Author: whatsonni

Newcastle is gearing up to host Visit Mourne’s brand new Eats and Beats festival this weekend from Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September.  With two food villages and three stages, it will be jam-packed with celebrity chefs, special events, live music, street performers, family fun, and a world of cuisine.

Festival goers can browse more than 60 food, drink, arts and crafts stalls at the Homegrown and World food villages in Donard Park and Castle Park.  Villages will be open from 11am to 8.30pm on Saturday and 11am to 7.45pm on Sunday. The Newcastle Artisan Market, located outside the Newcastle Centre, running from 11am-3pm on Saturday only.  As if that isn’t enough there will also be lots of family fun activities, a sustainability village and a series of fringe events taking place this weekend. 

Visitors can also sit back and relax with a drink at one of the bars located in each of the food villages while being treated to an incredible array of performances offering an eclectic mix of styles and genres that is sure to create a big festival vibe across the seaside town. Live music at the Homegrown stage in Donard Park, the World Music stage in Castle Park and the Rising Stage on the Promenade starts each day from 12noon – be sure to check the various artists set times at visitmournemountains.co.uk.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage said, “Newry, Mourne and Down is becoming well known for the quality of its catering outlets, food produce, microbreweries and distillers and it has long had a strong track record for producing talented and successful musicians.  It is therefore timely that the Council through its tourism arm, Visit Mourne, is hosting a festival which showcases its strongest assets in one of the district’s most beautiful locations.  All roads will be leading to Newcastle this weekend as the Eats & Beats festival finishes off the Council’s summer events programme on a high.”

On the Homegrown stage in Donard Park its two day line up will be hosted by QRadio presenter, comedian and DJ Ryan Hand.  Award-winning band, Kíla, heralded as one of Ireland’s most innovative and exciting bands, will headline the stage on Saturday evening.  While The Undertones, known for one of the best punk anthems of all time – ‘Teenage Kicks’, will rock Newcastle on Sunday evening and delight crowds as they belt out their famous hits.

Anyone looking for something different will find it at the World Food Village and Stage in Castle Park where you can lose yourself in the vibes of Brazilian Samba, Indian Bhangra, Latin, African and many other traditional music forms from bands such as The Mons Wheeler, the Streetwise Samba Band, the Balkan band, Basork whose fusion ensemble draws on Irish, European and Middle Eastern music and the Belfast Community Gospel Choir (BCGC). Award-winning Irish singer/songwriters, Zoe Conway and John McIntyre can also be found on the World music stage on Saturday afternoon.

The Rising Stage at The Promenade will host new and upcoming acts including singer-songwriter RUE who will join indie-folk duo, Lathya and Downpatrick’s own indie/alternative rock band, The Thing Is.  Parker, Winnie Ama, Jack Devlin and Dark Tropics will also take to the stage over the two-day event.

For anyone travelling to Newcastle, there will be a Park and Walk located at Bryansford GAC and a Park and Ride will operate from the Northfield site on both days.  Toilets and disabled amenities will be located across the site while Changing Places facilities can be found at Donard Park.

Stay tuned to the Visit Mourne Facebook and Twitter pages where the full festival line-up, carparking and other important festival information will be posted throughout the weekend. Further information on where to stay, eat, and things to do during your stay can be found at visitmournemountains.co.uk.

Grab your glass slippers, your carriage awaits as the home of pantomime in Northern Ireland this year stages the much-loved classic Cinderella.

With an award-winning creative team at the helm, over 35,000 tickets have already been sold for the biggest show of Northern Ireland’s Christmas season.

Cinderella opens at the Grand Opera House on Saturday 3 December 2022 and runs until Sunday 15 January 2023. Children and adults alike can expect laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning scenery, beautiful costumes and plenty of boos and hisses with Belfast’s favourite Fairy Godmother May McFettridge, who this year celebrates a record-breaking 32 Grand Opera House pantomime seasons.

