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Get ready for an unforgettable weekend filled with Northern-Irish talent! Up and coming local musician, Taylor Lally will take the stage on Friday 9^th Feb with support from Market Place favourite, Marty Rafo.

Taylor has recently opened shows for Steve Forbert and Mary Coughlan, receiving standing ovations, and she has been awarded the coveted Artist in Residence spot at this year’s Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival. Marty has also been stirring up quite a bit of interest in the music industry since the release of his first two EP’s, ‘Last Brigade’ and ‘Atlantic Crossing’.

Taylor Lally will be on stage at Armagh’s Market Place Theatre on Friday 9^th February at 8pm. Tickets are priced at £11.

Then, the following night, Ulster Touring Opera’s exceptional soloists will take you on a musical journey from aincent Carthage to the factories of Seville via a rather bohemian Parisian apartment.

They will be joined by the talents of the Ulster String Quartet and the passion of Armagh City Choir in for a truly unique event that is also rooted in a very local favourite: cider! Join the Armagh Cider team in the foyer of The Market Place Theatre for a complimentary drink on arrival and the latest news about this home-grown success story.

‘Opera and Orchards’ will be on stage at Armagh’s Market Place Theatre on Saturday 10 February at 8pm. Tickets are priced at £19.50.

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

Discover NI’s ultimate gift guide to Looking for a unique gift this Mother’s Day instead of the usual flowers and chocolate? Don’t panic, Discover Northern Ireland has got your back.  

Mother’s Day falls a little early this year on March 10, but instead of burnt toast and crumbs in bed, why not show her just how much you care with an experience she will cherish forever.

In Northern Ireland, you’re always just a small step away from a giant experience. Discover NI has put together this Mother’s Day gift guide to help you show how much her hard work, love and sacrifice is valued by everyone.

Get crafty at Midtown Makers Studio, County Antrim

• From crocheting, felting, painting with watercolours, to plant and home décor, if your mum is a crafter, you’ll find the workshop for her at Midtown Makers Studio and Shop. Celebrating it’s tenth year in 2024, this handmade craft and gift shop offers a wide variety of workshops allowing your mum the chance meet the makers behind the items on sale and create their very own products. Booking for each workshop is essential.

Take to the water with Island Discovery Tour, County Fermanagh

• The best way to truly appreciate the majesty of Fermanagh’s Lakelands is from the water, so hop on board and get ready for a private tour of the many islands of Lough Erne. A fully electric passenger boat, Island Discovery will take your mum and your family on a 90-minute journey of cosy comfort as a knowledgeable guide has you laughing and learning about the legends of this picturesque landscape and its people. A delightful way to spend quality time together.

Make fleecy friends at Mourne Alpacas, County Down

• Enjoy a day out with a difference in Dromara and spoil your mum with a unique fleecy experience at Mourne Alpacas. Home to the largest pedigree alpaca herd on the island of Ireland, get ready for selfies with your new fleecy friends and embrace the adorable sight of the centre’s weanlings and young alpacas. On Mother’s Day, every mother that visits will receive a complimentary glass of bubbles.

Unleash the foodie with Far and Wild, County Londonderry

• Treat mum to a taste of Derry~Londonderry on Far and Wild’s Foodie City Cycle. Saddle up and indulge the senses as you enjoy the fresh air and local eateries. On this tour your mum will take in two mouth-watering culinary experiences as she ambles along the city’s vibrant streets and experience St Columb’s Park, Ebrington Square, the Peace Bridge and the city’s Walls on two wheels.

Indulge in a luxury at Blackwell House, County Armagh

• Enjoy an amazing afternoon tea at Blackwell House, a magnificent country house on the outskirts of Scarva. Let your mother unwind in this peaceful haven as you keep mum and serve Thompson’s luxury loose-leaf tea in fine bone china cups, hot seasonal soup, bite-sized pasteries, light-as-air scones and homemade classic finger sandwiches. A special treat perfect for all weathers.

Spend quality time together at Wee Buns Cookery School, County Tyrone

• A great experience for mum and her little star, the Wee Buns Cookery School near Moy, will teach her and a child aged 7+ how to make the most delicious Victoria sponge cake, vanilla buttercream and buttermilk scones. The relaxed and friendly atmosphere ensures that, whether they’re baking novices or seasoned home cooks, they’ll share an enjoyable day baking together neither will forget in a hurry.

