The Belfast-based engineering and manufacturing firm PAC Group have been selected by Airborne to supply their innovative hot drape performer technology to an ambitious new aerospace project.

The cell being procured by UK aerospace company GKN Aerospace is a collaboration between leading engineering and manufacturing companies, with the aim of providing a fully automated preforming line to the Global Technology Centre in Bristol. 

Airborne are supplying the cell, integrating systems provided by PAC Group and the other companies involved in the project Accudyne and Assyst Bullmer. 

The system will comprise of sub-systems developed by each manufacturer, and will set out to fulfil the aims of the UK industry consortium project ASCEND.

ASCEND (Aerospace and Automotive Supply Chain Enabled Development), with lead partner GKN Aerospace, aims to usher in the next generation of energy-efficient aircraft through the acceleration of composite materials and process technologies. Valued at £40 million, ASCEND has been made possible through a £20 million investment from the industry, and a commitment of £19.6 million by the UK government funded by the ATI Programme (a partnership between Department for Business and Trade, Aerospace Technology Institute, and Innovate UK).

“We are delighted to be working with Joe Summers and the team at Airborne.” said Darren Leslie, Business Development Director at PAC Group. 

“It’s an honour to be able to contribute to this ambitious project, and we’re excited to be able to provide our innovative technology. Mr Leslie added. 

“We’re excited to be able to provide our technology, and look forward to supporting Airborne and other industry leaders in achieving their goal of a higher rate of manufacturing composite structures.”

The project will accelerate the production rate of aerospace technology and enable the greater adoption of composite technology. In doing so, the ASCEND project will help to secure the UK’s position as a technology leader in future lightweight structures for sustainable aircraft and mobility. 

“We’re proud of the sustainable nature of this project,” said Mr Leslie.

“It will contribute to the reduction of the industry’s carbon footprint and energy consumptions, whilst ushering in a new age of energy-efficient aircraft and future mobility.” 

Joe Summers, Managing Director at Airborne, commented on PAC’s involvement in the project. 

“PAC Group’s technology and hardware is exactly what we need to complement our Automated Ply Placement system to produce the 2D stacks,” said Mr Summers. 

“We are looking forward to working with the team at PAC Composites in order to offer a flexible automation solution and workflow automation, enabling a higher rate of the manufacturing of composite structures.”

PAC Group’s hot drape preformer forms an essential part of the Automated Preforming Cell. The Automated Preforming Cell transforms broad goods, including non-crimp fabrics or woven materials, in 3D preforms usable with Resin Transfer Molding (RTM). PAC Group’s preformer forms an essential part of the system, and will 3D form the preforms. 

PAC Group’s preformer – also known as a Hot Drape Former – has been recognised and commended for its innovative nature. In 2021, PAC Group was awarded the Queen’s Award for Innovation.

“As the leading specialist in the design and manufacture of Hot Drape Forming machines, we’re thrilled that we can bring our innovative technology to this industry-wide collaborative project,” said Gavin Rankin, Technical Director at PAC Group. 

“Each of our preformers are manufactured to the highest standards. Every component of the system is produced to an exceptional quality, with reliability and durability at the heart of their design.”

“We hold 42 patents on the hardware and software used in our preformers, solidifying our position at the forefront of the development of this innovative technology,” added Mr Rankin.

“We’ve serviced some of the biggest names in the automotive and aerospace industry and it’s great to now be involved in the impressive, industry-wide UK ASCEND project, and to have a part in accelerating UK composite material and process technology.”

The Music in the Chamber series of concerts return to Bangor Castle this Autumn and first up to take the stage in the beautiful Chamber room on Thursday 19 October, is one of Ireland’s finest singer songwriters, Niall McCabe.

Niall McCabe has developed a style and voice that are unquestionably his own, having performed extensively with his Folk-Soul group, The Niall McCabe Band over the past decade. Born on Clare Island, Co. Mayo, McCabe grew up in family run pub awash with strong musical influences, from traditional Irish and rock to folk and soul, It is here that Niall discovered his musical appetite and developed a style and voice that are unquestionably his own.

