Regeneration of town centre gives Ballycastle new lease of life

Ballycastle Town Partnership is encouraging everyone from Ballycastle and further afield around the Moyle District to come along to an exciting day of free family fun on Saturday 29^th March in order to celebrate the recent revitalisation of the town centre.

Internationally acclaimed children’s theatre company Cahoots NI will perform a show called The Family Hoffman’s Mystery Palace* from 12pm to 5pm at twenty minute intervals throughout the day at the former Brady’s Supermarket, Castle Street.  Admission to the show is completely free and attendees will experience captivating fun for all the family, including storytelling, live music, magic and illusion, combining elements of cabaret and vaudeville.  The show uses an innovative approach to theatre that is full of surprises and sure to ignite and stimulate the imagination of young and old alike.

Visitors can also choose from a wide range of other entertainment that will be available on the day including live music, craft demonstrations and much much more.

Cllr Cara McShane, Council Chairperson explains why the event in Ballycastle will be the perfect day out for locals and visitors alike.

“Ballycastle has lots to offer visitors and is well known for its diverse heritage and culture as well as the friendliness of its people and strong community spirit.  We are delighted to host such a fantastic event in Ballycastle and I would encourage everyone from the town and around the Moyle District to come along and join in the excitement.”

“This is a great opportunity for people to get together and enjoy some old fashioned family fun and we would ask everyone to spread the word far and wide to invite others to join in the entertainment as well,” Cara added.

Locals have been working hard to showcase all that Ballycastle has to offer over the coming months, explains Cllr Donal Cunningham, Chair of the Revitalise Ballycastle Steering Group.

“The Revitalise Ballycastle Steering Group which is funded by the Department for Social Development has worked to improve the appearance of shop fronts in Ballycastle and the town is looking better than ever.”

“Our aim as a group, is to promote the social, economic and environmental development of Ballycastle and market the town to show visitors what a great place it is with an array of unique, independently owned shops, cafes and restaurants with delicious food, relaxing ambiance and of course world renowned stunning scenery with a plethora of rugged walks and outdoor activities,” Cara added.

There is a lot to see and do in Ballycastle this year from the Ould Lammas Fair in August to the world renowned Giro d’Italia which comes to Ballycastle on Saturday 10^th May.

* Tickets for Family Hoffman’s Mystery Palace must be pre booked and are available from various locations including Noel’s Pound Coiner, Castle St and Ballycastle Tourist Information Centre, Bayview Rd, Ballycastle.

Plunge into the dramatic dance re-telling of classic fairy-tale ‘The Little Mermaid’ at Theatre at The Mill on Wednesday 7^th May.

See Ballet Theatre UK perform the story of a mermaid and her love for a human prince.

Through fluid movement, the dancers articulate the tale of how the kind-hearted ‘Little Mermaid’ rescues the prince during a storm at sea, and begins a journey that takes her far from her home beneath the waves. Determined to pursue her love on the shore, she makes a bargain with an evil Sea Witch, but it comes at a heavy price.

Ballet Theatre UK’s charming and poignant ballet explores the nature of longing, how making choices have lasting consequences and how goodness can be rewarded in unexpected ways.

This timeless tale will be an ideal treat for Mother’s Day gift and delightful entertainment for the whole family.

Come along for this unmissable and breath-taking performance at Theatre at The Mill on Wednesday 7^th May.  Tickets which cost £20, £18, £16 & £14 can be booked online at www.theatreatthemill.com or though Box Office on 028 9034 0202.

Actress Donna O’Connor enjoys the company of Mr Clooney once again at Theatre at The Mill on Friday 4 and Sat 5 April as she continues to disclose her tales to her hunky confidante in ‘Two Nights With George’.

Reprising her role as Bridie Murphy, Donna O’Connor stars in the new sequel to the award winning comedy ‘A Night With George’ since one evening with George Clooney is never enough for any woman.

Bridie returns to her Ballymurphy living room, bold, brash and on the voddies again and reunites with her old flame. Much has happened to Bridie in the last few years and she shares this with companion George, as well as a few very large Belfast Martinis. With her unique brand of humour and language that would shock a sailor, Bridie’s rollercoaster life continues and she tells it warts and all to George and lets him in on some of her past secrets, and one shocker in particular.

