Northern Ireland boasts a unique collection of irresistible places to stay including quirky B&Bs, luxurious spa hotels and hidden gem properties for an ideal short break and Discover NI has selected the best offers of the week for you to choose from.

• Causeway Coastal Experience, Roe Park Resort, Derry~Londonderry, from £135pps. The  four-star Roe Park Resort is one of Northern Ireland’s premiere golf and spa resorts set amidst the gorgeous surroundings of the Roe Valley Country Park.
  Enjoy two nights’ accommodation, breakfast on each morning and a romantic meal on an evening of your choice.  Package also includes a round of golf one the resort’s 18-hole golf course while the other can enjoy a pampering session in the spa with a back massage and facial. Complimentary bottle of sparkling wine and chocolates is also provided. Valid until 31 March. To book call (028) 777 22222
• Hideaway at the Dark Hedges, The Hedges Hotel, Co. Antrim, from £75pps. Explore the world famous Dark Hedges which has been a filming location for the very popular Game of Thrones®, just a stone’s throw from the hotel and other nearby filming locations on a short break along the Causeway Coastal Route. Check in to The Hedges Hotel and enjoy two nights’ bed and breakfast and one evening meal in the Scullery Restaurant. Valid until 31 March. To book call (028) 207 52222
• Belfast Titanic Experience, Wellington Park Hotel, Belfast, from £64.50pps.  In the picturesque Queen’s Quarter of Belfast, the three-star Wellington Park is an iconic family-managed hotel with a genuine Irish welcome. This two-night break includes accommodation in a classic twin/double room, free drink on arrival, full breakfast each morning, secure overnight car parking and entry to the World’s Leading Visitor Attraction Titanic Belfast and the SS Nomadic. One child up to five years may be accommodated free of charge- supplementary cost for breakfast and any additional tickets for tour will apply. Valid until 31 March. To book call (028) 90 381111

 

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland (March 6 – March 12).

 

• Belfast Children’s Festival, various locations, Belfast, until March 15. The annual Belfast Children’s Festival is back for the 19th year to light up the city with a colourful array of art and performance to inspire joy, creativity and curiosity. The festival will include the very best in professional theatre, music, dance and art designed for children from across the globe, including many free workshops, performances and events. From tiny babies to teenagers, there is something for everyone at this year’s festival.

• Enniskillen Drama Festival, Ardhowen Theatre, Co. Fermanagh, until March 11. Enniskillen Drama Festival is an integral part of the cultural and creative identity of Fermanagh. The Festival is part of the fabric of the community of Fermanagh and now in its 37th year, is proud to welcome productions from across the country to take part. With a mix of comedy, tragedy, classical pieces and new original writing, there will be something for everyone at Enniskillen Drama Festival!

• Laurentic Exhibition, Tower Museum, Derry~Londonderry, until June 21. It has been 100 years since the famous Laurentic sank off Lough Swilly on a bitter cold night in January 1917. This exhibition tells the story of the famous ship, the numerous salvage operations and the search for the elusive gold still on board.

• The Drowsy Chaperone, Annesley Hall, Co. Down, until March 18. The Drowsy Chaperone is a musical with book by Bob Martin and Don McKellar and music and lyrics by Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison.The story concerns a middle-aged, asocial musical theatre fan; as he plays the record of his favourite musical, the (fictional) 1928 hit The Drowsy Chaperone, the show comes to life onstage as he wryly comments on the music, story, and actors.

• Wookalily, Market Place Theatre & Arts, Co. Armagh, March 10. ‘Wookalily’ are a quirky five-piece band focusing on folk-gothic troubadour tales, new-time mountain music with glorious melodic hooks. Their song ‘Diamonds and Gold’ gained them a showcase at the prestigious IBMA World of Bluegrass Festival in Nashville in 2012. The all – female band make a glorious noise guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a skip in your step.

• MaxMara Fashion Exclusive, City Hall, Belfast, March 10. From Italy to Ireland: one of the biggest events on Ireland’s social calendar in 2017 is set to be an exclusive fashion show by luxury Italian design house MaxMara, as it brings its full Spring/Summer 2017 collection from the catwalks of Milan to Belfast City Hall on 10 March in support of leading learning disability charity Positive Futures.

