Down

Music in the Priory, Sciolto takes place at the Priory Newtownards Sunday 12^th May. Sciolto Chamber Choir was formed in 1996 by a group of like-minded singers who wished to explore the wide variety of choral music written for small chamber ensembles. In keeping with the name (which means ‘free and unrestrained’), the choir has performed every conceivable type of choral music from early Renaissance music through to brand new commissions by emerging composers. Restored by Hugh Montgomery shortly after his arrival in Ards in 1606, the Priory became his home, his church and his burial place. In this unique series of atmospheric evening musical recitals, the ancient walls of the Priory will once again resonate to the sounds created by choirs of 12 voices and instruments.  For all our County Down events click HERE.

Tyrone

The much loved Disney characters from four popular TV shows appear together live on stage at the Alley Theatre Strabane on Saturday 11^th May in an unforgettable celebration of the Magic that is Disney. The MickeyMouse Clubhouse Tribute brings audiences into the colourful worlds of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Iggle Piggle, Upsy Daisy, Dora the Explorer, Boots the Monkey and Peppa Pig. Kids will learn that music can be found everywhere as they sing and dance to all their favourite songs with different adventures from every character, the show will have parents and children alike laughing playing and singing.  For all our County Tyrone listings click  HERE.

Fermanagh

Franco’s in Enniskillen will host a Vintage Coffee Morning on Saturday 11^th May in the Garden Room from 10am to 1pm. Proceeds will go to Cancer Connect.  For all our County Fermanagh listings click  HERE.

Derry

This year’s North West Speed Trials 2 day event on Saturday and Sunday at Ballykelly Airfield is on track to be the most exciting and spectacular Motorcycle and Car Motorsport event in Ireland this year. Road Racing star Guy Martin has confirmed that he will be piloting a Suzuki Hayabusa Turbo in the upcoming ROAD RACING IRELAND ‘North West Speed Trials’.  For all our County Derry/Londonderry listings click HERE.

Armagh

On Sunday 12^th May Ardress House , set in the middle of our rich apple-growing county, will be celebrating the wonderful Apple Blossom with apple treats, trails and fun for all the family. There will be local ciders and apple produce on sale and the children can follow the detective around the Farmyard, Barn and Orchards of Ardress to help solve the mystery of the bad apple….!  For all our County Armagh listings click HERE.

Antrim

Join Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzy and all their friends as they seek fame and fortune on a fun-filled road trip to Hollywood at the Courtyard Theatre Picture House, Ballyearl Arts & Leisure Centre Newtownabbey on Saturday afternoon, 12^th May.  For all County Antrim listings click HERE.

Belfast

The Crescent Townhouse monthly chocolate workshop caters for all ages.  Not too messy but lots of fun, they suit children 11 plus and adults alike.  Workshops are  2.5 hours of chocolate fun where two chocolatiesr will guide you through the art of making your own Belgian chocolates. Cut, dip and decorate and have fun making your own chocolates which you then get to wrap up and take home with you to share or keep!    For all our Belfast events listings click HERE.

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.

Three local businesses have recently stepped up to the mark to benefit their customers by putting staff through the WorldHost customer service training programme.

Bangor Tourist Information Centre, Quay Marinas – Bangor Marina and Pickie Fun Park have all put staff through the programme to gain this prestigious certification and accreditation in customer service.

First developed in Canada to train 40,000 volunteers and front-line tourism staff for the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010, the WorldHost programme aims to give businesses in the tourism, hospitality, travel, passenger transport and retail sectors a competitive edge across the various areas of customer service.

Since 2010, over one million customer-facing staff globally have been trained on WorldHost customer service programmes.

Bangor Marina has become the first Marina in UK & Ireland to receive World Host recognition & accreditation with all the staff gaining the certification and accreditation in; Sales powered by service, Principles of customer service and World Host Ambassadors.

Kevin Baird, Manager at Bangor Marina said, “Our approach toward our customers whether they are from around the world, across the country or from the other side of the Lough forms a lasting impression.  Courtesy, friendliness and professionalism are essential ingredients that help us provide a world class welcome to visitors.  Through the different WorldHost programmes our staff have learnt new skills and techniques which have encouraged them to take pride in themselves and in the work that they do whilst promoting Bangor as a world class destination.’  He added ‘We are delighted to be the first Marina in the UK and Ireland to receive full WoldHost accreditation”

Bangor TIC has completed Principles of customer care and the WorldHost Ambassadors modules with Pickie Fun Park staff completing the Principles of customer care. Alex Irvine, NDBC Tourism Development Officer said “More so than ever, customer care has to be at the forefront of our service offering. Through WorldHost our staff have been able to improve their skills and knowledge with participation in this internationally accepted qualification and we are sure our customers will benefit from this in the future”.

