Author: whatsonni

The first live outdoor concert in Northern Ireland in 15 months took place this past Saturday, June 5^th, at Ballymully Cottage Farm, Limavady, home of Stendhal Festival.

250 invited guests enjoyed sets from ROE, No Oil Paintings, Ports and Jealous Of The Birds, as they observed social distancing guidelines set by the gig organisers.

The social distancing rules saw people watch the gigs from tables and individual audience pens in bubbles of four to six people.

A one-way system, hand sanitizing stations, toilet cleaning, signage and social distancing marshals also added to the safety protocols and ensured that the event could take pace as safely and as socially distantly as possible, without taking away from the atmosphere of the event.

Stendhal Festival Director Ross Parkhill said that it was a huge thrill to be able to host live music at the farm again and that the event went off exactly to plan with no major issues what so ever.

“It was absolutely brilliant,” said Ross. “We’ve missed this so much so to be able to put on a gig again means the world to absolutely everyone involved with Stendhal.”

He added: “We are used to doing much bigger gigs but this one really felt special. It felt like a real release and you could feel that throughout the audience, the performers and the staff here. It felt like hope realised.”

Ross added: “In terms of the numbers, we could have had more people but along with getting a gig on stage this was also about getting a trial run of our social distancing procedures before we welcome larger crowds in July and August. Safety of our visitors is always our number one priority at any edition of Stendhal but it will be our number one, two and three priorities this year.

“We are really pleased with how everything went in that sense, everyone who we spoke to at the end said they felt safe, felt that the covid measures were easy to follow and more importantly, said that it gave them a bit of confidence venturing back into crowds as we hopefully are seeing the back end of this terrible pandemic.”

The Northern Ireland Executive announced on May 20^th that outdoor events for up to 500 people, including concerts could take place from May 24^th and Ross said that once that announcement was made, Stendhal simply had to act.

“When we read that outdoor concerts for 500 people were back on the agenda we sort of had to do a double take to see if we had read it correctly. Then we emailed the Executive office and the Department for Communities to clarify and validate that the press release was correct and when that came back in the affirmative we knew we had to act right away.”

Naomi Hamilton of Jealous of the Birds was one of the performers on the night and following her first live performance to an audience since March 2020 she said it was a night of high emotion.

“What a joy,” she said of getting back to performing live. “ The show was an absolute joy and a testament to the fact that outdoor music and festivals can run safely and smoothly in this time of covid recovery.

“People need the arts and music now more than ever and being able to share that together between artists and audience was pretty stellar.”

Roisin Donald (aka ROE) was also playing her first ever gig with a full band, a direction her live performance was just about to take before the pandemic put the brakes on everything.

“It was the best feeling in the world to be back on a stage in front of an actual crowd again,” she said. “Everyone was in amazing spirits and it felt so right to be there. This is something that N.I. really needed and I think the crew did an incredible job of making everyone feel safe and welcome.”

With this successful trial run under their belts, the team at Stendhal are now preparing for their 10^th anniversary events this July and August and Ross said that he hopes that the overall total of 500 people currently allowed to gather for concerts will have increased by then.

“We are hoping that we can have 2500 people here in July and 5000 here in August. The pilot events in England and around Europe have shown that events of that size can take place safely without social distancing, so what we are planning will be even safer. We need guidance on the overall ‘outdoors summer’ and our place within that as soon as possible. We are good to go, we will do whatever it takes to safely deliver some much needed festivity for artists and audiences this summer.”

Very limited numbers of tickets remain for Stendhal’s July and August Anniversary events. For more information visit www.stendhalfestival.com.

ARMOY Road Races have a bumper entry this year according to Bill Kennedy MBE, Clerk of the Course. 

To date, entries have been received from all over Ireland and the United Kingdom with nearly 30 of them newcomers. It would seem there is a keen interest in racing at Armoy this year and who will turn up at to race in the famous Bayview Hotel Race of Legends.

Wilson Craig’s Team Principal Darren Gilpin has confirmed not just Bolton man Davey Todd, who had a great win at the Spring Cup weekend at Oliver’s Mount, but Chris Burns from Newcastle. He said; “Davey is well known on the roads but Chris has extensive experience on all levels of racing including Moto GP, British Superbike as well as German and Dutch Superbike Championships. Pure road racing is something that Chris has wanted to do for some time now. His father was a former TT competitor and that’s part of his motivation.

