Thur 28^th Nov – Sun 1^st December

5.30pm – 10pm

Over four magical nights from the 28th November to 1st December, Lumiere Festival will be transforming Derry~Londonderry city centre. Having attracted over 175,000 people when it was held in Durham earlier this month, we are expecting a large volume of people to be coming to the city and have made the arrangements outlined below to cater for this increase.

To avoid congestion, visitors to the festival are encouraged to follow traffic information and directional signage as they approach the city. For those choosing to drive, extra Park & Ride facilities have been provided with regular shuttle buses into the city while many city centre car parks are extending their opening hours.

Essential tips for all

• Dress warmly, wear comfortable shoes
• Don’t try to cover everything in one night, take time to explore
• There’s no set route, and visitors are encouraged to explore the installations in whichever order they please.
• Tim Etchells’ A Stitch in Time (No. 6) can be seen from a distance.
• Compagnie Carabosse’s Fire Garden (No. 1) at St Columb’s Park  will run Thursday – Saturday only, 6.30pm – 9.30pm
• All other artworks will run 5.30pm -10pm across the four nights

For information on the night

• Visit the Hub at the Millennium Forum which will be open from 10 am – 5pm Monday 25^th November – Wednesday 27 December and 12noon – 10pm Thurs 28 Nov – Sun 1 Dec.
• Festival maker volunteers on the streets, dressed in red, will be able to provide public with information on the artworks and help visitors find their way around the city
• Visit the website lumiere-festival.com/derry-londonderry to plan your visit before you leave home
• Use the mobile version of the website via your Smartphone when on the street and keep up to date by searching for #LumiereDerry on Twitter or following @LumiereDerry and  @derry2013. You can also visit facebook.com/artichoketrust and share your photos on Instagram using #ilovelumiere
• Pick up a guide which includes a map or download one from the website

Road closures

Although there are no planned road closures there may be some disruption to normal traffic movements during the festival and drivers are asked to exercise caution in city centre areas. For live traffic and travel updates please tune into Q102 and Radio Foyle. Updates will also be available on the following social media channels @derry2013 @LumiereDerry and facebook.com/artichoketrust

Parking

• Park and Rides

You’ll be able to find Park and Rides at the following locations:

• 1. Limavady Road Site, 58 Limavady Road, Derry, BT47 6LT.

Bus stops at Ebrington.

• 2. Fort George Site, Fort George Site, The Quay Trail, Derry, BT48 7QH.

Bus stops at Queen’s Quay.

• Car parking

Foyleside Car Park – charged

Multi-storey head height restriction 1.98m
1600 spaces in total with 35 accessible bays over both East and West car parks with most in the East car park and notably in proximity to Shopmobility Derry. The bays are located close to the lift lobbies.

Car park opening hours for Lumiere:
Thursday: 7.30am – 11.30pm
Friday: 7.30am – 11.30pm
Saturday: 7.30am – 11.30pm
Sunday: 12pm – 11.30pm

For more information please visit the Foyleside Shopping Centre Website.

Quayside Car Park – charged

Head height restriction 6’9’
450 spaces in total with 12 accessible bays on the ground floor and 2 on each of the other 6 floors located close to the lift lobbies.
Car park opening hours for Lumiere:
Thursday: 8am – 11pm
Friday: 8am – 11pm
Saturday: 8am – 11pm
Sunday: 1pm – 11pm

For more information please visit the Quayside Centre Website.

Other car parks will be open, with the exception of the Carlisle Road and Queens Quay car parks which will be closed to facilitate an installation.

• Blue badge holders and disabled car parking

If you’re going to see Compagnie Carabosse’s ‘Fire Garden’ or Ocubo’s ‘Twice Upon a Time’ we have made available dedicated disabled parking in the car park located within the Ebrington site and in the St Columb’s Park just off St Columb’s Road.

For installations in other locations across the city centre, we recommend using car parks that have a number of disabled parking bays available such as Foyleside West, Foyleside East and Quayside.

