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Tourism NI Announces Shortlist for Giant Spirit Awards

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Pictured (l-r) are Mark Mulholland, Diageo, Eimear Callaghan, Tourism NI and Helen McGorman, Tourism Ireland. Photo by Matt Mackey / Presseye

Following a record number of entries Tourism NI has announced the shortlist for its newly launched annual awards programme aimed at showcasing and rewarding best in class in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Renamed The Giant Spirit Awards, the event has been aligned more closely to the award winning destination brand Northern Ireland ~ Embrace a Giant Spirit 

The 2022 event will recognise and celebrate the resilience and spirit of the industry in facing the challenges of the last two years as well as those who exemplified the values of the destination, innovated and built competitiveness.

The awards gala dinner and presentation will take place in the Grand Ballroom of the Slieve Donard Resort, Newcastle on Thursday 6th October 2022.

 

SHORTLIST

Best Bed & Breakfast / Guesthouse

Blackrock House Luxury B&B, Portrush, Co. Antrim 

Brook Lodge Guesthouse, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry

Kiltariff Hall Country House, Rathfriland, Co. Down 

 

Best Food and Drink Experience, Large

Fish City, Belfast 

Friels Bar & Restaurant, Swatragh, Co. Londonderry

Hinch Distillery, Ballynahinch, Co. Down 

Killeavy Castle Estate, Co. Armagh

Best Food and Drink Experience, Small

NearyNógs Stone Ground Chocolate, Kilkeel, Co. Down 

NI Food Tours Tracey’s Farmhouse Kitchen, Killinchy, Co. Down

Taste and Tour, Belfast 

The Chocolate Manor, Castlerock, Co. Londonderry 

Walled City Brewery, Derry~Londonderry 

 

Best Hotel, Large

Best Western Plus White Horse Hotel, Derry~Londonderry

Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Derry~ Londonderry 

Clayton Hotel, Belfast 

Killeavy Castle Estate, Co. Armagh

The Whistledown Hotel, Warrenpoint, Co. Down

 

Best Self Catering, Large

Dunamoy Cottages and Spa, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim 

Larchfield Estate, Lisburn, Co. Antrim 

 

Best Self Catering, Small

Aurora North Coast, Bushmills, Co. Antrim

Coastguard Boat House, Whiteabbey, Co. Antrim 

Keenaghan Cottage, Belleek, Co. Fermanagh 

Quarry Hill Church, Strangford, Co. Down

 

Best Tourism Experience, Large

Friels Bar and Restaurant, Swatragh, Co. Londonderry 

Hinch Distillery, Ballynahinch, Co. Down 

Montalto Estate, Ballynahinch, Co. Down 

National Museums NI – Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, Co. Tyrone

The Spa at Galgorm, Galgorm, Co. Antrim

Titanic Belfast, Belfast

 

Best Tourism Experience, Small

Bakehouse, Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry

Carlingford Lough Ferry, Greencastle, Co. Down  

Castle Archdale Boat Hire and Watersports, Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh 

Cranfield Alpacas, Kilkeel, Co. Down 

Lough Neagh Artisans, Magherafelt, Co. Londonderry 

Portrush Surf School, Portrush, Co. Antrim

 

Most Innovative Business, Large

Friels Bar and Restaurant, Swatragh, Co. Londonderry 

Further Space, Northern Ireland wide 

Killeavy Castle Estate, Co. Armagh

Seamus Heaney HomePlace, Bellaghy, Co. Londonderry 

Visit Derry, Derry~Londonderry 

 

Most Innovative Business, Small

Castle Archdale Boat Hire and Watersports, Irvinestown, Co. Fermanagh  

NearyNógs Stone Ground Chocolate, Kilkeel, Co. Down 

Paul Cunningham Mourne Larder, Co. Down 

The Saint Patrick Centre, Downpatrick, Co. Down 

Tumble Circus, Belfast 

Urban Scale Interventions (USI), Belfast 

 

Most Promising Student

Hastings Hotels – Marisa King

The Bakery by Yellow Door – Emma Jayne McCartney

Titanic Hotel – Jordan Sloan

 

Local Spirit Award

Gordon Wilson – Montalto Estate

Jamese McCloy – Mid Ulster Cluster

Jamie Hamill – Coleraine BID

Mary McGee – Mid-Ulster District Council

Mick Boyle – Killeavy Castle Estate

The wait is over. Enchanted Winter Garden is back!

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Northern Ireland’s premiere Christmas event, Enchanted Winter Garden, is returning to the award -winning Antrim Castle Gardens. In 2021 this Christmas spectacular welcomed a staggering 119K visitors to our Borough. This year’s event will run for from Saturday 26 November until Tuesday 20 December, from 4.30pm – 9.30pm.