For more information on the WorldHost Programme, course prices and funding support for training, please visit www.worldhostni.com.

WITH two Bank Holiday weekends on the horizon, help is on hand from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) for parents looking for ways to keep their kids entertained over the breaks.

NITB is encouraging families to take some time out to enjoy a fun day in Northern Ireland by exploring a museum, discovering a new attraction, enjoying one of the many events taking place or to simply taking a walk in a local park.

NITB’s Destination PR Officer Pauline Gormley says there is a wonderful selection of ways to keep you entertained this year with something for everyone to enjoy including a wide range of free attractions to explore.

“Many parents will be thinking of ways to keep their children entertained during the school breaks but not everyone knows that there are lots of free attractions across Northern Ireland that will provide a great day out,” said Pauline.

“There are also many family friendly events taking place, not to mention the hundreds of local parks and scenic walking routes that families can also enjoy,” she added.

BELFAST

Free attractions

Come face to face with dinosaurs, meet an Egyptian Mummy and see modern masterpieces with a visit to the Ulster Museum.  As Northern Ireland’s treasure house of the past and present, the museum is home to a rich collection of art, history and natural sciences and is free to all visitors (closed on Mondays except Bank Holidays).  Why not take a hike up Cave Hill mountain where you can enjoy breathtaking views of Belfast and find out more about the local area at the Cave Hill Visitor Centre, from Stone Age cave-dwellers to the building of Belfast Castle.  St Anne’s Cathedral was first consecrated in 1904 and is open to visitors on weekdays with plenty of interesting things to see including mosaics, stained glass, sculptures and the largest Celtic Cross in Ireland. 

Other things to do

The streets of Belfast City Centre and Cathedral Quarter will come alive for five days from May 2 – 6 to the sound of laughter and the sight of acrobatics, music and comedy as the Festival of Fools celebrates 10 years of coordinated comedic chaos.

Join bird experts at sunrise for a Dawn Chorus event on May 4 and hear the wonderful cacophony of sound produced by the native birds living in Cave Hill Country Park and learn how to identify each species’ unique song.  Meeting place for this event is the car park below Belfast Castle at 4am.

Belfast will be playing host to some of the magnificent ships that have sailed the high seas at the Belfast Titanic Maritime Festival from May 25 – 27.  The 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.

CO. ANTRIM

Free attractions

Explore 9,000 years of vibrant history at the Ballymoney Museum.  On display are rare finds from the Bronze and Medieval periods, exhibits associated with the political upheaval of the late 18th century and the United Irish Rebellion as well as a new exhibition on the heroes of Irish motorcycle road racing.  Carrickfergus is the most archaeologically explored town in Northern Ireland and the treasure excavated throughout the years is on display at Carrickfergus Museum as well as photos and objects that have been donated by the local community and tell the story of the ever-evolving town.  The Giant’s Causeway is the only World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland and is the result of a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago.  It is the focal point of a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and harbours a wealth of local and natural history (there is a fee for admission into the Giant’s Causeway Visitor Centre and car parking).

Other things to do

For the first time ever, the much loved Disney characters from four popular TV shows appear together live on stage in an unforgettable celebration of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse in Ballymoney Town Hall on May 4.  Join the fun and enter into the colourful worlds of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, Iggle Piggle, Upsy Daisy, Dora the Explorer, Boots the Monkey and Peppa Pig.

Glenarm Castle is delighted to host the 7^th Annual Tulip Festival on May 4 – 6.  The gardeners have planted some 8,500 tulips which will provide the most spectacular and colourful display for our visitors, representatives from Bloms Bulbs will also be available to discuss all your bulb requirements and there will be a range of local crafts available within the garden over the course of the weekend.

Cushendun’s Big Arts Weekend is a three day event not to be missed.  Taking place from May 3 – 6, enjoy jazz, a music workshop, poetry, an art exhibition by local artists, a sand sculpture competition, a craft workshop and much more.

The Crazy Sheep Racing event has been taking place for a number of years in Ballycastle and will see sheep race around a track in Ballycastle with all proceeds from the races being donated to charity.  The unique event will be taking place from May 24 – 26 and will include pony rides, pony trekking, boating, go-karting and farm tours on the Paddy Wagon.

