The cast and crew of the new BBC comedy series ‘Blandings’ descended upon the tranquil setting of Crom Castle earlier this week to start filming.

Blandings, based on the celebrated stories by PG Wodehouse, will star Timothy Spall as the amiable and befuddled Lord Emsworth (Clarence to his friends), with Jennifer Saunders as his indomitable sister Connie.

The series is set in 1929, and will be filmed on location at Crom Castle, Co. Fermanagh with the support of Northern Ireland Screen.

Crom Castle stands on elevated parkland amidst an archipelago of wooded islands and peninsulae in tranquil Upper Lough Erne. Built for the Third Earl of Erne in the 1830s it was designed by the English architect Edward Blore who was responsible for sections of Buckingham Palace, and has been the home to the Crichton family, Earls of Erne for centuries.

The Earl of Erne and staff at Crom Castle are “honored” that Crom has been selected for such a pretigious production. Producers had originally viewed the Castle last June and fell in love with it and its surroundings.

Manager of Crom Castle, Noel Johnston, says “From a tourism point of view this is brilliant for Fermanagh…It takes a lot of money to keep the Castle going so to get something like this is a big boost, not just to us, but to the local area.”

A crew of 100+ have now arrived in Fermanagh and work has begun. With over 40 days scheduled for filming, the crew are staying at Crom but hope to make time to check the local area and all it has to offer. We hope they enjoy our beautiful County!

Four representatives of the Langkawi Global Geopark in Malaysia visited Fermanagh and Cavan this week to see how the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark is managed and operated.

The Malaysian visitors work for the University Kebangsaan Malaysia – the National University of Malaysia – and visited the Marble Arch Caves Global geopark and the North Pennines Geopark in England as part of their research into preparing a management plan for the Langkawi Global Geopark.

They discussed geopark management issues and procedures relating to tourism, the environment, education and community involvement with members of the Management Team of the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark and also visited a number of geopark sites.

The group stayed at the Arch House farm guesthouse in Florencecourt, County Fermanagh where they were able to see a successful example of farmhouse tourism and were able to discuss farm conservation techniques with the owners, Rosemary and Geoffrey Armstrong.

Sarah Aziz, one of the Malaysian visitors said “We have been overwhelmed by the warm, friendly greetings we have had from people here in Ireland. We all hope to come back and I will be bringing my family here on holiday later this year.”

Professor Ong Puay Liu said “The Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark is well known and respected as an excellent example of a successful geopark. We are here because we want to build on our own successes in Langkawi by picking up on the best practice demonstrated by leading geoparks.”

The Langkawi Global Geopark is Malaysia’s first UNESCO Global Geopark and is situated in the beautiful Langkawi islands off the northwest coast of Malaysia close to the border with Thailand. The University Kebangsaan Malaysia actively supports the development of the geopark in Langkawi in conjunction with the Langkawi Development Association, local authorities and the government of the Malaysian State of Kedah.

There are 99 islands in the Langkawi archipelago with a wide range of geology such as sandstone, limestone, granite and marble. The islands are a popular tourist destination for visitors from Europe, the Middle East, Australia and Asia and have a dramatic, rugged landscape that contains a range of striking features including mountains, ridges, waterfalls, caves, inaccessible limestone pinnacles, and golden sandy beaches. Many of the smaller islands rise steeply out of the sea and are covered in dense jungle vegetation.

General Fiasco
“Unfaithfully Yours” Album Launch Shows

Friday June 15 – The Stiff Kitten, Belfast (18+ Show, 8pm Doors)
Saturday June 16 – Mandela Hall, Belfast (14+ Show, 7pm Doors)

General Fiasco return to Belfast this June for two very special live shows! They play an intimate 18+ show at The Stiff Kitten on Friday June 15th, followed by a 14+ show in Mandela Hall the following night (June 16th) to officially launch their brand new LP “Unfaithfully Yours”, which comes out on Monday June 18th on Dirty Hit Records. Tickets for both shows are priced just £12 + Booking Fee, and go onsale Thursday April 5th at Midday, from www.shine.net, The Stiff Kitten and Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide.

From Bellaghy, Co.Derry, N.Ireland, General Fiasco are Owen Strathern on bass, brother Enda on guitar, Stephen Leacock on drums and new guitarist / keyboard player Stuart Bell. The band’s debut album ‘Buildings’ released on Infectious Music in 2010 saw the N.Irish band play festivals and dates around the world including Japan, New Zealand & the USA as well as festivals such Reading & Leeds, Glastonbury, Oxegen and T-In the Park. They also played support to Snow Patrol at the biggest concert ever to happen in N.Ireland at Bangor’s Ward Park to 45,000 people.

