Author: whatsonni

With the festive season just around the corner, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council is delighted to announce its first Royal Hillsborough Christmas Market, which will be set up along The Dark Walk and Hillsborough Fort.

Due to popular demand, the market will take place over two days, Friday 10^th December from 3pm-9pm and Saturday 11th December from 10am-3pm.

Visitors can expect a host of festive foods, gift ideas, activities and entertainment guaranteed to awaken the Christmas spirit in all adults, children and ‘Bah Humbugs’ alike! The Royal Hillsborough Christmas Market will provide over 50 local artisan food producers and craftspeople a platform to showcase their unique produce and festive gifts.

Self-proclaimed ‘foodies’ are in for a treat with the wide range of artisan producers taking part including local favourites Spontaneous Deuce, Ispini Charcuterie, Rosie McNeill Cakes and Jack’s Fudge. Other offerings include seasonal chutneys and preserves, speciality cheeses and rare breed meats, organic teas, juices and much more to fill your festive larder. There will also be an impressive line-up of artists and designer craftspeople along The Dark Walk, with local makers including Ellie MacCandles, Wendy Ward Design, Plumpy Balms, LG Jewellery, Ruth Osborne Art and Lauren Fowler Handcrafted Company all taking part.

In addition to the local artisan offering, marketgoers will also get the opportunity to explore the ever-popular local street-food scene in the grounds of Hillsborough Fort. Delicious aromas will be floating through the winter air from a range of gourmet street-food and drink vendors including Dough Heads, The Hatch and Tribal Burger, with warming coffees and hot chocolates from Percy’s Coffee and Steady Neddy’s to name just a few, each with their own distinctively seasonal menus developed using the best of Northern Ireland produce.

To ensure a festive atmosphere like none other, Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council has made every effort to impress by calling upon the local community to provide the seasonal entertainment. The sweet sounds of the Downshire Primary School Choir and Friends’ School Brass Ensemble will be on hand to open proceedings and welcome visitors to the picturesque setting. Children can partake in seasonal craft activities and there will even be a visit from the big man, Santa himself, so if you are not already, you need to make you have made the ‘nice list’, in time for the market!

Royal Hillsborough Christmas Market is free to attend and will take place Friday 10^th December from 3pm-9pm and Saturday 11th of December from 10am-3pm. The market will be managed with COVID-19 mitigation measures in place. The advice is to wrap up warm and join the festive fun.

For more information and updates visit  www.visitlisburncastlereagh.com or @VisitLisburnCastlereagh on Instagram.

TO CELEBRATE THEIR 20^TH ANNIVERSARY, BLUE ANNOUNCE THE HEART & SOUL TOUR

TICKETS ON SALE FROM FRIDAY 9AM

One of the UK’s most exciting and successful boy bands are back! To celebrate their 20^th anniversary, Blue have announced today their Heart & Soul Tour. Blue will play 14 arena shows around the UK and tickets go on sale this Friday at 9am – tickets can be purchased from:

www.waterfront.co.uk

www.ticketmaster.ie

www.officialblue.com

The announcement for the Heart & Soul Tour comes 20 years to the week that Blue released their smash hit #1 debut album, All Rise. The album which was released 20 years ago this week, went on to sell over 1.4 million copies in the UK alone and was certified 4x Platinum. The tour sees all four original members – Antony Costa, Duncan James, Lee Ryan and Simon Webbe – reunite for a fun-filled epic show. The concert will feature all the band’s hits from their 5 albums as well as some incredible surprises.

Speaking of the tour, Blue added: “We can’t believe it’s been 20 years since All Rise, our debut album, was released. It’s been quite the ride since then and now we have so much to look forward to as we go into our third decade! We had a lot of time in lock down to reconnect as friends and we started thinking how we could celebrate the anniversary. The four of us started working on new music and it felt so good to be back doing what we love again. This time off during the pandemic also made us realise how much we missed performing live. We can’t wait to get back on the road and see all of you at our Heart & Soul Tour. We have been planning this tour for a while and we promise you, we’ll be putting on the best show and making it a celebratory night you won’t forget! We have some surprises up our sleeve for the 20^th anniversary so stay tuned, 2022 is going to be a big one!”

Blue are one of the most successful British bands and have sold over 16 million albums worldwide including 3.6 million albums and 1.4 million singles in the UK. Their first 3 albums all topped the Official Album Chart and the group have worked with a variety of legends including Stevie Wonder, Elton John and Lil’ Kim. The British four-piece have recently begun work on new music, with announcements to come.

