Month: July 2020

Having been closed for more than four months during lockdown, it’s time for the Strand Arts Centre to go Back to the Future.

The East Belfast venue re-opens to the public today. Last night there was a special screening for the local community of the 1985 classic about a time-travelling DeLorean.

Back to the Future is just one of a number of classic and recent releases that the Strand will screen in the coming weeks. Other family favourites include Trolls World Tour, The Greatest Showman and The Empire Strikes Back. The first big new release will be Disney’s Mulan, scheduled for 19th August.

Strand Arts Centre CEO Mimi Turtle said she was thrilled at the prospect of welcoming people through the doors once again.

“Since March we have continued to engage with our audiences by providing weekly arts and crafts workshops, music and comedy online. But nothing beats having customers coming into the building so that will be very exciting.

“We’ve had a deep clean, steam clean, some improvements to our sound and projection quality, and now it’s last minute touches to the paintwork. We’re nearly ready and hope our audiences are too.

“And we wanted to do something just before we open to bring the local community together. It’s been a very tough few months for our local traders and artists. I hope this special screening will help to rally everyone and get East Belfast back on its feet again.” 

As with other venues, Strand Arts Centre has introduced plenty of measures to provide a safe and fun cinema experience. As well as a ticketing system that blocks off other seats around you, staff will be wearing movie-themed face coverings made especially for the Strand by local volunteer Emma McCrory.

“I live and work close to the Strand,” said Emma, “but I love sewing, knitting and crocheting in my spare time. I had already been working with Masks 4 All Ireland on providing masks for hospitals and care homes, but I wanted to do something for my local cinema and arts centre. I got involved with the UK-wide Big Community Sew, led in Northern Ireland by Angeline Murphy who was a contestant on the Great British Sewing Bee, and I created over 50 masks for the Strand, featuring characters and designs from Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel and older classics. 

“I think we can safely say that we have some of the best face coverings out there,” said Mimi from the Strand. “We are so grateful to Emma for the many days that she spent to make them. What a lovely gesture. I was initially concerned as to what our staff might think of the idea of wearing face coverings, but they could not be happier at the prospect of greeting our customers sporting masks inspired by the movies!” 

For more information on the Strand’s re-opening line-up, visit www.strandartscentre.com. 

Arguments for and against wearing school uniforms have raged since time immemorial. From ‘reducing peer pressure’ and ‘improving focus’ to ‘stifling individuality’ and ‘unaffordable cost for parents’, there’s no doubt that there are both pros and cons for uniforms. 

For parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), however, the list of ‘cons’ is never-ending. That’s because, in addition to the usual gripes that children may have with wearing school uniforms, children with ASD have their own specialised, individual issues with it. 

Meta Auden, founder of Spectra Sensory Clothing explained: “If you’re a parent of a child with ASD, you’ll be only too aware of how many problems your child can experience with regard to clothing, let alone the additional problems posed by having to wear a school uniform. 

“Your child may, for example, have a sensitivity to certain materials and labels. School uniforms may throw up a raft of extra problems, such as washing labels, itchy materials and seams. We recently heard of one child, who repeatedly developed a patch on her neck, which seemed to arise from wearing her school polo shirt. She has now become so sensitive to even the sight of the polo shirt that she is refusing to go to school

“Perhaps you have a child, who only wants to wear jogging pants and T-shirts? How do you persuade them to wear a shirt and more ‘formal’ trousers?

“Or maybe your child isn’t toilet trained when they first start school? Then you’re faced with the dilemma of how to fit nappies under traditional school trousers: trousers which, as you know, he won’t tolerate in the slightest anyway.”

According to Meta, the same goes for if you have a daughter, who refuses to wear the regulation skirt. How do you circumvent this issue?

The answer to many of the problems created by school uniforms can lie in a sensory clothing range, which also offers school uniform items: items which look like traditional uniforms, but have the added advantage of providing the most comfort and least sensory irritation to your child. 

