Award-winning Irish actress Olwen Fouéré and Syrian opera singer Lubana Al Quntar are to collaborate on a unique project exploring the Syrian conflict through Heaney’s collection The Spirit Level, at Seamus Heaney HomePlace on Saturday 24 June.

Currently starring together in Salomé at the National Theatre in London, Olwen and Lubana will take part in the latest in a series of events at HomePlace called Performance Reflections, which invites a leading artist to respond – in whatever way they choose – to one of Seamus Heaney’s poetry collections.

The evening will be built around Olwen’s performance of the epic Heaney poem Mycenae Lookout, in addition to musical contributions from Lubana.

Speaking from the rehearsal room, Olwen said:

“The Spirit Level explores issues of conflict and post-conflict society and Syria is one of the most potent areas of conflict in our world at the moment.  I am thrilled that Lubana, as one of that country’s most prominent artists, is able to collaborate on the event with me, to bring a fresh perspective on the conflict through her native music and Heaney’s words.”

Trained at the Royal College of Music in London, Lubana Al Quntar was the Head of the Opera Department at the High Institute of Music in Damascus, where she taught opera and Arabic singing techniques.  Known as “Syria’s First Opera Singer”, she was forced to flee the country as a refugee in 2012 and now lives in the U.S., where she has performed in numerous venues, including the Kennedy Center.

Olwen Fouéré is an actor, director and creative artist who has worked with the Abbey Theatre, Gate Theatre, the Royal National Theatre in the UK and with numerous companies in France, Australia and the USA. She has performed her recent creation, the internationally acclaimed “riverrun” (an adaptation of the voice of the river in James Joyce’s “Finnegan’s Wake”), across the globe and has starred on film with Sean Penn in “This Must Be the Place” and in “The Survivalist” by director Stephen Fingleton.

Tickets for “Performance Reflections on The Spirit Level” are £10 and are available to book online now at www.seamusheaneyhome.com

Highly Commended in the NI Year of Food and Drink 2016. Comber Earlies Food Festival makes a welcome return this Saturday 17^th June promising a fantastic free family day out celebrating all things potato!

The one-day festival organised by Ards and North Down Borough Council in partnership with Food NI, Comber Earlies Growers and DAERA, takes place in the town centre and will showcase the world famous Comber Earlies which achieved EU Protected Geographical Indication status in 2012.

Richard Orr, Chairman of Comber Earlies Growers Co-op, said ‘We are really looking forward to showcasing this year’s crop. The festival is a great way to celebrate our produce and the season ahead’

There will be a packed programme from 10am-4pm. A Local Artisan food fair will pave the way to a Hay Bale picnic and Big Tops filled with music and children’s crafts. While top chefs will be demonstrating potato dishes and talking about the virtues of our wonderful Comber Earlies.

At the festival kitchen, local celebrities Paula McIntyre and Danny Millar will be joined by Sunday Times writer Lucas Hollweg and Charles Campion of MasterChef who will be give their expert views on our fine local food.

Look out for the tractor display, band performances and world class street theatre including Mr and Mrs Spud and a hilarious comedy chef show, Liver Cottage!

So come along and sample and celebrate the world famous Comber Earlies or some delicious locally produced treat while soaking up the festival atmosphere at this great family day out!

The Comber Earlies Fringe Festival will run from 9^th to 20^th June. Delivered by Comber Regeneration Community Partnership, the programme includes lots of activities for all ages including a Barn dance, live music, Festival quiz and lots more!

For further information check www.visitardsandnorthdown.com

THE annual Armoy Road Races, which take place on Friday 28th July and Saturday 29th July 2017 builds on its local tourism with the aim of attracting visitors to the area from far and wide.

Armoy Road Races continue to attract large crowds of spectators and bike enthusiasts and has grown significantly year on year in its turnout figures. Organisers hope that this year will be no different.

