On Sunday 26^th April come along and enjoy a FREE ecology event at the Navan Centre & Fort, Armagh.

From 11.00am – 3.00pm join with local wildlife expert Debbie Doolittle and the education team from the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre as they take you on a tour of our marvellous mammals.

Enjoy displays detailing some of the amazing mammals we have in this country, even see some examples of the finest taxidermy.

Take a guided walks around Navan site where we will be investigating the tracks left behind by some of these mammals.  The tracks will give us a great insight into what is actually living around Navan.  Using these tracks and footprints make your very own mammal cast to take home.

Ideas on how to help local native mammals by turning your garden into a mammal friendly habitat.  A fabulous, free, event for all the family.

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

Upcoming events over the next three weekends:

Sat 18 April to Fri 24 April

Saturday 18 & Sunday 19 April, Family Fun at Cockle Row Cottages

Groomsport Harbour

Free entertainment, 2pm-4pm.

Sat 18: Party Animals NI

Sun 19: Bricks4Kidz Lego Workshop, Science Show: ‘Cooking Chemistry’

Cottages open to the public 11am-5pm. Free admission

Info: Bangor Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9127 0069, tic@northdown.gov.uk, northdowntourism.com

Sat 25 April to Fri 1 May

Saturday 25 April

Dawn Chorus Walk, Castle Park in Bangor

Free, pre-booking essential. Starts 5am.

Join bird expert Dot Blakely as the sun comes up over Bangor, for an early morning master class in how to recognise the songs of the dawn chorus.

Dot’s tour will also take in the natural habitats of the birds and animals who live in the park.

Bangor Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9127 0069

Ards Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9182 6846

Book online

Saturday 25 April, Meet the Maker: ‘the Beauty of Clay – Get your hands dirty’

Ards Crafts, Craft & Design Centre, 31 Regent Street in Newtownards

Tickets: £12 inc materials; Age 18+. Limtied numbers, pre-booking essential.

10.30am – 12.30pm

A ceramics workshop with Ellen Cunningham & Ashleigh Collim

Info and booking: Tel: (028) 9182 6846

Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 April, Family Fun at Cockle Row Cottages

Groomsport Harbour

Free entertainment, 2pm-4pm.

Sat 25: Jumping Clay, Children’s Crafts

Sun 26: Casey’s Creatures, Face Painting

Cottages open to the public 11am-5pm. Free admission

Info: Bangor Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9127 0069, tic@northdown.gov.uk, northdowntourism.com

Friday 1 May, Friday Night Live – Sarah McQuaid

Ards Arts Centre, Newtownards

Ticket Price: £8 in advance*, £10 at  the door  (*booking fee applies)

Doors Open at 7.30pm, starts at 8pm

A return visit from Sarah who will seduce her audience with cheeky banter and stories from the road as well as her stunning music.

She spans the genres with both beautiful crafted originals and material from around the globe. Bring your own bottle.

Box Office: 028 9181 0803, Book online

April – November

Experience Ards and North Down Tours – Tickets on sale now!

Info and to book:

Bangor Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9127 0069

Ards Visitor Information Centre, (028) 9182 6846

Book online

Download the brochure here

Exhibitions

Ards Crafts &Visitor Information Centre

31 Regent Street, Newtownards BT23 4AD

T: 028 9182 6846. Admission Free

Saturday 4 – Saturday 25 April

‘Mount Stewart’

National Trust Exhibition charting the restoration of Mount Stewart House

Saturday 2 – Saturday 30 May

Meet the Maker: ‘Green Wood Works’

Green Woodworker Alexey Janes

North Down Museum, Bangor

Castle Park Avenue, located by Bangor Castle (Town Hall) BT20 4BT

T: 028 9127 1200. Admission Free

Tuesday 31 March – Thursday 30 April

Paintings: U3A Art Groups

Saturday 2 – Sunday 31 May

Historical Storyboard: Mining Heritage

Until Sunday 17 May

Exhibit: En-gauge with the past, history of the railway

Friday 1 May – Thursday 28 May

The Great War: Through the words of the County Down Spectator & Newtownards Chronicle

Portaferry Visitor Information Centre

The Stables, Castle Street BT22 1NZ

T: 028 4272 9882. Admission Free

Saturday 2 – Saturday 30 May

Art in the Loft: ‘Follow the Thread – From Ewe to You’ Fibre art by the Ulster Guild of Spinners, Weavers & Dyers

Down

Frock Around The Clock will be returning to Bangor for the ‘Spring Into Summer’ Vintage & Handmade Fair at Clandeboye Lodge on Sunday 19th April from 12-5pm, featuring 50 stalls of vintage, handcrafted & upcycled fashion, furniture, homewares and collectibles, textiles and decor, jewellery, sweet treats, toys, art, craft, gifts, artisan food, children & baby wear & much more!

