Support your team from only £50* per person return

NORTHERN Ireland’s leading ferry company Stena Line is ready to score with football, rugby, ice hockey, golf and many more fans by offering a series of special extended day trips to Britain from £50* per person return.
Stena Line is giving customers the chance to travel with their car from Belfast to Cairnryan or Liverpool from £50* per person, return for any game, match, tournament or event.
Fans not only have a choice of routes but have the option to travel out from Belfast to Cairnryan and return by Liverpool to Belfast or vice versa, giving them flexibility on their journey.

For further information or to book click on www.stenaline.co.uk/sport, call  08447 70 70 70 or contact your local travel agent.

*£50 based on car and 3 persons travelling. Supplement of £20 per person single applies for night sailings on Belfast-Liverpool route. Additional passengers £40 per adult and £20 per child return. Valid for travel until 22 December 2012.  Subject to availability. Please note these prices do not include match ticket. Offer is an extended day trip only, must depart within 30 hours of arrival in Britain. Please see website for full terms & conditions

The 16^th Ards International Guitar Festival is back in town this week with a jam packed programme of the some of the world’s most talented guitarists.

Running from the 27^th – 30^th September in venues across Ards, sixteen years on this annual event remains fresh and vibrant with sell out performances every year.

Thursday 27^th kicks off with a free fringe event in Ards Arts Centre from 12.30 featuring Cup o’Joe then later the Arts Centre hosts the Classical Guitar Society and Aquarelle Guitar Quartet from 8.00pm.  The Ivy Bar finishes off the opening night of the Festival with a rock double bill with Vizion and Haze from 9.00pm.

It’s a ‘fantastic’ Friday with two free fringe events starting with Gypsy’s Wish in Ards Arts Centre at 12.30pm and later in Molly Brown’s catch Ciaran Lavery from 5.00pm.  The Queens Hall big gig from 8.00pm has three incredible acts with Martin Simpson, the Muriel Anderson and Gareth Dunlop.  Then to finish off Friday is the infamous Ronnie Greer Band in the Ivy Bar from 9.00pm supported by Infamy.

A ‘sizzling’ Saturday sees even more gigs across the town.  Two more free fringe events with Nina Armstrong in Ards Arts Centre at 12.30pm and Gavin Ferris in the Ivy bar from 4.00pm.  Real enthusiasts can participate in two workshops in the Ivy Bar on Saturday afternoon – Muriel Anderson from 12.30pm followed by Gonzalez Walsh Duo at 2.30pm.  Molly Brown’s then opens its doors to the Festival’s All Ages gig ‘Pigstock’ from 5pm featuring Annapurna, Hornets and Lafaro.  Back to the Queen’s Hall at 8.00pm for three more amazing acts including the Gonzalez Walsh Duo, Bap Kennedy and Martin Taylor.  Grainne Duffy brings the night to a close in the Ivy Bar from 9.00pm supported by the Paradiso Guitar Duo.

The Festival then winds down in the Ivy Bar on Sunday 30^th from 3.00pm with what will be breathtaking performances from Maeve Dunphy and Devon Sproule.  The Steve Experiment play one last free fringe event in Molly Brown’s at 7.00pm …… and that’s all folks!

Festival Director Emily Walsh says ‘There’s a real buzz around the Festival this year as we have some real world class performers coming to Ards. Martin Simpson is a legend on the folk/Americana scene and Martin Taylor is undoubtedly one of the world’s foremost jazz guitarists, with the support of local greats Gareth Dunlop and Bap Kennedy.  As well as all this there will be loads more happening this weekend including a classical guitar recital, free one hour concerts at the Arts Centre and Molly Brown’s and workshops at The Ivy Bar.’

Information on this Festival for guitar and music lovers is available on www.ardsguitarfestival.co.uk , on Facebook at Ards International Guitar Festival or Twitter at ArdsGuitarFest.  Programmes and tickets are available by contacting Ards Arts Centre on 028 91810803.

One of Ireland’s best known stars of stage and screen, the internationally acclaimed actor Stephen Rea is set to make a very special appearance at this year’s Aspects Festival which is taking place, for the first time, in the beautiful surroundings of Bangor Abbey.

