Down

Kirkistown Race Circuit will host the New Year Stages Rally this Saturday 17th January. This is a special stage rally, held over six stages at Kirkistown Race Circuit and tickets are available at the gate for £10.  Not to be missed – a great way to get the 2015 motorsport season into gear!

Armagh

Those who know Duke Special for the platinum album ‘Songs From The Deep Forest’ and the hit song ‘Freewheel’ may be surprised by the breadth of his work. His journey so far has seen him taking on projects as diverse as writing the theme tune for the Irish Sesame Street to writing the music for and appearing in Deborah Warner’s critically acclaimed 2009 production of Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children at London’s National Theatre. See Duke Special perform live at the Market Place Theatre this Thursday 15^th January. Tickets are only £15.

Fermanagh

Maguiresbridge Country and Cultural Group presents their Annual Country & Gospel Concert at The Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen on Friday 16th January. With Shaun Loughrey, Tony Kerr, Boxcar Brian, Calum Smyth, Sharon Larkin & Country Harmony. Host and compere for the evening is Gary Wilson. Doors Open 7.30pm, show starts at 8pm and admission is £10.

Tyrone

Paul Currie will be returning to Dalys Comedy Club Omagh on Friday 16th January for a special one off show, performing his hit 2014 Edinburgh Fringe show “Release The Baboons” before taking the show to Australia for The Adelaide Fringe Festival.  You’ll have seen Paul preview this show with us back in the first half of 2014 – now see the full finished article, which received rave reviews and sell out crowds at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe.  Tickets only £5 are available on the door on the night.

Derry

Ballywillan Drama Group have assembled a cast of the area’s leading musical theatre stars and an impressive line-up of dancing talent for their production of  Hairspray at the Riverside Theatre Coleraine that will blow away those mid-winter blues. Performances run from 15th to 31^st January.

Antrim

Metropolis, the 1927 film by Fritz Lang is regarded by many as a Masterpiece. Set in a futuristic urban dystopia and is among the most influential films of all time. (Blade Runner, Star Wars) and is considered the mother of all sci-fi films.  Composer/Pianist, Dmytro Morykit, combines work composed over a 30 year period with several new pieces to create an astonishing new piano score which intensifies and compliments this iconic film bringing it a fresh to modern audiences. See Metropolis Live at the Lagan Valley Island Lisburn on Friday 16^th January. Tickets are £10.

Belfast

Following a sold out tour in 2014, The 2015 Arenacross tour is back at the Odyssey Arena this weekend (Friday and Saturday). Using the UK’s top venues the amazing Arenacross tour will continue to treat fans to that unforgettable show experience with bar banging Pro and Youth racing, and a world class line up of Freestyle MX Riders, to keep you on the edge of your seats.

Getting 2015 off to a crafty start, TOTAL STITCH FEST: The Alternative Craft Show will be returning to the Ramada Plaza Belfast on Sunday 8^th February in a big celebration of all that is handcrafted and unique in Northern Ireland.

It will be the perfect opportunity to get your hands on authentic Irish products, stock up on quality craft supplies for your own creative pursuits, and participate in fun workshops, all while supporting local designers and the Irish handmade movement at the same time.

Brought to you by the creative folks at Frock Around The Clock, TOTAL STITCH FEST brings together a community of designer-makers who lovingly cultivate a burgeoning handmade and DIY culture, and will feature a quality marketplace of over 60 crafters and artisans from all over Ireland who combine new and traditional craft techniques to produce fresh, innovative work not found at mainstream craft shows, as well as sellers of quality and unique craft supplies. There will also be various mini craft demonstrations running throughout the day, some of which will be interactive giving visitors the opportunity to ‘make and take’ a small something away with them. Due to popular demand, the event will also see the return of the Drop-In Workshop area, where visitors of all ages will be able to sit down with the lovely ladies from The Craft Market to learn how to make paper flowers and felted brooches in a fun atmosphere. It is the perfect opportunity to meet the makers in person, and talk about their handmade goods and creative processes.

