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The University of Ulster has celebrated the success of its flexible access programmes for young people and adults at an award ceremony on the Jordanstown campus.

More than 200 students were presented with certificates at the ‘Celebration of Community Achievement’ evening, which recognised each person’s commitment, determination and creativity within their module or project.

In conjunction with community partners, Ulster has developed a wide-ranging portfolio of flexible learning opportunities for adults, young people and those in the workplace.

Learning programmes such as Active Citizenship, Internet and Multimedia, Integration and Good Relations through Sport, Community Development and Social Networking were among the achievements noted at the awards ceremony.

The University supported these programmes as part of its Widening Access and Participation Strategy.

Finance Minister Simon Hamilton MLA praised the programmes and said:

“This project has an extremely positive impact on the local communities in Northern Ireland. I congratulate all those who received an award this evening – their achievements will not only reap personal benefits, but make a significant and outstanding contribution to the communities in which they live.

“This evening has been an opportunity to honour those that have and are continuing to make a difference in Northern Ireland.”

Students were welcomed into the higher education community and encouraged to continue their lifelong learning journey by Ulster’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Barnett.

He said: “One of the University’s corporate goals is to provide excellent, student-centred, flexible programmes of study which are accessible to all those who have the ability to benefit from them.

“Widening participation in higher education is a key priority, since it is vital in creating a fairer society, securing improvements in social mobility and supporting economic growth.”

Special guests at the celebration included representatives from community, schools and voluntary organisations such as the Sport Changes Life Foundation and the PSNI, which supports education in local communities.

If you missed his astonishing feat of levitation in Belfast’s busy Victoria Square, you can’t afford to miss David Meade when comes to Fermanagh for one night of mind boggling fun!

And in this exciting, fully interactive show, there’s a huge cash prize on offer if you can successfully lie to David!

To promote his recent TV series, Davis levitated 60 feet from the solid concrete ground floor below. 15,000 people turned out to watch him, within three hours David’s website had nearly 10,000 hits, over 2000 images had been posted to twitter, and in 24 hours one single image reached 1.1 million views on Reddit and other social media sites.

In a fantastic FLive highlight, the UK’s leading mentalist brings his most exciting show yet to FLive.

The show marks the BBC’s fastest rising star’s return to the stage, hot on the heels of his smash-hit TV series Make Believe, after three years of unprecedented success on national TV and a cross-country US tour that saw him pack houses in Boston, New York, LA and Las Vegas.

You’ll be wowed and amused in equal measure with a show that is as hilarious as it is jaw dropping. In David’s astonishing live show, he’ll reveal private PIN numbers, detect lies, reveal secret thoughts, and influence those around him with seemingly inexplicable results.

Do you think you have what it takes to outsmart a mentalist? For those who think they can lie, a substantial cash prize will be awarded on the spot to anyone who can successfully lie to David.

“The best thing to come out of Ireland in a long, long time!”

Sunday Times

“A staggering new talent, you’ve never seen anything like this – this guy’s going to be BIG”

Daily Mirror

You can catch the amazing David Meade Mentalist  on Saturday 5^th October at Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen, 8pm.Tickets are £20 (£15 concessions)

Find out more and book your tickets at FLive.org.uk, like facebook.com/fermanaghlive or follow @fermanaghlive on Twitter – #FLive2013.

It’s free family fun for all when Falkor comes to town!

Everywhere else may be beginning to cool down but here in Fermanagh we’re just warming up!

While the main FLive Festival begins properly in the first week of October, Falkor our local dragon just can’t wait to turn up the heat!

So he’d love you to join him for family day of fun and festivities at the Dragon Parade. You’re invited to get all dressed up and be amazed as Falkor makes his fiery way to the Diamond, accompanied by a fiery Samba band and their rhythmic beat. At the Diamond, Falkor will meet a giant Trojan horse and you can watch the famous story of Troy take place right before your very eyes!

It promises to be a colourful spectacle, complete with puppets and props made by local school children, ably assisted by artists Genevieve Murphy and Jon Kelly.

