In celebration of the start of National Gardening Week, Allianz Garden Show Ireland is delighted to confirm a stellar line up of gardening experts and truly interesting garden spaces that will entice and inspire visitors to Antrim Castle Gardens 5th to 7th May.

The Show begins with a series of talks from garden designer, writer and TV presenter, Joe Swift. Joe will be sharing his ideas for creating your dream garden on a budget as well as revealing some of his fondest memories from nearly 20 years of coverage of BBC’s Gardeners World.

The expert line up also includes founder of Grow It Yourself Ireland, Michael Kelly who will be talking about the top vegetables to grow yourself, other notable speakers include the much respected and loyal Show regulars Reg Maxwell and Geoff Stebbings. The centrepiece feature garden will be the “Heritage of Place” garden created by young Belfast based architect and garden designer James Purdy who collected three gold medals at Bloom in 2016.

James tells us more about his garden,

“The garden pays homage to the great literal genius born in Belfast C S Lewis who took inspiration from our natural landscape when writing The Chronicles of Narnia and will have an eye catching central grass mound reminiscent of our mountainous landscape which will spiral up to a standing stone, reflective of our ancient heritage and where CS Lewis found inspiration.  Around the mound will be a mixed arrangement of native and naturalistic style planting with hard landscaping of granite and cedar wood sourced and fabricated from local suppliers with local skilled craftsmen appointed to build the garden.”

Also providing inspiration to visitors will be a series of Show Gardens designed under the heritage theme. Northern Ireland’s councils have been invited to create a garden or interactive display so that each region will have an opportunity to showcase their own take on local heritage.  Other highlights include the Antrim Garden Trail gardens which is made up of a series of gardens including the beautiful Antrim Castle Gardens, Ballyrobert Cottage Garden and the magical Walled Gardens at Greenmount.

Damien O’Neil, Head of Marketing & Communications for Allianz Ireland remarked,

“We can’t wait until May 5 to see the innovative gardening elements at this year’s Allianz Garden Show. Blending and reflecting local heritage through planting and garden display is a fantastic idea and will add further to the many delights on display at this year’s show”.

The Growers Pavilion will house specialist nurseries with hundreds of plants on display and available to purchase from the expert growers who will be on hand to guide visitors through planting decisions. Sitting alongside all of the plants in the Growers Pavilion will be a special Feature Patio Garden created by Acheson Glover and new to the Show this year will be the People’s Choice Prize where visitors will vote for their favourite display and be entered into a draw to win a 3D landscape design from Acheson Glover whilst the winning nursery will win tickets to the RHS Chatsworth Show.

Set in the beautiful Antrim Castle Gardens the Allianz Garden Show Ireland continues to draw record crowds each year and with extensive local parking and a short travel time from Belfast it really is an accessible day out for all.

For tickets and more information on the Show which runs from 5-7 May please visit www.gardenshowireland.com

 

Wednesday 17^th May: WATERFRONT, Belfast

Tickets for Belfast Waterfront are available:

In person at the Ulster Hall Box Office

By Telephone: 028 9033 4455
Book On Line: www.waterfront.co.uk

Irish band The Cranberries are pleased to announce that they are bringing a very special Greatest Hits Tour on the road this summer.  Best known for their now classic songs ‘Linger’, ‘Zombie’ and ‘Dreams’, The Cranberries will perform specially orchestrated versions of their many hits with each show on the tour featuring a string quartet.

Speaking ahead of the announcement, guitarist Noel Hogan said: “We are really excited about taking this tour on the road.  In recent months we have been working with the Irish Chamber Orchestra at the University of Limerick, Ireland on the string versions of our best known songs. While we have played “unplugged” before, this tour promises to be particularly special.”   Band members, Dolores O’Riordan, Noel Hogan, Mike Hogan and Fergal Lawlor have also been writing some new material, so expect at least three new songs in their set.

Renowned for their trademark ‘Indie’ guitar sound and Dolores O’Riordan’s distinctive Celtic tinged lilting vocal style, The Cranberries rise to global fame in the early 1990s was nothing short of meteoric. Between 1994 and 2004, the phenomenal success of The Cranberries witnessed the band repeatedly tour the world and playing to capacity crowds.