They toured relentlessly for months, picking up supports with the Enemy, Kids in Glass Houses, One Night Only and Fighting with Wire amongst others and found themselves with a Kerrang! Magazine ‘Best Newcomer’ award nomination too. The band have been writing and recording for most of 2011, but came back with an EP ‘Waves’  from which ‘The Age You Start Losing Friends’ won ‘Best Song’ at the NI Music Awards held as part of the prestigious Belfast Music Week which saw the MTV awards come to town.

‘The Age You Start Losing Friends’ also picked up another Hottest Record in the World on BBC Radio 1 and the following EP ‘Don’t You Ever’ has already picked up plays on BBC Radio 1 and beyond including several local and college radio stations in the USA.

The band has been selected as Future Flames ambassadors for Coca-Cola’s London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay. They helped to select the best of British youth to run with the Olympic torch in the lead up to the games. The band will be playing at the Olympic Torch Relay Celebration in Glasgow on 8th June

The band’s 2nd album, ’Unfaithfully Yours’ is due for release in June 2012 on Dirty Hit.

Tickets for both shows are priced just £12 + Booking Fee, and go onsale Thursday April 5th at Midday, from www.shine.net, The Stiff Kitten and Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide.

www.generalfiasco.co.uk <http://www.generalfiasco.co.uk>
www.shine.net <http://www.shine.net>

This April sees the launch of British Heart Foundation (BHF) Northern Ireland’s ‘Be Heart Healthy and Volunteer’ campaign.

Volunteers play a vital role in the work of your heart charity and their dedication helps save and improve the lives of those affected by heart disease locally.

Volunteering can do wonders for a sense of wellbeing. People who volunteer report an experience known as the ‘helpers high’. This is a rush of euphoria, similar to the one experienced after physical activity and, once the initial rush is over, people are left with a lasting sense of calm. This feeling can return hours or even days later when volunteers think about what they have done.

For anyone recovering from a heart attack or heart surgery, volunteering is a good way of slowly getting back into activity before returning to work and BHF Northern Ireland will have a role to suit everyone.

In Northern Ireland there are many local volunteer opportunities available. Your heart charity has lots of different roles to suit the time people can give, from a few hours in a local BHF Northern Ireland Shop to putting on a fundraising event to raise some money for the charity. But don’t take our word for it; meet Heather Patterson, our Comms and Fundraising office volunteer from Donaghadee, Co. Down.

BHF Northern Ireland’s Fundraising Volunteer Manager, Gary Wilson says: “Our volunteers give a contribution of time that accounts for £40m of our overall income every year. But their impact goes far beyond money. Without their support we simply wouldn’t be able to do the life-saving work that helps thousands of people living with heart and circulatory disease each year.”

To find out more about volunteering with BHF Northern Ireland contact Gary Wilson, Fundraising Volunteer Manager on 028 6863 3113 or email wilsong@bhf.org.uk or visit bhf.org.uk/volunteer or pop into your local BHF Northern Ireland Shop.

Passengers on this year’s Easter Eggspress Steam Trains will be able to experience the thrill of steam travel from the Titanic era. For the first time ever, this experience is available on Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday.

The steam locomotive at the head of the Easter Eggspress is a beautifully restored classic. Built in 1879, the locomotive spent much of its working life in Cork and it is very likely it hauled goods and freight to the Titanic when it docked in Cobh in 1912. Over 133 years old, the Easter Steam Train, will be whisking passengers on an eggciting eggscursion from Belfast Central to Whitehead Excursion Station and back.
The trips are aimed at families, providing nostalgia for adults and great fun for children, with a free Easter egg for every ticket holding child.

RPSI Operations Officer Mervyn Darragh said: “These are some of our favourite trains to operate – children react so well to the sight, sound and smell of a steam train on Northern Ireland’s railway lines. And the grown-ups relish the opportunity to relive the halcyon days of steam. The trains operate along the Belfast Lough shore with great views of where Titanic was launched. With a Titanic era steam locomotive at the front it’s a really tangible link with that time.

“It is important to us to expose Northern Ireland’s railway heritage to as many people as possible, especially the young. We are proud to be working closely with NI Railways to ensure more and more people are able to experience nostalgic travel, like this Easter Eggspress train and encourage people to book early to avoid disappointment!”

The round trip from Belfast Central Station to Whitehead Excursion Station and back takes just under 2 hours and takes passengers out of the city and along the shore of Belfast Lough. The journey offers passengers scenic seascapes as it hugs the coastline. Whitehead Excursion Station is the base for the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland and, whilst the steam locomotive takes water and runs-around to the other end of the train for the journey back to Belfast, passengers can watch from the platform and enjoy the RPSI’s souvenir shop.
In reaction to popular demand last year, this year there will be four return steam trains split over the 2 days. Each day, the first train leaves from Belfast Central at 11:15am, the second train leaves from Belfast Central at 1:40pm.
Tickets cost a standard fare of only £11.00 (adults and children). All ticket holding children will receive an Easter Egg on the train.
Tickets are available from: The Belfast Welcome Centre, Donegall Place, Belfast (telephone 028 9024 6609) and online from the RPSI website at www.steamtrainsireland.com

Looking for something to do this Easter?

