Month: June 2024

Popular Event Officially Launched at Bayview Hotel

BOASTING world-class riders from all corners of the globe and thousands of fans each year, the Armoy Road Races is set to return to the County Antrim village this summer, running from 26^th – 27^th July.

On Wednesday of this week, members of the Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club (AMRRC) welcomed this year’s sponsors to the Bayview Hotel in Portballintrae to officially launch the event.

Title sponsor of the Race of Legends, Trevor Kane, owner of the Bayview Hotel welcomed road racers and invited guests, which included the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Ciaran McQuillan. Attendees heard from Chairman and Clerk of Course, William Munnis as he outlined this year’s racing schedule and paid tribute to all those who work to ensure the success of the Armoy Road Races.

Invited guests also had an opportunity to meet road racers Dominic Herbertson, Jeremy McWilliams, Ryan Whitehall and Neil Kernohan, who were in attendance.

Speaking about the event, Club Chairman and Clerk of Course, William Munnis commented: “The Armoy Road Races is currently in its 15^th year and what a decade and a half it has been.

“As a club we are honoured to see it grow to the hugely successful event that it is today, attracting riders and fans from all corners of the globe and we expect this year to be no different.

“Race entries are closing on Monday 24^th June and alongside the strong representation of home-grown talent, we’re also seeing riders from as far away as Germany and France, who will be vying for the top spot.”

Turning his attention to this year’s sponsors, William continued: “I’ve said it numerous times before, but we are truly indebted to each and every one of our sponsors who kindly support the event every year – without them, it simply wouldn’t be feasible. We are very lucky to have the support of a number of local businesses and individuals who clearly love the sport just as much as we do.

“Sincere thanks to our sponsors, Hilton Car Sales, Ian Hickinson, James McKillop, Raymond Hodges and TT Racing, BDS Motorcycles, the Diamond Bar, the Mermaid Club, MJF Builders, Causeway Geotech, Fay Stewart, Taggart’s Barn, Park Electrical Services, Brap Moto and the Bayview Hotel. We’re also welcoming new sponsors, AP Louden and John M Paterson Ltd on board this year.”

Meanwhile, road racer Dominic Herbertson, who has competed at Armoy for the last number of years, said after the launch: “The Armoy Road Races is something I look forward to year on year as it has become one of the most prestigious competitions in the Irish road racing calendar.

“This year, I will be riding for Burrows Engineering /RK Racing and competing in the Open, Superport and Race of Legends class. If the last few years are anything to go by, the competition will be incredibly tough but, I’m up for the challenge and will be doing all I can to be standing on a podium or two.”

Road racers confirmed for this year include TAS Racing’s Davey Todd on his TT wining bike, Jamie Coward with KTS supported by local man Stanley Stewart Racing. Derek Shiels, Mike Sweeney are also scheduled to race alongside Mike Browne on an Aprilia bike – the first time such a bike will be at Armoy.

Title Sponsor and Bayview Hotel owner, Trevor Kane, “I’m delighted to have been associated with the Armoy Road Races since its inception. The Bayview Hotel has a strong affinity with this tremendous sport, and I look forward to July, some good dry weather and safe and exciting road racing.”

This year, Bike Week runs from Sunday 21^st July with the races taking place on Friday 26^th July and Saturday 27^th July 2024 culminating in the Bayview Hotel ‘Race of Legends.’  The Armoy Road Races are part funded by the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

For more information on Armoy Road Races, visit armoyroadraces.com or search for ‘AMRRC’ on Facebook or follow on X @ArmoyRoadRaces.

The inaugural Remarkable Marketing Awards recognised 20 experts across the industry recently at a glittering awards ceremony at the Europa Hotel.

Sponsored by Card Group Research, the awards were created by the team behind the hugely popular annual Big Marketing Meet Up conference.

Hosted by communicator and presenter, Emer Maguire, the RMA’s gave marketers and their teams the chance to blow their own trumpets to be recognised for their creativity, innovation and marketing successes.

