Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust, in partnership with Ulster University, are delivering two free marketing and social media training sessions to local creatives, storytellers, and artisans next week as part of the EU funded Northword project.

Led by trainer and founder of Excalibur Press, Tina Calder the virtual training begins on Monday December 6 with the Supercharge Your Marketing By Creating Your Brand Story and will be followed by Everything You Need To Know About Social Media For Marketing Your Business on Thursday December 9 where Tina will guide attendees through all of the key infrastructures that make up their brand such as brand story, brand mission and brand social media content style.

Tiérna Mullan, the CCGHT Project Officer said: “The pandemic has highlighted the importance of digital platforms in supporting the creative industry, and the Northword project aims to further harness this potential.

“The wealth of creative talent in the Causeway Coast and Glens and Mid & East Antrim Borough Council areas is phenomenal and through the two online training sessions we can support the creative industries in remote areas and enhance their online presence.” 

Trainer Tina Calder has acquired a wealth of knowledge in 25 years working in local media having worked with a large number of thought leaders and business owners. Tina specialises in helping businesses transform and level up their marketing and communications efforts.

“I’m delighted to be working with Causeway Coast & Glens Heritage Trust on this fantastic project to be able to support business in the creative sector in areas of their marketing such as brand storytelling and social media marketing” said Tina, adding: “Programmes like this that offer free training are absolutely vital in supporting our vibrant and exciting small businesses within the creative sector.”

CCGHT is a registered charity devoted to protecting and enhancing the unique heritage of the Causeway Coast and Glens area, and in collaboration with Ulster University, they are the lead facilitators of the Northword project in Northern Ireland.

Northword is a transnational project that seeks to use traditional storytelling to support creative industries in northern countries in remote areas and enhance the online presence of small businesses. 

It also seeks to draw on and support long traditions of storytelling in northern locales and encourage communities to rediscover and celebrate local tales.

Both training sessions will be recorded and will include an interactive element such as a Q&A session and participant handouts.

To register for the events, go to https://ccght.org/events 

Sign up to the Northword e-newsletter to keep up to date with progress and upcoming events Sign up for the Northword e-newsletter! – Northword NI

For more information on the Northword project visit https://storytagging.interreg-npa.eu/ or https://northwordni.org/

New platform that finds a total addressable market in seconds and connects with decision makers in minutes

Belfast, UK 02.12.21

SAAS company Zymplify Group has launched Lead Onion, a powerful intent-driven sales enablement platform that allows users to identify, prioritize and connect with leads and prospects in real time.

Lead Onion allows users to activate buyer-intent data with 17 dynamic intent sources at their fingertips giving them the ability to quickly identify companies who are ready to buy and their key decision makers. 

Once identified prospects are prioritized into ready-to-buy sales leads allowing sales teams to connect with in-market buyers in real time.

The announcement comes on the back of Zymplify Group investing a further £1.5million into the SAAS company and a commitment to create 26 jobs over the coming year working across its three brands Zymplify, Lead Onion and Zym.

Zymplify Group chief executive Michael Carlin said Lead Onion represented a significant step forward in the operationalization of data and prospecting across all sectors.

He added: “Lead Onion helps teams reduce sales cycles, accelerate sales and enhance their sales and marketing efforts by making available the world’s largest and most compliant database of 400 million business profiles and 4.2m identified in-market accounts.”

With Lead Onion users can see the companies who are actively searching for their product or service, get contact details of the key decision makers and send prospects to their tech stack for lead nurturing or use Lead Onion’s inbuilt cadences to connect instantly and quickly act on those buying signals.

Zymplify Group chief marketing officer Debbie Rymer explained: “The thing that makes Lead Onion really different isn’t just the company level intent or the contact details of the key decision makers in those organisations. It’s the fact that our platform is the only company on the market that takes into consideration first, second and third party data, and then highlights the people that are displaying intent across all of those channels”.

With Lead Onion companies can not only gather up to the minute, relevant and current data but can organise and prioritize that data efficiently in a manner that allows sales teams to act on the intelligence immediately right when the customer is ready to buy.

Michael Green, chief operating officer of Lead Onion said: “One of the biggest challenges companies have with intent data is making it actionable. That’s what we solve. 

“For example, there’s been a lot of discussion in  sales and marketing about third-party intent data and whether it’s useful…the fact that we make it actionable helps to solve that conundrum – we bring order to the chaos of there being so much data out there.

“Lead Onion provides contact details alongside the company-level intent. We’re the only platform that has first, second, third-party intent data at the company level.” 

Lead Onion was originally created to fill a need for the Zymplify Group themselves.

Michael and his team, frustrated by the prospecting and lead generation tools on the market, set out to find a solution that would streamline the prospecting and lead generation timeline.

He explained: “Before we created Lead Onion it was my job to extract the data from various sources, be that G2 or purchasing large data lists, and populate existing sales CRM systems and platforms with that data for the sales teams to use.