• Coach parking

To facilitate groups visiting the sites, Foyleside Shopping Centre has 5 spaces for large coaches or 6-7 mini coaches. A drop off arrangement is encouraged by Foyleside management as the coach parking site does not have the capacity to cater for large numbers of vehicles.

Coaches can access the coach park to drop off passengers and they are then encouraged to park at the Lumiere designated coach parking facility at either Fort George (Strand Road) or new Limavady Road Park & Ride sites.

By Rail

Translink NI Railways will be increasing the capacity on scheduled services and operating an additional late night return train services from Belfast.

On Saturday 30 November, there will be two magical family Lumiere train services from Belfast. These special services will include 3 carriages with children’s entertainment and a visit from Santa Claus. Pre-booking for these services is essential. To book please visit the Booking Offices at Central, Great Victoria Street and Coleraine stations from Monday 28 October.

Translink Family and Friends Ticket

Only £20 for up to 2 adults and 4 children (Minimum 1 adult and 1 child)

For more information on all Translink Lumiere deals please visit the Translink website.

For timetable and route information: www.translink.co.uk.

If you’re planning to travel around Northern Ireland, you might also want to check out Trankslink iLink which provides unlimited day, weekly or monthly bus and rail travel within 5 specified zones across Northern Ireland.

By Bus

Ulsterbus operates various scheduled services to and from the airport to the main Bus Depot on Foyle Street in the City centre. Services also operate to and from Limavady. Other Ulsterbus and Translink services from throughout Northern Ireland, including the Maiden City Express from Belfast, terminate in the City’s main bus station at Foyle Street.

Extra Bus Services for Lumiere

The 212 bus will be running at regular internals from Belfast over the Lumiere weekend.

The 274 bus will be running a daily service from Dublin at 1.30pm, returning at 11pm.

For more information please visit the Translink Website.

By Taxi

City Cabs
27-31 William Street, Derry, BT48 6EP
T: 028 7126 4466
E: info@citycabsderry.com
W: www.citycabsderry.com

Derry Taxis
21B Glenbrook Terrace, BT48 0DY
T: 028 7126 0247
E: derrytaxis@btconnect.com
W: www.derrytaxis.ie

Foyle Delta Cabs
10a Newmarket Street, BT48 6EB
T: 028 7127 9999
E: taxi@foyledeltacabs.com
W: www.foyledeltacabs.com

The Taxi Co
3A Lower Clarendon St, BT48 7AH
T: 028 7126 2626

E: ronnie2305@hotmail.co.uk
W: www.thetaxi-co.com

By Coach

Special Coach services to Lumiere will be available on Friday 29 November and Saturday 30 November from:

• Europa Bus Centres
• Enniskillen Bus Centres
• Omagh Bus Centres
• Strabane Bus Centres
• Dungannon Bus Centres
• Cookstown Bus Centres
• Magherafelt Bus Centres
• Dungiven Bus Centres

Coaches will depart Derry~Londonderry, after the event at 22:00 each night.

For more information visit the Translink Website and click here to book online

Food and Drink

Many shops, bars and restaurants will be open, so please call in and support your local businesses.

Bangor Tourist Information Centre is your one stop shop for a stress free Christmas shopping experience, with an array of ideas for gifts and stocking fillers we can help make light work of any Christmas shopping list.

Bangor Tourist Information Centre located at Tower House on Quay Street is a treasure trove of beautiful jewellery, stocking fillers, unique Guinness & Titanic gifts as well as a range of the popular Bog Standard Candles, leather goods, local history books and so much more!

A fantastic new range of Lichfield leather purses and wallets are now available as well as locally crafted jewellery and handmade ceramics which will be sure to please all of your family and friends! For the foodies we have a tasty range including Jameson Fudge, Jameson Whiskey marmalade and Guinness Mustard – perfect stocking fillers.

During November and December our friendly staff will be delighted to offer you a complimentary gift wrapping service to make this a hassle free shopping experience from beginning to end.

