Author: whatsonni

It is with tail wagging excitement that Cancer Focus Northern Ireland is calling all dog lovers to sign up to its Waggy Woodland Walk at Springhill House in Moneymore on Saturday 28^th May 2pm to 5pm, to raise vital funds for their cancer services. 

The event will feature the central Waggy Woodland Walk with a choice of a long or short walks – suitable for dogs and owners of all ages, shapes and sizes. The family fun day will also include dog agility show, meet and greet with the PSNI police dog unit, doggy stalls, doggy raffles, and much more. With top prizes to be won on the day

Local Cancer Focus fundraiser and dog lover, Emma McCann said, “The Waggy Woodland Walk will hopefully help raise awareness of the charity’s incredible services which are available for local cancer patients and their families in Northern Ireland. “It’s great to see an event like this in my community, bringing everyone together in joint support, so I want to encourage all the local dogs and owners to turn out for this brilliant local charity.” Emma continues: “I am so excited to launching the first dog walking family fun day event for the whole community. We are inviting all the family to come along and of course dogs of all shapes and sizes. “Our walk will not only increase awareness of Cancer Focus NI and the support services we offer but will also raise vital funds. All the money will go towards funding their many services which support patients and carers who are struggling with a cancer diagnosis”. 

The walk will kick off on Saturday 28 May at 2pm in Springhill House, Moneymore. ‘Pawty’ bags are guaranteed for the first 150 dogs on the day. Contact the fundraising team at fundraising@cancerfocusni.org . Anyone who has concerns about cancer can speak to a specialist nurse on the Cancer Focus NI free Helpline, 0800 783 3339.

Click HERE to register today!

New single Green Green Grass

The second song to be taken from new album Gold Rush Kid, due 10 June

Announces full UK arena tour, to follow biggest ever headline show at London’s Finsbury Park

28 September: The SSE Arena Belfast

29 September: 3Arena Dublin

Tickets on sale Friday 29 April at 10am

George Ezra – Photo : Adam Scarborough

“another insatiable earworm” – The Guardian

“a sugar-sweet pop banger that’ll catapult his ascent even higher,” – DIY

“its arena-friendly chorus already sounds like classic Ezra” – The Times

BRIT Award-winning, multi-platinum selling musician George Ezra today debuts his hugely infectious new single ‘Green Green Grass,’ the second song to be lifted from his forthcoming new album Gold Rush Kid, due for release on 10 June via Columbia Records. The single arrives alongside the announcement of a huge nationwide UK arena tour, scheduled for September and October, following George’s special show at London’s Finsbury Park in July.

Listen to ‘Green Green Grass’

Pre-order / pre-save Gold Rush Kid

‘Green Green Grass’ is an irresistibly joyful song about making the best of things, even when it might feel like the worst of things are afoot: “Green green grass, blue blue sky, you better throw a party on the day that I die.”

“I was on holiday in St Lucia with a few friends at Christmas 2018, with two of my closest mates from home,” explains George. “We were in this beach bar, drinking homemade rum punch and Piton, the local lager, flip-flopping between the two, pissing about with three local guys who worked there. And this music started up, three streets back from the sea.

“After about half an hour, I had to go see what it was. And there was a street party going on, with three different sound systems, people cooking in the street. I asked a woman what was going on and she told me it was a funeral – for three people. They were celebrating three lives! I thought: that is not how we do this at home. And it’s really beautiful.”

‘Green Green Grass’ follows the euphoric first single and album opener ‘Anyone For You,’ which continues to climb the UK Official Singles Chart and is the number one song at UK radio, with A-list rotation across all major stations.

George debuted both songs to a rapturous reception at his recent intimate gigs in London, Manchester and Edinburgh – shows praised as “a joyous singalong that was impossible to resist” (5*, The Telegraph), “blazing sunshine tempered by subtle shadow” (4*, Evening Standard) and a set filled with “hooks so plentiful he could go long-line fishing with them” (4*, The Guardian).

Listen / watch ‘Anyone For You’

“The Gold Rush Kid? That’s me,” says George, reflecting on the title of his third record – a 12-strong suite of marvellous, transporting, elevational songs, that more than anything “sound like me. That’s what ties them together.”

