McComb’s Coach Travel is celebrating some significant news as their Game of Thrones tours were both given a 5 star grading by Tourism NI and their Giant’s Causeway tour retained its 4 stars.

This was already a key time in the company’s year as they agreed an Ireland exclusive on a new coach, an EVM Cabriolet with an impressive retracting roof and windows feature, representing an investment of over £100k and creating four jobs, explained company Director, Caroline McComb.

“We are thrilled that our Game of Thrones ‘Westeros’ and ‘Winterfell’ tours were both given the highest tourism rating possible, 5 stars, in recognition of the quality of the visitor experience we provide”, said Caroline.

Caroline continued:  “This has turned out to be a very special time for McComb’s Coach Travel as our brand new EVM Cabriolet, with retracting sides and roof, was delivered, helping us to create four new positions in the company.  This is the only vehicle of its type in the whole of Ireland as we signed an exclusivity contract with the supplier – you would have to go to Edinburgh or London to see another.

“The coach has full leather seats and a mobile phone charging point at every seat to ensure our passengers never miss a photo opportunity.  But what really makes it a special coach is that the roof and sides totally retract offering passenger’s panoramic, uninterrupted views of our stunning attractions and countryside.  It will be used on our various tours of Belfast and Northern Ireland, and also for corporate and private events”, concluded Caroline.

For further information visit www.mccombscoaches.com or call them on 028 9086 6162.  You can also find them on Twitter (@OfficialMcCombs) and Facebook (facebook.com/mccombstravel).

~ Tourism Ireland’s 2016 Game of Thrones® campaign continues to showcase Northern Ireland to millions of fans worldwide ~

24 May 2016 – Episode five of the sixth season of Game of Thrones® aired last night (Monday, 23 May) and Tourism Ireland unveiled its fifth ‘Door of Thrones’ – this week in Frank’s (Owens) Bar in Limavady.

The door is part of Tourism Ireland’s 2016 Game of Thrones® campaign, created in partnership with HBO, which is showcasing Northern Ireland to millions of the show’s fans worldwide. Tourism Ireland is encouraging fans everywhere to come and follow in the footsteps of their favourite GoT characters – to discover the forests, mountains and landscapes of Northern Ireland which provide the scenic backdrops for so many memorable moments in the fantasy drama.

Earlier this year, Tourism Ireland saved the wood from two trees at the Dark Hedges – known in Game of Thrones® as the Kingsroad – which fell during Storm Gertrude. The wood was then used to make a series of 10 beautifully carved doors, each one telling the story of the latest episode in season six. The doors are being unveiled by Tourism Ireland each week as season six unfolds, in restaurants, pubs and other venues near Game of Thrones® filming locations across Northern Ireland.

This week’s door in Frank’s (Owens) Bar features several striking designs, immortalising the Night’s King. It is near Dragonstone – the filming location otherwise known as Downhill Strand.

The first door (from episode one) is hanging in The Cuan guest inn in Strangford – near the filming locations of Castle Ward and Audley’s Castle. The second door is hanging in Fiddlers Green in Portaferry, near Quintin Bay. The third door, in the Percy French restaurant in Newcastle, is near Tollymore Forest Park; and the fourth door is in Blakes of the Hollow in Enniskillen, near Pollagollum Cave.

Tourism Ireland has also unveiled its fifth – limited edition – Game of Thrones® stamp, another element of its campaign, produced in conjunction with the Royal Mail.

The Market Place Theatre in Armagh is the place to be this summer as it launches its June to August programme crammed full of light-hearted comedy and drama, chilled out musical performances, loads of entertainment for the little ones including the massively popular Summer musical, and not to mention the now annual John Hewitt Summer School.

Here’s just an outline of what’s available to enjoy during those long summer evenings.

The kids will be absolutely spoilt for choice this season. Cahoots NI are back in June with their mind-blowing production ‘Danny Carmo’s Mathematical Mysteries’ – a spectacular show where Maths, Theatre and Digital Technology collide to create a fun and interactive performance proving that understanding maths can be fun! There will also be not one, but two Family Super Saturdays, the first in July with Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre’s ‘The Elves & The Shoemaker’, where one good turn deserves another, in this magical story of kindness that will delight the little ones. August’s Family Super Saturday offering will be ‘The History Of Tom Thumb’, an escapade of gigantic proportions in a world where everything is larger than life and ten times more exciting.

