Treat your garden to a facelift on Saturday 22 April at Jordanstown Loughshore Park as Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council hosts its first Spring Plant Fair.

This new event offers plenty of specialist plant sellers to choose from and with free entry and free parking, the Spring Plant Fair is a must for all green fingered gardeners and budding enthusiasts. From ornamental annuals and perennials, to spring and early summer bedding plants, there will be pollinators, wildflower seed, plants for pots and containers, indoor plants, shrubs and trees – a gardener’s dream!

Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Alderman Stephen Ross commented, “This event will have a superb selection of bulbs, plants and shrubs available, giving you the perfect opportunity to stock up on some new pieces for your garden. If you would like to transform your garden but don’t know where to begin, there will be plenty of experts available to give you the advice you need. Admission is free of charge, so I would encourage everyone to come and check it out.”

Garden Show Ireland Ambassador, Diarmuid Gavin added, “The Spring Plant Fair will be a great opportunity to buy your planting and also speak to the specialist plant sellers and get expert advice on what flowers will work best for your space. So whether you have a balcony or a large garden, specialists will be on hand to advise you what plants will work best, where to plant them and how to nurture them. We are also delighted to be welcoming a specialist grower from Holland who will bring his amazing collection of quality flower bulbs and garden plants. Come along on Saturday 22 April from 10am-5pm and get your garden looking fabulous.”

Parking and a free shuttle bus is available at the Park and Ride facility at Ulster University, Jordanstown. Admission is free of charge. For more details visit www.gardenshowireland.com. This event is a new addition to the annual Garden Show Ireland event taking place at Antrim Castle Gardens from 16-18 June.

 

Join the party that’s right up your street. Eden Project Communities invite any residents and local groups that are planning Coronation celebrations or June community events to come and join their workshops or just pop in to meet them and collect resources at an event near you.

If you’re planning to host a Big Lunch during the Month of Community or you’re hosting a Coronation celebration, come along to the roadshow and collect your free resources including a letter from the King. You’ll receive craft workshop ideas, green thinking ideas, money saving and fundraising ideas. There’s also professional photography and voucher giveaway opportunities.

Coronation Roadshow events are taking place at:

Bangor: in association with Ards and North Down Borough Council on Friday 14 April from 10am until 2pm at Hamilton Road Community Hub, Mills Road, Bangor.

Ballymena: in association with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council on Tuesday 18 April from 5pm to 9pm at Ballykeel Community House, Lewis Park, Ballymena.

Larne: in association with Mid and East Antrim Borough Council on Wednesday 19 April from 5pm to 8pm at Larne Market Yard, Station Road, Larne.

Coleraine: in association with Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council on Thursday 20 April from 4pm to 6pm at Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council Civic Headquarters, Cloonavin, 66 Cloonavin Green, Coleraine.

Derry~Londonderry: in association with Derry and Strabane District Council on Friday 21 April from 2pm to 4pm at Cathedral Youth Club, 96-98 The Fountain, Derry~Londonderry.

Antrim: in association with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council on Monday 24 April from 5pm to 7pm at Stiles Community Centre, 11 Fountain Hill, Antrim.

Ballynahinch: in association with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council on Tuesday 25 April from 10am to 2pm at Market House, The Square, Ballynahinch.

Lisburn: in association with Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council on Wednesday 26 April from 2pm to 4pm at Bridge Community Centre, 50 Railway Street, Lisburn.

Dundonald: in association with Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council on Wednesday 26 April from 6pm to 8pm at Enler Community Centre, Unit 8 Enler Complex, Craigleith Drive, Dundonald.

Bessbrook: in association with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council on Thursday 27 April from 10am to 2pm at Bessbrook Community Centre, 8 Mill Road, Bessbrook.

Newtownabbey: in association with Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council on Friday 28 April from 2pm to 4pm at Mossley Pavilion, Newtownabbey.

To register your attendance at your nearest roadshow, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/TheBigLunchNorthernIreland/posts/pfbid0zq5dQCSHEi8U3vMcguvrjFXnZUzPGTyVUWkn2KTnr5S8iESLSS5nyX3v8buyTfiQl

Grainne McCloskey, Scotland and Northern Ireland Regional Manager, said: “We’re excited to meet representatives of community groups, individuals planning to get together with neighbours, school teachers, youth leaders and anyone getting ready to organise a Big Lunch this summer.