After two blockbuster albums – Wanted On Voyage (2014) and Staying At Tamara’s (2018), both of which reached number 1 in the UK and sold millions around the world, and the latter of which earned him his first number 1 single in ‘Shotgun’ and won him the 2019 Brit Award for British Male Solo Artist – it was time to return to heart and hearth, with an album written and produced entirely in London with longstanding collaborator Joel Pott.

George Ezra – Gold Rush Kid album art (download high res assets)

Following the release of Gold Rush Kid, Ezra will play his biggest headline show to date, a special all day event at London’s Finsbury Park on 17 July 2022. Joining George at his first live show in almost three years, presented by Festival Republic, will be special guests Blossoms, Holly Humberstone, Mimi Webb, The Big Moon, Mychelle and the London International Gospel Choir. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster.

He today announces a full nationwide UK arena tour to follow in September and October, beginning at Liverpool M&S Bank Arena on 13 September and taking in 11 shows, finishing at Sheffield FlyDSA Arena on 2 October. Fans who pre-order Gold Rush Kid before 3pm on Tuesday 26 April can access tickets via exclusive pre-sale, before they go on general sale at 10am, Friday 29 April via Ticketmaster.

George Ezra tour 2022

Sunday 17 July – Finsbury Park, London

Tuesday 13 September – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool

Wednesday 14 September – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff

Friday 16 September – The AO Arena, Manchester

Tuesday 20 September – Utilita Arena, Newcastle upon Tyne

Thursday 22 September – Utilita Arena, Birmingham

Sunday 25 September – P&J Live, Aberdeen

Monday 26 September – The Ovo Hydro, Glasgow

Wednesday 28 September – SSE Arena, Belfast

Thursday 29 September – 3Arena, Dublin

Saturday 1 October – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham

Sunday 2 October – Utilita Arena, Sheffield

Alongside the tour announcement, George has partnered with YouTube Music to be their Sustainability Partner for 2022. He says: “I am conscious that creating, touring and promoting a record has an impact on the environment, so I am delighted to announce I will be working with YouTube Music as their Sustainability Partner for 2022. They have very generously provided a significant financial contribution to support a cause of my choosing; this is going to be The National Trust, who are working hard to reverse the decline in nature and reduce the impact of climate change by planting trees and restoring landscapes. Together, we’ll directly use this money to plant 17,000 trees across the UK.”

The National Trust has committed to planting or establishing 20 million trees covering an area the size of Birmingham as part of their plan to become net zero by 2030. The carbon benefits from the 17,000 trees will go towards the charity’s own net zero ambitions.

National Trust Director General Hilary McGrady said: “We are enormously grateful to George for this donation, and it serves as an important reminder that only by a collective will and everyone playing their part will we help reverse some of the impacts of climate change and help the nation to reach net zero.

“This gift represents an important step as part of our ambition to try and tackle the effects of climate change. We are planting the trees in the right places to maximise the impact they will have in locking in carbon.”

YouTube Music is a music app made for music listening, on top of the magic of YouTube: making the world of music easier to explore and more personalised than ever.  Whether you want to listen, watch or discover – all the ways music moves you can be found in one place – not just music videos, but official albums, singles, remixes, live performances, covers and hard-to-find music you can only get on YouTube.

instagram / tiktok / youtube / website / facebook / twitter

Ukraine Aid gig set for Oh Yeah Centre Belfast

The Oh Yeah Centre Belfast and Stendhal Festival, along with seven of Northern Irelands finest indigenous musical artists, have come together to curate an amazing evening of music on Saturday, April 23rd with all proceeds going towards a charity that is feeding Ukrainian refugees in Poland.

Aid for Ukraine will feature performances from Duke Special, Phil Taggart, Joshua Burnside, The Wood Burning Savages, Sister Ghost, Dark Tropics and Lemonade Shoelace and will take place at the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter.

Tickets are £15, with all proceeds going to Stowarzyszenie Leubuzzi, a charity based in Poland that works across various sectors but at present is putting all their resources towards the refugee crisis.

