Portstewart Songwriters Festival is an exciting new music event funded by Coleraine Borough Council and the Department for Social Development.

The event is due to hit the NorthCoast on Friday 28^th to Sunday 30^thMarch with lots of opportunities for those who enjoy music.

Featuring live music in bars and coffee shops along Portstewart Promenade throughout the weekend, with over 20 FREE events, 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 PortstewartTown 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 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, telephone 028 7034 4723 and Flowerfield Arts Centre telephone 028 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 atwww.facebook.com/PortstewartSongwritersFestival or follow on Twitter @PortSongFest.

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 17-23).

• St Patrick’s Celebrations, town centre, Downpatrick, Co. Down, March 17. The St. Patrick’s Day celebrations will showcase Downpatrick as one of Ireland’s most ancient and historic towns, with a re-enactment celebrating St Patrick’s return to Ireland as a bishop, a Carnival Parade through the streets of Downpatrick as well as a host of other family entertainment.

• Ballycastle & District Horse Ploughing Championship 2014, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, March 17.  The popular, traditional ploughing match has been taking place in Ballycastle for 100 years, attracting ploughmen from throughout Ireland offering a great day out for the whole family.

• Keady Community Festival, Keady, Co. Armagh, March 17.  Enjoy a St. Patrick’s Day Parade through the streets of Keady for a great family day out as well as face painting, assault courses, dance and Irish classes, arts and crafts and much more.

• Give My Head Peace, The Braids Arts Centre, Ballymena, Co. Antrim, March 19.  Northern Ireland’s most dysfunctional family are back with a brand new show for 2014 with topical satire, top class stand-up comedy from Tim McGarry and plenty of laughs.

• Kimmie Rhodes, Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, March 22. American singer-songwriter Kimmie Rhodes is a prolific artist who has recorded and released a total of fifteen solo albums as well as writing and producing three musical plays and has built a solid fan base in Northern Ireland over the years.

• A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Lyric Theatre, Belfast, March 18 – 22.  James Joyce’s ‘A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man’ tells the story of Stephen Dedalus as he signals his need to escape the nets he claimed Ireland would trap him in before leaving his home to seek nourishment from other cultures.  
• A Boy and his Box, Limavady Theatre, Limavady, Co. Londonderry, March 20. Young adventurers should come along and hear the story of a boy, his box and his vivid imagination with live drawing, projection and quirky tunes celebrating the amazing world of a child’s imagination.

• Strabane Drama Festival, The Alley Arts & Conference Centre, Strabane, Co. Tyrone, March 20-28.  The Alley Theatre will host Strabane’s annual drama festival as the intimate venue comes alive with nine productions  ranging from George Orwell’s Animal Farm to Martin Lynch’s The Chronicles of Long Kesh.
• Waggy Races at Castleward, Castle Ward, Strangford, Co. Down, March 23.  Northern Ireland’s first canicross event, a cross country fun run where dogs and their owners sprint, jog or walk together. The 5km Waggy Races course starts at the Mansion following the trails towards the Lough and is open to dogs of all shapes and sizes.
• Dr Robert Ballard – Titanic Discoverer, Titanic Belfast, Belfast, March 20.  Dr Robert Ballard, the legendary Ocean Explorer who discovered the wreck of RMS Titanic, returns to Titanic Belfast hosting a public lecture.

Down

Kids and Adults alike can try to scale the East Coast Adventure 35ft Climbing Tower at Kilbroney Park.  There is a coffee shop, kids playground and Mountain Bike Centre on site.  Kilbroney Park also offers camping and caravan pitches.

Tyrone

Mulligan’s Bar Cookstown are hosting a Father Ted quiz in aid of Cancer Focus Northern Ireland on Friday 14^th March. Everyone is encouraged to come dressed as their favourite Fr Ted character. There will be a prize for the best dressed. Teams of 5. Entry £5. Refreshments served on the evening.

Fermanagh

On Monday 17^th March Project St Patrick’s main parade starts from the Lakeland Forum at 3pm then circles the Island Town. Expect to see battling Vikings and wake boarding leprechauns,  as well as the usual shenanigans.   Behold St Patrick’s arrival in his traditionally unusual manner. Attractions include inflatable assault courses, bouncy castles, face painting, gelato’s, candy floss and chocolate fountains as well as music and lough based displays to keep you entertained. All entertainment if free!

Derry

From the 15th – 17th March come and experience a weekend steeped in history, culture, tradition and of course fun, as Derry celebrates St Patrick’s weekend with a special three day entertainment extravaganza, including the spectacular annual St Patrick’s Day Carnival Parade. In keeping with the title Music City, the theme ‘Music Myth and Magic’ will enchant and beguile the crowds, as the city’s streets become a stage for some of the finest musicians and performers around.

