Bring along your youngest scientists for W5’s Little Sparks toddler sessions. Visit our under 8s area, the town of Discovery, and take part in a 25-minute themed workshop as part of your visit.

Children are born natural scientists so why not bring them to W5 to let them imagine, explore, play and have fun? The town of Discovery is a place where children can learn about themselves and the world around them. Get hands-on with its interactive exhibits, play animal sounds in the farmyard, paddle in a virtual rock pool at the beach or flick through digital storybooks in the castle.

Little Sparks will be held one morning each month in W5. (Term time only) Your special Little Sparks ticket allows you entry into W5 from 10am – 12noon and sessions are aimed at children aged between 18 months and 4 years.

There will be two sessions held in the morning and each session will be themed and will include a 25-minute workshop at 10:30am or 11:15am with one of W5’s education team. Places are limited and must be pre-booked by calling 028 9046 7790 or 028 9046 7793.

Costs:

Children 4 and under: £1 each
Adults: £5.50*
Additional (non-participating) children over 4: £4.50

Details of up and coming sessions

8 February 2017

Workshop: Into the Deep, Dark Woods

Take a stroll through the deep, dark woods with our storyteller to spot some curious creatures and find out what is for tea! This children’s classic will come to life in your interactive storytelling session and inspire them to make their own ‘take home’ creation.

8 March 2017

Workshop: Teddy Bear Sense

Bring your toddler and teddy to our story telling session, Teddy Bear Sense, children will meet and hear about a bear who is not at all sensible. Both parents and children will have the opportunity to engage with the story by using their senses to touch, smell, hear, see and taste their way through their journey with Teddy Bear. Please encourage your toddler to bring their own teddy bear along to the event.

5 April 2017

Workshop: Wild Tracks

Are you wild about nature? Join us for a journey of imagination through the woods. Our Little Sparks will discover some wonderful woodland animals and find out what they might wear on their feet! Make and take home your own guide to track them down!

10 May 2017

Workshop: Caterpillar Capers

Can your body move like a caterpillar? Take a closer look at some real caterpillars and get creeping and crawling to some music. Find out how The Very Hungry Caterpillar eats his way through the week then make your very own caterpillar to take home.

 

Visit www.w5online.co.uk for full information.

To celebrate National Storytelling Week (28^th January – 4^th February), Titanic Belfast is looking for a Primary 1 or 2 class who love stories just as much as it does to be in with a chance to win a story time to remember.

 

National Storytelling Week is running this week and to mark the occasion, Titanic Belfast is giving away the opportunity for a class to be one of the first to hear and experience its newest workshop, ‘My Friend Bear’. The workshop is based on and inspired by a true Titanic tale about a young boy and his toy polar bear on board RMS Titanic.

Siobhan McCartney, Titanic Belfast’s Learning and Outreach Manager, “Stories play a fundamental role in our lives – communicating life experiences, encouraging creative imagination and inspiring us in many different ways. Everyone has a favourite story or character whether this is from folk tales, fairy lore or tales of derring-do. At Titanic Belfast, we are no different and to celebrate National Storytelling Week, we want to find the Primary School class who loves stories the most, so we can share one of our favourite Titanic tales with them on board SS Nomadic. We recognise the power of storytelling, it is at the heart of what we do every day as the World’s Leading Tourist Attraction, so this experience promises to be a story time that the class will always remember.”

The winning class will be one of the first in Northern Ireland to hear and experience  the truly Titanic tale, about a boy travelling on-board RMS Titanic with his beloved polar bear toy, brought to life through Titanic Belfast’s new ‘My Friend Bear’ workshop.

The new workshop for KS1 is part of Titanic Belfast’s learning programme, which is recognised as a leading learning resource and has welcomed over 100,000 participants since its opening in 2012. The wide range of learning programmes, which cover a variety of subjects and skills, ranging from maritime communication, marine science & exploration to 5 star customer service, is supported by the Survitec Group, a leading manufacturer of marine, defense and aerospace survival technology, since 2014.

To win the special ‘My Friend Bear’ workshop for a primary school class, the class or pupil (aged 4 – 6) must send Titanic Belfast an image that shows why and how much they enjoy story time. This could be a photograph of a class in their story corner or the library or a word bank expressing how much they love stories. The prize also includes £250 towards transport for the class.

To enter, please download the form from www.titanicbelfast.com and return it by email to competitions@titanicbelfast.com or by post to Titanic Tale Competition, Titanic Belfast, 1 Olympic Way, Queen’s Road, Belfast, BT39EP before 22^nd February.

