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One of the world’s top selling crime writers, Lee Child, will be a very special guest at the John Hewitt International Summer School at The Market Place Theatre in Armagh when he and his brother, Andrew Child, will appear in person at a Crime Fiction Special, hosted by Armagh own stellar crime writer, Stuart Neville, on Monday 24 July.

For five years now, Stuart Neville has collaborated with the John Hewitt Society to curate this Crime Fiction Special and invite to Armagh some of the best-known crimes writers. In 2022, Val McDermid,’the Queen of Crime’ and Mark Billingham, regarded as the UK ‘Statesman of Crime Fiction’, came to the Armagh festival. This year, Stuart has gone one better and managed to entice Lee and Andrew Child to his home patch.

The creator of the iconic Jack Reacher Series, a global publishing phenomenon, Lee Child is one of the world’s leading thriller writers was born and raised in England and now lives in New York. He is the recipient of many awards, most recently Author of the Year at the 2019 British Book Awards. He was appointed CBE in the 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

It is said one of Lee Child novels featuring his hero Jack Reacher, Jack Reacher, ‘the coolest continuing series character’ according to Stephen King, is sold somewhere in the world every nine seconds. His books consistently achieve the number-one slot on bestseller lists around the world and have sold over one hundred million copies.

After Law School and work in the theatre, Lee joined Granada Television for what turned out to be an eighteen-year career as a presentation director during British TV’s “golden age.” During his tenure his company made “Brideshead Revisited” , “The Jewel in the Crown”, “Prime Suspect”, and “Cracker”. But he moved on in 1995 at the age of 40 as a result of corporate restructuring.

Always a voracious reader, he decided to see an opportunity where others might have seen a crisis, bought six dollars’ worth of paper and pencils and sat down to write a book, “Killing Floor”, the first in the Jack Reacher series.

2022 marks the 25^th anniversary of the publication of  “Killing Floor” and it also sees the arrival of the 27^th novel in the series, ”No Plan B”. Earlier this year 2022 Reacher hit the screens and became Amazon Prime’s most watched series with a second series immediately being commissioned.

Recently Lee Child announced that, after an extraordinary career, he was about to retire from writing and Andrew Child, his younger brother and a highly successful thriller author in his own right, has taken on the daunting task of continuing the Jack Reacher series. However. As part of ‘passing on the baton’, Lee and Andrew have collaborated on three thrillers to date, with the most recent, pulse-pounding read,  “No Plan B , Jack Reacher being described by Karen Slaughter as “perfectly plotted .. with bigger twists than ever before”.

Andrew Lee  worked in the telecommunications industry in the UK as a ‘temporary’ solution to a short-term cash crisis. Fifteen years later, after carrying out a variety of roles – including a number which were covered by the UK Official Secrets Act – Andrew escaped from corporate life, and established himself as a crime writer, using his family name.

As Andrew Grant, he is the author of nine critically-acclaimed thrillers including “Even”, “Die Twice”, “More Harm Than Good”, “False Witness” and “Too Close To Home”. Andrew is married to novelist Tasha Alexander, and lives on a wildlife preserve in Wyoming, USA.

For the Crime Fiction Special at the Market Place Theatre, Lee and Andrew Child will be in Conversation with Stuart Neville, one of the most popular UK Crime Writers.

Stuart Neville’s debut novel, “The Twelve” (published in the USA  as “The Ghosts of Belfast”) won the Mystery/Thriller category of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and was picked as one of the top crime novels of 2009 by both the New York Times and the LA Times.

Tickets to see Lee and Andrew Child In Conversation with Stuart at  the Hewitt Sjummer School are already in big demand and are available fom Box Office at he Market Place Theatre on dHe has since published nine more critically acclaimed books, two of which were under the pen name Haylen Beck and has been shortlisted for various awards, including the MWA Edgar, CWA Dagger, Theakstons Old Peculier Novel of the Yea, as well as the Irish Book Awards Crime Novel of the Year.