Stephen who is best known for his roles in box office smashes like The Crying Game and Interview With A Vampire will be narrating Flann O’Brien’s masterpiece, The Third Policeman. The show which is taking place on Saturday, 29^thSeptember 2012 at 8.30pm (tickets £15) will feature specially arranged music by acclaimed composer Colin Reid and is a combination of murder mystery, comic satire and supernatural thriller guaranteed to delight and thrill the audience!

The last of Flann O’Brien’s novels to be published, The Third Policeman joins O’Brien’s other memorable works The Poor Mouth, The Dalkey Archive and A Hard Life to ensure his place along with Joyce and Beckett as one of Ireland’ comic geniuses.

Set in the atmospheric surrounds of The Abbey, Reid’s live music, Rea’s beguiling voice and O’Brien’s madcap pros will have the audience captivated from start to finish.

Commenting on the event, Stephen Douds, Festival Consultant said: “Bringing the Stephen Rea and Colin Reid collaboration of The Third Policeman to Bangor Abbey is, for me at least, the highlight of Aspects 2012.  Having decided to use the historic Abbey as a venue it was really important to get the right music for the event. And this is it. Flann O’Brien’s original text is a comic masterpiece, read and enjoyed for decades.   But when it is read by an actor as gifted as Stephen Rea the text is vivid, fresh and deeply hilariously, uncontrollably funny.  Add to that the beauty of Colin Reid’s specially composed music and it makes for an evening that lingers long in the memory.  Once you see this performance you will never look at a bicycle the same way again. I promise.”

The Third Policeman has been a sell-out at every venue it has previously visited so make sure to book your tickets now and don’t miss out on this fabulous opportunity to experience this darkly comic tale in the unique surroundings of Bangor Abbey.

This year’s Aspects line-up is packed with something for everyone. Highlights include; for the crime lover Colin Bateman’s Crime Night featuring Chris Brookmyre, sports fans will enjoy Kevin McCarra, poetry lovers will love Bernard MacLaverty, or if you’re just looking for a laugh Owen O’Neill is the show for you! For the full line-up, please download a programme from www.northdown.gov.uk

Tickets are available at www.northdown.gov.uk/bookings, from the festival Box Office at North Down Museum (028 9127 1200) and from Bangor Tourist Information Office (028 9127 0069).

Inaugural Creative Mackintosh Festival launched

HOLLYWOOD superstars Brad Pitt and Barbara Streisand are counted among his biggest fans and now the work of innovative Glasgow architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh is being celebrated in a two week festival from October 15 – 28.

Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB) has teamed up with Stena Line to promote the vibrant city as part of its Autumn Short Breaks campaign and is encouraging people in Northern Ireland to visit the Creative Mackintosh Festival and discover one of Scotland’s most treasured architects, designers and artists.

Mackintosh’s work propelled architecture from Victorian flamboyance to modern minimalism, and a century later, this Festival will showcase his work and honour his contribution by encouraging everyone to unleash their creativity.

Thirty activities, performances and events will take place across the fortnight including some surprise “appearances” by Mackintosh himself courtesy of interactive performance company Mischief La-Bas.

Visitors can enjoy recitals and performances in Mackintosh buildings throughout Glasgow and roll up their sleeves and try crafts such as drawing, knitting and photography, inspired by Mackintosh’s work.

GCMB’s Senior Marketing Communications Manager Elaine Dickie said, “The Creative Mackintosh Festival presents a fantastic opportunity for people in Northern Ireland to come and experience Glasgow’s cultural heritage and join us in celebrating one of the city’s best-loved sons.

“Glasgow is known as one of the world’s most creative cities, having spawned world-class artists and musicians for more than a century,” she continued.

“This October I would encourage everyone with an interest in art and architecture to explore Glasgow and discover the world of Mackintosh. There is also fantastic food, the best shopping in the UK outside London and lots of fun attractions just a short ferry crossing from Belfast.

“Stena Line has a great range of packages for people travelling from Northern Ireland to Glasgow whether they are going by car, coach or rail,” Elaine added.

The Creative Mackintosh Festival runs from October 15 – 28, 2012.  For the full programme and further details log onto www.glasgowmackintosh.com. To book special travel packages with Stena Line click on www.stenaline.co.uk/glasgow, call 08432 081 811 or contact your local travel agent.

