The hugely popular River to Lough Festival has become a firm favourite in the family festivals calendar over the past couple of years and, to meet demand, this year River to Lough is setting up home in the lavish surroundings of Antrim Castle Gardens on Saturday 2 July.

The change of venue for the festival which celebrates the tradition of eel fishing and now in its third year, will enable organisers to welcome three times more visitors to River to Lough to celebrate Lough Neagh Eel because eels are tasty.

Lough Neagh Eels have been awarded for their heritage, tradition and authenticity and this year’s festival will bring to an end the inaugural ‘Eel-Eat’ restaurant week which will see 40 restaurants across Northern Ireland celebrate Lough Neagh Eel from Saturday 25 June.

Organisers at Lough Neagh & Its Waterways took the decision to grow the festival beyond Toome’s eel fishery following last year’s sell out event and they have been overwhelmed by the response from the public already to the festival which has gained popularity as one of Northern Ireland’s most unique food festivals.

Launching the event with outgoing Mayor of Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council, Councillor Thomas Hogg, Eimear Kearney of Lough Neagh Partnership, said:  “To meet visitor demand we’re taking over the sumptuous Antrim Castle Gardens to provide capacity for up to 10,000 this year.  It’s the perfect location as it’s extremely accessible and is situated right on the river and mouth of Lough Neagh.

“With the added space we’re able to provide lots more entertainment for the whole family including cookery demonstrations, eel tastings and a teddy bear’s picnic.

“River to Lough will be the grand finale of Eel-Eat, the first ever dedicated week long celebration of Lough Neagh Eel which will take place in restaurants across Northern Ireland.”

Foodies and families will be able to descend on Antrim Castle Gardens from 12noon until 5.00pm on Saturday 2 July.  River to Lough Festival admission is priced at adults £2.00, children £1.00.
The River to Lough Festival programme includes cookery demonstrations in the Food Theatre, a cookery school with Paula McIntyre priced from £20.00 and a traditional eel supper in the pop-up restaurant priced from £5.00 (advance booking is recommended ); an eel heritage exhibition and fishermen story-telling, live entertainment, a craft and artisan food market, line demonstrations and a teddy bear’s picnic!

www.rivertolough.co.uk; www.facebook.com/rivertoloughfestival; https://twitter.com/eel_eat; #EelsAreTasty

Record-breaking crowds turn out for the annual celebration!

Now in full swing, the Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival is dominating the Causeway Coast with fleets of families turning out to partake in the nautically-themed festivities, which have included everything from iconic Tall Ship journeys to the crowning of Ulster’s very first Chowder Cook Off champ.

The weeklong celebration recognises the unique body of water between Ballycastle and the magical island of Rathlin- affectionately known as Rathlin Sound- and is only taking place until June 5th with thousands of people already having enjoyed the cultural celebration.

And while the opening weekend was filled with highlights such as country music sensation Lisa McHugh making an appearance at the Marine Hotel, there is still loads to come!

Caroline Carey, Tourism Development at Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, said: “Planning the Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival is always an exciting experience as we try to cater for absolutely everyone in our busy schedule. This year it has most certainly paid off with record-breaking crowds arriving every single day.

“Of course, we have been lucky with the weather, but it has been absolutely fantastic to see families enjoying themselves whilst recognising our unique maritime heritage.

“But the best is yet to come. There are lots of activities on Rathlin Island including an opportunity to explore the Ship Wreck and Arandora Star exhibitions. We also have a Rathlin Sunset cruise with Rathlin Island Ferry company and of course our finale on Rathlin on Sunday with the ‘Big Lunch’ music by Altagore and Aoife Scott and lots more.”

This year’s festival has been organised by the Council, Ballycastle Community Development Group, the Rathlin Development & Community Association, and the Ballycastle Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Sponsors include Tourism Northern Ireland, Malin Waters and Rathlin Boat House Partnership as returners.  Also on board are new sponsors Rathlin Island Ferry Ltd, Marine Hotel Ballycastle, Naturally North Coast & Glens Market and Causeway Coast and Glens Food Network.

