“Still the sexiest and funniest show in town”

Evening Standard

THE NEW 40^th ANNIVERSARY PRODUCTION OF

THE LEGENDARY MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA IS COMING

TO THE MILLENNIUM FORUM

2 – 7 SEPTEMBER 2013

TICKETS ON SALE NOW!

The Rocky Horror Show 40th Anniversary production is coming to the Millennium Forum between 2 – 7 September as part of its year-long run. Ben Forster, who won the ITV1 series Superstar and then went on to play the lead in Jesus Christ Superstar, will star as Brad. West End actor Oliver Thornton, who has appeared in Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Phantom Of the Opera, Les Miserables, Chicago and Starlight Express, stars as the lead character Frank ‘n’ Furter. Philip Franks, from The Darling Buds of May and Heartbeat, plays the Narrator.

Since its first appearance at the Royal Court Theatre in June 1973, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show has become the world’s favourite Rock N’ Roll musical. It has been performed worldwide for nearly 40 years in over 30 countries in every continent and has been translated into more than 20 languages. To celebrate the 40^th anniversary, Christopher Luscombe has created a new production for a year-long UK tour.

This musical extravaganza will feature all of its famous musical classics including “Science Fiction/Double Feature”, “Dammit Janet” and of course, the timeless floor-filler, “The Time-Warp”.

The Rocky Horror Show tells the story of Brad and his fiancée Janet, two squeaky clean college kids who meet Dr Frank ’n’ Furter by chance when their car breaks down outside his house, whilst on their way to visit their former college professor. It is an adventure they’ll never forget, with fun, frolics, frocks, and frivolity, bursting with timeless songs and outrageous outfits. Directed by Christopher Luscombe, The Rocky Horror Show is a guaranteed party, which famously combines science-fiction, horror, comedy and music and encourages audience participation meaning, of course, getting dressed in your most outrageous fancy dress.

Ready to thrill you with fun and naughty moments, O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show is the boldest bash of them all. Be warned, this show has rude parts!

The Rocky Horror Show performs at the Millennium Forum from Mon 2^nd to Sat 7^th September.  Tickets are now available from the Box Office.  Telephone 71 264455 or visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk for bookings.

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland over the next week (May 20 – 26).

• Continental Market comes to Newcastle, Co. Down May 21 – 22.  The Continental Market is once again coming to Newcastle, with a variety of continental foods and crafts, with something for everyone to enjoy.

• Ballyclare May Fair, Ballyclare Town Centre, Co. Antrim, May 21 – 26.  The picturesque market town will be a hive of activity with the traditional horse fair, continental market, fun fair, craft stalls and live music.

• Blues on the Bay Festival, Warrenpoint, Co. Down, 22 – 27 May.  Now in its 15th year, The ‘International Guinness Blues on the Bay Festival’ started out with only 20 gigs and has now progressed into one of the World’s most popular blues festivals.  Enjoy five days of blues music featuring world class international Jazz and Blues performers.  As well as this there will be music workshops, a picnic and a busking competition.

• Crazy Sheep Racing, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim, May 24 -16. This event has been taking place for a number of years and will see sheep race around a track in Ballycastle with all proceeds being donated to charity.  The event will also include pony rides, pony trekking, boating, go-karting and farm tours on the Paddy Wagon.

• Armagh City Craft Fair, Market Place Theatre and Arts Centre, Co. Armagh, May 24 – 25.  This year the craft fair promises to be bigger and better with more craft stalls selling high quality and affordable craft including textiles, jewellery, glass, ceramics and wood.  There will also be craft demonstrations and workshops available for children and adults.

• European Parks Day, Roe Valley Country Park, Co. Londonderry, May 25.  This event aims to promote protected areas and the sustainable management of landscapes, fauna and flora.  There will be a brief talk about the history of the park as well as a walk through the wooded area and along the river.

• Belfast Titanic Maritime Festival, various venues, Belfast, May 25 – 27.  This festival will celebrate the city’s unique maritime heritage alongside Titanic activities that will include tours, talks, exhibitions and drama as well as family friendly entertainment and music throughout the three days.