Tickets for the Crime Fiction Special with Stuart In Conversation with Lee and Andrew Child in person are already on sale (and tickets are selling fast} at the Market Place Theatre Box Office on 03300 561 025 and Online at visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre

FANS visiting the new Derry Girls Experience in the Tower Museum in Derry-Londonderry can enjoy the ultimate overnight break and Be A Derry Girl with the Everglades Hotel.

From only £160* per room (based on two people sharing) guests can enjoy luxurious overnight accommodation and the hotel’s famous themed Derry Girls Afternoon Tea with cocktail and a selection of tasty treats including sandwiches, freshly baked scones & breads and pastry assortment with a Derry Girls twist – sausage roll baps, fresh cream horns, cone of chips. You’ll also get your very own Michelle, the Derry Girls duck to take home with you and full Irish breakfast the following morning.

Guests will also have the chance to get their picture taken with the hotel’s famous resident, Michelle the Derry Girls duck!

The Everglades Hotel is conveniently located to the Tower Museum which is hosting the new immersive Derry Girls Exhibition which features props and set pieces from the Bafta-winning sitcom which follows five teenagers living in Derry in the mid-1990s during the final years of the Troubles.

Fans of the show will be able to view parts of the original sets, including the Quinn living room and kitchen, as well as props like Spice Girls costumes from season three, the Child of Prague statue and Ma Mary’s rosary beads.

For further information go to www.evergladeshotelderry.com or call 028 7132 1066.

*Subject to availability. Package does not include tickets to the Derry Girls Exhibition.

A pioneering travel company, set up by a father on his paternity leave, is launching its inaugural tour promising to uncover a side of Belfast rarely found in tourist books.

The brainchild of Gareth Maguire, Unheard Adventures was conceived and built by the Belfast native after the birth of his first child in 2022 when he took five weeks paternity leave from his role in tech.  Gareth’s focus is on curating hidden gems and vibrant cultural experiences for travellers seeking immersive and unique experiences.

The company’s first tour is “Belfast- the then and now” a two-part experience taking place on Saturday July 8^th which promises an unforgettable journey through Belfast’s rich history and vibrant cultural and traditional musical scene.

The tour begins with a Belfast political history tour, led by knowledgeable locals who lived, worked and fought during the turbulent Troubles from the 1960s through to the late 90s. Men and women will share their personal stories and explain how religion, rebellion, politics, and conflict shaped their experiences and the cityscape, uncovering the intriguing murals that narrate the area’s local history and culture.

Following a stop for lunch in Belfast’s trendy and vibrant Cathedral quarter, participants then embark on the Belfast Traditional Music trail, with two professional musicians as guides.

Here they will be treated to a performance of captivating Irish tunes, songs and stories, as they walk through cobbled alleyways, past iconic landmarks and on to three different bars housed in some of the city’s oldest buildings, where they can enjoy a local beer, cider, whiskey or Guinness.

Each pub visit unveils a new musical dimension, with different instruments taking the spotlight, offering a unique insight into the similarities and differences between Belfast and Scottish music, as well as the distinctiveness of Irish melodies from various regions.

The tour, which costs £80 per person, will commence at 10:30am beside the famous Europa Hotel on Great Victoria Street, concluding at 5:30 pm.

Participants can prolong their stay with a special overnight rate at the Europa or Grand Central hotel from £100 per night on both Friday and Saturday.

“In 2022, while on paternity leave, I approached my friend, Matt Lynch to develop the idea for Unheard Adventures. We both share a passion for storytelling and for our hometown, Belfast, despite residing in different parts of the world – Dublin and Dubai,” says Gareth.

“Our aim is to create unforgettable memories and invite travellers to embark on off-the-beaten-path journeys that go beyond the ordinary. Our inaugural tour on Saturday July 8^th promises something very different to what’s available right now in a city bursting with history and culture.”

You can reserve your spot by visiting www.unheardadventures.com/product/belfast/

Walled City Music will be welcoming over 30 pianists to Derry on Sunday, for the 2023 edition of its International Piano Festival. Festival Director Derry-born Cathal Breslin, acclaimed concert pianist and professor at Arizona State University, will be joined by an international faculty of tutors at Ulster University, Magee, as they lead 25 piano students through a packed schedule of masterclasses, workshops and concerts from July 10-17, 2023.