Why not come along to Bangor this Easter Monday, 9^th April, for a day packed full with free family fun. Bangor’s seafront will have something to appeal to everyone from 12.00 – 6.00 pm.

Starting at the McKee Clock arena, over 150 of Ireland’s top modified cars will be displayed all day.  The organisers boldly promise to offer ‘cars more luxurious than a Bentley, faster than a Ferrari and with more toys than a Mercedes’.

Taking a stroll down The Promenade, you can try your hand at Laserquest, check out Ecomantella’s Animal Roadshow or take the kids to visit Phil’s Mobile Farm, showcasing farm animals and domestic pets from the weird to the wonderful!  For the bird enthusiasts, a Falconry Display will be taking place featuring a selection of beautiful birds of prey.

Finish your walk at the newly redeveloped Pickie Funpark which reopens on Easter Monday. The park includes a total refurbishment of existing features and new exciting activities including, an 18 hole maritime themed mini golf course, a children’s electric cars and splash pads. The legendary Pickie Puffer steam train will also be given new puff with an enhanced route and the iconic Pickie Swans will be given a new lease of life in a brand new lagoon.

At 3.00 pm over 200 children and young people from St Malachy’s Primary School, St Columbanus College, St Comgalls Primary School, Barre 2 Soul, Rathgael Gymnastics, St Gall’s Brownies and Guides, North Down Scouts and Bangor Air Training Corps will be taking to the streets as part of the spectacular Diamond Masquerade themed Parade. This year, The Parade will be led by the The Mayor of North Down, Councillor James McKerrow who will be travelling in an electric blue Beaufort car. The Parade’s route will start at the Leisure Centre onto Main Street, along Quay Street, turning into High Street and making its way back up Main Street to the Leisure Centre – an extravaganza not to be missed!

Over on The Eisenhower Pier, The HMS Bangor will throw down her gangway on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday and members of the public are invited to go onboard and see what life is like onboard a real military ship. We are thrilled to have HMS Bangor back in the town after its recent deployment to Libya and the ship’s new Captain, Commanding Officer Lieutenant Commander Matt Moore is delighted to be here on his first visit to Bangor.

Also taking place over the Easter Weekend, Bangor & Holywood Town Centre Management in partnership with North Down Borough Council will be hosting an Easter Speciality Fair in the Sunken Gardens. The event will take place on Easter Saturday from 11am – 4pm and Easter Sunday from 1pm – 5pm.  An array of local crafts and speciality foods will be available.

So come on down to Bangor with your family and friends this Easter for lots of family fun!

For further information check www.northdowntourism.com

An egg-stra special Easter is planned at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum this year.

From Sunday 8^th to Tuesday 10^th April, visitors of all ages can take part in egg-rolling down Bleach Green, a special Easter-themed treasure hunt, street games and swing boats for children and adults. Children can also have a go at creating their own Easter art and there is an Easter Bonnet competition each afternoon.

Special magic shows have been planned in the Parochial Hall and in the Rail Gallery as well as rabbit shows and traditional musical performances. Visitors can also venture to the Rural Area and meet the new additions to the museum including lambs and chicks.

Visitor Services Manager Ruth Turkington said the museum has planned an entertaining programme to mark the Easter holidays: “This is a wonderful time of year at the museum. The farmyard is buzzing with new arrivals, the daffodils are blooming and we are encouraging the public to come and celebrate Easter at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum.

“We have a packed programme of activities to keep all ages happy and entertained. Of course, as well as plenty of things to do, our visitors can simply relax, enjoy living history at its best and we’ll ensure there’s some traditional soda bread to sample – just hot off the griddle!”, she said.

For further information about Easter events at the museum, opening hours and pricing go to www.nmni.com.

Indie hero’s Bombay Bicycle Club have just announced details of an exclusive headline performance at the Mandela Hall, Queens University, Belfast on Tuesday 1^st May 2012.

Tickets priced at £24 go on-sale this Wednesday from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and Ticketmaster.ie

Bombay Bicycle Club released their third album, ‘A Different Kind of Fix’ in August 2011 to widespread critical acclaim. In a little over three years, the band will have released three LPs – an extraordinary and increasingly rare feat in the 21^st century music industry. From the teenage indie kicks of their debut; to the sparse, timeless folk of last summer’s top ten album, ‘Flaws’ (nominated for an Ivor Novello Award); the quartet open a new and beguiling chapter with, ‘A Different Kind of Fix’, one that cements their place at the very forefront of British bands in 2012.