Tickets for this unmissable comedy which cost £16, £14 & £12 are available online from the Theatre’s website at www.theatreatthemill.com or by phoning Box Office on 028 9034 0202.

Down

Operation Lipstick is back and TinyLife are looking for ladies who like fun and adventure!  TinyLife is on the search for teams of 6 ladies to take part in a full day of practical, physical and mental challenges in the gorgeous setting of Castlewellan Forest Park on Saturday 22nd March 2014.

Tyrone

The Royal Hotel Cookstown are hosting their Wedding Fair this Friday 21^st March from 6-9pm with a wide range of exhibitors and a Bridal Fashion Show.

Fermanagh

Paddlefest 2014 21^st to 23^rd March at the Share Centre will be a fun packed weekend of skills clinics, quality coaching, great trips, inspiring evening talks and of course a social each evening.  The Share Centre was chosen for Paddlefest as it is located on the shores of Lough Erne and is close to many options for sea, river and surf.  Booking essential.

Derry

Join the LegenDerry Ladies in the Corinthian Ballroom City Hotel and check out the wide range of services and products that this talented collective of local business groups can provide! Crafts, cakes, mother’s day gifts, jewellery, handmade soaps, candles, home décor, fashion and much more will be on offer.

Armagh

Calling all bookworms! Browse through the hundreds of second hand books at the Spring Books Fair, The Argory on Saturday and Sunday.  Stock up on all your summer reads. Donations of unwanted books, CDs and DVDs are welcome prior to the event.

Antrim

There will be a free family fun day in the Market Place, Carrickfergus on Saturday 22^nd March 2pm to 5pm with music, face painters, balloon modellers, stilt performers and much more!

Belfast

The Merchant Hotel’s fabulous Fashion Teas Saturday 22nd March and Sunday 23rd March. A  series of gloriously decadent Champagne Afternoon Teas with a fabulous fashion show and amazing pop-up boutiques. Relax in the elegant Art Deco surroundings of The Rita Duffy Room, sip Champagne, savour melt in the mouth patisseries, and let the very best in fashion for the new season come to you.

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 Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland over the next week (March 24 – 30).

• World War I: And the Truth Keeps Marching On, Linen Hall Library, Belfast, March 26.  The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) continues their series of scintillating talks as Ian Montgomery shows a range of fascinating World War I records available to the public one hundred years after it started

• Eduardo Niebla in Concert, Ballymoney Town Hall, Ballymoney, Co. Antrim, March 26.  World class Spanish guitarist and composer, Eduardo Niebla will offer a spellbinding evening of passion, verve and fleet fingered virtuosity from one of the most potent forces in flamenco jazz fusion.

• Space Alien Creatures, The Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre, Armagh City, Co. Armagh, March 29. Children can get creative by designing their very own 3-D space alien creature using papier-mâché techniques and recycled materials.

• 14^th Belfast Film Festival, various, Belfast, March 27 – April 6. The 14^th annual festival will showcase the newest and best in local and international talent including short films, a documentary competition, classic retrospectives, industry master classes, workshops and special events.

• Steel Magnolias, Riverside Theatre, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, March 27-29. Ballywillan Drama Group presents a beautiful, bittersweet comedy, written by Robert Harling about the bond among six very special friends as they share the cycles of life, birth and death to emerge stronger, closer and still laughing.

• Bap Kennedy, Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, March 28.  Belfast singer-songwriter, Bap Kennedy is back on home ground having toured around America and Europe and will perform a collection of classic original songs.

• Movies and Musicals, Down Arts Centre, Downpatrick, Co. Down, March 28.  A fabulous celebration of the best songs from stage and screen performed and hosted by acclaimed Northern Ireland singer Michelle Baird and her Elluna Musical Ensemble.

• Donard Challenge Mountain Race, Donard Park, Newcastle, Co. Down, March 29.  A new course designed to provide a testing short mountain race specifically for the 2014 British Championship Series ascending over Millstone Mountain before climbing to the summit of Slieve Donard, offering a worthwhile journey for the adventurous fell runners.

• An Evening with Clanmore Choir, Square Box, Ranfurly House Arts & Visitor Centre, Dungannon, Co. Tyrone, March 29.  Enjoy an evening of music courtesy of the Clonmore Choir as they showcase the talent of local singers.

• Mother’s Day Afternoon Tea, Larchfield Estate, Lisburn, Co. Antrim, March 30.  Treat your mother to an afternoon tea at Larchfield Estate with live music followed by a leisurely stroll around the four acre walled garden.

