The Ards and North Down Pipe Band and Drum Major
Championships will take place on Saturday 11 May 2019 at Newtownards Airport,
from 11am – 5pm.
Ian Burrows (Project Manager at the Northern Ireland branch of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association) pictured at Newtownards Airport with Scrabo Tower in the background. Picture: Paul Moane
Ards and North Down Borough Council, in association
with the Northern Ireland branch of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association,
will host what will be a superb day out for the whole family.
Come along and see the world’s best Pipe Band and
Drum Majors in action together with more than 1,000 musicians in 35 pipe bands
contesting this year’s Ards and North Down Pipe Band and Drum Major
Championships.
There will be
plenty to do for the whole family with face painting, children’s highland games,
food stalls and a mini funfair* (*minimal charge applies). Plus, there will be
a colourful display of talent in the Highland Dancing competition!
It promises to be a day of music, colour and
pageantry that will culminate in a spectacular Grand Finale March Past and Salute
to the Chieftain, before the presentation of prizes.
You could even make a
weekend of it and explore the area in and around Newtownards. Go shopping in
the town centre which is filled with lovely gift shops, boutique shops and cosy
cafes – perfect for those who love to shop or simply browse.
Maybe even make use of
the fantastic facilities at the newly opened Ards Blair Mayne Leisure and
Wellbeing Complex where those tired feet would definitely enjoy a trip to
the relaxing surroundings of the spa.
Just outside the town
centre, Mount Stewart is a beautiful spot to take a walk or enjoy a picnic
while the view from Scrabo Tower is simply breathtaking!
For more information, visitardsandnorthdown.com/pipebands
or rspbani.org, or call 028 9127 0069.
Cathedral
Quarter Arts Festival Belfast, 2– 12 May.
One of the sassiest, brassiest and classiest acts in the Irish cultural
calendar – the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival is pulling the stops out
for its 20th birthday. Rufus Wainwright, Echo and the
Bunnymen, Anna Calvi, and Teenage Fanclub are among some of the star names
descending on Belfast’s historic cultural quarter this year. The 11-day extravaganza will feature over 100 events
in over 20 venues across the city centre, as the Festival celebrates its
20th anniversary with a bumper programme of live music, comedy,
literature, theatre, film, visual art and more.
Big
Arts Weekend Cushendun, 3 – 6 May. Cushendun’s
Big Arts Weekend is a four day festival of music, drama, poetry,
exhibitions, workshops and family fun in one of the most beautiful villages
in the Glens of Antrim. The programme has something for everyone and many
of the events are free. While you’re there make the most
of your trip and visit the spectacular caves featured in Game of Thrones®.
Dunluce
Castle and the Giants Causeway Sea Safari Trip, Portstewart, 5 May. Take a journey along the
magical causeway coastline with Aquaholics and witness the stunning scenery.
Starting from Portstewart harbour, will sail along the Causeway Coast to see
the spectacular Dunluce Castle and the Giant’s Causeway en route. As well as the amazing coastline, be on
the lookout for dolphins, seals and a wide range of seabirds. The tour
lasts two hours so don’t forget to wrap up.
Deep
RiverRock Belfast City Marathon, Belfast,
5 May. Launched in 1982, the
Belfast Marathon makes history in 2019 by moving to a Sunday for the first
time ever. The event is expected to bring over 18,000 to Belfast. Though the vast majority of entrants are
local, registrations come from the USA,
Japan, Australia, across Europe and beyond. Whether you’re a marathon
athlete, keen walker, fundraiser, interested in athletics at school or
simply love a challenge, there is an event to suit you.
South
Down Craft Collective Monthly Market
Ballynahinch, 4 May. Taking place on the first Saturday of each month at
the Market House, Ballynahinch, the markets showcase the work of local
artists, makers and food producers from South Down. Each month also has
different guest artists and makers. There’s a wide variety of stalls throughout
the large foyer area and in the lovely Vincent Fulham Room, and a pop-up
cafe serving tasty homemade treats and that well deserved cuppa.