Armagh

For the first time ever, the much loved Fairy-tale Golidlocks and the Three Bears comes to the stage at the Navan Fort Centre this Sunday 19th April in an unforgettable live stage production of song and laughter.  Goldilocks and the Three bears and Ruff The dog perform live on stage in this exciting and fun filled musical production. The popular tale takes a few twists and turn along the way with other new puppet characters and hopefully a happy ever after. Kids will learn that music can be found everywhere as they sing and dance to all their favourite songs.

Fermanagh

Gary McEvoy has been performing his Garth Brooks show for almost 20 years and this Saturday brings the Garth Brooks Experience to the Ardhowen Theatre. Gary is a natural performer who loves to involve his audience in his high energy show featuring hits such as ‘The River’, ‘That Summer’ and ‘Friends in Low Places’. If you’re a Garth Brooks fan or just love good ole country music then don’t miss this show.

Tyrone

Cobbler’s Cottage Creggan are having Open days this weekend, Friday to Saturday 11.00 am to 3.00pm.  “Come for a Cuppa” and view this 4* newly renovated 200 year old cosy, traditional Irish self-catering cottage. All donations are going to local charities.

Derry

This Friday evening at 8.00pm Echo Echo ensemble artists Esther Alleyne, Tonya Sheina, Janie Doherty, Kelly Quigley and Zoe Ramsey present an evening of five short solos. Each performer has devised an independent original work based on their current personal artistic interests. The approaches will be varied ranging from set rehearsed material to improvised score. Echo Echo warmly invite you to join them for this evening of diverse performances at their home studios on Magazine Street Derry.

Antrim

They’ve skewered history, the Bible and the world’s most celebrated playwright, now the Reduced Shakespeare Company tackles the subject it was born to reduce at Newtownabbey’s Theatre at the Mill this Thursday 16^th April.   Following a hugely successful, critically acclaimed season at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2014 the Reduced Shakespeare Company will set out to reduce the UK to tears of laughter in Spring 2015.  Tickets to The Complete History of Comedy (abridged) are far more affordable than tickets to an amusement park, but you’ll come away with the same feeling of nausea and motion sickness. From the high-brow to the low and everything in-between, the bad boys of abridgment leave no joke untold as they deconstruct the entire history of comedy in 90 rollicking minutes.

Belfast

Lally the Scut, a new play by the critically acclaimed Northern Ireland playwright Abbie Spallen and featuring a cast of 12 well known faces from Northern Ireland stage and screen, will premiere at the MAC this April.  A co-production by Tinderbox Theatre Company and the MAC, Lally the Scut is an unflinching satire that promises to be unmissable and opens tonight at the Mac Belfast.

Add your events free at www.whatsonni.com. Follow us on twitter @whatsonNI and on facebook at fb.com/www.whatsonni.com for news, competitions and what’s on near you.

The Odyssey Trust, owners of the Odyssey Arena, home of the Belfast Giants, has announced that four top universities from the prestigious National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) will play in The Friendship Four, Belfast’s first major college ice hockey tournament, over Thanksgiving weekend (Friday November 27^th and Saturday 28^th November 2015).

This will be a world first for the NCAA as it is the first time the league has taken to the ice to play competitive games outside the USA. The four-team tournament is expected to draw large numbers of spectators from across Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, GB and America.

UMass Lowell, Northeastern University, Brown University and Colgate University have all agreed to play for the Belpot Trophy in Belfast’s Odyssey Arena. Each team competes in the NCAA division 1, the top level of university ice hockey in the United States.

To complete a bumper weekend of hockey, there will also be Elite League matches on the Saturday and Sunday involving the Belfast Giants.

