10 THINGS TO DO IN NORTHERN IRELAND NEXT WEEK

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (August 29 – September 4).

  • Hillsborough International Oyster Festival & British Street Awards, Co. Down, until September 4. Now in its 24th year, the Hillsborough International Oyster Festival is set to return from Tuesday 30th August to Sunday 4th September 2016 in Hillsborough village, Co. Down and at venues in the surrounding area. Highlights of this year’s festival will include musical performances, pop-up restaurants, gala balls and not forgetting the World Oyster Eating Championship.
  • The 2016 Belfast Tattoo, SSE Arena, Belfast, September 1-3. The Belfast Tattoo returns with over 600 performers. There will be a magnificent showcase of the finest international and local marching bands, musicians, and dancers in a two-hour show building up to the Grand Finale of the Massed Pipe and Drums. The 2016 show piece event will also commemorate the Centenary of the Battle of the Somme. Booking essential.
  • Bluegrass Festival, Ulster American Folk Park, Co. Tyrone, September 2 – 4. Expect plenty of strumming on the porches of log cabins, dancing in the cobbled streets and jamming sessions outside the General Store at the 25th Annual Bluegrass Music Festival. To celebrate the NI Year of Food and Drink, local celebrity chefs’ will be heating up the hearths and cooking some fantastic food in a series of food demonstrations.
  • Carnival of Colours, St Columb’s Park, Derry~Londonderry, September 3 – 4. This circus, arts and music festival will be jam-packed with top treats featuring the very best of International Street Theatre and local acts interspersed with an eclectic mix of side shows and attractions to guarantee a full quota of belly laughs and a truly magical experience for folk of all ages.
  • Air Waves 2016, Portrush, Co. Antrim, September 3 – 4. Are you ready for some high-speed aviation fun? This fantastic air show returns for another two action packed days featuring air displays, sea displays, trade village, entertainment shows, family entertainment and exhibitions. The world-class RAF Red Arrows will once again be returning for a fantastic performance each day!
  • Autumn Book Fair, The Argory, Co. Armagh, September 3 – 4. Calling all bookworms. Browse through hundreds of second hand books in our Courtyard and stock up on your winter reads. There’s sure to be something for everyone with live music and children’s activities on Sunday.
  • Images of Starlight, Linen Hall Library, Belfast, until September 30. From the sparkling curtain of the Milky Way to romantic moonscapes to the electric colour undulations of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), stargazers will love this photographic display capturing the beauty of the universe. Three special astronomy talks will take place on Tuesday 2 September.  www.linenhall.com.
  • Fermanagh, August 29. See a different side to the natural beauty of Crom Estate from the water as you cruise around the Lough in a 100-year-old traditional craft. Weather dependant. Booking essential 028 6773 8118. Weather dependant.
  • Castlerock Walkfest, Castlerock, Derry~Londonderry, September 3. Take part in a range of guided walks along the beautiful North Coast at Binevenagh Mountain with magnificent views of Lough Foyle or walk the beautiful Causeway cliffs to admire the Giant’s Causeway and wonderful North Antrim coastline. Booking essential.  To book call (028) 708 49303.
  • Street Food Circle, Bank Square, Belfast, September 2. Folktown market is putting a sizzle into summer with ‘Street Food Circle’ – a Friday evening street food market with a difference. Call down and take your pick from 15 artisan food traders for a culinary snack and enjoy crafts, music and picnic areas complete with synthetic grass.

Please note some of the events require pre-booking. For more details on these and other events click on www.discovernorthernireland.com/events, visit your local tourist information centre or log onto www.facebook.com/discovernorthernireland.

Jacqueline from whatsonni.com shares her pick of What’s On this Bank Holiday Weekend across the NI

Down


Bring your picnic and settle down on the lawn this Sunday afternoon with your family and friends to enjoy an afternoon of jazz in the beautiful gardens at Mount Stewart. Sorry no BBQs. Normal National Trust admission charges apply.

Armagh

The Portadown Phoenix Players present ‘OKLAHOMA’. Oklahoma tells the love story between Curly, a handsome cowboy, and Laurey, a winsome farm girl, and features song such as ‘oh what a beautiful morning’ and ‘Surrey with a fringe on top’.  The show runs from Thursday the 25th of August until Sunday the 28th and starts at 7.30pm, with a matinee on Sunday at 2pm. The venue is Portadown Town Hall ad tickets can be purchased from Winnies Newsagent, Woodhouse Street Portadown, or at the door. Tickets £10. For further info please ring 07899629227.

