Networking events really work for women in business.

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Businesswomen in Northern Ireland will have the opportunity to take part in a unique province wide networking event, which will show that networking is one of the most powerful ways for women to succeed in running a business.

The event, which is set to coincide with Global Entrepreneurship Week, is run by Business Women’s Network NI and supported by Invest Northern Ireland. It will showcase how networking works for women entrepreneurs and will be an opportunity for members and non-members from across the province to connect. They can find ideas to help their businesses grow at the Lagan Valley Island Conference Centre on the 18th November.

RTE’s dynamic Dragon’s Den star Sarah Newman will be keynote speaker offering new inspiration about how to maximise business potential, and speaking about strategies and ideas to help grow business in today’s difficult climate. She is a highly successful entrepreneur who set up needahotel.com and who is now a private investor looking for new business ventures.

The Business Women’s Network NI with over 600 members is made up of four regional networks, which each help to connect local business women across the province.

Margaret Andrews, BWN NI events coordinator, is delighted to have such an inspirational speaker as Sarah Newman to attend this event and said that there is already a great deal of interest from the network. She explained why women benefit from a business support network that focuses on them. “Research shows that women need a little extra support and encouragement to take the first steps into business.”

“Here in Northern Ireland a smaller percentage of women take the step to set up their own business than in the rest of the UK, in Ireland or in the US. This is a huge loss to the local economy and it is therefore vitally important that we support women with great ideas to realise their potential.”

“Networking really works for women whatever stage of business you are in, but especially as a business growth mechanism. It not only gives access to contacts that may become clients or may give a referral, but many women benefit from the friendships they make along the way.”

The Meet a ‘Dragon’ network event for the BWN NI network will be held at the Lagan Valley Island Conference Centre from 4.30-7.30pm on the 18th November. Tickets cost £25 for members and £35 for non members with a hot buffet supper included. They are available to pre-book from the Business Women’s Network website on www.bwnni.com.

The Business Women’s Network is supported by Invest NI and comprises four local groups, Women on the Move (Co Antrim), Enterprising Women’s Network (Armagh & Down), Network for Enterprising Women, (Tyrone & Fermanagh) and Women in Enterprise (Derry/Londonderry). To find out more about events or joining a network in your area contact Margaret Andrews on 028 3083 7575 office@enterprisingwomen.biz

Helena Christensen gets snapped up by Baileys® to give Northern Ireland Facebook fans a chance to attend a VIP party in NYC

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Local Facebook fans have the chance to attend picture perfect party in NYC hosted by Helena Christensen and Baileys®!

Gemma Garrett with friends Kaz Lynas, and Jeane Simpson celebrating the announcement that Baileys® has teamed up with one of the worlds greatest and original supermodels, Helena Christensen, to launch its new ‘let’s do this again’ campaign

Baileys® have announced it has teamed up with one of the worlds greatest and original supermodels, Helena Christensen to launch its new ‘let’s do this again’ campaign. One lucky winner in Northern Ireland will receive an exclusive invitation to a VIP party in New York co-hosted by Helena Christensen and Baileys® as part of the global ‘let’s do this again’ competition on Facebook.

Helena Christensen has both shot and appears in a never-seen before collection of photographs for the campaign, which show a day in her life, hanging out with her close friends at her upstate New York home. The campaign, aims to encourage close friends to share quality moments together more often, and will inspire people to capture and share their own unique moments enjoying Baileys® with close friends for a chance to win this fantastic prize. The winner will receive an exclusive invitation to a VIP party co-hosted by Helena and Baileys® at one of her favourite hang outs in NYC for themselves and a friend.  People from Northern Ireland can upload their photos now on the Baileys® Facebook page www.facebook.com/Baileys to be in with a chance to win from now until the 16th December.

On the latest Baileys® campaign Helena Christensen says: “My most memorable moments are often when I’m with friends because everyone is completely at ease, which makes the atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable. Capturing these special moments on camera is very important to me, because those are the ones that stay with you forever, so to be able to look back at them for the rest of ones life is something to be grateful for and look forward to.”