Armagh

Celebrate Saint Patrick in his chosen City of Armagh with a lively and varied festival showcasing the best of Armagh’s culture, music, song and dance. Join in the celebrations in the ancient Cathedral City of Ireland from Thursday 13th to Monday 17th March 2014.

Antrim

A nerdish florist finds his chance for success and romance with the help of a giant man-eating plant who demands to be fed in the Little Shop of Horrors, The Courtyard Theatre Thursday 13^th March.

Belfast

The University of Ulster has an impressive line-up for the 2014 Ulster Festival of Art & Design, which includes some of the most creative and inspiring minds from the film, fashion, music and business worlds.  Running from 10-14 March, the Festival will see nearly forty separate events give the public a unique insight into the very best of international creativity and innovation. www.ulsterfestival.com .

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 Market Place Theatre & Arts Centre in Armagh is looking for young people aged 10 to 25 to take part in their Summer 2014 extravaganza, ‘Oliver!’

‘Oliver!’ is the world-renowned musical which tells the story of a young orphan who arrives on the streets of London with no friends, no money and nowhere to live. He meets a cheeky pickpocket who shows him a whole new way of life. But as chance would have it, Oliver stumbles upon a gentleman who might just hold the key to his mysterious past… This exhilarating story about one boy’s survival against the odds is packed full of joyful songs including Consider Yourself, You’ve Got To Pick A Pocket or Two, Oom-pah-pah! and the exuberant Food Glorious Food.

Auditions for ‘Oliver!’ will take place on Saturday 17^th May, from 10am to 12noon for 10-15 year olds, and from 1.15pm to 3.15pm for 16-25 year olds. Auditions are now open for booking through the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821. All auditionees must be available throughout the period from Monday 21^st July until Saturday 23^rd 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 ‘Oliver’ 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.

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.

On Saturday 8^th March the Mayor of North Down, Cllr Andrew Muir, joined with Mayors and provincial dignitaries from Italy and France in signing off the final statues required by the “European Institute of Cultural Routes” in Luxembourg to formalise the application of “The Columban Way”.

The culmination of the ceremony in Bobbio, Italy, will now see the cultural route application, based on the life and travels of both Bangor and central Europe’s most famous Saint, Columbanus, submitted for approval to Luxembourg and in turn formally recognised as an official European Cultural Route.

The initial route is to comprise of Bangor, Luxeuil-les-Bains (France) and Bobbio (Italy) and will recognise the influence of Columbanus’ work within central Europe and is to be formally established by 2015, the year that will mark the 1400^th anniversary of the passing of St Columbanus. This anniversary year will be marked with events throughout the European countries that he was influential in.

This route is set to become the 30^th European Cultural Route and sit alongside some of the most famous routes such as the pilgrimage of Santiago de Compostela.

After the initial creation of “The Columban Way” it is envisaged that it will expand to take in the additional countries of Switzerland, Austria, Germany and the Republic of Ireland where Columbanus also left his mark.

Mayor of North Down, Cllr Andrew Muir; “I was delighted to take part in this important and historic ceremony alongside our European friends in Bobbio, the resting place of Columbanus.  After leaving Bangor he was to play a pivotal role in the spread of Christianity in mainland Europe and it is fitting that he, the first person to use the term “European”, will have this Cultural Route potentially covering up to seven nations, created on the back of his legacy. The creation of this route will surely be a fitting testimony on a European scale to the man and his work”.

His importance to the Church and European Christianity as a whole was evidentially seen when in late 2013 Pope Francis put forward the final paperwork to be considered to have the co-patronage of Europe bestowed upon St Columabnus to mark the 1400^th anniversary of his passing.

Fine food and plenty of family entertainment will be served up this weekend at the LegenDerry Food Festival which will take over Derry’s Guildhall Square for three days of foodie fun from Saturday March 15 – Monday March 17.

Celebrate St Patrick’s weekend in style and treat your taste buds to an array of gourmet delights served up by some of the biggest names in Irish cuisine, including Rachel Allen, Neven Maguire, Paula McIntyre and Brian McDermott.

They will be cooking up a storm in the huge marquee kitchen alongside a whole host of local talent, who will work their magic on the finest local produce courtesy of some of the North West’s quality food producers. Find out more about the real treasures of the deep with the Loughs Agency who will be serving up some of the finest oysters from Lough Foyle at their famous Oyster Bar.

And there will be plenty of live entertainment and fun for all the family throughout the weekend, with animation and children’s crafts to keep the little ones amused while you sample some mouth watering morsels hot from the galley kitchen.

Tourism Officer with Derry City Council Mary Blake, said there would be something to entertain all the family. “Parents are always looking for things to do, especially when the children are off school, so we are delighted to be able to offer such a diverse programme of events guaranteed to appeal to all ages during the LegenDerry Food Festival.

