The John O’Neill Folk and Traditional Music Festival takes place in Donaghmore on 22 to 24 September. With a packed toe tapping festival programme at the Old Cross Arts Centre, organisers of the festival, which was established more than five years ago, are confident that the festival weekend, which is dedicated to honouring the life and legacy of legendary traditional Irish musician, John O’Neill, will be the best one yet.

A highlight in Co Tyrone’s traditional music calendar, the festival has attracted top-tier international talent to perform, an enduring testament to the true spirit of Irish music in the area. Festival goers will be enthralled and uplifted by the unforgettable sounds of some of the island’s biggest names in folk and trad music and the line up includes Four Men and a Dog, Deanta and Malachi Cush and friends.

Speaking about the festival which was created by John’s family through The John O’Neill Trust, John’s daughter Clare McCrystal said: “This year’s John O’Neill Folk and Traditional Music Festival programme includes a diverse range of musical talent which will appeal to all ages. From workshops for children to traditional music sessions and sets by some of the country’s most acclaimed performers, I am thrilled that the festival is firmly established in the trad music calendar as a lasting legacy to my dad’s memory.

“As well as entertaining trad music enthusiasts with our concerts, I am passionate about introducing trad music to the next generation and our music workshops will be open to children from four years and older.”

The festival begins on Friday night at 8pm with performances from Deanta and Niall Hanna. Niall will be accompanied by Rachel McGarrity and Damian McKee. On Saturday night, Four Men and a Dog and Malachi Cush and friends will take to the stage.

On Saturday morning, a range of workshops will be offered from 11am to 2pm. Suitable for all levels, children will be tutored by international performers who have a proven track record as teachers and educationalists. There will be workshops in singing, whistle, flute, guitar, bodhran, button accordion, concertina, fiddle and banjo.

NxNW will play at the festival club in Hayden’s Bar on Saturday evening at 11.30pm, with the festival coming to a close with an afternoon session in Hayden’s hosted by Donal Murphy and Ryan Molloy on Sunday.

Tickets for the festival club are priced at £12 with concert and workshop tickets priced at £25. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/jonfest or from Stewart’s Music shop in Dungannon.

Follow the John O’Neill Folk and Traditional Music Festival on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/johnoneillmusicfestival and on instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/john_oneill_trad_fest/

The grand finale of Music in the Parks is taking place in the grounds of City Hall on Saturday 30 September.

Organised by Belfast City Council, ‘Groove in the City’ will feature a range of live music from 12.30pm to 5pm.

There will be performances by:

• String Ninjas
• Wookalily
• Kerry Fearon
• Belfast Groove Collective
• Belfast Rock Choir

This is a free ticketed event with tickets available from Visit Belfast at  https://visitbelfast.com/event/groove-in-the-city/

Music in the Parks featured live music performances in several council parks across the city on Fridays and Sundays from May.

Councillor Micky Murray, Chair of Belfast City Council’s People and Communities Committee, said:

“Our parks and open spaces in the city are to be enjoyed throughout the year and we were delighted to host live music performances in various locations from May to September.

“We’re very much looking forward now to hosting ‘Groove in the City’ outside City Hall on Saturday 30 September marking the grand finale of the programme.”

For more information on events taking place in the city, visit www.belfastcity.gov.uk/events

Three of Ireland’s leading jazz artists, The RBG Trio will appear at Armagh’s Market Place Theatre this September to support the release of their debut album.

Renowned for their tight interplay and incredible storytelling, The RBG Trio features Meilana Gillard (tenor saxophone), Dave Redmond (bass) and Kevin Brady (drums). With blues always in their foundation, their sound ranges from pre- to post-bop, soulful to grunge, free to swinging.

The trio’s repertoire ranges from the traditional Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson to more contemporary and improvised output. It is an approach where free-form exploration rubs shoulders with reimagined music from the like of Nirvana and Soundgarden.

Ultimately, nothing is off limits. It is a band led by tunes – mainstream or lesser known, self-penned or reinterpreted, traditional or contemporary. If it works, it works. Additionally, each member of The RBG Trio composes for the band, which lends to the trio’s diverse output and constant surprise.

The RBG Trio will be on stage at Armagh’s Market Place Theatre on Friday 22 September at 8pm. Tickets are priced £15 and can be booked online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre or through the Box Office on 03300 561 025. This show is recommended for age 18+ as it may contain strong language and adult themes.