• Big Foot Walk 2013, through the parks and country lanes of Tyrone and Armagh, May 26.   An endurance walking event linking the historic towns of Dungannon and Armagh and two of the most historic sites in Ireland, O’Neill’s Castle and Navan Fort.  The route twists through the parks and country lanes of Tyrone and Armagh for 18 miles.  Make sure to bring walking shoes, sensible clothing, light rain gear, a mobile phone and walking stick/poles.

• Country Fair, Florence Court, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, May 26.  Enjoy this annual country fair which will have a variety of local craft stalls, you can also see beautiful vintage vehicles and meet some interesting rare breeds.

• Jazz in the Gardens, Mount Stewart, Newtownards, Co. Down, May 26.  Bring your picnic and settle down with your family and friends to enjoy an afternoon of jazz in the beautiful setting of the lawns at the front of the house.

“ONE OF THE BEST STAND-UP COMICS OUT THERE…PACKED WITH DEFT SILLINESS AND SHREWD OBSERVATION” Guardian

Following the phenomenal success of the Australian and UK Tours of Life Is Pain in 2012 (his first live Stand-up show for more than a decade), a critically acclaimed tour of New Zealand and two nights at London’s Hammersmith Apollo earlier this year, Alan Davies – the much-loved star of iconic television series such as Jonathan Creek and QI – will tour the UK again this Autumn due to popular demand.

Alan began his career in stand-up comedy in 1988 and was runner-up in the City Limits New Act of the Year contest 1989. He was named Time Out Best Young Comic in 1991 and made his network television debut on Tonight with Jonathan Ross in 1992. In 1993 two appearances on C4’s Viva Cabaret led to a nomination for a British Comedy Award as Best Newcomer.

In 1994 he won an Edinburgh Festival Critics Award for Comedy and a Perrier Award Nomination and the show was released on VHS as Live At The Lyric. The following year he appeared at the Montreal, Melbourne and Auckland Comedy Festivals and was nominated for a British Comedy Award as Best Stand-Up Comedian..

In 1996 he took the eponymous role of Jonathan Creek, written by David Renwick. The show ran for 14 years and has been seen by audiences worldwide. A special episode was filmed earlier this year and is due to be transmitted this Easter.

His 1998 show, Urban Trauma ran at the Duchess Theatre before touring the UK and was recorded for a DVD and shown on BBC1 with a documentary series about the tour, Stand-Up with Alan Davies.

In 2001 Alan took the role of Bob in Russel T.Davies’ Bob & Rose for which he was awarded Best Actor in a Drama at the Monte Carlo Television Awards.

In 2002, he starred in Auntie and Me by Morris Panych for another sell-out season at Edinburgh before transferring to the Wyndham’s Theatre for a four month West End run. That same year Alan took part in a comedy pilot hosted by Stephen Fry. QI has subsequently run every year since 2003.

The lead role in two series of the ITV1 legal drama, The Brief, followed, and in 2009 Penguin published his first book, My Favourite People 1978-1988 which was adapted into a three part documentary series for Channel 4 called Teenage Revolution (also the title for the paperback).

In 2010 he took the lead role of chef Roland White in the BBC2 sitcom Whites and in 2011 Alan co-wrote and starred in a short film for Sky One as part of their Little Crackers Christmas season before returning to Australia for a successful tour of QI Live followed by a sell-out tour of his new stand-up show, Life Is Pain.

Alan’s performance of Life Is Pain was recorded at HMV Hammersmith Apollo earlier this year and will be released on DVD in November 2013.

Alan Davies performs at the Millennium Forum on Sat 30^th November. Tickets are now available from the Box Office.  Telephone 71 264455 or visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk for bookings.

Down

The Action for Biodiversity Project is hosting a free interactive Family Fun Day at Kilbroney Park on Saturday 18^th May to give you the opportunity to discover more about the importance of animals, plants and people in our everyday lives across Ireland. For all our County Down events click HERE.

Tyrone

The fabulous Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fair will be returning to the historic home of Lissan House, Cookstown on Sunday 19th May from 12-5pm with another extravaganza of vintage and handmade treasures for sale, nostalgia and fun.  30 quality exhibitors will be selling authentic vintage and handmade fashion, jewellery, furniture, homewares, art, crafts, gifts and sweet treats – most of which can’t be found on the high street. Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore 400 years of history around Lissan House and gardens, before relaxing and refreshing in the Lissan Tea Room.  Lissan House will also be running a Family Treasure Hunt in the grounds of the Lissan Estate on the day.  Admission will cost £5 for adults, and accompanied children (under 15s) go free.  For all our County Tyrone listings click  HERE.

