Author: whatsonni

Power NI ‘Light Up’ Enchanted Winter Garden as official sponsors of this year’s Spectacular Christmas Event. Mayor Alderman John Smyth is joined by Stephen McCullly Managing Director (Power NI) and Sarah McIlmoyle at the official launch at Antrim Castle Gardens.

Northern Ireland’s Premier Christmas Event, Enchanted Winter Garden returns to the award-winning Antrim Castle Gardens from Friday 6 to Sunday 22 December from 4.30-9.30pm, where the gardens are transformed into a magical world of enchantment, bigger and brighter than before with an array of dazzling attractions to brighten up your Christmas.

Our star attraction ‘The Big Wheel’ will keep on turning offering breath taking views over Antrim Town and beyond. Other attractions such as the Victorian Helter Skelter, Victorian Wave Swinger and Wonderland Wood, The Enchanted Express and Mallow pit will all make a welcome return spreading warmth during the festive season.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Alderman John Smyth commented, “Each year Enchanted Winter Garden exceeds all expectations, attracting thousands of visitors to our Borough. I am thrilled to have Power NI as the headline sponsor and with their support we will collaboratively light up lives across Northern Ireland in the magical run up to Christmas”.

Stephen McCullly Managing Director (Power NI) commented “I am delighted with the opportunity given to Power NI to be associated with this Fantastic Christmas Event in the heart of Antrim.  Antrim Town is particularly special to our Company given that we are a proud local employer with over 100 employees located here”.

An Evening of Inclusive Enchantment will return on Wednesday 18 December with reduced numbers, lighting and sound levels, Sensory & Quiet room, ideal for children and adults with additional needs.

Tickets for Enchanted Winter Garden go on sale on Friday 13 September (lucky for some) from 10am from enchantedwintergarden.com or in person from Clotworthy House, The Old Courthouse Theatre or Theatre at The Mill, or by telephone 028 9448 1338.

This year we are offering a discounted rate for all advance bookings; £4 per adult, £2 per child and £10 for a family ticket (2 adults & 2 children) or alternatively £6 per adult, £3 per child and £15 for a family ticket (if purchased at the gate). So be a bright spark and secure your tickets in advance for this Christmas extravaganza.

We are also offering a special discount for advance token sales (required for the main attractions) which are also available from enchantedwintergarden.com.

Session times for this year’s event will run every 30 minutes from 4.30pm finishing at 7pm however you can arrive up to a maximum of 45 minutes after your session time with last admission 7.45pm.

Get your Christmas off to an energetic start with a visit to Enchanted Winter Garden where memories are made, lighting up lives across Northern Ireland and beyond. It’s going to be ‘Powerful’.

No Parking on site. Free Parking in Town Centre Car Parks, including accessible parking.

Please note Tokens are required for some of the main attractions including the Big Wheel.

Flowerfield Arts Centre is giving you the chance to see the all-time classic film ‘The Quiet Man’ for free later this month.

Two screenings will take place on Wednesday 25^th September, including a ‘dementia friendly’ option at 11am aimed at older people and community groups and a later show at 7pm which is open to all.

Directed by John Ford, who can forget the battle of the sexes between American Sean Thornton (John Wayne) as he returns to his Irish roots and homeland and the feisty Mary Kate Danaher (Maureen O’Hara). A comedy romance, this film charmed international audiences with its heart-warming depiction of rural Ireland

Due to its running time (129 minutes) there will be a short interval with tea, coffee and refreshments.

This project was made possible through funding from the National Lottery awarded to the British Film Institute (BFI) and managed by Film Hub NI, Queens University, Belfast

Although admission is free, please reserve your space by calling 028 7083 1400. Group bookings welcome.

EXTRA DATE: Waterfront Hall, Belfast: 29 November

ON SALE NOW!

REWORKED EP1 OUT NOW VIA POLYDOR RECORDS

Snow Patrol confirm their Reworked tour for Dublin’s Olympia Theatre on 26 November 2019 and Waterfront Hall, Belfast on 28 November 2019 – EXTRA BELFAST DATE NOW ADDED.

On this tour, Snow Patrol will play re-imagined versions of tracks from their catalogue, as well as new songs from their Reworked album.

The band’s forthcoming Reworked album, which includes three new songs as well as 13 re-envisioned versions of classic songs, and celebrates Snow Patrol’s 25th anniversary as a band. Snow Patrol’s Reworked is available for pre-order here on all formats via:  https://snowpatrol.com/

Snow Patrol’s Reworked EP1 is available now via Polydor Records. The EP includes “reworked” versions of “Crack The Shutters,” “Chocolate,” and “Open Your Eyes,” as well as the previously released new song, “Time Won’t Go Slowly.” Snow Patrol’s Reworked EP1 is available here.

Snow Patrol’s album Wildness, their first studio album in seven years, was released last year reaching #2 in the UK album charts and going gold in the process. The band recently performed to 35,000 fans in Bangor, Northern Ireland at their own festival Ward Park 3, which celebrated the music of Northern Ireland with all 11 artists on the bill from NI, and featured a career defining performance by the band, including a special guest appearance from Bono.

This year Snow Patrol’s hit Chasing Cars was announced by the PPL as the most played song on UK radio of the 21^st Century.

