Author: whatsonni

Belfast is the place to be this St Patrick’s Day, with a packed programme of events from Belfast City Council, stretching right across the city, from 1-17 March.

Following the annual Spar Craic 10K race, leaving from City Hall at 9am, the city centre will be the setting for the annual St Patrick’s Day parade on Tuesday 17 March.

Starting at City Hall at 1.30pm, this year’s parade will celebrate the legends of St Patrick, as well as the city’s diversity, with local dance troupes, schools, community groups and musicians.

Expect colourful costumes, music, dance and carnival characters as the cavalcade makes its way down Chichester Street, Victoria Street, High Street, Castle Place and Donegall Place, before returning to City Hall.

Belfast TradFest have added an extra day to their popular St Patrick’s Music Festival, now with five days of events from 13-17 March.

Enjoy a multi-cultural, cross-community celebration of all aspects of traditional music and song – a great taster ahead of this summer’s Fleadh Cheoil.

Following the parade on Tuesday 17 March, head to the festival village in the Cathedral Quarter (1pm-5pm) for Highland piping competitions, set and céili dancing, pilgrimage walks, bodhrán circles, a trad picnic and an afternoon of family fun, with the main stage in Writers’ Square and an acoustic stage in St Anne’s Square.

Ticketed highlights include Dougie MacLean and Ursula Burns, followed by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh Band and Andy Irvine, both at Mandela Hall (Saturday 14 March), a Pipe Band Extravaganza at City Hall (Sunday 15 March), the Michael McGoldrick Trio and Music Generation Cross Border Folk Orchestra at the Ulster Hall (Monday 16 March) and a special St Patrick’s Day concert at The MAC on Tuesday 17 March, with The Bow Brothers and the Aoife Scott Band.

Féile an Phobail will also be hosting world-class Irish traditional music and workshops in venues across the city from 10-17 March.

The popular Féile Trad Trail will include over 100 sessions, featuring some of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians.

St George’s Market will share St Patrick’s Day craic on Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 March, with live traditional music across both market days, along with special trader offers and family fun.

Among the acts performing will be musicians from Ards CCÉ, who are partnering with the council to host Fleadh Cheoil.

Spraoi Cois Lao – the biggest Irish language family fun day of its kind – is also making a return to Custom House Square on Saturday 7 March, 1pm-4pm.

Organised by Conradh na Gaeilge and Féile an Phobail, it offers a packed afternoon of activities, with live music, dance performances, Zumba, a céili mór, taster sessions for beginners and food stalls – all provided through the medium of Irish.

As part of this year’s St Patrick’s programme, Seachtain na Gaeilge le Energia – an international festival celebrating Irish language and culture – also takes place from 1-17 March.

The festival provides opportunities to enjoy Irish through a programme of entertaining and fun events, with activities for both learners and fluent speakers.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly, said: “St Patrick’s Day is growing in popularity year on year in Belfast, as both residents and visitors take the opportunity to enjoy a celebration of the traditional arts, culture and heritage that shape our city.

“Working in partnership with festival organisers and cultural and arts organisations has really opened up what we can offer around St Patrick’s Day, enabling us to provide a broad programme of events and activities and creating a festival that is welcoming, vibrant and inclusive.

“This year’s programme offers something for everyone to enjoy, whether it’s live music, a day out with the family at the parade, a walk or tour to learn more about the life of St Patrick or the chance to try your own hand at traditional instruments. I’m looking forward to sharing in the celebrations and exploring what’s on offer from 1-17 March.”

For more info on St Patrick’s Day events, including dates, times and ticket info for music performances, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/stpatricks

Get ready for a weekend bursting with imagination! Young Aspects is happening in Bangor on Friday 27 February – Sunday 1 March, bringing an exciting programme of workshops, events and hands-on activities designed to inspire young minds and ignite a love of stories.

Organised by Ards and North Down Borough Council, this year’s festival transforms venues including North Down Museum, Bangor Carnegie Library and Boom Studios into vibrant hubs of creativity. From playful picture book sessions for little ones to dynamic writing workshops for teens, Young Aspects connects children with talented writers, illustrators, and artists in fun, interactive ways.

One highlight not to miss: the Book Doctors, presented by Children’s Books Ireland, will be hosting free Book Clinics at Bangor Carnegie Library on Saturday 28 February. Step into the surgery for a unique consultation and leave with a personalised reading prescription tailored to your child’s interests!

The programme also features favourites like Digital Art Workshops, Book Binding, Creative Writing, and a Story Sketch Walk – perfect for budding readers, writers, and artists.

Speaking about the programme Patricia Hamilton, Aspects Festival Director, commented:
“Young Aspects gives young people of all ages creative experiences to engage with books, writing and stories in an exciting and unusual way. From bookbinding to illustration, bedtime stories to forest learning, it’s a packed weekend of activity. We hope to see you there!”

To view the full programme and to book tickets, visit: https://aspectsfestival.com/whats-on

Ards Arts Centre in Newtownards is proud to present Drawn Together, an exhibition celebrating the life and work of acclaimed artist Richard Croft PPRUA (1935–2025). Curated before his passing last year, this mini-retrospective shines a spotlight on Croft’s lifelong passion for drawing – the foundation of his creative practice.