May is joined on stage by Paddy Jenkins, who was last seen on the Theatre’s stage in March in Give My Head Peace, as Baron Hardup.

Returning to the Grand Opera House panto following their appearance in last year’s sell-out run of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Adam C Booth plays Buttons opposite Kia-Paris Walcott in the title role.

Jo Donnelly, who played Mummy Bear last year, is joined by Jolene O’Hara as the vile Wicked Stepsisters, and Lisburn’s Gyasi Sheppy plays Dandini, who in 2021 landed his dream job as one of the presenters of CBeebies.

Completing the line-up, Conor Headley, originally from Lurgan, a graduate of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance and a former participant of the Grand Opera House’s summer youth production, takes on the role of Prince Charming.

“Northern Ireland’s biggest Christmas show warrants a top-drawer cast and the best creative team to bring alive from page to stage the most magical pantomime of them all,” said Ian Wilson, Chief Executive of the Grand Opera House.

“Since the Theatre opened in 1895, generations of families have made the Grand Opera House pantomime part of their Christmas festivities, and with over 75,000 expected to attend during the six-week run, book your seats now otherwise not even your Fairy Godmother will be able to magic you a ticket!”

The Grand Opera House pantomime is staged by Olivier award-winning producer Michael Harrison on behalf of Crossroads, the biggest pantomime producer in the world. As well as producing the recent production of Bedknobs and Broomsticks at the Grand Opera House, Michael has produced the current UK and Ireland tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat which runs at the Theatre in October, and he is creating his seventh consecutive London Palladium pantomime this year.

Cinderella is directed and choreographed by Jonny Bowles, who won Best Choreography for Goldilocks and the Three Bears at the 2022 Pantomime Awards, and lighting design is by
Ben Cracknell, whose recent designs include the West End production of The Drifters Girl and the national tours of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Osmonds, The Cher Show, and the 2022 Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall.

Michael Harrison, producer of Cinderella, said: “We’re delighted today to be announcing such a fabulous cast for the Grand Opera House’s pantomime. We’re currently working on a script packed full of laughter for all the family and know that Crossroads’ pantomime in Belfast will be something very special for young and old alike.”

Northern Ireland’s biggest pantomime will once again be sponsored by Dale Farm, who are delighted to share the joy of panto again this year.

For the Grand Opera House pantomime performance schedule and tickets, visit: goh.co.uk

WITH the summer holidays drawing to an end, the Stormont Hotel has a fabulous selection of fun-filled family breaks on offer that won’t break the bank and give everyone something to look forward to!

 

Enjoy one last day out this weekend before school is back with the Teddy Bear Afternoon Tea on Saturday 27^th August from 12pm – 3pm. This magical afternoon tea will have a host of fun activities including the chance for children to create their very own teddy bear with Bear Necessities. Afternoon Tea including a glass of Prosecco is £36 per adult and Mini Afternoon Tea & Teddy Bear is £26 per child.

 

The Titanic Package starts from £180 for a family of four and includes overnight accommodation with breakfast and entry to Titanic Belfast. Spend time exploring Belfast’s Titanic Quarter and visit one of the world’s leading tourist attractions, Titanic Belfast, which tells the story of Titanic from her conception, through her construction and launch, to her maiden voyage and subsequent place in history.

 

Or why not enjoy the Picnic in the Park package from £175 for two adults and two children which includes overnight accommodation and a special picnic to take with you to enjoy wherever you want with fresh sandwiches and scones, sweet treats and games to keep the children entertained as you spend some quality time in the great outdoors.

 

The Stormont Hotel has a fabulous selection of newly upgraded family rooms that now cater for two adults and up to three children with a selection of interconnecting rooms also available. There is a fantastic new kids menu with a great selection of dishes, made using the very best of local produce, that the younger family members will love ensuring everyone goes to bed with a full belly!