• Ballymoney Drama Festival, Ballymoney Town Hall, Co. Antrim, until March 11. Ballymoney presents its 78th season of plays in Ballymoney Town Hall in 2017. There will be seven plays performed by some of the best and best-known amateur companies in the Province.Almost all of the plays on offer this year have been described as comedies and have been staged in The West End or on Broadway. Tickets and timings available at ballymoneydramafestival.com.

• Live at the Onion, The Dirty Onion, Belfast, March 10 – 11. Now in its third year, Live at the Onion unites the best local talent on stage for one weekend.  This year’s line-up includes The Crossfire Hurricanes, The Wood Burning Savages, The Vibes and Fatlip. Head down, grab a beverage along with some food from the barbecue and make a night of it from 6pm onwards.

• The Best of 10 Years! Alley Arts & Conference Centre, Co. Tyrone, March 8 – 9. Arts Academy, Encore PAA and Dance Craze come together to present highlights from their performances, showcasing their work from the past 10 years at The Alley Theatre. Performances will include highlights from The Sound of Music and High School Musical, King of the Jungle. Dance Kraze will recreate some of the audience’s favourite routines from throughout the years, reuniting some of the cast as they perform once again. The evening will ensure that the audience is entertained with a wide range of song, drama and dance.

• World Illustration Awards 2016, Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, Derry~Londonderry, until March 18. Developed by The Association of Illustrators in partnership with the Directory of Illustration, California, this unique exhibition, now in its 40th year, presents over 50 of the very best artworks across the diverse field of illustration.

Galgorm Resort & Spa, Northern Ireland’s premier hotel which is near to Ballymena, invites couples to experience their new wedding planning programme, with the launch of their new wedding gift box to would-be Galgorm Brides and Grooms.

Galgorm Resort & Spa beautifully encapsulate the journey that each couple will embark upon as they begin to make choices and plan their bespoke big day.

This very special story box totals 7 chapters, each being added as the couple reach different stages whilst building the elements of their day. Chapter One for example is entitled ‘A Venue Like No Other’. It gives a sense of welcoming the bride and groom-to-be into the Galgorm wedding family.

So let the adventure begin!

‘We truly believe in the magic of a wedding and the bond it represents. We reflect this by making sure the setting, the level of service and the support you receive are second to none. We will embrace your individuality and endeavour to ensure your unique take on how your celebration should look and feel is evident in all that we do for you. We are highly experienced in hosting weddings and yet you will feel as though your celebrations are as unique as our love for one another’.

Chapter One continues by introducing the couple to their personal planner and gives an overview of all that the beautiful, award winning Galgorm Resort & Spa has to offer. From the florists and photographers they work with, to the choice of ceremony room available and the sumptuous wedding breakfast dishes which can be whipped up! Not forgetting the pampering that the most indulgent spa, can deliver.

Chapter Two continues to build the excitement of all that the day can become! ‘Use your imagination, create your vision, allow us to bring it to life.’

Galgorm Resort & Spa launch a uniquely new concept, in that all their brides and grooms-to-be automatically become part of an exclusive club. They have access to specialist bridal showcases (Jenny Packham and her 2017 collection being the first!) supplier exhibitions and pampering nights are just some of the social events which the luxury property creates for its couples. Should the bride and groom wish to converse and swap stories and share tips with fellow Galgorm couples, they can!

Chapter Three is most certainly the tastiest stage! ‘For the refined Palate’ it’s entitled. Devised for the foodie in mind, the chapter demonstrates its expertise when it confirms ‘the arrival reception will have a large role to play in setting the scene and creating the required vibe’.

It leads the reader through tasty, reception suggestions to serve, such as: Traditional Afternoon Tea, a Homemade Canape selection, The Galgorm Candy Cart. The contemporary drinks reception items under the header ‘Mouth Watering Temptations’ list choices such as:  ‘The Blushing Bride’ – vodka, St Germain, white cranberry juice and fresh lime, served in a martini glass and garnished with a hibiscus flower. Perhaps the preference would be the ‘Mint to Be’ – a classic mix of Bacardi superior rum, sugar syrup, fresh lime juice and fresh mint, muddled together and served over ice. Another modern idea would be, to add some pizzazz to fizz at a Prosecco Bar. Simply add tantalising flavours such as: Lavender, Lychee, Forest Fruit, Raspberry and Blueberry.