For more fantastic experiences in Northern Ireland perfect for gift this Mother’s Day visit https://discovernorthernireland.com

Ards Arts Centre in Newtownards is delighted to open two new art exhibitions for the month of March: The Nature of Things, a joint exhibition by Eleanor Wheeler and Anushiya Sundaralingam and The Searchers, a solo exhibition by Paul van Reid.

The Nature of Things, by Eleanor Wheeler and Anushiya Sundaralingam, encompasses themes each artist has been exploring, together and separately, in their work and are constantly revisiting and refining in the continuing development of their arts practices.

The artists will present a selection of sculpture and works on paper that are inspired by the natural world; using form, pattern, texture, colour and metaphor. The works will be both contrasting and complementary; coming together as a whole and creating a visual conversation about the common themes that inspire them. The exhibition can be viewed in the Georgian Gallery.

Paul van Reid is a Belfast based artist who has work published with Tangerine Press, Dig with It magazine and shown in QSS and The Engine Room galleries. Reid’s paintings explore ideas around themes of power, desire, belief, mortality and consciousness.

The Searchers will feature a series of miniature oil paintings, measuring 5 inches by 5 inches, inspired by the work of Jakob van Ruisdael, the 16th century Dutch landscape painter. Despite oil painting being in some ways a traditional medium, the nature of the subject matter and the production of the source image supported by artificial intelligence ensures that the end product is radical and unusual. The body of work will explore ideas of the sublime and spirituality. This exhibition will be on display in the Sunburst Gallery.

Both exhibitions open on Thursday 29 February. The Nature of Things runs until Friday 29 March and The Searchers closes on Tuesday 26 March.

 

All are welcome to attend a preview event in Ards Arts Centre on Thursday 29 February at 7pm.

 

For more information visit; www.andculture.org.uk

Belfast XR Festival is set to open tomorrow, Wednesday, February 28 at The Black Box merging technology and art to create a unique virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experience for attendees.

The two day festival, Belfast XR, now in its third year, specialises in curating worldclass immersive technology content that takes the art of storytelling to a new level.

Extended Reality or ‘XR’ is the collective name for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). VR is a computer-generated artificial environment with scenes that appear to be real, while AR is a digital overlay onto the real world, which is viewed through your phone or an iPad. 

Last week the full lineup was confirmed to include three unique paid for experiences along with an additional three free bonus experiences available for visitors to the festival.

Appearing at the festival will be the magical VR journey through the work of Catalan architect and designer Antoni Gaudí in Gaudí, The Atelier of the Divine.

Attendees will take part in a 20 minute experience designed for small groups of six.

The story will take festival goers back to 1926 when, weakened by age and feeling his death approaching, Gaudí invites his new assistants to discover his studio, to understand his vision and complete his work. 

The heart-wrenching voyage of survival Stay Alive My Son is also one of the key events, based on the internationally acclaimed memoirs of Pin Yathay, this immersive 60 minute story thrusts audiences into the shoes of a pained father forced to make the gut-wrenching decision to abandon his six-year-old son to survive during the Cambodian genocide.

The final headline experience will be Eternal, the profound exploration of eternal life, where during this 20 minute experience attendees will step into the realm of eternity with a mesmerising audio journey designed exclusively for one person, in the comfort of their own bed. 

As intimate audiences of just two people per time slot climb into a bed they will delve into a profound exploration of eternal life and contemplate the sacrifices one might make for immortality. 

Deepa Mann-Kler, director and curator for Belfast XR Festival which is an annual gathering for the XR arts – storytelling, visual arts, music, drama, dance, literature and theatre, said bringing virtual and augmented reality content to new audiences locally is something the team at Belfast XR are passionate about.

She said: “Our ambition is to create an unmissable annual gathering for XR that inspires storytelling and our passion is to bring the best global virtual and augmented reality content to new local audiences. You don’t need to have used a virtual reality headset before, as our team will guide you through the whole process.”  

For attendees who purchase tickets for any of the headline events this year they will have exclusive access to three additional free experiences.

Emperor is a 40 minute long captivating virtual reality experience that delves into the mind of a father grappling with aphasia. Attendees will witness the poignant journey of a daughter striving to connect with her speechless father, uncovering the depths of his memories along the way. 

Flow is a 15 minute experience where users will be swept away by the winds through what appears to be an ordinary day filled with turbulence. Encounter the sensations of smells, heat and breath, as the air currents unveil hidden presences and reveal captivating events in the life of a woman. 