Antrim woman, Pamela Moore is the link between the Charity and those involved in putting on the show  and she says that the money raised at the gig could mean the difference in a child eating for a week or not.

Pamela said: “Working with this charity in Poland, I’ve seen first-hand how traumatic it is for Ukrainian Refugees arriving in a new country having fled all they have,” she said. “The money raised here can’t help them get back the life they once had but it can help them greatly as they arrive to start a new one.”  

Charlotte Dryden, CEO of the Oh Yeah Centre said she is delighted that the music community is coming together to show support for the current crisis.

“We are so pleased to be hosting what will no doubt be a brilliant event at the Oh Yeah on April 23^rd. The fact that all these acts were so willing to give their time and talents to this cause voluntarily, speaks volumes to their character and their desire to see a better future for all involved in the Ukraine War. Thank you to everyone who so enthusiastically signed up to get involved.”

Ross Parkhill, Director of Stendhal Festival added: “It’s been a great experience putting this together with the Oh Yeah Centre and all the acts on the bill. It’s a great example of how our music community will often come together to help others in the spirit of solidarity.

“We really hope to see a big crowd turnout on the 23^rd of April to try and raise as much money as we can for this incredibly worthy cause.”

 For tickets and more info visit www.stendhalfestival.com and click on the ticket tab.

The Council are supporting our tourism industry by developing a series of unique tourism experiences revealing the Ancient Buildings, Castles and Gardens of Antrim and Newtownabbey as part of a joint funded project with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

Tourism service providers from across the Borough have been working with a team of tourism experts to develop the design and launch of several unique experiences for the area.

These exclusive experiences will play a significant part in supporting Antrim and Newtownabbey to grow and target their tourism brand and offering to local, national and international visitors.

The experiences developed as part this project include:

1. Antrim’s Hidden Gems Tours: A full day tour which explores the highlights of the Borough and includes visits to The Whitehouse, Round Tower, Antrim Castle Gardens and Antrim Town Centre, an exclusive visit to Shane’s Castle Estate and a stop at the Lock Keeper’s Cottage to sample traditional Lough Neagh eel and hear tales from local fishermen.

• Mindfulness at The Motte: Sunrise mindfulness and Pilates experience on one of the oldest and most historic sites in the Borough – The Motte at Antrim Castle Gardens. A wellbeing experience that will leave a feeling of happiness lasting into the day ahead and beyond.

• Antrim Castle Gardens Tour:  The jewel in the Crown in Antrim & Newtownabbey.  The tour of the Gardens explores the history of the Massareene family and enables the visitor to explore the 17th century Anglo Dutch water garden, one of only three in the British Isles.

• Shane’s Castle Angling: A 3-day experience in conjunction with the Dunadry Hotel. Led by an expert Gillie will guide and advise even the most experienced angler and will bring to life the history and fishing on the Estate.

• Ballyrobert Gardens:An experience that explores the 6-acre grounds of the traditional cottage gardens and includes a tour that reveals the formal garden, an orchard, woodlands, a meadow garden and 3 of the rush fields which have been transformed into iconic symbols of historic interest in the form of concentric rings, a spiral and a Brigid’s Cross.

• Rewilding & Wellness: This half day experience is led by crafter Jennifer Shaw at Willow Cottage and is based around Jennifer’s journey of rewilding her 1-acre cottage garden. The experience combines advice and guidance on how to rewild a garden and incorporates mindfulness.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Cllr. Billy Webb said; “I am very excited about the tourism products developed as part of the Ancient Buildings, Castles and Gardens of Antrim and Newtownabbey project.  With thanks to funding from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs we have revealed a range of amazing experiences using the unique places and spaces bespoke to the Borough. The Council will continue to work together with the businesses involved as we focus on developing, enhancing and promoting our tourism product to national and international visitors.”

Looks like it’s going to be another busy week!

Newcastle AC Hill and Dale Series – Castlewellan Forest Park

To take part in the 2022 H&D Series you must register for the series which is free of charge. You will be issued with a race number by email. Your race number will be required to enter and pay for each race individually. Your race number can be collected at your first race and the retained for the 2022 series. Note that your age category will be taken on the date you register for the series and will remain for the series. You cannot change age category during the series.