Fermanagh

The 10th Borderline Arts Festival takes place on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th May 2013. Entries are now invited for a range of Speech and Drama, Music, Singing, Art, Creative Writing and Photography competitions. Entries accepted from those between the ages of 4 and 18 and a great selection of prizes is on offer.  For all our County Fermanagh listings click  HERE.

Derry

Adapted from the book by Janet and Allan Ahlberg, ‘Each Peach Pear Plum’ is a game of ‘I spy’ for little ones and their families from Puppet Lab Theatre. ‘Tom Thumb’s in the cupboard, Mother Hubbard’s on the stairs, Where are the Three Bears?’ The setting is a delightful green meadow with a river running through it. With songs and music the production brings to life a variety of nursery rhyme characters played by a wide range of puppets, all on their way to Mother Hubbard’s for some Plum Pie. Friday 17th May at the Bridewell Magherafelt at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Suitable for age 3+.  For all our County Derry/Londonderry listings click HERE.

Armagh

The Apple Blossom Tractor Road Run starts at Peatlands Country Park, just off junction 13 on the M1 motorway at 11am on Saturday 18^th. After some 20 – 25 miles of route the run stops in Loughgall Football club for a bit of lunch then back to the Peatlands Park. In it’s 11^th year the Tractor Run now attracts over 100 plus tractors each year and is a great day out for the tractor drivers and followers.  All proceeds will go to Orthopaedic Research in Musgrave Park Hospital.   For all our County Armagh listings click HERE.

Antrim

The best of amateur theatre comes to Theatre at The Mill all week until Saturday, staging 6 days of top quality drama, competing for the Grand Opera House Premier Award.  Under the adjudication of Mr Walker Ewart, a range of dramas are expected to engage, unsettle, shock, provoke and delight audiences performed by 6 amateur theatre groups who recently qualified in the regional full length play festivals.  For all County Antrim listings click HERE.

Belfast

Get those braincells moving with an entertaining Sunday afternoon quiz on board the Belfast Barge.  Great prizes will be awarded to the winning team.  For all our Belfast events listings click HERE.

Millennium Forum – Mon 17^th to Sat 22^nd June

For over 50 years, Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap has been the world’s longest running stage production. The first ever tour of the record-breaking production opened on 11 September 2012 in Canterbury and will tour through 2013 due to unprecedented demand. It arrives at the Millennium Forum for one week only on Monday 17^th May.

The cast for the second leg of the tour includes: Steven France (Eastenders, The Bill) as Christopher Wren, Karl Howman (Brush Strokes) as Mr Paravicini, Bruno Langley (Coronation Street, Doctor Who) as Giles Ralston, Graham Seed (Yes, Prime Minister UK Tour, BBC Radio 4’s The Archers) as Major Metcalf and Jemma Walker (Family Affairs, Eastenders) as Mollie Ralston. Elizabeth Power (EastEnders) as Mrs Boyle and Clare Wilkie (Eastenders) will play Miss Casewell.  Bob Saul will reprise his West End role as Sgt Trotter.

This classic murder mystery play is now in its 60^th year in London’s West End. Agatha Christie’s grandson, Mathew Prichard welcomed the audience for this diamond jubilee celebratory evening, which was also the 25,000^th performance.

Mousetrap Productions has licensed 60 productions of The Mousetrap world-wide to mark the 60^th year. During this period the world’s longest running show will be seen in every continent, with professional productions scheduled for Australia, China, Korea, Turkey, South Africa, Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Poland, Spain, Scandinavia, Venezuela, and across the United States and Canada.

The Mousetrap performs at the Millennium Forum from Mon 17^th to Sat 22^nd June.  Tickets are now available from the Box Office.  Telephone 71 264455 or visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk for bookings.

This July and August will see Groomsport embrace its Ulster-Scots heritage with the Ulster-Scots Agency and North Down Borough Council joining together to put on traditional Ulster-Scots entertainment in the village.

