Author: whatsonni

Steeped in Celtic history, Navan Centre in Ireland’s Orchard County provides a legendary FREE day out this August

Armagh’s Navan Centre, which tells the story of one of the world’s most important archaeological sites, the Navan Fort, safely reopens to the public from Thursday July 30 with a new and exciting fresh take on its 2,000-year-old history.

Now free to enter for the month of August, the popular visitor attraction, located just two minutes from Ireland’s ecclesiastical capital, Armagh City, is currently at the centre of a new global focus after researchers uncovered new evidence of “absolutely huge” religious structures dating back to the Iron Age.

Long popular with visitors from across the island, the Navan Centre will be open from Thursdays through to Sunday every week with a new and exciting programme of outdoor interpretative events which celebrate its pivotal place in history, its Celtic past and the stories of warriors, knights and legends.

Exploring how the area’s native countrymen and women lived, what they ate, wore and how they spent their days with practical demonstrations, talks and interpretative events, Navan Centre & Fort provides visitors with one the best, unique family days out.

Welcoming its return, Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Councillor Kevin Savage, said:

“One of the best-rated ‘excellent’ days out on TripAdvisor, a visit to Navan Fort & Centre will be an experience you’ll remember. Fill your heart with thrilling stories, enjoy the beautiful views and open space, you’ll easily be forgiven for immersing yourself in an experience you will long remember.”

With archaeological evidence of the site dating back to 95BC, its experienced tour guides will safely accompany you to what is undoubtedly one of Ireland’s most famous sites – long considered to be the real reason for St Patrick’s return to these shores.

“A sacred and spiritual place with global importance, this inspirational destination is perfect for those with a sense of adventure and a curious mind,” the Lord Mayor said.

“A visit to Navan Fort & Centre is just one of many experiences available in County Armagh which celebrates the area’s rich cultural history and heritage, hospitality and variety of great places to visit and stay this summer.”

From Armagh’s striking Palace Demesne and Park, Lurgan, Loughgall and Gosford Forest Parks to the southern shores of Lough Neagh, the ABC borough is home to some of Northern Ireland’s best havens for relaxation and recreation, and many hidden gems, and is ideal for a range of outdoor pursuits.

Famous around the world as Ireland’s ‘Orchard County’ and filled with thousands of acres of Bramley apple trees interspersed with forests, parks meadows and walking trails ideal for picnics – or just to take in the views – there’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy.

For more information, www.visitarmagh.com/navan or phone 048 3752 9644.

Discover what Ards and North Down has to offer with a selection of fantastic experiences that let you explore some fascinating places, enjoy some delicious food and immerse yourself in the beauty of the borough while enjoying a friendly welcome!

From paddleboarding and kayaking to cooking your own freshly caught fish, as well as a watercolour workshop that will get those creative juices flowing, you can enjoy the natural beauty of our countryside while enjoying all of the warmth and hospitality that Ards and North Down has to offer.

Running from August until early October, six different experiences offer something for everyone.

The first Sunrise Paddle and Yoga Experience (1 Aug) starts with an early morning paddle in the waters of Strangford Lough that takes you to an island where yoga and breakfast await.

If you fancy the perfect foodie adventure, then Catch and Cook (22 Aug/6 Sep) lets you head out from Bangor Marina with a local boatman, giving you the opportunity to catch your own fish, before returning to cook at one of Bangor’s seafront restaurants.

You can also try a guided SUP-NIC Paddleboarding Experience (29 Aug/12 Sep/3 Oct) that includes a picnic on your paddleboard while you take in the beautiful surroundings.

If tea and cake is more your thing, the Killinchy based Canoe and Cake Experience (30 Aug/5 Sep) lets you enjoy the sights of Strangford Lough from the water. Then you will visit a traditional Irish thatched cottage for some delicious cake where you will also be treated to a demonstration of soda bread making.

You can also Explore the Shore (20 Sep) at Whiterock by kayak on a magical adventure that brings you closer to the lough’s wildlife. Stop off at one of the many islands before foraging for mussels with your guide and trained chef, who will cook them with a local Irish whiskey cream sauce.

If you prefer to keep your feet firmly on dry land, you can awaken your creative spirit at the Water’s Edge Watercolours Workshop (26 Sep) in Castle Espie Wetland Centre. Enjoy a brief tour with a guide before joining local artist, Bernice Anderson, for coffee, scones and a two-hour workshop where you will create a pen and watercolour illustration of the Centre’s birds.

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

Spaces for all experiences are strictly limited so book early to avoid disappointment. For more information, including ticket prices and booking, go to visitardsandnorthdown.com/experienceAND.

Having been closed for more than four months during lockdown, it’s time for the Strand Arts Centre to go Back to the Future.