She continues: “Looking at the images also reminds you of how much great friends mean to you and how important it is to get them all together as often as possible. This is what the new Baileys® campaign holds at its very heart, encouraging close friends to enjoy time together more often and I’m thrilled that Baileys® joined me and my friends at home in New York for the day.”

Jennifer Kiernan, Baileys® Brand manager said: “We’re thrilled to have Helena Christensen on board for the Baileys® ‘Let’s do this again’ campaign and very excited about being able to give a lucky person from Northern Ireland the chance to attend a VIP party in NYC co-hosted by Baileys® and Helena. Northern Irish people love getting together and we like capturing those moments on camera so we can continue sharing them. We’re looking forward to seeing some of those moments where friends have come together to do something they enjoy again uploaded onto the Facebook page over the coming weeks!”

On Baileys® Helena says:

“I love Baileys®, it’s simply delicious and perfect to enjoy with friends. It’s definitely a drink that, once someone has suggested it, everyone wants a glass.”’

To be in with chance of winning this fantastic prize, visit the Baileys® Facebook page for details:  http://www.facebook.com/Baileys

The competition will run until the 16th December 2010.

Over 18’s only. Terms and conditions apply.

Drink Responsibly

www.drinkaware.co.uk for the facts

Celebrating Serendipity

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AMERICAN-BORN photographer Kelly Morris is celebrating a decade of capturing unique photographic images of life in Northern Ireland, with her new exhibition Serendipity.

The exhibition opens at Molly’s Yard, Botanic Avenue, Belfast, Sunday 7 November, 5-9pm (entry free) and runs until Thursday18th, when it begins a week-long run at St Malachy’s Old Boys, Antrim Road, Belfast (entry free).

Celebration is an apt term for Morris’s photography. In a world flooded with digital and manipulated images, the axis of Morris’s work is the fleeting, meaningful moment between subject and witness. Focusing mainly on people, and frequently on relationships, Morris has an uncanny eye for emotional dynamics. They are captured instants of unself-conscious communication which are, by turns funny, engaging and, often, moving – without ever veering into the sentimental or voyeuristic.

‘I think a lot of photographers use their cameras as a barrier between themselves and their subjects,’ explains Morris, who has lived in Northern Ireland for 13 years. ‘But I think of the shutter as a blink of my eye. There’s a relationship between me and the moment I am photographing.’

Morris works primarily in black and white, which, she says, offers a more immediate and nuanced effect, without the distraction and clutter of colour. She also prefers to use film, which she regards as more tactile than digital. The results are an oddly timeless salute to the larger human truths evident in smaller human moments.

This makes for a collection which is a positive and emotionally satisfying experience, reflecting a point of view steeped in empathy and the spontaneous.

Serendipity promises to be a retrospective with its lens firmly set on the future.

Pretty Child Backfire cue up G Session headline

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Pretty Child Backfire

Following the success of their new self-made single All The Things Said In The Twilight, Pretty Child Backfire will headline the G Sessions this Saturday night celebrating its local launch.

The young Draperstown four piece have built a strong reputation since they started their career a few years ago and with early slots at Glasgowbury and some of the most exciting local gigs around including last year’s IMRO Showcase Tour, PCB have hit the mainstream.

With their new single, PCB have established themselves with gusto, riding on the back of success after being picked as one of NI’s young contenders, making their way on to Oh Yeah’s compilation album as ones to watch.

Honing their craft at gigs up and down the country they’ve found a sound that’s instantly recognisable and catchy and also one that tends to surprise and enchant even more so.

At the helm of the ship, Mark McAllister steers his comrades on the good ship indie and throughout their short career thus far, the young group have built up a strong storage of songs that’ll steer them well over waters still and calm.