Families will also be delighted with this Summer’s incredible musical, ‘Annie’. Prepare to sing along to all the unforgettable classics like ‘Hard Knock Life’, ‘Easy Street’ and of course ‘Tomorrow’, as the story of the little orphan girl unfolds. A show no-one should miss, you can bet your bottom dollar that you’ll love it.

There’ll be laughs aplenty with some fantastic stand-up comedy and comedy drama. The multi award-winning Brassneck Theatre Company are back with ‘Che Guevara’s Night Off’, the laugh-a-minute tale of the world’s most wanted man’s night in Ireland. Join Che and the locals for a wild night’s craic with fiddles, fugitives and a drop of the black stuff.

The craic continues with ‘Handbag Positive’, where two middle age friends find themselves back in touch in a local A & E department, pondering their teenage years, exchanging stories and insults, and wondering why they ever liked each other.

Summer wouldn’t be summer without a helping of Sam Cree comedy, which this year comes in the form of ‘Separate Beds’, a hilarious evening’s entertainment from the pen of Ulster’s favourite playwright. The usual pot-pourri of characters, each with their own story to tell and their own crisis in hand, combine to create the perfect comedy classic.

The end of the summer will see the end of the Maggie Muff trilogy, as ‘Maggie’s Feg Run’ arrives in Armagh. This time Maggie and Big Sally-Ann are on their way to Benidorm on a ‘Feg Run’ to smuggle home cigarettes to sell. Sun, sea, sangria and sticky Vicky! Sure what more is there to want? This is the one you’ve all been waiting for!

Don’t forget the musical performances this summer with chilled out jazz from the Bourbon Swing Jazz Band, some of the most exciting contemporary traditional music around from ‘Buille’ and a delightful new twist on the performance of poetry in ‘A Poem For A Song’.

For details of all events can be found online at www.marketplacearmagh.com, and tickets for can be booked by contacting the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821.

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.

Causeway Coast Foodie Tours is an exciting new venture by Wendy Gallagher, and a MUST for NI foodies!

This guided tour will showcase some of the best local produce and hidden gems the North Coast has to offer. Sit back, relax and savour the flavours that make this area so unique.

We will be making 5 stops along the beautiful Causeway Coastal route with each one offering a delicious & surprising taste experience! These include sample tasting at the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery, feasting on local fish prepared by fabulous chefs and a stop at an award winning farm where you will see first-hand how produce is reared for our plates.

Starting in Coleraine, the tour by luxury midi-coach will last for approximately 6 hours. You will have the chance to sample local food and drinks at each stop so please come hungry! After lunch our coach will return you to Coleraine.

Enjoy this time together to eat, discover and take home foodie goodies and see for yourself why this area is our food heaven!  We would recommend customers bring a cool bag to keep any perishable purchases fresh.

The next confirmed tour dates are Saturday 4th and 18th June – but be quick as these tours are sure to sell out quickly! Cost: £55

To book your place contact Wendy at causewayfoodie@gmail.com with your booking details and any special requirements, or call +44 (0) 7912 408 256

You can follow Causeway Coast Foodie Tours on Facebook and Twitter.

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (May 23-29).

• Rathlin Island Boat Tour, Rathlin Island, Co. Antrim May 24. Travel along the North Antrim coastline taking in the sights of the Causeway Coast, visiting Dunluce Castle, the Giant’s Causeway, Ballintoy Harbour and more before disembarking on Rathlin Island for 45 minutes to explore this enchanting island. www.portrushseatours.com

• NI Countrysports Fair, Scarva, Co. Down, May 28-29. Country sports lie at the heart of the NI Countrysports Fair. With a variety of country sports on offer, experts will be on hand to introduce you to a field of new sports and explain how you can get involved alongside equestrian events, clay pigeon shooting and casting demonstrations.
• Belfast Spring Continental Market, Belfast City Hall, Belfast, Co. Antrim, May 27-30. With an array of delicious food from across the globe the Spring Continental Market returns to Belfast City Hall. This year, as part of the Northern Ireland Year of Food and Drink celebrations, the market will also be offering a selection of tasty local products to choose from and enjoy.

• Armagh Craft Fair, Market Place Theatre, Co. Armagh, May 28. This free event, now in its sixth year brings high quality craft to the heart of Armagh City and features over 45 high quality craft stalls from makers across Ireland. Craft at this year’s fair include textiles, knitwear, jewellery, wood ceramics and candles to name but a few. Starts at 10:30.

