Author: whatsonni

An exciting programme of activity starts on 31 August with Taste Autumn in Ards and North Down, giving you the chance to savour some of the Borough’s finest food and drink, including in the popular Tide and Turf Food Festival in Portavogie on Saturday 2 September.

The very best of our local seafood, beef and harvest foods will be celebrated with free and ticketed events including, exclusive foodie experiences in unique locations, chef demonstrations, with a focus on our delicious local produce, and the chance to enjoy a hot chocolate at the most easterly point on the island while exploring our starry skies.

Stargazing, the first event of Taste Autumn, takes place at Ballyhalbert’s Burr Point (31 August). Join the Northern Ireland Amateur Astronomy Society and use their telescopes to learn about the planets and galaxies above. This was a hugely popular event when it was organised for the first time last year so tickets are expected to sell out fast!

On Friday 1 September, celebrity chef Paula McIntyre will host a unique evening dining experience at Dine at the Dock in Portavogie, where diners will enjoy a four-course tasting menu curated by Paula and the team at South Eastern Regional College. This is a rare fine dining opportunity in an unusual pop-up restaurant setting and will be an evening to remember. Tickets cost £75 per person.

Dine at the Dock provides the perfect way to kick-off a memorable weekend of foodie events with the popular Tide and Turf Food Festival taking place the following day. Thousands of people are expected to attend the annual event on Saturday 2 September, when Portavogie Harbour will come to life with a range of activities and foodie attractions for all the family.

The Festival takes place from 12noon until 5pm and will feature cookery demonstrations, lots of family fun with pedal boats, sand crafts and Punch and Judy shows, plus the opportunity to grab a deck chair and enjoy live music from the String Ninjas and the Florentinas. More details about this free-to-attend event will be released in the coming weeks.

A free return bus service will run from Bangor, Donaghadee and Ballyhalbert to Dine at the Dock, while free buses will also be in operation to and from the Tide and Turf Food Festival.

Back in Bangor, the Chilli Festival returns on 9 and 10 September. Bangor Castle Walled Garden will be heating up with many different varieties of chilli plants on display, together with local producers, an evening barbeque on Saturday 9 September (tickets cost £20), live music and more!

For a full list of Taste Autumn events, to book tickets and plan your journey with parking information and bus timetables, go to visitardsandnorthdown.com/tasteautumn.

New Outdoor Attraction Introduced in Time for Summer

Leading astronomical research and education centre, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, recently announced the introduction of a new interactive outdoor activity. Launched on 1st July 2023, the attraction is comprised of two routes. The astronomy-themed Cosmo Lost in Space trail is for children, whilst Astropark Journey, an augmented reality trail, is for an adult audience.

Designed by Brilliant Trails and supported by Tourism NI and the Department for Communities, the attraction is based at the organisation’s Planetarium. The Cosmo Lost in Space trail follows the story of Cosmo, a dog that enters a spaceship which accidentally takes off to the Moon.

Young adventurers must follow the trail marked on a map to discover clues and locate the 11 Cosmo Lost in Space markers located along the route. Once all the clues have been collected, they will be able to decipher a secret code word to help Cosmo launch his spaceship and return home to Jake.

Astropark Journey, which is suitable for an adult audience, is a self-led tour of Armagh Observatory and Planetarium’s Astropark. Technology for the trail which uses Augmented Reality to provide an interactive experience, will be downloadable to personal mobile phones via a QR code obtainable within the Planetarium.

In addition to the interactive trails, work has been completed to enhance the Astropark’s accessibility, with new signage in braille, additional paths and seating areas, and a panoramic viewing gallery, which is nestled within an ecology area that overlooks the city of Armagh.

John McCord, Acting Director of Culture, Department for Communities, said: “The Department for Communities is delighted to have partnered with Tourism NI in funding Armagh Observatory Planetarium’s development with the launch of its newly enhanced Astropark, which will provide innovative and exciting ways for the whole family to engage with science at this heritage location.”

Tourism Northern Ireland supported the project through its Experience Development Programme 2021-2023

Esther Dobbin, Regions and Investment Manager at Tourism NI, says, “Tourism NI is delighted to see the launch of the new experience at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, adding another outdoor experience to the tourism offering in Armagh.

“It brings new reasons to pay a visit and will appeal to all ages, delivered in a fun, innovative and accessible way.”

The trails are part of a wider initiative by Armagh Observatory and Planetarium to increase the accessibility of its facilities. In addition to the new outdoor activity, the organisation has implemented a number of other inclusive features. These include a Changing Places facility, improved wheelchair accessibility and a Sensory Room on the ground level of the Armagh Planetarium.