For more information on the full Festival programme of activities in Ballycastle and on Rathlin Island, between 27^th May and 5^th June, visit www.rathlinsoundmaritimefestival.com

Bushmills Salmon & Whiskey festival is moving to the month of June this year, taking place on Saturday 18^th June from 11am until 6pm and Sunday 19^th of June from 1pm until 6pm.

The festival content will feature upon the theme of Food and Drink, Live entertainment, Heritage and Culture.  A large food fest marquee where locally talented chefs from the area will  showcase a range of cooking skills, and recipes to the visiting crowds over the two days will be one of the main attractions. Local talented and award winning chef’s from the Bushmills Inn, Old Bushmills Distillery, Bartali, Tartine-Distillers Arms, Causeway Hotel and Bayview Hotel will all take part in the food fest showcase as the chefs put their own creative slant on the very best of local home grow produce.

Celebrity Chef, Romy Gill from Bristol will spice things up as she joins the line up on Saturday and Sunday. Female chef Romy developed her passion for cooking after moving to the UK from Burnpur, India. Romy’s food celebrates the flavours she grew up with taking influence not only from her Indian heritage but also her modern British lifestyle creating a unique style of Anglo-Indian cooking. Romy showcases at both national and international food festivals and is an added attraction to the 2016 festival. Romy will place her own creative style on a range of local produce to showcase the versatility of Northern Ireland produce during her visit.

The food theme continues onto the street as the Festival welcomes the Naturally North Coast & Glens Artisan Market. The market provides a rare but enchanting opportunity to meet the many food and craft producers and suppliers from the North Coast and Glens area.

Market Manager Shauna McFaul commented, “The market is a haven for anybody who cares about the quality and provenance of the food they eat, and for those that seek something different from what is found on supermarket shelves. It provides exquisite handcrafted, artistic items and an opportunity to interact with the artisan who has produced them’’.

On the drinks theme the world famous Bushmills Distillery, home to the oldest whiskey in Ireland, will offer a range of entertainment from FREE Whiskey tasting and cocktail demonstrations to live music and, for the ladies, a Fashion Show over the weekend at their premises. In addition, the Distillery will also host local author Jane Talbot on Sunday 19th, who will narrate excerpts from her book, ‘The Spirit of the Meadow Burn’ : How Bushmills Whiskey Really Got Its Flavour’ with opportunities available to purchase.

The Salmon Fisheries will open their doors on Saturday 18^th to welcome visitors and   showcase ‘The Cycle of Wild Atlantic Salmon’ from hatchery to adult stage. Also on offer are talks and tours on the ecology of the River, fish anatomy and the history of the station in Bushmills. The station will also feature an angling simulator, fly tying and casting demonstrations and PRONI will be in residence to host talks on family history and provide opportunity for visitors to view archive records held.

The two day street festival will also feature Fresh aromas, vivid colours, eclectic treasures, buzzing crowds – a mere stroll amongst the many stalls of an Artisan Market are enough to invigorate the senses and whet the appetitelive music performances with an Ulster Scots and traditional Irish twist and the lively addition of the Swing Galls. Local award winning dance schools will also step out over the two days to showcase the creative talent from area.

Catering for all the family, there will also be a range of entertainment for children, with singing chefs on the streets, local retailers offering craft workshops and a visit from the ‘World of Owls’, which will allow the kids to get up close and personal with a variety of owls, lizards, spiders and other interesting creatures in Millennium Park (Sunday only).

For those with a keen interest in heritage there will be FREE heritage tours of Bushmills available over the two days. The hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars and retailers are all supporting the festival with themed menus, arts and craft workshops and lots more so put the date in your diary and make your way to Bushmills this June for some good food and ‘good craic’.

Further information available on www.visitcausewaycoastandglens.gov.uk or telephone Bushmills Visitor Information Centre on 028 2073 0390. Note full programme details available in the next few weeks.

