Cairndhu Golf Course’s unique position as the only headland course in Northern Ireland means golfers can face a unique challenge and relax afterwards with a tasty meal at the New Fairways Restaurant and Bar.
As the host of the NI Open 2021 a qualifier for the ISPS HANDA World Invitational, the undulating fairways, ever-present breeze and small greens make Cairndhu a must-play course for all abilities.
Paul Stinson, Honorary Secretary of the club, explained the spectacular location that attracts so many to Cairndhu.
“The course extends onto a headland just above sea level. So we have outstanding views right up the North coast, including The Glens of Antrim, over to Scotland, inland to Sallagh Braes, which is featured as a film location in Game of Thrones and then back down into Drains Bay and Larne Lough.
“If you’re standing on Ballygally Head at our second hole, the views are stunning. You will find there’s hardly a hole on the course where you won’t get to see the sea.”
Over the years some of the world’s best golfers have graced Cairndhu’s fairways, including major winners Darren Clarke, Nick Price and Ian Woosnam.
Cairndhu’s location and its appeal are cemented by the many tourists who mark their card with a visit to the course.
“Like a lot of courses, there was a rise in visitors thanks to The Open in 2019,” explained Paul. “It’s very common to get groups of eight to twelve individuals from a club deciding to go away for a long weekend and they try and pick a few courses to play that are close to each other.”
For those wanting to be based closer to the course, they also work with Ballygally Castle and several other accommodation providers to offer a discounted rate.
The New Fairways Restaurant and Bar are open to visitors, even non-golfers, and offer a wide range of snacks, traditional clubhouse favourites and an exceptionally good value three-course Sunday lunch to members and visitors alike.
The club encourages non-members to book online and visit the restaurant even without playing golf. They are sure to receive a warm welcome from staff and members of the club.
“The bar and restaurant have the most spectacular views of the world-famous Antrim Coast Road, and a pint of the black stuff always helps put the icing on the cake after a round on the course,” said Paul.
To book a tee time go to Visitor Booking, for restaurant bookings please contact 07739400898 or 02828 583324 Option 4.
Slow Food Causeway might be coming to an end this month, but there are still plenty of amazing foodie experiences happening on the Causeway Coast.
Whether you’re looking for a family-friendly Easter day out or wanting to kick back and unwind with friends, here’s what Taste Causeway has in store for you this month:
1. Easter Egg Making Class & Chocolate Tasting Experience
North Coast Chocolates at Sleepy Cow Curiosities, Ballymoney
Thursday 14th April – 6pm to 8:30pm
In this Chocolate Masterclass, you will have the unique opportunity to design your very own Easter Egg.
Here you will learn how to paint and shell a chocolate mould using a fine 33.6% Callebaut milk Chocolate.
Whilst waiting on your masterpiece setting you will receive a tasting experience from our highly qualified Chef and Chocolatier Ruaraidh. He will explain the passion behind local collaborations for North Coast Chocolates showcasing the amazing food culture in Causeway Coast and Glens.
This event is part of the Slow Food Causeway launch programme funded by Tourism NI in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
2. Kids Easter Experience at The Chocolate Manor Multiple dates starting Wednesday 13th April at 11am
Join The Chocolate Manor in Castlerock for the most Eggs-citing Easter experience on the North Coast.
In this one hour kids only experience, their egg-stra special guests will make three eggs-cellent chocolate creations using our finest Belgian chocolate.
They will be offered a hot chocolate while their creations set and then package them up to take home and enjoy.
The Chocolate Manor will provide aprons but please note this can be a messy experience.
For more information and for booking details click here.
3. The Spirit of the Bann Tour with Causeway Coast Foodie Tours Saturday April 16, 2:30pm-4:30pm
The award-winning Causeway Coast Foodie Tours are back this Spring with their very special ‘The Spirit of the Bann’ river whiskey tasting experience along the picturesque river.