Opening Hours:

Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri: 9am-5pm
Wed: 10am-5pm
Sat: 10am-4pm

Closed Christmas Day, Boxing Day, 27 December and New Year’s Day

For more information on the range of gifts available at the Tourist Information Centre call 028 9127 0069 or visit www.northdowntourism.com

A true piece of Christmas magic – believe it or not, this is the 31^st anniversary of the film adaptation of Raymond Biggs enduring Christmas Tale ‘The Snowman’.

Delight your family this Christmas with the enchanting animated film, The Snowman, shown on a big screen, accompanied by St Joseph’s Brass Band as they inject tingle-down-the-spine magic into Howard Blakes uplifting music such as ‘Walking in the air’ – the soundtrack to every child’s Christmas.  Also accompanying St Joseph’s Brass Band will be children singing from Strabane Primary School, St Anne’s Primary School and St Mary’s Primary School, Strabane.

The Snowman tells the tale of when a young boy’s snowman comes to life on Christmas Eve, the two set off on a night-time quest for adventure, meeting penguins, reindeer and naturally, Father Christmas. Watch spellbound as the Snowman flies through the night sky above you, before escaping the clutches of the evil Jack Frost to return home for Christmas morning.  With festive music by the brass band and schools choir to join in with, it’s a great start to Christmas.

This magical event will be at the Alley Theatre from Tuesday 10^th to Thursday 12^th December.  Tickets are £7, £5 (con) available from the Alley Theatre Box Office or online www.alley-theatre.com

The Strabane based, Black Air Theatre Group, has joined focus with a number of local preforming arts schools to script, choreograph and produce a Broadway musical blockbuster event.

Due to take place in December at the Alley Theatre, this special event will be raising money for  Northern Ireland’s leading cancer charity for children and young people, CLIC Sargent and its Home from Home Appeal.

The stage production will feature performances from the Class Act Theatre Group, the Muchado Stage School and the Pop Tap Dance Academy. Over the next few weeks the groups will be working together to select and practice songs from some of Broadway’s most famous musicals including ‘Bugsy Malone’, ‘The Phantom of the Opera, ‘Mamma Mia’ and many more ahead of the gala opening on 6 December 2013.

The proceeds from the event will go to the CLIC Sargent Home from Home Appeal which is aiming to build  to build two specialist houses close to the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children and the Belfast City Hospital, NI Cancer Centre that can be used by families of children and young people that are undergoing a cancer treatment.

A family dealing with childhood cancer in Strabane can face a round trip of 160 miles, several times per week, in order to receive the cancer treatment their child needs. This can lead to additional financial and physical stress at what is already an incredibly difficult time. The CLIC Sargent Homes from Home Appeal aims reduce this stress.

Commenting on the event, organiser, Ryan Quinn said, “Rehearsals are going well and the production is starting to take shape.  Each of the groups involved have been fantastic and are excited about taking to the stage in December and to preform with a live orchestra.

“We’re also delighted to have the opportunity to raise money for the CLIC Sargent, Homes from Home Appeal.  It is such a worthwhile cause and one that everyone is fully behind.”

Christine McClune, Fundraising Manager, CLIC Sargent added, “Having spoken with Ryan I know the show will be a tremendous success.  We’re delighted that the organisers want to help fundraise for CLIC Sargent.  Their efforts are greatly appreciated and will make a big difference in helping us to make the Homes from Home a reality.”

The event will take place on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 December.  For ticket information please contact the box office at the Alley Theatre (028 7138 4444) or visit  www.alley-theatre.com.  Tickets are priced at £8(Full) £5(Conc.). If you would like any information on the show or for how to get involved visit www.ryanquinnmusic.co.uk or call Ryan on 07899964124.

The Ulster Orchestra treats audiences to a very special evening of beautiful music featuring three of the composer Mendelssohn’s most popular pieces for one night only at Theatre at The Mill on Thursday 21^st November.