Slieve Donard race is stand alone with new race numbers. Register HERE.

Noel McManus Run/Cycle 2022

The Annual Noel McManus Run/Cycle returns on Good Friday, 15^th April 2022 starting at the beautiful surrounds of Lough Rynn Castle, Mohill, Co. Leitrim.

Start Times:

• Cycle commencing at 11.00
• Half marathon commencing at 11.15am
• 10k/5k run/walk commencing at 11.30am

Walkers will not be chip timed or receive a tshirt.  If walkers wish to be chip timed and receive a tshirt, please register above under the 5k or 10k option.

There will be NO registration on the day

Ballyliffen Coastal Challenge 2022

This year’s event will take place on Saturday the 16th of April 2022, with an 11.30am start time.

Each entrant will receive a t-shirt and a special commemorative medal.

You can collect your Race Pack from the Strand Hotel, Ballyliffin on the day of the event from 8am to 11am OR the day before – Friday the 15th of April from 3pm to 6pm.

Registration this year will be ONLINE ONLY.

If you have any queries please contact us at ballyliffincoastalchallenge@gmail.com 

PLEASE NOTE ENTRIES ARE NOW CLOSED FOR THIS EVENT

Kilmovee 10k/5K Mayo

Kilmovee 10k, in association with Kilmovee Shamrocks GAA club and in partnership with Mayo/Roscommon Hospice Foundation are delighted to hold the annual 10k road race in Kilmovee, which takes place on Easter Saturday, each year, to raise funds for both organisations with €80,000+ raised so far for hospice.

This year there is also a 5K option available. There will be no registration on the day.

Visit our website for all the news & information https://kilmovee10k.com. Register HERE. Walkers, joggers and runners are all welcome!

Beragh 5 Mile Road Race

St Mary’s Park, Beragh

16 April 2022 » 16 April 2022

Start time: 11am

Registration process as follows:

Friday 15th April 7-9pm – St Mary’s Pavilion, St Mary’s Park, Beragh

Saturday 16th April 8-10.30am – St Mary’s Pavilion, St Mary’s Park, Beragh

Fees: 

5 mile: £12

5k: £7

For more information, contact Adrian Donnelly on 07761610828 or via email:

adrianjdonnelly@hotmail.com

Whitehead Road Race, Easter Monday

• Numbers capped at 250 (5-mile race) and 100 (1.6 mile fun run).
• Online registration closes once the capped entry has been reached or at 5pm on 14th April 2022, whichever comes first
• Race numbers can be collected from Whitehead Community Centre between 10.30am and 11.45am
• Late entry of £20 will be applied for all on the day registration – 18th April 2022 (subject to availability)
• Entries must be 15 years of age or over on event day
• Entries are NON-REFUNDABLE

ROAD RACE SOLD OUT – FUN RUN STILL OPEN FOR ENTRY HERE

Ballygalget Easter Sunday Run

Entries for the 2022 Wastewater Solutions Circuit of Ireland International Rally have now closed and we are delighted to announce that the cream of the crop have decided to take the ‘Fast & Furious’ challenge at Easter.

A full house of 91 entries, marking the 91st running of the oldest Rally in Ireland will tackle the 11 superlative stages, covering over 120 stage miles during Good Friday and Easter Saturday. The service area in Ballymena will see competitors and spectators receive a very warm and traditional welcome from the local community. The support from people across the North East of the Province has been superb and we thank them all for their generosity and help to make this event happen said Nigel Hughes the Clerk of the Course.

It is clear from the top 10 entries that there will be seriously ‘fast and furious’ driving skills exhibited on the technically demanding stages to thrill those who come to enjoy this fantastic spectacle on some of the classic stages of the ‘Circuit’. Jonnie Greer the current leader of the McGrady
Insurance ANICC Stage Rally Championship believes that this event will challenge even the best. William Creighton, current Motorsport UK Junior British Rally Champion and one of the UAC Future Champions will be entertaining the crowds so keep up to ‘speed’ with our live streaming via youtube and facebook.

