Author: whatsonni

Bangor songsmith King Cedar will appear at Bangor Castle on Friday 27 March as part of the Music in the Chamber series of events.

King Cedar is the adopted moniker and current musical meanderings of Stephen Macartney, formerly of The Farriers who is known for his finely crafted songs and charismatic live performances. Stephen has been a mainstay of the Northern Ireland music scene for many years, honing his craft in bars, backrooms, and festival stages. Recently, he spent time in the United States drawing on the inspiration of these turbulent times. This is sure to be reflected in his new album ‘Everything, More & Other Stories.’

With the aim of writing as honestly as possible, King Cedar recalls the stories we all accumulate along the way; from love, life and regret, to depression, death – and whiskey. It’s country without a pick-up, folk without a cardigan.

Accompanied by a full band, King Cedar will debut music from the new album at this very special hometown gig in the beautiful Chamber room at Bangor Castle on Friday 27 March at 8pm.

Tickets cost £12 and are on sale now at: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/ardsandnorthdown.

Tickets can also be purchased from North Down Museum or any of Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Visitor Information Centres.

Overnight break in Belfast from only £100pps with up to £30 estate credit per person

Treat yourself to a luxurious overnight break in Northern Ireland’s premier 5-star hotel, the Culloden Estate & Spa, from only £100pps* and receive complimentary estate credits worth up to £30 per person.

As part of the Luxury on the Lough package guests will enjoy luxurious accommodation, Full Irish Breakfast and complimentary estate credits:

£10 credit per adult towards a 2-course meal in the Cultra Inn

£10 credit per adult towards a 3-course meal in Vespers Restaurant

£10 credit per adult towards a 50-minute spa treatment in The Spa at Culloden

This magnificent hotel is just six miles from Belfast and the perfect location for guests to completely unwind and relax with roaring log fires and views over Belfast Lough and across County Antrim. The Culloden Estate has 98 stunning bedrooms and suites, a luxurious spa and a range of dining options including Vespers Restaurant serving modern cuisine using only the finest and freshest local ingredients; The Lough Bar offering light snacks and the hotel’s famous decadent Afternoon Tea and the Cultra Inn, a cosy bar and bistro which nestles within the Estate and is perfect for a tasty lunch, evening meal or pint by the fireside. 

For further information or to book go to www.hastingshotels.com orcall the Culloden Estate & Spa on 028 9042 1066.

Ards and North Down Borough Council is pleased to launch the 2020 Ards International Guitar Festival programme. The Festival will take place from 1 – 5 April at various venues around Newtownards.

Now in its 23^rd year, the Festival is a celebration of the world’s most popular instrument, bringing together some of the best guitarists from around Ireland, the UK and the world, with artists crossing a range of genres, showcasing their musical skills, talent and creativity.

This year’s jam-packed line-up features over 40 musicians including home-grown talent as well as performers from the USA, Germany and The Netherlands all brought together with the help of guest programmer Anthony Toner. The popular Guitar Clinics are also back, giving amateur guitarists the opportunity to hone their skills with the help of professionals, as well as a stunning photography exhibition by Stuart Bailie.

One of the highlights of this year’s programme is The Aquarelle Guitar Quartet who will open the Festival on Wednesday 1 April at The Queen’s Hall. As one of the world’s leading guitar quartets, The AGQ is known for its extraordinary performances and expansive repertoire. Formed at the Royal Northern College of Music in 1999, the quartet studied with renowned guitarists Sérgio Assad, Oscar Ghiglia and Scott Tennant and has performed in major concert halls throughout the UK and Europe. The foursome will be supported by The Diony’s Ensemble and The Classical Guitar Society of Northern Ireland.

