Cosy Cultural Vibe in a Beautiful Seaside Village

This coming bank holiday weekend, 3-6 May, the Antrim Coast village of Cushendun would like to welcome you to its first ever Big Arts Weekend.

The four-day celebration, including a jazz night, choral concert, drama, poetry, exhibitions and hands-on workshops, is being organised by Cushendun Building Preservation Trust to mark a milestone in the Cushendun Old Church project. The programme has something for everyone and many of the events are free.

The Big Arts Weekend will not only celebrate the signing of a lease on the disused Cushendun Old Church but will also give a taste of what may be on offer there when the 170-year-old building is restored as an arts and community space.  The weekend will bring visiting performers and artists to the village and will also showcase local talent.

The Old Church itself will be open and hosting the ‘Swallows Make a Summer’ art installation. Other events are being held in a range of cosy village venues including the local school and pub, as well as the National Trust owned Glenmona House, exceptionally open to the public for an exhibition of paintings. All the performance venues are small, so for the three ticketed events – jazz with the Victoria Geelan Trio, a drama double bill with An Grianán Theatre and Lurig Players, and Voices Chamber Choir – early booking is essential. To see the full Big Arts Weekend programme and to book tickets online, visit www.cushendunbpt.org.

In 2006, thanks to huge support locally and further afield, Cushendun Old Church won the Northern Ireland heat in BBC2’s Restoration Village. Since then, much essential behind-the-scenes work and negotiation has taken place and the lease was finally signed in December 2012. The Big Arts Weekend promises to recapture the enthusiasm for turning the dream into reality.

CBPT Chair Monica Morgan said: ‘We are grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for supporting the Arts Weekend and also to Cushendun and District Development Association and Moyle District Council.’

Full Big Arts Weekend programme follows.

For more information call the Big Arts Weekend team on 07879543090  or e-mail info@cushendunbpt.org.

Tickets are available online at www.cushendunbpt.org or from Theresa’s Tearoom, Cushendun

or  Cushendall Development Office.

CUSHENDUN’S ‘BIG ARTS WEEKEND’ 3rd to 6th May 2013 – PROGRAMME

FRIDAY 3rd Jazz at McBrides with the Victoria Geelan Trio,  Mary McBrides  8.30pm  Tickets £5 ✷

SATURDAY 4th Music Workshop for 11-18 year olds,  Glenmona House, 10am-1pm  FREE ✷ Share a Poem,  Randal’s  2pm  FREE ✷ On the Camel’s Hump by Guy Le Jeune,  A ‘Sense of Memory’ project produced by An Grainán Theatre, and The Duck Variations by David Mamet performed by Lurig Drama Group, St Ciaran’s School,  Knocknacarry  8pm  Tickets £5 ✷ Exhibition: Swallows Make a Summer,  the Old Church  4th-6th May 12-5pm FREE ✷ Exhibition of work by local artists, Glenmona House  4th-6th May 12-5pm FREE ✷

SUNDAY 5th Sand Sculpture Competition – Registration riverside carpark from 1.45pm  Prizegiving 4.15pm FREE ✷ Mermaids and Pirates Craft Workshop for age 3+, Glenmona  House 2-5pm  FREE ✷ Music  for a May Evening – Choral music performed by Voices Chamber Choir directed by Loreto McAuley, St Patrick’s Church 7.30pm  Tickets £3 ✷

MONDAY 6th Unveiling of the Fuldiew Seat, riverside carpark  2pm  FREE ✷ Vintage films  The Devil’s Rock + Earlybird,  Randal’s  4pm

TO BOOK TICKETS GO TO www.cushendunbpt.org.

Alternatively, why not like us on facebook  – Cushendun’s ‘Big Arts Weekend’ 3rd to 6th May 2013 –  where details of all events and activities are available.

This spring, Northern Ireland’s favourite vintage event the fabulous Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fair, will be making a welcome second visit to Lisburn on Saturday 27^th April with another extravaganza of vintage treasures for sale and a big helping of timeless glamour, reminiscence and fun.

This popular event took Lisburn shoppers by storm last September when it visited the City for the first time and visitors turned out in their hundreds to shop for quality vintage, handmade and upcycled treasures from a fantastic line-up of handpicked Irish vintage dealers, designers and crafters.

This second outing of Frock Around The Clock to Lisburn promises not to disappoint with an amazing line-up of 40 Irish vintage dealers and creative designers offering a fantastic array of vintage and handmade fashion, jewellery, furniture, homewares, collectables, sweet treats art, crafts, gifts and much more – it’s the hottest shopping destination to find the coolest stuff on the planet for your wardrobe and home.