After you’ve been suitably entertained, you’re also welcome to follow Falkor back to his grand home at Enniskillen Castle to enjoy fun and games, including at workshops, drumming lessons, face painting, archery and bouncy castles!

The Dragon Parade takes place on Saturday the 28th of September from 1.30- 5.00pm and is FREE event – find out more at flive.org.uk, like us on facebook.com/fermanaghlive or follow us on Twitter  – @fermanaghlive #Flive2013

The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) has put together a list of 10 exciting things to do in Northern Ireland over the next week (October 7 – 13).

• Moscow State Circus, Waterfront Hall, Belfast, October 2 – 13.  The world’s most famous circus brings Russia’s greatest and most talented circus performers to Belfast.  You’ll be amazed by the breakneck speed, juggling, back-flipping and trampoline frolics.

• Public Lecture, Armagh Public Library, Co. Armagh, October 10.  Come along to this public lecture by Professor Thompson from Queen’s University Belfast on the theme of Anglican Book Collectors in Ireland.

• Belfast FASHIONWEEK, Ulster Museum, various venues in Belfast, October 10 – 13.  This season’s chic events and runway shows will take place across the city with nightly shows featuring the very best independent designer boutiques, local designers and top names from the high street.

• Beginner’s Crochet, Home Craft Revival, Omagh, Co. Tyrone, October 12.  Learn all you need to know to make some lovely items.  The morning is spent practising the stitches and then you will have lunch before starting the afternoon project.  Everyone will go home with a finished article – usually a hat.
• Morning and Afternoon, The Playhouse Theatre, Co. Londonderry, October 12.  Glistening with moments of visceral self-searching and unexpected tenderness, this play fatefully reconnects the lives of two very different men in two intensely personal stories unpinned to Derry~Londonderry’s recent past.

• Man on the Moon, Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, October 12.  Sean Doran has just been fired from his dead-end job.  His girlfriend and child have left him, and the bank has repossessed his house.  Alone by the Half Moon Lake, Sean tries to fashion sense of his terrible day, taking us on a soul-searching journey through life, love and death via his past, present and future.

• Autumn Pumpkin Fest and Scarecrow Pageant, Castle Ward, Co. Down, October 12 – 13.  Choose from over 2,000 pumpkins which are ready for you to scoop out and carve.  Find the Pumpkin People in their trail, browse an extensive display of local crafts and bring along your very own scarecrow creation to enter into the Scarecrow Pageant.

• Fermanagh Walking Festival, various locations in Co. Fermanagh, October 12 – 14.  Guided family, intermediate and advanced walks are available during the festival and will be lead by members of the Fermanagh Ramblers, Cooneen Ramblers and Knockatallen Ramblers Walking Club.

• Apple Press Day, Ardress House, Portadown, Co. Armagh, October 13.  Set in the middle of Orchard County, this is the ideal location to hear all about Armagh’s famous apples and have some family fun.  Have a go on the apple press, discover the apple trail and make some apple crafts.
• Spooky Candy and Chocolate Apple Show, Aunt Sandra’s Candy Factory, Castlereagh Road, Belfast, until October 31.   Watch scary lollies being made, make your own chocolate apples and take part in the missing finger quiz.

Down

Red Bull Foxhunt is back and it’s bigger and better than ever! Once again, downhill mountain-biking legend, multiple World Cup winner & favourite for the 2013 title, Gee Atherton returns to Northern Ireland this October for the innovative downhill-pursuit challenge where the hunters become the hunted! Red Bull Foxhunt will take place over 2 days, with qualifier time-trials taking place on the 5th and the event proper on Sunday 6th of October.

Tyrone

This year’s Flann O’Brien Literary Festival, which takes place in Strabane and Lifford from Thursday 3rd October to Saturday 5th October, will celebrate the life and works of one of the major players in 20th century Irish literature, Flann O’Brien, who was born Brian O’Nolan in Strabane on 5th October 1911.