• The International Guinness Blues on the Bay Festival, Warrenpoint, Co.Down, May 25-30. The International Guinness Blues on the Bay Festival is back with an outstanding program of music and a food festival. Listen to some of the world’s leading blues and jazz performers including Belfast born Van Morrison as Warrenpoint hosts over 90 free gigs at the six-day festival.

• Belfast Maritime Festival, Queen’s Quay, Belfast, May 28-30. Ahoy there land lovers and seafarers! Celebrating the city’s unique maritime heritage, there’ll be lots of Titanic activities, live music, arts and crafts, street theatre and displays as Belfast’s quaysides play host to this family fun maritime festival.
• Circus of Horrors, Millennium Forum, Co. Londonderry, May 27. This frightening good show is set in Victorian London at a time when Jack the Ripper was still at large and the golden age of the Freakshow had begun. With Killer Klowns, Sword Swallowers, Death Defying Aerialists and a Hairculian Diva, this is a show not to be missed. Suitable for adults only. Starts at 8pm.

• Nature Macro Photography Workshop, An Creagan, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, May 28-29. Aimed at people wishing to refresh or progress their photography skills, these workshops hosted by wildlife photographer Debbie Deboo will mentor participants through techniques and equipment required for high quality close up images. £50 for two days – includes lunch. More info: www.an-creagan.com/

• Jungle Book, Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, May 28. The much loved story of Mowgli, the ‘man-cub’, is brought to life by Indigo Moon Theatre with inventive shadow theatre, original music and colourful digital projection as he learns to live by the Law of the Jungle. Suitable for ages 4+. Starts at 2:30pm.

• Twilight Market, St George’s Market, Belfast, May 24-25. The upcoming Twilight Market has been extended over two nights, allowing visitors even more time to feast on some of the unique food elements that make up Belfast’s thriving foodie sector featuring live music and DJs throughout the two days. Times vary per day.

Please note some of the events require pre-booking.

The Shanty Shack at this year’s Sea Bangor Festival is the perfect place to relax and enjoy some of the finest festival music around.

The event which is a highlight on Ards and North Down Borough Council’s events calendar is taking place on June 4 & 5 at the tented village in Quay Street Car Park, Bangor.

Programed by Open House, The Shanty Shack features a lively mix of eclectic music including such gems as Dolbro Dan, a local folk singer/songwriter, Wookalily, an all-female Americana folk band, Les Petits Hardchargers and loads more! The Shanty Shack will be a hive of music and entertainment for the duration of the festival so pop in and check it out!

And the entertainment doesn’t end there! Down on The Eisenhower Pier, a fantastic street theatre programme will take place all weekend. Look out for Maynard Flip Flap, with his coat hanger antics and legendary egg catapulting stunts and Gareth Jones who will be performing his strait jacket and escapology show. Beach Patrol will be guarding the pier with their special brand of life saving skills and so much more!

Other highlights of the festival include; “The Green Egg BBQ Competition,” a gourmet food tent, “The Dockside Emporium” a world of wonder created by local artists for people to experience and try out arts and crafts, “The Great Carmo,” a bespoke children’s theatre production from Cahoots NI, Jetlev demonstrations, a tall ship, aerobatic twister displays, Armed Forces activities, a coastal rowing challenge and lots more!

Sea Bangor will be open from 10am to 6pm on Saturday 4 June and Noon to 6pm on Sunday 5.

So whatever floats your boat, come along to Sea Bangor for a great family day out! This is a FREE event.

The Flax Gallery at Mossley Mill is holding an exciting new exhibition for 2016 with a whole range of different artists showcasing their talents.

The exhibition opened on the 12 May and will run until Saturday 25 June.  The show is a celebration of creativity with works in a range of media with different interests expressed through each of the artist’s work.  Culture and Heritage Manager Samantha Curry commented “We are delighted to host this exhibition in the Flax Gallery. It’s an opportunity to open up the space to a whole range of artists, showcasing local talent and offering our visitors a unique experience. The additional benefit is that works are for sale so it’s a great opportunity for visitors to view and buy original art”.

The Flax Gallery is open Monday to Wednesday 10am – 5pm, Thursday 10am – 9pm, Friday 10am – 4pm and Saturday 11am – 4pm and admission is free.

For any additional information please contact Museum at The Mill on 028 9034 0129 or email museums@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk

Children’s theatre company Cahoots NI are back at The Market Place Theatre, Armagh with their latest spectacular, ‘Danny Carmo’s Mathematical Mysteries’.