The Market Place Theatre will be rocked to the core as never before when the Superstars of The American Wrestling Roadshow invade Armagh City.

Coming from successful tours in France, Spain, Japan, Germany, USA, Mexico and beyond, this night promises to leave your hair standing, heart pumping and your blood boiling!

Sport? Entertainment? We make no bones about it; our business is all about the adrenaline rush, the emotional journey and feelings, which you will experience during this epic night! We’ll take you on a high; make you feel alive, as you cheer on the fan favourites. But don’t be fooled, there are plenty of bad guys in toll to keep you on the edge of your seat!

Similar to the pantomime there is plenty of noise, adrenaline, shouting, screaming and roaring. What’s more; we fully encourage it! Like any great play there’s always an abundance of drama, as the Good Guys take on the Baddies. Prepare to get involved, even if you don’t want to!

The American Wrestling Roadshow will be staged on Saturday 22^nd March at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced £10 each, and can be booked by contacting 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.

Follow the yellow brick road to Theatre at The Mill this spring! To commemorate its 75^th Anniversary Belfast Youth in the Arts presents ‘The Wizard of Oz’ from Tues 25 – Sat 29 March.

This enactment of the familiar story chronicles the adventures of the young girl Dorothy Gale from Kansas and her encounters in the Land of Oz as she befriends enchanted characters and takes on the Wicked Witch of the West, all to make her way home.

Belfast Youth in the Arts’ production of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ is suitable for all ages and incorporates exciting displays of magic and promises to be spell-binding performance. Join Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, Lion and Toto for a trip down the yellow brick road and become enchanted by favourites such as ‘Over the Rainbow’, ‘If I Only Had a Brain’ and ‘We’re Off to See the Wizard’.

At the recent Academy Awards, the 75^th Anniversary of this beloved story was celebrated by the stars with Judy Garland’s children Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft and Joey Luft attending the ceremony’s tribute to ‘The Wizard of Oz’. As well as a cover performance of the timeless tune ‘Over the Rainbow’ by pop singer Pink.

Belfast Youth in the Arts is a cross community, non-profit making youth theatre company in Belfast which works in the community engaging young people (13 – 19 years old) from all backgrounds through the medium of performing arts regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or political background.

The organisation provides opportunities for young people to explore different areas within the arts through different projects and programmes. Belfast Youth in the Arts focuses on achieving arts excellence, but also place a huge emphasis on the enjoyment of the arts and encourage young people to learn, develop and grow within the arts in a fun and nurturing way.

Tickets for this magical musical are available online at www.theatreatthemill.com or by calling Box Office on 028 9034 0202.

Kylie Monogue

Sunday 9^th November: THE ODYSSEY ARENA, BELFAST

THE HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW ALBUM, ‘KISS ME ONCE’ IS OUT NOW

Kylie, whose first single from her new album charted in the UK Top 20 yesterday, today announces the Kiss Me Once Tour including dates at The O2, Dublin and Odyssey Arena, Belfast in November.

The tour will open here in the UK and will comprise of 31 shows in 15 countries – including 12 dates in the UK and Ireland.   Famous for her live shows, Kylie’s Kiss Me Once Tour will be true to form as a celebration of both new and old material.

Kylie’s brand new album, ‘Kiss Me Once’ is released today. It is her first studio album since 2010’s ‘Aphrodite’, and her first since signing to Roc Nation Management. The album was executive produced by Kylie and Sia, who also penned the title track.  Kylie also teams up with Pharrell Williams (who wrote and produced ‘I Was Gonna Cancel’). Other producers include Ariel Rechtshaid (HAIM) on ‘If Only’, MNEK on ‘Feels So Good’, and Greg Kurstin on bonus track ‘Sleeping With The Enemy’.