There will be a huge amount of fun happening during the Bank Holiday weekend at the Portrush Raft Race event which will be taking place from May 25 – 26.  Watch as 80 homemade rafts compete in this fun race in aid of Portrush RNLI.

CO. ARMAGH

Free attractions

Armagh County Museum is the oldest of its kind in Ireland and its fine displays and collections reflect the rich and varied lives of the people who lived, worked and had connections with this famous city and historic county over the centuries.  On display are military uniforms, wedding dresses, ceramics, natural history specimens and railway memorabilia.  Discover the Solar System, the Galaxy and beyond at the Armagh Observatory and Astro Park which is situated adjacent the Armagh Planetarium as well as viewing a range of sundials and historical telescopes.  With four miles of footpaths, five birdwatching hides, woodland, ponds, wildflower meadows, picnic and play areas, the Lough Neagh Discovery Centre is an excellent destination for day trips and the perfect way for families to get close to nature.

Other things to do

Taking place on May 4 in Loughgall Country Park is the Apple Blossom Fair where visitors can enjoy a wide range of apple-themed events as well as the chance to sample different apple produce and enjoy the rural ambience.  There will be something to suit all ages and event highlights include orchard tours, cookery demonstrations and a dog competition.

Learn about the origins of the Beltaine Festival and the Mythology of Spring at the Navan Centre and Fort’s Spring Festival on May 6.  Meet Finn, Grainne and their friends who will show you the traditional arts of bread making and butter and cheese making, test your skills with the tribal school of fight or try your hand at some ancient sports.  Don’t forget to come dressed up to enter into the competition to be crowned the King and Queen of Spring.

Aliens are taking over the Armagh Planetarium during Planet Aliens which will be taking place on May 6 and 27.  Design and make your own alien to take home with the help of professional sculptures.

CO. DOWN

Free attractions

Take a tour of the Hillsborough Courthouse and Fort and find out more on the history of the courthouse which used to be a market house built to attract linen manufacturers to the area.  Newry and Mourne Museum boasts diverse collections including material relating to the building of a merchant town and the first summit level canal in the British Isles.  Artefacts on display include a granite cross from Newry’s Cistercian Abbey, a pair of mill shoes from Bessbrook and examples of Carrickmacross lace.  The North Down Museum, situated at Bangor Town Hall, boasts permanent historical exhibitions which display the important Early Christian Monastery, the coming of the Scottish settlers and the nostalgia of seaside holiday heydays.  Also on display are The Ballycroghan Swords, dating from 500 BC and a ninth century hand bell found near Bangor. 

Other things to do

On May 3 there will be a Family Fun Night in Killyleagh with lots of fun activities for all the family including arts and sports.  All children must be accompanied by adults.  Or why not join the fun at the Teddy Bear’s Picnic in Portaferry on May 6 with lots of activities taking place including face painting, teddy craft and a bear hunt.

The Down Royal Park Golf Course is hosting a Family Fun Day on May 4 which will include a free play on the new family friendly Pitch and Putt course.  There will also be bouncy castles, face painting, balloon modelling, a magic show and disco

The Killyleagh Horse and Pony Show will be taking place on May 4 and is one of the oldest competitive events in Ireland.  It has grown into one of the most popular outdoor events of the season with horse and pony jumping on display.

Enjoy a trip to Inch Abbey and sample the delights of traditional steam train and rail travel on May 6 and 27 as the Down Patrick and Co Down Railway’s Black Beauty makes its debut in her shiny new colour scheme.

Experience Ards on an enchanted Fairies and Folklore tour where you will hear about the story of Shane McAnanty, the King of the Ulster Fairies, who resides on Scrabo Hill.  With midsummer approaching Shane McAnanty will be up to his usual mischief and help is needed to seek out this little man, taking place on May 24.

The Northern Ireland Countryside Festival makes a welcome return to Moira Demesne and this year the two day event will feature three great events in one giant festival, including the National Countrysports Fair, Finn McCool Strongman Festival and the brand new Back to Our Roots Festival on May 25 and 26.

The Ards Annual Puppet Festival is taking place on May 25 – 27 in the Ards Arts Centre with performances telling stories from around the globe told through glove and rod puppets, shadow puppetry and music.

Bread, Blues and Bikes is the theme of a day at Castle Ward’s International Bread Festival on May 25 – 27.  Visitors can enjoy baking demonstrations, breads and foods from around the world, taster sessions and a raft of bread related activities on May 25, music legend Van Morrison will be playing on May 26 and bikers from across Ireland are being encouraged to get on their motorbikes, pushbikes and vintage bikes to tour around Strangford Lough before relaxing in the front lawn and enjoying an open air concert on May 27.