Fermanagh

Louise Morrissey and the Ryan Turner Band make a welcome return to The Ardhowen this Saturday evening for a special concert in aid of Bawnboy Heritage Group. Louise has long been one of Ireland’s favourite female vocalists, with her easy style of Country and Folk. Hear her sing her many hits and songs from her new album ‘Duets and Hits’. Support act for the evening are Éiru. A Celtic fusion of Irish Traditional and Folk with modern elements.

Tyrone

Treat yourself to a delightful afternoon tea this Sunday at the Argory Dungannon.  Enjoy finger sandwiches, Victoria sponge, homemade scones and other seasonal delights. Afternoon tea sittings are 2pm and 3.30pm and booking is essential.  Estate admission is included on the day and why not book a house tour on arrival?

Derry/Londonderry

The village of Bellaghy will come to life this Friday 26th August in and around Bellaghy Bawn to honour and celebrate the life of the great Seamus Heaney.  Seamus, who grew up in Bellaghy and whose work was influenced by the spaces, people and places of his childhood, is also buried in the village and this event will recall the poet on the third anniversary of his passing. It is also 50 years ago this year that Seamus’ first collection of poems was published by Faber & Faber and that body of work, ‘Death of a Naturalist’, will be celebrated throughout the event.

Antrim

Jordanstown Loughshore Park will once again be rocking with this year’s Shoreline Festival this weekend.  The fun kicks off on Friday with amusement rides from 2pm until 9pm and continues each day of the festival with activities including bouncy castles, face painting, magic shows, foam party and a petting zoo from 1pm until 6pm.  Jane McClenaghan from Vital Nutrition will host cookery demonstrations on Saturday from 1pm until 5pm.  Saturday night features the Sounds of Adele with Suzanne Pavis.  Fiddler Adam will be making sure everyone’s toes are tapping from 4pm on Sunday and at night the rock ‘n’ roll lovers will be Livin’ on a Prayer” when Con Jovi kick off their concert at 8pm.  The fun continues on Bank Holiday Monday from 1pm until 6pm.  For the little kids and not so little kids, an opportunity to belt out your favourite songs from the movies and charts begins at 2pm. Bonkers Betty’s Bizarre Bazaar is open from 1pm.

Belfast

Don’t miss Northern Ireland’s premier motoring festival, N.I Speed Weekend on Sunday 28th and Bank Holiday Monday 29th August at Eikon Exhibition Centre and Balmoral Park! There’s so much to see and do for all the family including Live Action Drifting, Live Action Drag Racing, Live Action Sprint Circuit, “Supercar Dream Rides” in association with Hillsborough Oyster Festival, “Flyin Ryan” Motorcycle Stunt Shows, Zorb Football and Kids Zones, Rally Cars, Race Cars, Super Bikes, Autotesting, Go Karting, Helicopter Rides, Show Cars, Live Music, Tradestands and much more.

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.com for news, competitions and what’s on near you.

Fermanagh Gets Ready For Its First Restaurant Week 16th – 25th September 2016

As part of the NI Year of Food & Drink 2016, Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism together with the Fermanagh food trade are organising the first ever Fermanagh Restaurant Week, from Friday 16th – Sunday 25th September 2016.

This event will coincide with Festival Lough Erne, Fermanagh’s food and water festival taking place in the grounds of the newly redeveloped Enniskillen Castle on 24th & 25th September.

Theresa McVeigh, Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism; Nicky Cassidy, Westville Hotel, Noel McMeel, Lough Erne Resort, Emmett Sweeney, Franco's Restaurant; Norman Coalter, Saddlers Restaurant & Tanya Cathcart, Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism.

The highlights of Restaurant Week will include three signature events taking place at Enniskillen Castle from Wednesday 21st – Friday 23rd September, where three of our well known eateries: Westville Hotel, Saddlers Restaurant & Lough Erne Resort, will turn the venue into a pop-up restaurant for the night, serving the very best of their cuisine in the grounds of this iconic visitor attraction overlooking Lough Erne.

Diners will also get the chance to eat at Florence Court and Castle Coole National Trust properties with menus by Tully Mill Restaurant, Florencecourt.  Other events include afternoon tea at Belleek Pottery or taking part in the black pudding recipe competition organised by O’Doherty’s Fine Meats during their Black Pudding Festival.  There will be seafood specials at Franco’s and a special taster menu in the Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel. There’s plenty going on to whet the appetite!

Fermanagh Restaurant Week aims to highlight the wonderful local produce on offer here, combined with our wealth of fantastic scenery, historic monuments, the iconic Lough Erne, as well as the great range of eateries in the County.  The event has been welcomed by many of our well known restaurants and producers as an opportunity to give customers a different dining experience, available only for the duration of Restaurant Week.