Fermanagh

Experience Fermanagh’s finest live entertainment and visual arts this autumn when the county’s 5th Arts Festival; Fermanagh Live takes place from the 3rd to the 6th October 2013.  Embracing music, drama and visual arts, Fermanagh Live is a celebration of many great events highlighting both local and other innovative talent while promoting Fermanagh’s culture and heritage.  This is a unique opportunity for audiences to experience an exciting and exhilarating programme with an eclectic mix of events that are not to be missed!

Derry

Meadowbank Sports Arena Magherafelt is the venue on Saturday 5^th October for the town’s Multi-Cultural Event celebrating our local culture and the cultures of our new residents, with an associated children’s fun day from 12pm to 4pm. Admission is free.

Armagh

The Moscow Ballet perform Sleeping Beauty at the Market Place Theatre on Saturday 5^th October. Once upon a time…[as all good fairytales begin], in a faraway land beyond imagination, Tchaikovsky’s sumptuous music fills the air and wondrous characters come to life before your very eyes. Fairytale characters abound alongside a King, a Queen, Good and Evil Fairies, Fairies of Gold, Silver, Diamonds and Sapphire plus the handsome Prince, all weaving their magic to present this timeless tale of Princess Aurora, The Sleeping Beauty – a story lovingly repeated throughout generations but never before performed so magnificently as with this colourful spectacle of Russia’s finest – Moscow Ballet.

Antrim

The Northern Ireland Potato Festival is a free family event taking place in the Glens of Antrim,  Innisfree Farm  and Portnagree House on October 4^th, 5^th and 6^th. Italy has pasta, Spain has paella, Northern Ireland has…well, potatoes of course! Join in the fun at the North Coast at this three day festival to celebrate the mainstay of our culinary culture.

Belfast
Wrestling Superstars are taking a break from their tours of America, Europe, Japan & Mexico to take part in a giant one-off extravaganza in Belfast City.  The Belfast Waterfront is the venue for this year’s must-see event where fans will have the chance to witness the passion of dedicated athletes perfecting their craft.  Wrestling Superstars will collide in an epic encounter inside the ring that’ll grip the audience’s attention like nothing you have seen before.  The spectacular event takes place on October 4th with doors opening at 7.30pm and show time at 8.00pm. Spectators will get the chance to get up close and personal with their favourite stars. This is a fantastic chance to have a great night out with friends and family at an affordable price. The action, excitement and fun cannot be matched.

For more details on these and other events across Northern Ireland, news and competitions see www.whatsonni.com, follow us @whatsonni and like us at fb.com/www.whatsonni and remember to add your  events FREE OF CHARGE at www.whatsonni.

DRACULA is coming to Belfast!  The Count will creep into the Crescent Arts Centre from Oct 28^th until Nov 2^nd 2013 for some petrifying panto performances.

Performed by the Isosceles Theatre Company, ‘DRACULA – THE PANTO!’ has been a Halloween Family Favourite and has captivated and tickled both adults and children on its travels.  The show is full of big laughs, big songs and big teeth, all performed by Pat Abernethy and Dave Marsden.  It’s irresistibly scary fun for ages 8-80 in true panto style.

The naughty Count has shown his fangs to shrieks of delight across the UK, and now he turns his chilling stare on South Belfast.

The multi-talented Isosceles company has been touring to Northern Ireland for many  years, and ‘DRACULA – THE PANTO!’ has always been a big hit, returning to many theatres again and again.