Taster sessions could take time as the couple will enjoy making the choice between starters such as: Confit duck leg, Asian salad, sweet chilli with sesame dressing or Ardglass smoked haddock & leek bake, Gruyere cheese with fine herb crumbs or even a Trio of melon skewer, pineapple carpaccio with strawberry gel.

Main dishes could be anything from Northern Irish roast chicken breast, bacon, shallot and parsley stuffing, roast potato served with red wine gravy to Prime Irish beef “Forestiere” diced potatoes, pearl onions, bacon lardons, mushrooms with port gravy. There’s a large vegetarian offering with a wild mushroom risotto, parmesan, truffle oil and chives as one choice as well as a Garden salad, buckwheat, broccoli, beetroot, avocado and walnut oil as another.

Delicious desserts comprise: Madagascan vanilla cheesecake, strawberry jelly and chocolate pencil or Dark chocolate torte, Kirsch Amarena cherry with Chantilly cream and also Passionfruit panna cotta, mango jelly with crispy meringue.

It’s here in Chapter Three that wedding packages are also suggested. ‘The Bells & Whistles’ inclusive of x 100 guests is from £14,950 and includes a transfer within one of the resort’s Rolls Royce Phantom’s, all day and evening private room hire of the wedding reception suite, an all-inclusive photographic album by an award winning photographer, flowers, welcome drinks, centrepieces, 5-course banquet, wine, evening entertainment and more!

Other beautifully created plans are: ‘Love, Laughter & Happily Ever After’ inclusive of x 100 guests from £13,350, ‘Snow in Love’ inclusive of x 80 guests from £10,450 also ‘Mirth & Merriment’ inclusive of x 40 guests from £7,800 – small and intimate with joy and laughter, there really is a wedding for everyone at Galgorm Resort & Spa!

As each couple journey’s through their seven chapters, they’ll ‘Embrace The Grandeur’ Chapter Four, leading them to opt for either The Renaissance Suite (holds a maximum of x 150 guests) – prepare to be amazed as guests are offered a dramatic sense of arrival and welcomed into a creatively designed private outdoor terrace, complete with open fire through to an elegantly furnished lounge with 1920’s champagne bar. Into the main suite itself, guests will marvel at the panoramic view of the cascading waters of the River Maine which are seen behind the glazed wall of the top table. A true show stopper!

Or perhaps The Phantom House (holds a maximum x 120 guests) is the preferred choice of ceremony venue as it nestles against the backdrop of the ancient rolling woodland and gentle flow of the river. Galgorm suggest that it is particularly romantic during winter months, lit with hundreds of church candles. The Ghost House which also holds up to x 120 guests as well as The Great Hall itself, holding up to x 300 guests are other superb ceremony venues that stand within the stunning Galgorm estate.

Chapter Five introduces the reader to the idea of a rehearsal dinner within the 3AA Rosette River Room Restaurant or any one of the three restaurants on site. Indulge within the unique Gin Library & Conservatory (offering over 300 differing brands of gin, the most in Ireland!) task the mixologist to create your own signature Gin cocktail perhaps? Match this will canapes and enjoy to the background of the hotel’s resident musicians.

Other treats to consider are a Bridal Breakfast at the spa, indulge in a pampering treatment whilst enjoying breakfast and bubbles with your best buddies, whilst the other half enjoys 9 courses of golf at the resort with family and friends.

‘The People We Trust’ introduces Chapter Six and again it demonstrates Galgorm Resort & Spa as the expert when it comes to organising a wedding. Navigate the hotel’s brand new wedding website and contact via social media, the suppliers that have proved their talent and professionalism time and time again.

Finally we have it, Chapter Seven ‘Journal of our Journey’. This booklet offers a time line of making your choices happen! With 12-24 months to go until the big day, with 11 months to go etc. It acts as a step by step guide, allowing the user to tick jobs done as they go!

With the launch of the Your Wedding, Your Story gift box, Galgorm have harnessed the ease and joy that organising a wedding should bring.

Hosting your wedding at Galgorm Resort & Spa affords couples the peace of mind that with guests all located in the same place you can savour quality time with your loved ones, particularly those who have travelled great distances.

With 122 rooms including suites, deluxe, superior and standard, as well as self-catering cottages and log cabins, there is accommodation to suit each and every type of guest.