Crafters and eco-conscious buyers will love to browse the stalls and select quality fabrics, natural & luxury yarns, and vintage textiles from The Textile Studio, I of The Needle, Windmill Fabrics and Vintage & Interiors as well handmade beads from Areto. A superb selection of designer and artisan stalls will also be selling a wide variety of high quality, unique handmade products including clothing and fashion accessories, furniture, home décor & soft furnishings, art & photography, jewellery, gifts, toys, artisan foods, baby and children goods, and much more! Exhibitors will include Modified Heart Designs, specialising in beautiful origami, Crafts by Inga, creator of colourful handmade felt and wearable art, NI Silver, selling bespoke jewellery designs in sterling silver inspired by our wee country, LizzieB, creator of gorgeous handmade soaps, candles, body balms & room scents, Ardmore Cottage Crafts, specialising in handpainted shabby chic style furniture, Rachel Julca Designs, with handmade cushions, aprons, baby blankets & bibs, Strombolitwo, showcasing beautifully designed fashion accessories handcrafted from vintage kimono silks, Bluebird Bakery, purveyors of scrumptious sweet treats and cake accessories, and Alana Doherty Textile Artist, architect of beautiful handcrafted decor & gifts inspired by the artist’s idyllic Irish countryside childhood.

Creative Director Becky Moore says ‘our commitment is to showcase the best and brightest in indie craft and design so TOTAL STITCH FEST is aimed at shoppers who seek unique, niche and handmade products in opposition to mass produced items. We hope to encourage socially-minded consumers to boost the local economy by purchasing unique gifts handcrafted in their own community and by connecting with the people who made them. The event on 8^th February is the perfect opportunity for visitors to find unique Valentine’s gifts for a loved one, find unique décor to brighten up the home for spring, cool fashion accessories, or just have a fun day out participating in the drop-in workshops, all while supporting local business and the Irish handmade movement at the same time.’

TOTAL STITCH FEST: THE ALTERNATIVE CRAFT SHOW will take place from 12-5pm on Sunday 8^th February 2015 at Ramada Plaza, 117 Milltown Road, Shaws Bridge, Belfast BT8 7XP.  Admission costs only £3 for adults and children go free. More information on the event and the exhibitor list can be found at totalstitchfest.com and facebook.com/frockaroundtheclockvintagefairs.

Belfast Telegraph Holiday World, Friday 16 – Sunday 18 January 2015, King’s Hall Pavilions, Belfast

The Australian jungle was just that bit steamier this year, thanks to the presence of handsomely sultry Jake Quickenden – and this week he’ll be making temperatures rise once more as he officially opens the 23rd Belfast Telegraph Holiday World Show at the King’s Hall in Belfast (1.00pm on Friday 16 January).

Good looks, cheeky charm and an endearingly easy-going manner combined to help Jake finish runner-up in the fourteenth series of ITV hit reality show I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!  The  25-year-old , tipped for the top in show biz, is no stranger to reality tv, having made his debut on The X Factor in 2012, when he was edged out of the competition after closely losing out at Judge Nicole Scherzinger’s house.   Not one to give up easily, the determined and driven star decided to re-audition for the 2014 series, and he made it right through to the Live Shows before he set off on his whirlwind Aussie adventure.

This week he’ll be sharing stories of his Australian trip with visitors to the annual Belfast Telegraph Holiday World show which is about to fill the King’s Hall Pavilions with all that’s up and coming for the 2015 travel scene.

Prepare to Unwrap Great Holiday Presence at King’s Hall

The show will bring a dash of globe-trotting excitement to the city over the weekend of Friday 16 – Sunday 18 January, showcasing amazing getaways from close to home and from the four corners of the world as well as providing show-goers with a dazzling array of travel-themed entertainment, competitions, activities and special offers. The Caravan & Motorhome Show will feature the latest models, from modest tourers right up to state of the art luxury, with a chance for show-visitors to step on board to check out the detail, while the Oasis Travel Cruise Pavilion and the Clubworld Honeymoon & Wedding Destinations will help your holiday dreams to come true.

The big names just keep on coming: at the Oasis Travel Cruise Pavilion you’ll find partners including the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Azamara Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Titan Travel, Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Emerald Waterways, P&O Cruises, and Cunard Cruise Line, while major travel sector partners at the Clubworld Pavilion will include Classic Collection Holidays, Eurocamp Travel, Gold Medal Travel, Jet2 Holidays, Topflight Holidays, Travel2 and Turkish Airlines.