‘Fun, fangs and other fab treats – a delight’ LONDON METRO

‘Fast, furious, and funny. Dracula makes perfect panto fare’ BIG ISSUE

‘Witty writing, easy rapport, expertly played, a remarkable example of highly professional skill – really great fun’ TAUNTON TIMES

Tickets are available from the Crescent Arts Centre Box Office on (028) 9024 2338 or online at www.crescentarts.org

Mon 28 October – Sat 2 November – 7:00pm

With Additional Saturday Matinee – 3:00pm

Suitable for ages 8-80

£10/£8/£6

Family Discount Tickets Available

We are gearing up for October here at WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre and, with the arrival of the Brent Geese, Autumn is finally upon us. So come and experience the wonders of migration with one of the following events:

The ‘Brent are Back’ event – this is the time of the year when 90% of the world’s population of Light- bellied Brent Geese comes to Northern Ireland with Strangford Lough being their favorite staging post… Our friendly guide will  bring you on a brent journey and explain to you how they feed on the vast expanses of eel grass exposed at low water along the muddy estuaries. Followed by how every year when the spring arrives these same small geese take on the largest migration journey of any goose travelling 2,900 miles from Ireland to the high Canadian arctic.

At the moment there are currently around 20,500 birds on Strangford Lough, feeding up after this long and hazardous journey. Visitors may be able to witness around 2000-3000 of these incredible migrants from the Limekiln Observatory and Brent Hide when they visit WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre. The event takes every weekend at 12 noon and 2pm during the month of October.

on Saturday 5^th and Sunday 6^th October join us for our popular ‘Tick & Twitch event’ – a fun competition to win a free family pass to Castle Espie (2 adults and 2 children). Simply turn up, collect your bird spotting sheets from reception, and head out around our grounds to try and tick off as many of the 20 birds you can find. Great fun for all, including those who don’t know their Starlings from their Cormorants.

Finally one not to be missed! join us after hours on Saturday 12^th October for  our ‘Brent Dusk Event’. This includes an evening walk with our expert warden followed by supper in the Loughshore cafe and a slideshow in the Drumlin theatre. Costs £20 per adult and £10 for kids, 6pm – 9pm. Booking is essential. (weather permitted)

Events are included in the cost of admission and free to WWT members. Please refer to website for full events listings at wwt.org.uk/visit/castleespie alternatively contact us on 02891 874146.   WWT Castle Espie Wetland Centre is open every day from 10am to 5.00pm and parking is free of charge. Follow us on facebook and twitter @wwtcastleespie.

An unlikely and widely unknown alliance between Welsh miners on strike and a group of London-based gay activists is being brought to life in a new stage play in the Alley Theatre, Strabane on Friday 11^th October.

Pits and Perverts is an uplifting true story about the birth of the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM).  The semi autobiographical play is penned by Derry man Micheál Kerrigan who, at the height of the strikes in the 1980s, was involved in the LGSM group which was set up to support the miners and their families in South Wales.  The group became the largest fundraisers for miners in South Wales raising in excess of £22,000.

Directed and produced by Patricia Byrne for Sole Purpose Productions in association with The Rainbow Project, this touching and funny drama is based on real events that took place during Thatcher’s leadership. Although the events around the miner’s strikes are well documented, this part of history and the struggle by the miners and their families in South Wales is generally unknown.

Pits and Perverts is the first play by Derry-born Micheál Kerrigan, a long standing gay activist who was a member of the LGSM Group in the 1980s and has used his own experiences in writing the script. Micheál was also instrumental in organising the first ever Gay Pride March in Ireland in Dublin in 1973 and the first Gay Pride Festival in Derry in 1993.

Speaking about the staging of the play Micheál commented:

“This is an untold story. Everyone remembers the strikes but few people knew of the gay community’s support for the miners. The play also looks at the parallels of the Northern Ireland situation, the miners strike and the struggle for gay rights. The story is a powerful one which illustrates the path that led to LGBT rights being brought to the forefront of Trade Union equality legislation.”

Pits and Perverts centres on Sean, who leaves Derry in the 1980s at the height of the troubles. He heads to London where he comes out as a gay man. Sean joins the newly established support group and invites two miners from South Wales to stay with him and his partner. When realising that they are staying with a gay couple, the miners are torn between their own prejudices and their need for support. The events that unfold impact on all their lives and on the unions for years to come.  The title comes from the Pits and Perverts Ball which was held in 1984 to raise funds for the miners. A national newspaper had described the connection between the miners and the gay community as an ‘unholy alliance of Pits and Perverts’. The group then took the name as an act of defiance.