As well as becoming an accomplished finger-style guitar player, more recently Niall has been lending his unique voice to Irish trad-fusion band ‘Beoga’, touring Ireland, Europe and the USA while also playing support for Ed Sheeran, Foy Vance and Johnny Swim.

McCabe’s eagerly anticipated ‘Rituals ’album was released in February 2023 to critical acclaim and featured as RTE Album of the Week, while the song Rituals topped the RTE Radio airplay charts for five consecutive weeks.

RITUALS

‘…the weight of personal experience and reflection makes it a masterpiece, in the true sense of the word’ IRISH MUSIC MAGAZINE

‘A Sentimental Soulful Debut’ – HOTPRESS Magazine

‘…an incredibly talented singer-songwriter and his song ‘Stonemason’ is one of the best I’ve ever heard’ – Miriam O’Callaghan (RTE Radio 1)

Hastings Hotels is gearing up for a spook-tacular Halloween, with a frighteningly good selection of dining options and overnight breaks for all the family

Ghostly Afternoon Tea

Two of the group’s hotels will be holding special Halloween Afternoon Teas (28^th – 31^st October) with a selection of themed delights and ghostly treats:

• The Everglades Hotel in Derry-Londonderry for £30 per adult and £21 per child
• Ballygally Castle is £35 per adult and £19 per child

Devilishly Good Grand Buffet

Those looking for a devilishly good Grand Buffet are in luck on Sunday 29^th October where there will be no tricks, only treats – with fancy dress optional.

• The ghoulishly good Everglades Hotel themed Sunday Buffet Lunch will have a guest appearance from Winifred the Witch and is priced £35 per adult, £21 for little monsters and under 4s eat for free.
• Visitors to Ballygally Castle can look forward to a frightfully fantastic feast with themed treats from starters through to desserts for £40 per adult, £25 for little monsters and under 3s eat for free.
• At Stormont Hotel you’re in for a treat with the Halloween Themed Sunday Buffet Lunch, where you can sink your teeth into the very best of food – £45 Per Adult, £21 per little pumpkin (6 years and over) 5’s and Under Eat Free.

Spooky Stayover

Stay at the haunted Ballygally Castle from just £215 for two people with overnight accommodation, Halloween-themed afternoon tea for two, breakfast the following morning and for those brave enough make sure you pay a visit to the Ghost Room of Lady Isabella Shaw.

Treat yourself to the Spooky Halloween Buffet Stayover at the Stormont Hotel from only £185 for two people with a special themed Sunday Buffet on arrival and full Irish breakfast the following morning.

Experience a wickedly wonderful Halloween at the Europa Hotel from £280 for two people or £360 for a family of four with overnight accommodation, Halloween Afternoon tea in the Piano Lounge and breakfast the following morning.

For further information or to book a spellbinding Halloween experience with Hastings Hotels, call 028 9047 1066 or for further information go to www.hastingshotels.com

Following the success of the Winter Woollies campaign last year which received over 500 handmade donations, Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council is delighted to relaunch this initiative for a second consecutive year.

As the temperature drops and the cost of heating rising this scheme calls on crafters to knit or crochet items to provide warmth and comfort to our residents during the chilly winter months.

Whether it’s crafting knitted or crocheted hats, scarfs or comforting blankets  every handmade item will be a gift to someone in need, be it a baby or an older person and everyone in between. Regardless of you being a knitting expert or just getting started your contribution matters. You can craft on your own or team up with friends, classmates or a community group in order to get involved and support this worthy cause.

Donations may be dropped off at either Mossley Mill or Antrim Civic Centre, 9am-5pm Monday to Friday, starting from Monday 2 October until Friday 17 November 2023. Please remember to leave your name, address and contact number with your donated item, to be in with an opportunity to be selected as a ‘Mayor’s Favourite Item’. Additionally, consider adding a heartfelt message, which will be passed on to the recipient of your handmade item.

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Mark Cooper commented, “I am pleased to see this initiative returning for a second year and I know that these pieces are the result of a lot of hard work.  I can’t wait to see the entries and look forward to selecting the winners.