Belfast City Council has described today’s announcement that the city is to receive £13.7 million from the Westminster Government’s Urban Broadband Fund as a catalyst for economic development which will provide a major boost to the infrastructure of the city.

The total investment will be nearly £25 million as the City Council will invest £3 million, as part of its investment programme,  while the private sector will provide a further £8 million towards the Super-connected Cities Programme.

Councillor Deirdre Hargey, chairman of the council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, said that it has the potential to be the catalyst for foreign investment, new jobs and major improvements in quality of life for citizens with Belfast set to become a world class digital city by 2015.

Only London has received a higher city award than Belfast and is the only city to receive the full award that it bid for.

Councillor Deirdre Hargey, chairman of the council’s Strategic Policy and Resources Committee, said: “Today’s announcement is the result of an incredible amount of work in a short space of time. It has been a real team effort across the city with a range of partners in the private and public sector and Belfast City Council could not have put this bid together without their support.

“This is one of the most significant announcements for Belfast and the wider regional economy for some time and is a real game-changer as it will provide a world class digital infrastructure that will attract major foreign investment, create jobs, and provide a platform for local business start ups.  It also brings major benefits for communities, residents, tourists and public sector organisations.

Why not take this once in a lifetime opportunity to join Lady Bangor – otherwise known as historian and biographer Sarah Bradford – for afternoon tea at the Aspects Festival on Sunday 30 September 2012 at 3.00pm. Tickets cost £9 (£7 concession).

Lady Bangor will be discussing her new book Elizabeth ll: Her Life In Our Times.  An avid collector, Sarah had such vast archives and stories coaxed from courtiers, friends and royal insiders that she produced this latest book to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.  The finished book is the nation’s story told through everything that has happened to the Queen – and everything she has made happen over 60 years of change, turbulence, triumph and sadness.

Sarah Bradford is married to William Ward who, in 1993 became the 8^th Viscount of Bangor.  The couple are reported to spend much of the summer months at Castle Ward.

Sarah’s other famous connection is with sister in law Lalla Ward, famous for her role in Doctor Who and who was briefly married to Tom Baker.

The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee both finishes and starts this year’s Aspects Festival, as we also welcome James Naughtie on Wednesday 26 September, when he will be discussing his New Elizabethans series, currently broadcasting on BBC Radio 4 (event starts at 8.30pm, tickets £11/£9 concession). Attending both events is a great way to consider both Queen Elizabeth herself and the era she has governed over – why not start Aspects by thinking about the key individuals of the New Elizabethan era, and end it by discussing, over afternoon tea, the life of this extraordinary monarch?

Tickets are available at www.northdown.gov.uk/bookings, from the festival Box Office at North Down Museum (028 9127 1200) and from Bangor Tourist Information Office (028 9127 0069).

Fermanagh shoe and accessory boutique, Shuphoric has just gone live, launching a very slick and stylish online shop for those who possess a passion for fashion.

Boasting an unmatched range of unique, quirky and classy collections, Shuphoric.com is a one-stop-shop for all your shoes, bags, headpieces and accessory needs, and all at the click of a button!

Considered a modern and fashionable outlet for chic and sophisticated women, Shuphoric.com stocks top-named brands including Irregular Choice, United Nude, Menbur, Rocket Dog, Poetic Licence, Miss L Fire, Gabriella, Blackmail and more. All of which collectively caters to all markets, from everyday-wear to occasion-wear, Shuphoric footwear is known to turn heads.

Designed specifically with their customers in mind, Shuphoric.com is simplistic, practical and easily navigated. Furthermore, customers can avail of free delivery to the UK and Ireland and can be sure they’re getting the best prices around with Shuphoric’s Price Match Promise. In other words, should you find the shoes you’re after cheaper elsewhere, Shuphoric.com will match the price and even knock off another 10% for good measure! If that wasn’t enough, Shuphoric.com accepts various payment methods such as credit card, PayPal and Amazon, meaning customers are able to browse, shop and pay how they please, all with great ease.

To celebrate the exciting launch of their online shop, Shuphoric.com are offering customers 10% off their first purchase with the use of discount code: SHU1B. To avail of this offer, simply click ‘Got a Discount Code?’ during the checkout process and follow the instructions.

So, what are you waiting for? Make Shuphoric.com your newest one-click fashion trick!