 

Family rooms can be booked by phoning the Stormont Hotel on 028 9065 1066 or for more information go to www.hastingshotels.com

 

Armagh’s Market Place Theatre is gearing up for an action-packed September, with several renowned drama titles due to take to the stage, kicking off on 7 September with the renowned Prime Cut Productions with their critically-acclaimed drama, ‘The Border Game’, from award-winning writers Michael Patrick and Oisín Kearney [My Left Nut and The Alternative].

On a farm on the border, a fence needs repair after being destroyed by vandals. When Sinead finds Henry hungover in her field, she ropes him in to help. But re-building a fence is more complicated than it seems. What begins as a simple task soon turns to talk of their past, a reliving of old memories, and a relentless competition to come out on top. ‘The Border Game’ is a timely and powerful reflection on 100 years of the border and how it has impacted those who live along it.

Then on 9 September, the political and historical fantasy ‘The Trial Of The Gaelic Lords Of Ulster In The Court Of History’, will see Conn O’Neill, the last Gaelic Lord of east Belfast, called from the grave to answer the charge that he and his fellow chiefs betrayed Ulster and her people. As in Anthony Russell’s other trial plays there is no fourth wall, the audience is the jury, and all are expected to vote guilty or not guilty only on the evidence presented.

The exceptional Kabosh Productions return on 21 September with the award-winning ‘Green & Blue’ exploring the painful and humorous realities faced by the individuals who patrolled the border during the height of the conflict. An officer from the Royal Ulster Constabulary in his green uniform, and Eddie from An Garda Síochána, resplendent in blue, communicate via crackly radios until an explosive incident forces them to meet across a field only farmers know the location of. Focusing on what it’s like to be hunted when you’re protecting a man-made line on the ground, the play looks at the societal and human cost of borders.

Tickets can be booked online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre, or through the Box Office on 03300 561 025. ‘The Border Game’ and ‘Green & Blue’ are part of the Theatre’s Autumn 22 Drama multibuy offer.

And to keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews.

What better way to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee than through our royal passion for food. The Council is calling on all bakers in the Borough to dust down their aprons and enter the Ards and North Down Platinum Pudding Competition!

The British pudding comes in all shapes and sizes, so you can decide if it is steamed, baked, rolled or layered. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating though, as our judging panel shortlists the puddings considered most fit for a queen.

There are top prizes up for grabs, including a KitchenAid food mixer, food blender and electric hand mixer. The overall winner will receive an invitation to the Big Jubilee Lunch at this year’s festival.

Fancy your chances? Pudding entries need to be delivered to Bangor reception of SERC on Friday 27 May, by 11.30am. Judging will take place that day with winners notified the following week. Entries must be accompanied by a copy of the recipe and the entrant’s contact details. Ts and Cs apply.

Excitement builds as we plan to welcome celebrity chef Jean Christophe-Novelli MBE, from Novelli at City Quays, at Sea Bangor Celebrates the Platinum Jubilee on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 June. Highlights will include top culinary tips from this multi-award-winning chef and answers to all your cookery questions. Jean-Christophe will bring charm and expertise to proceedings as our host for the Big Jubilee Lunch.

Our team of chefs from SERC will continue Jubilee celebrations by shining a gastronomic light on dishes from the seven decades of Her Majesty’s historic reign. Expect a trip down memory lane, with delights such as Coronation Chicken, Prawn Cocktail or maybe a Devilled Egg or two!

The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Mark Brooks, said:

“We are thrilled that Jean-Christophe Novelli MBE will be our celebrity chef at Sea Bangor on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 June. He is a multi-Michelin star and 5/5 AA Rosette winning chef, author, and restaurateur who is known around the world for his amazing cooking artistry. It will be a great opportunity to gather some cooking tips and tricks from the best in the business while also celebrating food from the past 70 years.”

Brian Magill, Hospitality and Catering Lecturer at SERC, said:

“We are delighted to be involved in Sea Bangor, which has become a key date in the calendar for hospitality and catering students who will be involved in demonstrations, street food and ambassador roles at the festival. We are excited to be involved in the judging for the Platinum Pudding Competition and recreating the winning pudding for festival-goers to savour. We are expecting the highest standard of entries which will make judging a challenge.”