‘The Spirit of the Bann’ along with White River Charters are hosting an afternoon full of exquisite whiskey flavours accompanied by an array of tasty award-winning local Slow Food produce.
Where better to celebrate our unique Slow Food food and drink heritage than via a journey on the River Bann alongside the beautiful site of Mountsandel, Coleraine.
4. Flat Caps & Wellies with The Lamb Van Saturday 16th April, 11.30am
An experience suitable for the whole family on the Dempster’s sheep farm just outside Ballymoney.
Visitors can interact with the sheep and lambs, be educated about daily life on a sheep farm and leave with a full belly of local produce after trying to pen a sheep with only a crook and feeding some of the newborn lambs by bottle.
Meet Farmer Al and his trusted sheepdog and watch them work as a team rounding up the sheep. There will be awards and photo opportunities.
This event is part of the Slow Food Causeway launch programme funded by Tourism NI in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
5. Apple And Blackberry Chutney Workshop Saturday 16th April, 11:30am
If you want to learn how to make Apple and Blackberry chutney then come along to Jam at the Doorstep’s Easter workshop on Saturday 16th of April.
This workshop will take place in Amanda’s farmhouse kitchen and no experience is necessary.
Using the finest local produce, you will perfect your own chutney and take two jars home to share with family and friends. There will be a cheeseboard on the day and will be sampling lots of Farm Shop produce throughout the workshop.
Afterwards, you can unwind with light refreshments and enjoy a scoop of Morelli’s ice cream served with Jam at the Doorstep’s very own sticky toffee pudding.
Places are limited so book your space today by calling Amanda on 07880593492, email: jamatthedoorstep@gmail.com or through Jam at the doorstep.
6. The Taste Causeway Chocolate Experience at The Chocolate Manor
Friday 22nd April 7pm to 9:30pm
The Chocolate Manor are proud to have been a founding member of the Taste Causeway group and in their Taste Causeway Experience, you will be introduced to an exclusive selection of local artisan products and learn how to pair them with the finest chocolate.
You will handcraft a delectable collection of chocolate truffles – during each Taste Causeway experience Chief Chocolatier Geri Martin will guide you through making ganaches with the stunning selection of local artisan products.
This interactive, hands-on experience gives you an in-depth introduction to the art and precision of distilling using iStill technology by the founders and head distillers of Basalt Distillery.
Learn the brilliant history of one of today’s most popular spirits and get creative making your own.
Immerse yourself in the 60+ botanicals available.
Pick and blend to create your own unique recipe and watch as your creation distils before your eyes then wax and label your own 50cl bottle to take home that very day.
General ticket sale starts Wednesday 13th at 7 pm, early access tickets are available from Tuesday 12th at 7 pm.
This event is part of the Slow Food Causeway launch programme funded by Tourism NI in partnership with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.
The Slow Food Events are extremely popular and sell out in record time. Don’t be discouraged if you have missed out, there are more events coming very soon. To keep up to date, keep an eye on our social media or go to our brand new website: slowfood.tastecauseway.com.
A local artisan drinks manufacturer is set to open a second location of its successful Gin School in the trendy Cathedral Quarter bar, The Thirsty Goat next month, after receiving support from Mallusk Enterprise Park to grow and diversify their business.
Belfast Artisan Distillery Gin is a refreshing and smooth Premium London Dry Gin with a local twist stocked in over 140 outlets across Northern Ireland including leading convenience stores and popular city centre bars. It has recently launched two sister companies, Belfast Artisan Gin School and Belfast Artisan Distillery Tours.
Founders Robert Borne and Jo Davison set up their business in the busy Newtownabbey based Enterprise Park in 2017 and have since developed the downstairs space into a manufacturing and bottling zone and a private bar upstairs to welcome both new and existing customers in.
Set up in 1992 to support new and established entrepreneurs, Mallusk Enterprise Park has enabled the passionate team behind Belfast Artisan Distillery to expand their network and receive essential funding.