Tour dates:

11^th September – Belfast, Waterfront Hall

12^th September – Dublin, 3Olympia Theatre

17^th September – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena

18^th September – Leeds, First Direct Arena

19^th September – Glasgow, OVO Hydro

21^st September – Aberdeen, P&J Live

22^nd September – Newcastle, Utilita Arena

24^th September – Manchester, AO Arena

25^th September – Birmingham, Resorts World Arena

26^th September – Brighton, Brighton Centre

28^th September – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena

29^th September – London, The O2

1^st October – Cardiff, Motorpoint Arena

2^nd October – Bournemouth, International Centre

Tickets on sale at www.officialblue.com.

Follow Blue at:

Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Spotify / YouTube / Wikipedia

To make Christmas memorable this festive season, enjoy a trip to Armagh Observatory and Planetarium to experience one of its out-of-this-world Dome Shows.

Experience the festive and captivating Dome Show, “Mystery of the Christmas Star”, which takes you on a journey back over 2000 years to Bethlehem, in a bid to discover a scientific explanation for the star the wise men followed to find baby Jesus. This modern retelling of the Christmas story is a truly magical show to be enjoyed by all ages. It is shown week days and weekends from 20^th November – 23^rd December.

For the music lovers, enjoy the hits of one of the greatest bands, U2 -The full Dome Music Experience. This is the first ever full dome production featuring U2’s timeless classics and modern hits. Songs including, “Where the Streets Have No Name”, “With or Without You”, “Beautiful Day”, “Mysterious Ways” and many more, will be played alongside full graphics dome sequences. You have heard the band, now you can see the music like never before! The show is 2^nd , 9^th & 16^th December. Tickets are £12 per person.

If U2 isn’t your thing, why not go for the Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon Music Experience. Inspired by the music of Pink Floyd, this dome spectacular features the 1973 album The Dark Side of the Moon in explosive surround sound. With spellbinding abstract projections on the dome, audiences will be surrounded to create a truly astonishing experience. The show is 2^nd , 9^th, 16^th  & 30^th December. Tickets are £12 per person.

All Dome Shows are showcased in the Planetarium, utilising state of the art Digistar 7 projection technology, in an immersive 360-degree screening.

GIFT CARDS.

Do you want to show someone you love them to the moon and back!? Armagh Observatory & Planetarium offer gift vouchers for as hassle-free gift experience this festive season.

Choose a monetary voucher that can be used for any experience, Dome Show or to buy a treat in the gift shop. Alternatively, you can opt for a ‘family’ gift voucher that can be redeemed by your recipient to enjoy an out of this world family trip to the Planetarium.

Gift vouchers and tickets to all shows can be purchased online at www.armagh.space. Alternatively, you can call the box office on 02837 523689.

Lidl Elf Factory pops up at Newtownards Store, Castlebawn Roundabout, on Saturday 11 December to raise funds for charity partner NSPCC Northern Ireland

Thursday 25^th November: The most wonderful time of the year is upon us and Lidl Northern Ireland is inviting parents and children to join Santa’s Lidl Helpers at the Lidl Newtownards Store at Castlebawn Roundabout to Build an Elf on Saturday, 11^th December.

The Christmas cheer filled Lidl Elf Factory will be popping up instore for one day only, with 100% of the proceeds from the ticket sales donated to Lidl Northern Ireland’s charity partner, NSPCC Northern Ireland. Tickets cost £10 per child and must be purchased in advance on Eventbrite.ie.

The tour of the Lidl Elf factory lasts for approximately 45 minutes and each child will get to: build and name their own elf, create a tree decoration and most importantly, write and post their letters to Santa Claus. Finally, children and their families can indulge in some hot chocolate and festive bites before taking their creations and some additional treats home.

Tickets are limited, please book early to avoid disappointment, and ensure you get your preferred time slot. All proceeds from the ticket sales will go straight to Lidl Northern Ireland’s charity partner, NSPCC Northern Ireland.

The elves are doing everything they can to keep the experience safe for visitors, so booking is essential. Tickets to the Elf Factory are available to book via the online booking system only, tickets are not for sale in store. Visitors are asked to adhere to Government guidelines in the Elf Factory.

