Month: February 2026

Causeway Coast and Glens Walking Festival 2026 showcases scenery, history, heritage and spectacular trails

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Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has launched the 2026 Causeway Coast and Glens Walking Festival, inviting walking enthusiasts to enjoy a range of inspiring guided walks, through dramatic landscapes from 13th – 15th March.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, pictured alongside Clare Quinn, Trade Engagement Officer; and Lorcan McBride, Far and Wild, to launch the 2026 Causeway Coast and Glens Walking Festival.

Participants can explore unique forest, mountain and coastal paths while learning more about the area’s rich history, heritage and outstanding natural beauty.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan said: “The Causeway Coast and Glens Walking Festival is a great opportunity for our residents and visitors to get out and get active while exploring the beauty of our trails and paths.
“This year’s programme includes popular walking routes along with some lesser-known paths and showcases some very special sites.”
Destination Manager Kerrie McGonigle explained more: “The Causeway Coast and Glens Walking Festival is growing in popularity, cementing its place as a highlight in the annual walking calendar.
“Showcasing a stunning range of routes, the festival attracts visitors eager to explore the destination’s dramatic landscapes on foot. The event is a strong motivator for hiking enthusiasts to visit the area, delivering economic benefits to local communities while celebrating the natural beauty of the Causeway Coast and Glens.
“Working with local provider Far and Wild, expert guides will lead each walk to ensure a safe, memorable and immersive experience for all participants.”
The festival commences on Friday 13th March at 1pm with a moderate 6 – 8 km afternoon walk along a section of the Lough Foyle Trail.
‘Tarraingt an Taisce – The Lure of Treasure’ will focus on the fascinating tale of the Broighter Hoard and reflect on the maritime connections between the local community and the history of Lough Foyle.
The second day of the Festival on Saturday 14th March beginning at 9.30am is an 8km exploration of Banagher Glen on hilly trails and minor roads.
‘Lig na Péist – The Last Dragon in Ireland’ explores the relationship between early pre-Christian and Christian traditions as a basis for understanding Irish myths and legends and their meaning.
Beginning at Banagher Old Church, leading to Altnaheglish and back through the native woodlands of the Glen, the walk will investigate the importance of water in modern-day and traditional communities.
The Festival concludes with a challenging 12km multi-terrain walk in the Glenshane area on Sunday 15th March at 9am, encompassing Glenshane Forest, The Priest’s Chair and nearby waterfall before it loops back to Benedy across open mountain.
‘An Buachaill Bréige – The Lying Boy’ highlights the history of penal laws in Ireland in the 18th and 19th Centuries and the impact and legacy upon rural communities in Ulster through the story of the ‘Buachaill Bréige’ or Lying Boy.
For further information and to book, please see Causeway Coast & Glens Walking Festival | What’s On 2026.

Come Glide With Me Brings Music and Meaning On Board Belfast’s Glider

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Passengers aboard a Translink Glider travelling across Belfast became part of a moving cultural experience as the 4 Corners Festival staged Come Glide With Me, a live journey across the city that combined music, spoken word and conversation.

Beginning with a journey from west to east, and later repeated in the opposite direction from east to west, the event invited people to step out of their own corners of the city and share the journey with others.

Starting at St John’s Church on the Falls Road and travelling together to Stormont Presbyterian Church, the Glider itself became a performance space, with singer and poet Jim Deeds providing live music on board alongside contributions from festival participants, while readings and reflections were shared between stops.

Committee members Martin Magill and Maggie Matheson, who respectively live and work in the west and east of the city, offered commentary on the places and buildings passing outside the windows, linking the physical journey across the city with the wider theme of journey that underpins the 2026 4 Corners Festival programme.

Maggie Matheson said: It was such a great opportunity to share some stories of East Belfast with our enthusiastic passengers! There is such a deep and rich history there, sometimes well known, but often hidden. It was a privilege to be a part of the Glider event. 

On arrival at Stormont Presbyterian Church, participants received a warm welcome in the church hall, where refreshments and conversation helped carry forward the spirit of the shared journey.

David Robinson from Belfast City Council’s Good Relations Unit joined the west-to-east journey, outlining the council’s work to build good relations across the city. At Stormont Presbyterian Church hall he then led “Games with Aims”, an interactive session designed to help people connect across difference, before also joining the return journey from east to west back to St John’s Church.

Members of the public were joined by representatives from Translink as well as festival committee volunteers. Some participants were experiencing the Glider, or this part of the city, for the first time.

The event also highlighted the festival’s encouragement of public transport use, aligning with its commitment to environmental responsibility and accessibility.

Photographs from the day capture Jim Deeds performing between seated passengers, volunteers coordinating the journey in high visibility jackets, and festival members gathering at stops along the route, reflecting the sense of connection and shared experience that defines the festival.

Come Glide With Me formed part of a wider programme of events taking place across Belfast as the 4 Corners Festival continues its focus on encounter, understanding and bringing people together across communities.

The 4 Corners Festival is supported by The Executive Office’s Central Good Relations Fund, The Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund and Belfast City Council Good Relations Fund, St Anne’s Cathedral Sitout and Linen Quarter BID.

All events are free to attend. To find out the full lineup of the festival and to book your tickets go to 4cornersfestival.com

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