Returning to the Glasgowbury G Sessions will be very much a homecoming for PCB, most of who have experienced and developed from the group’s early workshops, and headlining the coveted local showcase will cap an already impressive career that looks set to continue in its success.

Punk outfits The Q will and Gascan Ruckus will complete the November G Session bill, both returning to the showcase amid a degree of hype.

The Q will debut their new line-up, now made up as a four piece, following the departure of guitarist Tom. Themselves preparing to hit the road again with plans for a new single, this week’s gig will give the Derry band a chance to debut some new material while reminding locals of their prowess.

Armagh’s Gascan Ruckus complete a bill of youthful endeavour, themselves riding the crest of a wave of late.

Delivering a high energy brand of punk rock, the Ruckus have proved how exciting they are with slots at the likes of this year’s Glasgowbury Music Festival and will no doubt endeavour to cover every last inch of the stage as they take you on a whirlwind tour of what rock music means to four boys from Middletown in Armagh. Pssst: it means a lot.

The November G Session takes place at the Cellar Bar this Saturday (November 6th) with doors from 9pm. Admission is £5.
—
www.glasgowbury.com
small but MASSIVE!

bmibaby celebrates Halloween with some spooky fun!

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Francis Gunn onboard a return flight from Belfast to Birmingham to tell some Halloween tales over the aircrafts PA system.

In advance of Halloween this weekend, low cost airline bmibaby has been helping passengers get in the mood for some spooky fun.

On Tuesday 26 October 2010, bmibaby sent Belfast born storyteller and award winning actor, Francis Gunn, onboard a return flight from Belfast International to Birmingham to give passengers a special Halloween treat.

From dungeons and dragons to witches and wizards and even a tale about a tail, anyone travelling on the flights was greeted through the P.A. system by Francis and his Halloween tales.

Julian Carr, managing director, bmibaby, said:

“Halloween is a fantastic opportunity to recite some ghoulish tales and this spooky passenger treat was all part of our programme of events being rolled out over the next few months, in a bid to put the fun back into flying.”

Story teller Francis Gunn also commented:

“Storytelling onboard an aircraft was a first for me. The passengers, who ranged from business people and students to families and kids, had no idea the event was happening so once the seat belt signs where off I began telling my stories. People seemed pleasantly surprised when they heard my voice over the P.A. system.”

bmibaby currently flies from Belfast International Airport to East Midlands, Birmingham and Manchester.

For more information and to book visit www.bmibaby.com

KATHERINE JENKINS CONFIRMS DUBLIN AND BELFAST CONCERT DATES

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Katherine Jenkins has announced two Irish dates.  She will perform live in concert at The O2, Dublin on 28th May and The Odyssey Arena, Belfast on 29th May 2011.

Tickets for both shows go on sale on Thursday 4th November at 9am.

Katherine Jenkins in Concert

The O2, Dublin, 28th May 2011

Tickets priced from €49.80 including booking fee

The O2, Dublin: Tel (01) 8198888

Book On-Line: www.theo2.ie

The Odyssey, Belfast, 29th May 2011

Tickets priced from £55.00 including booking fee

24hr hotline (NI) 0844 277 4455
Odyssey Arena Box Office 028 9073 9074 www.odysseyarena.com

Ticketmaster:

In person: From 100 Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide

By Telephone (24 Hour):

ROI – 0818 719 300, Northern Ireland – 0844 277 44 55

Buy Online: www.ticketmaster.ie

KATHERINE JENKINS BIOGRAPHY – 18 SEPTEMBER 2010

Compiling a list of the contemporary music world’s most illustrious divas is an interesting mental game to play. Instantly and obviously the figure of Barbra Streisand springs to mind. Streisand is in a rare band of perhaps three international women that can commandeer a devotional gasp from an audience of thousands with one single note. Floating behind her, wind machine positioned just out of frame, ball-gown drifting/flowing gently in the breeze, one might alight upon Céline Dion.