Aspects Festival is delighted to host a series of events which will celebrate and support new writers and new publications. This year’s festival takes place in Bangor from 27 September – 7 October.

Join authors Fionola Meredith and Olivia Fitzsimons in North Down Museum on Thursday 5 October, as they discuss their new books with Nuala McKeever. The Stamp of Beauty is Fionola Meredith’s debut novel. Fionola is a writer, broadcaster and commentator, based in Belfast. She is a long- established contributor to the Irish Times and to BBC Northern Ireland and writes a weekly opinion column in the Belfast Telegraph. Set in modern-day Ireland, The Stamp of Beauty is an unsettling novel that charts the course of an unlikely and deeply dysfunctional ‘age-gap’ relationship to its inevitable conclusion.

The Quiet Whispers Never Stop is Olivia Fitzsimons‘ first novel and was shortlisted for the 2022 Butler Literary Award. The book is set in Northern Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s, and is a story of love, obsession and escape, an uncompromising, lyrical tour-de- force that marks the arrival of an extraordinary new voice in Irish fiction. Olivia’s writing has appeared in numerous publications including The Irish Times, The Stinging Fly, Banshee, and broadcast on BBC Radio 4.

Glenn Patterson’s latest book Two Summers is a pair of novellas, set over two pivotal summers in the lives of two young men from Belfast as they recall the constraints of the place where they were born and the times in which they are living. Capturing the innocence of adolescent boys, their passion, confusion and yearning, Two Summers is for anyone who has ever been young.

Professor Glenn Patterson is an award- winning writer, screen-writer and broadcaster. He has been the Director of the Seamus Heaney Centre at Queen’s University, Belfast since 2017. Join Glenn at his event in Bangor Castle on Friday 6 October.

On Saturday, 30 September, author Maggie Doyle will lead a creative walk along Bangor’s beautiful Coastal Path. Maggie will read from her new book Mountain Notes, A Nature Diary for inspiration as the group walks, take notes, pause for readings, sketching and stories.

Speaking about the events, Festival Director Patricia Hamilton said: ‘We are delighted that Glenn Patterson will be reading from his newly launched book at Aspects this year. New writing has always been important to the festival and we are pleased to be hosting fiction events with Fionola Meredith and Olivia Fitzsimons. Maggie Doyle will also join us and read for a unique festival event where we will walk along the coastal path and use nature to inspire our writing.’

Aspects Festival runs until from 27 September to 7 October at various locations around Bangor. For further information on the programme and to book tickets see: aspectsfestival.com

Belfast business and mindset event Momentum have announced head of software and machine learning at Datactics Fiona Browne as a speaker for their forthcoming Night At The Museum digital conference.

Fiona, who has over 18 years of research and industrial experience, is responsible for overseeing the innovation and development of the Datactics platform along with the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions.

Her talk ‘The AI Era: Harnessing The Power Of AI For Your Business’ will provide an informative and pragmatic approach to artificial intelligence and its application across business sectors, covering three major questions: ‘How can AI boost performance?’, ‘Can we actually trust AI to make critical decisions and what happens if it goes wrong?’, ‘And will AI take away our jobs?’

Momentum: A Night At The Museum, supported by Gekkoshot, will take place at the Ulster Museum on September 22, and Fiona is only one of the all-star speaker lineup being revealed that includes leading names in hospitality, mindset, marketing, ecommerce, data and much more.

Speaking of her involvement with the event Fiona said: “Firstly, the style of Momentum was really intriguing, and an exciting approach to thought leadership and networking within Northern Ireland.

“Secondly, there is a lot of hype at the moment around AI with swings from wild optimism on how transformative AI will be to the construct of superintelligence, which will be the detriment to us all – both views are not terribly useful.

“Instead, I want to inject some pragmatism to the conversation on how we practically apply this technology.”

According to organisers Warren Giffin and Amée Spence, the event plans to bridge the gap between business needs and mindset support.

“We’re delighted to be bringing Momentum back for a second event, building upon the resounding success of our inaugural event back in January at The MAC” explained Warren, adding: “Last time we had fantastic speakers such as self-made entrepreneur and CEO of Bellamianta & Iconic Bronze, Linda Stinson, as well as passionate mental health advocate and Let’s Face It podcast host, Domhnall Nugent.

