The Bar & Bistro at The Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre in Armagh is re-opening on 4^th July under new management with new menus, opening times and a new service for customers.

The simply entitled ‘Market Place Theatre Bar & Bistro’ encompasses theatre coffee shop, lunches, bistro meals, pre-theatre dinners, full bar service, weekend entertainment and facilities for meetings and conferences.

NEW OPENING HOURS

Coffee Shop: 10am to 4pm Mon to Sat. Lunches served 11.30am to 3pm

Bistro: Open For Evening Meals Thurs – Sat 4pm to 9pm | Pre-Theatre Meals Available Show Nights 5pm – 9pm. Booking essential

Bar: Thurs – Sat 4pm to 1am with live music on Saturday evenings | Other Show Nights: 6pm to late

NEW MENUS

The Bistro has extensive new menus including sandwiches, soups, meals and desserts for lunches, a pre-theatre dinner menu, extensive wines and spirits and special offers relating to shows including themed evenings, drinks promotions and entertainment.

SPECIAL OPENING OFFERS

•           Special opening offer to the Public, Lunch Time Free Dessert with every main course

item until 26th July

•           Evening Offer Free Glass of Wine OR Soft Drink with every meal to 26th July

As part of the Bistro opening, The Market Place Theatre is running a children’s craft session on Saturday 5 and Saturday 19 July, 2 to 3.30pm. They will take place in the theatre foyer, allowing you to relax and enjoy your lunch as the little ones are kept busy at the craft session. FREE to all, for ages 3 and up, sessions will include a toy making activity.

ALL BOOKINGS AND ENQUIRIES

Contact Stacey on 02837 521828 or 07803 029255 | stacey.heslip@ocs.co.uk

Central Booking: Contact Gemma on 02890 360723 | gemma.parker@ocs.co.uk

And to keep up-to-date with the latest at the NEW bar and bistro 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 as well as www.marketplacearmagh.com/food-and-drink

Two volunteers for the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland have been telling their remarkable story of discussing steam trains with the Queen during her recent visit to Northern Ireland and how she took an interest in their hobby in the 50^th anniversary year of the Society.

Mark and Ruth Walsh, from Belfast, returned to Northern Ireland from their honeymoon the day before the Royal garden party at Hillsborough Castle.  Jet lag didn’t prevent them from attending and whilst waiting in a queue for food they were approached by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Belfast and asked if they would like to meet the Queen.

Ruth explained “It was quite a surprise!  We were grouped together and the Queen took time to talk to every one of us.  It was remarkable how intrigued she was with everyone’s stories.  I explained to her that we operate steam trains for the public but on the main railway lines of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, just like steam trains were more than 50 years ago.  She was very interested and commented that she thought children would love the noise and sight of a steam train.”

The Queen moved on to speak to Mark and was keen to know if he drove the locomotives.  Mark said “I explained to her what the volunteers do at our County Antrim base at Whitehead to restore the trains for everyone to enjoy and I was really pleased that she said ‘steam trains are so much nicer than modern diesel trains’”!

The Railway Preservation Society of Ireland is celebrating 50 years since it’s foundation in 1964.  Since then the group have built workshops and a base in Whitehead and in Dublin and operate steam trains from both places all over Ireland, North and South.  Mark commented “we have just put tickets on sale for our Portrush Flyer trains from Belfast-Portrush in the summer and I was hoping to ask Prince Philip if he would like to join us for a day out and a poke, but sadly we ran out of time before I got to speak to him”!

Tickets for the “Portrush Flyer” steam trains are on sale now.  Operating on Sundays 27^th July, 10^th, 31^st August and 14^th September, they cost £22 for Adults and £15 for Children and offer a full day excursion by steam train from Belfast to Portrush and back, with plenty of time at Portrush to take in the sights and dip a toes in the water.  The train is hauled by mighty steam locomotive “Merlin” and is complete with a Dining Carriage serving hot and cold drinks, snacks and a full bar.

Tickets are on sale from Belfast Welcome Centre (Tel: +44 28 9024 6609) or online from www.steamtrainsireland.com

As part of the Giro D ’Italia Big Start Celebrations, 20 fabulous bicycle sculptures were decorated by some of Larne Borough’s finest artists. These went on display in locations across Larne Borough from May-June 2014 to create a bicycle art trail.