CO. FERMANAGH

Free attractions

The Clinton Centre in the heart of Enniskillen hosts the Higher Bridges Gallery, a modern and contemporary exhibiting space that promotes the arts.  The gallery hosts a number of different exhibitions throughout the year showing a range of artistic talent.  Castle Archdale Country Park is situated just outside the village of Lisnarick and extends over 230 acres along the shores of Lower Lough Erne.  Stroll through this park and visit some of its many features including a red deer enclosure, wildfowl ponds, butterfly garden and wildflower meadow.  A trip to the Headhunters Barber Shop and Railway Museum is like taking a remarkable journey into the past where visitors can study the bygone age of steam travel and enjoy amazing artefacts associated with the railways which operated throughout Fermanagh.

Other things to do

Florence Court is the place to be on May 4 if you’re thinking about getting some hens to enjoy your own free range eggs. The Rare Breeds Poultry Fair will see exhibitors of pure breed poultry displaying all manners of rare breeds with the opportunity for visitors to learn more about the animals.

Visitors can enjoy the thrill of both land and water adventure activities at the Share Village’s Mayday Extravaganza from May 4 – 6 where you can take part in fun sessions in a range of activities including canoeing, banana skiing, archery, climbing and circus skills.  Make sure you bring your swimming costume, sun cream, change of clothes, towel and hat and book in advance.

The Marble Arch Caves will be holding a Fossil Fun Day for children on May 6.  Enjoy some hands-on activities and learn about fossils that can be found within the Geopark from 12noon – 5pm.

Enjoy a wonderful opportunity to take a Cot Trip in Crom’s 100 year old traditional craft boat.  Cruise around the Lough and see the Crom estate from a different perspective on May 27.

CO. TYRONE

Free attractions

Observe craftsmen at work at Turfs Crafts and explore the Bog Museum which has reconstructed lifestyles and habits of pre-historic Ireland with artefacts excavated from Irish boglands including sculptures, bones and large antlers from a Great Irish Elk dating back some 15,000 years.  Discovered during peat cutting in the 1940s, the Beaghmore Stones is a complex of early Bronze Age megalithic features, stone circles and cairns and provides a very interesting backdrop for a family walk.  Thought to have been built around 1320 by a local chieftain, Harry Avery O’Neill’s Castle is an unusual and interesting structure and is a great place to explore with children with two towers and a latrine chute still remaining.

Other things to do

Jamboree in the Park is taking place in Ecclesville Park on May 3 – 5 and will see three nights of world class entertainment with spectacular live stage shows.

Pull on your wellies and come along to the Rare Breeds Show at the Ulster American Folk Park on May 4 – 6.  Rare and minority breeds of cattle, sheep, pigs and poultry make the museum their home for the bank holiday weekend  and the experts will be on hand to answer questions on a variety of interesting animals including Dexter cattle, Kerry Hill sheep, Gloucestershire Old spot pigs and many prize poultry breeds.
CO. LONDONDERRY

Free attractions

The Foyle Valley Railway Centre hosts an exciting and fascinating collection of railway artefacts including the majestic County Donegal Railway steam locomotive and diesel railcars.  Visit the museum and learn about the outstanding railway history of the city.  Step back in time by visiting the Green Lane Museum, located in the Roe Valley Country Park, and view historical exhibits relating to the linen and agricultural industries from a bygone age before exploring the spectacular riverside views and woodland walks of the park.  Within the former Derry Port and Harbour Commissioner’s Office, built in 1882, is the Harbour Museum which displays an eclectic collection of objects showing the city’s maritime connections including architectural drawings, plans of the city and archaeological finds.  The Coastal Zone at Portrush is the main centre for marine and coastal education and here visitors can take a journey of Northern Ireland’s wildlife and heritage found under the sea and along our coast.  The viewing platform at the back of the centre offers excellent views towards the sea where dolphins and seals can sometimes be seen.   

Other things to do

Choose from many different activities on offer including hovercrafting, laser clay pigeon shooting, golf, tennis, surfing, archery, climbing, zip line and horse riding during the Binevenagh Activity Weekend in Limavady on May 4 – 6. 

Enjoy a Family Fun Day at Jungle NI in Moneymore and partake in a tantalising array of exciting adventure activities including archery, boat rides, body zorbs, llama trekking and lots more, taking place every Sunday from May 6 – September 26 as well as selected Mondays.   