“This was being done every week but, in some cases, by the time the data was collected, collated and uploaded to the system the intent was already a week old and in many cases the data had gone stale.

“With Lead Onion that process has gone from a few days or a week to minutes. Our sales teams are being fed live data on a daily basis that’s current, relevant and actionable.

“Sales teams no longer have to think about where they will go for their next lead – it’s there, it’s ready and waiting for them. Their days are planned out and if they need more the system can give them more.”

With Lead Onion’s suite of tools marketers responsible for delivering leads to sales, sales leaders responsible for growing revenue at scale and recruiters looking for their next hot hire can use up to the minute tools and intelligence to identify, target and connect faster with their target audience.

“Lead Onion gives your sales teams more talk time because we have removed repetitive admin and research tasks from their workflow” said Debbie Rymer, adding: “supercharge your conversions by giving your team the hottest leads today looking for the solution that you offer now, not last week, not last month.”

To book a Lead Onion demo or for more information go to https://leadonion.ai/ 

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

Following almost two years of intensive consultation and evaluation Belfast  Community Circus School has today rebranded to become Circusful.

Launching their new website and brand today November 30th, chief executive Jenna Hall said it is an “important and exciting moment” for the charity.

The organisation has been in operation since 1985, offering training, workshops, classes, performances and more. The team work in and with communities right across Northern Ireland and have brought many thousands of people through its doors in Gordon Street in the city’s Cathedral Quarter.

Set up by Donal McKendry and the late Mike Moloney, and taken forward by the late Will Chamberlain, the rebrand comes as part of a larger strategic review of the whole organisation and associated companies. During the time Will Chamberlain led the Circus School he secured the building in Gordon Street and established two associated companies, Premiere Circus, a professional performance agency and Festival of Fools, a May Bank Holiday weekend favourite and the largest festival of its type on the island of Ireland. 

Now known as Circusful, the charity have also revealed their renewed mission, vision and values which Jenna said include and embed the core ethos and values of why the organisation was set up 35 years ago. 

She added: “We are absolutely committed to building on all that has gone before. During the rebrand we reviewed all aspects of the work we do and have done. The circus school has grown substantially over the years and it was important to make sure that how we operate, look and what we are called keeps up with this growth. We hope the new website, circusful.org, captures both what has been achieved before and what is to come.

“We have invested heavily in the process of consultation with our stakeholders, staff, volunteers, attendees, parents and wider circus family, their voices are really important to us.

“A key part of the strategy is to celebrate and retain the original ethos of the circus school as founded and to build upon that. We are doing more outreach work than ever, with over 1,300 children engaged since April alone and work with hundreds more in central Belfast each week.” 

Going forward, Circusful will incorporate the work of Belfast Community Circus School and its agency arm Premiere Circus, whilst Festival of Fools will remain a separate entity, its connection to Circusful will be clear.  

Jenna added: “It is our mission to support people of all ages and abilities to surprise themselves through circus. We meet people where they are, have fun and create a community together.

“We want to continue to enrich people’s lives through circus experiences, create curiosity and help people feel part of a community. We know our work provides people with the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to thrive in the 21st Century. 

“We believe the new brand and vision will embody this, retaining all the magic of the circus but conveying much more clearly what we are about and how positively we impact lives across Northern Ireland and further afield. 

“As a result of the new strategy, Circusful is planning to re-start its world-wide exchange programmes in 2022. These provide opportunities for young people from Northern Ireland to learn new skills, travel the world and create new connections within the international circus family. The new merchandise available to buy on the website will help raise vital funds for our charity.

“Our new values will ensure we remain curious, playful and persistent, we will always collaborate, put our circus family first and share leadership across the team and those we work with.” 

Gilly Campbell, Head of Community Arts and Education, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: “Congratulations to the team at Circusful on this exciting new chapter.  

“Since it opened its doors in 1985, this company has gone from strength to strength, bringing awe-inspiring circus to the streets to be enjoyed by thousands of people, as well as offering vital professional development opportunities for the next generation of circus artists. 

“The work of Belfast Community Circus, now Circusful, truly demonstrates the value of the arts in bringing people and communities closer together, inspiring us all through a shared love of creativity, culture and the Arts.” 

Studio Texture, a small London based brand agency specialise in strategic brand and campaign projects with not for profits. They worked extensively with the steering group which was made up of performers, trainers, parents, staff and trustees. 

Circusful have also worked closely with Ronan Lunney of Belfast based graphic design studio, TwoDigs, who built the new website. The copy was written by Laura Haydon, who has been connected with the circus family since the early 1990s. 

Jenna said “Ensuring an ongoing and deep connection with those who’ve been involved in our work from the very beginning is really important to us and to our future success.”

For more information about Circusful go to circusful.org 

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