The impressive exhibitor list will include Norma Jean Vintage with vintage dresses & fashion accessories, Silver Jewellery handcrafted from antique spoons by Loving Spoonful, Alfie Loves Design offering vintage and restyled furniture, homewares and soft furnishings, Strictly Vintage, specialists in high end American costume jewellery from the 1920s to 1960s, The Optimists specialising in antique and vintage dolls, toys and bears, Lizzie B Vintage showcasing their beautiful vintage china, linens and teacup crafts, Scarlet & Crimson Flowers with stunning floral arrangements and vintage accessories, and Life Is Sweet selling scrumptious home baked cakes, pies and desserts.

Visitors will also be able to relax and revive on the day in the pop-up tearoom run by Molly’s Parlour, and be entertained with live music from singer and songwriter Della Storm.

Frock Around The Clock organiser Becky Moore comments ‘we are very excited to be bringing Frock Around The Clock back to Lisburn as we received such a warm and excited welcome from hundreds of visitors when we were here last September and it was a wonderful day for shoppers and sellers alike. We are delighted to announce that thanks to our sponsors Lisburn City Centre Management and South Eastern Regional College (SERC) we are once again able to make this a free admission event so visitors can come in and browse without it costing them a penny. But don’t forget your purse as you will be blown away by the unique vintage treasures and local designs on offer!’

Frock Around The Clock will take place on Saturday 27th April from 11am to 5pm at Castle House, opposite Castle Gardens, on Castle Street Lisburn, and admission to the event will be free.

More information on the event and the exhibitor list can be found online at www.decadencevintagefairs.com and www.facebook.com/decadencevintageevents.

Horse racing fans can travel from only £36* per adult to the Scottish Grand National

LEADING ferry company Stena Line has raised its stakes by offering horse racing fans a fantastic travel deal from £36* to The Coral Scottish Grand National Festival in Ayr on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 April.

Race fans and novices alike can look forward to 15 highly competitive races at Scotland’s richest racing extravaganza with more than £500,000 in prize money available. The highlight of the Scottish racing calendar, the Scottish Grand National takes place on Saturday and will include some of the UK and Ireland’s top horses and jockeys.

Enjoy a great day’s entertainment with a day trip by coach where you can choose to watch the racing from the main grandstand or punt for the Club enclosure with its prominent location and greater choice of bars and restaurants.

Enjoy the Grandstand day trip from only £36* on Friday or £39* on Saturday or make the most of the Club Day Trip from only £43* on Friday or £55* on Saturday per person. Both day trips include return Superfast ferry travel, return Ulsterbus coach transfers to the racecourse and admission for the day.

For more information or to book log on to www.stenaline.co.uk/daytrips , call 08447 70 70 70 or visit your local Stena Line office or travel agent.

* Terms & conditions apply. Subject to availability. .

North Down Borough Council have recently been successful in drawing down funding from the Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) under the INTERREG IVA Programme Tourism call.

The grant, totaling over £200,000, will see a number of tourism projects take place over the next two years as part of East Border Regions Tourism Development Plan.  The total value of the Tourism Development Plan is in excess of £2.7 million which will support a range of projects throughout the East Border Region.

The European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme aims to support strategic cross-border co-operation for a more prosperous cross border region and improve access to services so as to enhance the quality of life for those living in the eligible area. In particular the Programme will focus on developing a dynamic economy, supporting infrastructure and promoting innovative ways of addressing specific cross-border problems.

Under the call projects in North Down will see developments work in Christian Heritage, Maritime and Visitor Servicing projects.

The first project, currently underway, will see a research study into the areas Christian Heritage including the foundation of Bangor Abbey through to the travels of the Abbey’s most famous Saints, Columbanus and Gall, who spread Christianity through much of modern day Europe. In addition the study will look at the potential developments for tourism in relation to our local Christian Heritage offering, this at a time when Christian Pilgrimages are on the increase.

Following on from and utilising the historical content from this study, North Down Museum is to benefit from a complete refurbishment of the Christian Heritage exhibition room, with interactive materials, new displays and interpretation bringing to life the story of Bangor Abbey and its legacy.

On a maritime front the Eisenhower Pier is to receive a maker over with new street furniture and infrastructure to complement the town’s upcoming Public Realm works. Two new murals are to be installed to add to those already in place along with interpretational signage bringing the pier to life and improving its use as an event space.