“As well as our impressive line-up of top chefs who will be wowing the grown-ups with their exciting array of dishes, there will be plenty of treats and activities for the youngsters throughout the entire weekend. I would encourage everyone to come along and treat the family to a weekend of festive fun and a celebration of the region’s finest food.”

Enjoy a gastronomic feast of festival charm served up by the stilted Cake Ladies, whose fun antics are served up with lashings of glamour. Mind your fingers as our Juggling Chef demonstrates his death defying skills with razor sharp knives and out of date cucumbers, and shows off his ability to cook anything from a pot noodle to a pot noodle with soy sauce! Then meet Derry’s own domestic goddess Majella Lousing, whose hunger for fame is almost as strong as her fondness for food, and who makes Nigella seem tame.

Other colourful characters include the Singing Chef and the Candy Girls, who will bring an air of sophistication to the event along with local talents Ursula and Co and Susan Donaghy.

There will be plenty of activities on the menu to entertain younger visitors with face painting, children’s crafts and balloon modelling. And there will be opportunities for cupcake decorating, talks on nutrition and food heritage, as well as book signings by local and celebrity chefs.

Take a trip across the Peace Bridge to Ebrington Square, which will be transformed for the weekend into a Magical Storytelling Garden, complete with music and magical characters from 12pm – 5pm daily. And youngsters are invited to join the pirate trail at the Playhouse as the Pirate King leads them on an exciting musical adventure to find the Legenderry treasure, with each hunt starting at 12noon, 1.30pm and 3.30pm each day.

Music lovers can soak up the St Patrick’s atmosphere with a serving of traditional music in the Trad Triangle from the 15^th – 17^th March. Live acts will perform on the main stages in New Market Street , The Craft Village and Waterloo between 1pm – 7pm, and will include the O’Carolans, Eoin Kearns and Derry Comhaltas performers.

And of course don’t forget the major highlight of the weekend – the Spring Carnival Parade which this year celebrates ‘Music, Myth and Magic’ and features over 600 talented local performers.

The parade will take place on the 17^th March at 2.30pm, starting at the Queen’s Quay car park, and the festivities will this year be led by the immense Púca – a shape shifting creature of the mountains, followed by fairy folk, magical creatures, giants and many more mythical creatures.

There will be live music and entertainment at a whole host of venues across the city throughout the weekend, so feel free to just take a wander and see where you end up, with plenty of craic agus ceoil to go round.

For more information on all the events taking place from Saturday March 15 – Monday March 17, go to www.derrycity.gov.uk, or www.whatsonderrylondonderry.com

Armagh City Centre is getting ready to rock on Saturday 15^th March as the blazing rock band known as ‘The Red Hot Chilli Pipers’ headline a free open air concert as part of the City’s annual Saint Patrick’s festival.

The concert will take place in the Market Square area of Armagh City Centre at 7.00pm.

‘The Red Hot Chilli Pipers’ have been rocking the world from New York to Beijing with a passion for pipes that will leave the audience breathless. The group has been in the headlines recently with their own version of Avicii’s hit, ‘Wake Me Up’, becoming a global sensation after the performed it at the launch of BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Glasgow. The group is sure to put on a show so hot it carries its own health warning and with their versions of hit songs like ‘Make Me Up’ among others, they are sure to prove popular with piping and non-piping fans alike.

They will be supported by local band ‘Castlestreet’, who have been compared to Mumford and Sons, yet their sound also draws strongly on the Irish traditional vibe. Local songbird ‘Catherine Grimley’ will also be joined by ‘The McCuskers’ whilst ‘Chris Kavanagh’ will be delighting the audience with his amazing performance of the great Dubliner ‘Luke Kelly’.

On the night there will also be a special appearance from mentalist David Meade while the compere for the event is Connor Phillips.

‘Castlestreet’ will open the concert at 7.00pm, followed by ‘Catherine Grimley & The McCuskers’ who will take to the stage at 7.45pm. ‘The Legend of Luke Kelly’ will perform from 8.35pm and ‘The Red Hot Chilli Pipers’ will take to the stage form 9.35pm to 10.35pm.

The concert is free to attend and no tickets are required but the public are advised that gates will open from 6.30pm. Access to the performance site is from Market Street only and wheelchair users should contact 028 3752 1821 to book space in the accessible raised area.

For full details on the concert or any other events happening across the Saint Patrick’s Festival in Armagh, visit www.armagh.co.uk or contact Armagh Visitor Information Centre on 028 3752 1800.

As part of the Courtyard Theatre’s Lecture Series veteran broadcaster andIreland’s most popular and long standing TV and radio presenter, Gerry Kelly will interview Hugo Duncan on his life, his love of music and everything in between on Monday 10 March.