The
Last Ulster Schooner – The Sailing Ship Result, Holywood, 29 April – 5 January 2020. The Result was built in Carrickfergus
Shipyard, Co Antrim, for the coastal cargo trade. She is the last Ulster built ship left
out of the hundreds of small sailing ships that plied their trade around
the coasts of Britain and Ireland. Follow
her journey through the decades in this new exhibition and discover more
about her life as a Q-ship in the First World War fighting German
submarines, her starring role on the silver screen and her final voyage to
where she now sits overlooking Belfast Lough.
The
Echlinville Distillery Tour Tasting, Newtownards,
29 April – 28 September. The Echlinville Distillery Tour and Tasting
offers a real insight into the workings of Northern Ireland’s first newly
licensed distillery for over 125 years. Includes refreshments on arrival
at the historic Echlinville Manor House, a tour of the distillery
incorporating their state-of-the-art stillhouse and maturation warehouse,
followed by a tasting which includes two drinks of your choice from
Echlinville’s range of premium spirits. A great day out for any spirits
enthusiast.
Ramble
on Rathlin, Ballycastle, 4 – 5 May. Join a
local guide and historian from Nine Glens Walking Tours on a short walk
discovering the island’s history, heritage and industry. The gentle
circular walk lasts 1.5 hours, finishing at the harbour just outside the
Manor House and makes for a memorable day. The tour runs every Saturday
and Sunday between April and September.
Causeway
Coast Challenge Walk Bushmills, 5 May. The annual
Causeway Coast Challenge Walk for 2019 is set to run again this year on Sunday
5th May. This event is on its 41st year of operation and is run by
local club Bannside Ramblers. The event continues to attract walkers from all
over Ireland and further afield. Visitors to the Causeway Coast and Glen’s
region can participate in the 30km long distance Challenge Walk along spectacular
Causeway Coast cliff path.
The
Tain Tapestries – Louis Le Brocquy, Armagh, 29
April – 5 May. One of Ireland’s foremost
artists, Louis le Brocquy’s work is exhibited across the world, from New York’s
Guggenheim to the Tate in London. This
wonderful exhibition showcases his illustrations to accompany the poet Thomas
Kinsella’s translation of the epic Ulster Cycle narrative the Táin Bó Cúailnge
(the Cattle Raid of Cooley). It affords
a rare opportunity to experience le Brocquy’s powerful combination of visual
and narrative skills through the medium of tapestry, together with contextual
information about this particular body of work.
Charity Walk & Run
in aid of the USPCA Animal Hospital Newry, Saturday 4th May. Registration from
11.00am with the walk starting at 11.30am. Walk, jog or run for animals on the
4th of May. The walk will start from the Animal Hospital and continue down the
Newry Tow Path, before returning back to the centre with refreshments provided at the finish line.
Armagh
Immerse yourself in life as an ancient
Celt as Navan Fort in Armagh prepares for the Beltaine Festival of Fire; a time
of purification and transition. Saturday 4th – Monday 6th May, 11.00am
to 4.00pm daily. Normal admission charges apply.
Fermanagh
Enjoy the first May Bank Holiday Weekend, at Castle Archdale
with live entertainment by Strule River String Band on Saturday 2.00pm to 4.00pm,
CC Cooper Country Saturday Evening and Praise in the Park Sunday from 3.00pm.
Tyrone
Buckle up as Jamboree in
the Park is back! Ireland’s
biggest indoor country music festival returns to the Ecclesville Centre,
Fintona on Saturday 4th May
for an unmissable night of Country Music with Derek Ryan, Cliona Hagan and
All Folk’d Up. Doors open from 7.00pm.
Derry
The
sensational new Stage Musical “My Sweetheart and Me” is a
rip-roaring, funny romantic comedy set during the Summer of Love 1967, in
and around a popular cornerstone of the community Public house (The
Suntree bar) in the fictional sleepy town of Cheerysville, Ireland. Riverside Theatre Coleraine, Saturday 4th May.
Antrim
Cushendun’s
Big Arts Weekend is a four day festival, from 3rd to 6th
May, of music, drama, poetry, art, walks, workshops and family fun in one of
the most beautiful villages in Glens of Antrim. The programme has something for
everyone and many of the events are free.
Belfast
Join Poetry NI and The
Crescent as they present Purely Poetry Open Mic Night on Friday 3rd
May. Welcoming readers of all styles and
experiences, from first timers to old pros, Purely Poetry Open Mic Night
fosters an open, laid back and encouraging atmosphere for people to read their
work, and to listen in comfort. Quite simply, we want your poems, and they want
you to enjoy the experience of reading them!