Blues maestro Ronnie Greer returns to the Festival on the crest of a wave for what looks like being one of the high points of the programme. Ronnie will be launching his brand-new album with his new band All-Star Blues Revue. With contributions from an all-star glittering line-up including; long-time musical partner Anthony Toner on guitars, Nick Scott on bass and Peter McKinney on drums – joined by guitarists/vocalists Ken Haddock and Grainne Duffy, Kyron Bourke on keyboards and vocals, and blues and jazz luminaries Linley Hamilton on trumpet and Dave Howell on sax. An evening not to be missed at The Queen’s Hall on Friday 3 April.

The Festival is also pleased to welcome back to Ards Irish folk sensation Síomha who was one of the undoubted hits of last year’s Festival. Síomha will be supported at her Queen’s Hall gig on Saturday 4 April by virtuoso fingerstyle guitarist Shane Hennessy from Carlow (back by popular demand!) and German-born Sönke Meinen who has acquired an outstanding reputation on the international guitar scene.

Other highlights of this year’s programme include; The Richard Nelson Jazz Quartet, Rodney Branigan, Jane Willow and more!  There will also be a screening of the silent film The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920) accompanied by guitarist Paul McMordie in the atmospheric surroundings of Kiltonga Hall.

Thin Lizzy fans are in for a treat with the Classic Band Brunch Wild Eyed Boys – The Thin Lizzy Story presented by Ralph McLean. Take a fascinating stroll through the history of one of the most celebrated bands of all time, featuring seldom-seen clips, some rarities and Ralph’s usual mix of musical insight and backstage gossip. Ards Arts Centre, Sunday 5 April.

Speaking about the festival, Alderman Bill Keery, The Mayor of Ards and North Down said: “We are delighted to once again host Ards International Guitar Festival which welcomes musicians from far and wide to Newtownards. The Festival is now 23 years old and is going from strength to strength. This year’s programme is fantastic, and we would encourage everyone to support the various events.”

Ards Guitar Festival Director, Emily Crawford commented: “This year’s Festival is shaping up to be an eclectic five days of guitar-based music with something to appeal to everyone from classical to jazz, blues to Americana and of course our signature acoustic percussive performances. There’s plenty of opportunity for a hands-on opportunity to learn from the experts with our Guitar Clinics and free lunchtime performances to get you into the festival spirit’’

Ards International Guitar Festival runs from 1 – 5 April. For ticket details or to view the full programme please visit the website www.ardsguitarfestival.co.uk  or call Ards Arts Centre on 028 9181 0803

Brick Wonders, an internationally acclaimed exhibition, featuring recreations in LEGO® bricks of amazing sights from around the world, is coming to the new Gateway Visitor Centre, on the banks of Lough Shore Antrim, from Saturday 7 March until Sunday 14 June.

Curated by artist Warren Elsmore this unique exhibition begins with the seven wonders of the ancient world, also taking in modern, natural and historic wonders from all seven continents. Brick Wonders will take you on a journey from an Egyptian pyramid to the natural pyramid of the Matterhorn, the bustle of Old London Bridge to the awesome natural display of the Aurora Australis and those everyday marvels we forget to wonder at, such as electricity and the Internet.

At the heart of the Brick Wonders display is the giant Great Barrier Reef attraction, complete with underwater lighting and sound effects. This centrepiece has LEGO recreations of everything from corals and sponges to turtles and reef-dwelling fish such as blue tangs, angel fish and a ray.

In all, over sixty LEGO models are included, from tiny models to inspire building at home, to large mosaics and dioramas using a grand total of half a million LEGO bricks.

LEGO bricks are unique in their appeal, having been a top-selling toy for over fifty years.  This exhibition will appeal to all ages, so if you love LEGO you will love Brick Wonders! This exhibition has visited art galleries, museums and exhibition centres from Italy to England and is returning to Northern Ireland for the first time since 2015.

Don’t miss your chance to see this amazing display at the stunning new Gateway Visitor Centre Antrim.

For full details and bookings visit www.antrimandnewtownabbey/events or call T: 028 9448 1338.

Have you ever thought about tracing your family tree and discovering more about local history, but aren’t sure where to begin?

Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council are delighted to be joining forces once again with Lough Neagh Partnership and the Ulster Historical Society to bring you a free four week course, Family Home and Place beginning Monday 24 February which will help you gain some of the tools and resources for researching your family and local history.

Facilitated by Dr William Roulston, Research Director, Ulster Historical Foundation, you will cover exciting research during these informal classes including Maps; Archives; Census returns; Civil records of births, deaths and marriages; Church records; Valuation records – Griffith’s Valuation; Tithe Valuation; Valuation revision books; Landed estate papers; Wills and testamentary papers and School records. This course will conclude with a visit to the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.

Dr William Roulston holds a PhD in Archaeology from Queen’s University Belfast and has written a number of books, including Fermanagh: History and Society (edited with Eileen Murphy, Dublin, 2004), Researching Scots-Irish Ancestors (Belfast, 2005), Restoration Strabane, 1660-1714 (Dublin, 2007), Three centuries of life in a Tyrone parish: a history of Donagheady from 1600 to 1900 (Strabane, 2010) and Abercorn: The Hamilton’s of Barons Court (Belfast, 2014).

Come along and join us at The Gateway, our stunning new venue on the banks of Antrim Lough Shore Park on Monday 24 February from 7.30pm and find out more about your blood line and the home-grown history of Antrim and beyond. This project is funded as part of the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

For more details and to secure your place on this free course please contact Clotworthy House T: 028 9448 1338 or visit our website www.antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/events

Belfast Zoo’s new Scottish wildcat couple and native species, Oscar and Ossian, provide the zoo with an excellent opportunity to support the conservation of a national species, and they have arrived just in time for Valentine’s!

Ossian, Belfast Zoo’s new Scottish wildcat female, came from the Highlands Wildlife Park in Scotland and was born in May 2019. Oscar, the zoo’s new male, came from Alladale Wilderness Reserve in Scotland and was born in April 2019. Scottish wildcats face intense pressure with numbers continuing to drop rapidly each year, and it is hoped the zoo will be able to play a role in conserving this native species, fight the threat of extinction through breeding and help Scottish wildcat numbers grow.

The main threats affecting Scottish wildcats are hybridisation, disease and accidental persecution. Hybridisation is a term used to describe the cross breeding of pure Scottish wildcats with domesticated tabby or feral cat. Crossbreeding has led to a huge decline in pure Scottish Wildcat numbers in the wild. Disease can be transferred between feral cats and the Scottish wildcats when they cross breed and can cause huge health issues, even death to the Scottish wildcat. Scottish wildcats face intense pressure from farmers, bird keepers, game keepers and other parties due to accidental persecution as they are misidentified as feral cats. The latest addition to Belfast Zoo will provide the zoo with the opportunity to educate all our visitors about Scottish Wildcats and the threats they face. 

Alyn Cairns, Zoo Manager, said ‘It is a pleasure and fantastic opportunity for us to home such an iconic, native species, at Belfast Zoo. The Scottish wildcats face the threat of extinction as numbers diminish to record lows. Belfast Zoo continues to develop native species conservation efforts and with the arrival of the Scottish wildcats we hope that we can support the recovery of this iconic species. We have hopes of taking part in a new breeding programme with wildlife reserve partners in Scotland. It is hoped that the thirdgeneration of kittens from the new Scottish wildcat couple at Belfast Zoo will be released back into the wild. We would like to thank P&O ferries for sponsoring the travel of the Scottish wildcats to Belfast Zoo and look forward to hopefully seeing some adorable Scottish wildcat kittens soon!’’

For a chance to see love blossom between Oscar and Ossian, visit the zoo for a ‘purrfect’ Valentine’s Day out with your ‘otter’ half on 14 and 15 February and avail of the 2-for-1admissions offer, follow the love trail and grab a memento with zoo love bird photography offers, or if you’re single and ready to ‘Flamingle’ check out the zoo singles offer on 16 February.

For more information on the zoo’s events and Valentines weekend please visit: http://www.belfastzoo.co.uk/news-and-events/events/Events-5583.aspx.