The East Belfast venue re-opens to the public today. Last night there was a special screening for the local community of the 1985 classic about a time-travelling DeLorean.

Back to the Future is just one of a number of classic and recent releases that the Strand will screen in the coming weeks. Other family favourites include Trolls World Tour, The Greatest Showman and The Empire Strikes Back. The first big new release will be Disney’s Mulan, scheduled for 19th August.

Strand Arts Centre CEO Mimi Turtle said she was thrilled at the prospect of welcoming people through the doors once again.

“Since March we have continued to engage with our audiences by providing weekly arts and crafts workshops, music and comedy online. But nothing beats having customers coming into the building so that will be very exciting.

“We’ve had a deep clean, steam clean, some improvements to our sound and projection quality, and now it’s last minute touches to the paintwork. We’re nearly ready and hope our audiences are too.

“And we wanted to do something just before we open to bring the local community together. It’s been a very tough few months for our local traders and artists. I hope this special screening will help to rally everyone and get East Belfast back on its feet again.” 

As with other venues, Strand Arts Centre has introduced plenty of measures to provide a safe and fun cinema experience. As well as a ticketing system that blocks off other seats around you, staff will be wearing movie-themed face coverings made especially for the Strand by local volunteer Emma McCrory.

“I live and work close to the Strand,” said Emma, “but I love sewing, knitting and crocheting in my spare time. I had already been working with Masks 4 All Ireland on providing masks for hospitals and care homes, but I wanted to do something for my local cinema and arts centre. I got involved with the UK-wide Big Community Sew, led in Northern Ireland by Angeline Murphy who was a contestant on the Great British Sewing Bee, and I created over 50 masks for the Strand, featuring characters and designs from Star Wars, Harry Potter, Marvel and older classics. 

“I think we can safely say that we have some of the best face coverings out there,” said Mimi from the Strand. “We are so grateful to Emma for the many days that she spent to make them. What a lovely gesture. I was initially concerned as to what our staff might think of the idea of wearing face coverings, but they could not be happier at the prospect of greeting our customers sporting masks inspired by the movies!” 

For more information on the Strand’s re-opening line-up, visit www.strandartscentre.com. 

The Walled City Music International Online Piano Competition has reached its final round with six young pianists from Canada, Ireland, Japan, Poland, Taiwan and the USA competing to win the first place spot this Friday 24 July. 

41 participants have taken part in the online edition of the competition, submitting video performances from 17 different countries across the globe. Adjudicators from the USA and Asia, together with Festival Director Cathal Breslin, from Derry, N. Ireland, have whittled down the exceptionally high standard performances to six extremely talented young pianists, aged between 15 and 31 years. The finalists are: Katherine Benson (USA), Elzbieta Bilicka (Poland), Yung-Li Chen (Taiwan), Alexander Malikov (Canada), Takuma Onodera (Japan) and Clara Siegle (Ireland).

The final round performances, which feature newly recorded, 30 minute solo recitals from each player, will be available to view on YouTube from Wednesday 22 July and will be judged by world-renowned pianists Barry Douglas (UK) and Awadagin Pratt (USA). The results will be announced on Friday 24 July via Facebook and participants will receive 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rdplace cash prizes, a number of special awards and for the winner, the opportunity to perform a solo concert in the 2021 Walled City Music Festival in Derry. 

Festival Director and Chair of the Adjudicating Panel Dr. Cathal Breslin says, “We have been thrilled by the very high standard of piano playing from all 41 participants this year. Our judges have had their work cut out for them and we are very excited to see what is presented by the six talented young pianists who have made it to the final stage this week.”

The results of the final will be announced at 8pm on Friday 24 July on the Walled City Music Festival Facebook page and will also be available at www.wcmpiano.com. 

Today, Titanic Belfast, which has been closed since the 18^th March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has announced its new themed self-guided trail ahead of its grand re-opening on 1^st August 2020.

Over the past four months, the team behind the award-winning attraction have been introducing measures that are not only safe, welcoming and in-line with government guidance but that do justice to the world-famous story and five-star visitor experience.

A key highlight is a new self-guided themed trail which leads visitors on a journey through the Titanic Experience and on-board SS Nomadic. Visitors will be able to discover this world-famous story for themselves in the place where it all began through the eyes of those whose innovation, hard work and ambition-built what is now the most famous ship in the world.

Judith Owens, Chief Executive of Titanic Belfast, commented, “In 2012, to commemorate the centenary of the sinking of Titanic, we launched Titanic Belfast and put Northern Ireland on the map as home of RMS Titanic. Over the past 8 years, we have become one of the world’s leading visitor attractions and have attracted over 6 million local, national and international visitors. Not only have we been a key economic driver for Northern Ireland but we believe we are a symbol of Titanic’s strength and spirit.”

