Passengers on this year’s Easter Eggspress Steam Trains will be able to experience the thrill of steam travel from the Titanic era. For the first time ever, this experience is available on Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday.

The steam locomotive at the head of the Easter Eggspress is a beautifully restored classic. Built in 1879, the locomotive spent much of its working life in Cork and it is very likely it hauled goods and freight to the Titanic when it docked in Cobh in 1912. Over 133 years old, the Easter Steam Train, will be whisking passengers on an eggciting eggscursion from Belfast Central to Whitehead Excursion Station and back.
The trips are aimed at families, providing nostalgia for adults and great fun for children, with a free Easter egg for every ticket holding child.

RPSI Operations Officer Mervyn Darragh said: “These are some of our favourite trains to operate – children react so well to the sight, sound and smell of a steam train on Northern Ireland’s railway lines. And the grown-ups relish the opportunity to relive the halcyon days of steam. The trains operate along the Belfast Lough shore with great views of where Titanic was launched. With a Titanic era steam locomotive at the front it’s a really tangible link with that time.

“It is important to us to expose Northern Ireland’s railway heritage to as many people as possible, especially the young. We are proud to be working closely with NI Railways to ensure more and more people are able to experience nostalgic travel, like this Easter Eggspress train and encourage people to book early to avoid disappointment!”

The round trip from Belfast Central Station to Whitehead Excursion Station and back takes just under 2 hours and takes passengers out of the city and along the shore of Belfast Lough. The journey offers passengers scenic seascapes as it hugs the coastline. Whitehead Excursion Station is the base for the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland and, whilst the steam locomotive takes water and runs-around to the other end of the train for the journey back to Belfast, passengers can watch from the platform and enjoy the RPSI’s souvenir shop.
In reaction to popular demand last year, this year there will be four return steam trains split over the 2 days. Each day, the first train leaves from Belfast Central at 11:15am, the second train leaves from Belfast Central at 1:40pm.
Tickets cost a standard fare of only £11.00 (adults and children). All ticket holding children will receive an Easter Egg on the train.
Tickets are available from: The Belfast Welcome Centre, Donegall Place, Belfast (telephone 028 9024 6609) and online from the RPSI website at www.steamtrainsireland.com

Looking for something to do this Easter?

Why not come along to Bangor this Easter Monday, 9^th April, for a day packed full with free family fun. Bangor’s seafront will have something to appeal to everyone from 12.00 – 6.00 pm.

Starting at the McKee Clock arena, over 150 of Ireland’s top modified cars will be displayed all day.  The organisers boldly promise to offer ‘cars more luxurious than a Bentley, faster than a Ferrari and with more toys than a Mercedes’.

Taking a stroll down The Promenade, you can try your hand at Laserquest, check out Ecomantella’s Animal Roadshow or take the kids to visit Phil’s Mobile Farm, showcasing farm animals and domestic pets from the weird to the wonderful!  For the bird enthusiasts, a Falconry Display will be taking place featuring a selection of beautiful birds of prey.

Finish your walk at the newly redeveloped Pickie Funpark which reopens on Easter Monday. The park includes a total refurbishment of existing features and new exciting activities including, an 18 hole maritime themed mini golf course, a children’s electric cars and splash pads. The legendary Pickie Puffer steam train will also be given new puff with an enhanced route and the iconic Pickie Swans will be given a new lease of life in a brand new lagoon.

At 3.00 pm over 200 children and young people from St Malachy’s Primary School, St Columbanus College, St Comgalls Primary School, Barre 2 Soul, Rathgael Gymnastics, St Gall’s Brownies and Guides, North Down Scouts and Bangor Air Training Corps will be taking to the streets as part of the spectacular Diamond Masquerade themed Parade. This year, The Parade will be led by the The Mayor of North Down, Councillor James McKerrow who will be travelling in an electric blue Beaufort car. The Parade’s route will start at the Leisure Centre onto Main Street, along Quay Street, turning into High Street and making its way back up Main Street to the Leisure Centre – an extravaganza not to be missed!

Over on The Eisenhower Pier, The HMS Bangor will throw down her gangway on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday and members of the public are invited to go onboard and see what life is like onboard a real military ship. We are thrilled to have HMS Bangor back in the town after its recent deployment to Libya and the ship’s new Captain, Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Matt Moore is delighted to be here on his first visit to Bangor.