With new exhibitors including The Belfast International Airport and tourism bodies for destinations diverse as China, Oklahoma, Kansas, North Cyprus, Andalucia and Antalya joining ‘old friends’ such as New York, United Airlines, Malta, Cyprus, Tunisia and India (doubling its stand size for this year’s show),  there’s a mighty mix at Holiday World.  Variety is clearly central to its ongoing success but, according to organizer Maureen Ledwith, value is also a key theme for the 2015 event.

She says, “Everyone knows that shopping around can really pay off and at Holiday World they can tackle their comparison shopping in a single location and with expert advice immediately available.  Show-goers enjoy the relaxed, friendly atmosphere of Holiday World, and they love the fact that we bring some of the world’s most desirable destinations right here to Belfast, but today most people tend to be hard-headed about holiday bookings and one of the big attractions of the show is the great value they find here, with keen prices, special show promotions and complementary extras to make a holiday break extra-special.”

Great value doesn’t always mean low cost. Many of those who visit Holiday World come in expectation of making a major investment, whether that will be a luxury vacation to celebrate one of life’s landmark occasions or, perhaps, the purchase of a caravan or motorhome.  Maureen Ledwith says, “If you are planning to invest in the holiday of a lifetime or in a motorhome, caravan or holidayhome which you hope will provide a lifetime of vacations for you and your family, then it is really important to find the option that best suits your individual needs.  Checking out the options and spending time talking with the experts can save you considerable sums and can help you to make the right choices.”

The sheer diversity of destinations on offer is a globe-trotters’ dream, but Holiday World will feature an incredible selection of holidays closer to home: some longstanding favourites will be represented but look out for lesser known gems too.  Maureen says, “Our Home Holidays section has been expanded still further for 2015 with some brilliant value breaks and family holiday offers on value in stunning locations.  Whether your ideal home holiday is a relaxing escape, an adventure challenge, a shop-till-you drop citybreak, a cultural odyssey or a family break you may just be surprised at the potential on your own doorstep … or just a hop, skip and a jump away.”

This year’s Holiday World show will pack an extra punch for the over fifties with its new 50+Village – a select group of exhibitors with a particular focus on the needs and interests of an age group which has been gaining in importance and market share in recent years,  as Maureen Ledwith explains.

“Almost a third of the Northern Ireland population is aged 50+.  They are less likely than other age groups to be tied down to working 9-to-5 … they aren’t coping with school or child-minding costs and routines … and they have probably paid off their mortgages … these are the people therefore who are most likely to have extra financial freedom and the time to enjoy life.  Many already take full advantage of off-season travel bargains and we know from all our experiences with Holiday World that travel is important to them.  Now, with our new 50+Village they’ll be able to check out some great offers and deals specially targeting their age and interests, covering leisure and lifestyle as well!”

For everyone at the 2015 show there will be an opportunity to indulge a taste for travel, whenever and wherever you want to go.  From holidays at home to chic citybreaks’ from high end cruises, bespoke long haul tours, deluxe holidays to boutique breakaways … it all starts with a journey to the King’s Hall Pavilions this January.

The Belfast Telegraph Holiday World Show runs in the King’s Hall Pavilions, Belfast from 1pm to 9pm on Friday 16 January and from 11am to 5.30pm on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January 2015. Tickets are £5 for adults; £4 for seniors and £3 for students, and £10 for a family ticket (2 adults and accompanied children).  To find out more about the show and its exhibitors and get in holiday mood visit www.holidayworldshow.com.

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (January 12 – 18).

• African Drumming, Crescent Arts Centre, 2 – 4 University Road, Belfast, until March 25. Suitable for those with some musical and/or drumming experience this event develops your hand drumming techniques on a variety of West African drums. You will be able to perform challenging parts that make up this rich and energetic art form. The fusion of different rhythmic patterns will culminate in a selection of African pieces.

• Ava Vintage and Antiques Fair, Stormont Hotel, Upper Newtownards Rd, Belfast, January 17. Whatever you are looking to collect, buy or sell you will find most dealers at the vintage and antiques fair offering it. A wide range of items are available and you will find some of the great porcelain, furniture, silver, original paintings, vintage clothing, jewellery and vintage accessories here.