“Steven Smith from Antrim will also be part of the team, and he is really looking forward to Armoy and what its 3.03 mile course has to offer.”

Bill Kennedy MBE, Clerk of the Course, said; “Generally at this time of the year I’m visiting the various road races asking guys (and girls) to get their entries in but this year, and I suppose with the pandemic folk just want to race, so our entries at this stage are looking very strong indeed. I’ve yet to confirm some riders but it looks like we’ll have some key road racers at Armoy come the last weekend in July.

“Now we are still working our way through restrictions and what different bodies and government departments are telling us but I’m fairly certain we’ll have to run with some sort of restrictions but like everything it’s a massive and evolving task. 

“With a strong entry it’ll be very interesting. Having the likes of Chris Burns, a former British Superbike championship rider says it all and it shows the sheer love these guys have for road racing.”

The Club has also confirmed Mullingar man Derek McGee and Michael Sweeney from the Skerries will be back along with popular Dominic Herbertson. Local boys and club members Darryl Tweed and Neil Kernohan will be in the mix along with Paul Jordan from Magherafelt.

Bill Kennedy MBE said; “We’ve some top class riders and it’s sure to make for some interesting racing come Race Day. The Classics, which are ever popular, will see Barry Davidson with his numerous Armoy classic wins race alongside Guy Martin. That’s one race that’s sure to grab everyone’s attention this year.

“With two months to go there is much work to be done.”

For more information on Armoy Road Races, visit www.armoyroadraces.com or search for ‘AMRRC’ on Facebook or follow on twitter @ArmoyRoadRaces. 

With summer just around the corner, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has partnered with the Irish Football Association for a series of exciting Summer Camps. 

The Camps, for boys and girls aged 5 to 13, will be held at Scroggy Road, Limavady from July 5^th to 9^th, Quay Road, Ballycastle from July 19^th to 23^rd, Kilrea Sports Complex from August 2^nd to 6^th, Rugby Avenue in Coleraine from August 2^nd to 6^th and the Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre in Ballymoney from August 9^th to 13^th. 

All Camps will run from 10.30am to 1.30pm and every child taking part will receive a free football. 

To book your place go to www.irishfa.com/footballcamps or for more information contact ronan.odonnell@irishfa.com

Council will also be running its hugely popular Summer Recreation Programme with lots of variety including golf, tennis, hockey, judo, athletics, gymnastics and netball from July 5^th until August 20^th.

Booking will soon be available online and you can find out more by emailing sportsdevelopment@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

The ForM Sculpture Exhibition opened on Tuesday 1 June in Bangor Castle’s Walled Garden.

For the whole month of June, the garden will showcase over 20 beautiful sculptures, created by artists from across the island of Ireland. This unique event gives visitors the opportunity to experience art outside of the traditional gallery setting.

The pieces inspired by the garden, are dotted around the tranquil setting, enhancing the natural space. The whole family will enjoy seeking out sculptures located in the garden’s walkways, shrubbery and flowerbeds.

Speaking about ForM, The Mayor of Ards and North Down Councillor Trevor Cummings said: “It is great to see this wonderful outdoor event return to Bangor Castle’s Walled Garden. The sculptures really add another dimension to the garden during month of June and I would encourage everyone to come along and view it.”

Ards and North Down Borough Council’s Arts Officer, Patricia Hamilton said,

“We are thrilled that we are able to deliver ForM sculpture exhibition this year, one of our first events since restrictions have eased. There have been few opportunities for artists to exhibit their work since early 2020 and I hope visitors will explore the sculptures in this beautiful outdoor setting. It is well-documented that art boosts well-being and we hope that connecting to art in this tranquil space will benefit people.”

ForM will remain open until 30 June and is free to visit.  Some of the sculptures are available to buy. To access a digital exhibition map, visitors are invited to scan a QR code with their smartphone at the entrance to the garden or alternatively, the map can be downloaded in advance from:

www.andculture.org.uk

Bangor Castle Walled Garden is open from 10am – 8pm Monday to Thursday, and 10am – 6pm Friday – Sunday and Bank Holidays.

Armagh’s newly renovated Market Place Theatre has re-opened to the public. The programme for the summer months will include a variety of choices to keep audiences entertained, including the venue’s much-loved interactive workshops, a host of visual art exhibitions, performances live-streamed from the stage of the Main Auditorium, and the magic of The Big Screen returns with an eclectic mix of film screenings for kids and grown-ups alike.