From blissful beginning to your story continues……

Galgorm Resort & Spa, 136 Fenaghy Road, Ballymena, Co.Antrim, BT42 1EA, Northern Ireland

www.galgorm.com @galgormresort @galgormweddings #galgorminspiration #yourweddingyourstory

Northern Ireland is home to many literary giants, but perhaps none more legendary than the Nobel Laureate, Seamus Heaney. This spring, step into the Seamus Heaney experience and explore his beloved home place, Bellaghy, on a Say Hello To More adventure in Northern Ireland.

Seamus Heaney HomePlace is an arts and literary centre dedicated to the life and work of the late poet. The centre spans two floors and visitors can enjoy recordings, photographs and personal stories, as well as listen to Heaney read his own words. A recreation of his Dublin study will transport you back to 1995, when he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Rachel Quigg, Tourism NI Destination PR Officer said: “Seamus Heaney Homeplace in the heart of Mid-Ulster is a wonderful place to see the poet’s incredible literature come to life and is perfect for all ages with a ‘Create & Learn’ area for children. Belfast and Derry are just a short drive away so you can combine your HomePlace visit with a stay in the city and continue your cultural journey”.

Through his poetry, discover some of the faces and places that inspired this world famous Northern Ireland figure. Previously unseen artefacts, transcripts and books kindly donated by the Heaney family are on display, ensuring a truly unique and illuminating experience for all.

The centre also offers a programme of events, which includes a series of exhibitions, workshops, tours and performances. The Helicon is their intimate 190-seater performance space, designed with a nod to the Greek theatre which Seamus Heaney so loved, and where you can enjoy theatre, music, song, poetry, readings and talks inspired by his life and literature on the traverse stage.

The Hedge School of Glanmore Exhibition

A unique exhibition running until 31 March will bring together the two centres of Seamus Heaney’s imaginative writing – Bellaghy in Derry~Londonderry and Glanmore in Co. Wicklow.

Entitled ‘The Hedge School of Glanmore’, the exhibition will feature manuscripts and typescripts of poems written in the Co. Wicklow cottage which Heaney and his family first moved to in 1972.  A specially curated collection of rare Heaney exhibits will reveal his writing process from first draft to final printing and will include first editions and signed limited editions as well as broadside poems, contemporary reviews and artefacts from the Seamus Heaney Literary Papers in the National Library of Ireland.

Stay in Heaney Country

For an immersive Seamus Heaney experience, plan a break at the four-star Laurel Villa Guest House in Magherafelt, just a short drive away from HomePlace. This homely, family-run property has created its own unique Seamus Heaney Exhibition showcasing rare collections of his first editions and broadsides. For book and poetry lovers, this is more than just a guest house.

Tours of Heaney Country

Learn and explore more of Heaney’s native homeland in Derry~Londonderry with a bespoke five-star Tour of Heaney Country led by Blue Badge tour guide, Eugene Kielt. Tailored for individuals or groups, Eugene will personally escort you to key points where you will discover the inspirational people and places behind some of Heaney’s most famous works. Visit his birthplace at Mossbawn, the villages of Castledawson and Toome, and the renowned Turf Man sculpture – a life size representation of Digging. 

Northern Ireland has a world-renowned reputation in poetry and prose. From the works of Seamus Heaney, C. S. Lewis and Samuel Beckett – for such a small country, our influence is mighty– find out more including special spring accommodation offers at www.discovernorthernireland.com .

Every nook and cranny of this historic North Down Museum building will be filled with arts activities to experience, participate in or observe.

Explore the Museum in a unique and unexpected way. Stumble upon arts in every space, from the Viking Room to the Café. Participate in clay work, printmaking, drawing activities and painting.  Or just sit back and listen to some good music.

Venue:            North Down Museum, Bangor

Date:               Friday 3 March

Time:               6pm – 9pm

Price:               FREE

This is an event for all the family.

Coffee Cure at the Museum will be open throughout the event for light refreshments

 

 

 

Have you ever wanted to learn how to make your own special notebooks, journals or albums?

A unique course in Book Craft is running at the Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre on Saturday 4th and 11th March from 10am-3pm.

Designed to complement The World Illustration Awards 2016 exhibition currently showing at the Arts Centre, this brilliant two-part course for people aged 16 years and over will allow participants to make their own simple book structures.

This will include hard back accordion binding and sewn bindings such as pamphlet and Japanese stab binding. Participants will create their own illustrated book using collage techniques, drawing and letter stamping.