• Hairspray, Riverside Theatre, University of Ulster, Coleraine campus, Co Londonderry, January 15 – 31. Ballywillan Drama Group has assembled a cast of the area’s leading musical theatre stars and an impressive line-up of dancing talent. Featuring brand new costumes, special effects, a wonderful and colourful signature set and the amazing on-stage orchestra HAIRSPRAY will blow away those mid-winter blues.

• Duke Special, Market Place Theatre, Market St, Armagh, Co Armagh, January 15. Enjoy platinum album selling artist ‘Duke Special’ at the Market Place Theatre this January. Duke Special’s journey so far has seen him taking on projects as diverse as writing the theme tune for the Irish Sesame Street to writing the music for and appearing in Deborah Warner’s critically acclaimed 2009 production of Bertolt Brecht’s Mother Courage and Her Children at London’s National Theatre.

• The Merry Widow, Theatre at The Mill, Carmoney, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, January 17. The great Renee Fleming stars as the beguiling femme fatale in Lehar’s enchanting operetta. This is an exciting live screening from The Met Opera in New York that is not to be missed.

• A Morning of Relaxation, Tara Centre, Omagh, Co Tyrone, January 17.  Treat yourself to gentle yoga postures, breathing and relaxation techniques as you work towards improved health and wellbeing in 2015.

• Children’s Fun, The Nautilus Centre, Rooney Rd, Kilkeel, Co Down, January 14. Looking for simple fun and effective activities for kids? Then visit The Nautilus Centre for an afternoon of enjoyment where the kids can get to make a range of their very own crafts.

• Cathedral Quarter Out to Lunch Festival 2015, Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, various venues, Belfast, until January 25. This will be Out to Lunch’s 10th wholesome helping of music, comedy, literature and drama, and it boasts a delicious line-up that’s set to banish the post-festive blues with affordable lunchtime performances plus an array of evening shows.

• Dick Whittington, Courtyard Theatre, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, January 14-17. Enjoy the famous story of the adventures of Dick, his cat and their friends as they travel to far off lands and rid the King of Ibiza’s palace of a plague of rats.

• Ulster Orchestra – Music from the Heart, Ulster Hall, Bedford Street, Belfast.  January 14. This concert is a perfect fit for those new to classical and romantic repertoire.  Inon Barnatan gives a pre-concert talk on the Beethoven. Admission to the talk is free.

Please note some of the events require pre-booking.

On Sunday the 25^th January wrap up warm, get your wellie boots on and join us for some ecology fun at the Navan Centre, Armagh.

This particular weekend is National Garden Birdwatch Weekend and is the perfect time to join us as we examine local bird species.  The grounds of Navan is rich with all types of wildlife and we should have some interesting finds.  Get the chance to examine the various aspects of ornithology including eggs, bird’s nests and even taxidermy!

It’s important at this time of year to feed our feathered friends.  Learn how to make bird cakes and a bird table, and be able to put your new found skills into practice at home and watch local bird life use your garden.

This is a FREE event, which runs from 11.00am – 3.00pm, so drop in and enjoy some feathered fun!

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

The Millennium Forum will host a number of world class music events to see in the New Year.

Three of Ireland’s most beloved artists, Sharon Shannon, Frances Black and Mary Coughlan come together for a night of music, songs and stories on Sunday 11^th January.  All three performers have achieved worldwide recognition for their craft and together create a special night that audiences will love, performing some of their greatest hits that have made them household names.

Saturday 17^th January sees the much anticipated return of Homegrown.  Due to the success of the last few Homegrown concerts, the new line-up this year includes Paul Casey & Band, Paddy Nash & The Happy Enchiladas, Best Boy Grip, John Deery & The Heads and special guest, Prima Quartet.

Scottish singer-songwriter, Sandi Thom, makes her debut to the North West’s premier venue on Thursday 29^th January. Over the last six years since Sandi Thom arrived on the scene she has sold in excess of one million albums, been nominated for a Brit award, won a Digital Music Award for her innovation as an artist, won Album Of The Year at the Scottish Music Awards and been given an Ivor Novello award for excellence in songwriting for songs such as I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker With Flowers In My Hair. Her latest release ‘Flesh and Blood’ saw her work with The Black Crowes, Bobby Keys and the legendary, Buffy Sainte-Marie.

The ever-popular, Mary Black, returns on Friday 30^th January with her eagerly awaited Irish Tour to coincide with the launch of her autiobiography, Down The Crooked Road.  This is Mary’s first Irish Tour in four years and she is looking forward to getting back to her local audiences.

