Join the Belfast Operatic Company as they kick off the Christmas season this year with their return to the Ulster Hall for ‘A Night of Christmas Music and Song’ on Saturday 8th December.

Unlike other BOC concerts, this will be unique as they combine with the recently formed Belfast Pops Orchestra (led by Stephen Cullen) for the first time to bring you a phenomenal choral and orchestral sound delivered by some of the provinces greatest local talent.

Colin Scott, Musical Director for both the Belfast Operatic Company and the Belfast Pops Orchestra commented “The Belfast Pops Orchestra are unique in that all their players are professional musicians who donate their time to raising money for charitable causes – musicians doing what they love for a good cause, something especially important at Christmas time. Combined with the unique choral sound of the Belfast Operatic Company, this will be a concert not to be missed.”
This captivatingly festive event is set to be the ultimate Christmas musical experience this year, brought to you by one of the provinces finest operatic companies.

Esteemed Director Wilfie Pyper, who will compere the evening, commented “The Belfast Operatic Company have prepared yet another excellent programme for this years Christmas concert, ranging from traditional Christmas carols and other old favourites to contemporary Christmas show tunes, all of which are guaranteed to delight the entire family on a magical journey, evoking memories of Christmases both past and present.” – of course it just wouldn’t be a real Christmas show without an opportunity for the audience to join in with some of the nations favourite carols!

With limited seats available, early bookings are advised for what will be a unique blend of Christmas magic for all the family, both young and old. Tickets cost £15 and are available from the Ulster Hall on 028 9033 4455 or you can book online at www.ulsterhall.co.uk.

STENA Line has been voted the top ferry company for a record 20^th time at the annual Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism Awards.  The ‘Best Ferry Company’ award was presented at a glittering awards ceremony at the Slieve Donard Resort in Newcastle.

Northern Ireland Travel News has been organising the awards for the past 21 years and this year’s ceremony was hosted by TV personality Roy Walker with more than 400 VIPs from the local travel and tourism industry attending.

Paul Grant, Route Director for the Belfast – Cairnryan route collected the award on behalf of the company.

“It’s been a busy year for Stena Line as we celebrate 50 years in business, so it is a real honour to pick up this prestigious award as we mark such a memorable milestone,” said Paul. “The travel industry is used to seeing innovation and high levels of customer service so when they say once again that we are the Best Ferry Company it underscores that the high standards we set ourselves lead the industry.”

“Next month also marks the first anniversary of our Belfast to Cairnryan route which introduced two new vessels, Stena Superfast VII and Superfast VIII, the largest ships to sail between Northern Ireland and Scotland,” he continued.

“Following a £40M acquisition of the Belfast to Liverpool ferry route from DFDS last year, we have now completed a major ship upgrade programme with a £4M refit investment in sister ships Stena Mersey and Stena Lagan. ”

Stena Line is the market leader on the Irish Sea, offering the biggest fleet and the widest choice of routes from Ireland to Britain, including Belfast to Cairnryan, Belfast to Liverpool, Belfast to Heysham, Dun Laoghaire to Holyhead, Dublin Port to Holyhead and Rosslare to Fishguard.  The company carries approximately three million passengers on its Irish Sea routes each year, more than its rival ferry operators combined.

A number of free business workshops and networking events are taking place over the next few months, facilitated by Belfast City Council.

The events are being run through the Belfast Entrepreneurs Network (BEN) which is a discussion forum for small and medium-sized businesses across Belfast who also have a chance to network and build contacts.

The first of these events got underway on Thursday at The Basement in McHugh’s Bar when Stephen Magorrian from Botanic Inns and Lara Goodall from Lara Goodall Consulting gave a joint talk on the importance of developing “innovative and achievable marketing techniques” that could boost your business.

The next BEN event will take place on Thursday 15 November at The Belfast Barge beside the Waterfront Hall where the guest speaker is David Horn from Tick Tock Design. His talk entitled ‘Understanding the basics of Search Engine Optimisation’ will guide businesses to work on and “progress their websites up the rankings” by focusing on getting the basics right.

Another BEN event will be held on Tuesday 22 January in the Great Hall of the City Hall. This will be a joint networking evening with the Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce and will be an opportunity for businesses to network and make new contacts.

The final event will take place on Thursday 7 February in the MAC where the guest speaker is Leonard Brown from Profit Analytics Ltd. Entitled ‘Profit from Numbers’, his talk will look at opportunities to increase profits for small and medium-sized businesses.