Why not get back to hands-on creativity at our hugely popular workshops. With a programme aimed to encourage you to craft for the outdoors, you can choose from creating a beautiful summer bouquet, crafting your own rustic wooden bench, or hand printing a unique artwork using fresh seasonal foliage. All workshops will be led by experienced and friendly tutors, in a comfortable, socially distanced environment.

Or, if you’d rather sit back, relax and immerse yourself in a world of action, adventure, romance or drama, why not try one of our Big Screen offerings. Film Screenings this season will include superhero action in ‘Wonder Woman 1984’; and one of Hollywood’s most powerful thrillers ‘The Silence Of The Lambs.’ You can also get the kids’ imaginations flowing again with an out-of-this-world adventure with ‘Shaun The Sheep: Farmageddon’; explore the jungle in ‘Dora & The Lost City Of Gold’; or journey to the savanna in the timeless classic ‘The Lion King’. All children attending a kid’s film screening will receive a craft pack to enjoy, and customers are invited to bring their own refreshments to all screenings.

Whilst unable to welcome audiences back to live performances at present, the venue will be bringing you some live-streamed performances to enjoy at home. On Saturday 12 June, folk band TRÚ will bring music back to The Market Place stage with a mesmerising live show exposing their performance skills, the craft of their arrangements and the sheer power of their storytelling. Then, on Friday 25 June, one of Ireland’s leading pianists, Ruth McGinley, will demonstrate her powerfully stylistic flair with a concert programme featuring works by Arvo Part, Satie and reimagined folk songs by Neil Martin.

Art is also back at The Market Place, kicking off with a humorous and nostalgic photographic exhibition of works by Jolly Bearded Promotions, which tackles the intriguing question of what toys get up to when we turn our heads. ‘Outskirts Of The Toy Box’ uses multiple well-known characters from the world of movies, cartoons and comics and skilfully brings them to life.

With full safety measures in place and limited numbers, you can sit back and relax as you escape from it all this Summer. Tickets for these, and many more experiences, can be purchased by contacting the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre

Saturday 28 May – The SSE Arena, Belfast

Ticket on sale tomorrow at 9am: www.ticketmaster.ie

Video & Images – tinyurl.com/QAL2022

Queen + Adam Lambert have today announced an extra UK show is being added to the band’s twice-postponed Rhapsody UK & European tour, now set for 2022, as well as additional dates in mainland Europe.

In the UK, where the band is already set to play a pair of shows each in Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow and a 10-day run at London’s O2 Arena, the band will now open their 10-week tour with a newly added show at The SSE Arena, Belfast on Saturday 28 May 2022.

Extending the mainland Europe leg of its highly anticipated tour, the band will also play newly set shows in Italy, Sweden, Norway, and winding the tour up with a new final show in Finland on 24 July 2022.

Extra Europe dates are:

Italy:                             Bologna, Unipol Arena               Sunday 10 July

Sweden:                       Stockholm, Avicii Arena            Wednesday 20 July

Norway:                        Oslo,Telenor Arena                   Thursday 21 July

Finland:                        Helsinki, Hartwall Arena                        Sunday 24 July  

In all, Queen + Adam Lambert will now perform 34 shows across their Rhapsody UK & Europe 2022 tour.

Tickets for the newly added The SSE Arena, Belfast show on Saturday 28 May 2022 will be available from Wednesday 26 May 2021 at 9am from: https://www.ticketmaster.ie/venueartist/460013/1971833

2022 ARENA DATES ANNOUNCED FOR NORTH AMERICA, UNITED KINGDOM AND EUROPE.

Following the release of her latest single ‘Your Power,’ and ahead of the July 30 release of her forthcoming album ‘Happier Than Ever,’ Darkroom/Interscope Records artist Billie Eilish has announced the first leg of her Happier Than Ever, The World Tour, set to commence in February 2022.

Starting February 3 in New Orleans, the 32-date North American arena run will be making stops across North America, before heading across the Atlantic for an 18-date arena tour across Europe and the United Kingdom, starting June 3. Remaining tickets will on-sale Friday, May 28, 12pm local in the U.S and Canada, and 10am local in the United Kingdom and Europe. To ensure tickets get in to the hands of fans, the tour has partnered with Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan platform in North America. Fans can register now through Sunday, May 23 at 11:59pm PT HERE for the Verified Fan presale. Registered fans who receive a code will have access to purchase tickets before the general public on Wednesday, May 26 at 12pm local time through 10pm local time.