The Earhart Festival is one of the city’s leading community festivals and will be taking place in various locations from May 19 – 25.  For 2013, the theme is ‘Connecting Worlds Apart’, celebrating community arts, courage, innovation and creative expression in the City of Culture.  Over 40 events have been planned for the festival including the Derry Day Celebrity Concert will see Derry~Londonderry’s musical talent perform on a stage on the Foyle Embankment.

A spring break in Northern Ireland starts from only £49 based on two adults sharing for a room only overnight stay.

On Saturday 11^th May, the Civic Square at Mossley Mill will be buzzing with a market atmosphere with the first ever ‘Market at The Mill’ taking place between 12-5pm. The event is being organised by Newtownabbey Borough Council in association with Ballylagan Organic Farm.

Come along and see Celebrity Masterchef Finalist and Scrapheap Challenge personality, Dick Strawbridge, show off his culinary talents and create some tasty dishes using locally sourced produce provided by Ballylagan Organic Farm. A one hour long cookery demonstration will take place at 2.30pm in the theater foyer so make sure you don’t miss it!

Speaking at the launch of the event Mayor of Newtownabbey, Alderman Victor Robinson commented;

“This is going to be a great family day out and get ready to have your taste buds seriously tempted with all the delicious produce on offer.  All proceeds from the event will go to my three charities: Epilepsy Action NI, Alzheimer’s Society and Reach.”

In addition there will be family entertainment with face painting, arts& crafts, balloon modelling, jazz music and a vast array of craft, gift and produce stalls including Rustic Country Crafts, Abernethy Butter and Cogry House Preserves.  Weather permitting why not pack a picnic and sit back and enjoy the market atmosphere in the civic square!

Tickets cost £5 per adult, £2.50 per child and a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) £10 and need to be purchased before the event. These can be booked at the Box Office T: 028 9034 0202.  Alternatively you can book online by visiting www.theatreatthemill.co0m.

Most likely if you lived in Cookstown or its surrounds you knew someone – a mother, a grandmother, a daughter, an aunt, a best friend – who worked in either the Daintifyt or Fisher’s Hat Factory, and to this day, many people know someone who worked as a ‘factory girl’, or were one themselves.

This May, the Burnavon, Cookstown will be celebrating the Factory Girls of Mid-Ulster with two very special events.

First produced at the Abbey Theatre, Millennium Forum Productions will bring their production of ‘The Factory Girls’ to the Burnavon in Cookstown on Thursday 23^rd May at 8pm. ‘The Factory Girls’ is a play written by Donegal playwright, Frank McGuinness that celebrates the working class culture of women, which drew inspiration from his grandmother, mother and aunt’s experience working in the local shirt factories of Buncrana where he grew up. His work is filled with humanity, his sense of politics and his ability to tell a good story.

‘The Factory Girls’ tells the story of five women who stage a lock-in at a shirt factory in Co. Donegal when faced with the threat of redundancy. Ellen, Una, Vera, Rosemary and Rebecca are five strong and independent women who take on the boss and the union.

What draws the play together is a generous sympathy with the five women’s foibles in all their forms and the competing pressures they face, torn between work and home – something that is still relevant today. The characters have tongues that could tar roads – the evening’s chief pleasure lies in their workplace banter and bickering. “You’ll thank me when you’re dying for a chip,” says one of the women, arriving at the lock-in armed with half a kitchen. These “girls” may never get back their jobs, but their brief adventure has brought each of them the insight that will give them the courage to soldier on.

Described as a truly realistic play filled with humour, charm, fine acting and staging, this brand new production for 2013 is directed by Caitriona McLaughlin and features a host of talented Irish actors including Lucia McAnespie, Noelle Brown, Stella McCusker, Kerrie O’Sullivan, Cathleen Bradley, Sean Donegan and Howard Teale.

To coincide with the performance, the Arts and Cultural Department of Cookstown District Council will be rolling out a special community project to mark the significant contribution that the Daintifyt and Fishers Hat Factories each made to the local area. The project will culminate in a photographic and memorabilia exhibition in the Burnavon from 20^th to 31^st May (free admission).

To book your tickets for the performance or find out more about the Daintifyt and Fishers Hat Factory Girls of Cookstown project, contact the Burnavon Box Office on 028 8676 9949 or online at www.burnavon.com . Tickets for The Factory Girls performance cost £13 and are available now.