These items contain special features, which may be the answer to your prayers:

• If your child is affected by certain types of material, for example, a sensory school clothing range can enable your child to wear soft clothing items, such as a T-shirt, under their school clothes as a ‘barrier’ to calm any potential irritation caused by the school items
• Autism-friendly socks, meanwhile, are completely seamless, therefore removing the need for your child to itch and scratch at seams throughout the school day
• Necklines on tops and shirts may also be worn inside or out, enabling your child to wear the top whichever way feels most comfortable to them and removing any potential embarrassment about having their T-shirt on ‘the wrong way round’.
• Shirt collars may have ‘soft collars’ for maximum comfort and may come with imitation buttons, meaning that your child can put the shirt on over their head instead of having to struggle with buttons.

“As a parent of a child with ASD, you’ll be only too aware of how difficult it is for your child to concentrate and focus for long periods of time” said Meta, “You want them to get the most out of their education and school experience – not having them spending the whole school day focussing on the discomfort and distress caused by what they’re wearing.”

For many families sensory clothing may provide both they and their child with peace of mind. 

Find out more about Spectra Sensory’s uniform options at spectrasensoryclothing.co.uk/product-category/school-uniform

For the first time ever the YMCA’s extensive Greenhill residential facilities in Newcastle, County Down will be available to the general public to book.

Prior to the Covid 19 outbreak, the national YMCA centre was only available to YMCA young people and community groups. But due to the restrictions on school and youth group residentials, it has cabins, chalets, and a guest house which can now be booked by families for a short time.

Centre manager at Greenhill, Kenny Baxter, said the work of the YMCA continues to be to support vulnerable young people as a core part of its mission, but now we have the opportunity to welcome families to our beautiful site on the side of the Mournes..

“We have a range of self-catering accommodation that is used and enjoyed by 10,000 young people every year,” he explained. 

“While that outdoor learning experience is part of our essential work that we hope to return to very soon, we are delighted to be able to offer the accommodation sited in beautiful surroundings to another audience.”

In Donard Forest Park, Greenhill has five cabins that would be the perfect location for a family staycation, and two large chalets ideal for groups such as walkers or cyclists.

“Greenhill is more than just accommodation, there are always a diverse group of volunteers here to welcome you,” said Kenny. 

“Opening up to the public and enabling them to experience what we have on offer is a key part of this move.

“Our mission is to develop a society where children and young people can freely explore, learn and develop. Making our facilities open to the public will allow us to make sure our excellent facilities are used for the benefit of young people in the future.”

“Our mission is to develop a society where children and young people can freely explore, learn and develop. Making our facilities open to the public will allow us to make sure our excellent facilities are used for the benefit of young people in the future.”

Any revenue generated will be ploughed back into Greenhill to help us through these difficult times to return back to doing the work that we have been doing on this site for many years.

Over the recent lockdown period staff and volunteers provided support for young people with significant additional needs, delivered food parcels in the community, and engaged in online youth work support with local and international young people.To find out more, or to book one of the facilities at Greenhill visit greenhill-ymca.org

The Walled City Music International Online Piano Competition has reached its final round with six young pianists from Canada, Ireland, Japan, Poland, Taiwan and the USA competing to win the first place spot this Friday 24 July. 

41 participants have taken part in the online edition of the competition, submitting video performances from 17 different countries across the globe. Adjudicators from the USA and Asia, together with Festival Director Cathal Breslin, from Derry, N. Ireland, have whittled down the exceptionally high standard performances to six extremely talented young pianists, aged between 15 and 31 years. The finalists are: Katherine Benson (USA), Elzbieta Bilicka (Poland), Yung-Li Chen (Taiwan), Alexander Malikov (Canada), Takuma Onodera (Japan) and Clara Siegle (Ireland).

The final round performances, which feature newly recorded, 30 minute solo recitals from each player, will be available to view on YouTube from Wednesday 22 July and will be judged by world-renowned pianists Barry Douglas (UK) and Awadagin Pratt (USA). The results will be announced on Friday 24 July via Facebook and participants will receive 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rdplace cash prizes, a number of special awards and for the winner, the opportunity to perform a solo concert in the 2021 Walled City Music Festival in Derry. 