Over a twenty-five year career, Snow Patrol have carved out a unique place for themselves. Since their 1998 debut, Songs for Polarbears, the band have racked up an impressive number of critical and commercial accolades, including over 17 million global album sales, 1+ billion global track streams, 5 UK Platinum Albums, an Ivor Novello award and have been nominated for a Grammy and Mercury Music Prize.
www.snowpatrol.com
www.facebook.com/snowpatrol
www.instagram.com/snowpatrol
www.twitter.com/snowpatrol
www.youtube.com/snowpatrol

TICKETS FOR THE WATERFRONT HALL ON SALE NOW

Tickets for the Waterfront Hall are available:

In person at the Ulster Hall box office

By Telephone: 028 9033 4455
Book On Line: www.waterfront.co.uk / www.ulsterhall.co.uk

In person: From 100 Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide 
By Telephone (24 Hour): Northern Ireland – 0844 847 2455
Book On Line: www.ticketmaster.ie

A new Bangor dog park was officially opened near the Seacliff Road during the recent ‘Summer Fun for Cool Canines’ event that was organised by the Dogs Trust charity in conjunction with Ards and North Down Borough Council.

With the hot sunshine beating down, plenty of dogs and their owners were already making use of the enclosed park. The new facility allows dogs to roam freely without fear of escape and owners can relax on benches while keeping an eye on their four-legged friends.

All received a warm welcome from members of the Dogs Trust charity who raised awareness about the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars while providing practical tips to keep their four-legged friends cool and safe during warm days.

Even the dogs were supplied with free doggy ice cream, water and enjoyed a pool party!

Mayor of Ards and North Down, Alderman Bill Keery, said:

“The new dog park is a fantastic new facility for dog owners in Bangor. It’s perfectly located near the coastal path and will give owners the chance to let their dogs run freely in a safe environment.”

“Officially opening the park alongside the Dogs Trust charity event provided a great opportunity to raise dog owners’ awareness about the dangers that their pets face on hot days.”

Just a few minutes in a hot car can prove fatal for dogs and yet every year animal welfare charities and the police receive thousands of reports of animals being left alone in cars on warm days. The summer is now coming to a close but dog owners should always be wary of leaving their dogs in hot environments.

Laura McAnea, Campaigns Manager at Dogs Trust, said:

“Many people still believe that it’s OK to leave a dog in a car on a warm day if the windows are left open or if they’re parked in the shade, but the truth is, it’s not.”

“A car can become as hot as an oven very quickly, even when it doesn’t feel that warm and a dog can die in a hot car in 20 minutes. When it’s 22 degrees outside, in a car it can reach an unbearable 47 degrees within the hour.

Dogs Trust and the Council advise that if you see a dog in distress in a hot car, call your local Animal Welfare Officer who will liaise with the PSNI to organise the rescue of the dog. This will help ensure the dogs can be removed from the car as quickly as possible, in a safe and legal manner.

To find out more about caring for dogs in hot weather, visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.

TREAT yourself to a luxurious Autumn break at the Culloden Estate & Spa and take advantage of the Rest & Revive package from only £100pps*.

Enjoy luxurious overnight accommodation, complimentary room upgrade, a selection of tasty local treats, full Irish breakfast and use of the spa facilities.

This magnificent hotel, recently named one of the top 10 snazziest hotels in Ireland by leading independent Irish travel and culture website, Ireland Before You Die, 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, 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 or call 028 9047 1066.

*Terms and conditions apply. Subject to availability.

Excitement is building as this weekend sees Donaghadee ‘Light Up’ with a fantastic programme of events from 5-8 September.

The festivities commence with a scrumptious Taste of Donaghadee food tour on Thursday 5 September at 6pm. The tour will include visits to the new Copeland Distillery as well as Bull & Claw, Harbour and Company, Lighthouse Bar and Grill, plus Pier 36.

A ‘deelicious’ menu has been constructed by the town’s top chefs with a tantalising course at each venue satisfying even the most discerning of food connoisseurs. Limited tickets are still available at £62pp.

If you fancy setting sail on the ocean and listening to ‘stories of old’ told through popular sea shanties, you can climb aboard at 7pm on Friday (6 Sept) or at 2pm on Saturday (7 Sept) and Sunday (8 Sept). Tickets cost £12 per adult and £6 per child.

Or if you prefer to keep your feet firmly on dry land, the Historic Walking Tour of Donaghadee will entertain and inform by giving you a glimpse into the town’s fascinating past. Hear tales of Vikings, the 12th century Norman outpost and the slave ship that sailed into the harbour during the 18th century.

These one-hour tours leave from Donaghadee Community Centre on Friday (6pm), Saturday (4pm) and Sunday (3.30pm). Tickets costs £3 per person.

Saturday evening in Donaghadee will be buzzing when the Red Hot Chilli Pipers take to the stage in The Commons with a free show that’s so hot, it reportedly carries its own health warning!

From 7.30pm to 9.30pm, the Scottish bagpipes and drums will raise the cooling September temperatures a notch higher as they entertain the crowds before a fantastic fireworks finale provides the perfect send-off for festival-goers.

FREE buses will operate from The Commons to Ards and Bangor Bus stations following the event at 10pm and 10.30pm. This is an outdoor event so please dress accordingly.

Please note that The Commons car park will be closed from midday on Friday (6 Sept) until 10am on Sunday (8 Sept), with no exception.

The concert and fireworks display are free to attend but booking for food, boat and walking tours is essential. Tickets are available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/ardsandnorthdown.