Over five days at the beginning of March, more than one hundred local and international artists will perform in thirty concerts at 13^th United Airlines Belfast Nashville Songwriters Festival in the Clayton Hotel Belfast.

Panarts have just launched their exciting music programme with special guest speaker, Roisin McDonough, CEO of the Arts Council NI.

Making a welcome return to BelNash is one of Ireland’s finest writers, Paul Brady who will be joined on stage by Declan O’Rourke and Nashville’s Grammy nominated Darrell Scott. A second unique show, ‘Paul Brady in Conversation’ is being recorded by BBC Radio Ulster’s Ralph McLean while Downtown Radio’s popular presenter Big T, Trevor Campbell will host Texas songbird Kimmie Rhodes at a special opening night concert on Wednesday 1^st March. Award winning artist Paul Brady, Patron of Panarts said;

“Often overshadowed by the spotlight on the performer and singer, the annual Belfast-Nashville Festival provides an opportunity to bring song writing talent to the fore and to encourage talented new writers to join the ranks”

Local artists gracing the stage include Kaz Hawkins, Peter McVeigh, Ursula Burns and young rising star Ryan McMullan, fresh from working with Ed Sheeran and Foy Vance. Panarts Director Colin Magee said;

“When we started out twelve years ago to put songwriters centre stage and to showcase creative and musically gifted local artists, we could only dream of having such a fantastic festival line-up”

In a special ‘In the Round Concert’ Kimmie Rhodes shares a stage with Belfast’s Gareth Dunlop and Brian Houston. Nashville’s Mac McAnally will play the hit songs he wrote for Kenny Chesney, Alabama and Shenandoah, supported by the Forestside and Panarts Under Nineteen Writers. Triona Carville will launch her new single ‘Warrior’ on 3^rd March, following on from her recent success in becoming Panarts Young Songwriter of the Year. The finalists from this annual award will also perform on stage with eight talented students from Belmont University Nashville.

Running alongside the concerts is the popular music industry conference, Panarts Song Writing Convention, now in its thirteenth year. Artists will share their song writing skills while PRS for Music and IMRO will answer questions about royalties, copyright and income streams for artists.

 

Tickets are on sale at www.belfastnashville.com Telephone 028 9024 6609 or box office, Visit Belfast Welcome Centre, Donegall Sq North. The annual BelNash Festival & Conference is funded by Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Arts & Business NI, Downtown Radio, United Airlines, Clayton Hotel Belfast, Forestside, Avalon Guitars, Dawsons Music and PRS for Music Foundation.

Prepare yourselves for a superb evening of acoustic guitar sounds at Flowerfield Arts Centre in Portstewart.

Internationally acclaimed guitarist and ground breaking innovator Preston Reed will grace the stage as part of his Irish tour on Thursday 16th February at 8pm.

After a whirlwind year, with performances in China, USA, Canada and Europe, Preston will entertain the crowds here with his timeless, imagery evoking compositions. His music can range from classical to jazz and rock creating a visual experience for everyone in attendance.

Recognised internationally as one of the greatest guitarists in the world, Preston’s music has been described as “spectacular- a terrific performer” according to The Irish Independent, while Total Guitar defined him as “the world’s most gifted guitarist.”

He has revolutionised the way the acoustic guitar is played and inspired generations of musicians from all over the world.

Tickets for the event cost £13 and are available from Flowerfield Arts Centre Box Office on 028 7083 1400 or online at www.flowerfield.org and Eventbrite. 

Northern Ireland’s only remaining Victorian era prison, Crumlin Road Gaol has been graded and awarded a five-star visitor attraction rating, indicating that the attraction is operating to an ‘outstanding’ level.

The five-star accreditation was awarded under the Tourism NI Quality Grading Scheme which is designed to provide visitors with information on the quality of the experience they can expect at Northern Ireland’s tourist attractions, whilst assisting operators to maintain and continue to improve the quality of their offering.

To achieve a star rating, Crumlin Road Gaol was subject to an unannounced mystery assessment from a Quality Advisor who underwent the customer journey. The assessor concluded his experience with very positive feedback stating that “It is an excellent, thought provoking and stimulating attraction that educates and informs visitors about this historic building that played such a role in the history of Belfast.”

Commenting on Crumlin Road Gaol’s five star grading John McGrillen, Tourism NI Chief Executive commented; “Crumlin Road Gaol is an outstanding attraction and the visitor offering and experience is unique in Northern Ireland. The tours are educating, thought provoking and well balanced and the introduction of a fully licensed restaurant helped Crumlin Road Gaol achieve five-star status.

Joining an elite club of only five other five star graded attractions, this accolade provides an additional marketing tool to help drive visitor numbers to the Gaol and to Northern Ireland.”