She continued, “Now more than ever, we need to show that the spirit and ambitionthat built RMS Titanic is still alive today. This year, we look forward to welcoming local visitors through our doors as they enjoy staycations. We want to give our home market something special so they can get closer, go deeper and discover more, without the crowds. To do this, our team have reimagined some of our products, including our new trail. Hopefully those who think they know the story of Titanic will be surprised to discover things they didn’t know.”

The self-guided tour through Titanic Belfast and SS Nomadic can be combined with Titanic Belfast’s popular Family Explorer Trail through the galleries, making it the ultimate trip for families.

In addition to the above, locals are encouraged to create Titanic Memories and discover the secrets and symbolism ingrained in the surrounding area by participating in a range of paid for and free activities, including Titanic Belfast’s award-winning, guided outdoor Discovery Tour, or alternatively Titanic Foundation’s Maritime Mile Treasure Trail, which will launch in August.  External benches allow visitors to picnic with a view of the Slipways.

For history buffs, who want to delve deeper and learn more about the men who built the ship, Titanic Foundation are opening up their vast shipyard collection and hosting a free exhibition – Out of Stores –  in Titanic Belfast’s Andrews Gallery, showing how Belfast’s shipbuilding legacy was born.

Titanic Belfast is registered with the Visit Britain ‘We’re Good to Go’ industry standard and through their own “Confidence Charter” is committed to ensuring the health and safety of its visitors and crew. New measures including advanced booking only, prearranged time slots, reduced capacity, vulnerable time-slots, themed one-way tour, sanitisation stations and social distancing throughout, advanced cleaning regimes, fresh air-conditioning, contactless and cashless experiences and a grab and go food offering have been introduced to allow visitors to have a memorable and safe experience. Customers must book online in advance of their visit. To learn more or book, visit www.titanicbelfast.com.

A phased re-opening of Visitor Information Centres in Causeway Coast and Glens will begin from today (Friday 10th July 2020).  

Facilities located in Ballycastle, Bushmills and Portrush will open from 9.30am – 4.30pm, Monday – Saturday, with lunch closures from 1pm – 1.30pm.

New measures will be in place to ensure user-safety, including the provision of hand sanitiser and limited numbers allowed inside at any time.

The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Alderman Mark Fielding said: “We are pleased to confirm that the re-opening of our Visitor Information Centres is getting underway, and staff are looking forward to assisting you during your time in Causeway Coast and Glens. They can provide up-to-date advice on your visit to the destination or help with tickets and tour bookings while a range of literature and maps is available to take away.

“Our Visitor Information Centres are an important part of our tourism offering and will help to ensure that those coming to the area are well informed at this time.”

Users are also reminded that the Centres have well-stocked retail areas selling quality items which showcase our local artisan makers, including arts, crafts and food produce.

Visitors can contact any of the centres to enquire about accommodation, tours, experiences and things to do by email using the address below or by phone: Ballycastle 028 2076 2024, Bushmills 028 2073 0390 or Portrush 028 7082 3333.

Trade are encouraged to email their accommodation availability and information on their tours and experiences to visitor.information@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk

To find out more about the destination go to www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.com or follow Visit Causeway on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

This Friday, 10 July, Temple Golf Club in Carryduff will host their first ever drive in cinema and they’ve teamed up with Cinemagic as their charity beneficiaries.

The cinema listings are: 

2pm – The Lion King

4pm – Toy Story

6.15pm – Dirty Dancing

9pm – Grease 

Joan Burney Keatings (pictured), CEO of Cinemagic, is excited about this weekend’s screenings. She says; 

“Cinemagic is delighted to be working in association with The Big Drive Inn, to deliver family friendly films in a safe and fun way. This magical event will definitely be an opportunity to create special family memories and a chance for guests to learn all about Cinemagic via our promo videos which are shown on the big screens before each movie.”

To book tickets for The Big Drive Inn, in association with Cinemagic, check out www.thebigdriveinn.com/tickets

You can also pre-order food direct from Temple Golf Club, which you can enjoy in your car during the movies. Burgers and Hotdogs £7.00, popcorn and chips £2.00. 

Venders across Coleraine town known as the Capital of the Causeway Coast, are delighted to be able to raise the shutters, open their doors and welcome some new and familiar faces as they reopen for business.

Stores across Coleraine are boosting its impressive safety measures put in place to ensure the shopping experience is an enjoyable and socially distanced welcoming environment.

Adjusting to our new normal has inspired businesses to think innovatively on ensuring Coleraine is a safe shopping town to visit with remapping the flow of customers throughout shopping and dining spaces, training staff on sanitation, adapting their payment options and introducing new booking systems.