In a partnership spanning four years, Lidl Northern Ireland has raised over £500,000 for NSPCC Northern Ireland, whose mission is to fight for every childhood, delivering services for children and operating Childline bases in Belfast and Foyle. NSPCC Northern Ireland supports children across the region and works to prevent abuse, help rebuild children’s lives and support families.

For more information on Lidl Northern Ireland’s charity partnerships visit www.lidl-ni.co.uk or to book tickets for the Lidl Elf Factory please visit eventbrite.ie/e/build-an-elf-belfast-tickets-211891030777

Vallely at 80’ is a major retrospective by international and award-winning artist JB Vallely. The artist will revisit drawings and oil paintings spanning almost 63 years as well as showcase new work completed during his 80th year.

This is Vallely’s most extensive solo exhibition since his major retrospective at the Market Place Gallery, in his birth city of Armagh in 2000. This exhibition includes his collection on display in the Archbishop’s Palace, Armagh that covers most of Vallely’s life as a painter, along with his collection of religious pieces on permanent display at Benburb Priory, dating from the early to mid-1960’s.

Valley’s subject matter depicts rural Irish themes, including its strong traditions of which he is passionate about on a personal level. Music, sport, mythology, history and culture feature predominantly in his paintings. He has produced a vast number of pieces over his career, exhibiting regularly at galleries in Belfast, Dublin, Derry and Armagh with additional exhibitions in Italy, Wexford, London, Scotland and Galway.

‘Vallely at 80’ can be viewed at the three locations across Armagh, with new works and the artist’s private collection on display at the Market Place Gallery.

Entry to the exhibition is free, and the works will be on display from 20 November 2021 until 15 January 2022. Further information is available from the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre

The trees are going up, lights are being switched on and presents are being wrapped, all signs that Christmas isn’t far away. It’s time to get into the festive spirit – and there’s no better way than visiting National Trust places all decked out for the season.

Christmas at The Argory

See historic houses decorated in the style of Christmases gone by, stroll through frosty winter gardens, discover festive crafts to try at home, and tuck into delicious seasonal treats.

For little ones there will also be a special Percy the Park Keeper winter trail at five National Trust places, so they can enjoy the great outdoors inspired by some of Nick Butterworth’s most beloved characters.

After all that, warm yourself with the knowledge that each festive day out supports the National Trust’s work as a charity looking after special places for future generations to enjoy.

Historic houses dressed for Christmas

Step inside Castle Ward and experience the Mansion house dressed for an evocative eighteenth-century Christmas. Experience the rooms dressed for Christmas just as the Georgians did with atmospheric lighting, halls wreathed in traditional colourful garlands, and the dining table filled with festive fayre. Then descend the servants’ stairs to the basement where you will find the preparations for Christmas well under way.

Unwrap a classic Christmas with festive experiences at The Argory as you step back in time to a Christmas of yesteryear. See the house dressed for a traditional Christmas. Trees, trinkets and garlands will decorate the rooms and the dining room table will be set for a celebratory festive feast. Experience what life was like for the MacGeough Bond family and their servants as they prepare for the festive period in the 1800’s.

At Mount Stewart, the fire will be lit as the house prepares for the festive season. Step back in time and bask in the gentle glow of the twinkling lights on the traditional Christmas tree as you walk around the house accompanied by the gentle sound of carols. Afterwards, enjoy a festive mince pie in the tea-room and be sure to stop off at the shop for some sustainable Christmas gifts and décor.

Percy the Park Keeper winter trail

Running from 4 December at Florence Court, The Argory, Mount Stewart, Castle Ward and Rowallane Garden, the self-led trail will invite families to join Percy’s team as he races to get the gardens and the animals that call it home ready for winter.

© Nick Butterworth 2021

After reading Percy’s handwritten note and donning his famous hat families will follow clues, find Percy’s missing equipment, and enjoy activities and games as they complete the trail.

Highlights of the winter wander include helping to keep things tidy for when the springtime shoots appear, building dens, weather watching and surveying to find out which animals call the grounds their home.

At the end of the trail families can celebrate with a photo-op with Percy and they’ll get a special prize too. £2 per trail, normal admission applies.

Please check opening times before visiting at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ni 

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Kate Nicholl joined guests today (23 November) at an event to showcase the city’s newest visitor attractions at Colin Glen Forest Park.