I hope that this scheme will benefit both the recipients of the handmade warm clothing and that those crafting will also gain personal fulfilment, creative expression, and a sense of community engagement through their contribution.”

If you are unable to get to a donation drop off point please contact the Health and Wellbeing team who will gladly arrange to collect your item: T. 028 9034 0160 or E. envhealth@antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk

For further information you can also visit antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk/winter-woollies

Belfast Film Festival has announced its opening and closing films for its 2023 programme in November with Andrew Haigh’s ALL OF US STRANGERS and Yorgos Lanthimos’ POOR THINGS leading the programme of events.

Both films have stormed the latest film festival circuit, garnering rave reviews and whispers of OSCAR, BAFTA and SAG nominations.

Opening Night Film

Festival opening night will screen ALL OF US STRANGERS and boasts Irish actors Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal whose characters’ chance meeting punctures the rhythm of their daily lives. This will be the third time director Andrew Haigh has wowed Belfast after bringing his debut WEEKEND in 2011, and Oscar nominated 45 YEARS in 2015 to the festival.

Closing Night Film

Closing the festival is the outstanding, outlandish and outrageous POOR THINGS from mastermind director Yorgos Lanthimos and Irish production company Element Pictures, starring Emma Stone, Willem Defoe and Mark Ruffalo. Hotly tipped for a shower of Oscar nominations and winner of the Golden Lion at the 2023 Venice Film Festival, this is an exciting coup for Belfast and is sure to be the talk of the city for weeks to come.

Writers’ strike

Standing in solidarity with all those writers who have just ended their strike for fair wages across the world, the festival has chosen this year to champion the recent Writer’s Guild of America strikes by screening a host of films about screenwriters and will host a talk with world-renowned screenwriter JOHN SAYLES and producer MAGGIE RENZI. The festival will also screen a selection of their work.

Michele Devlin, Director of Belfast Film Festival said:  

“We are thrilled to present a fantastic line-up of new international film, an impressive selection which includes titles from every continent across the world.  In this year’s programme we are focussing on the current industrial action in the entertainment sector particularly the WGA and SAG strikes. We are so pleased to welcome Oscar nominated screenwriter and director John Sayles and producer Maggie Renzi who will be jointly presented with the festival’s prestigious Réalta award for Outstanding Contribution to Film.”

Belfast Film Festival will also partner with the new Avenue Cinema to bring the glitz of Hollywood to its Screenwriters on Screen Retrospective with screenings of BARTON FINK, SUNSET BOULEVARD and ADAPTATION remastered and returning to the big screen.

With a nod to the season and for those who enjoy a fright, there will be a special one-off screening of the FrightFest 2023 hit HAUNTED ULSTER LIVE by Belfast filmmakers Dominic O’Neill and Will McConnell, on Halloween night.

Belfast Film Festival is funded by Northern Ireland Screen, Belfast City Council, the Department for Communities, Film Hub NI, and Arts and Business NI. And proudly sponsored by Yellowmoon, Birra Moretti and Hastings Hotels.

Tickets for the following pre-sale events will go on sale on the Belfast Film Festival website on Friday 29th September:

• All of Us Strangers
• Poor Things
• Barton Fink
• Sunset Boulevard
• Adaptation
• John Sayles and Maggie Renzi in conversation
• Haunted Ulster Live

The full Festival programme will be announced on 12th October.

The Enchanted House of Puppetry makes a welcome return to Ards Arts Centre in Newtownards this Halloween when the historical building will once again be transformed into a puppet wonderland! No ghosts or ghouls, just incredible performances and workshops to inspire the imaginations of both young and old alike.

Presented by Ards Puppet Festival, the two-day event will feature an eclectic mix of scheduled performances, free puppet shows and workshops and plenty of madcap puppet shenanigans! Expect puppets in all shapes and sizes, from hand puppets to strings and socks!