A diva is a singer with a talent that is rare and magnificent enough to border almost on the eccentric; a voice that monopolises the air when it is at full strength and can break a heart at whispering volume. The diva sits outside the realms of casual whim and the daily turn of trend. She is powerful enough to stand and sing alone.

Now where might a lovely young woman from the tiny village of Neath in the Welsh Valleys fit into all of this?

Katherine Jenkins has performed for The Queen, The Pope and The Prime Minister. From her breakout in 2003 where she signed the biggest ever classical deal, 30 year old Katherine has become the premiere ambassador of bringing classical music to a mainstream audience. She is cherished as one of Britain’s favourite singers, equally at home performing in her homeland Wales, or performing on The X Factor.

Throughout her career Katherine Jenkins has broken records, selling millions of albums worldwide, picking up numerous awards and has performed at every single high profile tournament on the British sporting calendar, cementing her status in the classical crossover field.

Outside of Katherine’s recording duties, she has broadened out into the TV world. The last year has seen Katherine present a special BBC series, ‘The Week We Went To War’, as well as be a judge and mentor on the hit ITV1 show, ‘Popstars To Operastars’. This Christmas, Katherine appears in the Christmas special of BBC Television’s Doctor Who.

2010 has been another huge year for Katherine; not only has she released her first record in North America, but she was also personally asked by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber to record a version of the theme tune to Love Never Dies, the highly anticipated Phantom Of The Opera sequel, which appeared on the Special Edition of her latest album Believe, released late March which coincided with her sold out UK arena tour.

Her most ambitious album to date, Believe was recorded in the sun-kissed Hollywood Hills, under the expert guidance of world-class star-maker and producer David Foster. Having become one of the UK’s biggest stars, Katherine now feels embedded in her home culture enough to take a risk on cutting loose for the international stage.

As Katherine readily admits, this was the album she always wanted to make; this time she wanted to craft a record that she could take to a new audience, with what producer Foster would call ‘growth without alienation’. Pushing the boundaries on traditional crossover repertoire, Katherine has created a record for the world stage.

‘There is a discussion about women in the music business at the moment,’ she says, ‘I’m always being asked whether I have noticed a change with all these great new female artists coming through. And of course for pop music that seems quite radical. It is fantastic to see these women doing what they are doing and doing it so well. But in the classical world, we are filled with big, strong female characters. It’s something that you almost take for granted. So in the world that I come from the whole idea of strength and femininity is not odd. It’s usual. Strong women are what opera is all about.’

Believe, released through Warner Brothers Records in October last year shot straight into the top 10 of the UK charts. In the last three months of 2009 Katherine sold a staggering 400,000 albums in the UK alone..

Internationally Believe has stormed the charts in various territories including Germany and Argentina as the album is rolled out globally.

Katherine Jenkins releases the Platinum Edition of Believe on Friday 26th November in Ireland.  It includes four brand new songs including In The Bleak Midwinter, a Live Version of O Holy Night with Michael Bolton, and two new John Shank (Take That) produced tracks, Gravity and the new single, Tell Me I’m Not Dreaming.

She also releases a live DVD on Friday 5th November that was recorded at a spectacular show at the London O2 Arena.

Boo at the zoo!

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Yhetto and Jenny the Asian elephants at Belfast zoo tucking into pumpkins for Boo at the zoo!

Come along for a spook-tacular day of fun at Belfast Zoo’s ‘Boo at the zoo’ Halloween event on Saturday 30th October 2010.

Enjoy our ‘hallzooween’ trail, creepy crafts, reptile displays and face painting.  There will also be spooky story telling with Mr Hullabaloo and you can learn more about bats with the Northern Ireland Bat Group’s Donna Allen.

Children under 18 will get free entry to the zoo (on Saturday 30 October) if they are in fancy dress and can also enter our fancy dress competition (under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult)!  You can also bring along your carved pumpkins and enter them into the ‘pumpkin patch competition’.

So grab your broomstick and come celebrate Halloween at Belfast zoo.