SEN is also a 15 minute experience where attendees will enter the mystical realm of the traditional Japanese tea room, where they’ll meet SEN, the tea spirit. As disaster strikes and SEN dissolves into the universe, it discovers unity with all beings, bringing calm to the tea room. 

Running on Wednesday February 28 and Thursday 29 this year’s festival theme is Legacy which will offer attendees the chance to experience world history in captivating ways allowing audiences to step into the past, interact with historical figures, and explore significant events firsthand. 

Belfast XR Festival is both for XR enthusiasts and those who haven’t experienced any form of XR in the past.

Deepa explained: “The Festival is aimed at 16+ years of age and is open to everyone. You don’t need to have experienced AR, VR or any of these types of experiences before. We  have an amazing team who will guide you through the whole process from the minute you step into The Black Box.  

“I want people to have memorable experiences. I want them to be altered, in a good way. I want them to talk about how it made them feel. I want to increase their appetite to experience more. 

The Belfast XR Festival is supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. It is also supported by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen, Digital Catapult NI, Future Screens NI and Ulster Screen Academy.

For more information follow Belfast XR Festival on social media or go to belfastxrfestival.com 

From navigating one of Europe’s largest mazes in Castlewellan, discovering waterfalls in Navar Forest to admiring the splendour of Ardress House in Annaghmore, Northern Ireland is full of amazing adventures for the whole family to enjoy.

Often, memories of fun-filled family day trips are a highlight of our childhood and something that we hope to create with our own children.

Thankfully, making giant memories needn’t cost the earth and, in Northern Ireland, you are never more than a small step away from a fantastic free family activity.

Discover Northern Ireland has put together the following guide to help you plan a delightful day out that won’t break the bank.

1. Kilcreggan Urban Farm, County Antrim

This relaxed community farm invites individuals and families to visit, for free, and go face to face with farm animals including geese, goats, pigs, ponies, poultry and waterfowl. Pop into the garden centre or unwind in The Dancing Goat Café and enjoy any of its delicious soups, sandwiches or sweet treats. The farm is a registered charity while the café and garden centre are social enterprises. All three facilities are run by local people with autism, learning disabilities and acquired brain injuries.

2. Headhunters Barber Shop and Railway Museum, County Fermanagh

Explore one of the largest collections of Irish railway memorabilia on display anywhere at this quirky barber shop and museum in Enniskillen. Start your Headhunters journey at the reconstructed booking office and experience what railway travel through Fermanagh and the border counties was like before the closure of the lines in 1957. The collection includes a range of memorabilia from three local railway companies and is perfect for railway enthusiasts.

3. Castlewellan Peace Maze, County Down

One of the world’s largest permanent hedge mazes, Castlewellan Peace Maze features 6,000 yew trees, many of which were planted by people from all over Northern Ireland. With a hedge length of over two miles, it’s a fun and free family adventure that should take around 40 minutes as you attempt to make your way to the peace bell in the centre. When you’ve made it safely through the maze, let the kids enjoy playing in the adjoining ‘Animal Wood’ playpark, take a stroll through Castlewellan Arboretum or around the park’s serene lake.

4. The Guildhall, County Londonderry

One of Derry~Londonderry’s most iconic landmarks, the Guildhall has been at the heart of the city’s life since 1887. Everyone is free to enter the neo-gothic, sandstone building and gaze upon its stunning stained-glass windows that feature everything from fishmongers to musicians. New interpretative panels dotted throughout the building, bring to life its many special features. Don’t miss the John Hume Peace Prize Exhibition – a special collection of world-renowned peace accolades. John Hume is the only person to ever receive the Nobel Peace Prize, the Martin Luther King Jnr Non-Violent Prize and the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Prize and all three awards are now proudly displayed at The Guildhall.

5. Ardress House, County Armagh

Immerse yourself in the apple orchards, charming woodland and riverside walks that surround Ardress House — a stunning 17^th century farmhouse that was remodelled in the 18^th century. Enjoy a short stroll through the forest along the Lady’s Mile walk. This National Trust property provides a glimpse of a bygone age and walks around the property can be accessed free of charge Monday to Friday. Admission charges apply to enter the house and traditional cobbled farmyard when they open on weekends.

6. St Patrick’s Chair and Well, County Tyrone.

Hidden among the trees in Altadaven Glen is a beautiful place that is magical any time of year! It’s said that St Patrick’s Chair and Well used to be a meeting place for druids before it was Christianised by St Patrick. The large sandstone ‘chair’ is shaped like a throne and, according to local folklore, has healing properties. The ‘well’ which has associations with St Brigid is also thought to have healing properties and is said to never run dry.