Recorded in Hamburg, London and Atlanta, ‘A Different Kind of Fix’ captures the sound of a band effortlessly progressing and innovating at a startling rate. Guitars are firmly plugged back in for album number three, but added to the mix with potent results are synths, sampled loops, layered vocals from all four band members and washes of reverb throughout.

The sheer breadth of styles and range of influences on display across the record is startling.

First single, ‘Shuffle’, emerges from a looped piano sample to burst forth into one the band’s biggest songs to date, as the piano loop recruits gargantuan drums and bass that march to an epic chorus on their way to a house break of Balearic proportions.

Album opener, ‘How Can You Swallow So Much Sleep’ is all marble steeped vocal loops and breathy samples, which are also used to devastating effect on ‘Lights Out, Words Gone’: a song of such rarefied beauty and rhythmic hooks, one imagines a lost, codeine-fuelled Talking Heads album.

For more see: bombaybicycleclubmusic.com/ /  www.mcd.ie

With the clocks having gone forward and spring officially sprung, the Ulster Orchestra brings a touch of all four seasons tonight (Tuesday 3 April) with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, one of the most popular and well known pieces of music to Clonard Monastery in Baroque at Easter, a concert of timeless Baroque classics.

The Orchestra’s Hungarian-born Leader, violinist Tamás Kocsis is the soloist for the Four Seasons and directs the concert that also includes music by Bach, Purcell and Handel’s uplifting Water Music.

Looking forward to the concert Tamás said, “It’s has been a busy few days, as we performed Brahms’ great Requiem in the Ulster Hall on Friday and was in Derry on Sunday for an education concert, but I am really looking to playing at this special venue.

“While the Orchestra has played at Clonard before, this is my first time performing at the Monastery where I will also be playing the Bach Double Concerto with Chris Blake, our Principal Oboe player. He is a dear friend and a fantastic oboist, so I am sure we are going to have lots of fun performing this wonderful piece,” he continued.

“The Four Seasons always presents a challenge, being very well known and very transparent. No wonder it’s popular with audiences and performers alike, it is a beautiful set of Concertos.”

More…

Performing live to 100,000 people each year in venues from Ulster Hall to Strabane’s Leisure Centre, the National Concert Hall in Dublin to London’s Royal Albert Hall, since its foundation in 1966 Northern Ireland’s only professional orchestra has also played in many ecclesiastical venues from the cathedrals of Armagh to St Columb’s Cathedral, Derry and St Anne’s in Belfast.

Speaking about the concert, Clonard’s Rector, Father Michael Murtagh, said, “The Four Seasons is such a famous piece of music and written by a man who I recently discovered was himself ordained a priest.

“I am looking forward to the concert that comes, for many obvious reasons, at an incredibly special time for so many people being Holy Week. It is also our first Easter back in our newly restored church and the first time in three years that the Orchestra has played here and it’s great to have them back.”

Talking about the Bach Double Concerto, UO Principal Oboe Christopher Blake said, “I have played this amazing concerto with the last two leaders of the Orchestra and am really looking forward to performing it with Tamás, who is an extraordinary violinist.

“You need a lot of stamina for this peice because the music never stops which is unusual for a wind concerto. It is also a challenge to play in different places too, as the environment and acoustics differ from place to place, but we are all really looking forward to returning to Clonard,” Christopher said.

Tickets for the concert on 3 April at 8pm are still available from the Ulster Orchestra Box Office on 028 9023 9955 and ulsterorchestra.com.

Come outdoors this Easter. Get ready for eggstravaganzas, egg trails and antics at four stunning National Trust properties in Mid Ulster – The Argory, Ardress House, Springhill House and Wellbrook Beetling Mill. Spring has sprung and there is endless fun in store for all the family.

On Easter Sunday and Monday, Springhill House in Moneymore will celebrate Easter in true fashion with a Cadbury’s egg trail, face painting, craft activities and a visit from a few familiar characters – Alice, the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and friends will be joining in the fun and games on the estate.

The Easter bunnies have hidden themselves around the lawns and gardens at The Argory. Come along on Easter Monday and Tuesday to the beautiful estate near Moy to find the bunnies, unlock the clues and win the chocolate surprise. Face painters, crafts, games on the lawns and pony and cart rides will keep you entertained throughout the day.

At Ardress House in Annaghmore, the bunnies have also hidden around the farmyard and gardens. Come along on Easter Sunday, complete the trail and win the Cadbury’s chocolate surprise. Enjoy magic shows, children’s music, balloon modelling, crafts and more.

On Easter Monday, follow the clues along the wooded glen at Wellbrook Beetling Mill, Cookstown to find the Cadbury’s surprise. Pack a picnic for the day and soak up the surrounds of the Ballinderry River.

Whatever you’re into, the National Trust Mid Ulster properties have something for everyone this Easter.

For further information on events and opening times visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ni or visit www.eggtrails.com. Normal admission, National Trust members free. Egg trails £1 per child.