For more details on these events and to add your events free go to whatsonni.com. Follow us on twitter @whatsonNI and on facebook at fb.com/www.whatsonni for news, competitions and what’s on near you.
Newtownards is preparing for a puppet invasion next month when the Ards Puppet Festival returns to Ards Arts Centre and Conway Square.
Ruby and Daniel Bingham, catch up with some quirky characters at the launch of Ards Puppet Festival 2019. The festival will be held in Ards Arts Centre and Conway Square on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 May. Characters from The Beat Hotel, kindly lent by Filmtrip Ltd.
The popular festival which is taking place on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 May presents a full-programme of puppet mayhem and will be fun for all ages!
popular festival which is taking place on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 May presents a full-programme of puppet mayhem and will be fun for all ages!
The popular festival which is taking place on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 May presents a full-programme of puppet mayhem and will be fun for all ages!
Over the
two days, Ards Arts Centre and Conway Square will be buzzing with an eclectic
mix of scheduled performances, free puppet workshops and plenty of madcap
puppet shenanigans! Expect puppets in all shapes and sizes, from socks to
strings and even glow in the dark!
The Festival
is thrilled to welcome Lyngo Theatre to this year’s programme to perform their ‘Tom
Thumb’ and ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ shows at Ards Arts Centre. Not your usual
puppet shows – these classic fairy tales will be brought to life with
fascinating and magical performances by Patrick Lynch of Cbeebies fame. The
whole family will be entertained!
Clydebuilt
Theatre will make a welcome return to the festival with their adorable ‘Lost
Bear’ production and the much-loved Banyan Theatre will also return with their
enchanting show ‘The Hedgehog Prince’. All scheduled shows cost £3 per ticket,
advanced booking is required.
There’s
lots happening outside in Conway Square too with a full-programme of
street-theatre, walkabouts and puppet workshops. Watch the ‘Billy Goats Gruff’ as
they tussle with the grumpy troll, queue up at the ‘Rat Choc Chip’ ice-cream
van and get more than you’ve bargained for, enjoy a ‘Teddy Bears Picnic’ or
traditional ‘Punch and Judy’. More creative visitors can get stuck into puppet
making at the free interactive workshops where children can build their very
own puppets, with help from professional artists.
One of the
programme highlights will be performances by the Budapest Marionettes.
Performing for the first time in Northern Ireland, Bence Sarkadi is a Hungarian
marionette artist / puppeteer who travels the globe, entertaining crowds with
his award-winning, one-man show. Prepare to be amazed as Bence’s mastery brings
his puppets to life. All Conway Square performances are free of charge.
From 13 – 24 May, the Puppet
Scavenger Hunt will take place around Ards Town Centre. Follow the clues and
spot the crazy characters to win a prize and be in with a chance of winning a
Family Pass to the Black Adventure Zone at the Ards Blair Mayne Wellbeing and
Leisure Complex.
Speaking about the festival, Amy
McKelvey, Community Arts Development Officer with Ards and North Down Borough
Council said; “As
always, we are thrilled to be launching our programme for Ards Puppet Festival
2019 with plenty of unique performances to entertain the whole family.
Alongside festival favourites like Banyan and Clydebuilt Puppet companies, we
are very excited to be welcoming the Budapest Marionettes and Beautiful
Creatures to the festival and to Northern Ireland, for the first time.”
Ards Puppet Festival takes place
from 26 – 27 May in Conway Square Newtownards. Copies of the Puppet Festival
programme are also available from Ards Arts Centre, North Down Museum or any of
the Council’s Visitor Information Centres.
For more information, to book
tickets or to download the programme go to: www.ardsarts.com
Join
us on Friday 7 June at Theatre at The Mill, Newtownabbey for the Simon and
Garfunkel Story – 50th Anniversary Celebration.
Has it really been 50 years since the most successful Folk/Rock duo
of all time recorded their first no1 hit single ‘The Sound of Silence’?
Direct from a week long run in London’s West End and performing
to SOLD OUT audiences in over 50 countries worldwide, The Simon &
Garfunkel Story is back. This show
is currently the biggest and the most successful theatre show celebrating the
lives and career of Folk/Rock sensation Simon and Garfunkel.