Top 10 entries:

1. Alastair Fisher & Gordon Noble Volkswagen Polo GTi R5
2. Josh Moffett & Andy Hayes Hyundai i20 R5
3. Callum Devine & Shane Byrne Ford Fiesta R5
4. Meirion Evans & Jonathan Jackson Volkswagen Polo GTi R5
5. Cathan McCourt & Liam Moynihan Skoda Fabia R5
6. Derek McGarrity & Graham Henderson Volkswagen Polo GTi R5
7. Jonathan Greer & Darragh Mullen Citroen C3 Rally 2
8. Desi Henry & Paddy Robinson Ford Fiesta MK 2
9. Brendan Cumiskey & Martin Connolly Volkswagen Polo GTi R5
10. Declan Boyle & James O’Reilly Volkswagen Polo GTi R5

Stendhal Festival has announced that their comedy line-up for this summer’s cavalcade of creativity will be headlined by the one and only Reginald D. Hunter on Saturday, July 2nd.

The hilarious American will be joined by Stendhal’s largest ever offering of amazing homegrown comics including; Micky Bartlett, Dave Elliot, Paddy McDonnell, Mark McCarney, William Thompson, Ruairi Woods, Emer Maguire, Jordan Robinson, Luke McGibbon, Bronagh Diamond, Ciaran Bartlett, Céilí Rae Minogue and Ciaran Franco.

Since his first UK comedy gig twenty-one years ago, Georgia-born Reginald D. Hunter’s searingly honest observations both onstage and on TV and Radio have garnered him a cross-generational fan base.

During that time he has become one of the Comedy industry’s best-known performers for his distinctive take on the most diverse range of subjects. His work can be brutally honest and is often considered to be controversial but it is always meticulously thought out and he has never been afraid to face challenging issues head on even when the focus is on his own principles or beliefs.

He reached the final of So You Think You Are Funny in 1998 during his first visit to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and was nominated for The Edinburgh Comedy Awards Best Newcomer in 2002 and then nominated for The Edinburgh Comedy Awards main prize in 2003 and 2004.

In 2006 he won the Writers’ Guild Award for Comedy for his show Pride and Prejudice and Niggas.

His TV appearances have included Never Mind The Buzzcocks, QI and Have I Got News For You? He also filmed two series of the BBC2’s hugely popular Reginald D Hunter’s Songs Of The South & Reginald D Hunter’s Songs of The Border, documenting Reginald’s epic road trip through 150 years of American popular song.

Reginald regularly tours the UK and Ireland and he has been seen by audiences around the world from America to Australia.

Festival Director Ross Parkhill said that he is excited to welcome Reginald to the event: “Reginald D. Hunter is without question one of the funniest stand-up comedians I have ever seen live. He is a regular visitor to Ireland and has a great understanding of what we find funny. We are all delighted that he will be joining us at Ballymully Cottage Farm in July.

Ross added: “The funny doesn’t stop there though, as always we have a stellar cast of indigenous standup comics, some really well known like Micky Bartlett, Emer Maguire, Paddy McDonnell and some brilliant up and comers like Céilí Rae Minogue. So, if you are looking your funny bone tickled this summer, Stendhal has you covered.”

For tickets and more information visit www.stendhalfestival.com 

Following the smash hit success ‘Menopause The Musical’, audiences in Armagh can look forward to a new adventure as ‘Menopause The Musical 2 – Cruising Through Menopause’ sails into The Market Place Theatre, Armagh on Tuesday 24 May, starring Crissy Rock [Benidorm | I’m a Celebrity | Celebrity MasterChef], Rebecca Wheatley [Casualty], Nicki French [Eurovision] and Susie Fenwick [West End Star].

The original Menopause the Musical®, was a gigantic smash hit, packing audiences in theatres across Ireland. Now in the hysterical sequel to Menopause The Musical®, we fast forward five years to catch up with the same four ladies and tales of their lives, loves and losses as they set off on the high seas.

Hot flushes, mood swings, memory lapses, weight gain – these are a few of our favourite menopausal things! Cruising Through Menopause is a hilarious, heartfelt, reassuring and unflinching look at the joys of menopause and friendship. When your life is a bumpy ride full of twists and turns, it’s hard to find true friends. But step on board and we’ll take you on a trip of self-discovery, love and friendship all backed by a soundtrack of brand-new toe-tapping parodied hits!