Winners on the night included Catherine McKernan from Galgorm Collective (Hospitality), Stephanie Watson from Lusso Tan (Market Research and Lifestyle & Wellness) and Leonie Bond from Trifecta Studios (independent consultant) plus many more.

Speaking of the awards, Treena Clarke, founder, said: “The Remarkable Marketing Awards are a celebration of the people behind groundbreaking initiatives. These awards are not about brands, channels or tactics, they’re about the people, the visionary marketers.” 

This year’s theme was about encouraging marketers to blow their own trumpets and celebrate the people in Northern Ireland behind some of the most impactful campaigns promoting brands, helping clients hit targets and turning remarkable ideas into reality. 

Winner Charlotte McAteer of Jack Murphy Jewellers said: “Winning the prestigious award for Most Remarkable Marketing in Retail and eCommerce is an immense honour and it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the entire team at Jack Murphy Jewellers, and each and every customer that has and continues to support our Welded Forever Bracelets experience.”

The event also featured a special keynote address from lead judge Walter Campbell, one of the most awarded creative thinkers and inspirational ECD’s in advertising. 

When asked what stood out to him most during the judging of the awards, Walter Campbell highlighted his admiration for the dedication and resilience displayed in the submissions. 

He said: “I was highly impressed by the commitment to ideas and the physical tenacity evident in some of the work. The determination to extend or unlock aspects of the ideas over 

Melissa Devlin of GCD Technologies who won the Digital & ICT award said: “I’m really proud to have won! 

“Marketing isn’t always about the big shiny campaigns but also the hard work that goes on in the background, particularly in small and medium-sized companies, so it feels great to have been recognised amongst my peers.”

And Ellen White of the MarTech Laboratory at Ulster University who won Future Marketing Leader added: “I am incredibly encouraged by being awarded this accolade and it has empowered me as I hope to progress my career post-graduation within the Northern Ireland marketing sphere.”

The RMA’s are sponsored by headline sponsors Card Group Research and Insight, along with category sponsors Excalibur Press, Horrible Brands, Mrktsearch, Belfast Academy of Marketing, Thought Boxes, Creating Retail Magic and CO3.

For more information or to see a full winners list go to >> remarkableawards.com 

Stephen K. Amos to headline Stendhal Comedy Programme

The multi-award-winning Stendhal Festival has announced the comedy line-up for this year’s event, taking place at Ballymully Cottage Farm, Limavady, on July 4th to 6th and it’s safe to say that visitors this year are all set for a side-splitting, pant wetting, good time.

Headlined by Stephen K. Amos, the bill also includes a plethora of established and up and coming acts from Northern Ireland, including Paddy Raff and Vittorio Angelone.

Stephen K. Amos has charmed and entertained audiences all over the world with his natural, assured delivery and his honest, original material.

Having appeared regularly across the Stage, TV, Radio and Film since he broke through, Stephen K. Amos has become one of the most critically acclaimed stand ups of his generation, with a myriad of awards from comedy festivals all over the world to his name, not to mention his Bafta and Richard Prior Award nominations. 

Comfortable as a performer, presenter, actor and guest, there is no doubt that Stephen K. Amos will retain his position as one of the nation’s favourite comedians for a long time to come.

Topping the bill of home-grown acts is the inimitable Paddy Raff.

Belfast-born Paddy went from open-mic in 2018 to beginning a record breaking 5-night sell-out arena run in 2020. From 2020 to 2022 he won 2 awards for his BBC1 NI comedy sketch TV series ‘The Paddy Raff Show’. 

In his unprecedented first two years in comedy, Paddy established himself as one of the biggest comedians in Northern Ireland amassing a huge following across social media (currently over 250K+) which spread to the UK and beyond during the pandemic, with a string of viral hits that led to him being dubbed ‘the comedy star of the Coronavirus Lockdown’ by The Irish Times.

Also performing at Stendhal this year is the acerbic Irish-Italian Vittorio Angelone 

Edinburgh Fringe Festival award nominee, Vittorio is an Italian Irish comedian who grew up in Belfast. After moving to London to train as a classical musician he eventually made the predictable switch to stand-up comedy. 

