Horse racing fans can travel from only £36* per adult to the Scottish Grand National
LEADING ferry company Stena Line has raised its stakes by offering horse racing fans a fantastic travel deal from £36* to The Coral Scottish Grand National Festival in Ayr on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 April.
Race fans and novices alike can look forward to 15 highly competitive races at Scotland’s richest racing extravaganza with more than £500,000 in prize money available. The highlight of the Scottish racing calendar, the Scottish Grand National takes place on Saturday and will include some of the UK and Ireland’s top horses and jockeys.
Enjoy a great day’s entertainment with a day trip by coach where you can choose to watch the racing from the main grandstand or punt for the Club enclosure with its prominent location and greater choice of bars and restaurants.
Enjoy the Grandstand day trip from only £36* on Friday or £39* on Saturday or make the most of the Club Day Trip from only £43* on Friday or £55* on Saturday per person. Both day trips include return Superfast ferry travel, return Ulsterbus coach transfers to the racecourse and admission for the day.
North Down Borough Council have recently been successful in drawing down funding from the Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) under the INTERREG IVA Programme Tourism call.
The grant, totaling over £200,000, will see a number of tourism projects take place over the next two years as part of East Border Regions Tourism Development Plan. The total value of the Tourism Development Plan is in excess of £2.7 million which will support a range of projects throughout the East Border Region.
The European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme aims to support strategic cross-border co-operation for a more prosperous cross border region and improve access to services so as to enhance the quality of life for those living in the eligible area. In particular the Programme will focus on developing a dynamic economy, supporting infrastructure and promoting innovative ways of addressing specific cross-border problems.
Under the call projects in North Down will see developments work in Christian Heritage, Maritime and Visitor Servicing projects.
The first project, currently underway, will see a research study into the areas Christian Heritage including the foundation of Bangor Abbey through to the travels of the Abbey’s most famous Saints, Columbanus and Gall, who spread Christianity through much of modern day Europe. In addition the study will look at the potential developments for tourism in relation to our local Christian Heritage offering, this at a time when Christian Pilgrimages are on the increase.
Following on from and utilising the historical content from this study, North Down Museum is to benefit from a complete refurbishment of the Christian Heritage exhibition room, with interactive materials, new displays and interpretation bringing to life the story of Bangor Abbey and its legacy.
On a maritime front the Eisenhower Pier is to receive a maker over with new street furniture and infrastructure to complement the town’s upcoming Public Realm works. Two new murals are to be installed to add to those already in place along with interpretational signage bringing the pier to life and improving its use as an event space.
Finally, visitor servicing is to receive added dimensions with money invested in new technologies and signage to assist visitors and tourists to the local area.
The projects are all due to be completed by the end of 2014.
You’d better shape up, because the Millennium Forum will be holding auditions on Friday 19thand Tuesday 23rd April 2013 from 4:00pm-8:00pm for its annual youth production.
This year, Jim Jacob’s and Warren Cassey’s Grease will be recreated for a three-night run at the Forum from 25th to 27th July and they want you to help make it happen!
Calling on male and female 14 – 21 year olds who can act, dance and sing, the Forum hopes to find its Danny, Sandy, Frenchie, Rizzo, Kenickie plus all other Rydell High students for this energetic and fun new production. At the audition you will be required to dance, sing and deliver a short dialogue of the script. If you are one of the lucky ones to get a part, it is vital that you can commit to rehearsals from June right through to the public performances in July.
Kate Guelke, Education & Outreach Officer at the Millennium Forum, encourages all those with a desire to perform to audition:
“For those who make the final cast, you will become a part of an unforgettable and truly inspirational project. Judging by the high standards of previous year’s auditions for Return to the Forbidden Planet, Sweeney Todd, Chess, Les Miserablés and West Side Story, the Forum anticipates roles for Grease to be highly contested roles for the 2013 production.”
Featuring such pop chart-toppers as “Greased Lightnin’”, “Summer Nights” and “Look at Me I’m Sandra Dee”, Grease is a classic rock’n’roll musical with an edge. The Millennium Forum’s seventh consecutive youth musical looks set to be an automatic, systematic, hydromatic hit!
This 2013 amateur production of Grease is presented by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Ltd.