Down

Enjoy a very special exclusive behind-the-Scenes tour at Castle Espie Wetland Centre this Bank Holiday Weekend.  Discover how the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust manage their wildlife reserve and collection of ducks, geese, and swans from around the world. Grounds and Reserve Manager, Kerry Mackie, will take you behind the scenes and explain how the all the amazing spaces for wetland creatures have been created, there ongoing management and show you the benefits to wildlife throughout the seasons. Seasonal highlights at Castle Espie include the arrival of thousands of Brent geese in winter to the return of other birds, such as Swallows, to build nests and rear their young. For all our County Down events click HERE.

Tyrone

This May bank holiday weekend sees the return of the Jamboree in the Park. From Friday 3rd May to Sunday 5th May some of the biggest names in the business come together for one weekend, to bring you 3 nights of world class entertainment in spectacular live stage shows from 7pm each night.. Derek Ryan returns as the headline act for the Friday night and is joined by local men Boxcar Brian and Paul Kelly plus many more support acts throughout the night. Saturday night sees the return of the star of Irish country music Nathan Carter.  For all our County Tyrone listings click  HERE.

Fermanagh

Join  the Corralea Activity Centre for some Bank Holiday adventure. Test your archery skills, explore Lough MacNean in a canoe or go bananas on the waterpark! 2 days packed with fun and adventure. Booking essential.  For all our County Fermanagh listings click  HERE.

Derry

Derry City Jazz and Big Band Festival 2nd – 6th May. Venues throughout  the city will be packed to the rafters as music fans flock to catch some of the biggest names in jazz, blues, jive, swing and dance, in what has become Ireland’s biggest jazz extravaganza. Headlining this year will be the vibrant vocal harmony stars The Overtones, the UKs hottest harmony group. Enjoy a blast from the past with this year’s vintage theme, culminating in a fabulous Vintage Ball with music by the amazing Puppini Sisters.  Also playing over the weekend are the sensational Soul Rebels and Pink Martini along with some of the city’s own premier musicians.    For all our County Derry/Londonderry listings click HERE.

Armagh

The Orchard County of Armagh – with the picturesque village of Loughgall at its heart – is widely known for its apple growing tradition. The annual Apple Blossom Fair Saturday 4th May is a chance to sample different apple produce and enjoy the rural ambience with stunning pink and white blossom providing a spectacular backdrop for this special event.  For all our County Armagh listings click HERE.

Antrim

The Cushendun Big Arts Weekend takes place this weekend 3rd to 6th May.  The four-day celebration, including a jazz night, choral concert, drama, poetry, exhibitions and hands-on workshops, is being organised by Cushendun Building Preservation Trust to mark a milestone in the Cushendun Old Church project. The programme has something for everyone and many of the events are free.

The Big Arts Weekend will not only celebrate the signing of a lease on the disused Cushendun Old Church but will also give a taste of what may be on offer there when the 170-year-old building is restored as an arts and community space.  The weekend will bring visiting performers and artists to the village and will also showcase local talent.  For all County Antrim listings click HERE.

Belfast

Belly laughs galore are promised at the Festival of Fools this weekend.  The annual street theatre festival, now in its 10th year, promises a weekend packed with stilt walking mermaids, mysterious magicians, sword swallowing women, jugglers extraordinaire, and gardeners on trapezes!  From Thursday 2nd May to Monday 6th May, there will be non-stop breathtaking action and laughter across the streets of Belfast City Centre and Cathedral Quarter, with more than 130 performances free of charge. For all our Belfast events listings click HERE.

May Bank Holiday Weekend, 4th – 6th May

Glenarm Castle’s popular Tulip festival is back this May bank holiday, Saturday 4^th– Monday 6^th May.  Now in its 7^th year, the Glenarm Castle Tulip Festival is not only a firm fixture in the horticulture calendar but is widely recognised as Ireland’s only Tulip Festival.  Sponsored by Bloms Blubs, the gardening team at Glenarm Castle has planted some 8,500 tulips which will provide a colourful and spectacular display.

Amongst the tulips on display this year are Monte Carlo a rich yellow peony-flower tulip with delicious scent, Black Hero a dark peony flower, Orange Princess and fringed tulips called Flamingo and Barbados. As with all gardens the weather plays a vital role in the final result and the team at Glenarm Castle have gone through a number of weather challenges since the bulb planting began back in November.