“It makes sense during this cost of living crisis to keep costs down and give Big Lunch organisers the option to collect their resources directly and it gives Eden Project Communities representatives a great opportunity to meet people face to face who have registered to host a Big Lunch on their doorstep, in their street or in their local community. They can come along and collect their Big Lunch resources and share details of their Big Lunch plans with us over a cup of tea.”

There are so many ways to come together and celebrate people of all ages who support each other and shape better futures together where they live this year with a range of activities from The Eden Project Communities.

The Coronation Big Lunch will form part of the celebrations for His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort’s Coronation Weekend between 6-8 May 2023. Tens of thousands of events are expected to take place across the United Kingdom, bringing neighbours, communities and the nation together in celebration and friendship, and raising community spirits as part of this historic occasion. To register a Coronation Big Lunch and receive a letter from His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Queen Consort, please visit: www.CoronationBigLunch.com

For children aged 16 and under, there is a fun way to get them talking about the Coronation and the King’s love of environment and positive action. A photo competition which they can get involved in at home, school or in a childrens’ setting. They can share photos of homemade wild crowns, made using items found in nature, for a chance to win commemorative Pawprint Coronation Big Lunch badges and a Big Lunch food voucher for the child’s community. For more information and to register, please visit: https://www.edenprojectcommunities.com/photo-competition-go-wild-for-the-coronation

Month of Community runs throughout June and people can host a Big Lunch at any time during the month. Last year, a whopping 20 million people took part in Month of Community to cheers volunteers, connect with their neighbours, welcome refugees, support carers, raise awareness of loneliness, or simply to say thank you. To register, please visit: https://www.edenprojectcommunities.com/month-of-community

Her Majesty The Queen Consort has been Patron of the Big Lunch since 2013.

The Big Lunch is funded by National Lottery and is the UK’s largest annual community celebration for neighbours and communities bringing millions of people together in a nationwide act of community friendship since 2009 and will again this year kick off the Month of Community in June, a time to come together to celebrate everything that makes our communities great!

It’s an idea from the Eden Project made possible by The National Lottery and is supported by PG Tips, Iceland and The Food Warehouse and the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust.

If you would like to host your own Big Lunch, please register at www.thebiglunch.com.

As part of its programme to mark Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council has launched the Royal Connections Heritage Trail, which expresses the area’s rich royal connections.

Museum Services supported community groups and volunteers to research sites with a royal story to tell and bring these together to form a new heritage trail and digital map.

The trail includes sites from across the Borough reflecting everything from historic royal visits to archaeology, mythology and folklore. Some of the sites are better known than others and include:

• Dungiven Priory, where Finvola the Gem of the Roe is said to be buried;
• the secluded site of the Gortnamoyagh Inauguration Stone, Coleraine, visited four times by Queen Elizabeth during her historic 70-year reign;
• Glentaisie, named for Princess Taisie
• Bruce’s Cave, where Robert the Bruce supposedly encountered the spider during his time on Rathlin Island.

At the launch of the publication in Ballymoney Museum, Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Ivor Wallace said: “I’m looking forward to reading more about the various sites in this trail. I’m familiar with some, but others are a real surprise. I’d like to thank all the participants who volunteered their time and effort to help bring this project together. Their local knowledge greatly added to the heritage trail and demonstrates the benefits of Museum Services engaging with the community on projects such as this.”

The project was delivered by Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s Museum Services, with financial support through District Council Good Relations Programme from The Executive Office.

For further information, contact Good Relations Officer Gerard McIlroy by telephoning 07517498458 or by emailing gerard.mcilroy@causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk.

For more information on the Royal Connections Heritage Trail sites please visit http://niarchive.org/royalconnections.

May McFettridge is returning to Armagh’s Market Place Theatre to star in ‘A Happy Medium’, a hilarious comedy about the known and the unknown by a woman who knew nothing in the first place.

 

May is a woman from the Glens of Gormley with big ideas. She wants to make contact with her dead sister to fulfil a promise made years ago on the top of the Cave Hill.