The number of visitors to Northern Ireland was up by 6% compared to the previous year, and 2016 also marked the sixth year in succession that Northern Ireland has welcomed its highest number of overseas tourists.

Tourism Ireland estimates that its Game of Thrones strategy has reached approximately 61 million people.

President of the Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club, William Munnis said, “Undoubtedly, there has been a vast increase in tourism to the North West over the years, with significant interest in the Game of Thrones filming locations, especially here at the Dark Hedges. We’re finding that, whilst that may be a draw to get tourists here, once they are here, they’re interested in our culture and our heritage, and road racing plays a huge role in the North Antrim area.

“Armoy Road Races are well established in County Antrim and the Causeway Coast and Glens, and by offering a series of events throughout the week we are encouraging visitors not only to visit the area for the day but to lengthen their stay, thereby investing in the local and wider areas. It’s of course helpful that we have the Giant’s Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and The Dark Hedges nearby.

“It is essential that we attract people to the area to sustain businesses and to keep our economy afloat. Armoy and the surrounding areas have so much to offer visitors and we appreciate the support we receive. We are incredibly proud that the Armoy Road Races works to attract tourists, adding to the local offering.”

Local hotelier, Trevor Kane who owns the Bayview Hotel in Portballintrae and sponsors the Supersport Race 2 as well as local rider William Dunlop, said, “The Armoy Road Races builds on a fantastic road racing heritage locally with the legacy of the Armoy Armada and Joey Dunlop.

“The continued growth and popularity of the Armoy Road Races really is testament to the effort and support put in by the Armoy Motorcycle Road Racing Club. To have such a great event, which is unique to the area, just on our doorstep is a brilliant opportunity for encouraging visitors to stay and enjoy all that the area has to offer. 

“It’s great to see people return to see the races year on year and stay with us here at the Bayview Hotel. The road racing community is very supportive of the local area, which comes alive around the time of the races. We have tourists from across Ireland, North and South, as well as international road racing fans coming to the races. This leads to money going straight into the local economy as the visitors support local businesses.”

William Munnis said: “We’re very thankful to Trevor for his support over the years. The Bayview Hotel has supported the Club from our earliest of Races, and without his support, we wouldn’t be where we are today. Trevor is integral to the Armoy Road Races and the Bayview Hotel is integral to the community.”

This year, Bike Week runs from Sunday 23rd July until Saturday 29th July with the races taking place on Friday 28th July and Saturday 29th July 2017 culminating in the Roadside Kia ‘Race of Legends’. The Armoy Road Races are part funded by Tourism Northern Ireland and the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

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

 

Having already announced a stellar cast of musical acts for the seventh installment of Stendhal Festival, organisers have announced a second wave of acts who are set to join the likes of Ash, Sharon Shannon, Ciaran Lavery and dozens more.

 

Headlining proceedings on Saturday August 12 will be The Magic Numbers, a band who quickly won the affection of critics and audiences with their Mercury nominated, top ten, double platinum, self-titled debut in 2005.

They honed and refined their guitar and harmony sound on Those The Brokes (2006) before widening out with a more piano and studio based set on 2010’s The Runaway.

With their sunshine harmonies and commitment to delighting audiences, The Magic Numbers have gained a reputation as purveyors of very upbeat pop rock and are a perfect way to close proceedings on Stendhal for another year.

 

Stendhal is also very proud to announce A Set for Stevie, a tribute to Stevie Martin.

We have collaborated with a host of local artists, who all had a connection with, and love and respect for, Stevie Martin, who sadly passed away last year.

The news of his death filtered through Stendhal last year and settled like a dark fog on the event and this year we are honoured to pay tribute to an incredible talent and an incredible friend.

 

Keeping her country this year will be one of Ireland’s brightest country music stars, Lisa McHugh.

With thousands of fans and many awards to her name, Lisa has released 6 albums so far and her latest studio release “#Country” shot straight into the top 10 in The Irish Charts reaching number 3.

Lisa continues to capture peoples’ hearts all over the country with her charisma, charm and of course her unbelievable talent on-stage.