To date, the award winning band has sold over 40 million records. Their 2016 sold-out dates in Europe and Peru demonstrate that they are still immensely popular across the world and have over 2.2 Million listens each month on Spotify and over 4 Million Facebook Followers.

To mark Titanic Belfast’s fifth birthday, Great British Bake Off Finalist, Andrew Smyth has engineered a bespoke birthday cake for the occasion.

Andrew, who is originally from Northern Ireland, the birthplace of the RMS Titanic, expertly designed the cake’s layers to showcase the enduring appeal of RMS Titanic, Belfast’s ship building heritage and the success of Titanic Belfast.

The bottom layer has taken inspiration from what first-class passenger would have experienced on board. The luxurious genoise sponge incorporates the flavours of fresh strawberries, grapes and pink roses that Lady Duff Gordon vividly remembers.

Whereas the top layer, shaped like Titanic’s funnel, takes a more modern twist as a chocolate madeira cake with a Bailey’s Cream filling, reflecting Titanic’s Northern Irish roots and celebrates the success of Titanic Belfast today.

Every week across Northern Ireland there are many fun and interesting events that take place and Tourism Northern Ireland has made a list of just some of them.

• What’s Happening at Carrickfergus Castle, Carrickfergus Castle, Co. Antrim, April 10 – 11. Visit Carrickfergus Civic Centre and talk to Historic Environment Division experts about recent discoveries, ongoing investigations and future plans for this internationally important archaeological monument. Full castle tours will also be available at 11:30 and 14:00 on both days with family fun activities including crown making and armour demonstrations.

• The Wedding Singer, Grand Opera House, Belfast, April 11 – 15. The year is 1985. Hair is huge, greed is good and rock-star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey’s favourite wedding singer. When his own fiancée dumps him at the altar a seriously bummed out Robbie makes every wedding as disastrous as his own. Don’t miss your chance to join the party of the year – come to The Grand Opera House and see the musical that promises to get you up dancing faster than your Dad at a wedding, packed with songs which capture all the fun and energy of the Adam Sandler smash hit film.

• Easter Fun at Cockle Row, Cockle Row Cottages & Groomsport Harbour, Co. Down, April 16. Visit the picturesque setting of Cockle Cottage and enjoy a free family fun day from 14:00 – 16:00.  Activities include Plant and Play Garden Workshops, Easter crafts, archery the ‘Tales of the Wild’ Animal Roadshow.

• A Night to Remember, Titanic Belfast, Belfast, April 14. Join Titanic Belfast on this commemorative evening as you are taken on a journey of reflection, reliving the story of Titanic through the eyes of those whose lives were shaped by her journey. During this 90 minute experience, guests will be escorted by guides to key points in Titanic Belfast and SS Nomadic where a heart-felt story will be told. There will also be a candle lighting ceremony at 11:40pm on the slipways, marking the time that the ship struck the iceberg.

• The Wheels on the Bus, Navan Centre & Fort, Co. Armagh, April 15. Join Bus Conductor ‘Charlie Smiles’ is waiting to click your ticket as you go on a ‘sing-along-a-journey’! Make sure you’re full of song as ‘The Wheels on the Bus Go Round’ but like all adventures something gets in the way!  What could it be, well only one way to find out, hop on board and join in all the fun! This is a fun and interactive play with lots of audience participation, you’ll be moving and singing in your seats!

• Easter Celebrations, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, Co. Down, April 16 – 18. If you’re looking for a place where the whole family can work off those chocolate Easter eggs, then the museum’s range of traditional Easter activities is just the ticket. Have a go at the Great Egg Trail in the Folk Museum and the Eggstreme Egg Hunt in the Transport Museum.  Don’t forget to bring your decorated egg to roll down Bleach Green Hill! You can even wear your Easter Bonnet to enter the Easter Bonnet Competition to win a prize!

• Early Times: Metals, Wealth and War, Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Derry~Londonderry, until April 15. Gold, jewellery, fine cloths, personal protection, battles for land, destruction of the forests and industrialisation. This exhibition by Council’s Museum Service explores the Bronze Age in the Causeway Region and displays many of the great archaeologist discoveries from the region.
• Variety Show, Castle Archdale, Co. Fermanagh, April 15. Are you ready for an Easter Extravaganza? Castle Archdale invite you and your little ones to the caravan park for a fun filled afternoon.  At noon there will be a Treasure Hunt around the site with the winner going home with a bumper basket of Easter eggs followed by a Comedy Variety Show at 3pm.  There will also be evening entertainment supplied by The Treblemakers.