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Arder Carson, is undertaking his first civic visit to Belfast’s Sister City of Boston this weekend, to officially announce details of the major sporting event alongside the Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh. During his trip to Boston the Lord Mayor will meet with a number of key influencers to help promote Belfast and its Sister Cities link with Boston on the international stage.

“The Sister City agreement which we signed with Boston last May is designed to foster stronger economic development, trade and investment, tourism, youth, cultural, faith based exchange and educational linkages between our two cities,” explained the Lord Mayor.
“Bringing this prestigious tournament to Belfast is one of the first substantive results of the agreement, and we are delighted that, even before the first puck has been hit, there already is a commitment to play it here for a further four years.  It is our hope that the success of this tournament will help stimulate further exchanges, especially in terms of trade missions and educational links. Bringing this tournament to Belfast will be a great boost to our economy. The global media coverage this will attract is likely to bring a very positive off-spin for Belfast too.”

Speaking at the launch of The Friendship Four in Boston, Eric Porter, Chairman of the Odyssey Trust, said: “Ice hockey is a cross community sport in Belfast and this is one of the main reasons the Belfast Giants have been able to have success over the past 15 years. The Friendship Four will be the first time that teams at this standard of ice hockey will play in Belfast and we expect our fans to be very excited about seeing it at their home arena. It is an opportunity to give back to the communities that have supported us over the years and we truly want to make this an event that is open to all.”

“The NCAA offers a highly sought after scholarship system for student athletes which is something we would like to introduce in Belfast. It presents a valuable opportunity to students who may not otherwise have the option to be educated to university level. With the recent Boston-Belfast sister city announcement, we would like this game to be used as a bridge to tie these two great cities at the post-secondary education level.”

Mayor Martin J. Walsh said: “During my time in Ireland, I saw first-hand how sports, and hockey in particular, play an incredible role in bridging communities. I am thrilled to announce the first tournament for the Belpot Trophy this fall. I would like to thank former Mayor of Belfast Máirtín Ó Muilleoir for his original partnership in this ambitious exchange and his continued hospitality towards Boston and Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Arder Carson, and the Belfast City Council for their commitment to making this tournament become a reality.”

Legendary Monty Python star comes to Belfast for one night only

Waterfront: Friday 30^th October 2015

Join Michael Palin for a flying visit to three momentous decades of his life

*Tickets go on sale this Friday, 17^th April*

Tickets for Belfast Waterfront are available:

In person at the Waterfront Box Office

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

In person: From 100 Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide
By Telephone (24 Hour): Northern Ireland – 0844 277 44 55
Book On Line: www.ticketmaster.ie

Following the success of his landmark tour in 2014 and to celebrate three decades of diaries, Michael Palin will mark the paperback publication of the final volume with a brand new show at 14 Belfast’s Waterfront on Friday 30^th October.

The Thirty Years Tour will see Michael use his diaries to tell the story of a life lived in the public eye from the end of the 1960’s when his first child and a new television show called Monty Python’s Flying Circus both took their first faltering steps.

Monty Python catapulted him into a career which went on to produce not just the legendary films of the Python team, but also Ripping Yarns, railway journeys, feature films like Time Bandits, Brazil, A Private Function and A Fish Called Wanda, a BAFTA-nominated performance in the series GBH, as well as novels, plays, and three of the most successful travel series ever made.

In this two part stage show Michael brings to life thirty extraordinary years, trawling through a stock of rarely told stories, ranging from fighting to defend Monty Python in a US courthouse, the Ripping Yarn that never got made, Python’s American groupies and what it’s like filming with your own children.

He also talks about the glimpses of his personal life, so painstakingly committed to the diary each morning. The joy of friendships, the loss of loved ones, the pressures of absence on his family and how to deal with a roller-coaster ride of success and failure.

And the show reflects not just his own life, but the life of the country in which he was born and brought up as it hurtles towards the Millennium driven by a technological revolution. From the Beatles last concert to the birth of the Euro, Palin witnesses the breathless speed of change.

Profusely illustrated with film and video from all his various activities, The Thirty Years Tour is an autobiography, live on stage.

Exclusive 10% discount for whatsonni.com readers to New Show Little Sure Shot at the Mac

The MAC is Belfast’s family friendly arts venue.  Recently voted best theatre in NI by Netmums, children (and parents too) love it. We can see why – there’s an amazing free Family Room, family theatre shows, free storytime and lots of creative workshops.  Most weekends, there’s something happening for all ages.