Shop online at www.shuphoric.com and also visit www.facebook.com/shuphoric and www.twitter.com/shuphoric

It’s just four days (and counting) until the biggest, most inclusive and dazzlingly diverse cultural showcase to be held anywhere in Northern Ireland kicks off in Belfast.

Culture Night Belfast will illuminate the four corners of the Cathedral Quarter, stretching into the four corners of the city itself, in an evening of exploration and adventure.

Music, theatre, comedy, cathedral recitals, journalists for free speech, rock gigs, group drumming, children’s workshops, electronic performances, giant sculptures, street parties, exhibitions, tasters, tours, magic performers, interactive murals, family friendly performances, barbershop opera, outdoor wrestling, debates, lectures, quizzes, trails, video installations, flying saucers, DJ and street skills, archaeology from the air, caravan jams in car parks, giant projections, stand-up in double decker buses, stories, readings, digital arts, mini-festivals in Minis, flash mob meditation, an interactive transatlantic dining experience and a love and peace parade is just a sample of the 250-plus happenings, events and occurrences that are taking place across one city in one evening on 21st September.

And there’s free buses all night to transport Culture Nighters of all shoe sizes, tastes and temperaments to the west and east of the city and back again into the central hub to join up Belfast in one giant civic celebration.

Culture Night Manager Adam Turkington said: “The response to the fourth Culture Night Belfast has been out of this world. It’s all kind of snowballed into a giant evening right across the city where everything happens all at once! So many amazing artists, performers and organisations have offered their services free of charge and it demonstrates just what a dazzling wealth of talent and creativity we have within our city limits. It’s something that I’m hugely proud of and everybody who comes down on 21st September, will witness first hand what an astounding ‘city of culture’ Belfast truly is.”

He added: “We’re very excited about the scale and quality of Culture Night 2012, and we’re looking forward to seeing people of all ages getting out and sampling Belfast night life as they’ve never seen it before.”

Over 25,000 people are expected to take part in Culture Night 2012, and organisers have endeavoured to ensure that something will be happening in every available space and place throughout the city centre, throughout the evening.

St George`s Market will once again open its doors to new businesses who want to start-up their own food or craft industries.

Belfast City Council`s Market Start-Up Programme was piloted earlier this year and its success has led to another wave of the initiative – starting this October.

Nine new businesses were offered stalls at the city’s historic market for two Sundays in March to test trade their products. The range of goods introduced by the businesses varied from vintage jewellery and clothes to cupcakes and buns, jams and chutneys, plush teddies and fresh fruit products.

Now the programme is to be launched again and is open to 20 budding entrepreneurs in the Belfast City Council area. Free of charge, it will consist of workshops with an introduction to market trading; one-to-one mentoring; help with product development and support with a business plan.

The participants will get a chance to test trade their products at St George’s Market, take part in a special Meet The Buyer event and visit other international food and craft trade events.

Claire Magowan who runs The Lily Pink Bakery which specialises in buttercream cupcakes and layer cakes was a previous participant and lauded the programme.

“From the first meeting on the Market Start-Up Programme, I knew that running my own cake business was what I wanted to do and with the help of Belfast City Council, I would be able to achieve it. Through the programme, we got to visit local businesses that were happy to share their advice on a range of topics – everything from dealing with customers and the importance of originality right to more practical issues such as sourcing packaging and financing. We were also taught how to write a business plan – which was an invaluable help to me,” she said.

“At the end of the programme, we were each given a stall at St George’s Sunday Market to trial our products. I had spent the previous month trialling recipes for cupcakes to ensure that my cakes not only looked but tasted wonderful. Both weeks at St George`s were a complete success and I sold out of all stock. Following this success, I decided to trade as a casual trader at St George`s every Sunday and my stall has now been made permanent. Running The Lily Pink Bakery is now my full time job.”

Alderman Christopher Stalford, Chairman of Belfast City Council`s Development Committee, said: “The council is committed to supporting new and existing retailers. The Market Start-Up Programme will give new artisan food and craft producers a chance to test trade their products at St George`s Market and note the benefits of doing so and building a new business.”

To apply for the programme, you can visit the council website at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/businessprogrammes/marketprogramme.asp or you can contact Belfast City Council’s Economic Development Unit directly on 028 9027 0229.