Finally, visitor servicing is to receive added dimensions with money invested in new technologies and signage to assist visitors and tourists to the local area.

The projects are all due to be completed by the end of 2014.

You’d better shape up, because the Millennium Forum will be holding auditions on Friday 19^thand Tuesday 23^rd April 2013 from 4:00pm-8:00pm for its annual youth production.

This year, Jim Jacob’s and Warren Cassey’s Grease will be recreated for a three-night run at the Forum from 25^th to 27^th July and they want you to help make it happen!

Calling on male and female 14 – 21 year olds who can act, dance and sing, the Forum hopes to find its Danny, Sandy, Frenchie, Rizzo, Kenickie plus all other Rydell High students for this energetic and fun new production. At the audition you will be required to dance, sing and deliver a short dialogue of the script.  If you are one of the lucky ones to get a part, it is vital that you can commit to rehearsals from June right through to the public performances in July.

Kate Guelke, Education & Outreach Officer at the Millennium Forum, encourages all those with a desire to perform to audition:

“For those who make the final cast, you will become a part of an unforgettable and truly inspirational project. Judging by the high standards of previous year’s auditions for Return to the Forbidden Planet, Sweeney Todd, Chess, Les Miserablés and West Side Story, the Forum anticipates roles for Grease to be highly contested roles for the 2013 production.”

Featuring such pop chart-toppers as “Greased Lightnin’”, “Summer Nights” and “Look at Me I’m Sandra Dee”, Grease is a classic rock’n’roll musical with an edge. The Millennium Forum’s seventh consecutive youth musical looks set to be an automatic, systematic, hydromatic hit!

This 2013 amateur production of Grease is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd.

If you are aged 14 – 21 and believe you have what it takes to be onstage in the Millennium Forum’s production of Grease, telephone 028 7127 2776 to book your audition or emailkateg@millenniumforum.co.uk. Booking is essential.

The auditions will take place at the Millennium Forum on Friday 19^th (from 4:00pm) andMonday 23^rd April (from 4.00pm).  Following intensive rehearsals, Grease will be staged at the Millennium Forum from Thursday 25^th to Saturday 27^th July 2013. Tickets are now on sale priced at £8.00/£10.00, available from the Box Office on T: 028 7126 4455.

This project is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts & Business and Foyleside Shopping Centre.

Millennium Forum

Friday 15 & Saturday 16 November 2013

Tickets go on sale Friday 12 April at 9.30am

Available from the Millennium Forum Box office Telephone (028) 71 264455

National treasure and Irish music icon CHRISTY MOORE has confirmed he’ll return to play 2 Shows at the Millennium Forum on Friday 15 & Saturday 16 November.  Tickets go on sale Friday 12 April at 9.30am and will be available from the Millennium Forum Box Office Telephone (028) 71 264455.

These new shows are added to extra live dates already announced for 2013 including 2 Belfast shows at the Waterfront on 3 & 4 May and a record-breaking 9^th appearance at this summer’s Cork Live At The Marquee on 6 July.

Christy began 2012 with sell out shows at Dublin’s Grand Canal Theatre, followed by a televised performance at the BBC Folk Awards in February, where his rendering of Morecambe Bay, Kevin Littlewood’s description of Chinese cockle pickers caught unawares by the rising tide, was nominated for Best Original Song.

In the spring, Christy and Declan appeared in a series of dates around Ireland, before embarking on a 10 day tour of the UK which included two sell out shows at London’s Royal Festival Hall.

On their return to Ireland, they kicked off the summer with an appearance at the Live at the Marquee concert series – the only Artists who can claim to have played every year in the Cork tent.

July found them delivering a rousing stand-up set to a packed audience in the Big Top at the Galway Arts Festival.

The big summer shows were rounded out by their exhilarating performance in front of a euphoric crowd in the Crawdaddy tent at last year’s Electric Picnic festival.

Christy Moore will perform at the Millennium Forum on Friday 15^th and Saturday 16^thNovember. Tickets go on sale at 9.30am from the Box Office on Friday 12^th April. Telephone 71 264455 or visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk for bookings.

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau teams up with Stena Line to offer breaks from £59

ONE of Europe’s top shopping destinations is now more accessible than ever for the budget-conscious Northern Ireland consumer.

Glasgow is the largest shopping destination in the UK, outside of London’s West End, boasting more than 1500 shops, half a million square metres of retail space and it even has its own ‘Style Mile’ offering high-end shopping and top class restaurants and bars.

