Month: July 2024

Annual foodie weekend features over 50 free events designed to showcase the region’s exceptional quality and local produce.

This September, the award-winning Food and Cider Weekend returns to Armagh, promising a vibrant celebration of the region’s world-famous produce. From Thursday, 5th to Sunday, 8th, this year’s festival features over 50 free events, each crafted to delight the senses and celebrate the Armagh Bramley Apple and other local treasures.

Crannagael House is a highlight of this year’s programme – hosting four events throughout the festival – the historic venue provides a unique opportunity to savour culinary creations at the very birthplace of Armagh’s apple story. Among the standout events is the five-course Bramley Banquet, curated by Gareth Reid of 4 Vicars. Set in the charming home of Jane and John Nicholson, whose ancestors planted the first Bramley seedling in County Armagh, the often-sold-out event features locally sourced ingredients, including produce grown on the estate, and bespoke wine pairings for each course.

Visitors can kickstart their weekend with the Orchard Paint and Sip event. No experience is necessary but aspiring artists can gain inspiration from the beautiful apple trees at Long Meadow Farm to create their own masterpiece, while sipping on local ciders making for a relaxing and inspiring experience. Additionally, on Friday evening attendees can join local tour guide Donna Fox for a Culinary Crawl through Armagh city. This guided tour will weave through the city’s best hospitality venues, offering top-class food and drinks with a local twist.

Armagh is renowned for its outstanding food, quality ingredients, and world-class cider. The region was recognised as Northern Ireland’s Best Food and Drink Experience in 2019 by Tourism NI –  including the Bramley Apple, which as of 2012, joined a select group of food and drinks to have been awarded PGI status (Protected Geographical Indication). Due to their special taste and composition the status means the apple will be protected against imitation throughout the EU and joins a very select group including the Cornish pasty and the Melton Mowbray pork pie.

On Saturday morning the Food and Cider Fest brings the much-anticipated Brunch and Paws at the Park, a delightful event for dog owners and their furry friends. Following its sell-out success last year, this fun and relaxed brunch is the perfect way to kick off your weekend. As evening falls, the region will come alive with vibrant outdoor foodie markets in both Armagh and Banbridge. These bustling markets will showcase the finest local flavours, artisan ciders, and apple juices, all set to the backdrop of live music, creating an unforgettable atmosphere.

Backed by award-winning Food Heartland local chefs, producers, and food experts, Armagh’s Food and Cider Weekend has firmly established itself as a cornerstone event in Northern Ireland’s food and harvest calendar. It’s a celebration not to be missed, offering a unique blend of history, culture, and outstanding cuisine.

For a full list of activities happening, to book your tickets and overnight accommodation specials, visit visitarmagh.com/foodandcider.

 

A new organisation set up to support neurodivergent families and individuals has announced their first Creative Fun Day will take place in Belfast this weekend.

Saturday, 3 August will see SPARK, in partnership with Arts Care, open the doors of 2 Royal Avenue for an afternoon of fun, socialising with like-minded families and other activities.

The free event is open to all neurodivergent families from 10am to 1pm and will include a plethora of different activities for everyone to avail of.

Offering a safe space for parents and children to connect with similar families, attendees of all ages are welcome to take part in the event and explore the happenings inside.

Held inside 2 Royal Avenue, the vast community space is set to be transformed by stalls and tables dedicated to providing information on neurodivergence, workshops for children to enjoy, interactive sessions and more.

The extensive event listing reveals several highlights, including the highly-anticipated Interactive Drum Workshops, which help provide sensory stimulation to neurodiverse children.

The rhythmic patterns not only have calming benefits, but they also have physical pros including enhancing motor skills, providing a communication form for anyone non-verbal and more, making them a great addition to the day’s line-up.

The three-hour feat will also include storytelling sessions, where children are able to hear magnificent tales and express their subsequent emotions without fear of being judged.

Other activities include face painting, arts and crafts stalls, neurodivergent information tables and networking opportunities for adults, plus a vibrant sense of community.

Neurodivergence is an umbrella term used to refer to conditions such as ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, OCD, Tourette’s Syndrome and more, with SPARK providing a networking group for any Neurodivergent members of the Belfast community and beyond.

Gary Gates, co-creator of the SPARK group, was diagnosed as having ADHD in his forties and spoke of the importance of creating an open discourse and space for neurodiverse parents such as himself.

He said: “Being neurodivergent can be difficult enough, but being a neurodivergent parent raising neurodivergent children can be extremely hard. 

“And so, thanks to the Bank of Ideas fund, and in partnership with Arts Care, SPARK was able to create this free creative family fun day for neurodivergent families. 

“We just want people to come and have fun and, most importantly, be their authentic selves.” 

SPARK is both an online and in-person platform that enables members of the neurodivergent community to access resources and converse with other people who may have gone through similar life experiences, with feedback being taken on board from past event attendees.

Cara Marks, the other half of the brainbox duo behind SPARK, identified that Saturday’s event was created following discussions with Belfast locals on what can be implemented for neurodivergent individuals in the city.

She said: “SPARK actively engages with our members, seeking out topics of interest to share within the community. 

“Many of our members have neurodivergent children, and one topic that kept emerging is that we need more things for neurodivergent families to do, especially in neuro-inclusive environments. 