If you are aged 14 – 21 and believe you have what it takes to be onstage in the Millennium Forum’s production of Grease,telephone 028 7127 2776 to book your audition or emailkateg@millenniumforum.co.uk. Booking is essential.
The auditions will take place at the Millennium Forum on Friday 19th (from 4:00pm) andMonday 23rd April (from 4.00pm). Following intensive rehearsals, Grease will be staged at the Millennium Forum from Thursday 25th to Saturday 27th July 2013. Tickets are now on sale priced at £8.00/£10.00, available from the Box Office on T: 028 7126 4455.
This project is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts & Business and Foyleside Shopping Centre.
Available from the Millennium Forum Box office Telephone (028) 71 264455
National treasure and Irish music icon CHRISTY MOORE has confirmed he’ll return to play 2 Shows at the Millennium Forum on Friday 15 & Saturday 16 November. Tickets go on sale Friday 12 April at 9.30am and will be available from the Millennium Forum Box Office Telephone (028) 71 264455.
These new shows are added to extra live dates already announced for 2013 including 2 Belfast shows at the Waterfront on 3 & 4 May and a record-breaking 9th appearance at this summer’s Cork Live At The Marquee on 6 July.
Christy began 2012 with sell out shows at Dublin’s Grand Canal Theatre, followed by a televised performance at the BBC Folk Awards in February, where his rendering of Morecambe Bay, Kevin Littlewood’s description of Chinese cockle pickers caught unawares by the rising tide, was nominated for Best Original Song.
In the spring, Christy and Declan appeared in a series of dates around Ireland, before embarking on a 10 day tour of the UK which included two sell out shows at London’s Royal Festival Hall.
On their return to Ireland, they kicked off the summer with an appearance at the Live at the Marquee concert series – the only Artists who can claim to have played every year in the Cork tent.
July found them delivering a rousing stand-up set to a packed audience in the Big Top at the Galway Arts Festival.
The big summer shows were rounded out by their exhilarating performance in front of a euphoric crowd in the Crawdaddy tent at last year’s Electric Picnic festival.
Christy Moore will perform at the Millennium Forum on Friday 15th and Saturday 16thNovember. Tickets go on sale at 9.30am from the Box Office on Friday 12th April. Telephone 71 264455 or visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk for bookings.
Glasgow City Marketing Bureau teams up with Stena Line to offer breaks from £59
SHOP ‘TIL YOU DROP: Jenny Curran and Zara Shaw help Stena Line’s Norris McClean launch Glasgow City Marketing Bureau’s (GCMB) Spring breaks campaign. GCMB and Stena Line have teamed up to give Northern Ireland shoppers an opportunity to spring-clean their wardrobe from as little as £59* per adult per night including return ferry travel with a car from Belfast to Cairnryan and overnight accommodation in Glasgow. For more information about the Spring packages to Glasgow visit www.stenaline.co.uk/glasgow or call 08432 081 111.
ONE of Europe’s top shopping destinations is now more accessible than ever for the budget-conscious Northern Ireland consumer.
Glasgow is the largest shopping destination in the UK, outside of London’s West End, boasting more than 1500 shops, half a million square metres of retail space and it even has its own ‘Style Mile’ offering high-end shopping and top class restaurants and bars.
Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) and Stena Line have teamed up to give Northern Ireland shoppers an opportunity to spring-clean their wardrobe from as little as £59* per adult per night including return ferry travel with a car from Belfast to Cairnryan and overnight accommodation in Glasgow.
This spring will see the city’s style credentials go stratospheric with the launch of the glitzy new £70million retail development Buchanan Quarter, a prime new fashion pitch in Glasgow’s style mile with 11 new retail stores including Scotland’s first and only Forever21.
GCMB’s Senior Marketing Communications Manager Elaine Dickie said Glasgow offers an unrivalled shopping experience to suit every style.
“Glasgow is a fantastic destination for a short break and offers world-class shopping with everything from cool vintage shops, beautiful hand-crafted items to well-known brands and exclusive designers,” said Elaine.
“We’ve teamed up with Stena Line to offer a range of three, four and five star hotels so when you book your ferry and hotel together it is guaranteed to be cheaper. What’s more, kids travel free so the whole family can enjoy a short break in Glasgow this spring with the fabulous array of visitor attractions on offer,” she continued.