The entertainment will take place at Cockle Row Cottages, beside Groomsport Harbour, beginning Saturday 6 July with music and dance, and then each Sunday, through July and August, there will be a mix of traditional Ulster-Scots music, dancing, pipers and baking. The first weekend in September will see the season close with an Ulster-Scots / Eagle Wing finale including music, dancing, children’s entertainment, baking and period re-enactors.

Groomsport’s Ulster-Scots connections date back to the settlements of Sir James Hamilton at the turn of the 17^th Century. During this early period Groomsport became known as a busy working port with ships passing back and forth from Scotland for both legal and illegal trade!

Groomsport was also where the ship Eagle Wing departed. The ship built to carry Presbyterian settlers to America at the time when they were suffering persecution in Ulster. On 9 September 1636, 140 passengers departed for the “New World”. The voyage however came to an end with fierce storms off Newfoundland, forcing its return on 3 November 1636 and dropping anchor in Carrickfergus.

The settlements as a whole saw hundreds immigrate to these lands, their influence largely responsible for shaping Ulster as we know it today.

The entertainment this summer will aim to celebrate these Ulster-Scots connections and the influence it has had on our culture and entertainment ever since.

Cockle Row Cottages are open weekends in May then daily from 1 June, 11am– 5pm with free family entertainment each weekend from 2pm-4pm. In addition to the Ulster-Scots content the programme features children’s entertainment including face painting, magic shows, animal road shows, along with music and craft fairs to name a few.

For further information contact Bangor Tourist Information Centre 028 9127 0069, email tic@northdown.gov.uk or visit www.northdowntourism.com

Friday 10^th May saw the launch of the exciting Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival, set to be one of the highlight events of the summer, beginning later this month on 24 May.

The launch event was held at Portnagree House Harbour & Marina Visitor Centre in Ballycastle, the building that is home to the Harbour Master’s office and the Visitor Information Centre and offers impressive facilities for both visitors and locals. The launch event was organised and hosted by Caroline Carey, Acting Tourism Development Manager for Moyle District Council and John Morton, Harbour Master for Moyle District Council, both part of the Festival steering group.

Moyle District Council Chairman Cllr Sandra Hunter welcomed everyone to the launch event and paid tribute to the work of the Festival steering group and all the organisations involved for their efforts to put together such an exciting programme of activities throughout the Festival dates of 24 May to 02 June 2013.  The Festival has been organised by a team comprising Moyle District Council tourism and marina staff, Rathlin Development and Community Association, Ballycastle Community Development Group and Ballycastle Chamber of Commerce.  Michael Cecil, Chair of Rathlin Development and Community Association, Paul Kerrigan Chair of the Ballycastle Community Development Group and Mary O’Driscoll, Chair of Ballycastle Chamber of Commerce all spoke at the launch to welcome the guests and acknowledge the strong working relationships between the Festival team and outside organisations which has demonstrated how the local area and local businesses can be successfully promoted through this and other exciting tourism events in the Moyle area.  A host of other organisations from across NI and beyond are also involved and will be running activities during the Festival, including Ulster Wildlife Trust, NI Environment Agency, Bushmills Distillery, NI Libraries, National Trust Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre, Ballycastle Market and many more with representatives present at the launch event.

Guests were treated to samples of the excellent local produce available in Moyle with catering by local cafe Thyme & Co and Morton’s Fish Shop, provided courtesy of Malin Waters and their Sail West programme, with the focus on seafood to tie in with the overall maritime theme of the Festival.

Heavy showers didn’t dampen enthusiasm at the event with guests also visiting Ballycastle marina to see the iconic Colmcille currach, currently moored in Ballycastle and soon to head to Iona in the Western Isles of Scotland before making the return journey to Rathlin Island to take part in the Festival later this month.

The full programme of activities has recently been released for the first Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival which will run from Friday 24th May to 2nd June 2013. Programs with full activity listings as well as tickets for the music events are now available from Ballycastle Visitor Information Centre at Portnagree House on Bayview Road.  Headline acts include among others Bap Kennedy, Bagatelle and Skerryvore.

The Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival is aimed at celebrating and promoting local maritime heritage, history, culture, music and food and has grown out of a number of conversations within local communities as well as last year’s successful Sailing Regatta. There has also been great interest from various organisations throughout Northern Ireland and beyond to participate.