“We listened to what was said and as a result, we are proud to present SPARK’s first creative family fun day for neurodivergent families.” 

SPARK’s Creative Family Fun Day runs between 10am-1pm on Saturday August 3 and full details can be found at www.eventbrite.co.uk/creative-family-fun-day-for-neurodivergent-families

Ends

Get ready to embark on a journey through time and imagination as the Armagh Observatory & Planetarium proudly announces its upcoming “Robot Exhibition”, running from 2nd July to 31^st August 2024.

This summer, science-fiction enthusiasts and curious minds alike will have the unique opportunity to explore a mesmerising collection of robots, cyborgs, and androids. 

 

Science-fiction fans are sure to recognise their favourite metal movie stars in this comprehensive exhibit. The Robot Exhibition showcases memorable and iconic robots from science-fiction movies and TV shows, highlighting their role in storytelling and exploring how they represent our changing relationship with technology.  

Visitors are invited to delve into the past, present, and future of robots in science-fiction, considering how these machines might shape our world in the years to come. Robots have long been a staple of science-fiction storytelling, captivating audiences with their mechanical precision, superhuman strength, and human-like personalities.  

As technology advances and artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent in our world, the role of robots is evolving. No longer simply automated tools designed to serve humans, robots are now being developed to think, reason, and learn independently. This shift has the potential to revolutionise our lives, from how we work and communicate to how we think about what it means to be human. 

Speaking on the upcoming exhibition, Martina Glass, Operations Manager at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium says: “We are thrilled to bring the Robot Touring Exhibition to Armagh. It is a fantastic opportunity for visitors to explore the fascinating intersection of technology, art, and storytelling. Robots have always captured our imagination, and this exhibition will inspire people of all ages to think about the future of technology and its impact on our lives.” 

The Robot Exhibition offers visitors the chance to get up close and personal with a cast of full-size heroic robots, vintage tin toys, and sculptures in all shapes and sizes from comics, books, and the silver screen over the past 40 years. Around every corner lurks another metallic star, each with its own story and significance. 

Join us for an unforgettable journey through the world of robots, where you can meet some of the most iconic and beloved metal stars from the realm of science-fiction. Whether you’re a dedicated fan or simply curious about the evolution of robotic technology, this exhibition promises to be a highlight of the summer. 

Along with the Robot Exhibit, a series of dome shows will be running throughout the summer. These are: Our Wee Planets, Our Night Sky, Tales of a Time Traveller, Perfect Little Planet, Accidental Astronauts, We Are Allens; and Our Solar System.  

 

Family tickets are £32 and include one dome show, workshop, access to exhibition area and entry into the Robot exhibit. Individual and group tickets are also available. To book tickets now, please visit www.armagh.space  

As part of the consultation process for the Lough Neagh Resilience Plan, the public is being invited to attend a consultation webinar on Tuesday 30 July at 7.00pm where they will have opportunity to hear from four experts who will speak on landscape acquisition and management; considering the development of a new Lough Neagh heritage resilience plan and the various environmental and conservation challenges surrounding Lough Neagh together with examples of innovative techniques and practices that could help address these current issues.

Speakers are Dr Liam Campbell, who was instrumental in delivering the Lough Neagh Landscape Partnership project; Dr Peter Doran, Senior Lecturer from the School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast; Dr Alastair McIntosh, who is a pioneer of modern land reform in Scotland; and Dr Michael Meharg, a specialist in on-farm carbon auditing and providing conservation/wildlife advice.

The webinar will provide a platform for exploring responses to recent questionnaires which were completed by the public in relation to the project.

Funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the project is aimed at preserving and protecting the unique landscape of Lough Neagh, ensuring its vitality for generations to come.

The webinar follows almost 30 stakeholder meetings which have taken place since the consultation process began in January of this year, and the feedback and insights received by Lough Neagh Partnership from stakeholder meetings, the completion of the recent questionnaire and this webinar, will be vital to developing a robust 10 year plan for the area’s future.

Michael Browne, Lough Neagh Partnership Heritage Plan Coordinator, said: “Lough Neagh is a mirror reflecting both beauty and challenges and together we can protect it, so we are inviting anyone with an interest in Lough Neagh to attend this webinar and contribute to the sustainable stewardship of Lough Neagh.

“We are actively seeking engagement from the public in attending as it is anticipated that the information gathered from the webinar, responses received to the questionnaire and the insights gleaned at stakeholder meetings, will shape the heritage needs of Lough Neagh.”

The insights from the consultation process will form the basis for the creation of the 10 year resilience plan for the Lough and will also identify potential avenues for funding and establish new sustainable management structures to ensure the enduring vitality of Lough Neagh.

After the formulation of the draft 10 Year Heritage Resilience Plan, a forthcoming conference is scheduled to facilitate constructive discourse and gather valuable insights from stakeholders, governmental bodies, as well as representatives from the local and wider communities. It is anticipated that the conference will be scheduled for the spring of 2025. The project’s anticipated completion date is November 2025.

To register your attendance at the upcoming webinar on Tuesday 30 July, please visit: https://loughneaghpartnership.org/consultation-webinar

To keep up to date with the Lough Neagh Resilience Plan project, follow Lough Neagh Partnership on its social media channels – facebook, linkedin and X.