For over 35 years, Hugo Duncan, the Wee Man from Strabane, has remained one of the top attractions on the Irish Entertainment scene. Hugo’s career was launched in the early 1970’s with his stunning hit Dear God, since then there has been no stopping him, he’s gone from strength to strength releasing a number of hit singles and CD’s as well as becoming one of Northern Ireland’s local TV and radio icons.

Hugo’s legendary fun and craic at shows and events has endeared him into the hearts of the Northern Irish public; this plus his frank and open honesty about the real Hugo, brought him even closer to the nation in a documentary about his life.

Meet and Greet with Hugo Duncan starts at 8pm this Monday 10 March at 8pm. Tickets which cost £10 and include a glass of wine, can be booked online at www.thecourtyardtheatre.com or by phoning 028 9034 0202.

Planning a wedding can be a big task but help is at hand for Northern Ireland’s brides-to-be, as The Merchant Hotel’s hosts an exclusive Wedding Showcase event.

On Sunday 9^th March, brides and grooms from across Northern Ireland are invited to immerse themselves in the world of weddings as the five-star Merchant Hotel showcases its range of exclusive packages.

During the event, guests will be treated to fabulous fashion shows with models from Style Academy taking to the catwalk to showcase the latest wedding gowns, menswear and flower girl dresses from Petticoat Lane, Forever Bridal, Focus Menswear and Red Grooms.

Admission to the chic wedding showcase is free and couples can enjoy a lavish champagne reception and canapés while The Merchant Hotel’s event team will be on hand to guide couples through booking a stylish wedding at the luxurious hotel.

The showcase will also feature some of Northern Ireland’s leading wedding and honeymoon suppliers including florists, DJs, photographers, travel agents, musicians, hairdressers, cake designers and much more.

For more information on The Merchant’s Wedding Showcase and to register your attendance visit themerchanthotel.com, call 028 9026 2717 or email events@themerchanthotel.com

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 10-16).

• LegenDerry Food Festival, Guildhall Square, City of Derry, March 15-17. A three day food and family entertainment festival showcasing a feast of culinary talent as the biggest names in the Irish food industry arrive in the city, the festival will celebrate all that is local, offering live cook offs, demonstrations and family activities.

• Féile an Earraigh 2014, Beechmount Leisure Centre, Belfast, March 14-16.  Celebrating the best of Irish and International music, culture and the arts, Féile an Earraigh celebrates the run up to St Patrick’s Day and will include three main gigs including Punk legends The Damned, Beoga and Lee Scratch Perry.

• ‘Down the Quiet Loan’, Sixmilecross Presbyterian Church Hall, Sixmilecross, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, March 14.  A celebration event to mark the life and works of Rev W F Marshall, learn about the ‘Bard of Tyrone’ and be entertained with music and poetry from The Marshall Tenors, Sixmilecross Community Choir and others.

• Spring Harvest Market, SS Nomadic, Belfast, March 16.  Spring is in the air at this dock side market and enjoy the very best of artisan produce, flowers, hand crafted goods before hopping on board for a floral afternoon tea.

• The Poet, The Piper & The Painter, Navan Centre & Fort, Co. Armagh, March 13. Celebrate the importance of poetry, piping and painting within Armagh’s culture through award winning poet and playwright Noel Monahan, music from three of Armagh’s finest young musicians and Armagh born painter J B Vallely.

• Ted & Co The Dinner Show, Courtyard Theatre, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, March 15.  A parody of the TV classic Father Ted the show will promise a hilarious and fun evening with the audience as the diners and Ted, Dougal, Jack and the housekeeper as the hosts, enjoy a delicious three course meal along with a good helping of old fashioned comedy.

• 34^th Annual Enniskillen Drama Festival, Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh until March 15. A celebration of the best amateur drama with nine different drama companies stage plays over nine nights including a mix of comedy, tragedy, classical works and new writing.

• The Building of the Titanic, Boys Brigade Ganaway Heritage Museum, Millisle, Co. Down, March 12-26.  A display of photographs, tools, plans and artefacts relating to the construction of the Titanic and the men who built it.

• St Patrick’s Day Festival Concert, Market Square, Armagh, Co. Armagh, March 15.  St Patrick’s Day celebrations are underway in Armagh with the Festival Concert offering performances from the show-stopping Red Hot Chilli Pipers, local Irish Traditional band Castlestreet, Catherine Grimley & The McCuskers as well as an appearance by mentalist David Meade.

• Molly Sweeney by Brian Friel, Millennium Forum, City of Derry, March 10-11.  Brian Friel’s rarely performed poetic tale is a journey of memory, hope and despair of Molly Sweeney, blind since infancy she is persuaded to have an operation to restore her sight.