The seven-time GRAMMY Award winning artist and songwriter has also confirmed she will be continuing her work with sustainability partner REVERB for her Happier Than Ever, The World Tour, with the fan-facing Billie Eilish Action Village at each show which will focus on climate action and climate justice, hosting and supporting BIPOC and women-led environmental organizations as well as a comprehensive program via REVERB’s forthcoming Music Climate Revolution campaign. In addition to reducing the tour’s environmental footprint, the initiative will support projects that directly and measurably eliminate greenhouse gases. These collective efforts will make the tour Climate Positive; eliminating significantly more emissions than the tour creates.

2021 has already been quite the year for 19-year-old Eilish whose latest single ‘Your Power’ debuted at #10 on the Billboard Hot 100, logging more than 150 Million streams in the first two weeks of release. Earlier this year, she took home two additional GRAMMY Awards; Record of the Year for “everything i wanted,” and Best Song Written For Visual Media for her James Bond song “No Time To Die.” In February, her groundbreaking documentary film, ‘The World’s A Little Blurry’ — directed by R.J. Cutler — saw its Apple TV+ global release and received critical praise worldwide. Earlier this month, Billie Eilish made her book debut with BILLIE EILISH, a stunning visual narrative journey through her life. Published by Grand Central Publishing (GCP), the book features hundreds of never-before-seen photos, and captures the essence of Billie inside and out, offering readers personal glimpses into her childhood, her life on tour, and more. Get your copy HERE.

‘Happier Than Ever’ is out worldwide on July 30.

PRE-ORDER/ADD/SAVE HERE

1. Getting Older

2. I Didn’t Change My Number

3. Billie Bossa Nova

4. my future

5. Oxytocin

6. GOLDWING

7. Lost Cause

8. Halley’s Comet

9. Not My Responsibility

10. OverHeated

11. Everybody Dies

12. Your Power

13. NDA

14. Therefore I Am

15. Happier Than Ever

16. Male Fantasy

2022 EU/UK TOUR DATES

June 3 – SSE Arena – Belfast, UK

June 4 – 3Arena – Dublin, IE

June 5 – 3Arena – Dublin, IE

June 7 – AO Arena – Manchester, UK

June 8 –  AO Arena – Manchester, UK

June 10 – The O2 – London, UK

June 11 – The O2 – London, UK

June 12 – The O2 – London, UK

June 14 – The SSE Hydro – Glasgow, UK

June 15 – Utilita Arena – Birmingham, UK

June 16 – The O2 – London, UK

June 18 – Ziggo Dome – Amsterdam, NL

June 19 – Festhalle – Frankfurt, DE

June 21 – Lanxess Arena – Cologne, DE

June 22 – Accor Arena – Paris, FR

June 28 – Sportpaleis – Antwerp, BE

June 30 – Mercedes-Benz Arena – Berlin, DE

July 2 – Hallenstadion – Zurich, CH

After prolonged closures due to Coronavirus restrictions, North Down Museum in Bangor and Ards Arts Centre in Newtownards will reopen their doors to the public on Tuesday 25 May.

North Down Museum staff have been working hard behind the scenes to produce two new exhibitions for visitors to enjoy. Both exhibitions mark Northern Ireland’s Centenary year and are part of Ards and North Down Borough Council’s NI100 programme of activities.

‘NI100: Our Borough, Our People’ which can be viewed in the museum’s Community Gallery  until Monday 30 August, explores local people who have made a national or international impact in their field over the past 100 years. Ards and North Down is home to a wealth of talent and this exhibition celebrates the achievements of individuals across eight different categories: – Arts, Entertainment, Leaders, Literature, Music, Science & Industry, Sports and Wartime.

‘NI Centenary: Local Leadership, National Impact’ which is open in the museum’s Long Gallery, examines the history of how Northern Ireland was established and puts it into the local context of the time.

The exhibition highlights many local people who were at the forefront of the unionist movement at the  time, including Comber native, John Miller Andrews, who played a pivotal role in the opposition of Home Rule, establishing Northern Ireland and sitting in its first Government cabinet. This exhibition will run until Sunday 1 August.

Another welcome addition to the museum is the installation of a Laird’s Boat in the museum’s coffee shop. The beautifully restored boat which has been acquired by the Council now hangs from the ceiling of Coffee Cure where it will remain a permanent fixture for visitors to view.  