He has risen through the ranks of the comedy world at an incredible speed, building a following with stand-up clips, podcasts and sketches amassing millions of views online. 

He has supported huge names on tour including Russell Howard, Jason Manford, Adam Rowe, Shane Todd, and Dan Nightingale.

In 2022 he sold out his debut run at the Edinburgh Fringe and was nominated for Best Newcomer at the prestigious Dave Comedy Awards.

He has been seen on BBC One, Channel 4, TVI Podcast, and as a guest and guest co-host of the Have a Word Podcast.

Joining them on the comedy bill are a brilliant mix of up-and-coming Northern Irish stand-ups, who have been curated especially for Stendhal by Yeo Magazine.

The Yeo Comedy club portion of the programme will be MCed by Brónagh NicAoidh and will feature the hilarious talents of Jazmynne Sierra, Alan Irwin, Ciaran Franco, Talal Jomar and Bronagh Diamond.

Stendhal Festival Director Ross Parkhill said: “We have a great history of bringing the cream of the crop in UK and Northern Irish stand-up to the festival and this year we are delighted that a Bonafede UK Comedy legend in Stephen K. Amos is headlining our comedy bill.

“We are also pleased to continue our tradition of showcasing some of the very best established and up and coming talent from Northern Ireland. Our Comedy scene here is thriving at the moment and acts like Paddy Raff and Vittorio Angelone are big reasons why.

Ross concluded: “We are also pleased to be working for the first time this year with Yeo Magazine who have put together a brilliant showcase of up-and-coming talent for our Stendhal comedy club. We certainly have a big weekend of laughs in store.”

For more information visit www.stendhalfestival.com

Comedian and actor Dace Elliott is swapping Blue Lights for stage lights as he brings his brand-new Stand-up Show, ‘Roleplay’, to The Market Place this week.

Dave is busy juggling the roles of dad, husband, comedian, and… housewife? Join him on a quest for significance as he delivers a scathing and ridiculous take on the roles we play; hilariously exposing the trials and tribulations of modern life.

Dave can be seen on on panel shows such as The Blame Game and he recently appeared on Season Two of BBC’s Blue lights. He is the host of the SLY GUY Podcast and is a regular on the Tea with me and General Banter Podcasts.

‘Fantastic!’ – John Bishop

‘Funny Guy’ – Kevin Hart

The Show contains strong language and adult material and is recommended for age 16+

Dave Elliott will take the stage at The Market Place Theatre, Armagh on Friday 21^st June at 8pm. Tickets can be booked online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre or through the Box Office on 03300 561 025.

Hillsborough Castle and Gardens has announced a summer programme packed full of family fun, with well-known characters popping up between the carrot patches and bringing the gardens to life with The Peter Rabbit Adventure from 29 June – 1 September.

Historic Royal Palaces, the charity which manages Hillsborough Castle & Gardens, will open the site up to even more visitors this summer with an exciting Kids Go Free* offer so that even more families can enjoy the season’s experiences which range from The Peter Rabbit Adventure to Music in the Garden and the Summer Fair.

The Peter Rabbit™ Adventure

Officially licensed by Frederick Warne & Co. (Beatrix Potter’s original publisher and owner of The World of Peter Rabbit), the Peter Rabbit Adventure will bring Beatrix Potter’s beloved characters to life at the castle for the first time.  Children can follow an interactive trail through Hillsborough’s meandering waterways and forests as well as the famous Walled Garden, seamlessly combining the author and illustrator’s love for nature and wildlife with the mischievous tales of her fictional characters.  The Tale of Peter Rabbit was first published in 1902 by Beatrix Potter’s publisher Frederick Warne & Co. (now a part of Penguin Random House) and has since sold over 46 million copies.

Children and adults alike will meet their favourite Beatrix Potter characters as they join Peter Rabbit on new adventures – from creating twig boats with Squirrel Nutkin to helping Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle with her washing line. There’s also a puzzle version of the iconic coat from The Tailor of Gloucester that is stitched together at night by the mice in the story!

Visitors can also expect to bump into Peter Rabbit himself, as the larger-than-life character will be on site for photographs and to meet and greet families each Saturday** throughout the summer holidays.

