A fun-filled festival marking the opening of the new visitor centre at HMS Caroline is set to launch at the end of the month at Alexandra Dock & Wharf in the Titanic Quarter.

The Dockside Festival, running from March 27 to April 20, will give visitors a first look at the newly restored Pump House – adjacent to HMS Caroline – which houses fresh exhibition spaces to complement the experience aboard ship.

Coinciding with the Easter holidays, children can enjoy activity trails, arts and crafts, film screenings, educational family events and an exciting chance to handle replica objects and artefacts on board the ship.

The Festival will also celebrate the completion of Alexandra Dock & Wharf, now comprising the Pump House visitor centre and HMS Caroline, which are connected by a 25-metre steel and timber footbridge installed across the mouth of Alexandra Dock. The bridge, and a newly installed gangway welcoming visitors onto the vessel, further improves access to what is one of the UK’s most accessible historic ships.

Jamie Wilson, General Manager at HMS Caroline, said: “We’re very pleased to be able to host the Dockside Festival, which promises to have something for everyone and for all ages.

“Our new Pump House visitor centre adds to what is already truly a captivating and enjoyable day of maritime adventure.”

Family events during the festival will also have nautical themed activities for everyone to try their hand at, including trails with Blucher the Bunny, one of the ship’s mascots.

Activities throughout the Easter Weekend (March 30 – April 3) include: make your own pom-pom bunny with Woolly Workshops, create a Blucher the Rabbit headdress with artist Bobbi Purdy as well as Punch and Judy shows. Visitors will also get the opportunity to listen to storytelling sessions by Captain the Puppet, and enjoy singing along to sea shanties with Sailor Dan.

Following the family fun over Easter, HMS Caroline’s Drill Hall will host movie fans at special screenings of classic ‘80s adventure, The Goonies (PG) on Friday 13 April and the 1978 comedy-horror, Piranha (18) on Friday 20 April. The impressive setting on board the ship will add  unique atmosphere to these film favourites.

The attraction will also welcome Dr Dónal McAnallen and Dr Eamon Phoenix for specially curated lectures as part of the Festival. The historians will discuss the impact of the First World War on Gaelic Sport in Belfast, Ulster and Ireland, and the political landscape of Northern Ireland in the period leading up to when HMS Caroline came to Belfast, respectively.

A unique museum and education facility, HMS Caroline is operated by The National Museum of the Royal Navy and is the world’s last remaining floating survivor from the Battle of Jutland in 1916. Moored in Belfast since 1924, over the past four years HMS Caroline has been fully restored and fitted out thanks to support from the Heritage Lottery Fund in Northern Ireland.

To find out more, visit the Dockside Festival website.

To celebrate the wonder of nature this spring the National Trust will be running a range of fun and engaging nature themed activities for all the family across their special places during the Easter break (26 March – 8 April).

As spring unfolds, nature comes to life – leaves start budding on the trees, frog spawn fills the ponds, birds return from their winter migration and yellow daffodils bring a splash of colour wherever they bloom. With so much to see, this is the perfect time to visit a National Trust place and reconnect with nature and the great outdoors.

There’s a whole range of fun things planned, here’s a taste of what’s happening:

The Argory, Moy is home to wide variety of trees, many of which were brought here by the family from travels abroad. Explore the trails outdoors and find a tree to climb, then head indoors and make your own craft creation to decorate the giant tree in the Birkenhead room.  At Springhill, Moneymore the nature theme is spring flowers as some family members were botanist. Have fun pressing your own flowers and then treat yourself to a flower cupcake in the tea-room before heading off into the glorious gardens.

At Mount Stewart, Newtownards discover the signs of spring on the demesne nature trail, try your hand at planting at the potting shed, enjoy nature themed craft and join the rangers to learn the art of bush craft.

Castle Ward, Strangford is celebrating the work of scientist Mary Ward with the new Mary Ward Discovery Zone where kids can become scientists for the day and discover the natural world of bugs and beasties. There are fun craft activities, a nature trail around the grounds and an egg trail in the house using Mary Ward’s collection of unusual bird eggs. How many will you find?