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium also screens ‘Relaxed’ and ‘Chilled’ Digital Theatre Shows for children who find large crowds and loud noise challenging, and has launched an Irish language accessibility Dome Show, with plans in place to introduce Ulster Scots and British Sign language versions of the show in the coming months.

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is sited in a heritage environment with a rich scientific history. The organisation delivers internationally recognised research in astronomy and related sciences and vibrant educational and outreach programmes for all ages.

Professor Michael Burton, Director at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, adds, “It is a pleasure to launch these interactive trails at the newly enhanced Astropark.

“We would like to thank Tourism NI and the Department for Communities for the joint funding of this initiative. We would also like to thank Brilliant Trails for designing and delivering the innovative trails and app, Ruth Foster the Construction and Procurement Delivery Property Service Division Project Manager for co-ordinating the enhancement of the grounds, and the team of staff at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, who worked collaboratively to make sure everything ran smoothly.

“Whilst we are passionate about making our facilities accessible to everyone, the topography of our site can be challenging.  We have compensated for the more difficult terrain by adding easily accessible seating areas with interpretative signage.

“We hope that the enhancements and trails will provide a fun and educational experience for children and adults alike.”

Suitable footwear is recommended for both trails.

To find out more about Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, visit: https://www.armagh.space

To celebrate the reopening of Bankmore Square, Linen Quarter Business Improvement District (LQ BID) has announced a free six-week event programme. Kicking off on August 10^th the vibrant range of activities include a launch event with free ice-cream and traditional music concert, yoga classes, pickleball and a mobile petting zoo.

 

Free Ice-Cream & Trad Music Launch Event

Thursday 10 August, 12:00-2:00pm

Drop by Bankmore Square as the BID celebrates its summer launch with 300 FREE ice-cream scoops.

District Employee Party

Friday 11 August: 5:00pm-Close

Head to The Marcus Ward with colleagues after work for special drinks promos, as well as free pizza for the first 100 people. Marcus Ward will also be giving out discount cards which give you 10% off food & drinks during any future visit!

 

Lunch-time Yoga & Pickleball

Join Nicola Suitor for lunch-time yoga on 15^th August & 4^th September or try your hand at Pickleball on 21^st & 23^rd August.

 

Bankmore Bank Holiday Family Day Out

Sunday 27^th August: 1:00pm-5:00pm

Bank-more this bank holiday with free giant games, drumming circles, face painting and other children’s performances at the BID’s family day out.

 

Mobile Petting Zoo

Wednesday 6^th September: 12:00pm-2:00pm

Stop by the mobile petting zoo on September 6^th to check out the snakes, hedgehogs, rabbits, and creepy crawlies!

 

Bankmore Square re-opened to the public on June 28^th following a £95,000 rejuvenation project delivered by LQ BID, co-funded by Department for Communities and supported by Department for Infrastructure. The Square’s new look will deter anti-social behaviour by using the space in a new way including the installation of a wildflower garden, new circular central feature to facilitate events, and partial removal of wall to open the space to areas of high footfall and increased surveillance.

 

Events are open to all members of the public and do not require booking, however some are weather dependent. Check out @LinenQuarter on social media for the latest updates and view the full list of events here.

The Market Place Theatre in Armagh is set for a dramatic few weeks, with two fantastic dramas scheduled to hit the stage.

On Saturday 12 August, perennial favourites, Belvoir Players return with a Sam Cree classic, ‘Strictly For The Birds’, a hilarious play featuring all the comedy and mayhem that are hallmarks of Sam Cree’s writing.

Muriel and Herbie Glover and their daughter Susan enjoy life in a wee terraced house somewhere in Belfast. Their neighbour, Lily Dodds, calls in quite frequently for the loan of a wee cup of sugar or a wee drop of tea to keep her going. Herbie keeps pigeons in his loft in the back yard and has collected quite a few cups from racing his birds across the continent. When Muriel and Lily learn that they share a sweepstake that has drawn the favourite in an impending horse race and are likely to win a considerable sum of money, Muriel’s mother, who lives in Cherry Valley, descends on the household with the threat that life will never be the same again for the hapless Herbie.

Then on Friday 25 August, Holywood Players will present ‘Deathtrap’. In this acclaimed dark comedic thriller, washed-up playwright Sidney Bruhl hasn’t written a successful play in years and money is getting tight. But when Clifford, a student of a creative writing course he’s teaching, comes to him for advice on a script he’s written, his prayers are answered. Sidney recognises the script immediately as a sure-fire hit and his ticket back to Broadway success. The only issue is, does Clifford want to share the credit… and what will Sydney do if he doesn’t?