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) and Stena Line have teamed up to give Northern Ireland shoppers an opportunity to spring-clean their wardrobe from as little as £59* per adult per night including return ferry travel with a car from Belfast to Cairnryan and overnight accommodation in Glasgow.

This spring will see the city’s style credentials go stratospheric with the launch of the glitzy new £70million retail development Buchanan Quarter, a prime new fashion pitch in Glasgow’s style mile with 11 new retail stores including Scotland’s first and only Forever21.
GCMB’s Senior Marketing Communications Manager Elaine Dickie said Glasgow offers an unrivalled shopping experience to suit every style.

“Glasgow is a fantastic destination for a short break and offers world-class shopping with everything from cool vintage shops, beautiful hand-crafted items to well-known brands and exclusive designers,” said Elaine.

“We’ve teamed up with Stena Line to offer a range of three, four and five star hotels so when you book your ferry and hotel together it is guaranteed to be cheaper.  What’s more, kids travel free so the whole family can enjoy a short break in Glasgow this spring with the fabulous array of visitor attractions on offer,” she continued.

“Make sure you also discover all that the city has to offer from the fantastic food to the fascinating museums and galleries to the work of innovative Glasgow architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.” she added.

Stena Line’s Marketing Manager Ian Baillie said: “Glasgow has so much to offer and is easily accessible from Northern Ireland by ferry so it is a fantastic city to enjoy a short break in.”

“Alongside Glasgow City Marketing Bureau we have created a range of great value breaks that everyone can take advantage of whether you are travelling by car, coach or rail.  We have packaged both the ferry and hotel together to offer the best price guaranteed so why not enjoy some first-class shopping and a relaxing break for less this spring,” he added.
For more information about the spring packages to Glasgow visit www.stenaline.co.uk/glasgowor call 08432 081 111.

*Price is based on 2 adults sharing a twin/double room, minimum stay 2 nights travelling from Belfast – Cairnryan with car. Up to 2 children sharing adults room stay and travel free but pay hotel direct for any meals taken. Weekend and family room supplements may apply. Valid for travel until 30 June & 31 August – 20 December 2013. Terms and conditions apply.

Join the Easter Bunny at Castle Ward for another jam-packed, fun-filled time at Castle Ward Demesne;  Strangford, Downpatrick.   From 12 noon to 6pm on Easter Sunday 31st andf Monday 1st April you and your family will have an eggs-cellent time in the spring sunshine with lots of scrummy chocolate for the way home! With their biggest Easter Egg Hunt yet there are over 10,000 eggs to be found on both days, so bring your binoculars and put your detective skills to the test to find some nestled all over the beautiful grounds. This year take part in the brand new, nationwide National Trust Egg and Spoon Race, so come and get everyone involved, mum, dad and the grandparents too!

On Easter Monday, An Creagan, located on the A505 midway between Omagh  and Cookstown is hosting The BIG Family Picnic. It is an opportunity to join other picnickers for a good old fashioned day out. Experienced al fresco diners can bring
their own lunch or if you

prefer the easy option there will be food and snack stalls  for you to put together your own packed lunch without the hassle. There will be music and mayhem with the Armagh Rhymers, arts workshops, face painting for the children, pond dipping for the nature lovers, an arts exhibition and of course the hunt for the Creggan White Hare.

Entertain the children at the Easter egg hunt on the beautiful Belle Isle Estate on  Easter Monday. The hunt will be divided into three age groups and each child can collect up to 10 brightly coloured clay eggs which will be exchanged for realchocolate ones. Each hunt will contain one golden egg and the lucky finders of these  will receive special big chocolate eggs. There will be free face-painting too and refreshments available for purchase at Belle Isle Cookery School.

Join the National Trust on Sunday and Monday for fun for all the family as you follow  the trail around the historic Downhill Demesne. Hunt for clues to crack the code and unlock the Cadbury chocolate egg surprise! On Monday, take part in the egg and spoon race!

Come along to The Argory on Monday and Tuesday for 2 fantastic days of Easter  fun! Face painting, craft activities and a chance to find the Cadbury’s Chocolate treasure with our fantastic egg trail.

What would Easter be without bunnies? Do you want to see some of Easter’s  cuddliest friends up close? Spend some time with the rabbits from T.A.C.T. Wildlife Centre at Carnfunnock Country Park on Saturday 30th March and hear their special
stories, including how they ended up at T.A.C.T.  Please note: not suitable for  children under 5 years of age.

