry~Londonderry, 9-13 October. Slow Food is a
global, grassroots organisation that promotes true enjoyment of good food with
the commitment to community and the environment – this two-day celebration
showcases the best of local, clean, fair food with talks and demos, tours
and tastings, street food, family fun and much more at Guildhall Square.
2. Taste
Causeway 2019, Coleraine, 4-27 October. The Taste Causeway event will
showcase the vibrant restaurant scene as well as offering a full
programme of food and drink experiences, including themed nights, taster menus,
cookery classes, food tours, Econmusee tours, and opportunities to ‘meet the
maker’.
3. Mourne
Mountains Food Trail, Annalong, 12 October. Let NI Food Tours take you off
the beaten track into County Down, meet the local producers and farmers, hear
their stories and taste their award winning food and drink.
4. Portrush
Motorcycle Beach Races, Portrush, 12-13 October. The East Strand will be
the spectacular venue for the annual motorcycle beach races, organised by the
Foyle District Motor Cycle Club, in conjunction with Causeway Coast and Glens
Council.
5. One
Pot Feeds All: Talk and Book Signing with Darina Allen, Bellaghy, 7
October. Seamus Heaney HomePlace is delighted to welcome world-renowned cookery
school owner and bestselling author Darina Allen for an intimate talk, cookery
demonstration and book signing.
6. Oktoberfest,
Belfast, 4-19 October. Held in Custom House Square, the festival will have a
full range of beers to suit your palate, including Paulaner Oktoberfest Lager
which is only brewed for the Munich Beer Festival. All the food and beer will
be served by friendly staff in traditional Bavarian costumes.
7. Walled
City Brewery Beer Masterclass, Derry~Londonderry, 12 October. A 1½ hour interactive experience where you
can relax and let the Walled City Brewery’s talented brewers tell you the
extraordinary 9,000 year old story of brewing whilst tasting their ten house
beers matched with artisanal local snacks.
8. ‘Learn to’ Workshops, Lisburn, 12 October. As part of Lisburn
& Castlereagh City Council’s Food & Drink events calendar, Larchfield
Estate is hosting a series of ‘Learn To’ workshops. From bee keeping to
fermentation and bread and jam making there’s a range of interesting workshops
on offer.
9. Fright
Night, Magherafelt, 12-31 October. This year’s Fright Night at Jungle NI
will see the return of the horrid and harrowing “Woodland Trail”. Freaky sets
frame a haunting story to send shivers up your spine, coupled with special
effects, atmospheric lighting throughout and a creepy cast of nefarious
creatures.
10. 2
Hour Paranormal Investigation, Belfast, 11-31 October. The chilling
expert led two hour paranormal Investigation gives visitors the opportunity to
interact with the spirits as they get hands on with authentic experiments using
paranormal investigating equipment. The serious paranormal investigation will
visit various hotspots of the Crumlin Road Gaol, where paranormal activity has
been reported and sighted.For more information
on these events or to plan a short break in Northern Ireland, visit www.DiscoverNorthernIreland.com.
For additional Taste the Island events, please visit www.discovernorthernireland.com/tastetheisland
On Saturday 5th October the Giant’s Causeway will host its second free open day this year which coincides with the Randox Northern Ireland Potato Festival on the grounds of the Causeway Hotel.
The Open Day,
which takes place from 9am to 6pm is an opportunity for the local community and
visitors to see for themselves the increasingly important and valuable work the
National Trust do at the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Following a
busy summer and a season of conservation projects promoting wildlife at the
Causeway Coast, the National Trust want to celebrate the commitment and passion
of the staff, rangers and volunteers by hosting a fun-filled weekend for all.
To kick off
the celebrations there will also be a Community Open Evening on Friday 4th
October at the Causeway Hotel. Visitors can start the weekend in style with
complimentary nibbles, drinks and entertainment from 7 to 9pm.
Ciara
McClements, Visitor Experience Manager at the Giant’s Causeway commented, “The
Open Day will have something for everyone. Visitors and the local community are
welcome to enjoy the full Visitor Experience free of charge, take a guided tour
with one of the award-winning tour guides or pick up an audio guide and explore
at your own pace learning about the geology, myths and legends of the Giant’s
Causeway.
“The weekend
also allows us to showcase our unique visitor offering and provide visitors
from near and far the chance to experience all that the Giant’s Causeway has to
offer. Over the past eight years we have welcomed over 30,000 people to our
Open Days and we hope that this year will see even more visitors enjoying the
outstanding beauty and stunning scenery that the stones has to offer.
“People of
all ages can take part in arts and crafts sessions, face painting and
celebrations galore creating memories at our special place. We are also
delighted to host the Randox Northern Ireland Potato Festival once again on the
grounds of the Causeway Hotel celebrating all aspects of the local potato
industry!”
Final
admission to the Community Open day is 5pm, with the Visitor Centre closing at
6pm. There will also be a free Park & Ride from Bushmills to the Giant’s
Causeway. For more information visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/giants-causeway