In its first four months, over 6,200 people have zoomed through the forest at speeds up to 40km per hour on the Black Bull Run, Ireland’s first and only Alpine coaster, while 2,600 thrill seekers have skimmed the treetops at speeds up to 50km per hour on The Forest Flyover, a 250m zipline.

Perhaps the most exciting of all the new attractions is River Rapid, Ireland’s longest zipline. The 700m zipline with its 100ft high take-off point has just been completed and will allow brave visitors to enjoy spectacular views of the city while zipping across the Colin River at speeds up to 80km per hour.

The attractions are part of a multi-million-pound investment by Belfast City Council, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and the Department for Communities. The new facilities are central to Colin Glen Trust’s wider plans for the 200-acre outdoor adventure park. Other elements include the recent introduction of ‘Landy Train’ to transport visitors around the park, plus future plans to open a new visitor centre, new accommodation facilities and an outdoor café.

The Lord Mayor said: “It is fantastic to visit the stunning Colin Glen Forest Park to get a proper sense of the scale and ambition of this transformative project. From the outset, Belfast City Council got behind Colin Glen Trust’s vision to transform the forest park into a thriving, world class visitor destination. As well as overseeing the delivery of the project, Council’s £2.5 million investment was crucial in getting it off the ground and in helping to secure the additional funding needed from our partners in DAERA and the Department for Communities to make it happen.

“The new attractions represent a major boost for the area. There have already been 13.25 equivalent full-time jobs created since they opened, while the adventure park will significantly expand the local tourism offering and grow the economy in this part of the city. The attractions will also contribute to the city’s wider tourism portfolio, helping us get back to, and hopefully surpass, pre-pandemic visitor numbers to Belfast in the years ahead.”

Rural Affairs Minister, Edwin Poots said: “Through the Rural Tourism Scheme, my department invests in natural and built heritage and it is clear that the creation of visitor experiences showcasing our natural landscape, that are compelling and accessible to all, can offer long term sustainability and growth to tourism in Northern Ireland. This was a substantial Departmental investment of £1.437 million in the Colin area. Tourism is vitally important to our rural economy and I’m delighted that we have funded these world class attractions as well as the trail enhancements, the Landy Train and signage across the site, which were supported through DAERA’s TRPSI programme. 

“Colin Glen and its development provides tourists with unique visitor attractions not seen anywhere else in Northern Ireland. It is very important for people’s health and wellbeing to get outside and enjoy the natural environment, Forest Parks provide great venues for people to visit and exercise and the Covid pandemic has increased demand for such opportunities, it is therefore great to see these improved facilities at Colin Glen.”

Communities Minister, Deirdre Hargey said: “Through working in collaboration with a number of partners, Colin Glen Forest Park has developed into a world class innovative attraction in West Belfast for everyone to enjoy. These impressive new facilities will provide opportunities for a wide range of citizens to participate and engage in educational, social and leisure activities, enabling them to live more active and healthy lives. I’m pleased that the investment in this state-of-the art project meets the objectives of our People and Place Strategy – to invest in neighbourhoods, to develop confident communities and to improve quality of life for all.”

Colin Glen Trust Chief Executive, Colin O’Neill said: “Colin Glen Trust is first and foremost a social enterprise, committed to the conservation of 240 acres of valuable green space in West Belfast. Our innovation and determination to ensure that the people of this area have a sustainable world class facility was something which has been supported by many groups and organisations, none greater than Belfast City Council, DAERA and Department for Communities.

“These new attractions will undoubtedly attract visitors from all over Ireland but it will also create employment and training opportunities for local people and will ensure the future sustainability of the Trust and allow us to protect and enhance Colin Glen Forest Park for the residents of this area and beyond.  We are truly grateful for the support from the Belfast City Council project team and of course the funders who conveyed genuine passion and commitment to ensuring that this project was successfully delivered.”

For more information on the new attractions at Colin Glen, visit www.colinglen.org

Titanic Distillers plans approved to convert Pump-House into distillery and tourism centre

PLANS have been approved for the conversion of the historic Titanic Pump-House into a new whiskey distillery and world class tourist attraction.

A listed building in the heart of Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, the Pump-House, along with its neighbouring dry dock, first opened in 1911 and is the world’s only authentic Titanic landmark.

Now, Belfast drinks company Titanic Distillers has been given the green light by Belfast City Council to convert the Pump-house into a working distillery with associated visitor tour.

Included in the plans are the installation of three large stills on a mezzanine floor overlooking the original pumping engines which are situated deep in the pump-well. 