Jo Davison, Co-Founder of Belfast Artisan Distillery, said: “Mallusk Enterprise Park provides us with work space for our new distillery in an ideal location. It offers support to tenants and other local businesses with networking and partnership opportunities.
“The support from the MEP team has been great and we have benefitted from both workshops and mentoring which has helped us improve many aspects of our business and has kept us informed about funding opportunities..
“The park is very well managed and offers ongoing support to tenants. Their charitable status as a social enterprise meaning any surplus profits made through their property rental and funded programmes are reinvested back into the local community via free advice and support to individuals considering self-employment.”
Emma Garrett, Chief Executive, Mallusk Enterprise Park added: “Jo, Robert and Ian Perry the distiller are passionate about their products, and this is transparent through their continued success.
“The Enterprise Park offers much more than bricks and mortar to start-up companies like this, we pride ourselves in providing wrap-around support to our small business community.”
In November 2021 the company opened its doors to its first edition of their Gin School venture located above the Crown & Shamrock Inn in Newtownabbey, offering guests the opportunity to make and distil their own bespoke gin choosing from over 80 botanicals.
“The Gin School at the Crown & Shamrock is an immersive visitor experience in the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough that will attract visitors from the local area, across NI, ROI and hopefully as travel restrictions lift, the whole of the UK and beyond,” explained Jo.
Their great tasting premium gin and vodka range features two fruit based flavours of gin liqueur and charcoal filtered Irish potato vodka that have taken the local drink awards by storm receiving a series of prestigious titles including 2019 Best Irish Newcomer, 2020 & 2021 Gin Masters Silver Award and 2021 Best Northern Irish London Dry Gin World Gin Awards.
Through additional funding from the Antrim and Newtownabbey Business Growth Programme OPTIMAL, the business owners received one-to-one mentoring which accelerated the business’ trajectory.
“Mallusk Enterprise Park’s focus is on supporting indigenous businesses” said Iain Patterson, Chairman, Mallusk Enterprise Park, adding: “Our extensive property waiting list is testament to the support provided by Emma and her team in MEP.
“It really is the location of choice to start and grow a business in Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough.”
Jo said that working on the Optimal programme has been “fantastic” for Belfast Artisan Distillery Gin.
She added: “I worked with Miriam Stevenson as a mentor and have learned so many new skills and techniques that have moved our business forward.
“We have designed new websites, vastly improved our online presence and social media and now have an online shop which allows us to sell our products across NI, ROI and the UK. I cannot praise the Optimal programme enough and would highly recommend it,” said Jo.
What started out as a hobby for Dawn Demain, owner of Carnlough-based Antrim Rain Natural Soap Co., has turned into a successful brand, gift shop and tourist experience.
Initially making soap to pass the time and give them out as gifts, Dawn has steadily built up a client base for her product including the Giant’s Causeway visitor centre and the 5-star Water’s Edge bed and breakfast in Glenarm, as well as numerous visitors to the County Antrim town.
Opening her shop Ebb & Flow in Carnlough at the harbour has meant Dawn has been able to support other crafters.
“Our range is exceedingly high quality,” she explained. “What is stocked is very much design led artisan goods, my handmade soap and quirky unusual things.
“I suppose you could say it is an eclectic mix of quality crafts and gifts mostly by local artists and makers. We have ceramics, jewellery, books, and candles. There are all sorts of glassware, handmade purses and bags, scarves, artwork, sandblasted slate work – gifts that people can take away – from small things like keyrings right up to £400-£500 paintings.”
As well as making her soaps Dawn has been running workshops from Ebb & Flow, for beginners to learn how to make their own soap.
“It is a fun and educational activity that the weather won’t spoil,” Dawn said. ‘Participants in my classes create their own product to use themselves or to gift.