Since opening in 2012 the popular Belfast visitor attraction has welcomed over 600,000 International and national visitors.

Director of Crumlin Road Gaol Phelim Devlin said “We are overjoyed to have received the five-star rating for Crumlin Road Gaol Visitor Attraction and Conference Centre.

We are one of five visitor attractions to receive this prestigious award which shows us that we are up there with the best visitor attraction in Northern Ireland.

This year we have worked hard to improve the visitors experience and with the addition of a new restaurant, Cuffs Bar & Grill, we can now offer visitors the full package.

We have a great team of staff and tour guides at Crumlin Road Gaol which particularly enhance the visitors experience, we are delighted their efforts have been recognised and rewarded with this this ‘outstanding’ grading.”

Director of Strategic Planning Division at Department for Infrastructure, Carol Ramsey, added: “I am delighted that Belfast Tours has received this accolade for Crumlin Road Gaol and Conference Centre. The Five-Star award is an instantly recognisable symbol of excellence and quality. Today’s success has been the result of the vision, hard work and determination of Belfast Tours and their team and I wish them continued success for the future”

In keeping with its reputation for staging superb comedy, The Market Place Theatre in Armagh is set for laughs-a-plenty with Des Bishop, John Linehan, Gene Fitzpatrick and more over the coming weeks.

 

One of Ireland’s most successful comedians, Des Bishop, returns to The Market Place on Thursday 9 February with his new show, ‘One Day You’ll Understand’.

Des is old enough now to know that when his Mom used her favourite expression, ‘one day you will understand’, that she was often correct. However, sometimes she was just hiding from having to explain the complexities of life.

What a great metaphor for the confusing world we live in; from Trump to Isis, Facebook feeds to conspiracy theories and the ever-confusing battle of the sexes. Through laughter, Des attempts to make sense of the world today and life in general. This show is recommended for age 18+ as it may contain material that some people could find offensive.

Then on Saturday 18 February, John Linehan will compere ‘You Must Be Joking’ when he will be joined by a line-up of Northern Irish stand-up comedians in a night of pure comedy heaven.

Forget Brexit, the falling pound and global instability for a chuckle fest with the master of one liners Gene Fitzpatrick, the comedian’s comedian Adrian Walsh, star of ‘Heretic’s & Head The Balls’ Neil Dougan and our very own first lady of comedy the grand dame of panto May McFettridge. Pack up all your cares and woes with a glorious helping of classic comedy medicine! Musical accompaniment and general silliness provided by Ivan Black.

Tickets for all performances can be booked through the Box Office on [028] 3752 1821, or online at www.marketplacearmagh.com 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.

Grab your walking boots and woolly hats, and work off the Christmas excess by heading outdoors to discover some of Northern Ireland’s most scenic locations this winter.

Rachel Quigg, Destination PR Officer, Tourism Northern Ireland said: “We are very fortunate in Northern Ireland to be surrounded by nature and beauty in every county with 8 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), 47 national nature reserves, 43 special areas of conservation and 10 special protection areas- making it a walker’s paradise.”

“Whether it’s a relaxing stroll along a river bank, a hike up a mountain, a ramble through a forest or even a mad dash after your dog, Northern Ireland has a walking route to suit the whole family.” added Rachel

Tourism Northern Ireland has put together some suggested winter walks for you to enjoy;

Belfast

 

A winter morning is arguably the best time to walk the Lagan Towpath as the mist hovers just above Belfast’s main river. The towpath starts just minutes away from Belfast City centre, and sets off along the river and canal systems through a variety of wetland, riverside meadows and mixed woodland as far as Lisburn. After passing through Lagan Meadows and Shaw’s Bridge this section of the towpath finishes at Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park, one of Belfast’s most popular parks.
Divis and Black Mountain rest in the heart of the Belfast Hills and provide a backdrop to the city’s skyline, offering spectacular views across Northern Ireland, Belfast Lough and as far as Donegal and the coast of England, Scotland and the Isle of Man.

Stay: The 4* Ramada Plaza Hotel Belfast is situated in the picturesque surroundings of Lagan Valley Regional Park and just a 10 minute drive from the thriving Belfast City Centre.

The Sperrins

Spanning over 40 miles across counties Tyrone and Londonderry, the Sperrin mountain range is the largest in Ireland and walkers can expect undulating hills covered in heather, quiet valleys, boggy uplands and a land teeming with wildlife. Add in over 90 sets of stone circles, the best known being Beaghmore and numerous other intriguing, megalithic structures, and the Sperrins are most definitely a walking wonder.