Jean-Christophe Novelli MBE, from Novelli at City Quays, said:

“I am absolutely thrilled to be joining the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in Bangor and working with the fantastic Brian Magill and the team from SERC. I am very much looking forward to hosting the Big Jubilee Lunch and meeting all attending and involved. The Pudding competition is a great way for people to get involved and showcase their creativity and imagination.”

For more information, visit ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk.

– Ulster American Folk Park will host the iconic music festival for its 30^th anniversary on 28^th and 29^th May –

– World class line-up of performers will play across three stages –

Ulster American Folk Park has announced the return of the Bluegrass Omagh music festival after a two year break due to the pandemic. Now in its 30^th year, big crowds are expected to attend across the two-day event on 28^th and 29^th May to mark this significant milestone.

Multi-award winning acts from both sides of the Atlantic will take to three stages. From international acts including The Slocan Ramblers, Seth Mulder & Midnight Run, Vivian Leva & Riley Calcagno and Aaron Jonah Lewis, to our finest local artists such as No Oil Paintings, Joshua Burnside and Cup O’Joe.

Set against the vibrant and imaginative backdrop of the Ulster American Folk Park, visitors will be transported to Appalachian America – the root of bluegrass music – to enjoy strumming on the porches, dancing on the cobbled streets, and jamming outside the General Store as the sounds of banjos, guitars and fiddles fill the air.

John-Paul Coyle, Visitor Services Manager at the Ulster American Folk Park, said: “We are delighted to welcome people back to Bluegrass Omagh to help us celebrate its 30^th anniversary. This year, we decided to host the festival in May to allow for brighter evenings, and hopefully warmer weather.

“This event is one of the best and most authentic bluegrass experiences on offer, not only in Northern Ireland, but across the world with both home-grown talent and performers from across the Atlantic coming together to share their music.

“The museum setting adds to the experience as it helps bring to life what is widely considered the beginning of the bluegrass genre, when the people who emigrated to the heartland of Appalachian America, brought their music styles to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. Bluegrass is in the depths of our DNA at the Folk Park and the distinctive style of a lot of modern-day American country, bluegrass and folk music can be traced directly back to emigrants from Ulster. It is wonderful to keep this heritage alive and continue to share the rich cultural expressions of song and dance.”

To mark the 30^th anniversary, local musicians and songwriters Rachel McCarthy, Katie Richardson and Jackie Rainey have collaborated to perform songs from the bluegrass, folk and Americana artists who have inspired them over the years. This performance will include three part harmonies and covers from a range of artists from the bluegrass and folk music genres.

Speaking about this one-off collaboration, Carolyn Mathers, Director at Snow Water, the company behind the programming of the festival, added: “It has been an immense pleasure to programme the 30th Anniversary of Bluegrass Omagh, given the incredible reputation it has established over the years. We curated a line-up that will appeal both to bluegrass purists and to those new to this rich, vibrant and colourful scene. The special collaboration between Rachel McCarthy, Katie Richardson and Jackie Rainey will bring their incredible collective musical backgrounds together to express their love of bluegrass and country music, and will add to the spirit of the occasion.”

Bluegrass Omagh has previously been nominated for ‘Bluegrass Event of the Year’ by the International Bluegrass Music Association and over its 30-year legacy has become part of the fabric of Omagh that delivers for the local economy with international visitors enjoying the town’s hospitality offerings and other tourism hotspots in the region.

The two-day festival is sponsored by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Errol Thompson, said: “As an Omagh Town Councillor I am delighted that Bluegrass Omagh at the Ulster American Folk Park, is returning this year.  The Council is pleased to be able to provide sponsorship towards the Festival which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year.

“The Bluegrass Festival is a significant event for the District providing a much welcome boost to the local economy and in particular the tourism and hospitality sector.  The Council is committed to ensuring that the District is an attractive place to live, work, visit and invest in, and events such as this contribute to the achievement of this.”