The classes are suitable for groups of 4 to 6 people, held on shop close days or evenings to suit different groups. Partakers can enjoy the refreshments provided while they learn about theory followed by a demonstration. After lunch participants make their own batch of soap, using 100% natural ingredients which is theirs to keep and has a retail value of £50.
As well as the workshops she hosts demonstrations of how she goes about making soap. These demos can be as short as 15 to 20minutes or longer depending on the groups’ requirements.
“You can see the soap being made in the shop which attracts attention in that it is made and sold on the premises. I am able to tell purchasers what’s in it and what it does.”
All Dawn’s soaps are made using the traditional cold process method and the water content is locally collected rainwater from high in the County Antrim hills, which is filtered, to provide a completely natural product.
“Each soap is scented using a unique blend of essential oils, which unlike artificial fragrances, give a soft subtle scent and in themselves have therapeutic properties,” she explained. “The soaps are gentle on the skin and suitable for all skin types with no artificial hardeners, preservatives, colourings or perfumes.
“Some of the soaps have colour or texture, which is achieved by adding natural herbs, spices or skin nourishing botanicals. The soaps cure for about four to six weeks before each bar is hand cut, trimmed and hand wrapped.”
In keeping with her own principles of her eco-friendly soaps Dawn sources stock for the shop in the same way, with mostly products that are plastic free, and fair trade produced.
Antrim Rain Natural Soap Co. has also launched a new range of solid shampoo bar to complement the existing range of handmade soaps already on sale.
The new product range is solidly based on her ecological principles.
“My new range of solid shampoo bars are formulated with lots of hair loving oils with added Rhassoul clay and a touch of tussah silk,” she explained. Introducing the new product range means a natural way of hair care with no plastic waste. Find out more about Antrim Rain soaps at facebook.com/antrimrainsoap or order soaps online at www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AntrimRainSoap
A centuries old crofter’s cottage in Islandmagee has been given a new lease of life thanks to a loving restoration and sensitive modernisation, making it the perfect retreat and launching pad to explore the best of the Causeway Coastal Route.
Cloghfin Cottage dates back more than 250 years, steeped in maritime history and has been converted to feature a stunning double bedroom, with a sofa bed providing an option for two children.
Although completely renovating the existing building was not going to be the cheapest or easiest road to go down, it was an easy decision for owner Janice Bisp to make.
“The cheapest option would have been to flatten it,” she explained. “But I just couldn’t entertain that idea, as it had so much history. We know that almost 300 years ago the building would have been a two-room cottage with a barn at the side of it and a home to proud islanders.
“We did a lot of the work ourselves – it took all our energy for most of a year but my husband and I loved working on it together – we had such fun.”
Whilst bringing the cottage up to date Janice tried to always have the history of the building in mind and to incorporate it into the new build as much as she could. She loves to explain to guests about the original features of the building.
Nestled on Muldersleigh Hill in scenic Islandmagee, Cloghfin Cottage overlooks Larne Lough and offers guests stunning views of the surrounding area. The name Cloghfin actually comes from the original name of the townland as identified in one of the oldest maps of the area.
The restoration was undertaken to retain the building’s charm whilst installing modern features such as electric roof windows and underfloor heating, in order to retain as much space as possible.
Janice, who previously travelled the world as a nurse, pulled on her own experiences to bring guests a unique and memorable holiday.
“I travelled in New Zealand and stayed in batches – like little holiday homes on the coast. I loved it and it was the best experience. It’s that sense of fun and adventure that I want to create here for people to enjoy.”
The cottage is located on a smallholding with sheep and lambs (when in season) as well as free range hens and beehives and guests are encouraged to collect their own eggs for breakfast and cuddle the lambs.
Janice is always happy to share her knowledge on bee keeping and can provide extra suits if people want to get a little closer and learn more about the process. She is extremely passionate about sustainability and would welcome the opportunity to share this with guests.
Guests also have access to a shared country flower garden complete with a hammock, BBQ facilities, picnic table and a large purpose-built fire pit. Janice and her husband have also found the perfect spot on higher ground to watch the sunset and have utilised this vantage point by placing a sun seat there.