“Make sure you also discover all that the city has to offer from the fantastic food to the fascinating museums and galleries to the work of innovative Glasgow architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.” she added.
Stena Line’s Marketing Manager Ian Baillie said: “Glasgow has so much to offer and is easily accessible from Northern Ireland by ferry so it is a fantastic city to enjoy a short break in.”
“Alongside Glasgow City Marketing Bureau we have created a range of great value breaks that everyone can take advantage of whether you are travelling by car, coach or rail. We have packaged both the ferry and hotel together to offer the best price guaranteed so why not enjoy some first-class shopping and a relaxing break for less this spring,” he added.
For more information about the spring packages to Glasgow visit www.stenaline.co.uk/glasgowor call 08432 081 111.
*Price is based on 2 adults sharing a twin/double room, minimum stay 2 nights travelling from Belfast – Cairnryan with car. Up to 2 children sharing adults room stay and travel free but pay hotel direct for any meals taken. Weekend and family room supplements may apply. Valid for travel until 30 June & 31 August – 20 December 2013. Terms and conditions apply.
Join the Easter Bunny at Castle Ward for another jam-packed, fun-filled time at Castle Ward Demesne; Strangford, Downpatrick. From 12 noon to 6pm on Easter Sunday 31st andf Monday 1st April you and your family will have an eggs-cellent time in the spring sunshine with lots of scrummy chocolate for the way home! With their biggest Easter Egg Hunt yet there are over 10,000 eggs to be found on both days, so bring your binoculars and put your detective skills to the test to find some nestled all over the beautiful grounds. This year take part in the brand new, nationwide National Trust Egg and Spoon Race, so come and get everyone involved, mum, dad and the grandparents too!
Tyrone
On Easter Monday, An Creagan, located on the A505 midway between Omagh and Cookstown is hosting The BIG Family Picnic. It is an opportunity to join other picnickers for a good old fashioned day out. Experienced al fresco diners can bring their own lunch or if you
prefer the easy option there will be food and snack stalls for you to put together your own packed lunch without the hassle. There will be music and mayhem with the Armagh Rhymers, arts workshops, face painting for the children, pond dipping for the nature lovers, an arts exhibition and of course the hunt for the Creggan White Hare.
Fermanagh
Entertain the children at the Easter egg hunt on the beautiful Belle Isle Estate on Easter Monday. The hunt will be divided into three age groups and each child can collect up to 10 brightly coloured clay eggs which will be exchanged for realchocolate ones. Each hunt will contain one golden egg and the lucky finders of these will receive special big chocolate eggs. There will be free face-painting too and refreshments available for purchase at Belle Isle Cookery School.
Derry
Join the National Trust on Sunday and Monday for fun for all the family as you follow the trail around the historic Downhill Demesne. Hunt for clues to crack the code and unlock the Cadbury chocolate egg surprise! On Monday, take part in the egg and spoon race!
Armagh
Come along to The Argory on Monday and Tuesday for 2 fantastic days of Easter fun! Face painting, craft activities and a chance to find the Cadbury’s Chocolate treasure with our fantastic egg trail.
Antrim
What would Easter be without bunnies? Do you want to see some of Easter’s cuddliest friends up close? Spend some time with the rabbits from T.A.C.T. Wildlife Centre at Carnfunnock Country Park on Saturday 30th March and hear their special stories, including how they ended up at T.A.C.T. Please note: not suitable for children under 5 years of age.
EXTRA dates have been added to the Stena Line Pirates and Princesses Kids Cruises this Easter due to popular demand, allowing families the chance to enjoy even more fun from only £10 per person*.
Josh and Chloabella Dundee and Charlie and Jill Graham from Newtownards were onboard for Stena Line’s first Pirates & Princesses Kids Cruise. Extra dates have been added to the Stena Line Pirates and Princesses Kids Cruises this Easter due to popular demand. The additional unique cruises set sail from Belfast at 11:30 on Thursday 28th March and Thursday 4th April offering families the chance to set sail for a day of fun to ensure kids make the most of their Easter break. There is still availability for cruises on 18th May and 1st and 15th June. During the summer holidays the cruise will also run on Tuesdays 2nd, 16th and 30th July and 13th and 27th August. For further information or to book go to www.stenaline.co.uk/kidsfun, call 08447 70 70 70 or visit your local travel agent.