At Rowallane Garden, Saintfield there’s a new ‘Spring into Nature’ walk to discover. Create your own nature wristband using things you find along the way and stop off at the special micro-world stations to get a larger than life view of nature. You might be shocked by what you see!  Take part in an egg and spoon race at the front of the house and pot a sunflower seed to take home and watch grow.

Take the new Tree Trail at Downhill Demesne and test your climbing and balancing skills in the Bishop’s Natural Play area hidden in the forest. Create brilliant beach sculptures on Porstewart Strand and explore the dunes to see what creatures you can find.

The fun continues in Fermanagh, where the Easter nature trails feature a range of self-led activities along the way. Craft a swan out of willow, build a den or climb a tree at Castle Coole. Make willow butterfly, count the rings on a tree and try your hand at pond dipping at Florence Court. While at Crom you can make your own willow fish, build a den or enjoy a boat trip in traditional cot.

Visit over the Easter weekend and you’ll also get to participate in one of the popular Cadbury Easter Egg Hunts happening at National Trust places around the country. Trails cost £1.50 per child and there’s a chocolate treat for everyone who follows the bunnies’ clues and completes the hunt.

For a full list of Cadbury Easter Egg Hunt locations and dates and details of the Easter nature activities happening at National Trust places visit NationalTrust.org.uk/NI.

DYLAN MORAN DR COSMOS

 

The Millennium Forum has just announced that BAFTA and Perrier award winning comedian, Dylan Moran, will perform at the cityside venue on Friday 28^th September as he embarks on his brand new tour –  Dr Cosmos. Tickets go on sale from the Box Office on Friday 16^th March and are priced at £26.50.

Moran will offer his unique take on love, politics, misery and the everyday absurdities of life, all served with poetical panache from one of the finest comedians of his generation.

Moran has been called the Oscar Wilde of comedy and his famed style – deadpan, witty and crackpot lyricism – promises to be an unmissable journey through his interpretations of the world, swerving cliche to offer a cutting blow to our idiosyncrasies.

Praise for Dylan Moran:

 

**** “Trumping Shakespeare, he reduces life to four ages: “Child, failure, old and dead”. Faced with one-liners as killing as that the world suddenly seems a better place.”

The Telegraph

**** “His comedy takes on an existential dimension, as tubby, nicotine-starved, emasculated Moran comes to represent the struggles we all wage for meaning and connection”

The Guardian

**** “High-octane riffs from Irish master of grumpiness…spellbinding”

Evening Standard

**** “In his heightened ideas and vocabulary, Moran compulsively swerves clichés as he builds up layers of laughs… funny and fascinating, and utterly deserving of his place in the modern classics’

The Times

 

Dylan Moran performs at the Millennium Forum on Friday 28^th September.  Tickets go on sale from the Box Office on Friday 16^th March.  Telephone 71 264455 or visit millenniumforum.co.uk for bookings.  NB Recommended 15+

Families can step into the land of make-believe in Bangor this Easter with three days of free, family fun scheduled to take place in the seaside town –  with its very own mystical maze taking centre ‘page’.

Inspired by children’s favourite, ‘Alice in Wonderland’, Bangor Seafront will play host to dotMaze, a 20-fmetre installation that is travelling to Bangor all the way from America, from Saturday 31 March until Monday 2 April.

Main Street, My Street’ and Bangor Chamber of Commerce will host Bangor’s Big Bunny Hunt on Saturday 31 March and Monday 2 April.  There will be an Easter Garden in Menarys, kids crafts in Bob and Bert’s and cupcake and biscuit decorating in the Heatherlea bakery.  As well as competitions and giveaways in many stores, puppet shows will also take place in Focus Menswear on High Street on the Saturday, courtesy of the Council.

On Easter Monday, 2 April, families can step off the train at Bangor and straight into another ‘magical’ land at the Thomas the Tank Engine experience.  Fans will be delighted to find Thomas and The Fat Controller waiting to meet them at intervals throughout the day.  While a special display curated by First Bangor Model Railway Club will be a ’must see’ for railway enthusiasts.

The town’s popular annual Easter scavenger hunt will take place at the nearby North Down Museum where kids can follow the trail through the museum galleries and solve the clues to reveal the name of a popular book.