“We call it the beer seat; you can go up there with a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses and the sunsets are right opposite you and are just beautiful. They really are awesome, and you can see them reflect on Larne Lough. It’s worth taking a picture of.”
The cottage provides an excellent base from which to explore the local area.
Cloghfin Cottage is within walking distance to the Gobbins Visitor Centre which takes tours to the famous Gobbins Cliff Path. Visitors can also enjoy an ice cream at the famous Rinkha Ice-cream Parlour and the cottage is about a 10 minute walk to Port Road Beach, a pebble beach perfect for kids to skim stones.
Located within an easy drive of Browns Bay beach and Portmuck harbour, it is also about a five-minute drive to the Victorian town of Whitehead with a choice of places to eat and shop, Whitehead Railway Museum and the impressive Blackhead Coastal Path.
Janice’s love for the local area is clear and she hopes to pass on the knowledge and joy she experiences living in her special smallholding to her guests.
“I just want people to come and enjoy themselves.” says Janice, “It feels like it’s all still new to me as well. I didn’t grow up here, but I love it. It’s just great fun and I think everyone should experience it.” For more information visit www.facebook.com/cloghfincottage/.
Northern Ireland’s business community is coming together to support the delivery of industry-led careers inspiration events across the province, engaging almost 7,500 Year 9 pupils in June 2022.
4C UR Future LIVE is an innovative and fast-paced event that uses skills games and work-based challenges, designed and delivered in collaboration with local employers, to help young people get an insight into the future world of work.
The initiative, which aims to help every participant make more informed education and career choices, is the brainchild of 4C UR Future’s Founder, Rose Mary Stalker. Following a successful pilot in June 2019, the social enterprise is taking the show on the road this year, delivering an at-scale pilot of one event in every council area in June.
Managing Director of 4C UR Future, Rachel Doherty, acknowledges the support of the local business community in enabling the events to scale: “Our work would not be possible without the support of our member companies, who recognise the significant opportunities that come from working together collaboratively, and at-scale, to tackle systemic problems; helping our young people discover their own attributes, strengths, and interests, and exploring how these might align with their future opportunities.
“The careers landscape has become increasingly complex for young people and parents to navigate, with new in-demand skills, new types of jobs, and entirely new sectors emerging, resulting in major bottlenecks in the skills pipeline; inhibiting our local businesses from growing.
“By working across all of the key employment sectors in Northern Ireland, 4C UR Future leverage and mobilise the skills and industry expertise available on our doorstep.”
The LIVE events are funded and resourced by the Northern Ireland business community and are hosted with support from ten councils. The events are free to schools, including free transport, which is being supported by Translink.
Charlotte Richardson, PR Manager at Translink, said: “We’re delighted to be able to support this fantastic series of events, which are taking place across Northern Ireland; investing in our young people and building confidence, skills, and knowledge to help them identify the many opportunities and the wide variety of career paths and industries open to them. Access to events like this is vital to the next generation and to the workforce of the future and we’re proud to be a member of 4C UR Future.”
‘Race To Net Zero’ is just one of the games featured at LIVE events, which is being co-designed and delivered by NI Water and NIE Networks. With sustainability high on the agenda, the game focuses on the importance of the production of green energy and clean water.
Edel Creery, Head of Communications & Stakeholder Engagement at NIE Networks, said: “Energy is a huge part of our daily lives, and for the younger generation in particular, understanding how our everyday decisions and energy choices impact the world around us has become a priority. NIE Networks’ vision is to deliver a sustainable energy system for all and we need young, creative thinkers and innovative problem-solvers to help us achieve that.”
“The Race To Net Zero game is a dynamic and fun way to demonstrate to young people how they can get involved, showing that by collaborating with each other on the future of our energy systems, we can tackle climate change in a meaningful way. We are looking forward to meeting the engineers, designers, and innovators of the future at the 4C UR Future LIVE events in June.”