Festival Director and Chair of the Adjudicating Panel Dr. Cathal Breslin says, “We have been thrilled by the very high standard of piano playing from all 41 participants this year. Our judges have had their work cut out for them and we are very excited to see what is presented by the six talented young pianists who have made it to the final stage this week.”

The results of the final will be announced at 8pm on Friday 24 July on the Walled City Music Festival Facebook page and will also be available at www.wcmpiano.com. 

Today, Titanic Belfast, which has been closed since the 18^th March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has announced its new themed self-guided trail ahead of its grand re-opening on 1^st August 2020.

Over the past four months, the team behind the award-winning attraction have been introducing measures that are not only safe, welcoming and in-line with government guidance but that do justice to the world-famous story and five-star visitor experience.

A key highlight is a new self-guided themed trail which leads visitors on a journey through the Titanic Experience and on-board SS Nomadic. Visitors will be able to discover this world-famous story for themselves in the place where it all began through the eyes of those whose innovation, hard work and ambition-built what is now the most famous ship in the world.

Judith Owens, Chief Executive of Titanic Belfast, commented, “In 2012, to commemorate the centenary of the sinking of Titanic, we launched Titanic Belfast and put Northern Ireland on the map as home of RMS Titanic. Over the past 8 years, we have become one of the world’s leading visitor attractions and have attracted over 6 million local, national and international visitors. Not only have we been a key economic driver for Northern Ireland but we believe we are a symbol of Titanic’s strength and spirit.”

She continued, “Now more than ever, we need to show that the spirit and ambitionthat built RMS Titanic is still alive today. This year, we look forward to welcoming local visitors through our doors as they enjoy staycations. We want to give our home market something special so they can get closer, go deeper and discover more, without the crowds. To do this, our team have reimagined some of our products, including our new trail. Hopefully those who think they know the story of Titanic will be surprised to discover things they didn’t know.”

The self-guided tour through Titanic Belfast and SS Nomadic can be combined with Titanic Belfast’s popular Family Explorer Trail through the galleries, making it the ultimate trip for families.

In addition to the above, locals are encouraged to create Titanic Memories and discover the secrets and symbolism ingrained in the surrounding area by participating in a range of paid for and free activities, including Titanic Belfast’s award-winning, guided outdoor Discovery Tour, or alternatively Titanic Foundation’s Maritime Mile Treasure Trail, which will launch in August.  External benches allow visitors to picnic with a view of the Slipways.

For history buffs, who want to delve deeper and learn more about the men who built the ship, Titanic Foundation are opening up their vast shipyard collection and hosting a free exhibition – Out of Stores –  in Titanic Belfast’s Andrews Gallery, showing how Belfast’s shipbuilding legacy was born.

Titanic Belfast is registered with the Visit Britain ‘We’re Good to Go’ industry standard and through their own “Confidence Charter” is committed to ensuring the health and safety of its visitors and crew. New measures including advanced booking only, prearranged time slots, reduced capacity, vulnerable time-slots, themed one-way tour, sanitisation stations and social distancing throughout, advanced cleaning regimes, fresh air-conditioning, contactless and cashless experiences and a grab and go food offering have been introduced to allow visitors to have a memorable and safe experience. Customers must book online in advance of their visit. To learn more or book, visit www.titanicbelfast.com.

A phased re-opening of Visitor Information Centres in Causeway Coast and Glens will begin from today (Friday 10th July 2020).  

Facilities located in Ballycastle, Bushmills and Portrush will open from 9.30am – 4.30pm, Monday – Saturday, with lunch closures from 1pm – 1.30pm.

New measures will be in place to ensure user-safety, including the provision of hand sanitiser and limited numbers allowed inside at any time.

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Alderman Mark Fielding said: “We are pleased to confirm that the re-opening of our Visitor Information Centres is getting underway, and staff are looking forward to assisting you during your time in Causeway Coast and Glens. They can provide up-to-date advice on your visit to the destination or help with tickets and tour bookings while a range of literature and maps is available to take away.

“Our Visitor Information Centres are an important part of our tourism offering and will help to ensure that those coming to the area are well informed at this time.”

Users are also reminded that the Centres have well-stocked retail areas selling quality items which showcase our local artisan makers, including arts, crafts and food produce.