The identical sculptures were individually designed and decorated in a wide range of styles, by a wide range of talented artists, local schools, groups and members of the public. The Sculptures were kindly sponsored by Larne Harbour, Caterpillar Northern Ireland, Stealth Translations and Renewable Energy Systems, Larne.

Larne artists Jon Lashford, Miguel Neves, Brendan McAfee, Dawn Aston, Iain Baldwin, Geraldine Connon, Margaret Matthews, Lauren Osborne, Bernie McAllister and Robert Craig as well as pupils from Larne Grammar and Roddensvale School all helped create these beautiful displays.

On Wednesday 2nd July there will be an auction of the Giro D ‘Italia Bicycle Sculptures, along with lamp post banners and flags produced for the  12 Days of Pink, Larne Giro d ’Italia Celebrations. All monies raised will go to Oxfam the official charity of the Giro D ‘Italia. The auction will take place at 7pm at Larne Market Yard. Viewing and registration will take place from 6pm.

The catalogue for the auction can be viewed here : http://www.larne.gov.uk/uploads/docs/1695_giro%20auction%20catalogue.pdf

The Lyric Theatre is proud to host a unique opportunity to spend some time in the presence of Ireland’s legendary broadcaster Mr Gay Byrne, as he reminisces about his life and times in a live performance on Tues 21^st October at 7.45pm as part of the 2014 Ulster Bank Festival at Queens.

The show, giving its first ever Northern Ireland performance, premiered in Dublin in 2011 will be performed at the Lyric Theatre as part of a short Irish tour and is an exclusive opportunity to enjoy Gay Byrne at his best in a live performance telling some of the greatest show-biz stories never told in an hilarious evening’s entertainment, described as “a masterclass in comedy”.

In his five decade broadcasting career, Gay Byrne  helped steer Ireland through its difficult formative years in the 70s and 80s on both his RTÉ morning radio show and the world record setting run of  the Late Late Show (from 1962 to 1999) he introduced Ireland to modernity – and stood back to witness the brawl.

From senior politicians to senior clergy to the brightest stars in the Hollywood firmament, he has been a confessor figure to the good, the bad and the ugly. At 79, he’s now in happy semi-retirement but during his exhilarating two hour plus show, he talks about all the extraordinary moments he has witnessed or been at the centre of. From secondhand Donegal tombstones to US president Calvin Coolidge to first meeting Kathleen Watkins on Dawson Street, he covers an array of the insightful, the intuitive and the ingenious.

Don’t miss this chance to hear the behind-the-scenes stories of the stars and the star-makers with Ireland’s foremost legendary broadcaster in his first solo stage show. Produced by John McColgan.

Tickets priced £20.00 are now on sale for this unique show with the king of broadcasting – Gay Byrne, Live on Stage on Tuesday 21^st October are available from The Lyric Theatre Box Office, online: www.lyrictheatre.co.uk and Tel: 028 9038 1081

“Superb…exhilarating…ingenious…a thoroughly enjoyable evening.” The Irish Times

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland over the next week (July 7 – 13).

• A Summer of Archaeology, Ulster Museum, Belfast, until August 31. Indulge in a summer of archaeology and discover the history through the eyes of this year’s theme, the Georgians with a series of interactive activities for all the family.

• The Possibilities of Here and Now, Waterfront Hall, Belfast, until July31. An exhibition showcasing the very best of painting, drawing, printmaking, lens and sculpture work in Fine Art of recent graduates from Belfast School of Art.

• Week on the Wildside, Murlough Nature Reserve, Dundrum, Co. Down, July 7-11. A great day out for the family with a range of educational outdoor activities for kids with areas including bugs and bees, archaeology and butterflies.

• Pipe Band Tattoo, The Square, Markethill, Co. Armagh, July 8. Pipe Bands from across County Armagh along with drum majors and dancers will host an evening of music, dance and skill which will thoroughly entertain.

• The Lonesome West, Ardhowen Theatre, Fermanagh, Co. Fermanagh, July 9. A hilarious, savagely funny and dark comedy tells the story of two brothers living alone in their father’s house who find it impossible to exist without constant bickering.

• Lady of the Lake Festival, various, Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh, July 11-20. A host of family friendly events are scheduled throughout the festival including an opening ceremony, fishing competitions, donkey derby, music and drama, train rides and much more.