Learning & Development Manager at NI Water, Alan Moore, added: “We are delighted to be partnering with NIE Networks to bring forward our important environmental messages and highlight the role that energy and water play in creating a healthy society for us all in Northern Ireland. As a key utility provider, we are in a unique and privileged position to help our ‘stars of tomorrow’ consciously create a better future for our community, economy, and environment as part of what is sure to be a fun and energetic event.” It’s not too late for local businesses to get involved. For more information on 4C UR Future, go to: www.4curfuture.com, or email info@4curfuture.com.
Northern Ireland specialist recruitment company, Tyson Wilson Recruitment is the first recruitment agency to be awarded a gold level innovator award from Innovate NI, on behalf of the Department for the Economy.
The government backed scheme helps businesses across Northern Ireland bring their ideas to the market to help drive innovation in their industry by recognising each business who applies as either silver, gold or platinum standard.
Tyson Wilson’s 2022 award comes off the back of their success two years ago when they won the silver standard for innovation as they embarked on a journey to become the first paperless recruitment agency in Belfast in 2020.
CEO and founder, Michelle Tyson believes this is a step in the right direction for other recruitment agencies to take inspiration from.
“Over the last year, we commercially launched our 2020 silver innovation idea of implementing app and video interviewing technology into the business. After testing it out, we recognised its success and applied for the Innovate NI awards again and were awarded the gold standard.
“Becoming paperless brings so many benefits to the recruitment process from both the candidates and recruiter point of view. For example, a candidate coming for a role with Tyson Wilson has a quicker journey as they receive applications faster which in turn speeds up the recruitment process.
“Investing in paperless technology also helps reduce harmful co2 emissions and helps us do our bit for the environment too” she said.
For those seeking employment, registering on the Tyson Wilson website has never been easier thanks to their new style which involves all interviews being conducted by telephone or video technology and if you’re a temporary worker then accessing payroll is done via an app.
Michelle says this virtual process is a result of how the pandemic has streamlined traditional processes and shaped how businesses recruit staff.
“The industry is changing, especially now that a lot of recruitment consultants are working remotely. So, you have to put these adaptations into place to be able to do that and it saves us a lot of time.”
Milliken Tours Ireland have taken the tour market to new heights with their bespoke experiences that take visitors to well known attractions, alongside lesser known sites and scenery.
Husband and wife team, Seamus and Bridie Milliken, are both qualified tour guides, and as locals they have an intimate, deep knowledge of The Causeway Coastal Route and The Antrim Glens area having lived in the area all their life.
“We were volunteer walk leaders with Glenarm Tourism’s walking group for 20 years and it was always something my husband wanted to pursue full time.” explained Bridie. “We did a level two tour guiding course and established the business in 2016. We both enjoy what we do – showcasing this beautiful part of the world to visitors from further afield.”
With their own vehicle they can escort up to six people, but can also offer a hire service minibus for up to 16 but always with the customer’s needs and wishes in mind.
“When somebody books us, we won’t take anyone else – it’s their own private tour,” explained Seamus. “First thing I always say is ‘it’s your day’ – you tell me when you want to stop or if there’s anything you really want to see or do – then I do my best to make it happen.”
As well as visitors from across the island their reach goes much further.
“A lot of people from North America have connections, especially here in County Antrim,” said Seamus “I’ve had people from the east coast of America – whose ancestors’ families left east Antrim way back in the 1700s and they are now coming back to trace where their family came from.
“They’re really wanting to discover their family’s story here as well as the tourist sights. A lot of people are definitely interested in their Irish and their Ulster-Scots roots.”
Milliken Tours Ireland can also accommodate lone walkers and groups on private guided walking tours.
“We have a great relationship with landowners and farmers with permission to walk on their land in The Antrim Glens, which isn’t normally accessible to the public so we can offer our guests special walks,” said Bridie.