The exhibition brings together a selection of sketches alongside their corresponding paintings and prints, offering a rare insight into how Croft developed ideas from initial marks to finished works. Spanning over 70 years of sketchbooks, the collection explores themes of landscape and still life, often evolving into striking abstractions.

Born in London and based in Northern Ireland since 1959, Croft was a respected teacher and artist whose work captured the beauty of local and international landscapes. In 1967 he was elected as an Academician of the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts and was President of the Academy from 1997 – 2000.

As part of the programme, Amanda Croft, Richard’s daughter, will host a special gallery talk and tour, sharing personal reflections on his life and artistic journey.

Speaking about the exhibition, Amanda said: “My abiding memory of Richard was that he always had a pencil at the ready – drawings of people, places, ideas for paintings and prints all recorded in sketch books.  We are delighted that Ards Arts Centre is hosting this exhibition of my father’s work.”

The exhibition will run Thu 26 Feb – Sat 21 March 2026 in Ards Arts Centre’s Georgian and Sunburst Galleries. Admission is free.

All are welcome to attend the exhibition’s Preview Event at Ards Arts Centre on Thursday 26 February, 7pm – 9pm.

For more information, visit: https://andculture.org.uk/whats-on/drawn-together

This March, the Portico of Ards in Portaferry comes alive as the Feel Good Festival (1-31) returns, transforming the historic venue into a vibrant celebration of music, arts, and the senses. Against the beautiful coastal backdrop, audiences are invited to embrace the spring season with experiences that are intimate, joyful, and inspiring.

Highlighting this year’s festival are luminous performances that will take you on a musical journey that captures the magic of renewal, all carefully curated to create emotional resonance and connection.

The festival opens on 1 March with the much-loved The Fureys in their farewell concert, already sold out, setting the tone for a month of unforgettable performances. Comedy fans will be delighted by Emer Maguire on 6 March and Terry McHugh on 13 March, while classical enthusiasts can revel in the soaring harmonies of The Gesualdo Six on 7 March and the cinematic elegance of the Piatti Quartet performing music from the movies on 15 March. Folk lovers will be enchanted by The Henry Girls and Lore on 14 March, and audiences can immerse themselves in the Spring Equinox Sound Spa with Tessa Ann on 22 March, dance the night away 80s style with Spring Break on 28 March, hear the enduring classics of Peter Corry: One Singer Some Songs on 21 March or attend his confidence building workshop that afternoon, and experience the vocal artistry of Niamh O’Sullivan and Gary Beecher on 29 March.

The Portico of Ards itself becomes part of the performance, its historic architecture and breathtaking coastal setting enhancing every note, every laugh, and every shared moment. Each event is designed with curation and intimacy in mind, offering audiences the rare opportunity to encounter artists up close in a space where the surroundings amplify the experience.

Supported by Ards and North Down Borough Council and The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the festival celebrates artistic excellence and range, presenting Irish and international talent across multiple genres.

Feel Good Festival Director, Neil McClure, said:
“The Feel Good Festival at The Portico of Ards is about more than music – it is about joy, connection, and renewal. This March our carefully curated diverse programme of performances will invite audiences to engage deeply with sound, space, and each other, leaving everyone refreshed and inspired. With a huge thanks to Ards and North Down Borough Council and The National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for their support.”

For tickets and further information visit www.porticoards.com. Follow Feel Good Festival via Portico of Ards on Instagram and Facebook @porticoportaferry and join the conversation with #FeelGoodFestival2026.

Cancer Fund for Children have recently launched their ReadOn initiative which encourages primary and secondary school students to explore the joy of reading while raising vital funds in support of children and young people impacted by cancer.

ReadOn can take place anytime throughout the school year but the charity is encouraging schools to embrace this challenge in time for World Book Day on Thursday 5^th March.

During ReadOn, children are sponsored to read more for fun, at home or in school. The money raised through their efforts fund emotional, social and therapeutic support services for children and families navigating childhood cancer across Northern Ireland.

Speaking on this, Schools and Youth Fundraising Officer with the charity, Rebecca Oates said:

“We are so excited to launch another year of ReadOn and can’t wait to work closely with schools to bring this challenge to life with their pupils. Every week, approximately three children and young people (aged 0-24) are diagnosed with cancer. By taking part in ReadOn, schools will be teaching their students to embrace reading while also helping other children of a similar age to them.”

ReadOn is being sponsored by EUROSPAR and ViVOXTRA in Northern Ireland, who have supported Cancer Fund for Children through a range of initiatives.

Speaking on their support, Bronagh Luke, Head of Corporate Marketing with Henderson Group said: “We are thrilled to help bring the ReadOn initiative to life for another year. Reading is a fantastic way of escapism and learning, vital for children to discover different worlds and cultures, while encouraging focus and mindfulness.

“We are very proud of our continued support of Cancer Fund for Children, fundraising throughout EUROSPAR and ViVOXTRA stores has raised over £2.2 million since 2011, helping support children and their families impacted by cancer.

This year, schools that register for ReadOn can also enter a special competition with Cool FM for the chance to win a school visit from breakfast presenter Rebecca McKinney or Paulo Ross.

To find out more, visit www.cancerfundforchidlren.com/readon.