EXTRA dates have been added to the Stena Line Pirates and Princesses Kids Cruises this Easter due to popular demand, allowing families the chance to enjoy even more fun from only £10 per person*.

The additional unique cruises set sail from Belfast at 11:30 on Thursday 28^th March and Thursday 4^th April offering families the chance to set sail for a day of fun to ensure kids make the most of their Easter break.

Young pirates and princesses can enjoy a day of swash-buckling fun from the minute they step onboard with a magic show, treasure hunt, face painting, balloon modelling and many more surprises before arriving back at Belfast Port at 17:45.

Speaking about the extra cruises, Stena Line’s Marketing Manager Ian Baillie said, “The Pirates and Princesses Kids Cruises launched earlier this month and have proven to be a huge hit with families with  many booked out so we’re delighted to be able to offer the additional midweek cruises during the Easter Holidays.

“Both children and adults have thoroughly enjoyed the cruises as they are a great way for the whole family to enjoy a fun day out together. We have lots of entertainment onboard which will keep the kids amused throughout the cruise, so while the kids are being entertained, the adults can relax and enjoy the journey,” he added.

The cruises on 6th and 20th April and 4^th May are now booked up but there is still availability on 18th May and 1st and 15th June.  During the summer holidays the cruise will also run on Tuesdays 2nd, 16th and 30th July and 13th and 27th August.

The cruises are ideal for birthday parties and the ferry giant even has your party invites wrapped up as these can be downloaded online and personalised.  There are even goody bags as the birthday guests depart.

For further information or to book go to www.stenaline.co.uk/kidsfun, call 08447 70 70 70 or visit your local travel agent.

*The Pirates & Princesses cruise is £10 per adult/child and £5 per infant (0 – 3 years). All cruises are subject to availability.  Terms and Conditions apply.

Bygone days from the factory floor…

The Millennium Forum has teamed up with Arts & Business NI and the Richmond Centre to bring local shoppers a brand new event that’s fun for all the family.

From Thursday the 28^th to Saturday the 30^th of March, the empty unit on floor 2 of the Richmond Centre will be transformed into an artists’ studio, a craft drop-in centre and a live museum reminiscent of “The Factory Girls” in Frank McGuinness’ famous play.  A tribute to the enormous shirt-making factories of Derry-Londonderry’s past, ‘The City Dream Factory’ gives shoppers the unique chance to experience living history.

1. DAY ONE – Thursday, 28^th March between 12pm and 5pm

Artist Rita Duffy will host a five hour ‘Artists’ Studio’ and – with help from shoppers, as well as her studio associates – will create a large-scale arts project.  As with her ‘Laundry Day’ exhibition, this artwork will relate specifically to shirt-making.

1. DAY TWO – Friday, 29^th March between 12pm and 5pm

Bluebell Arts Centre’s Maeve Gallagher will host a five hour ‘Craft Drop-in Centre’ where shoppers can come in, sit down and learn how to sew and make their own lavender bags in a matter of minutes.  Whilst shoppers work on these, more experienced sewers will make several lively garments for the Antony Gormley statue situated outside the Millennium Forum.

1. DAY THREE – Saturday, 30^th March between 12pm and 5pm

Four ex-factory girls of the 60s and 70s will discuss their experiences whilst making shirts on old sewing machines for five hours. Every twenty minutes these ‘Top Women’ tell an audience of passers-by their stories as part of ‘The City Dream Factory’.

Through-out the three days, 70s-style ‘Factory Girls’ in curlers will serve vintage refreshments sourced from Brid McCartney’s Donegal restaurant The Corncrake.

Kate Guelke, Education and Outreach Officer at the Millennium Forum, said “We’re delighted to be working in conjunction with the Richmond Centre and Art and Business NI to produce this quietly imaginative, interesting little project.  We hope that shoppers will engage with the rich history of Derry-Londonderry’s factory floors; through Rita Duffy’s artwork, through Maeve Gallagher’s craft circle, even through the Corncrake’s traditional sweet treats! Above all though we hope that shoppers will enjoy the simply amazing stories our ex-Factory girls have to tell about the local shirt-making industry.”

As part of Creativity Month NI, ‘The City Dream Factory’ is a free project open and accessible to all participants.  A great way to stumble into the past,‘The City Dream Factory’ is a surprising gem of whirring sewing machines and great stories.

Dates:              Thursday 28^th March

Friday 29^th March,

Saturday 30^th March

Time:               12pm – 5pm

Venue:             Floor 2, The Richmond Centre