Visitors looking for a great off-road, winter hill to climb should check out The Robber’s Table route near Gortin. The highest point of this route provides superb views of the Bluestack and Derryveagh Mountains of Donegal to the west and the high Sperrins to the north east.

 

Stay: Blessingbourne Estate offers 5* luxury pet friendly self-catering accommodation with premier 13k Mountain Bike Trails and pump track with onsite bike hire; bespoke walking trail and 18-acre coarse fishing on private lakes.

 

The Mournes & Ring of Gullion

 

The Mourne Mountains are the highest and most dramatic mountain range in Northern Ireland and are criss-crossed by an unrivalled network of paths and tracks, providing enthusiastic walkers with incredible opportunities for exploration. Northern Ireland’s highest peak, the Slieve Donard climbs up through forest to meet the famous Mourne Wall for the final steep ascent to the top. A total climb of 850m, the dramatic views of Newcastle and the sea below definitely make it worth the ascent.

 

Covering an area of almost 630 hectares at the foot of the Mourne Mountains, nearby Tollymore Forest Park offers breath taking panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, and is home to one of Northern Ireland’s first Nature Play parks ‘Big Deer’.  Whereas, Castlewellan Forest Park offers an array of loops through one of the most outstanding tree and shrub collections in Europe.

The Slieve Gullion walk is 9.5 miles and located within the Ring of Gullion AONB. Rising to 573 metres, Slieve Gullion is the centrepiece of the volcanic landscape and is a Special Area of Conservation.
The Forest Park is also home to ‘The Giant’s Lair’. This ambitious children’s trail takes visitors on an unforgettable journey through intertwined fairy houses, creating a fantastical childhood land of mystery, dragons, giants, witches and fairies waiting to be explored.

 

Stay: The 4* Slieve Donard Resort & Spa in Newcastle stands in six acres of immaculate private grounds. A golden strand of beach borders one side while the mighty Royal County Down golf links frames the other.

 

Causeway Coast & Glens

The Causeway Coast Way, especially the section from Portballintrae to Carrick-A-Rede Rope Bridge is among the most scenic coastal walks you can find anywhere. Follow a stretch of breathtaking coastline between Ballintoy and Bushmills for a great 12.4 mile walk. The route includes walking on beaches, across rocks and along cliff top paths.

Winter creates the perfect backdrop to explore the mature woodland of Glenariff Forest Park with freezing waterfalls and open, frosted moorland. The trail first takes you down the Inver River gorge, to the edge of the Ess-na-Crub Waterfall and your path back offers spectacular views straight down the misty glen to the coast and the sea beyond.

Stay: The 4* Causeway Hotel which offers stunning views across the bay to the Atlantic Ocean.

County Fermanagh

Whilst Fermanagh is renowned for its lakelands, the first destination for any keen walker should be Cuilcagh Mountain, the highest summit in the County, standing at 665m. This area is part of the UNESCO endorsed Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark due to its unique geology and spectacular landscapes. A new boardwalk meanders through one of the largest expanses of blanket bog in Northern Ireland.

Crom Estate near Enniskillen offers walks amidst a tranquil landscape of islands, woodland and historic ruins. Take the walk which follows the main estate path through stunning parkland towards the old castle, steeped in history. As you continue along the shoreline to Crom’s beautiful boathouse you can enjoy stunning views up to the 19th century castle (private) which sits to the right of the trail dominating the landscape.

Stay: Commanding stunning views overlooking scenic Lough Erne, the 4* Killyhevlin Lakeside Hotel & Lodges is an ideal location for exploring Fermanagh.

 

Translink run a Sperrins & Mournes Rambler bus service all year round with stops in key towns which are ideal starting points for many circular walks. For information on short breaks to Northern Ireland, go to www.discovernorthernireland.com

Northern Ireland boasts a unique collection of irresistible places to stay including quirky B&Bs, luxurious spa hotels and hidden gem properties for an ideal short break and Discover NI has selected the best offers of the week for you to choose from.