Featuring a cast of talented West End actor- musicians, their performance
will take audiences back through the Groovy times of the 1960’s. It
tells the story of both Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel from their humble
beginnings as Rock n Roll duo ‘Tom and Jerry’, right through to their massive
success, dramatic break-up and finishing with a stunning recreation of the 1981
Central Park reformation concert.
The show features 1960’s photos and film footage whilst a full
live band perform all their hits including
Mrs Robinson, Cecilia, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Homeward Bound, Sound of
Silence and many more!
From Sydney to Seattle and now set for Newtownabbey, this is an
evening not to be missed!
Isosceles
Theatre Company returns to Bangor’s Studio 1A this Thursday after a sell-out
performance of Murder, Just What The Doctor Ordered in 2018 for this
fast-paced adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel that has
enthralled audiences throughout Britain and Ireland, The Strange Case of Dr
Jekyll & Mr Hyde
Armagh
Egg
and Spoon is an interactive romp through the seasons where you come in and out
of a magic circle and get to open all the gifts of nature. Percy and April get
you settled on comfortable cushions and introduce you to Birdy, still hiding in
his glowing egg. Market Place Theatre, Saturday 27th April.
Fermanagh
Fundraising choir
Caritas will perform at the Ardhowen Theatre this Friday 26th April, singing a
variety of works from classical to pop, Abba, Disney, Musicals…music for every
taste! Caritas will be joined on the night by Claire McGrath (traditional Irish
tutor) and her Grúpa Ceoil from St Aidan’s Derrylin.
Tyrone
Learn with Revolve Comics how to tell your story through
comics this Saturday at Ranfurly House Dungannon. Hints and tips that all the
top professionals use. How to draw, how to layout a story, and bring it to life
with colour! If you are interested in comics or storytelling then this is right
up your street for a taster of how to make awesome comics.
Derry
Run DC returns on Sunday 28th April at The Workspace Recreation Centre in Draperstown with a 10k run, a 5k run and a 5k walk. Every runner will receive a medal and every runner registered before 24th March will also get a race vest. Every walker gets a medal. Every pre-registered runner will get a goody bag thanks to O’Kanes Chemist and Revive Active. Limited entries are available on the day so arrive early!
Antrim
Join RSPB NI warden and islander Liam McFaul to explore the
Roonivoolin reserve on the southern arm of Rathlin Island this Saturday. You’ll
enjoy stunning scenery as far as the eye can see, including views of Fair Head
and the Mull of Kintyre, and with a bit of luck you’ll also spot Irish hares.
Belfast
DU Dance (NI) are once
again delighted to present Unanimous – the eighth platform event showcasing
great new youth dance theatre at The MAC, Belfast Sunday 28 April 2019.
This event brings together some of the best youth dance groups from across the
island of Ireland with other inspiring companies in a non-competitive arena.
For
more details on these events and to add your events free go to whatsonni.com.
Follow us on twitter @whatsonNI and on facebook at fb.com/www.whatsonni for
news, competitions and what’s on near you.
This Easter Whitehead Railway Museum will be open for an extended run including both Easter Monday and Tuesday. Opening times each day are 10am to 4pm with conducted tours at 11am, 1pm and 2.30pm. Self-guided tours are also available.
Whitehead Railway Museum will be playing host to the Easter Eggspress special from Belfast. The RPSI steam train, hauled by recently restored engine No. 131, will be operating Monday April 22, making two round trips from Belfast. The train departs Lanyon Place at 11.30am and again at 2.30pm and will be at Whitehead Railway Museum for 45 minutes from 12.15pm and again from 3.15pm.
An extra attraction for people living in the East Antrim area is the Belfast Shopper – a trip by steam train that gives you a full day in Belfast – where you can shop, visit some of the attractions and have a leisurely lunch. The train leaves Whitehead Railway Museum at 9.55am on April 22 and returns from Lanyon Place at 5pm, and you can sip a cup of coffee as the train skirts the shoreline of Belfast Lough. The train calls to collect passengers at Carrickfergus at 10.10am.