Ticket Information
The O2 Dublin: Tickets from €65.70 including booking fee

Odyssey Arena, Belfast: Tickets from £55.00 including booking fee

Tickets for the Kiss Me Once tour go on sale at 9am on Friday 21st March from:

Odyssey Arena Box Office: Tel. 02890 739074
Book On Line: www.odysseyarena.com

Ticketmaster: In person: From 100 Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide
By Telephone (24 Hour):   0844 277 44 55 (ROL: 0818 719300)
Book On Line: www.ticketmaster.ie

The Full Ireland & UK Tour Dates Below:

24/09/14 – ECHO ARENA, LIVERPOOL

26/09/14 – PHONES 4u ARENA, MANCHESTER

29/09/14 – THE O2, LONDON

30/09/14 – THE O2 ,LONDON

03/10/14 – MOTORPOINT ARENA, CARDIFF

05/10/14 – CAPITAL FM ARENA, NOTTINGHAM

07/10/14 – THE NIA, BIRMINGHAM

08/11/14 – THE O2, DUBLIN

09/11/14 – THE ODYSSEY ARENA, BELFAST

11/11/14 – METRO RADIO ARENA, NEWCASTLE

12/11/14 – THE SSE HYDRO, GLASGOW

13/11/14 – MOTORPOINT ARENA, SHEFFIELD

Portstewart Songwriters Festival is an exciting brand new music event due to hit the North Coast on Friday 28^th to Sunday 30^th March.

The event was officially launched at the Anchor Complex on Thursday 13^th March, with performances from local talent Toni Whitten and the superb Amanda St John. The Festival is funded by Coleraine Borough Council and the Department for Social Development.

The Festival will feature live music in bars and coffee shops along Portstewart Promenade throughout the weekend and, with over 20 FREE gigs featuring the likes of Briana Corrigan, Silhouette, Rory Nellis, Robb Murphy and Mandy Bingham, the line up for the first ever Portstewart Songwriters Festival is looking unmissable!

Bronagh Gallagher, SOAK and Paul Casey are set to Headline the Festival with a ‘Saturday Night Showcase’ event at Portstewart Town Hall, which will be hosted by Ralph McLean; while Gareth Dunlop, Anthony Toner and Amanda St John will perform an intimate ‘In the Round’ Session on the Sunday evening.

The event, which is funded by the Department for Social Development and Coleraine Borough Council, will also incorporate a variety of song writing workshops, run by recognized singer-song writers and industry professionals, as well as illustrated talks by BBC Radio Ulster’s Ralph McLean and Stuart Bailie.

Tickets for the Showcase events, workshops and talks are available from Coleraine Visitor Centre, Tel: 7034 4723 and Flowerfield Arts Centre, Tel: 7083 1400. All gigs in the bars and coffee shops are FREE!

To find out more and for full gig listing visit www.northcoastni.com/music, find it on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PortstewartSongwritersFestival or follow on Twitter @PortSongFest.

Coleraine Borough Council is holding a Business Breakfast – Networking & Information Event to support local businesses to gain an insight into what’s in it for them for this year’s Vauxhall International North West 200 event.

The Breakfast event will be in association with the Causeway Chamber of Commerce and the North West 200 team on Tuesday 8^th April at 8.30am in Council’s Civic Headquarters Cloonavin.

Hosted by television personality Sarah Travers, local businesses will have the opportunity to find out how to promote their own business as part of this year’s North West 200 event, and look at ways how they can benefit.

The Mayor of Coleraine Councillor David Harding stated, “Council is developing more and more opportunities with the team from the North West 200, to ensure that everyone in the Borough is fully versed on what the event is all about. Particularly for businesses, anyone can support, participate, sponsor or volunteer; this is an opportunity to find out what is right for you and your business. This is one event which is supported by the media. Press, Radio and Television provide fantastic coverage of the course so it’s a great opportunity not to be missed.”

Mayor Harding, will provide a short welcome for all guests, with an update on what Council has provided to date for the NW 200 with background information and opportunities from Meryvn Whyte MBE. Ian Donaghey, President Causeway Chamber of Commerce, will also be attending and supporting the business element of the morning. Mr Donaghey stated, “Causeway Chamber is delighted to assist the team at NW 200 to further develop links and engage with our local business community which will enhance opportunities in our tourism sector and economic development for the Borough of Coleraine.”

All business will have the opportunity to network with NW200 current sponsors, meet the riders as well get a quick photograph with Sarah!

The event is on the 8^th April from 8:30am until 10:15am with free breakfast on arrival, in Coleraine Borough Council, Civic Headquarters, Cloonavin.

For more information on the event contact Tara Cunningham, PR Manager Coleraine Borough Council 028 7034 7042, p.r@colerainebc.gov.uk.  To RSVP email: office@causewaychamber.com or telephone 028 7034 3111.