The production’s five-strong cast includes four actors from Northern Ireland alongside Jason Davies, who is from South Wales and whose father was a miner during the time in which the play is set.

Producer and Director Patricia Byrne commented:

“The research phase of the production has been fascinating. We have been able to access archive video footage of the group and the miners, photos, minutes from meetings, and have spoken to some of the people who were involved to get their take on what happened. We have also received letters of support from Sian James MP for Swansea East, Dr Hywel Francis MP for Aberavon and have been working closely with Mike Jackson who set up the group with Mark Ashton (RIP) in 1984.”

Mike Jackson added:

“Pits and Perverts is wonderful, embracing so much important detail, so much historical truth, the pain and the joys. A masterpiece expression of all that LGSM was about.”

Sole Purpose Productions was founded in 1997 and exists to use the discourse of imagination to investigate and illuminate social and public issues. The Rainbow Project is a health organisation that works to improve the health and wellbeing of LGBT people in Northern Ireland.

Pits and Perverts was developed with assistance from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s Joint Sectoral Dramaturgy Project, administered by Tinderbox Theatre Company. This production is supported by UK City of Culture, Culture for All, Community Foundation NI and the Derry Trades Union Council. Sole Purpose is core funded by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland National Lottery Fund.

Recommended age 16+, contains some strong language.  Tickets are £10 and available from the Alley Theatre Box Office on 028 71 384444 or online www.alley-theatre.com

Learn to create your own family heirloom patchwork quilt – free with Valerie Eames.

Patchwork quilting goes far beyond the best way to upcycle old clothes past their best. It’s a craft that requires precision, skill and flair, a social and community pastime, passed down through the generations, from grandmother to mother. As well as being colourful and keeping families warm in the depths of winter, some quilts tell stories, others are a kaleidoscopic celebration of colour and design. With names like Flying Geese, Log Cabin, Pieced Start and Dutchman’s Puzzle, each one is a triumph of the craft and the product of both exceptional skill and people working together.

A founder member of the Quilters’ Guild of Ireland, Valerie Eames is passionate about patchwork and passing on those skills as still enjoyable and relevant in today’s world. Valerie’s patchwork workshops are engaging and will inspire you to create some family heirlooms of your own.

Beginning with a guided tour of Valerie’s work, which includes incredible examples of American Civil War, Traditional and Contemporary quilts, you’ll then be shown how to embark on your own quilting project.

You’ll find Valarie Eames and Piece by Piece, at the Presbyterian Hall, Queen Elizabeth Road, Enniskillen, from Thursday 3^rd to Saturday 5^th October, from 10am to 5pm each day.

Everyone welcome! Find out more at fFLve.org.uk, like us on facebook.com/FermanaghLive or follow us on Twitter – @FermanaghLive #Flive2013

see image at: http://www.flive.org.uk/FREE_Piece_by_Piece_-_Valerie_Eames

Beavers’ Feathered Star Quilt

This quilt was inspired by a family heirloom – the maker and date unknown. It probably originated in North Carolina during the American Civil War. The name Feathered Star comes from the small dark and light bias cut squares that edge each star. The lighter coloured fabric has been tea dyed to give it a more aged appearance.

Broadcaster Gerry Kelly will interview some of Northern Ireland’s most loved household names in two one-off ‘An Audience with’ events at The Courtyard Theatre.

On Monday 7 October Gerry Kelly, himself one of our most popular and long standing presenters, interviews Queen of Comedy May McFettridge and the man behind her, John Linehan as part of the theatre’s ‘Distinguished Lecture Series’. Come along for an evening of quick wit and infectious comedy to see one of the busiest entertainers in Ireland.

Then on Monday 11 November, Gerry interviews Northern Ireland’s Olympic golden girl, Dame Mary Peters. The athletics legend converted her raw talent into an international career. Come and hear her inspirational story in her own words.

Tickets, for both events only £10, can be booked via Box Office on 028 9034 0202 or online at www.thecourtyardtheatre.com