“This adds to the current Ulster Way and Antrim Hills walks available for hikers. And we also follow ‘Leave no Trace’ principles”.
Seamus is a qualified Mountain leader and so is skilled to deal with all emergencies and is also first aid trained.
“We’re proud of where we live and really want to show off the places and things that make it special,” said Bridie. We get so much out of what we do, and we love explaining what life here is really like, covering both the past and present. Seamus is very interested in history and geography and he would have been soaking up knowledge even before we started the tours. You will always find him reading books about the area.”
As the business name suggests, Seamus can pick up guests from across Ireland, whether it is from airports or hotels to make sure that customers get the most out of their experience. Milliken Tours Ireland can also whisk guests away for a few days across the island, whether it’s coasting along the Wild Atlantic Way, or tailoring the route to feel a deeper connection with their Irish heritage.
And, of course as a local he knows the best places to stop for something to eat, a coffee, or maybe even a pint of the black stuff.
Milliken Tours Ireland also carries out a calendar of monthly community guided walks on the third Sunday of each month, organised in association with Glenarm Tourism to various locations from coast to surrounding hills, of different length and duration. Monthly walks are always publicised on Facebook, or locals can pick up the annual leaflet with all guided walks advertised.
It was a pack of cards and an encounter with a famous comedian and magician that turned the young Steve Wilson from curious teenager into budding child magician. Little did he know then that these experiences would lead to a 25 year relationship with Circusful, formerly Belfast Community Circus School.
“My fondest memory was meeting Tommy Cooper at a magic convention in London. I was a wee nipper of 13 and he was a giant.”
“I bought some cards in Hamleys toy store in London in the 70s and this pack of cards got me into magic,” he explained.
After establishing his career as a professional magician, performing at the likes of the Royal Silver Jubilee Celebrations in London and at children’s parties, Steve moved to Ireland permanently in 2000.
His connections with the Belfast Circus School via fellow Circusful performer, Bucky The Clown, led to Steve creating the building blocks of his original character, “Wonderful World of Mr Wizzy”.
“I wasn’t very academically good so I was always going to be a performer. I did workshops, and some shadowing for the first month to get up to a certain skill level”
“It’s all Bucky’s fault but I’ve never looked back.”
Originally, Mr Wizzy performed as a double act around Ireland showcasing highly visual and entertaining mobile performances.
During his early career, Steve took part in the Special Olympics ceremony held in Dublin where he brushed shoulders with U2, The Corrs and Bon Jovi.
“Back in the day we did the Special Olympics at Croke Park. We were there for three days and Nelson Mandela was there but hadn’t arrived yet so someone was invited to get up on stage to be him for the camera angles. So I went up.
“We did a big finish for 30K people in 7 minutes.” he explained.
When he isn’t performing, Steve enjoys his role as a Circusful trainer where he teaches workshops to enthusiastic participants who have the opportunity to learn new skills, gain confidence, build resilience and make long lasting friendships.
“We’ve got them all wired. It helps to build their self-esteem for school or a whole range of things. Circus breaks down all the barriers. It’s not like rugby at school where if you don’t fit in, you’ll be singled out. It’s not competitive at all”.
Over the years, Mr Wizzy has led classes for disabled people and people who are recovering from strokes, he finds this work the most fulfilling.
“One of the things we have been doing over the years are workshops with disabled people which I love with a passion, I must say. When we come back from the workshops, we can’t believe that we’ve had the privilege to work in this way – it’s very rewarding.”
Steve worked with a woman who had had a stroke a few years ago. “This lady was blind and I used juggling balls with her and she held a juggling ball and burst into tears as her carers had all told her she couldn’t feel anything in her hand.”
Although his colourful career has meant he’s travelled far and wide and performed to a variety of people, Steve believes that Belfast is the perfect place to do what he loves.
“My favourite place to perform is undoubtedly Belfast because we know everybody from the school, so we don’t have to try too hard to get an audience.