One of the programme highlights is Snug and Grub Catch a Bug by Garlic Theatre. Snug and Grub live safely underground in their earthy heap. One day they pop out from under a rock to see some googly eyes peering through the grass. What on earth is it? And who can catch it first? But beware, something is hovering in the blue sky ready to swoop down… A wonderfully wiggly adventure for all the family. Join Garlic Theatre for this funny organic tale, with clowning and a host of colourful puppets, a beautifully crafted set and foot tapping music on Sunday 29 October at 11am and 3pm.

As well as scheduled performances, visitors can expect drop-in shows and workshops, taking place at various times throughout both days. The Noughty One An installation by Noisy Oyster fuses puppetry, automata, and robotics with 3D printing to explore our relationship with technology and the mercurial nature of the human world.

The Puppet Labyrinth is also back! Take a weelie wylie wander through the magical meandering puppet labyrinth to find the naughtiest troll in all of Ards, Aloisious Ginderbalm. Only the bravest travellers dare to seek out the enchanted ramblings and gobbledegook from an ancient 700 year old Swedish Troll. He tells the tallest tales for being the shortest troll!

There are also opportunities to get creative at the Puppet Making Workshops where everyone can have a go at making simple puppets to take away and create your very own puppet shows at home.

The Enchanted House of Puppetry is also delighted to celebrate the Puppets in your Place programme! Cre8 Theatre Company have been working with groups from Holywood, Comber, Donaghadee and Portaferry to create this puppet spectacular, funded through the Arts Council of Northern Irelands Rural Arts Engagement Programme. Expect large scale puppets, music and dance to celebrate these four communities. Taking place in Conway Square on Sunday 29 October at 4pm.

Speaking about event, Amy McKelvey, Community Arts Development Officer with Ards and North Down Borough Council said; “We are very excited to be presenting The Enchanted House of Puppetry again this October, when Ards Arts Centre will come alive with puppets! The Ards Puppet Festival is a long-established family favourite and every year we look forward to seeing all the looks of amazement, screams of delight and happy smiling faces. This is one not to miss.”

The Enchanted House of Puppetry takes place from 29 – 30 October in Ards Arts Centre, Conway Square, Newtownards. To view the full programme and to book tickets, go to: https://puppetfestival.andculture.org.uk/whats-on

Printed copies of the programme are also available from Ards Arts Centre, North Down Museum or any of the Council’s Visitor Information Centres.

Next weekend at Armagh’s Market Place Theatre is set to be filled with music to appeal to all tastes.

On Thursday 5 October the popular and multi-award-winning quintet Goitse will take to the stage. Goitse was forged in the white-hot creative crucible of Limerick’s Irish World Academy. Named Live Ireland’s Traditional Group of the Year, Chicago Irish American News’ Group of the Year, as well as winning the prestigious Freiburger International Leiter 2016 award in Germany, Goitse have become a leader of the new generation of traditional Irish ensembles. Their distinctive sound lies in the quality of their own compositions interspersed with traditional tunes from Ireland and abroad.

Then on Friday 6 October, a truly innovative merging of live music and film. Nosferatu is arguably the film that gave birth to the horror genre and is notable as the first cinematic interpretation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Its combination of expressionistic acting and unforgettable images render it just as powerful and unsettling today as when it first thrilled cinema goers 100 years ago.

The screening will be accompanied by Chris Green’s new score which was commissioned by English Heritage for a live outdoor screening of the film at Dracula’s spiritual home of Whitby Abbey. The music is a haunting blend of electronic and acoustic instruments performed live by the composer and, combined with FW Murnau’s iconic images, makes for a genuinely remarkable and unique cinematic experience.

An old favourite returns for a much-anticipated fourth visit to The Market Place Theatre on Saturday 7 October – the hugely popular Irish Pink Floyd Tribute, ‘Beyond The Horizon’. The band have a reputation for recreating the instrument and album sounds from Pink Floyd’s iconic back catalogue from the psychedelia of the ‘60s through to The Division Bell, and all performed by genuine Pink Floyd fans for Pink Floyd fans.

Tickets for all performances can be booked online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre or through the Box Office on 03300 561 025.