“This time we’re excited to get ready to announce an equally special lineup of industry experts who will give our attendees a night to remember.”

Fiona revealed that the biggest issue in the world of AI are the inevitable operational and ethical challenges, stating that both the government and regulators need to catch up amidst the ever-changing AI landscape.

During Fiona’s talk on ‘The AI Era’, she hopes attendees will no longer fear or be overwhelmed by the noise surrounding AI.

“Instead, I hope to imbue the audience with a practical understanding of how it can be applied, encourage them to challenge one another on what we can do, and how they can harness this technology for the better.”

Tickets for Momentum: A Night At The Museum on September 22, 7:00pm-late are now on sale from thisismomentum.co.uk  

Roe Valley Arts Centre and Flowerfield Arts Centre have teamed up with Cinemagic for two special film screenings, which will support the vital work of local Foodbanks.

This Saturday, 9^th September, Roe Valley Arts Centre will screen The Big Bad Fox and Other Tales. This heartwarming animated film turns farm life upside down as it introduces you to a quirky cast of characters. Meet a fox with unexpected motherly instincts, a rabbit who takes on stork duties, and a duck with a Christmas dream. In this uproarious tale, the tranquil countryside isn’t quite what it seems.

On Saturday, 23^rd September, Flowerfield Arts Centre will screen Ernest and Celestine.  In this enchanting, animated tale two unlikely companions, a young mouse named Celestine and a gentle bear named Ernest, embark on an extraordinary adventure. As they evade the watchful eyes of the law, their heartwarming friendship blossoms, challenging the norms of their world.

Audience members are asked to bring along non-perishable food and other essential items which will be distributed to local families instead of paying an entry fee.

The initiative is part of Cinemagic’s Young Audiences Support Foodbanks scheme, which Flowerfield Arts Centre first took part in in the summer of 2021. Throughout 2022, the scheme collectively generated over 1.5 tonnes of donations for Foodbanks across Northern Ireland.

If you want to join us for these special events, pre-book your ticket by going to www.wegottickets.com/cinemagic or www.roevalleyarts.com/www.flowerfield.org and bring along your foodbank items on the day.

Please note tickets must be pre-booked in advance to avoid disappointment.

Foodbanks would be particularly grateful to receive – tinned sweetcorn, UHT milk, jam, fruit juice, coffee, super noodles, men’s razors & shaving gel, ladies’ deodorant.

Please check that items are in date and have an expiry of 1-3 months.

Food donated at the Flowerfield screening will support Causeway Foodbank, while the Roe Valley screening will support Limavady Community Development Initiative (LCDI) Foodbank.

Visitors can discover a treasure trove of free activities at this weekend’s Belfast Maritime Festival on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September.

Taking place along the city’s Maritime Mile, with entertainment stretching across Queen’s Quay to HMS Caroline in the Titanic Quarter, the festival celebrates Belfast’s rich maritime heritage and spirit of innovation.

Come along from 11am each day to enjoy live music, street entertainers and activities for all ages. The main festival stage, compered by BBC presenter Gemma Bradley, is at Titanic Slipways, along with the ‘Science Street’ interactive area, a colourful Belfast Bazaar, featuring the very best local produce and crafts, and a picnic area.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, said: “There’s so much to see and do at this weekend’s Belfast Maritime Festival, with a fantastic line-up of events to really bring our maritime and industrial heritage to life.

“Come on down to hear amazing live music, shop local at the Belfast Bazaar market, entertain the kids with free activities or even get involved yourself at ‘Science Street’.

“Walk, cycle or take the Glider or train to experience everything the festival has to offer, soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the stunning ships which will make Belfast their home for the weekend.”

The Belfast Maritime Festival has been organised by Belfast City Council and is supported by Tourism NI, delivered in partnership with Maritime Belfast Trust, Belfast Harbour, Odyssey Trust, the Department for Communities and Titanic Quarter Ltd.

Aine Kearney, Director of Events at Tourism NI, said: “Tourism NI is delighted to support the return of the Belfast Maritime Festival, a much-needed post-pandemic boost to the wider tourism and hospitality industry with a projected economic benefit of circa £1.5 million.