 

• Country House Escape, Beech Hill Country House Hotel, Derry~Londonderry, from £99pps. Located just two miles from the city centre, Beech Hill Country House Hotel is gloriously set in acres of woodland, lakes and tranquil well-tended gardens. Revitalise yourself by taking a luxurious two-night short break at the four-star hotel. Amble through 32 acres of woodland and landscaped gardens, enjoy a gourmet evening meal on anevening of your choice in the award winning Ardmore restaurant and breakfast on both mornings.  To book call 028 (71) 349279

 

• Sunday Duvet Day, Clayton Hotel, Belfast, from £99 per room (two people sharing). The four-star Clayton Hotel is ideally situated at Ormeau Avenue in the historic Linen Quarter of Belfast City Centre. Once home to many of the world’s great Linen manufacturers, the area around the hotel is bustling with history, award-winning restaurants and pubs.Offer includes Sunday overnight accommodation, complimentary movie, pizza and popcorn as well as late check out on Monday. Pre booking essential. To book call 028 (90) 32 8511
• Valentine’s Sensation, Slieve Donard Resort & Spa, Co. Down, from £230 per room. Standing on six acres of private grounds, the magnificent four-star Slieve Donard Resort & Spa is nestled in the heart of County Down where the ‘Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.’ Package includes one night’s luxurious accommodation, glass of Prosecco on arrival, a romantic dinner for two in the Oak Restaurant, full Irish breakfast in the morning and a Hastings Love Duck. Pre booking essential. Valid from Friday 10 February – Tuesday 14 February.  To book call 028 (43) 721066

 

 

For further information log on to www.discovernorthernireland.com/offers.

*All offers are subject to availability.

Tickets are available now!

27^th January 2017 – BRICKLIVE, the UK’s largest LEGO® event, is coming to Northern Ireland for the very first time. Taking place at Belfast’s Titanic Exhibition Centre from 16^th-19^th March, the event will include various ‘bricktastic’ features and more than one million bricks – making it the ultimate day out for families and LEGO® fans. Tickets for BRICKLIVE in Belfast are available to purchase now from www.BRICKLIVE.co.uk from £21.75.

 

BRICKLIVE Belfast follows successful events in London and Birmingham, and will contain many of the popular features.  There will be three huge BRICK pits where fans of any age can immerse themselves in over one million pieces of LEGO® to get creative, inspired and most importantly, building!  Visitors can enjoy our Race Track building their own vehicles out of LEGO® and race them around the new tracks, with a brand new track design available for the first time in Belfast.

 

Other features at the show include: Creation Nation – where fans can build their own house and help create the UK’s largest LEGO® map; Graffiti Wall – for visitors to write messages and create pictures; Fan Zone – with local Adult Fans of Lego (AFOL) builders, showcasing their spectacular LEGO® creations; BRICK Lane – buy vintage and rare sets, accessories and parts. Plus BRICK pits of DUPLO® and soft BIG Bricks will keep the younger visitors entertained for hours.

 

With an estimated 14,000 visitors over four days, BRICKLIVE in Belfast will bring together some of the world’s best LEGO® builders, welcoming professional and amateur fan displays for its crowds of family guests.  A full list of all the zones and features for BRICKLIVE in Belfast can be found here www.BRICKLIVE.co.uk

 

BRICKLIVE will be looking to tour the UK across 2017 dates with more venues to be announced soon.

 

RUSSELL BRAND RE:BIRTH

 

“Arena-level stand-up that asks us to think as well as laugh” The Guardian

“One of the most impressive sights of the comedy year” The Telegraph

 

WATERFRONT Belfast: Saturday 26^th May 2018

*Tickets go on sale Friday 3^rd February*

Tickets for Belfast Waterfront are available:

In person at the Ulster Hall Box Office

By Telephone: 028 9033 4455
Book On Line: www.waterfront.co.uk

In person: From 100 Ticketmaster Outlets Nationwide
By Telephone (24 Hour): Northern Ireland – 0844 277 44 55
Book On Line: www.ticketmaster.ie

Following a series of sold-out preview shows in November and December 2016, Russell Brand announces a new stand-up tour of UK and Ireland.

What is real? Who are we? Where did this baby come from?

In RE:BIRTH, Russell Brand wrestles with these questions while unravelling the matrix of modern media, politics, sex, fatherhood and death. Join one of comedy’s fiercest talents as he tries to make sense of life having just made a new one.

Russell, re the show:

“How do we make sense of the madness of our lives once we become parents? What am I going to tell my daughter about conformity and responsibility? What happens if she grows up to be like me or, worse, date someone like me?”

Since rising to fame in 2003, Russell Brand has established himself as one of one of the world’s most celebrated stand-up comedians. His acclaimed tours include 2006’s SHAME, 2007’s ONLY JOKING, 2009’s SCANDALOUS (which marked his US live debut) and 2013’s critically acclaimed and hugely successful MESSIAH COMPLEX, which was also a best-selling DVD.

Aside from stand-up, Russell is also a phenomenally successful broadcaster, actor, author, podcaster, columnist, political commentator as well as a mental health and drug rehabilitation activist.

For a full list of tour dates, more information and to book tickets visit: www.russellbrand.com