Holding the record for the longest-running comedy-thriller on Broadway, and nominated for four Tony awards including Best Play, ‘Deathtrap’ will keep you on the edge of your seats. Full of twists and turns, shocks and surprises, you will be holding your breath until the very last moment.

Please note, this show is not suitable for children under 12 as it contains violence and limited use of strong language. Tickets are priced £15 and £12 (concession) for ‘Strictly For The Birds’ and £15 and £13 (concession) for ‘Deathtrap, and can be booked online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre or through the Box Office on 03300 561 025.

Harry Christophers’ The Sixteen, one of the world’s most renowned choral ensembles, will return to the Guildhall in 2023 as part of the 10th anniversary celebrations of City of Derry International Choir Festival. They feature in a guest artist line-up which will also see the Ulster Orchestra, Festival Chorus and soloists performing Verdi’s dramatic Messa da Requiem at the Millennium Forum in the Festival’s Opening Gala.

On Friday 20th October, The Sixteen will visit Derry for the first time since 2016 to present their programme, A Watchful Gaze, marking the 400th anniversary of the death of composer William Byrd. Byrd was widely admired in his own time both at home and abroad, and the influence he had on future generations was immense. This programme explores the music of Byrd’s influences, colleagues and pervading faith, as well as taking his legacy firmly into the modern day with two new works by Dobrinka Tabakova.

The Choir Festival will open on Wednesday 18th October with a concert performance of the dramatic Messa da Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi. A 100-voice Festival Chorus (made up of singers from across the northwest of Ireland) will be joined by Northern Ireland’s premier symphony orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, and soloists.

These performances will be among the highlights of five days of choral events scheduled in the Millennium Forum, the Guildhall and other venues in Derry, Strabane and Inishowen from 18-22 October 2023. Over sixty choirs from across Ireland, the UK and Europe have signed up to participate in the Festival’s packed schedule of competitions, workshops and community performances.

Dónal Doherty, Artistic Director of the Choir Festival, said, “It’s always a very special occasion when Harry Christophers and the Sixteen come to the city. It will be especially memorable this year, as we welcome back this exceptional ensemble to help us celebrate our 10th Anniversary edition, in the wonderful setting of the Guildhall. Tickets will be at a premium, so book early to avoid disappointment.”

For more information on the Festival’s programme of events, visit www.derrychoirfest.com. For ticket sales, visit the Millennium Forum’s box office in person, online at  https://www.millenniumforum.co.uk/, or by calling 028 7126 4455. Early bird offers are in place for the month of August. Connect with the Festival on social media at facebook/CityofDerryInternationalChoirFestival, IG/Twitter: @derrychoirfest

August Craft Month returns with packed all-island programme of over 400 events

 

The highly anticipated month-long celebration of Irish craft has officially launched. This year’s August Craft Month brings together an array of talented makers hosting over 400 events with representation in all 32 counties across the island of Ireland.

Festivities last week at Marina Market, Cork, kicked off a series of unique events that will take place throughout the month of August.

Featuring live demonstrations, craft markets, great music and food, the launch truly shone a spotlight on local makers and showcased the variety of talented craft-makers involved in August Craft Month across the country.

An excited atmosphere was in the air, as the public got a taster of the month of craft celebrations ahead.

August Craft Month celebrates a rich craft heritage, the artisans keeping ancient traditions alive and new talented makers bringing real vibrancy to the scene.

With events taking place across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, August Craft Month provides unique opportunities for people to get involved as well as supporting makers by buying products and learning more about their work.

Supported by the Design & Crafts Council Ireland, Craft NI and Cork Craft & Design, the annual celebration is once again part of an island-wide summer programme.

There is a packed itinerary of over 400 eclectic events in all corners of the island, with an almost equal split on both sides of the border.

Widely acknowledged as among the finest in the world, Ireland’s linen heritage will take centre stage during August Craft Month.

The Linen Biennale Northern Ireland, an initiative of R-Space Gallery, returns for a second year in 2023 with events across Northern Ireland running across August, September and October.

The Biennale will showcase Ireland’s linen heritage and examine the future of linen and flax on the island.

Rosemary Steen, CEO, Design & Crafts Council Ireland, said, “We at Design & Crafts Council Ireland are thrilled to once again work with Craft NI and Cork Craft & Design to extend the August Craft Month programme of events across the whole island of Ireland.