The Festival’s student body represents the world’s up and coming generation of young pianists, bringing talent together from nationalities including Ireland, UK, Europe, USA, Taiwan, China, Iran, the Philippines, New Zealand and Korea. Over the 8 days of the Festival, these young artists will be provided with an immersive and inspiring environment in the Magee campus of Ulster University.

The international faculty, who will deliver the Festival’s series of masterclasses, workshops and interviews, includes Professors Thérèse Fahy (Royal Irish Academy of Music), Chu-Fang Huang (Ameri-China International Music Association), Chih-Long Hu (University of Tennessee), Svetozar Ivanov (University of South Florida), Pei-Chun Liao (University of Taipei) and Cahill Smith (Utah State University).

Throughout the week, exciting variety concerts by the faculty and students will be open to the public, with multiple pianists performing solo piano works and works for 4, 6 and 8 hands, as well as two days of performances at the Festival’s International Competition. Look out on the Walled CIty Music website and social media for the schedule of concerts.

Professor Cathal Breslin said, “I am delighted to bring such an exciting international piano festival and competition to Derry for the 4th year. It is an amazing opportunity to welcome these talented young stars of the future to our city, from so many different countries, and to work and refine their musical skills with some of the greatest pianists in the world. The concerts are going to be a big highlight for me, as it is very rare to see multiple pianists on stage together performing. Come along and see the excitement for yourself!”

In addition to its core support from Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Derry and Strabane District Council, the 2023 Festival is sponsored by Yamaha and local taxi company City Cabs. The Festival takes place in partnership with Ulster University, Contemporary Music Centre Ireland and Christ Church.

THE village of Armoy is gearing up for this year’s Armoy Road Races Bayview Hotel Race of Legends as it prepares for a weekend of world class road racing over the 28^th and 29^th July 2023.

On Wednesday afternoon, members from Armoy Motorcycling Road Racing Club (AMRRC) launched this year’s event at the Bayview Hotel in Portballintrae.

Road racers, sponsors and invited guests including the new Mayor of the Causeway Coast and Glens, Cllr Steven Callaghan, had the opportunity to come together to mark the launch and countdown to the days to the races.

Hosted by title sponsor, Trevor Kane, owner of the Bayview Hotel, guests heard from the Chairman and Clerk of the Course of AMRRC, William Munnis as he outlined the race schedule for 2023 and the club’s relief that this year’s meet was able to go ahead following the uncertainty that faced them earlier in the year regarding associated costs.

Guests also had the opportunity to meet and greet some of this year’s riders including local men Paul Jordan, riding for PreZ Racing, Adam McClean who continues his new 2023 partnership with JMcC Roofing and Neil Kernohan from Kernohan Racing.

Following the launch, the Club’s Chairman William Munnis said, “Preparations are well under way for this year’s Armoy Road Races.  This is our fourteenth year of holding the event and we are indebted to all the riders and loyal fans who continue to support us each year.

“Race entries are due to close on Monday 26^th June 2023 and in addition to the strong local entries we’ve received, we also have riders from USA, France, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man.  This year promises to be another exciting weekend of racing for all our fans and sponsors.

“Today’s launch gives us the opportunity to come together and thank our many sponsors as without their financial help and support we would not be able to stage the races.  Trevor Kane from the Bayview Hotel has once again committed his support to the Armoy Road Races with his continued sponsorship of the Race of Legends.

“Our returning sponsors include Hilton Car Sales, James McKillop, Ian Hickinson, Steadplan Sales, MJF Builders, Diamond Bar and the Mermaid Club, Roadside Garages, Park Electrical Services, David Chambers from Brap Moto, Fay Stewart along with the Bayview Hotel.  I’m also delighted to see new sponsors, Causeway Geotech, EMA Building and Civils, Taggart’s Barn, McNally&Co and Raymond Hodges and TT Racing join us and I’m sure they will enjoy the race experience!”

In the lead up to the races, the Club hosts a popular Bike Week which runs from Sunday 23^rd July until Saturday 29^th July with all events listed on the club’s Facebook and Twitter pages. The Armoy Road Races event is enabled by funding from Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.