Visitors can contact any of the centres to enquire about accommodation, tours, experiences and things to do by email using the address below or by phone: Ballycastle 028 2076 2024, Bushmills 028 2073 0390 or Portrush 028 7082 3333.

Trade are encouraged to email their accommodation availability and information on their tours and experiences to visitor.information@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

To find out more about the destination go to www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com or follow Visit Causeway on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Most women have a best friend group, the women closest to us in our lives that we share unforgettable memories with. 

“We all think we’re unique and special in our own way. But, every friendship group has a classic stereotype of characters” said artist and designer Kelsey Tyson, owner of Girl Limit, a home accessories and beauty brand.

I mean it would be pretty boring if we were all the same, right? 

Here are 8 types of friends we all have, which one are you?

1. The Organised One

Just like Monica from “Friends” you need to have a plan of action all the time. You’re probably the one who organised the Whatsapp group chat or the one who makes the dinner reservations. 

You’re smart, level-headed and always remain calm under pressure. So if you find yourself always organising the taxis home on a night out then you’re more than likely the organised friend of the group. 

2. The Funny One 

Just like Megan from “Bridesmaids” you’re always up for a laugh. 

You’re always making jokes even in awkward situations, always lightening the mood. You know how to cheer your friends up even on down days and you always look on the bright side of life.

3. The Photogenic One 

You always look picture-perfect, the “Kim Kardashian” of the group. You stand out in pictures, even in the dreaded tagged photos from the night before.

You’re the envy of all your friends. You’re always sharing your skincare routine with the group and beauty tips, much to their appreciation. 

4. The Mum of the Group

Always find yourself reminding the girls to bring their passport to the airport? Or on hand with the ice cream and wine when there’s a break-up? 

Then you’re more than likely the mum of the group. You always know what to say in tense situations and you’re wise before your years. Everyone looks to you for advice and you’re most definitely the “hugger” of the group. 

5. The Competitive One

Everything is a race with you. You’re always cheering your friends on and hyping them up to be the best they possibly can be.

You want your friends to win and achieve their goals. You always speak words of wisdom and refer to favourite motivational quotes to inspire your friends. You’re always the one hosting games night and 9 times out of 10 you’re on the winning team. 

6. The Tough Friend

Like Jen Harding from “Dead to me” you’re always telling it like it is. You give your friends tough love and always have their back. You don’t care what anyone thinks, whether it’s sticking up for your friends in a fight or sending back the wrong food in a restaurant, you most certainly won’t let anyone walk all over you- or your friends! 

7. The party animal 

You’re always ready to party and always the last to leave. You have the energy of a five-year old and you’re always positive. 

You can convince your friends in seconds to stay for “just one more”. Your friends can always count on you for a good time and to lift their spirits when they’re feeling down. 

8. The Social Media Savvy Friend 

You always want to take selfies, everywhere you go is a photo opportunity, the world really is your stage.

You’re always on the lookout for the perfect photo backdrop and you will stand for as long as it takes snapping photos of your friends to get the right angle. Your friends can count on you to make everything look perfect and be their professional photographer on day-trips or nights out.

Looking for the perfect gift for one of your girls? Check out the Girl Limit collection at https://bit.ly/girllimit 

This Friday, 10 July, Temple Golf Club in Carryduff will host their first ever drive in cinema and they’ve teamed up with Cinemagic as their charity beneficiaries.

The cinema listings are: 

2pm – The Lion King

4pm – Toy Story

6.15pm – Dirty Dancing

9pm – Grease 

Joan Burney Keatings (pictured), CEO of Cinemagic, is excited about this weekend’s screenings. She says; 

“Cinemagic is delighted to be working in association with The Big Drive Inn, to deliver family friendly films in a safe and fun way. This magical event will definitely be an opportunity to create special family memories and a chance for guests to learn all about Cinemagic via our promo videos which are shown on the big screens before each movie.”

To book tickets for The Big Drive Inn, in association with Cinemagic, check out www.thebigdriveinn.com/tickets

You can also pre-order food direct from Temple Golf Club, which you can enjoy in your car during the movies. Burgers and Hotdogs £7.00, popcorn and chips £2.00. 