Little adventurers can discover the magic of nature as they follow a treasure trail through the popular Victorian, Ward Park and meet the little folk who live in big trees above, tunnel into the soil below and fly on the backs of winged beasts.  Prepare to be enchanted!

For those with a sweet tooth:  Project 24 at the seafront will be transformed into Bangor’s very own Chocolate Factory with chocolate making workshops and invention stations where children can make even more tasty treats.  Special appearances from ‘Willy Wonka’ and the ‘Oompa Loompas’ will definitely make visitors go ‘doompety doo’.

From there, families should make their way to McKee Clock Arena and the must-visit mystical maze.

If they haven’t got lost in the maze, children can dress up in ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’ with face painting, children’s crafts, distorting mirrors and more themed fun in a nearby, dedicated tent.

While a second tent plays host to ‘Mr McGregor’s Garden’ where children can plant their own radish and create all sorts of colourful crafts, inspired by Peter Rabbit and friends.

Also at the McKee Clock Arena, famous fairy tales such as ‘The Three Little Pigs’ and ‘Cinderella’ will be brought to life through dance by ‘Jump, Jiggle and Jive’ while classic tales and improvised yarns will be told from the ‘Shed of Stories’ pop-up library throughout the day.  Children can also pen their own piece at a creative writing desk in the shed.

Visitors must also take time to ride the Land Train along the seafront.

Open House will also be at wowing the crowds in their own unique style with strolling storytellers popping up in the town throughout the afternoon.  Storytelling will also take place in Eason on High Street, so no one need miss out on some tale telling!

The event is being organised by Ards and North Down Borough Council with support from Bangor Chamber of Commerce and ‘Main Street, My Street’. Translink, SERC and local churches are also partnering in the event.

For event times, prices and more information, keep up-to-date at: visitardsandnorthdown.com

World-famous artistic duo return to Belfast for a special event at The Merchant Hotel

To celebrate the success of SCAPEGOATING PICTURES for Belfast, the MAC is offering art lovers the unique opportunity to enjoy a decadent afternoon tea in conversation with Gilbert & George at The Merchant Hotel next month.

The special event, which takes place in The Merchant’s iconic Great Room restaurant on Wednesday 11^th April, will bring world-famous artistic duo Gilbert & George together in conversation with Tim Marlow, Artistic Director of the Royal Academy, over a luxurious afternoon tea.

Gilbert & George’s SCAPEGOATING PICTURES for Belfast is their most significant exhibition in Ireland in almost 20 years. More than 11,000 people have visited the MAC to see the spectacular images since the exhibition opened six weeks ago.

The unique event with Royal Academician Gilbert & George is part of the 250th-anniversary celebrations marking the establishment of the Royal Academy of Arts, London.

Commenting on the partnership, Petra Wolsey, group marketing director for Beannchor said: “We are proud to partner with the MAC for what promises to be an enlightening and entertaining afternoon in conversation with the legendary Gilbert & George. For Belfast to secure such a significant and culturally relevant exhibition is a huge coup and we are thrilled to provide a suitably decadent backdrop for this hugely exciting event.”

Áine McVerry, Acting Chief Executive at the MAC said:

“The reaction to the Gilbert & George exhibition so far has been overwhelming, the work has really struck a chord with local audiences and with the significant portion of our visitors who come from outside Belfast and Northern Ireland. We are delighted to be working with the Merchant to put on this special afternoon tea event. Belfast art lovers can look forward to a unique opportunity to meet the artists themselves at the Merchant, and at the MAC where the artists will be signing catalogues and posters in the gallery.”

Tickets for Gilbert & George in conversation with Tim Marlow over Afternoon Tea at the Merchant Hotel can be purchased directly from the MAC website, priced £55 https://themaclive.com/event/gg-at-the-merchant

Due to anticipated demand for this special event from visitors outside the city, a special Overnight Stay Package is also available from The Merchant, priced £89 per person sharing with complimentary car parking and flexible cancellation 24 hours prior to arrival.  Availability is limited, so early booking is advised. Call 028 9023 4888 to book.