7. Blackslee Waterfall Walk, County Fermanagh

This 6km walk begins at Aghameelan Viewpoint and takes you on a trail through areas of mature planted aspen, conifers and willow. Along the way, see if you can spot the willow sculpture and an area of huge sandstone boulders left behind at the end of the last ice age over 13,000 years ago. As the journey nears its end, gaze in wonder at the sight and sounds of Blackslee Waterfall cascading over a 20-metre cliff before continuing its journey down an undercut rocky gorge.

8. Drum Manor Forest Park, County Tyrone.

Drum Manor Forest Park has something to delight in every season and is a great place to enjoy a scenic walk. Explore the Japanese garden, arboretum, ponds, and mixed woodlands. There’s a variety of waymarked trails which follow a circular route, pick the one that suits you best! There’s a lovely play park, good car parking and public toilets, as well as a wheelchair accessible area.

9. Kearney Village, County Down,

This traditional 19th century fishing village has been carefully restored by the National Trust. Just three miles from Portaferry, there is a great walk to the eight-acre sandy beach at Knockinelder and along the shore to Stinking Point. Once a flourishing fishing community, Kearney is now an idyllic place to unwind offering fantastic views of the Isle of Man, Mourne Mountains and Scotland. It’s also a great spot to bring a picnic – and your binoculars – and watch the birdlife.

10. Stormont Estate, County Antrim

Having been awarded nine green flags in a row, Stormont Estate is widely regarded as one of the best green spaces in Northern Ireland. Its home to a variety of walks, beautiful gardens, fitness and adventure trails, barbecue areas, historic buildings, monuments and — most importantly for the little ones — Mo Mowlam Play Park. With over 40 pieces of play equipment, this inclusive play park has seven themed areas and hosts a quiet hour every Sunday from 9:30am to 10:30am.

For further information on fantastic free family activities in Northern Ireland visit https://discovernorthernireland.com

CARD Group Research & Insight is encouraging marketers across Northern Ireland to enter the inaugural Remarkable Marketing Awards (RMAs) 2024. 

The awards are Northern Ireland’s first dedicated awards ceremony celebrating individual marketers.

Taking place on Friday 31st May at the Europa Hotel in Belfast the RMA’s are the brainchild of marketer Treena Clarke, founder of the hugely popular annual Big Marketing Meet Up.

This year’s theme is about encouraging marketers to blow their own trumpets and celebrating the people in Northern Ireland behind some of the most impactful campaigns promoting brands, helping clients hit targets and turning remarkable ideas into reality. 

Hosted by communicator and presenter, Emer Maguire, the RMA’s are calling on all marketers and their teams to blow their own trumpets and nominate themselves or their colleagues to be recognised for their creativity, innovation and marketing successes.

Nominations are open until March 8. It’s completely free to enter and there are just three questions to answer, which will be judged by a panel of industry experts from outside of Northern Ireland. 

CARD Group Research & Insight have secured the headline partner slot for the inaugural RMAs and with 20 awards, there’s a category for every marketer – from independent consultants to in-house teams, and in sectors from education and training to hospitality and retail.

Along with being headline partner CARD Group Research & Insight are also sponsoring the category for ‘Best Use of Market Research in a Campaign’. 

Consumer insight is key to crafting a campaign that shapes behaviour and delivers real impact. Winners of this category will  understand deeply what makes people tick – and use this to deliver a truly remarkable campaign.

Albert Hamilton, CEO of CARD Group Research & Insight said: “When I heard the driving force behind the fantastic Big Marketing Meet Up Belfast events of 2023 was planning these Awards I knew we wanted to be involved! These dynamic events put a real focus on the wealth of marketing genius we have in Northern Ireland, and I came away feeling energised and inspired. 

“So it’s great that we can take this to the next level now with Awards to formally recognise those remarkable marketers and marketing teams, and have a big night out to shout about their success. 

“Thank you to Treena Clarke, the ‘maestro’ behind this opportunity to blow your own trumpet, for launching these Awards, and I look forward to what promises to be a fabulous night of real celebration on 31 May 2024.”

Leading the judging panel is Walter Campbell, one of the most award-winning creative thinkers and inspirational ECD’s in advertising. Best known for his TV work, his film “Surfer” for Guinness was voted Best Commercial of All Time by the UK public. 