“The event is a great opportunity to showcase this key Titanic and Maritime Belfast heritage destination and its wealth of visitor experiences. This immersive event will further awaken the giant spirit in our visitors, igniting their sense of discovery and demonstrating the warm welcome Northern Ireland offers to all.”

Activities at Belfast Maritime Festival include:

• Visiting ships and vessels docked at Queen’s Quay and Belfast Harbour Marina – hop on board Granuaile (Irish Lights), Gunilla, Leader, Brian Boru and La Malouine to chat to the crew and experience life on the high seas!
• Titanic Slipways hosts the festival’s first ‘Science Street’ – a chance for young and old to explore areas like marine biology, engineering and navigation through fun interactive activities, demonstrations and live shows.
• Duke Special, Joshua Burnside, Manukahunney, ROE and NI Opera will lead a stellar line-up of over 100 leading musicians from across NI. Hear Americana, trad, jazz, opera, bluegrass, classical and more on the main stage at Titanic Slipways, as well as outdoor venues across the Maritime Mile.
• The Kids’ Zone at Queen’s Quay will be packed full of activities for little explorers, including a sensory area, dance workshops, crafts, face painting, a pop-up aquarium and even a beach to build some sandcastles!
• The free Maritime Mile Through My Lens exhibition at Hamilton Dock, delivered by Belfast Maritime Trust and Belfast Exposed, showcases photographs taken by local communities to demonstrate what they love about living along the waterfront.
• Belfast Lough Sailability will have free participatory taster sessions for visitors, including those with a disability, to experience the fun of getting out on the water.
• Further along at Sailortown, bookable activities include an evening of music, poetry and film, maritime-themed bingo and a chance to explore the beautiful St Joseph’s Church as part of European Heritage Open Days.
• There are also free walking tours, demonstrations of traditional seafaring skills like rope making and boat building, as well as special Hydrobike sessions.

For more event information, visit belfastcity.gov.uk/maritime

British Association of Planetaria Event Kicks off Series of Four Conferences at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium

Leading astronomical research centre, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, recently hosted the British Association of Planetaria (BAP) Conference for the third time since its inception at the venue in 1978. The September 1^st event was the first in a series of four conferences to be hosted by the organisation during September 2023.

Held on 1st and 2nd September, the annual BAP conference saw a group of planetarium professionals gather to knowledge share and learn about the latest developments in astronomy and science.

The event is followed by the AM CVn 5 conference, which is being held from 5^th to 8th Sept, the sdOB11 conference, which will be held from 11^th to 15th September and the ESOP 42 conference, which will run from 15^th to 19th September.

The fifth in a series of conferences on AM Canum Venaricorum stars, AM CVn 5 will see professional astronomers from across the globe gather to discuss one of the most exotic classes of star in the sky.

The third event, sdOB11, will be the eleventh in a series of conferences on Hot Subdwarfs and Related Objects. Hosted by Armagh Observatory and Planetarium’s Resident Astronomer, Simon Jeffrey, it will allow professional astronomers to discuss the latest research in the field.

Developed by non-profit organisation, the European Symposium on Occultation Projects (ESOP), the final conference, ESOP 42, will aim to foster interaction and collaboration between amateur astronomers and professionals.

It will be the 42nd ESOP conference and the first to be held on the island of Ireland.

Steven Gray, Secretary of the British Association of Planetaria, says, “It is a pleasure to bring the British Association of Planetaria conference back to Armagh for the third time since it kicked off here in 1978.

“Armagh Observatory and Planetarium delivers internationally recognised research in astronomy and related sciences and as the members association for planetaria across the UK and Ireland, we can’t think of a more fitting venue for this conference.”

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is sited in a heritage environment with a rich scientific history. The organisation delivers internationally recognised research in astronomy and related sciences, along with vibrant educational and outreach programmes for all ages.

Professor Michael Burton, Director at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, adds, “We are delighted to welcome the British Association of Planetaria Conference back to Armagh as it celebrates its 45th anniversary.

“We’re also proud to welcome the AM CVn 5 and sdOB11 conferences and to host the ESOP 42 conference here for the very first time.

“Established in 1790, Armagh Observatory is the oldest scientific institution in Northern Ireland and the longest continuously operating astronomical research institute in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

“We are a world leader in science communication and planetarium innovation and are passionate about sharing knowledge to inspire future generations. As such, it is a pleasure to host these important events.”

To find out more about Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, visit: https://www.armagh.space