As a small and compact city, guided walking tours are one of the best ways to explore the Ancient Cathedral City of Armagh.

Tours take place every Wednesday through to Saturday at 11.00am and again at 1.00 pm beginning on Wednesday 15^th June until Saturday 27^th August.

There is plenty of sightseeing to do in Armagh and for those who love walking and want to see everything the city has to offer, a walking tour is a popular option. From the famous landmarks that have put the city on the map to its unrivalled architecture, Armagh is easy to explore by foot. Under the guidance of an experienced tour guide, you will walk through Armagh’s rich and varied history as you hear stories and anecdotes about the area, learn about the City’s renowned Georgian architecture and take a leisurely stroll along the distinct cobbles streets as you uncover some of the City’s hidden gems along the way.

City Walking Tours cost £3.00 per person and can be booked online www.armagh.co.uk/walkingtour or in person/by telephone at Armagh Visitor Information Centre on 028 3752 1800.

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (June 06- June 12).

• High Tea at Sea, Strangford, Co. Down, until September 18. Enjoy an early brunch or afternoon tea with a difference! See the sights of Strangford Lough before stopping off in a beautiful spot to enjoy a nice cup of tea and some home-made scones.  You might get to explore Salt Island or even see the seals playing at the Angus Rocks Lighthouse. Suitable for ages 8+.

• Family Cycle, Loughgall Country Park, Co. Armagh, June 08.  Explore the beautiful surroundings of Loughgall Country Park on a family cycle, part of the NI Festival of Cycling.  Cycles will start at 6pm and 7pm and will each last one hour.

• Belfast Book Festival, Various Locations, Belfast, Co. Antrim, June 9 – 19. With over 100 events, many FREE, the Belfast Book Festival, 9 – 19 June, is getting ready to showcase some of the biggest names in the literary world from home and beyond.  Whatever your age or level of reading interests this year’s jammed packed programme is guaranteed to have something to encourage you to get involved.

• Comber Historical Walking Tour, Comber, Co. Down, June 12. Join this guided tour and discover the interesting history of Comber, home town of Thomas Andrews, designer of the RMS Titanic.  The tour will visit buildings of interest in this small town, famous for potatoes and whiskey.

• Tempo Vintage Day, Tempo, Co. Fermanagh, June 11. Vintage cars, tractors, lorries and much more, vintage vehicle lovers will enjoy a classic day out in Tempo. With craft stalls, dog shows, balloon modelling and fun entertainment this is a day for the whole family to enjoy. Starts at 11:30am.

• Armagh County Agricultural Show, Markethill, Co. Armagh, June 11. Set in the picturesque grounds of Gosford Forest Park, Armagh County show is one of the longest-running shows in Ireland with livestock parades for Beef and Dairy Cattle, Sheep and Goats, Pigs and Poultry and other rare breeds.  This year’s show will also have an extra focus on local produce to celebrate the NI Year of Food and Drink 2016. Starts at 9am.

• Handbag Positive, Burnavon Arts & Culture Centre, Cookstown, Co. Tyrone, June 9. Handbag Positive is a new and hilariously funny play about Attracta and Nora who were best friends when they were teenagers but drifted apart and are reunited one fateful night in their middle age. Suitable for 16+. Starts at 8pm.

• Belfast Slow Bike Race, City Hall, Belfast, Co. Antrim, June 9.  How slow can you ride a bike?  Test your slow racing skills at Belfast City Hall’s 20 metre course as part of the NI Festival of Cycling with the chance of winning some great prizes.  Starts at 6pm.

• Danny Boy Jazz and Blues Festival, Various Locations, Limavady, Co. Londonderry, 9 – 12 June. Featuring artists such as Amanda St. John, The Roaring Forties and Hardchargers, the 20^th Danny Boy Jazz and Blues Festival promises to have something to delight all jazz and blues fans in the stunning Roe Valley.