Walter is joined by judges from across Europe including Sara Riis-Carstensen, who has worked with iconic brands including Lego, DeBeers and Lufthansa and Steve Brown who led the comms strategy for Absolut Vodka as well as previously judging the Drum Marketing Awards.

Speaking of the awards, Treena Clarke, founder, said: “The Remarkable Marketing Awards are a celebration of the people behind groundbreaking initiatives. These awards are not about brands, channels or tactics, they’re about you – the visionary marketer.” 

Other sponsors of the event also include category sponsors Excalibur Press, Horrible and Mrktsearch. 

To enter, buy tickets or find out more go to remarkableawards.com

An innovative arts festival is set to once again merge technology and art to create a unique virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experience for attendees.

Belfast XR, now in its third year, specialises in curating worldclass immersive technology content that takes the art of storytelling to a new level.

Extended Reality or ‘XR’ is the collective name for virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). VR is a computer-generated artificial environment with scenes that appear to be real, while AR is a digital overlay onto the real world, which is viewed through your phone or an iPad. 

This year’s lineup has been confirmed to include three unique paid for experiences along with an additional three free bonus experiences available for visitors to the festival.

Appearing at the festival will be the magical VR journey through the work of Catalan architect and designer Antoni Gaudí in Gaudí, The Atelier of the Divine.

Attendees will take part in a 20 minute experience designed for small groups of six.

The story will take festival goers back to 1926 when, weakened by age and feeling his death approaching, Gaudí invites his new assistants to discover his studio, to understand his vision and complete his work. 

The heart-wrenching voyage of survival Stay Alive My Son is also one of the key events, based on the internationally acclaimed memoirs of Pin Yathay, this immersive 60 minute story thrusts audiences into the shoes of a pained father forced to make the gut-wrenching decision to abandon his six-year-old son to survive during the Cambodian genocide.

The final headline experience will be Eternal, the profound exploration of eternal life, where during this 20 minute experience attendees will step into the realm of eternity with a mesmerising audio journey designed exclusively for one person, in the comfort of their own bed. 

As intimate audiences of just two people per time slot climb into a bed they will delve into a profound exploration of eternal life and contemplate the sacrifices one might make for immortality. 

Deepa Mann-Kler, director and curator for Belfast XR Festival which is an annual gathering for the XR arts – storytelling, visual arts, music, drama, dance, literature and theatre, said bringing virtual and augmented reality content to new audiences locally is something the team at Belfast XR are passionate about.

She said: “Our ambition is to create an unmissable annual gathering for XR that inspires storytelling and our passion is to bring the best global virtual and augmented reality content to new local audiences. You don’t need to have used a virtual reality headset before, as our team will guide you through the whole process.”  

For attendees who purchase tickets for any of the headline events this year they will have exclusive access to three additional free experiences.

Emperor is a 40 minute long captivating virtual reality experience that delves into the mind of a father grappling with aphasia. Attendees will witness the poignant journey of a daughter striving to connect with her speechless father, uncovering the depths of his memories along the way. 

Flow is a 15 minute experience where users will be swept away by the winds through what appears to be an ordinary day filled with turbulence. Encounter the sensations of smells, heat and breath, as the air currents unveil hidden presences and reveal captivating events in the life of a woman. 

SEN is also a 15 minute experience where attendees will enter the mystical realm of the traditional Japanese tea room, where they’ll meet SEN, the tea spirit. As disaster strikes and SEN dissolves into the universe, it discovers unity with all beings, bringing calm to the tea room. 

Running on Wednesday February 28 and Thursday 29 this year’s festival theme is Legacy which will offer attendees the chance to experience world history in captivating ways allowing audiences to step into the past, interact with historical figures, and explore significant events firsthand. 

Belfast XR Festival is both for XR enthusiasts and those who haven’t experienced any form of XR in the past.

Deepa explained: “The Festival is aimed at 16+ years of age and is open to everyone. You don’t need to have experienced AR, VR or any of these types of experiences before. We  have an amazing team who will guide you through the whole process from the  minute you step into The Black Box.  

“I want people to have memorable experiences. I want them to be altered, in a good way. I want them to talk about how it made them feel. I want to increase their appetite to experience more. 

The Belfast XR Festival is supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland. It is also supported by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen, Digital Catapult NI, Future Screens NI and Ulster Screen Academy.

For more information follow Belfast XR Festival on social media or go to belfastxrfestival.com