All of the BEN events will take place in the evening from 5.30pm-7.30pm and are open to small and medium-sized businesses in the Belfast City Council area. Registration is essential.

To take part in the upcoming BEN events, businesses should email economicdevelopment@belfastcity.gov.uk

Alderman Christopher Stalford, Chairman of Belfast City Council’s Development Committee, said: “Set up five years ago, the Belfast Entrepreneurs Network continues to go from strength to strength. Part-funded by Belfast City Council, BEN provides an excellent opportunity for small or medium-sized businesses across the city to come together, network and share their business experiences. BEN members are also given valuable advice on business development by an expert line-up of business speakers.”

BEN is also financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland.

Dust off your broomsticks and capes and visit one of the National Trust Spooktakular events in Mid Ulster this Hallowe’en!

The Argory, Moy will offer a unique Hallowe’en experience at Pumpkins and Potions on Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 October from 12-5pm. The out houses of the Courtyard will come alive with story-telling, games and crafts accompanied by some strange characters from Hallowe’en past.

Enter the spook shed for some ghoulish tales with Nanny McPhee and visit the Witches Kitchen to see what’s brewing. Follow the graveyard trail around the estate and carve out a Jack O’ Lantern to take home. Enjoy some witches brew and take a tour of the 1820’s house and complete the ghost trail. Prizes will be given for the most Spooktakular fancy dress!

The spooks don’t end there as Springhill in Moneymore prepares for a day of fun and frights at the Springhill Spooktakular on Sunday 28 October from 1-5pm. Follow the Goblin, the Scarecrow and the Troll around Springhill to find the ingredients to make Witches Potion. Carve a pumpkin to take home and enjoy ghoulish games and crafts. Take a tour of Springhill House, home to one of Northern Ireland’s most documented ghosts, Olivia Lenox-Conyngham… who know’s you might even catch a glimpse of her on your visit!

A weekend of fantastic frights and fun for all the family in Mid Ulster. Both events, Normal Admission, National Trust Members Free. For more information contact The Argory on 028 87 784 753 or Springhill on 028 86 748 210. Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ni or follow at Facebook/NationalTrustMidUlster

Ghosts and ghouls descend on The District of Magherafelt on Saturday 27^th October 2012 as Magherafelt District Council and Magherafelt Arts Trust prepare for Halloween with a Spooktactular programme of events.

The freaky fun and scary shenanigans begin at 2.00pm, at Meadowbank Sports Arena which will be buzzing with ghoulish happenings at the children’s Halloween Hooley from 2.00pm to 5.00pm.  Open to all ages, children can join in the fun, watch Fizz Wizz Pop’s magic show or fancy a puppet show? Meet mischievous characters, burn off some energy on the extra-large inflatables or try out our children’s karaoke.  Be early and watch out, as you never know who is about!!!!

Then on Wednesday 31^st October at 7.00pm, come along to Maghera Leisure Centre and join Magherafelt District Council as the skies explode into a fantastic fanfare of colour and lights at the annual fireworks display.

Admission to all these events is free of charge.

Sharon Arbuthnot, Arts and Events Officer with Magherafelt District Council said “This year’s variety of activities spell a weekend of themed events with enough chills and thrills to keep all the family amused.”

“The children’s Halloween Hooley which is always hugely popular is being held this year again at the Meadowbank Sports Arena to accommodate increased activities and a larger number of children.”

Sharon continued, “We would encourage families in the district to come along and enjoy the annual Fireworks Display at Maghera Leisure Centre. However, we would ask that those coming to enjoy the display will use the official car parks for parking and not main roads to help prevent traffic disruptions and to aid safety measures.”

Car Parking

The car park in front of Maghera Leisure Centre can accommodate 40 cars and will also facilitate drivers with disabilities (those who have a blue badge displayed on the windscreen, issued by the Department of the Environment).

‘No Waiting’ cones will be placed by the PSNI on the Coleraine Road to allow emergency vehicles in and out.

Information for Nearby Residents

Residents in the Sunnyside, Tamney Crescent, Crawfordsburn Drive, Coleraine Road and The Hawthorns will receive a hand – delivered letter from Magherafelt District Council advising them of safety precautions that they should adhere to before and after the display.

• DO NOT walk across the football field on Wednesday 31^st October 2012

as there will be live fireworks located in the field.  Please bring this to the attention of all children.