The performance will open with Mendelssohn’s Overture, inspired by a boat visit to the isle of Staffa in 1829 despite the avid traveller’s seasickness on the journey. The ever-popular Violin Concerto will be played by Támas Kocis, who is also the Ulster Orchestra leader and conductor.

To conclude the evening there will be a piece inspired by Mendelssohn’s memory of a trip to Italy. Sunshine and happiness radiate in equal measure.

Don’t miss this evening of classical symphonies at Theatre at The Mill on Thursday 21^st November. Tickets which cost £18, £16 and £14 can be booked online at www.theatreathemill.com or through Box Office on 028 9034 0202.

Santa on his black Harley Rudi calls in to North Down Museum ahead of the Christmas Market.

The popular Christmas Market makes a return to North Down Museum this Christmas to offer a great range of gifts for the festive season on Saturday 30^th November 2013 and Sunday 1^st December 2013.

There will be a diverse range of stalls offering festive gifts. Products include jewellery and bags, handmade wood, fabric and knitted products, photography, cards and lots more.

Museum Manager Heather McGuicken said “We hope that people will take this opportunity to visit the Christmas Market as they go about their Christmas shopping in Bangor Town Centre. There will be a whole host of unique gifts to buy from talented artists and craftspeople. With the addition of Coffee Cure serving a festive menu with seasonal coffees and it really is well worth a visit and the added bonus of free admission and car parking, you never know, Santa may even make an appearance!”

For further information, please phone the Museum on: 028 9127 1200 or visit www.northdownmuseum.com

Bangor’s annual Christmas Light Switch On will commence at 5.30pm on Saturday, 23^rd November, when crowds will gather in Castle Park in front of The Town Hall to watch the skies above Bangor come alive with a spectacular fireworks display before the Christmas tree lights are ceremoniously switched on.

This year, Myah Nihell, the winner of The Mayor’s Christmas Card Competition will have the very important job of switching on the lights in front of a packed Castle Park.

Myah, a P4 pupil from Ballyholme Primary School, entered the recent Junior Spectator competition to design a Christmas card and her beautiful “Santa’s Pickie Puffer” creation was chosen by The Mayor, Councillor Andrew Muir, as the lucky winner. As well as switching on the lights on November 23rd, Myah’s picture will also be used as the design for this year’s Mayor’s Christmas card. Commenting on her win, Myah exclaimed: “I’ve never won anything before!  I’m looking forward to pressing the big button to turn the lights on; I hope The Mayor has checked all the bulbs!”

There will also be a variety of food traders on the site providing an array of hot food and beverages to stave off the cold. Treat yourself to a crepe or a coffee to keep warm whilst watching the fireworks.

Commenting on the event, Alison Stobie, Tourism Manager, North Down Borough Council, said, “The switching on of the Bangor Christmas tree lights is the perfect event to make everyone in the family feel like the festive season has arrived, wrap up warmly and come along and enjoy the show.”

She went on to say; “On a more serious note, please make sure to follow all safety instructions on the night. As well as producing an amazing show, safety is our priority at this event, so it is extremely important that you obey health & safety rules and co-operate fully with the marshals. Remember also that due to the volume of people it may be necessary to close some roads and the Omniplex cinema and The Aurora should be temporarily accessed from the Gransha Road between 5pm and 6pm.”

For further information, please phone our Tourist Information Centre on: 028 9127 0069 or visit www.northdowntourism.com

The search to find Northern Ireland’s top pubs came to a dramatic conclusion this week, as the cream of the local hospitality industry gathered at La Mon Hotel & Country Club to toast the trade at Pubs of Ulster’s Pub of the Year Awards 2013.

Forty shortlisted premises from right across Northern Ireland went head to head to be named the best in a range of categories. There could only be one winner for the coveted overall Pub of the Year Award – which was clinched by The Harbour Bar in Portrush.