• In the Red MTB Sportive, Rostrevor, Co. Down, June 12. A NI Festival of Cycling event, this mountain bike sportive is perfect for anybody that likes to get the heart rate up and the adrenaline flying.  It’s all about getting around the 26km Rostrevor loop in as much style as possible before getting that all important beer, burger and medal at the end. Registration required. www.26extreme.com

Please note some of the events require pre-booking. For more details on these and other events click on www.discovernorthernireland.com/events, visit your local tourist information centre or log onto www.facebook.com/discovernorthernireland.

The Market Place Theatre in Armagh is set to host a variety of musical styles over the coming week as the entertainment hots up for Summer.

For a relaxed Sunday afternoon, why not join Antrim Community Choir, The Henry Girls and Ruth Carr as they present ‘A Poem For A Song’, a journey into a world of lyrical texts, songs and poems that capture the heartbeat of what it is to be human. With a selection of wonderful poetry and arrangements of new and old music, ‘A Poem For A Song’ brings a delightful new twist to the performance of poetry.

Antrim Community Choir is an accomplished and dynamic choir that has performed extensively around Northern Ireland. Ruth Carr is a published poet, editor and creative writing tutor with many acclaimed collections of her own poetry including ‘There Is A House’ and ‘The Airing Cupboard’. The Henry Girls are three sisters whose music is infused with the rich cultural heritage of their native Donegal combined with a transatlantic flavour. They have toured and collaborated with various other notable acts such as Mary Black, Clannad and Sharon Shannon. ‘A Poem For A Song’ will be staged on Sunday 5^th June at 3pm. Tickets are priced £5 each.

‘Buille’ create some of the most exciting contemporary traditional music heard today and feature some of the finest traditional musicians around, led by Armagh born brothers Niall and Caoimhín Vallely [concertina and piano], with Brian Morrissey [Bodhrán], Ed Boyd [Guitar] and Kenneth Edge [original saxophonist with ‘Riverdance’].

The group have toured extensively across Ireland, the UK, Europe, North America, and Russia, and along the way performed at such prestigious festivals as Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Festival de Cornouaille in Quimper, Brittany, Beo Festival at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, and the Winnipeg Folk Festival in Canada. Buille will perform on Friday 10^th June at 8pm. Tickets are priced £14 and £12 (concession).

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.

Calling all budding scientists! Bright Sparks is W5’s unique and exciting week-long summer camp for inquisitive young minds aged 8 to 11.

Participants in Bright Sparks will get hands-on in a range of exciting, science-based activities such as crime labs, rocket races, animation and building challenges. Each day will have its own theme and our young experimenters will be encouraged to explore and learn in a fun and positive environment.

Dates

Monday 1 to Friday 5 August and / or Monday 8 to Friday 12 August

What will it cost?

The total cost for one week is £100. Following registration, full payment should be made to W5 within one week. Enrolment fees are non-refundable and places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Numbers are limited therefore please book early to avoid disappointment.

What W5 Offer

• A fun-filled programme of hands-on activities, Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm
• Exciting and engaging topics covering a wide range of STEM disciplines
• Opportunities to explore W5, including Climbit
• Enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and experienced staff
• Drop-off and pick-up times designed to accommodate working parents
• A free ‘Bright Sparks’ T-shirt

Registration

To register for a place simply download an application form on the W5 website and email the completed form to: bookings@w5online.co.uk. A member of the Bookings Team will contact you with further details and to arrange payment. For more information you can also contact the team on 028 90467790/93.

Programme

The programme of activities at the summer camp will be exciting and varied. To give the week a unique structure each day will follow a specific theme. Bright Sparks will also get to explore and enjoy W5’s shows, workshops and supervised exhibition floor visits. There will also be an opportunity to visit the Odyssey Cinema and Ten-Pin Bowling. Throughout the week participants will also keep a record of their activities through a student-driven digital portfolio which will allow them (as well as parents!) to look back on their summer camp achievements.