• Ballymoney Spring Fair, Ballymoney Town Centre, Co. Antrim, April 15. Ballymoney Town will mark spring with an Easter Eggs-Stravaganza Spring Fair. A Fantastic fun day off live entertainment and Children’s Activities in Megaw Park, to include stunt displays, Punch and Judy Shows a free bouncy castle & assault course, face painting and much more. Ballymoney’s Castlecroft Square will see the return of the ever popular Artisan Market with a diverse mix of local produce, intricate gifts and exquisite Art and Ballymoney old vehicle club are holding a Motor Show at Joey Dunlop Leisure Centre grounds concluding with a Cavalcade through the town.

• W5 Goes Wild, W5 at Odyssey, Belfast, until April 30. W5 goes wild with a new augmented reality experience!From 1 April, the augmented reality technology will transport visitors to a range of exotic locales to meet some incredible (virtual) animals. Relax by a watering hole as elephants, rhinos and giraffes stop by for a drink. Chill out on the ice and meet polar bears, penguins and seals or stand at the oceans edge and watch as dolphins and whales swim by.

From 15^th – 18^th April, Bus Conductor ‘Charlie Smiles’ is waiting to click your ticket as you go on a ‘sing-along-a-journey’ at the Navan Centre & Fort, Armagh.

Make sure you’re full of song as ‘The Wheels on the Bus Go Round’ but like all adventures something gets in the way!  What could it be, well only one way to find out, hop on board and join in all the fun!

This is a fun and interactive play with lots of audience participation, you’ll be moving and singing in your seats!

Come and join us as we board Bertie the bus for another great Easter adventure with craft, songs, a trail and of course our ever popular living history show.

Fantastic Easter fun for all the family. Booking is essential on www.armagh.co.uk/easter

For information please contact: Navan Centre, 81 Killylea Road, Armagh.  BT60 4LD.  Tel 028 3752 9644 or www.navan.com

A large and talented cast from Abbots Cross Presbyterian Church performed ‘Naaman the Musical’ on 16 and 17 March in The Theatre at The Mill.

 

The show was such a success, councillors from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough suggested they do another performance for the very worthy cause of the East Africa Famine Crisis Relief.

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor John Scott has played a pivotal role in facilitating a special charity performance on Thursday 13 April. All tickets are priced at just £10 and are available from the theatre box office T: 028 9034 0202 or online www.theatreatthemill.com  Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor John Scott commented, “I would urge people to show their support and buy a ticket for this fantastic musical, Naaman. By doing so you will enjoy a great night out at the theatre whilst helping raise funds towards the African famine crisis”.

This musical production is adapted from the bible story of Naaman. As commander of the Aramean army, Naaman has power, wealth and fame but he discovers he has an incurable disease. His only hope is to return to the land of Samaria, where he previously attacked and plundered, to ask for a miracle cure from the prophet Elisha.

This show has drama, comedy and lots of music – making it a great night of entertainment for all ages. So whether you have seen the show before and want to see it again, or you missed it first time round, please purchase your tickets and take pleasure of knowing that you have contributed to help the famine victims in Africa.

Ballymena retailers come together to show off town

SHOPPERS bound for Ballymena on Saturday 8^th April are in for a real treat as an exciting day of fabulous fashion has been planned across a number of key town centre venues.

The local retailers and managers of eateries have lots of great offers on as part of a fantastic Ballymena Means Fashion event, which will be hosted by town traders from the Ballymena Business Improvement District (BID).

The dedicated day of fashion will include numerous exciting offers in the town’s popular independent boutiques such as 31 at Greenvale Street, Marmalade and Primrose, a fashion show at Fairhill Shopping Centre, discounts and spot prizes in McKillens Shoe Shop, as well as fashionista cocktails in the Front Page Bar and an afternoon tea with a fashionable twist in the Adair Arms Hotel.