The adventures of Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Jemima Puddle-Duck and Tom Kitten will be celebrated at Hillsborough Castle’s Stable Yard Café, where visitors can enjoy a menu inspired by Beatrix Potter’s much loved stories, with speciality afternoon teas for both adults and children, available to book from Wednesday – Sunday. Alternatively, picnic hampers can be purchased from the café every day and enjoyed on the grounds.

Maria Magill, Learning Producer at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens has created the special trail for families to enjoy, ensuring they learn and experience as much of the nature and wildlife on the grounds as possible.

Maria commented: “We have so many nooks and magical spaces throughout our 100 acres of gardens here at Hillsborough Castle, it is the perfect canvas for us to create this trail, inspired by Beatrix Potter’s love of the natural world and the characters she created, for our curious young visitors. It’s important to us to find ways to help children connect with the wildlife and natural world around them, while also exploring their imagination and feelings.”

Thomas Merrington, Creative Director, Penguin Ventures (part of Penguin Random House Children’s) said: “We are delighted to be working with Historic Royal Palaces to bring Peter Rabbit to Northern Ireland. The team at Hillsborough have created a really inventive and engaging trail that celebrates some of Beatrix Potter’s best loved Tales and the catering team have developed an incredible afternoon tea offering that will delight all ages and tastes. We can’t wait to see it all come to life.”

Music in the Garden

Complementing Hillsborough Castle and Gardens’ summer programme of family events, Music in the Garden will see a host of Northern Ireland’s finest musicians add an atmospheric and melodic experience throughout the acres of grounds. Each weekend throughout July and August, visitors can hear music from the likes of ARCO String Quartet, pop and folk group Mini Moonshines, harpist Grainne Meyer Scott Flanigan Jazz.

Summer Fair

The gardens of Hillsborough Castle will come alive from 24 – 26 August with the sights, sounds and tastes of the annual Summer Fair. Expect local crafters and creators, food trucks and chef demos, with music throughout the gardens to enjoy.

Stuart Campbell, Public Engagement Manager at Hillsborough Castle added: “We are delighted that even more families can enjoy a day out in our famous gardens, thanks to our kids go free offer this summer. We have created a really engaging programme for families to enjoy, while Music in the Garden every weekend will create even more atmosphere, with some celebrated musicians including ARCO String Quartet, Mini Moonshines, harpist Gráinne Meyer and Scott Flanigan Jazz. And of course, our Summer Fair which showcases the fantastic crafters, food producers and musicians we have locally.”

For more on summer at Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, and to book tickets for The Peter Rabbit Adventure and Afternoon Tea at the Stable Yard, visit hrp.org.ouk/Hillsborough-castle.

 

An internationally acclaimed, award-winning interactive VR adventure that transports you into the heart of the Acid House movement is heading for Belfast early next year.

In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats, produced by East City Films and created by Darren Emerson, has added Belfast to its eight-city UK tour.

In partnership with Belfast XR Festival the experience will take audiences back in time to the beginning of the Acid House movement and the creation of UK rave culture telling a multicultural story of collaboration and unity that celebrates music, friendship, and the joy of youth.

Belfast XR Festival, entering its fourth year, specialises in curating worldclass immersive technology content that takes the art of storytelling to a new level.

Extended Reality or ‘XR’ is the collective name for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). VR is a computer-generated artificial environment with scenes that appear to be real, while AR is a digital overlay onto the real world, which is viewed through your phone or an iPad. 

Deepa Mann-Kler, director and curator for Belfast XR Festival which is an annual gathering for the XR arts – storytelling, visual arts, music, drama, dance, literature and theatre, said she is delighted to be showcasing In Pursuit Of Repetitive Beats at the forthcoming 2025 festival.

She said: “Northern Ireland has an incredible track record when it comes to music which is internationally recognised. 

“It made sense to bring this work to Belfast as it also features music by a leading Northern Irish artist Max Cooper. Belfast also holds the prestigious UNESCO City of Music title. 

“This marks a debut and premiere for the work on the island of Ireland. We are looking forward to this exciting collaboration with East City Films.”