Reg Maxwell, Garden Adviser to the gardening team at Glenarm Castle, explains:

“I was manager at Botanic Gardens for many years but now I provide advice to the team at Glenarm Castle.  I have recorded weather patterns for over 40 yrs but I now find that these are no longer seasonal but simply erratic.  This makes an annual tulip display a challenge.  This year, due to the late winter, the Glenarm Castle Gardening team has been working very hard to ensure that there is a fantastic tulip display.  This has included careful drainage and the dressing of the beds. Hopefully the weather will be on our side as there will certainly be wonderful tulips and beautiful colours to see this year!”

The Festival will also include local crafts, children’s entertainment, food and music and a representative from Bloms Blubs will be available to discuss bulb requirements for the year. The famous Glenarm Castle Express Train will also make a welcome return (Bank Holiday Monday Only) which will take visitors to the Castle for tours or further up the Estate in showing them a little bit more of the grounds. Admission prices to the Tulip Festival are £5 for adults, £2.50 for Youth (12 – 16 years), and Children Under 12 go FREE.

For further information visit www.glenarmcastle.com

This year’s May Day is even bigger and better and stretches the whole length of Holywood High Street.  As well as the traditional attractions and entertainment, there will be an Italian Market, climbing wall, caged football and food stalls from local businesses.

With lots of participation from local groups, look out for exciting animation and art displays at Art and Home, vehicle displays from PSNI and the military and art workshops in the Wheelworks Art Cart.

Brand new entertainment includes a fantastic display from The Cone Dancers, a truly modern day adaptation of maypole dancing, a stunning display of ribbon dancing from The Divine Company, and live music from jazz band The Brass Volcanoes. Along with old favourites such as the Bonnie Baby competition, a Fancy Dress competition, Maypole Dancing (11.00 & 1.00 pm), a tea dance and children’s discos.

To accommodate the festival, the usual road closures and diversions will be in place throughout the day and motorists are reminded to please make note of these and plan your journeys accordingly.

Hold on to your (vintage) hats! Ireland’s longest running vintage fair, FROCK AROUND THE CLOCK, will be returning to Cookstown’s historic Lissan House on Sunday 19^th May with another extravaganza of vintage treasures for sale and a big helping of timeless glamour, nostalgia and fun for all the family.

The Met Office may have forecasted a heatwave for the month of May, but the hottest place to be will be Lissan House when the fabulous FROCK AROUND THE CLOCK Vintage Fair visits for the second time with an amazing line-up of over 40 Irish vintage dealers and creative designers offering an unrivalled collection of vintage and handmade fashion, jewellery, furniture, homewares, collectables, and crafts & gifts, most of which can’t be found on the high street.

Visitors will be able to take a break from vintage shopping and browsing to relax and revive in the Lissan Tea Room, enjoying all the scrumptious delights of afternoon tea, while acoustic sets will be performed in the grand hall by singer and songwriter Della Storm.

Frock Around The Clock has an impressive 40 vintage events under its belt since launched in 2008 and is Ireland’s longest running vintage fair, featuring exhibitors from Dublin to Derry and attracting visitors from all over the country and further afield. The inspiring exhibitor list at the Lissan House event will include Norma Jean Vintage – specialising in pretty vintage china and glassware, Stitched In Stone – showcasing beautiful handcrafted gifts, Elephant Juice – selling unique jewellery crafted from antique silver cutlery, Sew What Interiors – specialists in restyled furniture and vintage homewares, Strictly Vintage – connoisseurs of high end vintage costume jewellery, and Brigitte’s Boudoir – offering timeless and elegant vintage dresses sourced mainly from France. So that’s the ladies sorted! But the men won’t be neglected either as they will love to rummage through a wide range of collectables including stylish oddities from Beyond Redemption and a cornucopia of salvage, vintage, retro, antiques and everything inbetween from The Old Hen House. Children will love the vintage teddy bears, nursery games and antique books from Tiny Tower Vintage Interiors and for the babies there will be handmade retro clothing for little tots from Bella Boo. Sweet lovers can indulge in scrumptious baking from Sparkles Cakes of Art and handmade luxury pralines and macaroons from Altemeyer Chocolates.  With the vintage fair overflowing with the coolest stuff on the planet for your wardrobe and home there will be something to suit all tastes, ages and budgets.

Lissan House is an enchanting country residence set within a 250 acre demesne of ancient woodland and forestry. The estate was created in the 17th century and remained the home of the Staples family for nearly 400 years, reputedly the longest habitation by any single family of a country house in West Ulster. Lissan came to prominence in 2003 when its popularity helped it reach the national final of the BBC2 television series, Restoration. The Vintage Fair will take visitors on a tour of the house from the grand hall, through the dining room, library, ballroom, bedrooms, WWII flats, and the Victorian kitchen and laundry room, revealing modern interactive exhibits and original family furnishings carrying you on a unique journey through the history of the estate and the family characters that have shaped it.