Acting General Manager at Whitehead Railway Museum, Siobhan
Dillon, said: “We are thrilled to announce our timetable for the Easter weekend
at Whitehead Railway Museum. Any time where we can open our doors to the public
for an extended period feels special, and we wanted to mark the occasion with
as many activities as possible.
“We had a record number of visitors on April 6 when we held a 100th
birthday party for our little blue shunting engine No. 3BG Guinness. Now we’re
keen to build on that memorable occasion and have a record Easter. We are
offering lots of different attractions which will appeal not just to railway
enthusiasts but to the public looking for a day out with a difference.”
The highly acclaimed Edwardian Tea Room will be offering a special
Easter menu with a range of new dishes over the weekend. The Tea Room opens from
10.15am serving homemade lunches, snacks and teas and coffees. For more
information about the Museum and to book tickets for the Easter Eggspress steam
train, visit https://www.steamtrainsireland.com/
Northern Ireland boasts an irresistible collection of places to stay including beautiful B&Bs, luxurious spa hotels and great value self-catering properties. Discover NI has selected the best offers of the week to help you plan a short break.
One night
B&B, Ashbrook House B&B, Co. Tyrone from £45 per person sharing.
Enjoy
a romantic getaway to the quiet countryside for a break to relax and recharge. A
friendly welcome awaits you at Ashbrook House, a family-run, new build Bed and Breakfast
offering a very high standard of accommodation. Stroll around the grounds and meet the alpacas
Tom and Teddy as well as miniature horses and chickens. The B&B is nestled in a tranquil rural
setting and conveniently located just 15 minutes from the historic town of
Dungannon. This package includes bed
& breakfast, a bottle of Prosecco and a cream tea on arrival and full use
of the lounge. To book call 028 8555 7158.
Offer available until 30th April.
Two nights B&B, Armagh City Hotel, Co. Armagh from£245 per room
Enjoy an Easter break with the family at the Armagh City Hotel. With panoramic views over a historic
landscape, the hotel is perfectly positioned as the ideal place to soak up the
sights and sounds of Ireland’s oldest city. Guests can enjoy delicious modern Irish
cuisine in the Friary Restaurant and unwind in the state of the art health and
leisure club. This offer is based on 2
adults and 2 children sharing and includes a two night stay with full Irish
Breakfast each morning, use of the hotel’s Leisure facilities, a £50 meal
voucher, and a family ticket to either Armagh Planetarium or Navan Centre &
Fort. To book call 028 3751 8888. Offer available until 26th April.
One night
B&B ‘stay and play’ deal, Millbrook Lodge Hotel, Co. Down from £125 per room
Just a short
distance from the scenic Mourne Mountains, Millbrook Lodge is a family owned
hotel, where the charm of a beautiful Georgian building has been carefully
integrated with modern comfort and amenities. The sixteen individually designed
bedrooms offer superior comfort and convenience, while the surrounding six
acres of beautifully landscaped gardens provide a setting of perfect tranquillity
for photographs. This package is based on two persons sharingand includes a one night stay with
breakfast as well as one round of golf in either the Spa Golf Club or St
Patrick’s Golf Club. To book call 028 9756 2828. Offer available until 31st
December.
World
Tattoo Festival, Lisburn, 26 – 28 April. Celebrating tattoo culture
both nationally and internationally, the festival at the Eikon Exhibition
Centre will feature over 300 leading international and local artists,
including celebrity tattooist Megan Massacre, world famous multi-skilled
performance group the Fuel Girls, international performers, musicians, art exhibits, and much more.
The
Belfast Music Tour, Belfast, 27 April. The Belfast Music Tour is a
journey across the city revealing the music, the artists and the landscape
that help bring Belfast’s unique character to life. The two-hour bus trip starts at the
beautifully restored Ulster Hall, home to the Ulster Orchestra and host to
many iconic acts over the years, including Led Zeppelin’s first ever
performance of Stairway to Heaven in 1971. This is definitely a tour that
anyone interested in music will want to know about.
Easter
Fun Day, Limavady, 22 April. Experience a fun and unique family day
out this Easter at Foylehov Activity Centre. There are some great prizes
to be won in our Easter Egg Hunt and lots of fun Easter themed team and
mini-games. Take part in action-packed activities including Laser Combat,
Laser Clay Pigeon Shooting and Football Golf.