• Do not watch the display from your home, particularly not from your back door.  A change of wind could mean that you could be hit by fallout.  If you want to watch the fireworks display, then you should enter the football field from the entrance on the Coleraine Road.

• Children should not be allowed to attend the display by themselves, and therefore must be accompanied by an adult.

• Pets could be frightened by the fireworks display.  It may be advisable to move them to another location for the duration of the display.  You may also want to discuss the issue with your local veterinary surgeon.

First Aid

The first aid organisation Emergency Medical Care will be present with an ambulance and trained First Aid Volunteers.

So make sure to come along and join Magherafelt District Council and Magherafelt Arts Trust once again with something frightful and fun for all to enjoy. To obtain further information on any of the events, please contact Magherafelt Tourist Information Office, Tel: 7963 1510,                              E:thebridewell@magherafelt.gov.uk, visit www.magherafelt.gov.uk or follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/magherafeltcouncil

This year’s Seapark Fireworks Festival which will be held on Saturday October 27^th, is set to be the best yet featuring a fun fair, an even bigger food fair, live music and a spectacular fireworks display finale to finish the event in style.

The fun will kick off at the slightly earlier time this year of 4pm with the children’s fun-fair and a variety of delicious foods and beverages to keep the crowds warm will be available to buy from local traders from 4pm also.

The fantastic food fair will feature everyone’s favourite foods from fish & chips to hog roasts, Holywood’s favourite cinnamon scones, crepes and lots more. The perfect half-term outing for the whole family and all reasonably priced!

At 6pm, popular local band The Jukes take to the stage to entertain the crowds with their fantastic repertoire of hits guaranteed to get everyone dancing!

The event will draw to a close after the spectacular fireworks display at 8pm. Prepare to be thrilled as the sky above Belfast Lough will come alive with explosions of colour and sparkle.

Commenting on the event, Alison Stobie, North Down Borough Council said, “We’re looking forward to another great night at Seapark this year – good food, good music and spectacular fireworks – perfect ingredients for a fun night for all the family. Everyone is welcome to come dressed up in your spookiest Halloween costumes but make sure you wrap up warm and bring a torch!”

So come along and join the fun on Saturday 27 October 2012, from 4pm at the Seapark Recreational Grounds, Holywood. Admission is FREE, making this an event not to be missed!

If you fancy more Halloween fun, on the following day, Sunday 28^th October, Cockle Row Cottages in Groomsport will be hosting a fun Halloween Day. This FREE event which runs from 1pm – 4pm will feature Jungle World and Casey’s Creature who will be bringing along lots of creepy creatures and unusual animals or you can try your hand at some creepy crafts or enjoy some balloon model ling!

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

On Tuesday 30^th October Lillian Bland Community Park, Glengormley will be taken over by Ghouls and Fools!

The spooktacular evening will kick off at 6pm with a wide range of Halloween activities for all the family.

This year will see the first ever fancy dress roller disco running from 6pm-8pm with prizes up for grabs for the best costumes.  Other activities returning this year will be; face painting, a magic show and mask making with everyone’s favourite storyteller Mr Hullabaloo also returning.

Why not dress up as your favourite superhero and take on the climbing wall, or take a scary Halloween ride in the simulator.

There will also be traditional Halloween games to try such as bobbing for apples and pumpkin carving provided by Glengormley Community Group.  And at 9pm a fireworks display will hopefully frighten the Ghouls away again.

It’s a great way to keep the kids entertained over the school holidays so get your costumes on and come and join in the Halloween fun.  We have something for everyone and best of all it’s FREE!

For more information visit www.newtownabbey.gov.uk/GhoulsandFools or visit the official Ghouls and Fools Facebook page www.facebook.com/GhoulsandFools

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 12 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland over this week (October 15 – 21).

For all events in ni2012 click on www.discovernorthernireland.com/events, visit your local tourist information centre or log onto http://www.facebook.com/discovernorthernireland

• Belfast Fashion Week, various venues, Belfast, October 13 – 21.  Belfast Fashion Week continues to stay ahead of the crowds with the hottest trends for fashion on display from the high street, boutiques and designer stores.

• Yours Truly Jack The Ripper, The Market Place Theatre, Co. Armagh, October 18.  This drama looks at the case of Jack the Ripper through the eyes of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police as he recounts the terrible weeks when East London was under a reign of fear.