Go to www.belfastzoo.co.uk for more information and a full list of activities. Follow Belfast zoo on facebook and twitter to learn some gruesome and ghastly facts for the zoo’s ‘Spooky Week’!

Mid Term at the Movies…

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Check out whats on for this Mid-Term Break!

We have a great line up of Movies showing over this Mid-Term break for all ages.

Paranormal Activity 2

Opens: OCT 22

A sequel to the surprise hit film that took Halloween by storm in 2009. There is little information about the film, except that original director Oren Peli is back as a producer. Tod Williams is directing a screenplay from Michael R. Perry.

Play TrailerView More

RAMONA AND BEEZUS

Opens: OCT 22

The adventures of young Ramona Quimby (newcomer Joey King) and her big sister Beezus (Selena Gomez) come to life in this all new film based on the best–selling books (over 30 million…and counting) by Beverly Cleary.

Ramona’s vivid imagination, boundless energy, and accident–prone antics keep everyone she meets on their toes. But her irrepressible sense of fun, adventure and mischief come in handy when she puts her mind to helping save her family’s home.

Play TrailerView More

ALPHA AND OMEGA (3D)

Opens: OCT 22

What makes for the ultimate road trip? Hitchhiking, truck stops, angry bears, prickly porcupines and a golfing goose with a duck caddy. Just ask Kate and Humphrey, two wolves who are trying to get home after being taken by park rangers and shipped halfway across the country.

Humphrey is an Omega wolf, whose days are about quick wit, snappy one–liners and hanging with his motley crew of fun–loving wolves and video–gaming squirrels. Kate is an Alpha: duty, discipline and sleek Lara Croft eye–popping moves fuel her fire.

Humphrey’s motto – make ‘em laugh. Kate’s motto – I’m the boss. And they have a thousand miles to go. Back home rival wolf packs are on the march and conflict is brewing. Only Kate and Humphrey can restore the peace. But first, they have to survive each other.

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LEGENDS OF THE GUARDIANS 3D

Opens: OCT 22

The film follows Soren, a young owl enthralled by his father’s epic stories of the Guardians of Ga’Hoole, a mythic band of winged warriors who had fought a great battle to save all of owlkind from the evil Pure Ones. While Soren dreams of someday joining his heroes, his older brother, Kludd, scoffs at the notion, and yearns to hunt, fly and steal his father’s favor from his younger sibling. But Kludd’s jealousy has terrible consequences causing both owlets to fall from their treetop home and right into the talons of the Pure Ones.

Now it is up to Soren to make a daring escape with the help of other brave young owls. Together they soar across the sea and through the mist to find the Great Tree, home of the legendary Guardians Soren’s only hope of defeating the Pure Ones and saving the owl kingdoms.

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RED

Opens: OCT 22

Based on the cult D.C. Comics graphic novel by Warren Ellis and Cully Hammer, RED is an explosive action-comedy starring Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich and Helen Mirren. Frank (Bruce Willis), Joe (Morgan Freeman), Marvin (John Malkovich) and Victoria (Helen Mirren) used to be the CIA’s top agents – but the secrets they know just made them the Agency’s top targets.

Now framed for assassination, they must use all of their collective cunning, experience and teamwork to stay one step ahead of their deadly pursuers and stay alive.

To stop the operation, the team embarks on an impossible, cross-country mission to break into the top-secret CIA headquarters, where they will uncover one of the biggest conspiracies and cover-ups in government history.

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DESPICABLE ME (3D)

Opens: OCT 15

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by a small army of minions, we discover Gru planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon, yes, the moon.

Gru delights in all things wicked. Armed with his arsenal of shrink rays, freeze rays, and battle-ready vehicles for land and air, he vanquishes all who stand in his way. Until the day he encounters the immense will of three little orphaned girls who look at him and see something that no one else has ever seen: a potential Dad. The world’s greatest villain has just met his greatest challenge: three little girls named Margo, Edith and Agnes.