Once again as the winter sun sets over Lough Neagh, Antrim Castle Gardens will come to life with a magical Christmas experience for all the family. Dazzling illuminations, artisan food stalls, walkabout characters and star attractions, including the Big Wheel, Helter Skelter and The Wonderland Wood, are all making a welcome return.

Christmas pixie making mischief in Antrim Castle Gardens.

Visitors will also be able to enjoy some new attractions at this year’s event including a new and improved Santa’s Grotto, Pixie Path and Whoville Village, which will include the return of fan favourite the Grinch.

 An Evening of Inclusive Enchantment will run on both Wednesday 7 & 14 December with reduced numbers, lighting and sound levels, Sensory & Quiet room, ideal for children and adults with additional needs.

The Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Alderman Stephen Ross commented “I am delighted that Enchanted Winter Garden is returning to Antrim Castle Gardens. In 2021 it attracted an incredible 119K visitors to our Borough and I hope this year we can encourage these visitors and more to return.

The event has something for everyone. It is a great way to not only see what Antrim has to offer, but also spend quality time with family and friends over the festive period.”

Tickets for the event are now on sale with tickets priced at £7.50 adult, £5 child, £22 family ticket (2 adults & 2 children) and under 2s free.

This year, to offer a little extra help for families over the festive period, residents from Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council will be able to enjoy the event at a reduced price (£6 adult, £4 child, £18 family ticket), which can be claimed at point of sale using your home postcode.

To book visit enchantedwintergarden.com. Our Arts and Culture Customer Hub service, which includes a live chat facility and direct telephone number (T: 0300 123 7788 calls charged at local rate) that can assist with ticket queries if customers are unable to book online. The Customer Hub operates Monday – Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm.

Light up your Christmas with a visit to Enchanted Winter Garden and make memories with family and friends.

“MISSION SANTA” BLASTS OFF AGAIN FOR CHRISTMAS 2022

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Following on from last year’s success, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is once again planning an out of this world experience for families across Northern Ireland as it launches this year’s Mission Santa event.

Ready to blast off for its third year, the spectacular space pantomime has been created by BNL Productions to get Armagh Observatory and Planetarium’s visitors into the festive spirit.

Along with Marzipan the Elf, visitors to the event will be able to help save Santa from inside mission control during an immersive and theatrical show.

The exciting experience includes access to an exclusive dome show, titled the ‘The Alien who stole Christmas.’ The show will be displayed in the magical star dome theatre, and every child in attendance will receive a present and a printed family photograph.

Education and Outreach Manager at Armagh Observatory and Planetarium, Sinéad Mackle, said: “Following on from the resounding success of Mission Santa in 2019 and 2021, we are excited to welcome visitors to the 2022 event.

“This enchanting adventure captures the magical essence of Christmas in a unique experience, harnessing the wonders of space and the drama in a live theatrical show.  The high demand for tickets over the last few years has ensured that Mission Santa is a must-see festive event that children and adults alike will not forget.”

Mission Santa lasts 90 minutes and will run every Saturday and Sunday from 19th November – 23 December. Pre-booking is essential as places are limited.

There are also a number of relaxed performances and school bookings are available. Tickets are £20 per child and £18 per adult. Tickets can be purchased via www.armagh.space

The 1975 SSE ARENA, BELFAST: 30 January 2023

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The 1975 release ‘I’m In Love With You’ – the third track from their highly anticipated forthcoming new album ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’.

 

You can listen to ‘I’m In Love With You’ HERE while you can watch the video, directed by Samuel Bradley, HERE.

 

‘I’m In Love With You’ follows recent releases ‘Happiness’ and ‘Part Of The Band’, the band’s acclaimed comeback single which Pitchfork praised as “the kind of grand, playful pop song that only this band could pull off”.

 

All three tracks will feature on ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’, the band’s fifth studio album, released Friday 14th October via Dirty Hit and available to pre-order now at the1975.com.

 

In support of ‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’, the band have also announced details of the UK & Ireland leg of their ‘At Their Very Best’ tour in January 2023. Tickets are available via fan presale from Wednesday 7th September, with tickets then on general sale on Friday 9th September. You can find more information HERE.

 

The 1975 made their long awaited live comeback last month, headlining Japan’s biggest rock festival Summer Sonic 2022 in Tokyo and Osaka before returning for two triumphant homecoming headline slots at Reading & Leeds Festival.

 

The band will hit the road again in November and December for the North American leg of their ‘At Their Very Best’ tour. Tickets are on sale HERE with a number of dates, including New York’s iconic Madison Square Garden, already sold out.

 

Formed in Manchester in 2002, The 1975 have established themselves as one of the defining bands of their generation with their distinctive aesthetic, ardent fanbase and unique sonic approach.