This is the perfect event for food enthusiasts with cookery demonstrations, courses and competitions, wine tasting, craft beer events and themed m

enus such as a “Game of Thrones” speciality menu created by Cafe Merlot, there really is something for all tastes and budgets.  Dine on the tranquil waters of Lough Erne on board one of our water buses- the MV Kestrel, Lady of the Lake or take a bespoke tour in the Erne Water Taxi and discover the Lough Erne Food Trail.

Fermanagh Lakeland Tourism would like to acknowledge the funding assistance from Fermanagh & Omagh District Council and the Lakelands & Inland Waterways Initiative (funded by Waterways Ireland and Fáilte Ireland) in support of Fermanagh Restaurant Week.

For a full programme of events, please visit the website www.fermanaghrestaurantweek.com or facebook.com/fermanaghrestaurantweek

Unleash Your Creativity at the Crescent Arts Centre!

Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn – we’ve been waiting for you as the new term brings with it the Crescent Arts Centre’s Autumn programme!

This term we want you to Unleash Your Creativity at the Crescent and we have lots of new and exciting classes, workshops and events lined up for you!

Some new classes include: Singing Class for the wee ones, Hip-Hop fit for the grown-ups or perhaps you fancy learning the Ancient Greek language. If creative Arts in more your thing then perhaps take a peek at the class Develop A Personal Drawing Project. If you fancy learning how to play the oldest known wind instrument on the planet, then check out the Didgeridoo class!

Keith Acheson, Crescent Arts Centre Director said, “At the Crescent we try and offer a wide scope of classes for both children and adults alike in a variety of art forms. Be it Young People, Dance and Movement, Spoken Word and Written Word, Visual Arts and Music there is something for everyone at the Crescent.”

The Crescent Arts Centre, based in the heart of South Belfast, offers over 250 classes, workshops and events each week. The new term begins on the 12th September and registration for classes and workshops is now available to book.

For further information visit www.crescentarts.org or call our Box Office on 028 9024 2338.

Ards and North Down Get Geared up for Ulster-Scots Festival Week

Ards and North Down celebrate their Ulster-Scots heritage with a week of activity beginning on Sunday 4th September at Cockle Row Cottages, Groomsport, and culminates with a spectacular finale, “Donaghadee Lights Up”, on Saturday 10th September.

Photo caption: Cup O’Joe. Just one of the bands taking part in Septembers Ulster-Scots Festival, playing in Holywood and Bangor.

The Ards and North Down we all know today was shaped in a large part thanks to the influences of Sir James Hamilton and Sir Hugh Montgomery; arriving here in 1604 with Scottish settlers they brought with them new techniques in building, farming, and of course culture, arguably creating the “home” of the Ulster-Scots.

Their influences have stayed with us ever since in our music, food and even language, all of which will be celebrated during the first week in September across the Borough.  From talks, including Time McGarry’s “Ulster-Scots Odyssey” and the history of Bluegrass, to music, from ever popular groups such as Cup O’Joe and Down and Out Bluegrass Band, coupled with historic walks and family fun; there should be something for all tastes throughout the week.

The activities, being run in conjunction between Ards and North Down Borough Council and the Ulster-Scots Agency, culminate on Saturday 10th with “Donaghadee Lights Up”, a free event featuring the world-renowned Red Hot Chilli Pipers and a spectacular display of fireworks.

Catriona Holmes from the Ulster-Scots Agency, commenting on the festival said, “We are delighted to be working with the Council on the week-long festival. The influences of the Scottish settlers on the area are something that is still evident today.  With many unaware of our heritage and culture, we hope that through the week’s activities we can both entertain and educate visitors and locals alike on how the Ulster-Scots shaped where many of us call home”.

For the full program of activity and tickets log on to visitardsandnorthdown.com or

T: 028 9127 0069 or 028 9182 6846 for more information.

CAUSEWAY COAST MINI EVENT – SUNDAY 28th AUGUST

You could be forgiven for thinking that Portrush was in the midst of a remake of the film “The Italian Job” this weekend as hundreds of Minis are destined for the ‘ports on Sunday for the annual Causeway Coast Mini Event.

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary the Causeway Coast Mini Club have added several new features including a draw that is hoped will raise considerable funds for the Northern Ireland Cancer Fund for Children and the Paddy Hopkirk Children’s Charity Trust.