This May, the MAC invites families to dust off their Stetsons and mosey on down for a Wild West action adventure. Inspired by a true story, the MAC’s fabulous new family show Little Sure Shot tells the story of Annie Oakley and how she became the most famous cowgirl in the Wild West.  Expect death-defying shoot outs, live country & western and enough theatrical flair to make everyone shout ‘yeehaw’.

The MAC is exclusively offering whatsonni.com users a 10% discount on this brand new show by quoting WHATSONNI when booking.

Little Sure Shot runs from 5-10 May. Book now at themaclive.com (children £10, adults from £12)

“The MAC isn’t a place for silence. We enjoy hearing children laugh and run around exploring our wonderful building. If your little one has yet to see our indoor rainbow then I highly recommend a visit.” (Anne McReynolds, MAC Chief Executive).

Book your tickets now HERE

Verdi: La Traviata
Belfast Waterfront
Tuesday 14 April: 7.30pm

Introduce your friends to this magnificent opera
and enjoy £10 off each ticket!

The North Armagh Motorcycle & Car Club Ltd are pleased to confirm that entries have reached over 300 for the 2015 Around-A-Pound Tandragee 100 on 1^st and 2^nd May 2015!

We are also delighted to announce that Traynors Motorstore have returned as a sponsor this year.  Traynors Motorstore has grown to be one of the premier vehicle dismantler and motor factors throughout the UK & Ireland with stores in Armagh, Belfast and Grantham.  Their customers rate them highly as being a “great place for parts, a very helpful bunch” and as having an “A star service”.

We are also very pleased to reveal that Sean Halliday, originally from Northern Ireland who now lives in San Diego, California, has also kindly donated the prize money for the Fastest Lap of the Day.

In addition to some of the stars you can expect to see at the Tandragee 100 National Road Races on Friday 1^st and Saturday 2^nd May 2015 such as Ryan Farquhar, Keith Amor, and Jamie Hamilton, entries so far also include a strong contingent of over 30 competitors from the South of Ireland including Micko Sweeney, James Kelly, Thomas Maxwell, Neil Lyons, Donal Curtin, David Lumsden, Richard McLoughlin, Aron Hatch, Brendan Merrigan, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Shane Egan, Seanie Smith, Damian Horan, Alan Bonner, Sean Leonard, Mick Jordan, Donnachadh Healy, Colin Bowles, Niall Power, Mark Shiels and Andy Farrell, etc.

There is also plenty of interest from further afield such as Billy Redmayne and Chris McGahon from the Isle of Man, Dario Cecconi from Italy, Eric Goedhart from Dubai and Fabrice Faivre from France as well as more local \regulars Davy Morgan, Sam Dunlop, Sam Wilson, Seamus Elliott, Paul Robinson, Stephen ‘Cargo’ Carr, Denis Booth, Nigel Moore, Sarah Boyes and her Dad Stephen Boyes, Yvonne Montgomery, Ian Morrell, Freddie Stewart, Barry Davidson, Philip Shaw, Club Members Robert Cairns, Malcolm Love, William McElroy, Stephen Davison, Anthony McColgan, Gary Hutton and Joe Lockhart, etc.

Entries close on Friday 3^rd April 2015 so there is still time to get on board – there is room particularly in the Classic classes – further details online via www.tandragee100.co.uk or via our Facebook page.

The Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre in Armagh is looking for young people aged 10 to 25 to take part in their Summer 2015 extravaganza, ‘The Wizard Of Oz’.

This summer, follow the yellow brick road over the rainbow and into The Market Place Theatre as you grab this opportunity to join the cast of our youth production of the timeless classic, ‘The Wizard Of Oz’. Click your heels together and join Scarecrow, Tin Man, Dorothy and, of course, the Cowardly Lion, as they journey through the magical land of Oz to meet the Wizard and obtain their heart’s desires. Watch out for the Wicked Witch of the West as you rediscover the real story of Oz.