Lunch and refreshments

Children are asked to bring along a morning snack and a packed lunch. They can also visit W5’s coffee shop which serves a daily range of fresh sandwiches, tray-bakes and snacks.

*Weather permitting, children may be taken outside to eat lunch.

For further information visit www.w5online.co.uk.

~ 6^th ‘Door of Thrones’ unveiled as Tourism Ireland’s 2016 Game of Thrones® campaign continues to showcase Northern Ireland to millions of fans worldwide ~

31 May 2016 – Episode six of season six of Game of Thrones® aired last night (Monday, 30 May) and Tourism Ireland unveiled its latest ‘Door of Thrones’ – this week in the Fullerton Arms in Ballintoy, the location for filming exterior Pyke shots and the Iron Islands in HBO’s fantasy drama.

Tourism Ireland is rolling out a major Game of Thrones® campaign until the end of June (when season six ends), showcasing Northern Ireland to millions of the show’s fans worldwide. The campaign involves a series of ten carved doors, each one telling the story of the latest episode. The doors have been created using wood salvaged from two trees at the Dark Hedges (otherwise known as the Kingsroad in Game of Thrones®), which fell during Storm Gertrude.

To date, the doors have been based on “The Red Woman”, “Home”, “Oathbreaker”, “Book of Stranger” and “The Doors”. Echoing scenes from last night’s episode, this week’s intricately-carved door features striking designs and depicts Targaryens and dragons. It is now hanging in The Fullerton Arms.

The first door (from episode one) is hanging in The Cuan guest inn in Strangford, near the filming locations of Castle Ward and Audley’s Castle. The second door is hanging in Fiddlers Green in Portaferry, near Quintin Bay. The third door, in the Percy French restaurant in Newcastle, is near Tollymore Forest Park; the fourth door is in Blakes of the Hollow in Enniskillen, near Pollagollum Cave; and the fifth door is in Frank Owens Bar in Limavady, near Downhill Strand.

Tourism Ireland has also unveiled its sixth – limited edition – Game of Thrones® stamp, another element of its campaign, produced in conjunction with the Royal Mail.

Ireland’s Best Small Festival is back and better than ever

Stendhal Festival of Art, winner of Ireland’s Best Small Festival 2013, 2014 and 2015, has revealed the musical delights in store for all the guests visiting Ballymully Cottage Farm, Limavady, this August 12 and 13.

The all-encompassing arts extravaganza has announced that this year there will be five headline acts for revellers to enjoy, along with over forty other musical offerings, art, craft, comedy, poetry and a bounty of all things creative.

Northern Irish Alternative rock legends Therapy? International DJ Sensation DJ Yoda, the hottest new act in folk, Lynched, Bluegrass festival juggernaut Hayseed Dixie and Mercury Prize winning Badly Drawn Boy are all scheduled to light up the stage at Stendhal this year.

On top of that stellar cast, the festival will also be showcasing the sensational talents of the finest Northern Irish acts plying their trade today. The Bonnevilles, The Emerald Armada, Ports, Ryan Vail, Paddy Nash and the Happy Enchiladas, The Woodburning Savages, Joshua Burnside, Lore and Jessica Doherty are all can’t miss acts.

Add to that The Pat McManus Band, Connla, Chirs Madden, Sons of Burlap, Andy the Doorbum and Emma Lusby and the surface has barely been scratched.

With more acts to be announced, plus the family line-up, comedy and poetry line-up to come, there is still plenty more to come for guests at the festival this year.

Festival Director Ross Parkhill said: “We are thrilled to be welcoming so many fantastic acts to Ballymully Cottage Farm again this August.

“From Legendary Irish acts to emerging ones, bands who have festival experience the world over to a Mercury Prize Winner, we believe that this year’s line-up is the strongest we have ever assembled.”

He added: “We strive to have as much variety in our acts as humanly possible, tick as many boxes as we can for fans of all genres and we once again will have something for everyone at Stendhal this summer.