Also taking place over the Easter Weekend, Bangor & Holywood Town Centre Management in partnership with North Down Borough Council will be hosting an Easter Speciality Fair in the Sunken Gardens. The event will take place on Easter Saturday from 11am – 4pm and Easter Sunday from 1pm – 5pm.  An array of local crafts and speciality foods will be available.

So come on down to Bangor with your family and friends this Easter for lots of family fun!

For further information check www.northdowntourism.com

An egg-stra special Easter is planned at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum this year.

From Sunday 8^th to Tuesday 10^th April, visitors of all ages can take part in egg-rolling down Bleach Green, a special Easter-themed treasure hunt, street games and swing boats for children and adults. Children can also have a go at creating their own Easter art and there is an Easter Bonnet competition each afternoon.

Special magic shows have been planned in the Parochial Hall and in the Rail Gallery as well as rabbit shows and traditional musical performances. Visitors can also venture to the Rural Area and meet the new additions to the museum including lambs and chicks.

Visitor Services Manager Ruth Turkington said the museum has planned an entertaining programme to mark the Easter holidays: “This is a wonderful time of year at the museum. The farmyard is buzzing with new arrivals, the daffodils are blooming and we are encouraging the public to come and celebrate Easter at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum.

“We have a packed programme of activities to keep all ages happy and entertained. Of course, as well as plenty of things to do, our visitors can simply relax, enjoy living history at its best and we’ll ensure there’s some traditional soda bread to sample – just hot off the griddle!”, she said.

For further information about Easter events at the museum, opening hours and pricing go to www.nmni.com.

Indie hero’s Bombay Bicycle Club have just announced details of an exclusive headline performance at the Mandela Hall, Queens University, Belfast on Tuesday 1^st May 2012.

Tickets priced at £24 go on-sale this Wednesday from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and Ticketmaster.ie

Bombay Bicycle Club released their third album, ‘A Different Kind of Fix’ in August 2011 to widespread critical acclaim. In a little over three years, the band will have released three LPs – an extraordinary and increasingly rare feat in the 21^st century music industry. From the teenage indie kicks of their debut; to the sparse, timeless folk of last summer’s top ten album, ‘Flaws’ (nominated for an Ivor Novello Award); the quartet open a new and beguiling chapter with, ‘A Different Kind of Fix’, one that cements their place at the very forefront of British bands in 2012.

Recorded in Hamburg, London and Atlanta, ‘A Different Kind of Fix’ captures the sound of a band effortlessly progressing and innovating at a startling rate. Guitars are firmly plugged back in for album number three, but added to the mix with potent results are synths, sampled loops, layered vocals from all four band members and washes of reverb throughout.

The sheer breadth of styles and range of influences on display across the record is startling.

First single, ‘Shuffle’, emerges from a looped piano sample to burst forth into one the band’s biggest songs to date, as the piano loop recruits gargantuan drums and bass that march to an epic chorus on their way to a house break of Balearic proportions.

Album opener, ‘How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep’ is all marble steeped vocal loops and breathy samples, which are also used to devastating effect on ‘Lights Out, Words Gone’: a song of such rarefied beauty and rhythmic hooks, one imagines a lost, codeine-fuelled Talking Heads album.

For more see: bombaybicycleclubmusic.com/ /  www.mcd.ie

With the clocks having gone forward and spring officially sprung, the Ulster Orchestra brings a touch of all four seasons tonight (Tuesday 3 April) with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, one of the most popular and well known pieces of music to Clonard Monastery in Baroque at Easter, a concert of timeless Baroque classics.

The Orchestra’s Hungarian-born Leader, violinist Tamás Kocsis is the soloist for the Four Seasons and directs the concert that also includes music by Bach, Purcell and Handel’s uplifting Water Music.

Looking forward to the concert Tamás said, “It’s has been a busy few days, as we performed Brahms’ great Requiem in the Ulster Hall on Friday and was in Derry on Sunday for an education concert, but I am really looking to playing at this special venue.

“While the Orchestra has played at Clonard before, this is my first time performing at the Monastery where I will also be playing the Bach Double Concerto with Chris Blake, our Principal Oboe player. He is a dear friend and a fantastic oboist, so I am sure we are going to have lots of fun performing this wonderful piece,” he continued.