Auditions for ‘The Wizard Of Oz’ will take place on Saturday 16^th May. Auditions are now open for booking through the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.marketplacearmagh.com. All auditionees must be available throughout the period from Monday 20^th July until Saturday 22^nd August inclusive for rehearsals, should they be successful. Auditionees should wear loose clothing, trainers & bring a bottle of water. All auditionees should be prepared to act, dance & sing. You do not have to have experience to audition and auditions are completely free, although participation in ‘The Wizard of Oz’ for successful candidates will be £100 for the five-week period. There will be some free places for people/families in receipt of state benefit. Performances will take place from Tuesday 18^th until Saturday 22^nd August.

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.

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland this week (April 13 – 19).

• A Taste of Titanic, Titanic Belfast, Queen’s Road, April 17. Taste your way through the story of RMS Titanic with Titanic Belfast’s signature 2 hour food tasting tour, the ultimate combination of culture, history, food and fun! Enjoy a guided journey through the Titanic Galleries and learn about the fascinating story of the world’s most famous ship as you sample culinary delights from the era. Tours will run at 6.30pm, 7.30pm or 8.30pm.

• Family Fun at Cockle Row Cottages, Groomsport Harbour, Co Down, April 11- September 6. Weekly Weekend entertainment for children and adults alike, from face painting to animal road shows, children’s crafts to science shows and much more! All free! From 2-4pm.

• The Great Gatsby, Riverside Theatre, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry, April 15 and 16. The Great Gatsby follows Jay Gatsby, a man who orders his life around one desire: to be reunited with Daisy Buchanan, the love he lost five years earlier. Published in 1925, The Great Gatsby is a classic piece of American fiction. It is a tale of triumph and tragedy, noted for the remarkable way Fitzgerald captured a cross-section of American society. From 8pm.

• Réalta, The Alley Arts and Conference Centre, Strabane, Co Tyrone, April 18. Described by Irish Music Magazine as ‘a full bodied pipe and whistle extravaganza’, Réalta carry on the Bothy Band tradition of taking tunes by the scruff of the neck and firing excitement through them like hot flames. The musical rapport between these musicians makes for an unforgettable performance! From 8pm.

• Paws in the Park, Castle Coole, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, April 18. Dogs are always welcome at Castle Coole but especially on April 18. Join our dog walk, enter your pooch in our pet dog show, and pick up some behaviour techniques and grooming tips. From 11am-5pm.

• The Rock ‘n’ Roll Years, Market Place Theatre, Market Street, Armagh, Co Armagh, April 18. From the producers of ‘Do You Come Here Often’ comes a great new show. Relive all the memories of a decade that saw the birth of pop, from the ballads of Ruby Murray, Perry Como and Dean Martin to the early rock’n’roll of Buddy Holly, Brenda Lee and Bill Hailey. Starring Clubsound, Jackie Fullerton, Trevor Kelly and many more. From 8pm.

• Roller Disco, Courtyard Theatre, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, April 17. Whip out your spandex and leg warmers for a fun-packed night. Complete with the best seventies hits, funky music and retro appeal, Roller Disco is the hotspot for clubbing on wheels. So whether you’re a pro skater, an absolute beginner, or simply looking to put a different spin on a good time head down to The Courtyard Theatre for an unforgettable night of disco inferno. From 7pm.

• Genealogy Workshops, Glór Uachtar Tíre, Castlewellan, Co Down, April 15 – May 27. Looking for your Ancestors? Anita Gallagher will co-ordinate a series of seven genealogy workshops. Do you want to trace your family tree, look for the history of your farm, of your people in a townland/town, or find lost relatives? Well here is your chance! The workshops will be run in Irish and suitable for those with intermediate level or above, and will take place on Wednesdays between 7.00pm-8.30pm.

• Boots N’ Bogs Walking Festival, Sliabh Beagh Hotel and Coonian Community Centre, Co Fermanagh, April 16-19. Enjoy a two-day walking festival in the Sliabh Beagh Hills of North Monaghan and East Fermanagh. There are a variety of walks as part of this festival including routes through the lush green landscape, forests and exploratory rambles of the bogs of Sliagh Beagh Hills. Here you will find one of the finest examples of a blanket bog in Ireland. Registration on April 18 at 10.30-11.00am at Slaibh Beagh Hotel, Knockatallon and April 19 at 12.30pm at Coonian Community Centre.

• Spring Fair, Barnett Demesne, Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast, April 18 and 19. Enjoy a weekend of family fun with activities on an environmental theme. There will be flowers, animals, birds, entertainment and activities.

Please note some of the events require pre-booking.