Regardless of the feelings of her two daughters Audrey and Gemma, she enlists the help of Mr Proudfoot, a part time medium from Ahoghill.  Their combined dabblings in the spirit world produce a chain of hilarious events, unlock hidden powers and family secrets and ensure that no one escapes the ‘ghosts of the past’.

May McFettridge [John Linehan] brings to the part all the warmth, comedy and feeling for flawed humanity that she is famous for. Mrs Cameron [Olivia Nash] is the perfect comedy companion to May’s antics in this fun filled night out.

‘A Happy Medium’ will be staged on Thursday 27 April at 8pm. Tickets priced £24.50 can be booked online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre or through the Box Office on 03300 561 025.

 

Two three storey ‘parachute cloth’ style murals have been commissioned by East Belfast Enterprise

 

Two murals, covering three storeys of the City East building at the gateway to East Belfast, on Newtownards Road, are to be created by cross-community groups with direction from local artist Dee Craig.

The project — Connecting Communities Through Art — is the brainchild of East Belfast Enterprise, a charity and social enterprise focused on bringing advantage to disadvantaged communities by encouraging entrepreneurship, and Belfast Mural Arts, bringing together numerous demographics from the area including people from the two main traditions and new immigrants in the community, to depict the diversity of living in the east of the city.

Using a US mural method known as The Parachute Cloth Technique, the concept will include artwork of cross-community groups in the Ballymacarrett and Short Strand areas specifically incorporating design ideas from the wider diverse east Belfast community, including school children, people living with disabilities, the elderly and ethnic minority groups.

The mural design has been developed during a series of more than 30 workshops in which the groups discussed themes to reflect the lives of those living in East Belfast.

Their designs also pay homage to the east’s strong industrial heritage as well as its future potential. Created by painting directly onto parachute cloth, the artwork will then be installed on two sides of City East building, and Belfast Mural Arts are the only artists in Europe that specialise in the parachute technique, allowing the entire mural project to be participant friendly so that local people can actively engage in painting sessions.

Belfast Mural Arts will install the artwork in a jigsaw-like technique using super strength glue that will give it a lifespan of up to 25 years before it will require maintenance.

Speaking about the mural project, Jonathan McAlpin, Chief Executive of East Belfast Enterprise, which owns the City East building, said: “We are proud to have developed this project which will create a piece of art that tells the true story of modern-day East Belfast, its business heritage, diverse culture and future potential.

“This project is called Connecting Communities Through Art and that’s exactly what this mural project is doing. It is an artistic reflection of the East Belfast community made while building relationships and challenging negative perceptions that lead to division and associated anti-social behaviour in this part of the city.

“Our objective is to celebrate the successes of East Belfast recognising the historic economic achievements from this area while looking to a future that can tap into the latent innovation, talent and entrepreneurship that rests within this community. We believe the two murals will create a positive legacy that is designed and owned by the community and will provide a permanent visual presentation of their vision of East Belfast. Where there is inclusivity and cohesiveness, there are also productive outcomes and art is a powerful medium to bring people together.”

The murals will be installed this summer and have been made possible by funding from Apex Housing, Belfast City Council, Clanmil Housing, Connswater, George Best Belfast City Airport, NI Community Relations Council, Northern Ireland Housing Executive and Radius Housing.

Follow the journey of the Connecting Communities Through Art project on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thefoundrybelfast; Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/eastbelfastandfoundry; LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/east-belfast-enterprise-agency and Twitter at https://twitter.com/teamfoundry

Music lovers- make a date in your diary as the line-up has been announced for the concert bands playing in beautiful Scarva village each Sunday from 16 April – 24 September.

The magnificent Victorian bandstand on Scarva Green will play host to the finest bands from the borough and beyond from 3pm – 4pm each Sunday afternoon as part of the popular concert band series.

What better way to spend a tranquil afternoon than relishing the relaxing music set amongst the award-winning floral display and watching the world go by under a sunny Scarva sky.

The concert programme for the initial weeks is detailed below but keep up-to-date with Visit Armagh’s social channels as the season progresses.

April

• 16^th April – Castlewellan Accordian Band
• 23^rd April – Ballykeel Accordian Band
• 30^th April – Rathfriland Silver Band

May

• 7th May – Aughnaskeagh Silver Band
• 14^th May – Kilkeel Silver Band
• 21^st May – Warrenpoint Silver Band
• 28^th May – Tyrone’s Ditches Pipe Band

Please note: all performances are subject to change.