The experience, which is jointly supported by Arts Council England and BFI, will take audiences on ‘a multi-sensory joyride into the heart of a working-class revolution in dance’.

Viewers of the experience will witness the joy of tracking down and arriving at an all-night illegal warehouse party at the height of the rave scene in Coventry, 1989 by stepping into the shoes of rave culture pioneers.  

“Bringing to life the stories of the promoters, police officers, pirate radio stations, and secret warehouse rave-goers, whose rivalries and relationships drove a revolution in music and society, the film features euphoric rave anthems such as Chime by Orbital and Energy Flash by Joey Beltram. 

Beats uses Virtual Reality (VR) technology to fully immerse audiences in a one-hour multi-sensory interactive experience that is awash with meticulous period detail. It surrounds participants with the sounds, senses, and the thrill of being young (again).  

Director Darren Emerson, East City Films said: “With In Pursuit of Repetitive Beats I wanted to take audiences back to a moment where a community formed from their passion for music, dance and freedom of expression.  

“In a modern society where we are constantly monitored, and tracked by devices, this experience, although using technology, seeks to reunite audiences with the thrill of freedom and those important, crazy nights where we not only find our friends, but truly find ourselves.

“The response to Beats has been overwhelming; seeing people emerge from VR moved and excited and wanting to connect with each other has been so rewarding.  

“After success touring Internationally, I’m delighted we are now bringing Beats back to the UK, to connect with the audiences that were shaped in some way by the cultural revolution that was Acid House.”  

The creative team behind Beats spent time making the experience fully accessible to all audiences, accessible to wheelchair users with a seated version and d/Deaf audiences with subtitles, Haptics (vibration), Access Packs, VR Explainer and scene descriptions and Touch Tour.

To further enhance the experience, East City Films has partnered with Woojer. Woojer’s innovative haptic vests will add to the multi-sensory journey, immersing users in a vibrant auditory landscape and enhancing accessibility for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. This collaboration aims to deliver an inclusive experience that resonates deeply with all audiences.

The multi-award-winning Stendhal Festival has announced the full family programme for the 14th instalment of the event, taking place at Ballymully Cottage Farm, Limavady from July 4th to 6th.

Theatre, circus acts, music, science, dance, forest schools and storytelling and more all feature, along with a host of brilliant workshops curated by The Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre in Limavady.

The highlight for all pre-schoolers attending Stendhal will no doubt be Yukee, The CBeebies Live Experience, a live performance of the music-first preschool series created by musicians for the musicians of the future.

“Yukee – Live!” is an interactive live show based around the animated show that explores simple music learning outcomes using songs, learning games, and episodes of the show with live music as the underscore. The live experience includes introducing and developing music terms like beat and timbre through interactive games and sing-a-longs, and finishes with a live band teaching the audience a song from the show and inviting them to play and sing along as they watch the episode together.

The Big telly Theatre Company will also be on site performing a kid friendly version of their award winning ‘World’s worst cafe’. 

Other standout performances for all the family include; Grant Goldie, the Magic of Caolan McBride and Jack Wise, Jitterbug Jackson, ‘Missy Impossible’ by Missy Fortune, Sunshine, Science & Stories by Alan Kennedy-Asser, Makey Uppers Theatre, Cikada Circus, 

and loads more.

Also on site is a Breastfeeding caravan, with award winning IBCLC Fiona Rea and Cudiu Breastfeeeding counsellors to offer support, solidarity and a happy place to relax and feed your baby.  

Festival Director Ross Parkhill said: “We have always been incredibly proud to be a festival for all ages, where people can introduce their children to a huge variety of arts and crafts and get their creative juices flowing.

“This year we are delighted to be continuing that tradition with this amazing programme of music, science, art, magic, dance, workshops and loads more, all geared towards helping kids fall in love with the arts.

Ross concluded: “Family tickets are running low for this year’s event, a massive thank you to everyone who has supported us so far and we can’t wait to welcome your family to the farm this summer.”

For more information on Stendhal Festival visit www.stendhalfestival.com