This festival is centred on Rathlin Sound, the body of water that lies between Rathlin and Ballycastle and is about inspiring a passion for the sea by bringing together a rich mix of activities and events both on the sea and on land with an overall maritime theme. Events will focus on Ballycastle for the opening weekend and Rathlin for the closing weekend with plenty of activities in both locations throughout the Festival dates.

With on the water and seaside based ‘get involved’ activities including kayaking, diving, paddleboarding, surfing and more, historic and modern sea craft, dinghy and yacht racing, competitions, local and historic talks, tours, guided walks, open days and exhibitions there will be something to interest everyone including plenty of family friendly activities. The Festival will also include a special seafood themed food and craft market with cookery demonstrations, and a Can’t Cook Won’t Cook challenge by local Councillors. Local cafes, bars and restaurants will also be offering special menus and events throughout the event to celebrate our unique food offering. In the evenings there will be a wealth of entertainment to choose from including music, drama and films including great local, national and international singers and bands.

Full details of all activities and events can be found in the Festival program available at Ballycastle Visitor Information Centre and online on Moyle’s new tourism website at www.heartofthecausewaycoastandglens.com,  and also on facebook at www.facebook/HeartofCCAG or the festivals dedicated page as well as on twitter @heartofccag

Head to Ballycastle and Rathlin Island at the heart of the Causeway Coast and Glens this bank holiday weekend 24 May to 02 June for a fantastic family friendly event listed as one of the top events for this year in the NITB International Visitor Guide, on The Gathering website and in Belfast Telegraph’s Ultimate Events Guide for NI.

FIRST DETAILS FOR 2013 PROGRAMME ANNOUNCED

The organisers are pleased to announce first details of the second HAPPY DAYS Enniskillen International Beckett Festival, which will take place 22-26 August 2013, in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. www.happy-days-enniskillen.com.

The HAPPY DAYS Enniskillen International Beckett Festival is the world’s largest annual multi-arts celebration of Irish Nobel Prize writer, Samuel Beckett, who attended Portora Royal School in the island town. The inaugural festival took place in August 2012 to critical acclaim and full houses, attracting audiences from far and wide with an estimated economic benefit of £2.5m.

The festival will present the first major exhibition of material pertaining to Beckett’s work since 2007 (Centre Pompidou, Paris). “Was I sleeping, while the others suffered” Samuel Beckett: Witness to the Twentieth Century, will be curated by Conor Carville and Mark Nixon (Beckett International Foundation, University of Reading) and will explore the hidden politics of Beckett’s work and life through manuscripts, memorabilia and letters.

The festival organisers are delighted to be working with the Irish Museum of Modern Art to present Neil Jordan’s multi-screen installation Not I, featuring Julianne Moore. Further installations will include Romeo Castelluci’s Paradiso, and Tomoko Mukaiyama & Jean Kalman’s Falling, and Robert Wilson’s Winona Ryder video portrait.

The Beckett International Theatre Series will present productions of Beckett plays from Portugal, France, Australia and Ireland. Two Portuguese companies,Teatro Plastico and Espaco das Aguncheiras will each present a Beckett Cycle of short plays: Rough for Theatre 2, What is the word and What Where; and Rockaby, Come & Go, Words & Music, Ohio Impromptu and Footfalls.

Wits’ EndTheatre (Australia) and Blue Raincoat Theatre (Ireland) will present two opposing performances of Endgame. In a groundbreaking event, Aboriginal Australia and Ireland will meet as cultural nations in Two Nations Waiting for Godot, A First Reading, the initial part of a festival commission for 2014.

Words without Acts will feature a series of readings in unusual places of Beckett’s much-neglected short prose works, including one of the earliest tales, Dante and the Lobster. “Words Without Acts” will stage some thirty unrehearsed readings in unusual places in and around Enniskillen. “Tellers” of the tales will include Juliet Stevenson, Diana Quick and Neil Pearson.

This year’s literary programme, entitled Writers & Artists The Talks (WATT), will include contributions from Beckett biographer Anthony Cronin alongside Tariq Ali, Margaret Drabble, John Gray, A.C Grayling, Kathleen Jamie, John Montague, and Tom Paulin, who will share their memories, recollections, thoughts and ideas about Beckett’s life, work and influence.