Gilbert & George will also be available for a second public signing of their catalogues and posters on Thursday 12^th April from 10.30am – 12.30pm at the MAC. Tickets for the public signing are free and can be booked on the day; visitors are advised to arrive at the MAC early to avoid disappointment.

SCAPEGOATING PICTURES for Belfast is on display in the Sunken, Tall and Upper Galleries at the MAC, Belfast, until Sunday 22 April 2018. The exhibition is open daily from 10am-7pm and admission is free.

This event has been supported by National Lottery funding through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and by Art Fund, the national fundraising charity for art.

There’ll be family fun aplenty at The Market Place Theatre in Armagh on Saturday 31 March with Banyan Theatre Company’s production of ‘Gruff’.

This much loved fairy-tale is brought to life with a pinch of Banyan magic, puppetry, storytelling and original music. Suitable for children aged 4 years and over, the show will be followed by one hour of fun activities including themed craft workshops, face painting, balloon modelling and a fancy dress competition with prizes for Best Dressed Boy and Girl. Great value for money at only £8 each, or £28 for a family of four.

Then for the grown-ups, on Friday 6 April, it’s ‘A Night Spent Dirty Dancing’. This show pays homage to the greatest movie soundtrack in history and is often copied but never equalled. With over two hours of non-stop hits, this is the premier concert celebration to the all icon music from the Dirty Dancing soundtrack, plus hits from the most-loved ‘chick-flicks’ and dance movies of all time. An all-singing, all-dancing, high-energy concert spectacular.

Tickets can be booked through the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre And to keep up-to-date with the latest news at the Market Place Theatre, you can follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/marketplacearmagh) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/mptarmagh) where you will find all the latest information, special offers and video previews.

DEMI LOVATO ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL DATES ON HER TELL ME YOU LOVE ME TOUR DUE TO PHENOMENAL DEMAND

 

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY 16TH MARCH AT 9AM

 

New Album Tell Me You Love Me, on Island/Safehouse/Hollywood, Hit #1 on iTunes in 37 Countries

 

“Sorry Not Sorry” #1 Top 40 Radio and RIAA Triple-Platinum with 500 Million+ Global Streams, 310 Million+ Video views.

BELFAST         

MAY 24 2018               

SSE ARENA

 

DUBLIN             

MAY 25 2018   

3ARENA          

®-nominated, multi-platinum singer and songwriter Demi Lovato has announced additional dates on her European tour due to phenomenal demand.  Produced by Live Nation, the 19-city European run will now begin on May 24 in Belfast, Northern Ireland and wrap on June 27 in Bologna, Italy.

In July 2017, Lovato released the first single “Sorry Not Sorry” off her album which instantly flew into the Top 5 on the iTunes Charts and is now certified triple-platinum. The hit has garnered over 500 million streams, climbed to #1 on the viral charts, and has over 310 million views for its house party video. Lovato’s sixth studio album “Tell Me You Love Me” debuted at #1 on iTunes in 37 countries on September 29th. In addition to her critically hailed album release, Demi released a 78-minute documentary film, Simply Complicated which has amassed over 13 million views to date.  Demi is currently on her 20-city tour across the U.S. and Canada with DJ Khaled and Kehlani, which started on February 26.

Tickets for Demi Lovato’s Tell Me You Love Me tour go on-sale to the general public on Friday March 16^th at 9am:

The SSE Arena, Belfast Box Office: Tel. 028 90 739074
Book On Line: www.ssearenabelfast.com

Ticketmaster: From 100 Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide
By Telephone (24 Hour):   0844 277 44 55 (ROL: 0818 719300)
Book On Line: www.ticketmaster.ie

 

Top 5 Picks for St Patrick’s Day

Join in the celebrations this St Patrick’s Day (Saturday 17^th March) with food, fun and music in some of Belfast’s best bars and venues.

From BBQs in Babel, trad music in The National and The Dirty Onion, a whiskey infused menu in The Cloth Ear, and the all-important Six Nations live final, there’s a jam-packed programme of events happening throughout the city.