“We will be announcing the second wave of acts, along with our comedy, poetry, theatre, art and family programmes very soon, so watch this space for much more to come.”

Tickets to the event will be on sale next week via stendhalfestival.com, Ticketmaster and a host of local outlets. For more information visit the festival’s social media channels and website.

Tourism NI has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland next week (May 30- June 05).

• Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival, Ballycastle and Rathlin Island, Co.  Antrim, May 27 – June 05.
  Celebrating the culture, cuisine and coastal treasures of Rathlin Island and its surroundings, the ten-day Rathlin Sound Maritime Festival has a jam-packed programme of exciting sea-focused events for every age group filled with food, fun and seafaring frolics.

• The Celtic Apprentice, Navan Centre & Fort, Co. Armagh, May 30. Become a Celtic apprentice for the day as the living history team put you through your paces in the Iron Age dwelling.  Try your hand at boat building, cobb oven making, wicker weaving and pottery, all important tasks in the life of the Celt.

• Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Northern Ireland, Titanic Quarter, Belfast, Co. Antrim, June 04 – 05. Like 2015, the 2016 Gran Fondo event will be a special experience with fully closed roads, two challenging routes and post ride party with wood fired oven pizzas, gourmet pasta dishes, Italian beer and wine and fun cycling activities such as a Velodrome at Titanic Exhibition Centre.

• Cruise the Lough at Crom, Crom Estate, Co. Fermanagh, May 30. Discover Crom Estate, one of Ireland’s most important nature conservation areas from the water on a cruise around Upper Lough Erne in Crom’s 100-year-old traditional craft. Price £4/£2.

• Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia Italian Inspired Menu Evening, Coppi Restaurant, Belfast, Co. Antrim, June 03. The official charity of the Gran Fondo Giro d’Italia NI, Co-operation Ireland, invites you to an evening in celebration of all things Italian.  Enjoy a creative Giro inspired menu and complimentary Italian wines by Executive Chef Tony O’Neill, meet Giro d’Italia winners and world cycling champions Stephen Roche and Gianni Bugno and get your photo taken with the iconic Giro Trophy. There is also a superb auction and raffle. To book call (028) 9089 1004.

• Family Fun Day at The Jungle, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry, May30. Similar to a fun-fair, The Jungle’s Family Fun Day is an open-park day and offers a range of outdoor activities by token such as archery, zorbing and Llama trekking. With both kids’ activities and adult adventures to be had, there is something for everyone. Starts at 11am.

• Walled City Music Festival, Culturlann/The Glassworks, Co. Londonderry, May 02 – 05. The Walled City Music Festival presents four packed days of high-quality classical music concerts and events, featuring guest artists including Andy Akiho and Ian David Rosenbaum, Jeremy Denk, Measha Brueggergosman.

• Slieve Donard Moonlit Walk, Slieve Donard, Co. Down, June 03. Challenge yourself to make it to the highest peak in Northern Ireland – in the dark! Starting at 19:30 you will plan to make it to the summit where you will be able to stargaze and marvel at the lights of Newcastle and beyond, before returning to the main car park around midnight.

• Marble Arch Caves Family Fun Day, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh, May 30. Take a visit to the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark and enjoy a jam-packed programme of events taking place through the day including an interactive family nature hunt, face painting as well as a variety of arts and crafts activities. Charges for additional activities apply.

• Old, New, Borrowed & Blue, Ulster American Folk Park, Co. Tyrone, May 04 – 05. Celebrate weddings from both sides of the Atlantic on the one day.  The 19th century rural Ulster wedding will take you on a journey from courting, to the church and then on to the wedding feast. On the ‘New World’ side of the museum you will join the 18th century wedding party in pioneer America, complete with old-time music and dancing in the Pennsylvania Barn.

Please note some of the events require pre-booking. For more details on these and other events click on www.discovernorthernireland.com/events, visit your local tourist information centre or log onto www.facebook.com/discovernorthernireland.