“The Four Seasons always presents a challenge, being very well known and very transparent. No wonder it’s popular with audiences and performers alike, it is a beautiful set of Concertos.”

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Performing live to 100,000 people each year in venues from Ulster Hall to Strabane’s Leisure Centre, the National Concert Hall in Dublin to London’s Royal Albert Hall, since its foundation in 1966 Northern Ireland’s only professional orchestra has also played in many ecclesiastical venues from the cathedrals of Armagh to St Columb’s Cathedral, Derry and St Anne’s in Belfast.

Speaking about the concert, Clonard’s Rector, Father Michael Murtagh, said, “The Four Seasons is such a famous piece of music and written by a man who I recently discovered was himself ordained a priest.

“I am looking forward to the concert that comes, for many obvious reasons, at an incredibly special time for so many people being Holy Week. It is also our first Easter back in our newly restored church and the first time in three years that the Orchestra has played here and it’s great to have them back.”

Talking about the Bach Double Concerto, UO Principal Oboe Christopher Blake said, “I have played this amazing concerto with the last two leaders of the Orchestra and am really looking forward to performing it with Tamás, who is an extraordinary violinist.

“You need a lot of stamina for this peice because the music never stops which is unusual for a wind concerto. It is also a challenge to play in different places too, as the environment and acoustics differ from place to place, but we are all really looking forward to returning to Clonard,” Christopher said.

Tickets for the concert on 3 April at 8pm are still available from the Ulster Orchestra Box Office on 028 9023 9955 and ulsterorchestra.com.

Come outdoors this Easter. Get ready for eggstravaganzas, egg trails and antics at four stunning National Trust properties in Mid Ulster – The Argory, Ardress House, Springhill House and Wellbrook Beetling Mill. Spring has sprung and there is endless fun in store for all the family.

On Easter Sunday and Monday, Springhill House in Moneymore will celebrate Easter in true fashion with a Cadbury’s egg trail, face painting, craft activities and a visit from a few familiar characters – Alice, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and friends will be joining in the fun and games on the estate.

The Easter bunnies have hidden themselves around the lawns and gardens at The Argory. Come along on Easter Monday and Tuesday to the beautiful estate near Moy to find the bunnies, unlock the clues and win the chocolate surprise. Face painters, crafts, games on the lawns and pony and cart rides will keep you entertained throughout the day.

At Ardress House in Annaghmore, the bunnies have also hidden around the farmyard and gardens. Come along on Easter Sunday, complete the trail and win the Cadbury’s chocolate surprise. Enjoy magic shows, children’s music, balloon modelling, crafts and more.

On Easter Monday, follow the clues along the wooded glen at Wellbrook Beetling Mill, Cookstown to find the Cadbury’s surprise. Pack a picnic for the day and soak up the surrounds of the Ballinderry River.

Whatever you’re into, the National Trust Mid Ulster properties have something for everyone this Easter.

For further information on events and opening times visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ni or visit www.eggtrails.com. Normal admission, National Trust members free. Egg trails £1 per child.

To mark 60 years of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s reign the Diamond Jubilee will take place in 2012.

To celebrate the occasion, North Down Borough Council are planning a programme of exciting events which will centre around an extended weekend on 2^nd, 3^rd , and 4^th of June and coincide with the national Jubilee celebrations.  The overall theme of the events will be Vintage in keeping with 1952, the year that The Queen was crowned.

The celebrations will kick off on Saturday 2^nd June with the arrival of the HMS Bangor at The Eisenhower Pier.

On Sunday June 3^rd, you are invited to attend The Big Jubilee Lunch which will take place in Castle Park.   This is the perfect opportunity for you to bring along a picnic, enjoy the splendid background of the Park and listen to a host of amazing live music celebrating the era.

Jazz fans will adore AJ Brown and The Swingshift Big Band at 2.00 pm.  This 18 piece band will perform favourites from the likes of Duke Ellington, Count Basie and pride themselves on bringing big band music into the 21^st Century.