In addition, Camerons, The Tower Centre, Wallace’s, Bluebird, Peacocks, David Bellingham Menswear, Ultimate in Fashion and Outdoor Adventure will also be offering fashion tips and great offers throughout the day for the whole family.

To get you ready for the big fashion event, Chocoa is hosting a Friday evening Fashion Tea on the 7^th April 2017.  Keep an eye on the Facebook page for further details.

Ballymena BID manager Alison Moore commented; “Ballymena Means Fashion is gearing up to be a very special event.  The town has so much to offer in the way of fabulous fashion through its various range of independent retailers and high street brands, which really do cater for everyone.

“The fashion event is a great way to involve as many retailers and businesses as possible and will be a fun day out for those who want to see what’s in store in the local shops for the coming season as well as supporting your local town.  Ballymena is certainly becoming a fashion hot spot and the day promises to be filled with events and offers that should appeal to all ages.”

So whether you wish to purchase something special for a particular occasion or need a few additions to your wardrobe, or chill with a Grace Kelly cocktail in The Front Page, come along to what will be an exciting and unique event in Ballymena’s town centre.

Check out Ballymena Means on Facebook and www.ballymenameans.com for full details.

Ballymena Means Fashion Events:

Friday 7^th April 2017

Chocoa, Friday Night Fashion Tea

 

Saturday 8^th April 2017

Fairhill Shopping Centre Fashion Show 1pm – 3pm

Remus Uomo, Fairhill, Buy two shirts and receive a third free

Tommy Hilfiger, Fairhill, Discounts throughout the day

Marmalade, Dresses and Daiquiris

Adair Arms, Afternoon Tea with a Fashionable Twist, booking essential £12.50 per person 2pm – 5pm

Primrose Boutique, Exclusive discount on the day including lucky dip with up to 30% off, pink fizz too.

Tower Centre, £100 gift voucher for winner of Best Dressed Shopper social media competition

Sam’s Yard, Tower Centre, Buy any suit and receive a shirt and tie for free

Ultimate in Fashion, In house models from 1pm – 3pm, soft drinks and prosecco served, spot prizes, 10% discount all day

David Bellingham Menswear, Discounts throughout the store, including a suit event with a selection of suits starting at £99

Camerons, Free scarf on all fashion purchases over £40; free prize draw; £10 voucher when you spend more than £60 on fashions; free refreshments

Bluebird, Discount throughout the day on children’s and babies’ clothing

Wallace’s, Free shoes with every man’s suit purchased (excludes suits already discounted), Plus 10% off all Ladies fashions and footwear when you spend £60 or more

McKillens Shoe Shop, £500 worth of vouchers in spot prizes throughout the day

Front Page Bar, Fashionista Cocktails from 11.30am to close

Middletown Coffee, 10% off Bradley Mountain range for any customer

31 at Greenvale Street, a glass of Prosecco

Peacocks, spend over £35 on full price items and receive £5 off

McKillens Fashions, Free scarf on all fashion purchases over £40, free prize draw, £10 voucher when you spend more than £60 on fashions, free refreshments

Just Boutique, Free scarf on all fashion purchases over £40, £10 voucher when you spend over £60

W5’s brand-new multi-sensory activity zone for 3-11 year olds opened to the public on 1 April 2017. This amazing new space themed area forms part of W5’s exciting redevelopment and renewal programme.

The Spacebase adventure begins at the base of the giant rocket on the Launchpad. To get to the top children can make their way up through the launch gantry or take the challenge of climbing the through spider tower webbing inside the Rocket. From there they can make their way through the tunnels to Spacebase itself or zip back down to earth inside the spiral slide. Spacebase houses a wide range of equipment such as tube slides, foam hills, horizontal and vertical rolls, web step stones and much more.

Exploration is key at Spacebase. Children are encouraged to find out about the universe with state of the art wrist band technology that turns them into space explorers, encouraging them to discover fun facts about our solar system within the activity zone to complete their mission!

Adults can relax in a dedicated seating area and treat themselves to a hot beverage from our Spacebase coffee dock while watching their children play and have fun. Free WiFi is also available throughout the building.

Spacebase is open 7 days a week and is also available for group visits, school trips and birthday parties! Spacebase is a new add on experience only available to W5 visitors and costs an additional £3.50 per child.

 For further information about Spacebase, visit www.w5online.co.uk.