• Pirate Day, Castle Ward, Strangford, Co. Down, July 12.  Come dressed in a pirate costume as Buccaneer Scurvy Dog takes you on an adventure to the pirate’s cellar where you can meet and sing with the pirates as well as enjoy a picnic and scrub the decks with Skinny Jim.

• Music Sundays, Mussenden Temple, Castlerock, Co. Londonderry, July 13. Enjoy a relaxing Sunday afternoon at Downhill Demesne, listening to the wonderful sounds of a harpist playing in the historic Mussenden Temple.

• Dalriada Festival, Glenarm Castle, Glenarm, Co. Antrim, July 13-19. A festival of sport, music and fine food the festival has something for everyone from World Class Highland Games to celebrity chef demonstrations, live music and children’s entertainment.

• The Glenelly Rockin By The River Festival, Plumbridge, Co. Tyrone, July 13-20. The festival provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the scenic Sperrin Mountains while enjoying a range of events from hill walks, vintage displays, a family fun day and the best in traditional, country and contemporary music.

Down

Due to popular demand Youth Fest NI is back with a BANG to Kilbroney Park on Saturday 5th July 2014! Here’s a taster of what’s in store…Phils Farm, Jo Jingles. The Gathering Drum, The Funhouse Newry Lazar Tag Arena, DJ Workshops, Cloughmor Extreme Mountain Bike Trails, Sticky Fingers Early Years Arts, Bring IT On NI Workshop’s, SVP YOUTH Info, gymnastics workshops and displays, The Creation Station, Dance workshops and displays, Reptile Village, Wayne Denner – Youth & Digital Communicator workshop, Live music from 39 Steps, live music from Harrison Tweed, live music from Caolán Dooley, live music from Rebecca Keenan, PIPS Newry & Mourne information, Happy Faces NI arts workshops, mini golf, Lifeline information, Jumping Clay Warrenpoint, food / craft stalls and more.

Tyrone

Tyrone Farming Society looks forward to its 174th Annual Omagh Show which will take place on Friday and Saturday. Omagh Show’s enduring success can perhaps best be described as a true reflection of determination and motivation of its supporters throughout the years. Now ideally located on a prime site on the outskirts of Omagh town, this thriving Annual Show remains a source of much pride for its community.

Fermanagh

Cuilcagh Mountain Jeep Safari, Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th July 2.00pm – 4.00pm.  Jump on board one of the Geopark Landrovers and explore the stunning scenery of Cuilcagh Mountain Park. Ranging from the rugged upland cliffs to the weathered limestone landscapes on the lower ground, this safari is a chance for you to experience and explore the patchwork of landscapes found on Cuilcagh Mountain. £5.00 per person. This event is not suitable for children under 12 years old. Booking is essential. Contact Marble Arch Caves Visitor’s Centre on 028 6634 8855 for further information.

Derry

The Chocolate Lab in Kilrea are holding summer workshops through the months of July and August including the Chocolate Bar and Lollipop Workshop, the Frozen Themed Workshop and Minion Chocolate Mayhem. Workshops for children and masterclasses available for adults too!

Armagh

After the huge success last year, the Emerald Garrison’s amazing Heroes & Legends event is coming back to Armagh Planetarium on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 July 2014.  This amazing family event is one not to be missed.  Meet and have your picture taken with some iconic costumed characters and see the amazing fan built sets and props from some of the biggest movies and television series including Ghostbusters, Dr Who, Star Trek, Batman, Aliens and Harry Potter.  Come dressed up as your favourite character!

Antrim

Great news for all pirate lovers! Our friendly local Pirate Tavish Dhu will be back with a new adventure this year at Pirates Off Portrush! Tavish having captured the gold from the Navy Captains is on his way to the Skerries to hide it when a friendly whale knocks the treasure out of his rowing boat and carries it away in its mouth. Tavish gives chase only to discover that a group of Eskimos are also looking for the whale. There is a race to see who will get to the whale first and recover the treasure. The pirate festival will be on the weekend of the 5th and 6th of July and rumour has it that this year the organisers are also planning to bring a replica Pirate Ship into Portrush in the week leading up to the Pirate Festival.