 

For the first time ever Stendhal is teaming up with the legen-Derry Celtronic Festival to bring the beats to the farm this summer. Celtronic will present both Phil Kieran and Deep Fried Funk.

 

The Oh Yeah Centre are celebrating their tenth year in 2017 and are coming back to Stendhal to showcase some of the brightest new Northern Irish talent. This year their Showcase consists of Owen Denvir, Larks, The Over The Hill Collective, Brand New Friend, Girls Rock School and Emer Maguire.

 

The Nerve Centre is also back with its annual residence showcasing the talents of brand spanking news bands formed over the course of the centres summer projects which include; Music Hothouse, GSWM, Pulse, Tuned In and Camp Rock.

 

Added to this will also be a host of other phenomenal acts such as Dublin six-piece instrumental act Overhead, The Albatross, Derry Alt Rockers Making Monsters, one man blues-rock whirlwind Thee Rag ‘N’ Bone Man and dozens more.

 

Festival organiser Ross Parkhill said of the new additions to the Line-up: “Topping our bill year-on-year is getting harder and harder to do each year but I think we have managed it again.

“We are so happy that the Magic Numbers are coming to play, they are band that radiate warmth, charm and happiness and in many ways they encapsulate what Stendhal is all about.”

 

He added: “On top of that we have so many top notch artists that it is hard to pick out just one or two to specifically discuss.

“We will be putting up links to all our acts on our Facebook page over the coming weeks so we implore you to check them all out as they are all truly worthy of your time.”

The Odyssey is the classic of classics, the mother of all stories, the ultimate source of myths and legends and it captivated Seamus Heaney.

 

Prepare for your little ones to be captivated by a tale full of giants, ghosts, Greeks and great adventure!

Follow Patrick Lynch (star of CBeebies) as he launches Ulysses and his companions on a fantastic voyage which comes to life on our big screen while he plays with sand, stones, boats, bowls, fire and water. But the shrewd hero manages to outwit the fates and finally gets what he wants – to go home.

The use of multiple cameras will magnify onto a screen our table-top props down to the smallest detail and turn a storm-in-a-teacup into an Aegean tempest.

This show will be a thrilling ride across hostile seas and spooky islands to finally realise that, no matter how far you roam, there is no place like Homer.

Suitable for families and children of 6 years and over.

 

Book your tickets HERE

 

Over 200 local school children have taken part in a week long dig at Hill of The O’Neill and Ranfurly House.

 

The archology themed project, ‘Digging the Past’, was facilitated by archaeologists from the Centre for Archaeological Fieldwork at Queens University Belfast, some of whom had originally participated in the BBC’s ‘Time Team’ three day dig that took place at the site ten years ago in 2007.

Classes from ten local schools took part in ‘Digging the Past’, which forms a strand of the heritage education programme offered by Mid Ulster District Council at the Hill of The O’Neill and Ranfurly House, between 22nd to 26th May. The schools were:   Newmills Primary School; St Mary’s Primary School, Lisbuoy, Carland; Gaelscoil Aodha Rua, Dungannon; Gaelscoil Uí Néill, Coalisland; Dungannon Primary School; St Patrick’s Primary School, Dungannon; Killyman Primary School; Laghey Primary School; Fivemiletown College; St Ciaran’s College, Ballygawley.

The pupils were given an insight into the practice of archaeology and carried out practical tasks, such as archaeological planning exercises on the Hill of The O’Neill, one of the most historically significant sites in Mid Ulster, and were able to study of a number of relevant artefacts and maps held within the exhibition on site.  The children also found out about the role of the archaeologist and discovered how each layer of earth offers up its own unique clues about the past.

Creativity was also very much in evidence as each class created 3D maps of the Hill of The O’Neill, which focused on the many stories of the tunnels under the Hill, in workshops that were facilitated by the artist Hazel Boland.