“We already know the people in the audience and with the Festival of Fools, we have theatre on our doorsteps here – it’s brilliant.” he said.
Steve continues to move forward with the tight knit Circusful family to connect, empower and inspire the people of Northern Ireland and beyond through high-quality circus tuition and performance.
“It’s a family. It’s the circus family.”To find out how you can get involved with Circusful, visit https://circusful.org
The self-proclaimed Jack of all trades, Hillas Smith aka Mr H, is a popular circus and street performer for Circusful, formerly known as Belfast Community Circus School. As well as performing, Hillas plays an active role in leading outreach programmes that engage young people across the country.
Joining the Circus wasn’t the obvious career path for Hillas. As a young boy he engaged in traditional sports like rugby until he had a chance encounter with someone at university who sparked his interest in all things circus and performing.
“At university, I met someone who taught me to juggle and then taught me to stilt walk. It all snowballed from there.”
From here Hillas started performing in acrobatic shows which he took to ‘like a fish to water’.
Following a brief stint in Europe, where Hillas joined forces with two Erasmus students from Germany, he returned to Ireland where he regularly juggled on street corners in Galway.
Dubliner Hillas, 49, believes there is a ‘special kind of character’ that likes to perform in the street.
“I love the random nature of it. It can be something as small as what somebody says in reaction to what you’ve done, which just fires your imagination and takes you to a new place.” he said.
As the arts and culture scene took off in Belfast in the early 2000’s, Hillas decided to leave his much-loved home in Copenhagen to ‘catch the wave’ of the upcoming Northern Irish scene.
“I came to Belfast to visit a friend in 2001 and fell into work very quickly after having a dry patch in Copenhagen.”
“I was very tied into the air of positivity in Belfast. There was a real feeling of change, like something had shifted from the late 90s as the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival had begun and Festival of the Fools was taking shape.
“I actually deferred my return to Copenhagen a couple of times and then decided to relocate to Belfast, which took everyone in Copenhagen by surprise as they knew I had started to feel at home there.” he explained.
Hillas combines his various juggling disciplines with acrobatic skills, as well as dramatic fire performances under his clown character ‘Mr H’.
“The clown character was something that developed slowly as I got to know my own abilities, and I was heavily influenced by silent movie stars like Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, and Laurel and Hardy.
“There’s a kind of timelessness to it.” he said.
Watching the audience’s faces light up inspires Hilas to keep performing centre stage.
“By doing the physical comedy you give the audience permission to laugh at another human being’s carelessness, stupidity, clumsiness, mishaps.
“It’s a really joyous thing to get a group of people to laugh together. There’s a gorgeous sense of community.”
When he’s not being laughed at, Hillas teaches circus skills to adults and families as well as children and young people, a role which he finds immensely rewarding.
“The ethos in the circus world is meeting people where they are, whatever age. My job as a trainer is to see what type of skill that person will enjoy, how they learn, and how I can help them to get the most out of what they’re doing.
“Our teaching method is very much an open conversation and we don’t have a fixed endpoint as we believe the process of learning is far more important,” he explained.
Alongside this, he is an integral part of the Circusful’s outreach programmes in communities all over Northern Ireland.
These projects include the Prison Arts Foundation where Hillas worked with inmates of Hydebank Young Offenders’ Centre.
“We brought a group of untrusting, suspicious young men on a journey of self-exploration and self-expression where they learned to trust us, the circus tutors, as well as each other, and to gain in confidence sufficiently to get up in front of their peers and perform slapstick and comedy in an environment where being laughed at is a big cultural taboo.”
Hillas believes the social circus mission is the most important element of Circusful’s work within the community,
“We provide an environment where children and young people are free to be themselves, without judgement, and can learn through the process of ‘try, fail and grow’ in a supportive atmosphere where everyone’s successes are celebrated.”
To find out how you can get involved with Circusful, go to circusful.org