Further exhibitions will include Parallel Lines, paintings by William Scott and texts by Beckett, two schoolboy sons of Enniskillen, and a series of Jocelyn Herbert’s theatre designs for Beckett’s productions. There will be another chance to see Antony Gormley’s Tree for Waiting for Godot and Joseph Kosuth’s installation, Texts for Nothing (Enniskillen).

The Vienna Piano Trio returns to HAPPY DAYS to open the proceedings with a performance of Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time. The festival’s annual recital of Schubert’s Winterreise, will be performed this year by Florian Boesch (baritone) and Roger Vignoles (piano).

Dante’s Divine Comedy trilogy, Beckett’s favourite literary work, will be one of the inspirations for this year’s festival. Audiences will be invited to descend into Inferno, journey through Purgatorio and rise up to Paradiso in a series of art, music and extraordinary site-specific literary events staged in unusual and surprising places including underground caves, outlying islands, grand castles, subterranean walkways and hilltop schoolhouses.

The FAB Programme (Fooling Around Beckett) will be in a new strand this year that will acknowledge the inspiration Beckett drew for his stagecraft and tragicomedy from the world of mime, cirque, clown, music hall, slapstick and buffoonery. Acts of French mime and clown, and English comedy and music-hall will culminate in the inaugural The Happy Days Beckett-Dante Carnivale, a Sunday tragicomic street parade of Beckett and Dante characters and themes, with the participation of local residents and festival contributors.

Sean Doran, Festival Founder & Artistic Director said:

“Following last year’s inaugural success, I am delighted to be announcing the second HAPPY DAYS festival. This year’s festival will be every bit as ambitious as the last, permeating the fabric of Enniskillen and its environs in a celebration of Beckett that goes far beyond the usual treatment of his work. Dante’s Divine Comedy which so inspired Beckett, has been our inspiration also, and has given shape to what I believe will be an enticing programme and an extraordinary five days in “Beckett Town”.”

Tourism Minister Arlene Foster said: “Last year’s inaugural HAPPY DAYS Enniskillen International Beckett Festival was a huge success in terms of numbers of festival-goers, ticket sales and the quality of performances. It set incredibly high standards and I am very confident that 2013 will see the bar raised further still. The diverse nature of the programme of events ensures that there is something for everyone, from Beckett aficionados to those who are experiencing his works for the first time. The rich cultural heritage of Fermanagh, and indeed Northern Ireland, is increasingly attractive to visitors and events such as the HAPPY DAYS Festival can only enhance our tourism offering.”

Noirin McKinney Director of Arts Development at the Arts Council of Northern Ireland commented: “The Arts Council is delighted to support the HAPPY DAYS Enniskillen International Beckett Festival.  With a packed programme featuring a range of quality visual arts, local and international theatre, film, music and literary events, there’s certainly something to suit all tastes and I would encourage everyone to go along and support this impressive festival.”

Neil Morton, Headmaster of Portora Royal School, Enniskillen said:

“We are delighted to be associated again with an International event of such prestige which celebrates the contribution to world culture of one of our past students. The Festival acknowledges not only the formative influence of the school on Sam Beckett but the central role the school has played in the county of Fermanagh”.

Chairman of Fermanagh District Council Thomas O’Reilly said;
“Fermanagh District Council is delighted that the Enniskillen International Beckett Festival – HAPPY DAYS – has confirmed its return in 2013. Last year’s festival exceeded all expectations and we look forward to another tremendous weekend where visitors and residents can experience the very best of all things Beckett. We recognise that the festival is an ideal platform on which to showcase Enniskillen as a centre for the arts, culture and heritage. As well as being Ireland’s only island town we are convinced that the festival will make Enniskillen world renowned for being Beckett town”

The full HAPPY DAYS programme will be announced in June 2013. Tickets will be available from www.happy-days-enniskillen.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 (May 13 – 19).

• International North West 200, Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine, Co. Londonderry, May 12 – 18.  This annual event is one of the world’s top three motorcycle road races ranked alongside the Isle of Man TT.  The adrenaline-packed race follows the famous triangle circuit between the towns of Portrush, Portstewart and Coleraine.