The additional unique cruises set sail from Belfast at 11:30 on Thursday 28th March and Thursday 4th April offering families the chance to set sail for a day of fun to ensure kids make the most of their Easter break.
Young pirates and princesses can enjoy a day of swash-buckling fun from the minute they step onboard with a magic show, treasure hunt, face painting, balloon modelling and many more surprises before arriving back at Belfast Port at 17:45.
Speaking about the extra cruises, Stena Line’s Marketing Manager Ian Baillie said, “The Pirates and Princesses Kids Cruises launched earlier this month and have proven to be a huge hit with families with many booked out so we’re delighted to be able to offer the additional midweek cruises during the Easter Holidays.
“Both children and adults have thoroughly enjoyed the cruises as they are a great way for the whole family to enjoy a fun day out together. We have lots of entertainment onboard which will keep the kids amused throughout the cruise, so while the kids are being entertained, the adults can relax and enjoy the journey,” he added.
The cruises on 6th and 20th April and 4th May are now booked up but there is still availability on 18th May and 1st and 15th June. During the summer holidays the cruise will also run on Tuesdays 2nd, 16th and 30th July and 13th and 27th August.
The cruises are ideal for birthday parties and the ferry giant even has your party invites wrapped up as these can be downloaded online and personalised. There are even goody bags as the birthday guests depart.
For further information or to book go to www.stenaline.co.uk/kidsfun, call 08447 70 70 70 or visit your local travel agent.
*The Pirates & Princesses cruise is £10 per adult/child and £5 per infant (0 – 3 years). All cruises are subject to availability. Terms and Conditions apply.
The Millennium Forum has teamed up with Arts & Business NI and the Richmond Centre to bring local shoppers a brand new event that’s fun for all the family.
Kate Guelke, Education Officer at the Millennium Forum, measures up the Gormley Statue for a new shirt!
From Thursday the 28th to Saturday the 30th of March, the empty unit on floor 2 of the Richmond Centre will be transformed into an artists’ studio, a craft drop-in centre and a live museum reminiscent of “The Factory Girls” in Frank McGuinness’ famous play. A tribute to the enormous shirt-making factories of Derry-Londonderry’s past, ‘The City Dream Factory’ gives shoppers the unique chance to experience living history.
DAY ONE – Thursday, 28th March between 12pm and 5pm
Artist Rita Duffy will host a five hour ‘Artists’ Studio’ and – with help from shoppers, as well as her studio associates – will create a large-scale arts project. As with her ‘Laundry Day’ exhibition, this artwork will relate specifically to shirt-making.
DAY TWO – Friday, 29th March between 12pm and 5pm
Bluebell Arts Centre’s Maeve Gallagher will host a five hour ‘Craft Drop-in Centre’ where shoppers can come in, sit down and learn how to sew and make their own lavender bags in a matter of minutes. Whilst shoppers work on these, more experienced sewers will make several lively garments for the Antony Gormley statue situated outside the Millennium Forum.
DAY THREE – Saturday, 30th March between 12pm and 5pm
Four ex-factory girls of the 60s and 70s will discuss their experiences whilst making shirts on old sewing machines for five hours. Every twenty minutes these ‘Top Women’ tell an audience of passers-by their stories as part of ‘The City Dream Factory’.
Through-out the three days, 70s-style ‘Factory Girls’ in curlers will serve vintage refreshments sourced from Brid McCartney’s Donegal restaurant The Corncrake.
Kate Guelke, Education and Outreach Officer at the Millennium Forum, said “We’re delighted to be working in conjunction with the Richmond Centre and Art and Business NI to produce this quietly imaginative, interesting little project. We hope that shoppers will engage with the rich history of Derry-Londonderry’s factory floors; through Rita Duffy’s artwork, through Maeve Gallagher’s craft circle, even through the Corncrake’s traditional sweet treats! Above all though we hope that shoppers will enjoy the simply amazing stories our ex-Factory girls have to tell about the local shirt-making industry.”
As part of Creativity Month NI, ‘The City Dream Factory’ is a free project open and accessible to all participants. A great way to stumble into the past,‘The City Dream Factory’ is a surprising gem of whirring sewing machines and great stories.