Be sure to make the most of your St Patrick’s Day weekend and plan ahead with this what’s on guide;

1. Babel

Spend St Patrick’s Day weekend drinking in the views of the city from Belfast’s coolest new rooftop bar, Babel. Kick off the festivities with live music from Drum & Bates on Friday 16^th March from 6pm and DJ Bobby Analog in the bar until late. On Saturday (1-9pm) and Sunday (4pm onwards), grab a gourmet kebab at the rooftop garden BBQ, listen to live music and DJ sets and sip a St Patrick’s themed Tipperary Cocktail or Slane Sour overlooking the city. 

2. Bullitt

Belfast Ukulele Jam will be taking over the Bullitt courtyard from 1pm on St Patrick’s Day, playing your favourite tunes and getting the good vibes flowing, followed by Bullitt DJs who will be playing an eclectic mix of disco, soul and electronics until late. Watch the rugby from the comfort of the cosy Baltic bar from 1pm onwards and enjoy a pint of Guinness and a hearty bowl of wagyu beef stew for £10. 

3. The Cloth Ear

The Cloth Ear is starting the celebrations early this year with an Irish whiskey infused menu, available from Monday 12^th – Sunday 18^th March. The festivities continue with Irish music from Acoustic Soul on Thursday 15^th (6-9pm) and Six Nations Super Saturday on St Patrick’s Day, where rugby will be screened live throughout the day (12.30pm-7pm). On Sunday, unwind with a sharing roast and live music from 8pm to 11pm. 

4. The National & Sixty6

One venue, six bars – there’s plenty to do this St Patrick’s Day in The National and Sixty6. Expect twelve hours of live traditional music in The National’s beer garden (12pm -12am), followed by DJ sets throughout Sixty6’s cocktail bar, lounge and nightclub. Don’t worry about missing the Six Nations final, it will be played live on the big screen in The National’s Café bar from 1pm.

5. The Dirty Onion

The Dirty Onion will host five live music performances in its legendary beer garden throughout St Patrick’s Day (12pm-1am) and will serve up food from the grill at an all-day BBQ from 12pm. Doing what it does best, the bar will also host a mammoth 10-hour traditional music session from 1pm – 11pm.

Crème de la Crème of NI Produce Adds Local Flavour to Celebrity French Chef’s Table    

He’s been ‘keeping mum’ about it until now but Jean-Christophe Novelli, the multi-Michelin-starred and 5-out-of-5 AA Rosette-winning chef yesterday revealed the menu for his hotly-anticipated début Belfast restaurant.

And in a ringing endorsement of local suppliers, Jean-Christophe, who has been dubbed the UK’s ‘Favourite French Chef’, has given Northern Irish produce top billing.

Set on Belfast’s waterfront, with stunning views accentuated by a double-height glazed façade and open-air terrace, the 112-seater ‘Novelli at City Quays’ restaurant will open in April as part of the all-new AC Hotel Belfast, the £25million contemporary-luxe hotel developed by Belfast Harbour in the heart of its prestigious City Quays quarter.

‘Novelli at City Quays’ will be the celebrity chef’s first restaurant on the island of Ireland, representing a key milestone for him, a major coup for Belfast’s hospitality offering, and a valuable boost to local suppliers.

“You need to have wonderful ingredients to produce wonderful food, and I have been thoroughly inspired and excited by the quality and variety of produce available to me here on my Belfast doorstep,” said Jean-Christophe Novelli.

“At ‘Novelli at City Quays’, our customers can look forward to the authentic Mediterranean-inspired cuisine I am best known for, including my famous Coq au Vin, French Onion Soup and Loin of Sugar Pit Pork, and all made with the best of locally sourced ingredients.”

Reading like a veritable Who’s Who of NI producers and processors, Abernethy Butter, Hannan Meats, Ewing’s Seafood, Yellow Door and North Down Group are just some of the local companies hand-picked by Jean-Christophe and Jim Mulholland, his Belfast grand chef, to supply the new restaurant.  Even the charcuterie board features homegrown chorizo and salami, produced by Limavady-based Corndale Farm.

“It has always been my passion and my mission to source whatever I can locally, and it has been an incredibly rewarding experience to introduce our amazing local produce to such a globally celebrated chef as Jean-Christophe Novelli and to see him, in turn, become a champion of it,” said Jim Mulholland, grand chef of ‘Novelli at City Quays.’