Visitors will also be able to explore the delightful setting of Lissan Demesne which features an adventure playground for children, a wooded picnic seating area, and many secluded walks to explore. Lissan House will be running a Family Treasure Hunt on the day of the Vintage Fair which will take place in the grounds, offering fun for adults and children alike.

Unfortunately this will be the last Frock Around The Clock Vintage Fair for a while – after 5 years and 41 amazing events, organiser and Creative Director Becky Moore will be taking a year off from event planning – all the more reason why you shouldn’t miss this fabulous day out to stock up on vintage fabulousness while you can!

The FROCK AROUND THE CLOCK Vintage Fair will take place on Sunday 19th May from 12 – 5pm at Lissan House, Drumgrass Road, Cookstown BT80 9SW. Admission will cost £5 for adults and accompanied children (under 15s) go free.

More information on the event and the full exhibitor list can be found online at www.decadencevintagefairs.com and www.facebook.com/decadencevintageevents.

One of Europe’s largest and most prestigious business events will take place in Derry-Londonderry in May with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak as headline speaker.

Organisers, The Northern Ireland Business and Innovation Centre (NORIBIC) today unveiled the line-up and principal sponsors for this year’s European Business Network (EBN) Congress to be held for the first time in Northern Ireland.

Topping the programme for the three day conference (29^th-31^st May) will be Steve Wozniak, who has been a Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for more than thirty years.  In 1976, Wozniak co-founded Apple Computer Inc with Steve Jobs, helping to shape the computing industry with his design of Apple’s first line of products.  Speaking from the US, Steve said, “I’m absolutely delighted to be coming to Northern Ireland for the EBN Congress. The programme sounds absolutely fantastic, and the fact that it is taking place during the UK City of Culture year adds to the excitement and anticipation.”

Wozniak will be joined on 30^th May by Sir Tim Smit KBE, famous for his work with the world-renowned Eden Project and USA based Richard Florida, the best-selling author on the economic importance of the creative industries.

Outlining the programme, Dr Bernard Toal, Chief Executive of NORIBIC said that the (EBN) Congress is of huge significance in the business innovation sector and attracts a high-powered audience comprising international decision-makers, investors and business angels.  “It is a massive coup to win the opportunity to host this conference, as it is the first time it is being held in Northern Ireland, and we are pulling out all the stops to deliver an event with a difference.  Derry’s status as City of Culture will be woven into the three days which will focus on the themes of Digital, Social and Cultural Innovation.  Testament to the importance of the Congress is the calibre of sponsorship it has attracted and we are delighted today to announce that Ilex has joined the Department for Culture Arts & Leisure (DCAL) and Invest NI as Principal Sponsor.  Given Ilex’s strategic role in the economic growth of North West its support is particularly welcome.”

Matt McNulty, Interim Chair of Ilex added,“Ilex is delighted to support the EBN Congress in Derry~Londonderry.  Not only will this conference draw people from around the world to the city, it will positively promote its regeneration in line with our ambition of the One Plan. It will also project the city as a location of choice for investment and will have a substantial economic impact, generating over £700,000 for the local economy.”

EBN Congress 2013 will include a series of events and exhibitions including the Digital, Cultural and Social Innovation networking Villages.  It will begin on 29^th May with a civic reception hosted by the Mayor of Derry, followed by a cultural welcome event in the Craft Village.  The Millennium Forum will then stage the main conference on 30^th and 31^st May with a Gala Dinner and Concert showcasing many local acts at The Venue at Ebrington on the Thursday evening (30^th May).

Dr Toal concluded, “It is very rare to have a conference of this magnitude featuring such a stellar list of speakers right on our doorstep and we would encourage local businesses to avail of the opportunity to attend.  Businesses with a postcode in Northern Ireland can benefit from a 70% specially reduced delegate rate sanctioned by EBN and available at http://www.noribic.com/ebncongress .”

In addition to the Principal Sponsors, the EBN Congress is also supported by SEUPB’s INTERREG IVA Programme, the Irish BICS, Derry Visitor and Convention Bureau (DVCB), the Nerve Centre, Concentrix, Carson and McDowell, Northern Ireland Science Park (NISP), Seagate, North West Regional College (NWRC) the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL), Tayto and Bushmills.