Belfast

Tina, the Asian elephant, is one of Belfast Zoo’s most loved and well-known animals. Tina is the longest resident at Belfast Zoo and many visitors have fond memories of Tina stealing their handbags and umbrellas in the old Bellevue Zoo. Come along and help celebrate her ‘elephantastic’ 50th birthday this Saturday 5^th July with activities, including face painting, animal feeding times, a bouncy castle and much more.
For more details on these and other events across Northern Ireland, news and competitions see www.whatsonni.com, follow us @whatsonni and like us at fb.com/www.whatsonni. Add your  events FREE OF CHARGE at www.whatsonni.

The popular Northern Ireland broadcaster and novelist, Roisin McAuley, award-winning Crime Writer, Brian McGilloway, and acclaimed Irish poet, Nessa O’Mahony, are among the top writers who will act as tutors for  the very successful Creative Writing Workshops to be held during the John  Hewitt International Summer School which is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Armagh City & District Council.

Also among the tutors this year is Kimberley Lynne, an American playwright, novelist and teacher. Over thirty of her plays have been produced in New York, Washington DC, Baltimore and Minneapolis.

These popular writing workshop, which run from 28-31 July, will provide an unique opportunity for anyone in Armagh and surrounding  areas interested in different types of creative writing to take part in workshops led by highly-regarded, published writers who all have wide experience of directing writing workshops.

On 28, 29 & 31 July, at 2.15pm each day, there will be separate hour and a half long creative writing workshops in Poetry (led by Nessa O’Mahony & English poet, Paul Batchelor), Children’s Fiction (with the acclaimed English writer, Nicky Harlow), Memoir Writing (Maureen Boyle), Crime Fiction (Brian McGilloway), Prose (Roisin McAuley) and Playwriting for stage (Kimberley Lynne). The workshops being taken by Maureen Boyle, Nessa O’Mahony and Nicky Harlow are being sponsored by the Open University, while Kimberley Lynne’s course is being supported by the University of Baltimore

These attractive workshop opportunities are open to everyone interested in writing and there will be limited number accepted for each course, so early booking is advisable. Anyone interested must sign up for a course of three workshops in any of the areas on offer and remain within that course.

The workshops will take place at the Market Place Theatre, the AmmA Creative Learning Centre and Armagh Pipers’ Club and the JHISS organizers are pleased to be able to offer local people and others the opportunity to work with such a range of admired and respected writers.

There will be opportunities on Friday 1 August for some of those taking part in the workshops to read their work to others in the Studio Theatre at 2.15pm.and other workshop participants, as well as members of the public, will be welcome to attend this free event.

Places on each Creative Writing Workshop course at JHISS will cost £35 per course and these can be booked now at The Market Place Box Office on 028 37521821 or online at www.marketplacearmagh.com. Applicants are asked to indicate their preferred choice of course when booking. Details are available online at www.johnhewittsociety.org and in the Hewitt Summer School brochure available at the Market Place and in local libraries.

You know Summer has arrived in Bangor when the Sunday music returns to The Bandstand in Ward Park.

North Down Borough Council’s popular Summer Sundays programme has been running for 9 years now and has become a weekly staple amongst its regulars who look forward to kicking back in the sunshine and enjoying some quality music acts. Summer Sundays will be even bigger this year with the arrival of speciality markets. Every Sunday there will be a market on site to browse, another great reason to come to Ward Park!

Kicking off this year on Sunday, 6 July, then running every Sunday for the whole of July and August,  this year’s programme features an eclectic mix of jazz, blues, rock n’roll, salsa and classical. The programme features old favourites like Ken Haddock and Dana Masters and will showcase new music like John Leighton, Los Dramatacos and The Avalon String Quartet and this year’s finale event will be the fabulous Open House Bluegrass Picnic taking place on the last Sunday in August.

Opening the programme on July 6^, is My One and Only Love – The music of Johnny Hartman which will be performed by the amazing Ken Haddock on vocals,  world renowned saxophone player Meilana Gillard and the superb piano playing of Scott Flanigan. This talented trio will be recreating the legendary compilation of Coltrane and Hartman first recorded in 1963, sure to be a special trip down memory lane. Please note this event will run from 4pm – 6pm for this Sunday only.

Immediately following the music at 6pm, the F18 World Championships Opening Ceremony will be taking place in Ward Park. This prestigious sailing event is being hosted this year by Ballyholme Yacht Club and will feature sailors from all around the world. The ceremony will include a welcoming troupe of dancers followed by the flag parade with athletes from 11 nations taking part. There will be speeches of welcome from The Mayor of North Down, the Commodore of Ballyholme Yacht Club with a response from the President of the International F18 Class.