Festival-goers can pay homage to the heritage and legacy of the Appalachian settlers through music, but they will also have the opportunity to enjoy wholesome food, musical workshops and artisan craftwork across the weekend.

Kathryn Thomson, Chief Executive of National Museums NI, said: “It’s wonderful to reflect and see just how significant an event Bluegrass Omagh has come to be and how it has enabled us to show that museums are more than buildings and collections, but an integral part of society and our wellbeing. We’re proud of the contribution that the festival makes to the local economy and community each year with visitors coming from across Northern Ireland, Great Britain and even further afield to enjoy the experience year on year.”

The festival will take place at the Ulster American Folk Park in Omagh on Saturday 28^th and Sunday 29^th May, 2022, with performances starting each day at 1pm and running to late evening. For more information and for tickets, please visit https://www.bluegrassomagh.com/.

The first ever ‘Swamp Festival’ in Belfast is expecting to attract hundreds of visitors to the Bog Meadows Nature Reserve in Belfast on Saturday 14 May.

This unique and free fusion festival of music, arts and crafts, storytelling, nature walks, cultural workshops and much more will celebrate the return of the African sedge warblers, willow warblers, house martins and swallows to Bog Meadows.

Belfast City Council and Ulster Wildlife have joined forces with leading cultural arts organisation ArtsEkta to put in place this special Swamp Festival for all the family as part of the £5.1million EU PEACE IV-funded Forth Meadow Community Greenway project, which aims to promote the greenway as a shared, welcoming, connected and safe space for all. 

With African music from Magwere, traditional Irish music and local folk band The Doone Brothers on stage throughout the afternoon, the day starts at 6am with a special Dawn Chorus and finishes with the Forth Meadow Greenway Duck Derby at 4pm. Tickets are free but must be pre-booked via ArtsEkta’s website, which contains the full programme of activities for the festival.

Rose Crozier, Director of City and Neighbourhood Services, Belfast City Council said: “We attracted a tremendous crowd for our first Greenway cultural event in March, with the Luminate Festival, so we’re hoping more and more families will join us on Saturday 14^th May for this amazing Swamp Festival to enjoy this wonderful new space being created in the heart of the city to bring people from all communities together.”

Nisha Tandon, Founder and CEO of ArtsEkta said: “We are delighted to present the first ever Swamp Festival on this island on behalf of Belfast City Council, following our inaugural Greenway Luminate Festival in March. We look forward to putting on more events throughout the Summer to bring the Forth Meadow Community Greenway to life this year.”

Deborah McLaughlin, Community Engagement Officer with Ulster Wildlife said: “Every year hundreds of feathered visitors flock to Bog Meadows from Africa to rear their young. This amazing green space, right in the heart of West Belfast, is a fantastic asset, not only for wildlife but for local people to enjoy and we look forward to showcasing it at the Swamp Festival.”

For full details of the Swamp Festival programme go to ArtsEkta’s website where tickets for this FREE festival must be booked in advance from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/forth-meadow-community-greenway-40614725793

The Greenway is being delivered through Belfast City Council’s PEACE IV, Local Authority Action Plan. This Action Plan has been funded through the EU’s PEACE IV Programme, which is managed by The Special EU Programmes Body. Match-funding has been provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland.

Armagh Craft Fair returns for its tenth anniversary year to the wonderful surroundings of The Market Place Theatre and Arts Centre in Armagh on Saturday 28 May, with an exciting programme of creative activities for visitors of all ages to enjoy, making this year’s craft fair a date for your diary.

The venue will transform into a vibrant hub of high-quality craft, art and design activity for the day. Visitors can shop at thirty craft stalls from makers nationwide, experience traditional and contemporary craft demonstrations with some hands-on craft making opportunities. You will find printed and woven textiles, jewellery, wood, fine art, leather, glass, soaps, candles, ceramics and artisan foods.