Pizza
and Pottery Night, Bangor, 25 April. The popular Pizza & Pottery nights
begin with a class where a potter will give a demo of throwing a pot on
the wheel before teaching a hand building class. After making your very own
pot you will be shown through to the café, to enjoy handmade artisan
pizza. Bring your own bubbly or wine too!
Variations
on a Rococo Theme, Omagh, 25 April. ‘On Your Doorstep’ is a very
special opportunity to catch a full symphony orchestra in the intimate
surroundings of your local arts theatre. Featuring pieces by Tchaikovsky,
Mendelssohn and Bruch, the programme brings the Ulster Orchestra’s passion
and magic to every corner of Northern Ireland. With world class soloists
and guest conductors, there’s no better time than to give the Orchestra a
go.
Rampage,
Magherafelt, 27–28 April. Jungle NI host their third “Rampage Weekender” event,
one of Ireland’s coolest obstacle adventure races. Get ready to leap into some gut busting obstacles,
lashings of mud, with a fantastic picturesque location, followed by an
awesome after party and camping.
Easter
at HMS Caroline, Belfast, 19-28 April. Explore
the famous ship through the exciting Easter Trail inspired by Blücher the
Bunny, a naughty rabbit who lived on board during the First World War. Find out more about life at sea for the
men who lived on board, test your skills with the interactive exhibits and
visit the Mess Deck Café for some tasty treats.
Easter
Celebrations at the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh,
21–23 April. Stallholders, shopkeepers, travelling journeymen and a host
of characters will keep you amused for hours on end this Easter as you
stroll down Ulster Street witnessing the sights, smells and sounds of a
busy market day in late 19th century Ulster. Try your hand at traditional
crafts, enjoy storytelling sessions, taste seasonal treats, giggle at
Punch and Judy, have a go at egg and spoon races or take horse and cart
rides.
Cruise
the Lough at Crom Estate, Enniskillen, 22 April. See a different side
to the spectacular Crom Estate from the waters of Lough Erne. Cruise around in Crom’s 100 year old
traditional craft, taking in the beauty and serenity of the Fermanagh
Lakelands. This event is weather
dependent and booking is essential.
Bubble
Show Milkshake And The Bubble Flower, Belfast, 22–23 April. A brand-new
show, combining bubble skills and theatrical storytelling, featuring Dr
Bubble and Milkshake. Every year
tens of thousands of families and children flock to revisit their
favourite characters in their latest adventures in different cities all
over the globe. It’s the ideal family show, perfect for all ages.
The sun is set to shine on Bangor this Easter weekend with lots on offer to excite and entertain all the family.
Easter Saturday
will be the biggest day of the weekend with Peter Rabbit making appearances
throughout the day at the Town Hall where children can take part in crafts and
workshops, a warrior assault course and lots more activities to entertain kids
of all ages.
At Ward Park’s
Bandstand Hotch Potch Tiny Tours will celebrate the magic of nature with
installations and storytelling and stilt walking like you’ve never seen it
before. Just cross the lawns from at Band Stand at Bangor Library, storytelling
sessions will take place throughout the day.
You’ll be able
to get your skates on for the roller disco at Project 24 starting at 1pm and
running throughout the day until 5pm. Roller skates are provided and Queen’s
Parade will come alive with the sounds of disco!
On Easter
Sunday, the Ulster Youth Orchestra will set-up their instruments at the Band
Stand at Ward Park putting on a performance between 3-5pm. Bring along a picnic
and enjoy the music al fresco!
Peter Rabbit
returns to Ward Park on Easter Monday making appearances throughout the day
alongside Hotch Potch Tiny Tours and interactive dance fun and exercise with
Jump, Jiggle and Jive. ‘Shed of Stories’ pop-up library will be bringing books
to life with storytelling.
The pop-up
roller disco will open once again at Project 24 skating to the sounds of the
70s, 80s, 90s and noughties while an Easter trail and crafts will take place at
North Down Museum.
Throughout the
weekend Main Street and High Street will have Easter themed fun in conjunction
with Bangor Chamber and Main Street My Street.
There’s a packed
line-up of events taking place throughout Easter weekend in Bangor. For full
details go to www.visitardsandnorthdown.com