Soulful Singer/Songwriter Jacqui Sharkey has released the second single from her E.P. Home, hot on the heels of the title track of the same name released last month.

Her beautiful arrangement and performance of the Dutch brothers, Cornelis and Thomas Tol’s song Just An Illusion was specially chosen by Jacqui, as the words resonated so much with her.

“Of the covers I have chosen to record on my new EP and album, I was really drawn most to this song as soon as I heard it,” she explained.  “I am all about lyrics, and for me, ‘Just An Illusion’ sums it all up, really.

“The Music Industry is a very hard and crazy business, and one which I will never understand. It can be cruel at times for musicians in different ways, but, regardless of the pitfalls, there is nothing like that feeling when you are creating or performing music. Then all the hard stuff almost fades into oblivion.”

Jacqui’s E.P. entitled Home is due for release on July 31st, 2020, and includes Until Then, one of Jacqui’s own original songs.  Jacqui recently shared a live performance of the track for Social Media, recorded from her home in Bunbeg in West Donegal, along with her friend, Musician and Music Director, Ray McLoughlin, who accompanied Jacqui on the recording on piano from his home in County Westmeath. 

The Donegal based Singer/ Songwriter, known for her soulful, deep tones, has three albums under her belt, and since her smash hit cover of The Waterboys’ Whole of the Moon, she has been taking time to reflect on her journey so far, as well as writing and recording tracks for a forthcoming album.

Jacqui hadn’t anticipated she would have so much time, given the current situation.

“At the moment, in these crazy times, the industry hangs in the balance, with gigs postponed and everything up in the air,” she said. As to what will happen next? Who knows?
I didn’t see this coming!  I don’t know what’s next other than to watch that space.

“I can’t go for long without writing, recording and performing. Music is truly my sanity and my peace, and I can’t imagine life without it. Music creates feelings and feelings create music. I am blessed to be able to do it, and I am looking forward to sharing Just An Illusion and quite a few new songs in 2020.”

Just An Illusion is OUT NOW and Jacqui’s E.P. HOME will be released on July 31, 2020.Find out more at  or jacquisharkey.com or connect with Jacqui Sharkey on social media.

Venders across Coleraine town known as the Capital of the Causeway Coast, are delighted to be able to raise the shutters, open their doors and welcome some new and familiar faces as they reopen for business.

Stores across Coleraine are boosting its impressive safety measures put in place to ensure the shopping experience is an enjoyable and socially distanced welcoming environment.

Adjusting to our new normal has inspired businesses to think innovatively on ensuring Coleraine is a safe shopping town to visit with remapping the flow of customers throughout shopping and dining spaces, training staff on sanitation, adapting their payment options and introducing new booking systems.

Historically Coleraine was the market town of the North Coast which allows ample space for the safe movement of visitors making use of the wide pedestrian areas, outdoor seating areas and the 2,000 car parking spaces within the vicinity.

The boost for Coleraine is being supported and promoted by the Coleraine Business Development Improvement District (BID) which exists to ensure the town achieves its full potential through working with local businesses to invest and reap opportunities for improvement.

Jamie Hamill, BID Development Manager commented on these developments: “It is wonderful to see the high street retailers and quality independent stores within Coleraine opening their doors once again, and many with fantastic promotions and offers on.

“Following a tough few months of lockdown, isolating and online shopping, the visitors I have been speaking to are very thankful for local businesses opening up again. It’s clear from chatting to the locals also that they have really missed the town as it provides some retail therapy and a sense of community as you always meet someone you haven’t seen in a while.

“Now that hospitality, hairdressers and beauty salons as well as retail are reopening, this will really add to a fuller visitor experience. We would really want to urge visitors travelling to the North Coast for a day out or a staycation that they pop for a visit and rediscover Coleraine as it is a beautiful, historic and vibrant place which is for everyone to enjoy.”

Local faces extended a kind thank you to the public for supporting and shopping local during the pandemic, through a social media video which was produced and shared by Coleraine BID on their social media channels. Visit ‘Our Coleraine’ on Facebook to watch.