Children will enjoy getting creative at the FREE drop-in art sessions throughout the day making this fun event a must for all families.

Live musical performances during the fair will keep you entertained as you shop for beautiful craft products, relax with a refreshing drink or simply enjoy the atmosphere.  We look forward to celebrating 10 years of this wonderful fair with all the talented makers and our visitors.

This year’s Craft Fair will run from 10.30am to 4.30pm at The Market Place Theatre. Entrance is free, as are all craft demonstrations. For further information, bookings and to download the full programme go to www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre You can also follow developments on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) for the latest information and video previews.

May is a month of music at Seamus Heaney HomePlace and next Sunday 15 May sees one of the most significant Irish Trad musicians – the amazing Martin Hayes – perform, and while in conversation with Liam O’Connor of the Irish Traditional Music Archive / Taisce Cheol Dúchais Éireann, share notes on his story of getting to the very heart of music.

Martin Hayes is regarded as one of the most significant talents to emerge in the world of Irish traditional music. His unique sound, his mastery of his chosen instrument – the fiddle – his acknowledgement of the past and his shaping of the future of the music, combine to create a formidable artistic intelligence.

He has drawn inspiration from many musical genres, but remains grounded in the music he grew up with in East County Clare, creating a unique and insightful interpretation of Irish music.

Martin has toured and recorded with all the great artists, has played with Sting and Paul Simon and performed for Barak Obama at the White House. He founded the seminal Irish American band, The Gloaming, with whom he tours internationally and with whom he shared the prestigious Meteor Prize in 2014 for their debut album. His autobiography ‘Shared Notes’ was published to great acclaim in 2021 and tells his own unique story of getting to the very heart of music.

In this unmissable event, Martin will chat with Liam O’Connor, director of the Irish Traditional Music Archive, about his life, career and autobiography, before performing some of his best-loved pieces.

Tickets are on sale now at www.seamusheaneyhomeplace.com

Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival is back this year from May 27^th – June 5^th with 10 days of exciting seafaring fun to look forward to.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is working with Ballycastle Community Development Group and Rathlin Development and Community Association to bring you this hugely popular celebration, with a packed programme of activities on both dry-land and at sea, inspired by the Rathlin Sound – the body of water connecting Rathlin Island to the mainland in Ballycastle.

Visitors can look forward to live music performances, ‘have a go’ activities, crafts, walks, talks and lots of artisan produce which celebrate the area’s rich local history, culture, music, and food.

There’ll also be a special visit from tall ship ‘The Leader’, a traditionally rigged sailing vessel, who will moor in Ballycastle throughout the festival. Get on board for a tour, enjoy a sail around the bay or simply admire the beauty of this majestic boat from the harbour.

In addition, thanks to Causeway Coast Maritime Heritage Group, you’ll get to see traditional fishing boats like drontheims and currachs take to the water, including the Colmcille, one of the largest vessels of its type in Northern Ireland.

In other programme highlights, look out for the blessing of the boats, an appearance by the Vikings, a colourful kite display and an exciting demonstration from Red Bay RNLI to mark its 50th anniversary.

Looking ahead, the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Richard Holmes, said:

“Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival is about inspiring a passion for the sea, as well as celebrating Ballycastle and Rathlin Island’s shared nautical heritage. It is a fantastic showcase of the area’s unrivalled tourism product and it brings a unique vibrancy which has been enjoyed by thousands of visitors since it first began.

“I know it is highly anticipated every year as a highlight of our Borough’s events calendar, and Council is very grateful to the local community volunteers who play a central role in its success.”

The full programme will be published on the festival’s website soon so please visit www.rathlinsoundmaritimefestival.com for the latest updates or contact Ballycastle Visitor Information Centre by ringing 028 2076 2024.

Please note, details are subject to change due to tides and weather conditions, so visitors are advised to follow the Festival’s Facebook (@RathlinSoundMaritimeFestival) and Twitter (@RathlinSoundMF) channels for the most up-to-date announcements.