At 4.00 pm the internationally renowned Jacqui Dankworth Band will take to the stage. Considered to be “one of the classiest acts in British jazz singing” (The Guardian), Jacqui’s highly acclaimed recordings are stylistically diverse, incorporating elements of folk, blues and many other forms that have also demonstrated her superb skills as an eclectic songwriter.

At 7pm, an Interdenominational Church Service will take place and the evening will conclude with the premiere of the 3D Projection Spectacular, an amazing light show which will be projected onto the front of The Town Hall.

The entire Town Hall area will be transformed  – there will be a Cartoon Wonderland – look out for old friends Andy Pandy, Bill and Ben and other surprises in a celebration of the creations of the 50s. There’ll be treasure hunts, crafts, a tea party, plant-potting, dressing up and lots more, guaranteed to keep the kids entertained for hours with lots of nostalgia for the adults!

In the courtyard just in front of the Town Hall – a special Jubilee version of the popular Seaside Frock Vintage Fair will delight the shopaholic!  This will feature a fabulous line up of around 50 handpicked local vintage dealers and creative designers offering an extravaganza of vintage and handmade fashion, jewellery, furniture, homewares, collectables, gifts, sweet treats and much more.

For the car-lovers, a Vintage Car Display featuring cars and military vehicles from the era will be taking place.  There’s lots happening inside The Museum too with exhibitions based on Royal Visits to North Down and the Cinema Room will be screening films from The Coronation and previous Royal visits.

A recreated 1950s home will reflect the best of the 50s with sections on Food, Frolics, Frocks and Furniture.  The Council’s recycling team show you how to make the best of what you’ve got with themed workshops to turn your old clothes into outfits fit for a Queen.

All Town Hall activities will be repeated on Monday 4^th June with some adjustments to the musical programme.

The Ulster Orchestra will be rehearsing for their grand finale performance from 4.00 – 6.00 pm in Castle Park, followed by the Ulster Youth Jazz Orchestra will be taking to the stage.

At 8.00 pm the Ulster Orchestra will perform a special Jubilee concert. Come along, bring a picnic and kick-back and enjoy this very special musical treat. The day’s events will conclude at 10.30pm with another 3D Projection light show onto the Town Hall, followed by The National Lighting of the Jubilee Beacon.

So get your vintage gear on and prepare to step back in time this June when you come and celebrate the Diamond Jubilee with us, lots of fun and entertainment for the whole family for the whole weekend!

For further information, please phone our Tourist Information Centre on: 028 9127 0069 or visit www.northdowntourism.com

Pictured are Martin Miller and his sons, Matthew and Owen, co-organisers behind the Titanic Yardmen Cycle and Walk with the Connswater Community Greenway.  The Millers are taking delivery of a donated chest of Thompson’s Titanic Tea from Thompson’s Family Teas, the family behind Punjana.

Ross Thompson, from Thompson’s Family Teas is an old schoolmate of Martin’s, and offered to support the Titanic Yardmen Cycle and Walk when he found out Martin was behind the charity effort to raise much needed awareness and sponsorship for Bowel Cancer UK.  The event is organised in the memory of Martin’s wife, Rosi Kirker-Miller.

As well as sponsoring the event, Ross will be providing Thompson’s Titanic Tea to all the walkers before they embark from their meeting point at Westbourne Church on the Newtownards Road, whilst all cyclists and walkers will be given a pack of Thompson’s Titanic Tea for to refuel and refresh when they get home from the event.  The sell out walk and cycle takes place on Sunday 1st April with the cyclists and the walkers congregating at Titanic Belfast between 1pm and 3pm.  Spectators are encouraged to support the Yardmen, as they make their way to the Titanic Quarter.

Thompson’s Family Teas, was founded by Robert Thompson who established the company is 1896, blending tea in his Belfast premises as he watched the Titanic take shape in the neighbouring shipyard.  His blend of tea helped fuel the thousands of men from Belfast and beyond as they laboured on the great liner.  Thompson’s Family Tea is the sole supplier of tea to the prestigious Titanic Signature Building.

For more details on the fundraiser log on to www.bowelcanceruk.org.uk. For more details on Thompson’s Family Teas log on to www.punjana.com or like us on facebook at Punjana.