The organisers are quick to thank their sponsors Morellis Ices, J.K.C. Minis and Minisport and Club Chairman Andy Shaw enthused “their help is staging this has been nothing short of brilliant and I really don’t know what we’d do without them”.  The local Council are equally supportive and have even engaged Dynamic Audio Visual to supply a concert sound system.  Brian Moore has also been brought on board this year as Compere and says he “can’t wait as it’s always such a great day”.  The Mini Enthusiasts come in their hundreds from all over the island and beyond and it all starts with a fun run from Bushmills Distillery Car Park to Portstewart on Saturday night.

Then on Sunday they congregate on Dunluce Green from 10.00am where the day will feature stalls, stands and music.  The show features over seventeen classes of cars both classic and new-style minis and JKC Mini supply awards with a 1st and runner up in each one.  The Minis will depart the site in their usual style at 4.00pm and follow a route through the town with the classic minis actually crossing the bridge at Portrush Harbour before making their way along Main Street.  Morellis Ices generously take care of the “pit stop” in Station Square with a free Morellis Ice Cream for every occupant of each mini!

Attendance at the event is absolutely free and this year there’s a chance to win a £500 Sealey Tool Chest supplied by Minisport, £100 worth of shopping Tesco Shopping Vouchers donated by Morellis Ices and a voucher for Dinner for Two at The Anchor Complex.

Can you spare an hour a week for the Causeway Coast Dog Rescue?

Do you have you an hour or so to spare each week? The Causeway Coast Dog Rescue are calling out for volunteers, to work with dogs, come and work in their charity shop, or to help fundraise, any support is welcome. They are your local charity which rescues and rehomes hundreds of dogs each year in your area. For more information, go onto their Facebook page causewaycoastdogrescue, Twitter CCDogRescue, or telephone 07595602702.


End the Summer in Bluegrass Style! – This Sunday in Ward Park!

This Sunday 28 August, the Bluegrass Picnic will take place in Bangor’s Ward Park.

The event which is becoming a bit of an annual institution marks the end of Ards and North Down Borough Council’s popular Music In The Park programme and is a highlight on the Open House Festival calendar  – an end of summer party to end them all!

The headline act is the fabulous Prison Love – on mandolin, flat-picking guitar, fiddle, doghouse bass, washboard and harmonies, this Dublin based five-piece play Bluegrass, Old-time, Gospel and Cajun like a fast train a comin’! The Open House Festival Choir will also be performing.  The perfect way to spend your Bank Holiday Sunday afternoon, picnicking in the park with family and friends, and chilling out (or dancing) to fabulous Bluegrass sounds!

As well as your country soul, we’ll be taking care of your country stomach, with lots of food available for sale on site.

To keep the kids happy, there will be face-painting and balloon modelling with crafts taking place on site too.

The Bluegrass Picnic has all the ingredients for a fun family day out so get down to Ward Park, this Sunday 28 August, from 2.30pm – 5pm to get in on the action at this totally FREE event.  And don’t forget to pack your picnic!

Russian Fighter joins Air Waves Portrush Airshow lineup

Air Waves Portrush has added another star to its airshow lineup for 3-4 September, with the cold war soviet fighter jet, the MiG-15 UTI, known as the Midget.

This particular display aircraft was manufactured in Poland and its unique RED 18 markings are a nod to Yuri Gagarin, the first man in space in 1961, who carried out his fighter pilot training in the aircraft before becoming a cosmonaut.

Now operated by the Norwegian Air Force Historical Squadron to showcase the cold war ‘enemy’ of NATO, the two-seater MiG-15 UTI is one of the most widely produced jet aircraft, with over 18,000 manufactured and was used as the main training craft for soviet fighter pilots.

This year will be its first appearance at Air Waves Portrush, the biggest free airshow on the island of Ireland. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council have also pulled out all the stops to deliver a packed programme of aerial entertainment, as well as a host of land and water based activities and events.

Visit www.airwavesportrush.co.uk for info.

Flash Harry set to return to The Hillsborough International Oyster Festival!

Northern Ireland’s top Queen tribute band, Flash Harry, is set to return to the Hillsborough International Oyster Festival’s line-up on the evening of Saturday 3rd September 2016.

Harry Hamilton, the band’s front-man and Oyster Pearl, Shannon Graham (pictured), have started warming-up for the live concert and BBQ which is supported by New City Cabs.

Performing all the top Queen tracks, Flash Harry will entertain guests with hit records like Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, and Don’t Stop Me Now, while local chefs will be serving up a sizzling barbeque menu produced with premium Northern Irish meats for concert and BBQ ticketholders.

To book your tickets and further information on the Hillsborough International Oyster Festival’s full programme visit www.hillsboroughoysterfestival.com.

The Hillsborough International Oyster Festival also kindly acknowledges the support of Tourism Northern Ireland and Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council in the staging of this year’s event.