Ards Arts Centre will host; ‘Fragments of Memory’ by Millie Moore in its Sunburst Gallery. The exhibition of paintings and charcoal drawings were made in response to reflections and memories of the artist’s daily walks. Last year, Millie visited and walked some ancient bogs in central Ireland and was reminded of Seamus Heaney’s observations and descriptive words on found bog bodies. In particular, she is interested in investigating what is hidden or sometimes revealed within the depths of a bogland.

Speaking about the re-openings, The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Trevor Cummings, said: “I am delighted to see North Down Museum and Ards Arts Centre reopening to visitors. I would encourage everyone to come and visit these venues and explore the arts and heritage experiences that they have on offer. The Museum’s NI100 exhibitions are fascinating and are a fantastic addition to our Centenary programme, well done to the staff who have worked on curating them.”

Ards and North Down Borough Council’s  Arts and Heritage Manager, Emily Crawford also commented: “Arts, culture and heritage are so important for our creativity and sense of wellbeing and we cannot wait to welcome visitors back to North Down Museum and Ards Arts Centre. A series of one-off creative workshops will be taking place at Ards Arts Centre from early June to give visitors an opportunity to try their hand at a number of art and craft activities. Participants can try lessons in illustration, guitar playing, drawing and painting amongst others. With lots to see and do this summer, there’s plenty of opportunity to engage in arts and heritage.”

To ensure the safety of visitors and staff, a one-way system will be in operation at both venues and visitors will be encouraged to sanitise their hands at the provided sanitisation stations. Group sizes should be kept to a minimum and everyone will be encouraged to respect social distancing and wear a face covering when inside the buildings.

Both North Down Museum and Ards Arts Centre have been awarded the ‘We’re Good to Go’ mark, the UK-wide industry standard, managed locally by Tourism Northern Ireland, which signifies that tourism and hospitality businesses have implemented the appropriate procedures and health and safety measures, in line with government and industry guidelines, to ensure the safety of staff and visitors.

North Down Museum’s opening hours are: Tuesday – Saturday; 10am – 4pm and Sunday; 12noon – 4pm. Coffee Cure, the museum’s coffee shop will also open on the same date and will operate under the following opening hours: Monday – Saturday: 9am – 4pm and Sunday: 10m – 4pm.

Ards Arts Centre will be open: Tuesday -Friday; 10am – 4pm, Saturday: 10am – 1pm and late night Wednesday and Thursday 6.30 – 9.30pm.

Admission to both venues is free. For more information visit: https://andculture.org.uk/

A brand new Mini Land Rover Experience, which lets kids take control of the driving seat, is gearing up to open at Glenarm Castle on 1^st July.

Supported by Charles Hurst Land Rover as the headline sponsor, complementing its current national “Outspiration” campaign, with additional support from NFU Mutual, the adventure will provide families with a safe, fun drive on the first off-road Mini Land Rover adventure course in Northern Ireland.

Kids from 3-11yrs can take over the wheel of one of 5 Mini Land Rover cars; featuring steering wheel, a starter key, accelerator, lights, a direction switch with accompanying adults having access to a hand held fob which will remotely switch off the car.

Reaching a top speed of potentially 5mph, kids will drive on a specifically designed outdoor course with a range of ‘challenges’ along the way. The experience lasts 45 minutes which includes a 15 minute safety briefing.

The Mini Land Rover Experience is part of a £500k investment, announced earlier this year, to significantly enhance the Glenarm Castle visitor experience.  This includes sea view holiday pods, a Heritage Centre, Museum, Woodland Walk, E-Bike Hire, a Castle Shop and The Milk Parlour featuring ice cream using milk from N.Ireland’s only remaining Shorthorn dairy herd.   The investment has also helped to create up to 20 full and part time jobs.

Looking forward to welcoming families to Glenarm Castle’s Mini Land Rover Experience, Adrian Morrow, Glenarm Castle Managing Director, said:

“ We are very excited to offer the Mini Land Rover Experience as part of our visitor experience investment, sponsored by Charles Hurst Land Rover and supported by NFU Mutual, at Glenarm Castle.  We have taken great care to ensure that families have a fantastic, safe and enjoyable adventure.  Kids will enjoy taking control of the wheel of the mini Land Rover cars and tackling the ‘challenges’ on our specifically designed outdoor course. With many people choosing to holiday at home this summer, we are expecting the experience to be in high demand. We would encourage anyone hoping to bring their family to enjoy the Mini Land Rover Experience to book in advance to avoid disappointment.”