Places are limited to a maximum of 10 and materials will be provided.

To book your place or find out more, contact the team at Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre on 028 777 60650 or visit www.roevalleyarts.com 

The Market Place Theatre in Armagh is gearing up for a packed fortnight of events as part of the Saint Patrick’s Festival. Week one will see dance, and music from some of our best local female performers.

 

Grainne Duffy is a unique talent, raw and powerful, edgy and elegant, and she’s set for The Market Place stage on Saturday 4 March. So far in her short career, Grainne has already graced the stage at Glastonbury for three electric performances and has toured much of Europe. Recently Grainne was asked to open for Jools Holland on his tour. Her wonderful mix of blues rock and soul in her own material and her treatment of a few carefully selected standards charged with true emotion and feeling can win over any audience and leave you begging for more.

 

In a unique evening of dance on Thursday 9 March, Maiden Voyage Dance present their ‘Triple Bill’, three new works on love, loss and living. ‘Korper & Leib’ by Oona Doherty is a meditative duet reflecting the intimacy and architecture of the male body. ‘Landscapes Of Loss’ is a collaborative work on the loss experienced following miscarriage and stillbirth and guest choreographer Rachel Lopez creates a new trio inspired by the relics of our past and the values we attach to material form.

 

Five female group ‘Wookalily’ are quirky, in a good way. Too girly to be a beat group, too funky to be a folk group, too good to miss! Their song ‘Diamonds And Gold’ gained them a showcase at the prestigious IBMA World Of Bluegrass Festival in Nashville in 2012. They also recorded for Country Music Hall Of Famer Dixie Hall’s ‘Pickin’ Like A Girl’ compilation in 2013 – the only non-American band to do so. Their debut album ‘All The Waiting While’ was released in November 2014. It’s rumbling along nicely with local airplay and humbling acclaim from fellow musicians worldwide. Wookalily will perform on Friday 10 March.

 

Gráinne Holland, is a singer | songwriter from Belfast with unique vocal strength and beauty. Dedicated to forging new territory for Gaelic song, Gráinne’s innovative approach breathes new life into the verses of old. Gráinne’s passion for the creation of new contemporary ambiences for traditional Gaelic song has conceived two stunning albums to date; ‘Teanga na nGael’ [2011] & ‘Gaelré’ [2015]. In the footsteps of ‘Clannad’ and ‘Altan’ before, Gaelré presents traditional Gaelic songs in a contemporary acoustic context, making songs of old accessible to fans of the modern folk era. Grainne will perform on Saturday 11 March.

 

Tickets for all performances can be booked through the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.marketplacearmagh.com And to keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews.

 

Northern Ireland boasts a unique collection of irresistible places to stay including quirky B&Bs, luxurious spa hotels and hidden gem properties for an ideal short break and Discover NI has selected the best offers of the week for you to choose from.

• Launch into Spring, Canal Court Hotel & Spa, Co. Down, from £99 per room. This luxury four-star hotel and spa is in the heart of Newry city and the perfect location for a relaxing short break only minutes’ away from the city’s shops and boasts live music every weekend.   Deal includes overnight break for two people, a £20 dinner voucher to be used off the A la Carte Menu in the Old Mill Restaurant and full Irish breakfast the next morning.   Valid until 31 March. To book call (028) 30 251234.

• The Great Escape Package, Bullitt Hotel, Belfast, from £90pps. Escape to Bullitt Hotel this Spring! Smack bang in the heart of Belfast city centre, Bullitt is the perfect spot to stay, play and explore. Stay in a cleverly-designed rooms, enjoy a three-course meal in the smokin’ in-house restaurant Taylor & Clay, and visit one of Belfast’s most fascinating places – Crumlin Road Gaol. Deal includes overnight accommodation, two tickets to Crumlin Road Gaol, evening meal and a breakfast bag the following morning. Valid until 31 March. To book call (028) 95 900600.

• Prime Time Experience, Corr’s Corner Hotel, Co. Antrim, from £60pps. Situated just outside Belfast with a legacy of good local food, the three-star Corr’s Corner Hotel is the perfect base to explore the Causeway Coast whilst being close to Belfast City Centre. Enjoy an overnight stay and your choice of 100% prime Irish beef steak supplied by an award-winning local butcher, accompanied with market vegetables, choice of potato and sauce.
  Valid until 31 March. To book call (028) 90 849221