Thanks to audience demand the Hairy Bikers and BBC Worldwide are delighted to announce an additional 38 dates to their new UK-wide tour Hairy Bikers: Larger than Live.
The boys will now bring their new tour to the Millennium Forum on Tues 9th & Wed 10th April. Tickets are now available from the Box Office. The tour has been a phenomenal success with some theatres already sold out four months before launch and fans clamouring for the show to come to their home towns!
Si King and Dave Myers are promising fans ‘a proper night out’ which in Hairy Bikers’ style may include everything from strip-tombola to a dinner party being cooked and hosted live on stage. Some lucky audience members will get the chance to join them as guests with some special celebrity dinner guests lined up to join them at certain nights along the tour – you never know who might be coming for dinner!
Hairy Bikers: Larger than Live takes the duo’s travelling adventures as the jumping off point for a night like no other at the theatre. Audiences will be regaled with tales from their culinary expeditions, some hair-raising, many ridiculous and all of them shared in the Bikers’ inimitable style. From extraordinary culinary discoveries to some of the remarkable cooks and characters they’ve encountered along the way, Si and Dave will take you behind the cameras to discover what happens on tour as they circle the globe in search of food fuelled adventure!
The Hairy Bikers: Larger Than Live will arrive at the Millennium Forum on Tues 9th & Wed 10th April. Tickets are now available from the Box Office. Telephone 71 264455 or visit www.millenniumforum.co.uk.
The Chic Eggs who will be making a special appearance at this year’s Easter Parade and Funday which is taking place in Bangor on Monday, April 1st.
Why not come to Bangor this Easter Monday, 1st April, for a day packed full with free family fun at the annual Easter Parade and Funday where Bangor’s seafront will have something to appeal to everyone from 10.00 – 6.00 pm. This year, 2013, is a very special year for Bangor as 400 years ago The Town was first issued its charter by King James I and to mark this occasion, the spectacular parade will have a Bangor 400 theme and everyone is encouraged to join in the fun by coming along in fancy dress.
Bangor & Holywood Town Centre Management in partnership with North Down Borough Council will be hosting a Spring Fair in The Sunken Gardens where an array of local crafts and speciality foods will be available. This fair will also take place on Easter Saturday from 11am – 4pm and Easter Sunday from 1pm – 5pm.
Starting at 10am on Easter Monday, at The McKee Clock Arena, Eddie Irvine Sports will be running a special kartingevent. Everyone will have the chance to kart around on a specially created outdoor track, great for the budding F1 stars! The charge for this will be £5.
Taking a stroll down The Promenade, you can try your hand at Laserquest, the fast-paced action combat game which will cost £5 per go or check out the variety of animals at Phil’s Farm. This speciality farm will be in situ all day and children will be able to pet the animals and learn how to care for them. Just watch out for the giant Chic Eggs which will be making their way through the crowds, entertaining everyone along the way!
Finish your walk at Pickie Fun Park which will be open all day with lots to do and see, take a ride on a swan, play in the play park or just have a coffee and relax in the refurbished café.
At 3.00 pm over 200 children and young people from St Gall’s Brownies, North Down District Scouts, St Comgalls Primary School, St Malachys Primary School, The Polish Saturday School and Barre 2 Sole Dance Academy will take to the streets as part of the spectacular Bangor 400 themed carnival Parade. The Parade will be led by a band in historic costume with a carnival twist, followed by King James on a throne holding a giant charter. Look out for Kings & Queens, a giant birthday cake, live music bands and lots more when this colourful spectacular makes its way around the Town.
This year, The Parade will be led by the The Mayor of North Down, Councillor Wesley Irvine who will be travelling in a beautiful horse drawn carriage. The Parade’s route will start at The Town Hall, then onto Main Street, along Quay Street, turning into High Street and making its way back up Main Street to The Town Hall – an extravaganza not to be missed!
Speaking about the event, North Down Borough Council’s Tourism Manager, Alison Stobie said: “We’re delighted to be kicking off our events season with our Easter in Bangor event. This is the first of our 400 series of themed events and promises to be a fantastic day out for the whole family.”
So come on down to Bangor with your family and friends this Easter for lots of family fun!
LEADING ferry company Stena Line has raised its stakes by offering horse racing fans a fantastic travel deal from £36* to The Coral Scottish Grand National Festival in Ayr on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 April.