– Titanic to be showcased in unforgettable audiovisual experience –

A cutting edge digital projection show is coming to The Slipways in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter and the experience will be available for people to watch online at www.ni2012.com/lightshow

tiAs part of the Titanic Belfast Festival 2012 and the ni2012 celebrations, the event will showcase the new iconic Titanic Belfast visitor attraction.  NITB and Belfast City Council have teamed up with video production company Geocast TV to make sure that even those people who didn’t get a ticket for the event can watch the whole performance unfold live.

Taking place on April 7, the ‘Titanic projection show’, produced by Culture Creative and designed and creatively directed by seeper.com,  will use 3D motion graphics, synchronised pyrotechnics and bespoke sound design – all inspired by the RMS Titanic – to create an unforgettable 40 minute audiovisual performance to celebrate Belfast’s culture, heritage and bright future.

Lord Mayor of Belfast Mayor, Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile, said:  “This is another example of how Belfast City Council is taking the lead in hosting world class events – and this is just one part of the exciting Titanic Belfast  Festival 2012.

“Our city is the focus of world attention and as First Citizen I am proud of all that we have to offer visitors and locals.  I would encourage everyone to enjoy the many activities that will be on offer from this weekend”.

NITB’s Destination PR and Marketing Manager Ruth Burns says the event is a unique experience for Northern Ireland.

“The Titanic projection show will kick-start an exciting, jam-packed calendar of celebrations, festivals and commemorations that will be taking place throughout Northern Ireland during 2012,” said Ruth.

“It is set to be one of the most challenging projection shows that has ever been attempted and will be a truly spectacular experience for everyone involved.  Don’t worry if you didn’t manage to get a ticket to the show as it will also be fantastic to watch the whole experience live online.

“The show will capture the spirit of optimism for the city of Belfast and promises to be an impressive and unforgettable experience.  There will be no better way to showcase the new Titanic Belfast building and I would encourage everyone to be part of the celebrations,” she added.

Richard Day from Geocast TV says they are looking forward to bringing the event to a worldwide audience.

“The Titanic projection show is shaping up to be a spectacular event and we’re delighted to broadcast it live online in a multitude of countries.  Everybody can get involved and watch the show in real-time on their home computers, laptops and even their mobile phones,” Richard said.

“There will also be another opportunity to watch the event again the next morning,” Richard added.

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For more information on events, festivals and commemorations taking place during ni2012 click on www.ni2012.com or visit your local tourist information centre.  You can also visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/titanic

If you are stuck for something to do on Easter Tuesday, why not walk your way into the record books…….. barefoot!

More than 3000 people are expected to converge on the Stormont Estate on Tuesday 10 April at 12.30pm to take part in the ‘World’s Largest Barefoot Walk’ World Record attempt.

To be able to claim you hold a Guinness World RecordTM, you just have to be prepared to expose all ten pinkies and walk one kilometre which for most people will take less than 15 minutes.

The organisers are urging as many people as possible to attend the walk in an attempt to break the world record which was set in India in 2010 by 2500 people, who walked a kilometre in bare feet.

John Kee, director of Summer Madness, who is leading the attempt explained, “All those who take part will be asked to remove their footwear and walk along a path which has been pre-swept to remove any sharp stones and pieces of debris. Millions of people don’t have the luxury of owning a pair of shoes much less have a clear path to travel and as a consequence suffer from disease and soil transmitted infections. By making this token gesture we aim to raise awareness of those who are too poor to even own a pair of shoes.

“There are a number of charities involved including Stand By Me, Tearfund, Fields of Life, Girls’ Brigade, Big House Ireland, Damaris Trust, 3 Rock Youth. We are building on a ‘One day without shoes’ initiative by TOMS, who donate a pair of shoes to those in need for every pair they sell. They have kindly donated a number of pairs to help our efforts and we will be giving these away to lucky participants on the day.

“There will be a £1 registration fee but ample free carparking will be available within the estate.”

Anyone wishing to take part should register for the walk online at www.wear-it-out.co.uk or arrive from 11.30am to sign-up on the day.

John added, “More information is available online at our website or on our facebook page www.facebook.com/barefootwalkbelfast. We would be very grateful if anyone interested could like and share our page to help us spread the word and encourage as many people to take part as possible.

“By breaking this record, we hope to show Northern Ireland to be world’s best in championing the needs of others, which is especially fitting as 2012 is our year to shine!”