To book for any of the above events, contact the Millennium Forum Box Office on 71 264455 or visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk

If your New Year’s Resolution is to take up a new hobby, learn a new skill, or simply get out and meet new friends, then The Market Place Theatre in Armagh is the place to look. With a range of wonderful workshops on offer, it’s never been easier to develop your skills.

Whether your style is gestural, meticulous or yet to be discovered, the ‘Take A Line For A Walk’ drawing workshops offer the opportunity to develop your skills, through a range of tools and techniques. Work from warm-up exercises to observational drawing, exploring light and shade, negative space and variations of scale. Please bring along a sketch book (preferably A2 size), or a role of heavy grade lining wall paper, a putty rubber, a range of pencils from 2B to 6B, and four or five objects that you would like to draw. These workshops take place on Wednesday mornings from 14^th January until 4^th February, 10am to 1pm each day, at a cost of £40 or £36 (concession).

A six week Salsa course aimed at those who would like to learn salsa dancing and other Latin American rhythms will take place on Thursday evenings from 15^th January until 19^th February. Expert dance tutor Deirdre Heagney will give a step-by-step guide through such dances as the Merengue, Cha Cha, Salsa and Bachata. Participation costs £25 for the 6 weeks. Finish the six weeks in style and join us after the final class in the theatre bar & bistro for a salsa social dance off, with the chance to win prizes and show off your new-found dance skills.

In the midst of economic turmoil, why not learn how to save your pennies and revamp your existing clothes instead of having to buy new ones. In the inspirational workshop, ‘Upcycle Your Spring|Summer Wardrobe’, you will learn how to remove and replace the sleeves of a top, use bleach and fabric paints to give an old top a new life, and how to give a plain top a designer touch by adding fabric, buttons and ribbons etc. You will need to bring old tops with you and also fabric or old garments that you can cut up to add to your upcycled top. If you have buttons and ribbons or other decorative materials bring them along too! This workshop takes place on Saturday 17^th January from 10am to 4pm. Participation costs £18 or £15 (concession).

‘Hone Your Writing Skills’ is a one day Creative Writing Course suitable for absolute beginners or the more experienced wishing to hone their skills in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The day will include hints and exercises and games to help you create characters, generate ideas for stories, and tips on how to recognise and eliminate overwriting. Tutor John McAllister is a novelist, poet and short story writer. His latest novel The Station Sergeant was made a book of the week by the New York Journal of Books. This workshop will take place on Saturday 24^th January from 10am to 4pm. Participation costs £16 or £14 (concession).

Tickets for all workshops can be booked 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.

The Theatre at The Mill’s highly successful ‘In Conversation …’ series continues with a visit to The Courtyard Theatre from BBC Antique Roadshow specialist Marc Allum.

Marc will talk about his new annual almanac revealing intriguing nuggets such as What Lee Harvey Oswald’s wedding ring sold for: how much the World’s most expensive printed book cost per word; through to why someone was prepared to pay over £3 million for the miniature effigy of a dashing bodyguard.

Allum’s irreverent and anecdotal style will provide audience members with a unique insight into a world fuelled by history, avarice and passion.

With tickets priced at just £6 this is the perfect evening for all those who have a passion for everything antique…

For further information or to make a booking, visit our website www.thecourtyardtheatre.com or contact the Box Office on 028 9034 0202

The countdown is officially on for Northern Ireland’s biggest ever event, The Tall Ships Races 2015 organised by Sail Training International.

In six months time, an array of magnificent vessels from across the globe will come to Belfast for the first leg of The Tall Ships Races – another ‘big start’ for the city and from 2 to 5 July 2015, the Lidl Belfast Titanic Maritime Festival will welcome this global armada as it fills the Belfast Harbour alongside international markets, live music and fun fairs.

This amazing spectacle on both land and sea will ensure the thousands of international crew will have an incredible time before they embark on their journey towards Ålesund in Norway.

Belfast last welcomed the Tall Ships Races in 2009 and with 39 registered ships (including 14 Class As), plus expressions of interest from many others at this early stage, The Tall Ships Races 2015 is well on target for being a bigger and better spectacle!

The visiting vessels are from Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Organisers are also hoping to see some South American ships in the line-up soon as well.