For these four ladies the menopause was not the beginning of the end, but the beginning of a beautiful friendship where love conquers, and friendships never fail.  So, all aboard and we’ll have you laughing, singing and feeling like you’ve just met 1000 new best friends, as you join us for ‘Menopause The Musical 2 – Cruising Through Menopause’. Recommended for age 16+.

Tickets can be booked online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre, or through the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821.

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.

The Ards International Guitar Festival rocks into Newtownards this weekend and promises to showcase a wealth of local and international guitar talent. With a fantastic programme featuring guitarists from every genre, there really is something to suit every musical taste at Ards and North Down Borough Council’s much-loved festival which runs from 7 – 10 April.

One of the highlights of this year’s programme is Jon Gomm, the Leeds- based guitarist and singer-songwriter with a revolutionary virtuoso guitar style. Jon will be taking to the stage in the Queen’s Hall, Newtownards on Saturday 9 April, supported by Carlow-born virtuoso Shane Hennessy. A night of live music not to be missed!

Blue’s fans will love the Mike Wilgar Blues Band who are performing in The Ivy Bar, Newtownards on Friday 8 April. Mike first picked up the harmonica at the age of nine and has been blasting out tunes for four decades since! Well known on both the local and international scene, Mike and his band have received great praise from blues critics and fans alike. The band’s 2006 album Swimming with Sharks remains a regular on the playlist for blues and roots radio DJs across the world.

On Thursday, 7 April the festival’s Film Screening will take place in The Ivy Bar, showing ‘Guy Clark – Without Getting Killed or Caught.’ This celebration of the life of American Folk and Country Legend Guy Clarke will include the film by Tamara Saviano which explores the intimate triangle of the subject his wife Susanna, and Townes Van Zandt and will be followed by a live set from two of Ireland’s foremost aficionados of Guy’s work – Barry Johnston (acoustic guitar) and David Neill (acoustic bass), from the band Illegal Smile.

For those who fancy honing their guitar skills by learning from the experts, the festival’s Guitar Clinics are the perfect opportunity! The Clinics hosted by Paddy Anderson, Shane Hennessy, Jon Gomm, Ronnie Greer and Anthony Toner will guide you through various styles of playing. The Clinics will take place in Ards Arts Centre on various dates. Pre-booking is essential.

Commenting on the Festival, Emily Crawford, Festival Director said: “After a 2-year hiatuswe are delighted to welcome audiences back, many shows have already sold out but there are still tickets available for some festival favourites including our annual brunch with Ralph McLean. We are anticipating a great festival of live guitar music this year and we’d love to see you there.”

Ards International Guitar Festival is a must for music fans everywhere. For ticket details or to view the full programme please visit the website www.ardsguitarfestival.co.uk  or alternatively call Ards Arts Centre on 028 9181 0803

WITH the highly anticipated Series 2 of Bridgerton on our screens, the Culloden Estate & Spa is helping fans feel part of the drama.

Guests of the 5-star hotel are being invited to experience the splendour of high society with a scandalously decadent Bridgerton-inspired afternoon tea in the hotel’s stunning setting overlooking Belfast Lough. 

Such a treat seems fitting for a hotel that’s part of the luxury Hastings Hotels group.

Tastebuds will be tickled with a demi-tasse of soup (a small cup to the ordinary person), followed by elegant finger sandwiches, warm buttermilk scones with lashings of clotted cream and a sumptuous array of pastries and cakes – all served in fine bone crockery laid out on a suitably dressed antique table.

Along with the finest selection of speciality teas and coffees, guests have the option of adding a glass of champagne to enhance the experience.

And if you’re feeling specially audacious you can partake in Lady Whistledown’s Gossipy Gimlet cocktail – cleverly disguised in a teacup to avoid any scandal.

Dressing up for such a sanctimonious occasion is optional but will not be frowned upon.

The Bridgerton-inspired afternoon tea costs from £35 per person and is served daily at 1.30pm.

To make a reservation call 028 9042 1066 or for more information go to www.cullodenestateandspa.com