Historically Coleraine was the market town of the North Coast which allows ample space for the safe movement of visitors making use of the wide pedestrian areas, outdoor seating areas and the 2,000 car parking spaces within the vicinity.

The boost for Coleraine is being supported and promoted by the Coleraine Business Development Improvement District (BID) which exists to ensure the town achieves its full potential through working with local businesses to invest and reap opportunities for improvement.

Jamie Hamill, BID Development Manager commented on these developments: “It is wonderful to see the high street retailers and quality independent stores within Coleraine opening their doors once again, and many with fantastic promotions and offers on.

“Following a tough few months of lockdown, isolating and online shopping, the visitors I have been speaking to are very thankful for local businesses opening up again. It’s clear from chatting to the locals also that they have really missed the town as it provides some retail therapy and a sense of community as you always meet someone you haven’t seen in a while.

“Now that hospitality, hairdressers and beauty salons as well as retail are reopening, this will really add to a fuller visitor experience. We would really want to urge visitors travelling to the North Coast for a day out or a staycation that they pop for a visit and rediscover Coleraine as it is a beautiful, historic and vibrant place which is for everyone to enjoy.”

Local faces extended a kind thank you to the public for supporting and shopping local during the pandemic, through a social media video which was produced and shared by Coleraine BID on their social media channels. Visit ‘Our Coleraine’ on Facebook to watch.

Hastings Hotels is looking forward to welcoming guests back this summer with a fantastic selection of offers to enjoy a staycation in one of the group’s seven stunning properties including the 5-star Culloden Estate & Spa and the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast.

Grand Central Hotel

Why not book a break in Belfast City Centre and stay at the Grand Central Hotel, home to Ireland’s tallest cocktail bar, the Observatory. Overnight breaks from Friday 3^rd July start from just £75pps and include Full Irish Breakfast. Stay for 2+ nights and get £10 off per day or stay for 4+ nights and get £20 off per day.*

The Grand Central Hotel has a delightful range of dining options including the Grand Café which is perfect for casual meetings to catch-ups over coffee and long, lazy lunches and the Seahorse Bar & Restaurant offering sumptuous Afternoon Tea and an exquisite evening menu.  The Observatory on the hotel’s 23^rd floor, is the most luxurious cocktail lounge in Ireland, where guests can sit back, relax and sip on the finest cocktail and drinks selection and enjoy the breathtaking views of Belfast and beyond.

Culloden Estate & Spa

Enjoy a luxury overnight escape to the Culloden Estate & Spa from Friday 17^th July from only £105pps with Full Irish Breakfast the following morning. Stay for 2+ nights and get £15 off per day or stay for 3+ nights and get £20 off per day.*

This magnificent hotel is just six miles from Belfast and boasts stunning views over Belfast Lough and across County Antrim. The Culloden stands in 12 acres of beautiful secluded gardens and woodland and offers a fabulous range of dining options including Vespers Restaurant serving modern cuisine using only the finest and freshest local ingredients; The Lough Bar offering light snacks and the hotel’s famous decadent Afternoon Tea and the Cultra Inn, a cosy bar and bistro which nestles within the Estate and is perfect for a tasty lunch, evening meal or pint by the fireside. 

This summer, the Culloden will be home to the Jawbox Mobile Bar, which will be located on the lawn outside the Cultra Inn serving a delightful selection of Gin serves, wine and beer in the sunshine.

For further information or to book go to www.hastingshotels.com or call 028 9047 1066

*Terms and conditions apply. Subject to availability. Due to government restrictions the Culloden’s Spa & Health Club will remain closed until permitted to reopen by government guidance.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Sport and Well Being team is helping us to stay active with a new series of free virtual exercise and health classes.

The live classes, which will be delivered using the Zoom platform by Council’s qualified tutors, will allow you to take part in Yoga, Pilates, Tums and Bums, Fitness and Dance Fit.  The weekly timetable will also include classes on health and nutrition, chair based exercise and ageing well. 

Alderman Mark Fielding, the Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, said: “This fantastic initiative shows Council’s innovative approach to ensuring our residents stay active during the current pandemic. With an overall focus on health and wellbeing, there’s a great variety of activities and topics to choose from and I would encourage people to get involved. Staying active is so important at this time and this free programme will allow you to avail of expert guidance and instruction from the comfort of your own home.”

Classes will begin from week commencing Monday 22nd June 2020 and the timetable will be refreshed every two weeks. 

To register your place or to request additional information email sportsdevelopment@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk. 

You will be sent an application form to complete and return via email. Following this you will receive the link to your selected Zoom course. 

If you have any queries you can also ring 07719 745936.

The programme is supported by Sport Northern Ireland and the Public Health Agency.