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JACK L & Eilidh Patterson AUNTIE ANNIE’S ATTIC SATURDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2010

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JACK L
& Eilidh Patterson
AUNTIE ANNIE’S ATTIC
SATURDAY 4TH DECEMBER 2010
£10 / 7PM

“The standing ovation he received was much deserved as he had the audience in the palm of his hand for the entire show. Definitely one to watch” The Scotsman
“Everyone should be queuing up for a fix of Jack L”. Scotland on Sunday – five star review*****
“Jack Lukeman – aka Jack L – is perhaps the most singular talent to have emerged from Ireland in the past decade”. The Irish Independent

Irish singer/songwriter Jack L has announced that he will play Auntie Annie’s Belfast on Saturday 4th December. Jack L recently won Best Music Award 2010 during his run of Monday nights in The Spiegel Tent at Edinburgh Festival this summer and garnered some of the best reviews of the entire festival.

Jack released his first self produced platinum seller “Metropolis Blue” in 1999.  Hot Press hailed it “A timeless collection of fine songs, beautifully delivered from an artist as unique as Ireland has ever produced.” Following the success of the album in Ireland, Jack spent 2000 taking “Metropolis Blue” to the USA which won both popular and critical acclaim.  In February 2002, Jack embarked on an Irish acoustic tour that led to the development of his greatest live undertaking so far “The Little Universe Show”.  The show started in May and ended up part of The Edinburgh Festival with rave reviews.  In 2005 Jack returned to the Edinburgh Festival to road test new material for another residency during December in Dublin, selling out three weeks of shows while previewing material from his first album in 5 years, “Broken Songs” which went platinum within a month of release.

Jack triumphantly returned to the capital this year by selling out four shows at Vicar Street. At the moment Jack is writing and recording material for his new album and is preparing for his fifth Pigalle show in London in October to Consolidate an already busy year in the UK after a knockout show in June at Glastonbury.  Jack was the first artist to play three consecutive nights at Glastonbury.  He received a critically acclaimed performance with the Brooklyn Philharmonic in Manhattan in front of 15, 000 people last summer and a nomination for ‘Male Vocalist Of The Year’ at The Meteor Awards

Jack L will be joined by Northern Irish starlet Eilidh Patterson. No stranger to the road, she has delighted audiences across the States, the UK and Europe with her captivating voice and songs.  All of Eilidh’s experiences to date have been distilled into her debut album – the much anticipated When The Time Comes – a collection of 12 beguiling and beautiful songs, capturing the heart and imagination of the listener.  Now based in Belfast, Eilidh is a regular visitor to Nashville TN where she co-writes and performs.

“Eilidh has a voice as clear as the frosty night air and her self-penned songs suggest a maturity beyond her years. Brilliant.” Maverick magazine

“Eilidh Patterson’s voice is velvet and air. The richness of her sound and her songs is something beautiful to behold and she is definitely an artist to watch!”  Beth Nielsen Chapman

“(Eilidh) has an easy going charm and commanding stage presence that demands your attention. Her sweet voice never fails to amaze me. Definitely a star of the future.” Ralph McLean, BBC Radio Ulster

Read more:  http://www.myspace.com/eilidhpatterson

Find out more about Jack L: www.jacklukeman.com

Tickets for Jack L and Eilidh Patterson at Auntie Annie’s Attic Belfast are priced £10.50  and on sale now from all usual outlets.

Venue:                         Auntie Annie’s Attic
Date:                           Saturday 4th December 2010
Ticket Price:               £10 plus £1.25 booking fee
Doors:                         7.00pm
Support:                     Eilidh Patterson

TICKET DETAILS
In person:                    From 22 Ticketmaster outlets province wide (Including Easons) / Katy Daly’s Bar
24hr hotlines:               Tel: (NI) 0844 277 44 55 (ROI) 0818 719 300
Buy online:                   www.cdcleisure.net / www.ticketmaster.ie

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