All the original pump equipment and associated internal historic features of the building will be retained and available to view as part of a visitor tour, with tourists also able to relax in the adjacent tourism centre, which will include an on-site ‘speakeasy’ bar and café with free wi-fi, gift shop, exhibition space and an enlarged mezzanine floor with tasting rooms.

Aside from restoration requirements, the exterior of the pump house would remain largely untouched under the plan but will be open for tourists to view the famous Thompson dry dock, which was built in 1911 to accommodate the massive White Star transatlantic liners Olympic and Titanic.

“We are very excited that our planning application has been approved,” said Titanic Distillers Director Richard Irwin.

“Titanic Distillers is inspired by the people who worked in Belfast’s shipyard more than a century ago – and now tourists will be able to walk in their footsteps in the very pump-house and dry dock that represent such an authentic part of the Titanic story and indeed the history of Belfast.

“At Titanic Distillers, we are very aware that we have a big responsibility as custodians of a hugely historic and global brand, and it is crucially important that we preserve the historical integrity of this building and its surrounds.

“The Pump-house has survived remarkably well for more than 100 years in a very harsh environment but it is in much need of repair and any further decline would represent a major risk to its future – so our first priority is to restore the building and bring it back to its former glory while maintaining and securing its long-term future,” he added.

The best in independent stage and screen performances arrive at The Market Place Theatre in Armagh next week.

On Wednesday 17 November, a real tour de force arrives on stage, evocatively depicting the Jacobean world in which William Shakespeare created his works of genius. London was dangerous in 1606. William Shakespeare is isolated in his rooms to avoid contagion. Rampant plague spreads death while bewildered citizens try any quack remedy to halt its progress. A suspicious king shaken by the recent gun-powder plot, sees plotters everywhere; a wrong word risks imprisonment death or worse. Meanwhile, Mister Shakespeare is trying to cope. Actors shout for new roles; playwrights beg to collaborate; his brother whines for help, his wife wants her marriage back; his lover wants …love. Despite the clamour, Shakespeare is inspired to write at least three of the masterpieces we know today, King Lear, Antony and Cleopatra and Macbeth.

On Friday 19 November, a gem of a film will be screened. ‘Nowhere Special’ features James Norton and Daniel Lamont in this heartfelt Belfast-set drama about a single father determined to do the best by his son before he dies.

John, a 35-year-old window cleaner, lives with his three-year-old son Michael. He was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer and has decided that he will find the best family to take Michael in after his death. Against the advice of the adoption agency he’s working with, John cannot face telling his son the truth, taking him on visits to prospective families under the guise of visiting new friends. But as his condition starts to show, he begins to ponder what his legacy should be for his son – should Michael start life anew or should John leave him with the tools that would allow him, later in life, to know the father he had. A heart-rending, yet peaceful and uplifting story.

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

Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre will host a wonderful evening of fusion and world music with seven-piece band Basrok and special guests at 8pm on Friday 3rd December.

Basrok’s compositions are influenced by Irish, European, and Middle Eastern music and the performance will see brass, strings and woodwind combined into a unique melting pot of sound.

The band will be joined by supporting act Duozouk, made up of bouzouki players Nikos Petsakos and Martin Coyle, who explore the journey of the bouzouki from early 1900’s Greece, across Europe and its entry into Ireland.

The duo will perform rebetiko music, alongside traditional arrangements from various European countries and modern compositions, presented on Greek Tri-chordo, Irish four course and Baglama.

Both acts are delighted to be joined on stage by harp performer Lucia McGinnis, who has been a long-term collaborator with Basork over the past five years. Lucia has been a performer and teacher for the past 20 years and has performed with The Chieftains and studied Irish music at the University of Limerick.

Tickets for this evening of world music cost £16 and are available through our Box Office by calling: 028 777 60650 or book online via Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/basork-supported-by-duozouk-and-special-guest-performer-lucia-mcguiness-tickets-204983470077

The cabaret style seating will be allocated to guests on arrival, allowing for one metre social distancing.  A maximum of 48 tickets are available and patrons are asked to wear a facemask when moving through the building. Please note this event is not BYO and there will not be any bar facilities.

For full details on our COVID guidelines for the event to keep you safe please visit: https://www.roevalleyarts.com/events/basork-supported-by-duozouk-and-special-guest-performer-lucia-mcguiness