• Ulster Drama Festival, Theatre at the Mill, Carnmoney, Co. Antrim, May 13 – 18.  The best of amateur drama comes to Theatre at the Mill with six days of top quality drama which will unsettle, shock, provoke and delight audiences and will compete for the Grand Opera House Premier Award.

• Balmoral Show, Balmoral Park, Lisburn, Co. Down, May 15 – 17.  This show offers an extravaganza of colour, competition and showmanship along with daily displays of pedigree horses, ponies, cattle, sheep, poultry, pigs and goats.

• Hidden Treasures – Children’s Theatre Festival, Ebrington Centre, Co. Londonderry, May 16- 23.  Hidden Treasures will feature a fantastic line-up of shows, as well as a ‘Festival in a Day’ with lots of family friendly activities and workshops.

• Garden Festival, Hillsborough Castle and Gardens, Co. Down, May 17 – 19.  This year’s event will feature over 200 exhibitors and promises to offer something for every generation.  Visitors will be treated to three days of garden shows, plants and flowers, garden ideas and demonstrations and expert advice.  There will also be lots of children’s gardening fun including wheelbarrow races.

• Himalayan Balsam Bashing, meeting place at Moneypenny’s Lock House, Lurgan, Co. Armagh, May 18.  Calling all keen environmentalists or those with a love of the great outdoors! Join in to help remove the Himalayan Balsam, an invasive species that is threatening the Bann Towpath’s woodland and native species.

• Lord Mayor’s Party, Belfast City Hall, Belfast, May 18.  The Belfast City Hall will come alive with the sound of music as it hosts the first-ever Lord Mayor’s Party with a free live concert featuring performances by X Factor stars Matt McCardle and Misha B.  Tickets available from Belfast Welcome Centre from Tuesday May 7 at 9am.

• Waterways Ireland – Me Too, Share Holiday Village, Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh, May 18.  Waterways Ireland is working with Share to offer a reduced water sports fun day for people with disabilities, ethnic minorities and low income families to help promote the range of opportunities available to marginalised communities.

• Frock Around the Clock Vintage Fair & Family Treasure Hunt, Lissan House, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, May 19.  30 quality exhibitors will be selling authentic vintage and handmade fashion, jewellery, furniture, homewares, art, crafts, gifts and sweet treats – most of which can’t be found on the high street.  Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore 400 years of history around Lissan House and gardens.

• The Earhart Festival, various locations throughout the city of Derry, May 19 – 25.  The Earhart Festival is one of the city’s leading community festivals.  For 2013, the theme of the festival is ‘Connecting Worlds Apart’, celebrating community arts, courage, innovation and creative expression in the City of Culture.  Over 40 events including the prestigious Amelia Earhart Awards and the Earhart Flappers Ball have been planned.

Tour tickets for the SS Nomadic, the vessel affectionately known as Titanic’s ‘little sister’ are now available on line (12 noon Friday 10^th May) as the last surviving White Star Line vessel gears up for its official opening at the end of May.

For the last seven years, the vessel has undergone an extensive £9m restoration project and will be open to the public from 1st June.  Visitors to the ship will be accommodated via a series of pre bookable tours, details of which are now available on the SS Nomadic’s website on www.nomadicbelfast.com

Denis Rooney CBE, Chairman of the Nomadic Charitable Trust said: “We are delighted to be in a position to start taking tour bookings for the vessel when she opens to the public in June.  The SS Nomadic is a totally unique link with Belfast’s rich maritime history and I’m confident that when visitors start arriving in June they will be impressed by the level of detail and craftsmanship that has gone into restoring one of Belfast’s most important surviving ships of the last century.

He added: “Few attractions around the world can claim the direct Titanic lineage the SS Nomadic can and her opening will add another important dimension to the huge success story which Titanic Belfast has helped to drive over the last year.”

The SS Nomadic was purchased at auction by the Department for Social Development and was transferred to the Nomadic Charitable Trust.  The restoration project has been supported by a number of organisations including Heritage Lottery Fund, SEUPB, NITB, Ulster Garden Villages, Belfast City Council, Titanic Quarter and Belfast Harbour.

The SS Nomadic will be open for scheduled public tours from 10am on Saturday 1^st June 2013.