“Now in our second year of celebrating the all-island August Craft Month, a real momentum has been generated. There is an incredible 57% increase in the number of events being held this year, with over 400 listed in the programme. Many well-known names are taking part as well as emerging makers.

“It is a fantastic opportunity for people to take the plunge into the crafts world, see and experience the amazing work that is going on all around us. People are looking ahead, going onto the augustcraftmonth.org website to browse, select and book the events they want to go to and building their plans around them.

“It all combines to create a real energy around the Irish craft scene, and I know people are excited to find out more during August Craft Month.”

Katherine McDonald, Director of Craft NI, said, “August Craft Month is a fantastic platform to honour and acknowledge the skilled makers we have right across the island of Ireland.

“This year’s programme has shaped up to be one of our best, with a really diverse range of craft disciplines including ceramists, textile makers, glassblowers, designer-makers and many more. It’s a great opportunity to try a craft for yourself.

“Handmade pieces are often one-of-a-kind and make the most thoughtful and considered gift or an excellent way to show some self-care.”

Ava Hayes, Cork Craft Month Director at Cork Craft & Design, said, “We are delighted to be working in collaboration with August Craft Month again to truly bring the island of Ireland to life with locally curated art and design throughout the month of August.

“As Ireland’s largest social enterprise for craft-makers, we look forward to seeing all communities immerse themselves in the nationwide campaign, and to celebrate their local crafters by visiting exhibitions and supporting in any way they can.”

At the official August Craft Month launch in Cork, Rosemary Steen, CEO of DCCI announced the launch of the David Shaw-Smith Legacy Award. The award, which holds a prize of €5,000, is available for master crafts people over the age of 50 to apply for.

It was inspired in large part by Joe Hogan, traditional basket maker and fine artist, when he said in his keynote speech at the DCCI AGM last year, that a bursary for established makers in craft would be “a public way of showing we value things; it also gives a message to craftspeople that what we’re doing is important”.

The award recognises these incredibly important craft skills and the imperative of passing them down to get the future generation of crafters involved.

For the full island-wide programme, visit www.augustcraftmonth.org. Share your own craft adventures by tagging @augustcraftmonth23 and use the hashtags #augustcraftmonth2023, #makeseebuy

Faughan Valley Woodlands opening to the public August 1^st 2023

Faughan Valley Woodlands is home to a significant proportion of ancient woodland which is so rare it covers just 0.04% of our landscape in Northern Ireland. Since 2000 the Woodland Trust have bought small clusters of native woodlands, including Brackfield, Oaks, Red Brae, Burntollet and Killaloo wood, all fragmented along the Faughan Valley, ASSI, a site of special scientific interest. And it has been the vision of the Woodland Trust for over a decade to connect these fragments for people, nature and climate.

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity and has been managing woodlands within the Faughan Valley for over 20 years. Thanks to funding and partnership support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, DAERA’s Rural Development Programme and support from Derry City and Strabane City Council; the conservation charity has been able to realise their vision connecting small fragmented woodlands along and across the River Faughan, and underneath the newly constructed A6.

Pre-existing pathways of 9km have been upgraded and new paths created to extend a trail network of more than 35km in the Faughan Valley Woodlands. This project means connectivity for people and nature and the Woodland Trust wants the valley’s woodlands to become the destination for the local community, visitors from across Northern Ireland and tourists from further afield.

Visitors to Faughan Valley Woodlands will have the chance to explore the breathtaking landscapes and immerse themselves in the tranquil beauty of nature. New walking trails have been carefully designed to showcase the unique flora and fauna that call this woodland home, providing an opportunity for both leisurely strolls and invigorating rambles. A beautiful sculpture trail weaves throughout the woodlands where hidden wonders are just waiting to be explored.

The Woodland Trust Project Manager Denise Murphy said: “The Faughan Valley is incredibly special due to the volume of precious ancient woodland in the area, it is vital that we protect and restore what little we have remaining by tree planting, buffering with blocks of new woodland and removal of invasive species building its resilience for the future.

“To be able to connect these previously fragmented woods, protect this ancient woodland and create better access for people and havens for wildlife is a dream come true. We can’t wait to show you our new walking trails seamlessly connected by winding paths and beautiful bridges with a few surprises waiting to be explored along your journey!”

The Faughan Valley Woodlands are located 10 minutes from Derry~Londonderry and 1 hour drive from Belfast. For more information on visiting the Faughan Valley Woodlands, visit woodlandtrust.org.uk/faughan-valley/