So if you fancy a lazy Sunday in the park, enjoying live music from the comfort of a deck chair, stick the dates in your diary, gather your family and friends, pack a picnic and head to Ward Park, every Sunday in July and August from 3 – 5pm.

Please note that Ward Park is an alcohol free zone.

Keep an eye out in local press each week for details on each artist or for more information phone our Visitor Information Centre on 028 9127 0069 or visit: www.northdowntourism.com

Red Arrows to provide a stunning send-off to Clipper 2013-14 Round the World Yacht Race

The world-famous Red Arrows will take to the skies over the North West Coast of Ireland this Sunday to bring a spectacular close to the 2014 LegenDerry Maritime Festival.

Brought to the North West by a partnership between Donegal County Council, Limavady Borough Council and Derry City Council, the RAF Red Arrows will perform their thrilling flying display as the stunning send-off to the Clipper 2013-14 Round the World Yacht Race on Sunday 29^th June 2014.

The distinctive red jets, which are this year celebrating their 50^th display season, will execute their trademark formations, close-passes and dynamic loops and rolls at the mouth of the River Foyle between Greencastle in Co. Donegal and Magilligan/Binevenagh in Co. Londonderry.

Thousands of people are expected to descend upon the North West Coast to capture a clear vantage point of the Red Arrows’ stunning performance and celebrate the official Race Start of the Clipper 2013-14 Race at Greencastle, Co. Donegal.

The LegenDerry Maritime Festival, which continues throughout the weekend, has seen tens of thousands of visitors flock to the City’s quayside and marina, which has resembled a scene from Monte Carlo or Nice, with the Clipper Yachts moored alongside a race village featuring music, food & drink and family entertainment, as well as plenty of action on the water all week long.

For information visit: www.legenderrymaritimefestival.com or www.clipperroundtheworld.com.

Some of the world’s most popular female authors will be revealing the secrets of their success in a unique new programme of literary talks at Newtownabbey’s Theatre at The Mill.

Best selling writers such as Philippa Gregory, Cathy Kelly and Jodi Picoult are taking to the stage in ‘Conversations at the Mill’, an exciting new series enabling them to talk about their new work, engage directly with fans of their novels in Northern Ireland and sign books.

Both Theatre at the Mill and its sister venue The Courtyard Theatre have played host to well known people who speak about their lives and this series will continue with writer/opera director/performer Jonathan Miller and politician Peter Hain in the autumn.

“Conversations at the Mill is something totally new and different for us. We’ve chosen some of the best-known writers to come to speak about their work. The theatre is an intimate space to really find out more about these authors and their new work. After each talk the authors will be signing their books as well,” explained Bernard Clarkson, Arts Centres Manager for Newtownabbey Borough Council.

The first of the Conversations series is on August 17 with Philippa Gregory, author of The Other Boleyn Girl, who is releasing a new book, The King’s Curse, just days before her appearance in Newtownabbey.

This is her 25^th novel and tells the riveting story of Margaret Pole, daughter of George, Duke of Clarence, and one of the few surviving members of the Plantagenet dynasty after the Wars of the Roses. The book covers 40 years in the life of the last Plantagenet Princess, who was wrongly accused of plotting revolution.

Philippa Gregory was an established historian and writer when she discovered her interest in the Tudor period. Her 2001 novel, The Other Boleyn Girl, was turned into a Hollywood film starring Scarlett Johansson as Mary, sister of Anne and mistress of Henry VIII, and a second TV series of The White Queen, based on her series The Cousins’ War, is currently being filmed.

The second event in the Conversations series will be on Oct 16 which will be billed as a Girls’ Night Out with two performances both hosted by author Jane Wenham Jones. At 7pm Katie Fforde and Jill Mansell will be speaking followed at 8.30 by  Cathy Kelly and Tasmina Perry.

On Nov 9 by Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of My Sister’s Keeper and The Storyteller, will make her first appearance in Northern Ireland. She is releasing her 23^rd novel – Leaving Time – in October so this is a chance to hear about her latest work.

Bookings are now being taken for the Philippa Gregory event with tickets just £6/£4 on www.theatreatthemill.com or on 02890340202.