As well as enjoying the marvelous music, why not take in the stunning natural beauty of the surrounding area with a stroll or cycle along the Newry Canal Towpath and enjoy an abundance of plant and wildlife. The children’s play area, near Scarva Park is always a big hit with families.

Further details of the season’s programme can be viewed online – visitarmagh.com or by following Visit Armagh on social channels.

If you are looking for something to do this Easter Weekend, here are a few suggestions.  More listings can be found at whatsonni.com

Easter Egg Hunt, Florence Court, Fermanagh

Make your way along the trail and find nature-inspired activities for the whole family. The trail takes place between 7 – 14 April 2023, from 11am to 5pm, with last entry at 4pm.

Find out more HERE

HMS Caroline Easter Trail

Take the HMS Caroline Easter Trail until Sunday 16th April (10am to 5pm).  HMS Caroline – the remarkable First World War ship restored as a must-see floating museum. Berthed in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, HMS Caroline is one of Northern Ireland’s most remarkable visitor attractions with an amazing story to tell!

Find out more HERE

Easter Acvitities at Share Discovery Village

Make the most of the Easter holidays by coming out to SHARE to take part in our Activity Sessions. Suitable for ages 6+ there should be something for everyone.

Find out more HERE

Carrowmena Easter Extravaganza Family Fun

Get together, whether with friends or family & make this an Easter to remember!  Their Action-Packed programme kicks off with becoming a real life Spiderman & making your way up our 20ft ‘Climbing Wall’ before zooming through the air on our ‘Zip Line’ & completing your adventures with some target practice in ‘Archery’.

Find out more HERE

Roar! Live Dinosaur Show, Navan Fort, Armagh

This Easter Monday & Tuesday, you are assured of a roarsome time at Navan Centre & Fort, Armagh with our live dinosaur show!  Watch in amazement as you view the once in a lifetime incubation and hatching of Velociraptor eggs. Learn about six different baby dinosaur species, including what food they eat, with some lucky audience members even getting the opportunity to feed the baby dinosaurs!

Find out more HERE

Ballycastle Seafront Easter Monday Artisan Market

The flagship artisan market of the Naturally North Coast & Glens on the beautiful Ballycastle Seafront.  This is an excellent showcase of local food, culture, heritage, and traditions, and it is an ideal destination for anyone looking for an authentic experience.

Find out more HERE

Who Wants to be a Superhero – W5 Belfast

Calling all superheroes! Don’t miss W5’s FREE interactive theatre show this Easter.  Do you have what it takes to be a superhero? Join W5 for a brand-new interactive stage show and put your powers to the test.

Find out more HERE

 

With days getting longer and the weather improving, parents across Northern Ireland will be contemplating how best to entertain their little ones this Easter. Fortunately, our country offers a plethora of outdoor activities for all the family.

Here are just ten reasons to get your children outdoors this Easter:

 

1. 

   It’s Lambing Season

With lambing season well underway, why not bring the kids along to see some of these adorable creatures gambolling across the countryside.

1. Getting Outdoors Is Cost Effective

As the cost-of-living crisis continues, there’s no better time to get the kids out in the fresh air and take advantage of the many free and healthy activities that our beautiful country has to offer.

1. It’s Good for Their Health

In the People in the Outdoors Monitor for Northern Ireland (POMNI) report,* which was conducted from November 2020 to October 2021, not for profit organisation, Outdoor Recreation NI, revealed that 77 per cent of people surveyed across Northern Ireland say that getting outdoors is good for their wellbeing.

1. It’s a Time for New Beginnings

Why not entertain the little ones with a brisk Easter walk and challenge to them to spot as many spring flowers as they can? Daffodils, primroses, crocuses, and snowdrops all emerge in a riot of colour at this time of year.

1. Spending Time Outdoors Is Educational

With so much change afoot during spring, it’s a great opportunity to educate your family about nature by bringing them along to explore new places and observe the environment around them.

1. You Can Create your Own Easter Egg Hunt

Try creating your own Easter Egg Hunt in the great outdoors. They’re fun for kids of all ages and encourage them to really observe the natural world around them.