 

The 188-room, four-star quality AC Hotel Belfast is the first AC Hotel by Marriott on the island of Ireland, and the first purpose-built AC Hotel in the UK.  ‘Novelli at City Quays’ is the first destination restaurant in the AC Hotels by Marriott® 100+ global portfolio.  Built to Jean-Christophe Novelli’s exacting specifications, the made-to-measure kitchen features a rotisserie oven to enable him to produce his signature roasts.

Get ready to be amazed and captivated by Rain Falling Up, a Dumbworld Production in collaboration with Ulster Orchestra, Ulster Hall, Friday 16^th March.

 

Guaranteed to be a joyous concert for all the family, this spectacular musical production features a large chorus of 300 children from local schools in Belfast, the Ulster Orchestra and a live shadow puppet animation – all created with the support of world renowned film-maker, director and writer John McIlduff and composer Brian Irvine.

Combining music, song, narration and animation, Rain Falling Up, produced by Dumbworld in collaboration with the Ulster Orchestra and supported by National Lottery funding through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, tells the story of a little boy Jake, who is fascinated by all things scientific. One day, after being blamed for breaking his mum’s vase he comes to the conclusion that gravity is not his friend anymore. So he builds himself a gravity switch so he can turn gravity off. Life seems so much more fun when you can float around freely, but when the switch disappears and Jake finds himself drifting alone through the universe he realises that perhaps he made a mistake.

Rain Falling Up was first performed in the Waterfront Hall in 2010 with the Ulster Orchestra and has since been performed in Dublin, City of Derry and in the Italian city of Aosta, each time with a different orchestra and children’s choir. In 2013 Rain Falling Up, was nominated for a British Composers Award (community award).

The current project has been running since November 2017 involving a specially formed children’s chorus made up of 300 primary school children drawn from 10 schools across Belfast.  During the project children will have taken part in 130 workshops including; animation, developing music, performance, learning, composition and singing skills led by  Brian Irvine, the Dumbworld creative team and members of the Ulster Orchestra. Alongside these workshops the schools engaged in an art project focusing on the invention of their own gravity switches which will culminate in an exhibition of their work.
Looking forward to the performance at Ulster Hall, Creative Director of Dumbworld Production, and writer of Rain Falling Up, John McIlduff said;

“On behalf of Dumbworld Production we are delighted to be bringing Rain Falling Up back to Belfast.  Rain Falling Up is a joyful avalanche of orchestra, animation, narration and 300 singing children – a roller coasting rollicking ride that tells the uplifting story of one boy’s struggle with the ups and downs of gravity. Rain Falling Up bursts at the seams with hope, adventure, celebration and big unapologetic tunes. Watch out for the creaky, dancing Grandfather, the flocks of flying penguins and watch out for the black holes.”

John further added;
“Since November 2017 we have been working with 300 children from schools across Belfast to engage with each other as well as with professionals, including the Ulster Orchestra, to create this ambitious and exciting piece of work. Through image, music and words audiences of all ages will be charmed by this truly amazing and highly creative production. We are grateful for the support of our principal funder, Arts Council of Northern Ireland along with Belfast City Council as well as our project collaborator Ulster Orchestra and everyone on the Dumbworld creative team. We hope everyone who sees Rain Falling Up is truly inspired by this very unique experience.”

Ciaran Scullion, Head of Music, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added;

“Dumbworld is an award-winning organisation that excels in creating bold and captivating new works.  The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is proud to support the Rain Falling Up project which has brought together many school children from across Belfast to share together in the joy of music-making, culminating in an epic finale performance in the Ulster Hall; an experience few will forget.”

Rain Falling Up takes place at Ulster Hall on Friday 16th March 2018, 7.30pm. Tickets are £12, Snr citizens & children (5yrs-16yrs) £5, and children under 5 go FREE. For further details visit www.ulsterhall.co.uk or www.dumbworld.com. Follow Dumbworld on Facebook @dumbworldltd, twitter @dumbworldltd and Instagram @dumbworldltd.