For more information on Armoy Road Races, visit www.armoyroadraces.com or search for ‘AMRRC’ on Facebook or follow on twitter @ArmoyRoadRaces.

Scottish trad outfit Kinnaris Quintet will make their Northern Ireland tour debut this summer, performing in Armagh’s Market Place Theatre on 1 July.

Kinnaris Quintet burst onto the scene in 2017 with a unique, highly emotive, energetic, and powerful sound. Their music has been described as ‘euphoric’ and combines Scottish and Irish traditional music with Bluegrass, Classical, Scandinavian and Appalachian influences.

Kinnaris Quintet have produced the perfect concoction of remaining faithful to their traditional roots, whilst delicately pushing the boundaries of tradition, bringing it to the forefront of exciting and modern music. Unable to hide their joy at making music together, the quintet perform with an enthusiasm that is infectious as anyone who has seen them live will attest.

Hailed as the folk band to see the group regularly perform to sell-out shows at Celtic Connections, appear at most other major folk festivals, and have received a number of prestigious music award nominations.

Uplifting, fresh, honest, powerful music is guaranteed, and early booking is advised!

The Kinnaris Quintet will perform for one evening only at The Market Place Theatre on Saturday 1 July at 8.00pm. Tickets are priced £15 and £13 (concession), and can be booked online at www.visitarmagh.com/marketplacetheatre or through the Box Office on 03300 561 025.

With the world’s largest gathering of young leaders taking place in Belfast this October, the call has gone out for volunteers to help roll out a giant welcome to Northern Ireland.

Welcoming more than 2,000 young leaders from over 190 countries, the One Young World Belfast Summit (2nd – 5th October) will represent four life-changing days of knowledge-sharing and networking, where young delegates will be counselled by some of the most influential political, business and humanitarian leaders in the world.

Belfast City Council are assembling groups of volunteers who will be charged with everything from welcoming delegates, hosting VIPs, being ‘accessibility buddies’ through to assisting at the opening and closing ceremonies.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy said: “Feedback from previous high profile international events hosted in Belfast has confirmed that our volunteers play a crucial role in making visitors feel welcome through their enthusiasm, friendliness and pride in representing our city.

“One Young World provides another exciting opportunity to showcase Belfast and its people to an audience from across the globe, so I would encourage anyone interested to find out more, get involved and play your part in ensuring that this event is a huge success.”

Volunteer Now Chief Executive, Denise Hayward says Northern Ireland has a rich tradition of excelling in hosting international events.

She said: “From the World Police and Fire Games through to the Giro d’Italia and The Open Championship, Volunteer Now has provided volunteers for some of the biggest events to take place in Northern Ireland.

“The feedback from the organisers of these events always praises the quality of our volunteers as well as the warmth of the welcome they provide to visitors from other countries.

“Organisers of the World Police and Fire Games in 2013 described them as the friendliest Games they had ever run while the R&A said the volunteers at the 148^th Open at Portrush were second to none.

“People from Northern Ireland are naturally welcoming and friendly, and we want people coming here to have a really good experience.

“From the perspective of our volunteers, we want to ensure their experience is meaningful and enjoyable. Training will be given, and you will be fully supported by the Volunteer Now team.”

Denise hopes that the One Young World Summit will leave a legacy of encouraging more people to get involved in volunteering.

She added: “We want our volunteers’ experience of the One Young World Summit to be really positive. We want them to be excited about volunteering and for them to continue their journey with us.”

The One Young World community has grown to a network of over 13,500 Ambassadors, whose projects have gone on to impact 35.8 million people worldwide.

Following the opening ceremony, which will take place at the SSE Arena, delegates and returning Ambassadors will spend three days at the award-winning ICC Belfast for an action-packed agenda of speeches, panels, workshops and networking events.

Positions will be available from Saturday September 30 until Friday October 6; however, volunteers may be required to work past these dates. Applicants must be over 18, be fluent in English (written and spoken), flexible, reliable, friendly and polite.

To find out how you could volunteer at the One Young World Belfast Summit 2023, visit www.volunteernow.co.uk/volunteering/event-volunteering/one-young-world-summit-belfast/