• Nocturnal Nature Tour, Crom, Upper Lough Erne, Newtownbutler, Co. Fermanagh, October 18 – 19.  Take a tour in the 4×4 jeep and discover what lurks among the trees and foliage in Crom after dark.

• Roe Valley Folk Festival, Limavady, Co. Londonderry, October 17 – 21.  Enjoy a range of folk music, dance, song and verse, performances, concerts and sessions as well as a number of outdoor events for children and the whole community.

• In The Footsteps of Heroes from the Somme to D-Day, Strule Arts Centre, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, October 19. Follow in the footsteps of young Jimmy Ashfield played by Andrew Burnside as he enlists into the 9^th Battalion of the RIF and recounts his experiences in letters to his widowed mother, through to the battle of the Somme and his ultimate death.

• 50^th Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s, various venues, Belfast, October 19 – November 4.  This annual festival promises a world of talent right on your doorstep with dance, music, theatre, visual arts and film featuring both home-grown and international artists and performers.        

• Apple Day, Lisburn Tourist Information Centre, Lisburn, October 20.  Part of the UK wide event celebrating traditional varieties of apple with lots of family friendly activities.

• Brent Goose Bonanza, Mount Stewart House, Newtownards, Co. Down, October 20.  Marvel at the return of the thousands of Brent Geese and other waders and wildfowl that have completed their epic journeys from arctic Canada, Iceland and Northern Europe.

• 1912, A Hundred Years On, Ulster Museum, Belfast, October 20.  An hour-long play telling the story of a vital year in Northern Ireland’s history through a thought-provoking drama.

• Ghost and Gourds Weekend, Rowallane Garden, Saintfield, Co. Down, October 20 – 21.  Come along for a scary day out with face painting, ghosts trails and the chance to behead, scoop and carve your very own pumpkin to take home.

• Ulster Society of Women Artists, Waterfront Hall, Belfast, until October 26.  The Ulster Society of Women was founded in 1957 at a time when no art society in Northern Ireland would accept female artists.  Today it boasts over 120 members and this is an exhibition of their works including oils, watercolours, acrylics, mixed media and sculptures.

• Escape from Witch Mountain, Ring of Gullion, Crossmaglen, Co. Armagh, until October 30.  Are you brave enough to help save all the children that are trapped on the mountain from the witch of Slieve Gullion? Join in and help solve the clues along the spine-chilling forest trail. 

PEOPLE from Northern Ireland were invited earlier this year  to ‘bring home’ their friends and family from around the world to showcase what Northern Ireland has to offer in 2012, as part of a Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) Civic Pride campaign.

Belfast couple Denis and Marie Savage, who moved from Andersonstown to Ontario in Canada 38 years ago, won the competition which involved their family sending a ‘virtual postcard’ to let them know about all the exciting events and celebrations happening in Northern Ireland in 2012.

The Savages, who are now settled in Canada with four children and three grandchildren, won a trip to see their family and friends courtesy of NITB and arrived in Northern Ireland this week to experience all their home country has to offer in 2012.

Marie Savage said, “Our family in West Belfast sent us a postcard telling us what an amazing year 2012 was going to be for Northern Ireland.

“We emigrated to Canada from Belfast in 1974 and have been living there since.  We entered the competition on the ni2012 website but never expected to win and are absolutely delighted to experience Northern Ireland in its most exciting year yet.

“On our trip home as well as spending time with family we’ve visited the spectacular Titanic Belfast, enjoyed some delicious local cuisine in Strangford and Portaferry, explored the beautiful scenery of the North Coast and shopped in Dungannon!” Marie continued.

“The changes since we were last home are unbelievable and I’m truly proud to say I’m from here. I’ll be encouraging all of my friends and family in Canada and around the world to make the trip to Northern Ireland to see the progress for themselves,” Marie added.

Eimear Callaghan, NITB’s Campaigns Project Officer said, “The ‘Bring Them Home’ competition was run as part of our Civic Pride campaign to showcase and celebrate the best of what Northern Ireland has to offer in 2012.

“From key events such as the Titanic Belfast opening, the Irish Open and the Peace One Day Concert to music festivals and carnivals, there really has been something for everyone to celebrate this year.

“I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring home the Savage family all the way from Canada to experience everything that’s happening for themselves. 2012 has shown us that there’s no better time to be from Northern Ireland,” Eimear added.

For further information on things to do and events taking place across Northern Ireland click on www.discovernorthernireland.com or www.ni2012.com.