The Netherlands’ Gulden Leeuw joined us for the 2014 Maritime Festival and is set to return for The Tall Ships Races. Captain Robert Postuma said they’re excited about their trip:

“We’ve entered the Gulden Leeuw for the Tall Ships Races 2015 and are very much looking forward to visiting Belfast again.

“Last year we enjoyed our stay in Belfast where we met friendly people and daring sailors! We look forward to meeting up again!”

Commenting on their forthcoming visit, Captain Chris Blake, from the UK’s Pelican of London ship, said that his crew are equally enthusiastic:

“The trainees and ship’s crew of Pelican of London are looking forward to returning to Belfast as we take part in the Tall Ships Races in 2015. Belfast has always looked after us well and made us all feel very welcome.”

The Tall Ships Races will be a fantastic finale for a summer of world class events including the Irish Open Golf in May and the Giro d’Italia’s legacy race, the Gran Fondo Giro in June.

For more information go to www.tallshipsbelfast.com or follow Tall Ships on Facebook @tallshipsbelfast or Twitter @tallships2015.

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (December 29 – January 4).

• I Heart NYE, MAC, 10 Exchange Street West, Belfast, December 31. See in the first of January at the spectacular MAC New Year’s Eve party. Expect lots of dancing and fantastic music by the live house band as you ring in the New Year in serious style in the heart of Belfast.

• Oasis Tribute Band, The Anchor Bar, Bryansford Road, Newcastle, Co Down, December 29. Enjoy popular Oasis tribute band `Roll with It’ and rock out to the iconic songs, big sounds and unforgettable swagger of the greatest band of the 90’s.

• New Year’s Day Miniature Train Rides, Drumawhey Junction Railway, Donaghadee, Co Down, January 1. Start the New Year with a visit to the miniature railway at Drumawhey Junction.  The railway has an interesting track plan incorporating both a tunnel and a lattice steel bridge as well as locomotives, carriages and buildings for the pleasure of the general public.

• Corick House & Spa New Year’s Eve Masquerade and Ball, Clogher, Co Tyrone, December 26. Get all dressed up for a splendid night out and don’t forget your mask!  Prepare to see the old year out and welcome in the new one as you enjoy a sumptuous five course meal and entertainment courtesy of The Brokers and the Clogher Pipe Band will pipe in the New Year.

• Acoustic Picnic, Oh Yeah Music Centre, Cathedral Quarter, Belfast, January 3.  Head to the Oh Yeah Music Centre with the family and listen to some great live music over a picnic style lunch.  All ages are welcome and this year there will be the addition of some giant board games for families and groups of friends to enjoy.

• Legenderry On Ice, Ebrington Square, Co Londonderry, on selected dates until January 19. Grab your woolly hat and scarves and take part in a fantastic ice skating experience that is back again once more with an even bigger and better ice rink.  A skating experience can be enjoyed by everybody, all skating levels and ages and there are special rates for schools, clubs, companies and social clubs.

• The High Kings, Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, December 29. Four renowned vocalists and musicians have come together to create an exciting Irish ballad group that has had sell out tours in Ireland and in the US. Let The High Kings entertain you by doing what they do best; bring rousing acoustic flavour to brand new songs as well as some old favourites.

• Jake O’Kane’s ‘Tongue Lashing’, Island Arts Centre, Lisburn, Co Antrim, December 29. Jake O’Kane, star of BBC NI’s hit show ‘The Blame Game’, returns with his brand new show, ‘Tongue-Lashing’. Following the successes of his earlier ‘Teargas’ and ‘Mouthful’ tours, Jake is back with a ferociously irreverent review of Northern Ireland in 2014.

• Titanic Run, Titanic Dock, Belfast, January 1. Start the New Year off on a healthy foot and join in on the 2015 Titanic Run. It is all about taking the New Year by the horns and making a difference so why not register for the 5K or 10K run and Fun Run for the kids round Titanic Dock.

• Winterland Express, W5 at Odyssey, Belfast, selected dates until January 4. This Christmas take a mystical trip on the Winterland Express – the magical miniature train ride and travel through the enchanted forest into the icy cavern to emerge in the courtyard of Winterland Castle, the home of the Ice Queen, where a few surprises await!

Please note some of the events require pre-booking.