Prepare to be amazed, dazzled & bewildered by Cahoots NI’s mind-blowing production Danny Carmo’s Mathematical Mysteries – a spectacular show where Maths, Theatre and Digital Technology collide to create a fun and interactive performance proving that understanding maths can be fun!

Meet Danny Carmo – it’s not so long ago that he thought school and, in particular, maths wasn’t for him. He was more interested in dreaming about a future on the stage & perhaps the big screen – all he ever wanted to be was a famous magician! But when he knuckled down to learn all the tricks of the trade he realised that Maths was not only essential…but was the SECRET to a whole load of magic!

‘Danny Carmo’s Mathematical Mysteries’ is a multimedia and educational production featuring the magical world of Danny Carmo. The show will be staged on Saturday 4 June at 11am and 2pm. Tickets are priced just £5 each. 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’s favourite comedienne Nuala McKeever returns to Theatre at The Mill for one night only on Friday 10 June, with a special performance of her black comedy “In the Window” in aid of Northern Ireland Hospice.

Noreen Kennedy, Community Fundraising Manager said: “Northern Ireland Hospice only exists because of the support we receive from local people in the community. I am continuously amazed and encouraged by the generosity and goodwill from local people, businesses and organisations. We are preparing to open your new hospice next week and we need your help to complete the fit-out”.

Nuala McKeever is no stranger to Theatre at The Mill having starred as Mrs Lovett in the opening show Sweeney Todd and returning with smash hits Carol’s Christmas, Eternally Scrooged , Christmas Eve Can Kill You and Tinseltown. Nuala McKeever also starred in Alan Bennett’s A Lady of Letters and Her Big Chance at The Courtyard Theatre.  We are delighted that Nuala is returning to Theatre at The Mill for this special charity performance of In the Window in aid of Northern Ireland Hospice after its success with us at The Courtyard Theatre in 2014.

Nuala delivers a poignant, hilarious, disastrous cocktail that’s to die for, about the resilience of the human heart in the face of …well, just about everything that can go wrong in our crazy modern lives…

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey commented “Northern Ireland Hospice provides an essential service to the whole community and I would ask the public to show their support and get behind this campaign. You are not only getting to experience a great night out at Theatre at The Mill, you are also helping to raise much needed funds for the new Northern Ireland Hospice”.

Popular Maritime Festival is only days away

Ballycastle and Rathlin Island are anticipating over 15,000 visitors to descend upon the coastal locations for a week long maritime themed festival packed awash with family fun, food and sea-going antics.

The Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival, now in its fourth year, is a celebration of Northern Ireland’s rich and diverse maritime history and the unique stretch of water lying between Ballycastle and the magical island of Rathlin.

The festival will run from 27^th May to 5^th June and features a bustling schedule of events perfect for families, local foodies and boating enthusiasts, beginning with a unique boat blessing to open the festival.

From then on the activities are endless! Kids can take a ride on the famous Tall Ship, The Johanna Lucretia. Take part in a pirate-themed Children’s Treasure Hunt, learn about the tales of Vikings and the myths and legends around the Causeway Coast’s famous giant, Finn McCool.

Foodies shouldn’t miss Ulster’s inaugural Chowder Cook Off featuring live cookery demonstrations from none other than Paula McIntyre, and music lovers will want to hear country music sensation Lisa McHugh’s latest tunes.

All of this in addition to racing yachts and fishing trips, powerboats and traditional hand-crafted rowing boats (curraghs) – every pace and taste is catered for over the festival’s busy itinerary.

Caroline Carey, Tourism Development at Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, shared her excitement for this year’s event, saying: “We are delighted to invite visitors back to Rathlin Island and Ballycastle for the fourth year of this superb festival. It is a fantastic mix of culture, entertainment, nature, sport and, of course, seafood.”

This year’s festival has been organised by the Council, Ballycastle Community Development Group, the Rathlin Development & Community Association, and the Ballycastle Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Sponsors include Tourism Northern Ireland, Malin Waters, Rathlin Boat House Partnership, Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd, Marine Hotel Ballycastle, Naturally North Coast & Glens Market and Causeway Coast and Glens Food Network.

For more information on the full Festival programme of activities in Ballycastle and on Rathlin Island, between 27^th May and 5^th June, visit www.rathlinsoundmaritimefestival.com.