Alan Thompson, Head of Business at Charles Hurst Land Rover, said:

“It’s been a really difficult time for children, parents and families across Northern Ireland over the last year, so Charles Hurst Land Rover is delighted to be the headline sponsor for Glenarm Castle’s Mini Land Rover Experience to provide this fun, exciting and unique outdoor adventure experience for all the family this summer. At Land Rover Belfast, we are passionate about the great outdoors and all the adventure that comes with it, so this partnership is a fantastic way to bring our ‘Outspiration’ campaign to life for families across Northern Ireland at a time when we have all spent so much time indoors. If you’re looking for the ultimate family-friendly outdoors experience this summer, look no further than Glenarm Castle’s Mini Land Rover experience.”

Ian Kernohan from NFU Mutual East Antrim Agency said:

“ It’s great to see such a fun, exciting and dynamic attraction coming to Northern Ireland and there is no better setting for it than at Glenarm Estate. NFU Mutual is delighted to support this unique attraction and no doubt it will be a huge success, bringing much needed enjoyment to local kids as we come out of lockdown and back to normality.”  

Booking for Glenarm Castle’s Mini Land Rover Experience is now open.   The experience costs £20 for 45 mins.  Pre booking is advised. For further information and for booking details visit wwww.glenarmcastle.com.  Follow Glenarm Castle @GlenarmCastle on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Get outdoors for some fresh air this summer and discover some of the beauty that Ards and North Down has to offer through a selection of walking tours and experiences!

As lockdown restrictions begin to ease, Ards and North Down Borough Council is working with local providers to help you treat your mind, body and soul. There are 13 different walking tours on offer, including a brand new ‘Waggy Tail’ dog friendly tour of Scrabo Hill in July, plus nature trails for kids, and a host of experiences that include paddleboarding, yoga and much more!

Walking Tours

The walking tours start with the Groomsport Evening Bird Watching and Nature Trail (14 June) with fascinating bird expert, Dot Blakely, who will teach you all about the natural habitat of the birds and animals while you enjoy a stroll along the coastline.

The Bangor Castle Walled Garden Tour (16 June & 7 July) is always a popular option, with tour guide Dylan Freeburn offering an insight into the beautiful garden’s history as well as the vast array of plants, fruits and vegetables which are grown there.

Those who want to learn more about our local history can select a variety of guided historical tours in Newtownards (4 July), Portaferry (25 July), Donaghadee (1 Aug), Kearney (15 Aug) or Bangor (24 Aug).

You can find out how some of history’s most notable civilisations shaped Newtownards, learn about Portaferry’s maritime heritage, celebrate Donaghadee Harbour’s 200th birthday with a visit to the harbour and lifeboat station, discover the fascinating historical fishing village of Kearney, and learn why Bangor was once known as the ‘Vale of Angels’.

Taking place throughout the summer months, there is a selection of nature trail tours for kids in Bangor, Groomsport and Portaferry, where they can learn about mini beasts, birds and other animals. (All children must be accompanied by an adult; no ticket necessary for adults.)

If you want to treat you pet pooch to something different, the new Waggy Tail Walk and Picnic (31 July) offers a dog friendly tour of Scrabo Hill. Every dog will receive a bandana, and owners can enjoy a delicious picnic box as they take in the scenic view at the top of Scrabo Hill.

Experiences

A host of unique experiences are available from May through to September. There is something to suit everyone, from paddleboarding to yoga experiences, Viking adventures and wetland wellness, canoe and cake, and even an opportunity to join an expert gardening team in Castle Espie where you can learn how to ‘grow your own’ and take care of your garden in an environmentally friendly way.

Demand is high and a number of experiences are already sold out. However, limited tickets are still available for May’s Dawn SUP and Island Yoga Experience (30 May), where you will paddleboard across the waters of Strangford Lough to an island, enjoy a yoga experience, and treat yourself to a light breakfast before returning to shore.

In June, you can enjoy a kayaking experience on Strangford Lough with Paddle the Port (18 June), or Grow and Graze (24 June) at Castle Espie with an expert gardening team. If you like paddling and singing, then SUP-aoke (25 June) will provide a fun paddleboard session from Bangor Marina to a floating platform in Belfast Lough where you can climb aboard, sing a song and enjoy the craic!

All providers will operate the experiences with COVID-19 measures in line with current government guidance.

For more information, including the full list of experiences, ticket prices and booking, go to visitardsandnorthdown.com.