1. It Builds Confidence

Exploring the great outdoors helps kids to build confidence by encouraging them to solve problems, try new activities and engage with others.

1. Time Spent in Nature Teaches Responsibility

Exploring the outdoors with your children is an opportunity to teach them how to engage well with nature. From taking your rubbish home with you after a picnic, to keeping your dog on a lead to avoid livestock worrying and disruption to wildlife, there are many ways to instil responsible behaviour in the younger generation.

 

1. It Provides a Different Form of Stimulation

We all know that many children spend a significant amount of time using electronic devices. With this in mind, why not get back to basics this Easter by immersing your kids in the rich sensory experience that our great outdoors has to offer.

 

1. There are a Wealth of Outdoor Activities Available Across Northern Ireland

Outdoor Recreation NI’s OutmoreNI.com website showcases over 850 green and blue spaces and outdoor trails across Northern Ireland. These offer activities for all the family, from enchanting forest walks to cycling or canoeing.

Kerry Kirkpatrick, Communication and Training Executive at Outdoor Recreation NI, says, “Spending time outdoors is incredibly important for our children’s wellbeing. Here in Northern Ireland, we have a wealth of amazing green and blue spaces and I would encourage parents to bring their little ones outdoors this Easter to connect with nature and experience the beauty of Northern Ireland.

“Our OutmoreNI.com website is a vital resource for those who wish to explore the fantastic array of outdoor spaces that Northern Ireland has to offer.

“Easily navigated, the site showcases hundreds of outdoor trails that offer something for all the family. It also contains a range of information on beaches, forests, parks, and nature reserves.

“We would encourage people to protect the environment by exploring these areas responsibly and the OutmoreNI.com website offers a wealth of information on how to do so through its Right Side of Outside campaign.”

To discover new outdoor trails and places to explore throughout Northern Ireland, visit https://outmoreni.com/

Banbridge Busking Festival returns to the streets of Banbridge on Saturday 24^th June.

Registration opens on Monday 17^th April.

Banging tunes, big songs and great live entertainment returns to the bustling streets of Banbridge this June when the well-established Busking Festival – BuskFest – returns to the County Down town.

A big festival highlight and showcase for Banbridge, the hugely popular competitive event attracts thousands of visitors, lifting spirits in a town famous for great local music, food, drink and a warm and friendly welcome.

Registration to take part in the electrifying line-up opens on Monday 17^th April when participants of all ages and abilities are invited to pitch in, rock up and play or sing their hearts out in the hope of winning a big cash prize.

A cash prize of £1000 will be available for the Overall Winner and a further £2000 split between the Best Band, Individual and Junior Categories – including the Best Performance sponsored by Banbridge Chamber of Commerce and the Spirit of Buskfest sponsored by The Boulevard.

Entrants are urged to get their names in early to be in with a chance to take part.

Budding entertainers and buskers alike are being encouraged to first register online at buskfest.com and make themselves known at the Old Town Hall in Banbridge on the morning of the event when pitch locations will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis from 9am – 11am.

Lord Mayor of Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, Paul Greenfield, is counting down the days.

“I’m delighted that Banbridge’s BuskFest is back to entertain and enthuse us all again this year, promising an amazing showcase of musical talent and on-street performance to a vibrant town well-known for its history, heritage and unrivalled retail and hospitality offer.

Supported by both the council and the local community, business and artistic groups, we aim to make this year’s BuskFest an entertaining day for the whole family.”

The competition kicks off on Saturday 24^th June from 1pm and runs until 4pm when the heart of Banbridge will be buzzing with musicians, singers, bands, solo artists and street performers. The prizegiving ceremony then moves to Solitude Park where the winners of each category get the chance to perform on stage.

BBC Radio Ulster presenter, BuskFest judge and compere Ralph McLean is also returning for this year’s event.

“The Banbridge Busking Festival has celebrated the best in on-street entertainment and acted as a catalyst for new and emerging talent who took on the challenge and made their presence felt. This year’s event promises a great day out for everyone.

If you haven’t yet visited BuskFest you are guaranteed a fantastic family day out. Enjoy the great atmosphere of the live music, dynamic street theatre and entertainment. As a music lover, I am delighted to be associated with BuskFest again this year,” Ralph said.

To register for Buskfest go to www.buskfest.com and select “register.”