Former Deputy Chair of Mid Ulster District Council, Councillor Sharon McAleer, joined pupils from Ballygawley and Fivemiletown as they participated in the last day of the programme, saying, “It’s wonderful to see our young people get the chance to be hands on with local history. Greater recognition of the complex ways that past events unfold and impact upon contemporary and future lives make the past more relevant to our young people and contribute to their education in vital ways. I am delighted to hear that this project will become a permanent strand of the heritage education programme and encourage schools to take part again next year.”

Teachers, principals and educators can find out more about the heritage education programme offered by contacting Peter Lant, Education Officer, at peter.lant@midulstercouncil.org or telephone 028 8772 8600.

 

People across Northern Ireland are being encouraged to get on their bikes and discover the benefits of cycling to celebrate Bike Week 2017, taking place from June 10 – 18.

Launched by the Department for Infrastructure’s Travelwise NI and the new Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Nuala McAllister, Bike Week aims to encourage ‘everyday cycling for everyone’ by highlighting how commuting by bike can easily become part of everyday life.

As part of the celebrations, the Department for Infrastructure in conjunction with Belfast City Council and Ride On Belfast will be hosting a Bike to Work Day on Friday June 16.  Commuters are invited to join 100s of cyclists for a mass bike ride from the McClay Library at Queen’s University Belfast at 8am.  The group will cycle to Belfast City Hall where they can enjoy a free cup of coffee or tea and a breakfast snack before making their way onwards to work.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Nuala McAllister, said: “I would encourage as many people as possible to enjoy Bike to Work Day even if they usually travel by other means. Sometimes it is just taking that first step in becoming more active which is the hardest.

“Think of the reward at the end, not just breakfast but improving your fitness.  We are committed to making Belfast a healthier city and encouraging people to incorporate exercise into their daily activities is the easiest way to do it. One day a week cycling to work can make a difference,” added the Lord Mayor

Andrew Grieve, Head of the Department for Infrastructure’s Cycling Unit, said;

“Bike Week is a great opportunity for regular commuters and those new to cycling to come together and enjoy the many advantages of cycling.  As well as being a very cost effective mode of travel it also offers many social, health and environmental benefits.      

“Each year the Bike to Work Day event grows in numbers and it’s great to see more people taking up cycling in the city. 

“Northern Ireland already enjoys over 1,300 kms of National Cycle Network lanes and the infrastructure is continuing to improve year-on-year.  We are committed to working towards a future where people have the freedom and confidence to cycle in Belfast and across Northern Ireland.”

Ride On Belfast is also hosting the Tour De Lunchtime event on June 16.  Starting at the gates of Belfast City Hall at 12.30pm, cyclists can enjoy a trip across Belfast on bike.

For more information, visit nidirect.gov.uk/articles/bike-week

Lyngo Theatre presents There And Back Again – An Odyssey, on Saturday 17 June at 2pm in The Old Courthouse, Antrim.

Join BBC CBeebies star Patrick Lynch as he uses a pioneering mix of live cinema and theatre to take you on a thrilling ride across the magical world of ancient Greece. With miniature sets he directs the lights, camera and action in front of your eyes to show the famous battles, floating islands, one-eyed giants and angry Gods that make up Ulysees’ 20 year struggle to get back home.

The use of multiple cameras magnifies in wide screen our table-top pup-petry down to the smallest detail, turning a storm-in-a-teacup into an Ae-gean tempest, laying out the fundamental fable hidden in this classic of world-literature and proving that no matter how far you roam, there’s no place like Homer.

LYNGO is a UK based children’s theatre company with strong Italian connections. Their shows have delighted children and adults for over 10 years with their unique mix of fun and beautiful imagery, working magically together to reveal the vivid poetic realm that is at the heart of our work.

 “Lyngo knows the score when it comes to producing theatre for the very young”  The Stage

This show is suitable for children aged 6-11yrs. Tickets available online : www.theoldcourthousetheatre.com or from Box Office T: 028 9448 1338.