As well as taking the top Pub of the Year title on the night, The Harbour Bar also won the Best Charity Initiative Award for their extensive fundraising work for various charities.

Celebrating the award wins, Fionn McAlpine, The Harbour Bar said:

“Being named Northern Ireland’s Pub of the Year is a real honour; we’re delighted, especially as we were up against some tough competition. We are also thrilled to be awarded for our charity work, led by Willie Greg, who has raised so much for various causes, including Willie’s Orphan Fund, which he set up after the Boxing Day tsunami to help Thai orphans.

“Our entire team works so hard and to have this dedication and commitment recognised by Pubs of Ulster is a tremendous achievement; it provides a real incentive for us to keep up our hard work and live up to the prestigious title of Pub of the Year.

“It is always our top priority to showcase Northern Ireland hospitality at its best and I would like to thank all our great staff for their hard work and dedication, which made these award wins possible.”

A further six awards were handed out at the ceremony, hosted by Apprentice star, Jim Eastwood.

In a first for the Pub of the Year Awards, there was a double winner in one of the categories, with two of the five shortlisted for Best Barperson (in partnership with The Sunday Life) being crowned winners. Margaret Ferguson from The Lakeside in Ballydugan, Co. Down and Maggie McGaughey from The Front Page in Ballymena were both deemed to be exemplary and were named winners in the category, which was the only category that invited nominations from the public – through The Sunday Life newspaper.

Belfast was strongly represented on the night with three of the big winners from the city: The Limelight (Best Entertainment); The Garrick (Best Big Idea) and The Hudson Bar (Best New/Improved).

Further afield, The Elk in Toomebridge clinched the Best Food Award and The Wild Duck Inn won the Best Marketing Initiative Award.

Commenting on the awards, Mark Stewart, chairman of Pubs of Ulster, said:

“The standard of entries received for this year’s Pub of the Year Awards was exceptionally high and the 40 shortlisted premises are prime examples of the world-class pubs that we have here in Northern Ireland.

“Our pubs play a vital role in their communities and an even more important role in our economy and as part of our cultural, leisure and tourism offering. Pubs of Ulster’s Pub of the Year Awards recognise and reward excellence in our industry and shine a spotlight on the best businesses in the hospitality industry.

“I would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners, and in particular The Harbour Bar on their success at the Awards. I would also like to commend all of our shortlisted pubs and Barpeople from across Northern Ireland, which each play their part in creating a rich and diverse pub trade of which we should all be proud.”

The Pub of the Year Awards is the culmination of an extensive search for the best pubs in a range of categories across Northern Ireland.

The Pub of the Year’s expert judging panel consisted of mentalist and hospitality expert, David Meade; drinks industry veterans, Padraig Cribben (CEO, Vintners Federation Ireland), Norman Trotter (former head of C&C), Terry Loughins (former Diageo) & Maire Campbell (former Coca-Cola); marketing whiz, Enda McShane (Velocity Worldwide); retail specialist, Hugh Black (formerly Victoria Square, Belfast); Martin Breen, editor, Sunday Life, Nicola Daly, Hospitality Review, Symon Ross, editor, Ulster Business and top business journalists from Northern Ireland’s main daily newspapers.

After rigorous judging by the panel, the shortlisted pubs from across Northern Ireland were put through their paces with mystery shoppers visiting their premises, ensuring they adhere to best industry standards before the winners were decided.

The Pub of the Year Awards are the only industry recognised awards. This year’s awards were supported by Belfast Distillery Company, Britvic, Coca-Cola, Diageo, Dillon Bass, Drinks Inc, Heineken Northern Ireland, Molson Coors, Richmond Marketing, Tennent’s NI and media partners, Sunday Life, U105 and Hospitality Review NI.

For more information on the Pub of the Year Awards 2013, visit www.nipuboftheyear.com

TV and Stand Up comedian David O’Doherty will be coming to the Alley Theatre on Saturday 30^th November with his new show ‘David O’Doherty Will Try to Fix Everything’.

David O’Doherty, the Ryanair James Bond, the Kevin McCloud of the tiny keyboard, former Miss Ireland, the offspring of Shannon/Pete Doherty, his new look is ‘Jaws era Steven Spielberg’, recipient of the 2008 Edinburgh Comedy Award and inventor of the last remaining swimming stroke ‘the squid’ (on back, feet first), has written a new comedy show with both talking and songs.

Having scaled the heights of telemarketing and temping, David O’Doherty first stepped on stage at Dublin’s Comedy Cellar in 1998. In 1999 he won the Channel 4’s ‘So You Think You’re Funny’ award for new comedians and was runner up in the BBC New Comedy Awards.

His first full show ‘The Story of the Boy Who Saved Comedy’ was performed at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2000 and received a nomination for Best Newcomer. He has returned to the festival six more times, his 2006 show ‘David O’Doherty is my name’ receiving a nomination for best show and his 2008 show ‘Let’s Comedy’ won the if.comedy Award (former Perrier) for Best Show.

He has performed around the world at festivals in Melbourne, Montreal, New York and Wellington. He has toured around Ireland with Tommy Tiernan, around Britain with Rich Hall and recently around America with Demetri Martin.

In 2006 he recorded his first CD “Giggle Me Timbers (or ‘Jokes Ahoy!’)” at home in his flat in front of 35 people. His first television series ‘The Modest Adventures of David O’Doherty’ was transmitted on RTE in Ireland in 2007.

He has written widely for newspapers and magazines, published a book for children, written a play (‘Saddled’, with Bryan Quinn – the world’s first theatrical production to feature live repair of audience members’ bicycles), and a radio series about bee detectives with his brother Mark (‘The Bees of Manulla’ RTE). He is currently writing a book about panda.

Don’t miss David in action in his new show.  Tickets are £14, £12 (con).  For more information and to book tickets contact the Alley Theatre Box Office on 028 71 384444 or online www.alley-theatre.com

This year’s Holywood Christmas Switch On which is taking place on Saturday 30^th November will see a number of local organisations working together in partnership to bring the event to the people of Holywood.

North Down Borough Council, Bangor & Holywood Town Centre Management, Holywood & District Community Council, The Ulster Folk & Transport Museum and Holywood Library will all be coming together to provide various aspects of the day which will kick off Christmas in Holywood Town Centre.

The event’s action-packed programme will include entertainment for all the family and the highlight of the day will be Santa arriving on a Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service fire engine to help The Mayor, Councillor Andrew Muir switch on the lights at 4.30pm. The switch on will be taking place at the Christmas tree outside Holywood Library.

Throughout the afternoon, there will be lively performances outside The Library from The Red Hot Santa’s. Wearing their fantastic Santa outfits, this festive group will perform funk, ska and calypso with a serious sense of humour! The Ulster Folk & Transport Museum will be providing some interesting characters to liven up the event also.

There are a host of other things happening throughout the day too. Come along and enjoy The Christmas Market which is taking place on High Street.  From 11am, over 30 unusual stalls, from local traders, will be selling their Christmas themed wares with plenty of delicious food on offer too.

There are activities taking place inside The Library too where The Library & Holywood District & Community Council are running an action-packed programme (from 12) which will include children’s activities, crafts and demonstrations.

Commenting on the event, North Down Borough Council’s Tourism Manager; “Alison Stobie said: Everyone is invited to come along to Holywood to soak up the atmosphere of the Christmas Switch On and enjoy a day of good cheer with lots of Christmas shopping and don’t forget the whole event is free!”

Also commenting on the day, Town Centre Manager Stephen Dunlop said: “Holywood always produces an excellent Christmas fair and every year it’s different and exceptionally well supported. Saturday 30^th November will be a magical day and Santa will be on the street collecting Christmas letters from all the children so I would advise get there early and shop local this Christmas.”

For more info contact Bangor Tourist Information Centre on (028) 9127 0069 or visit northdowntourism.com.