 

The band’s previous album, 2020’s ‘Notes On A Conditional Form’, became their fourth consecutive No. 1 album in the UK, landing at No. 1 in Australia too. The band were named NME’s ‘Band of the Decade’ in 2020 after being crowned ‘Best Group’ at the BRIT Awards in both 2017 & 2019. Their third studio album, ‘A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships’, also won ‘Mastercard British Album of the Year’ at the 2019 ceremony.

 

The 1975 UK & Ireland 2023 Tour Dates:

 

Sun 08/01/23 – Brighton – Brighton Center

Mon 09/01/23 – Bournemouth – Bournemouth International Center

Tue 10/01/23 – Exeter – Westpoint

Thu 12/01/23 – London – The O2

Sun 15/01/23 – Birmingham – Resorts World Arena

Mon 16/01/23 – Cardiff – Motorpoint Arena

Thu 19/01/23 – Glasgow – SSE Hydro

Fri 20/01/23 – Manchester – AO Arena

Sun 22/01/23 – Nottingham – Motorpoint Arena

Mon 23/01/23 – Leeds – First Direct Arena

Weds 25/01/23 – Newcastle – Utilita Arena

Thu 26/01/23 – Liverpool – M&S Bank Arena

Sun 29/01/23 – Dublin – 3Arena

Mon 30/01/23 – Belfast – SSE Arena

​​‘Being Funny In A Foreign Language’ Tracklist:

 

  1. The 1975
  2. Happiness
  3. Looking For Somebody (To Love)
  4. Part Of The Band
  5. Oh Caroline
  6. I’m In Love With You
  7. All I Need To Hear
  8. Wintering
  9. Human Too
  10. About You
  11. When We Are Together

https://the1975.com/

https://twitter.com/the1975

https://www.instagram.com/the1975

https://www.tiktok.com/@the1975

 

www.instagram.com/trumanblack

https://www.instagram.com/bedforddanes75

https://www.instagram.com/1975adam

https://www.instagram.com/rass1975

 

Storytelling, culture and comfort From Heart to Hearth

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Professional storyteller, Karen Edwards is offering visitors a cultural experience that brings together tales for young and old alike, with a tailor-made entertainment package, featuring optional self-catering accommodation, in the coastal village of Glenarm.  

From Heart to Hearth was founded by Karen in 2016, alongside her husband Sid, who’s also an avid lover of traditional Irish music and folklore.

Tying in storytelling with visitor accommodation has meant that as well as offering storytelling sessions throughout Ireland, she can offer a totally bespoke experience with the beautiful scenery and the traditional Irish music she and her husband both love and play. 

As an in demand storyteller she has travelled extensively. “I have told stories down at Cape Clear Island off the coast of Cork, Derry, Hillsborough Castle, Bagenal’s Castle in Newry, alongside many local venues in Mid and East Antrim,” Karen explained. “I do a lot of seasonal themed events.

“I also enjoy working with people who have dementia as well as intergenerational work with nursing homes and schools.”

Karen’s passion for stories came at an early age.

“As a little girl, I wanted to be a writer. I’d always loved stories.” Although Karen started her career as a journalist, she spent most of her working life in local government and was constantly on the lookout for more creative avenues. So when the opportunity presented itself to take voluntary redundancy this gave Karen time to focus on her storytelling which she now pursues full time with her business, From Heart to Hearth.

“And I will always be grateful to my mentor, world-renowned storyteller, Liz Weir for enabling and empowering me as a professional storyteller”.

Over the years, Karen’s life experiences and performances have developed her storytelling finesse to include a wide range of traditional techniques drawing on local and international tales, with a mix of Irish folklore and comedy. Storytelling performances are interspersed with tunes on Killarney D and Low D whistle.

Karen regularly performs at celebrated local events, including being a guest storyteller for NI Libraries Yarnspinners.

“I also work in conjunction with the Glens Storytelling Cultural Heritage Group that’s headed up by Liz Weir,” she said. “We run the popular Glens Storytelling Festival, which last year went virtual, reaching audiences all over the world. Recently we have been doing online work with people who have dementia.”

Karen loves to keep busy, has just released a CD of children’s stories and is working on a book.

“The CD has been funded by the Arts Council NI and features all my own stories – it is something I’ve always wanted to do” she explained. “All the stories originate from Owey Island, off the coast of Donegal, where I stayed from March until November last year.  

“We went last March to self-isolate and the next thing we knew, we were in lockdown and ended up staying, so I made the most of my time there.”

Her current work at From Heart to Hearth specialises in offering bespoke storytelling packages for culture seekers looking to soak up local life in Glenarm, as well as optional accommodation for those who want to stay longer.

Her self-catering property, Channel Vista consists of a fully equipped 4-bedroom semi-detached bungalow, which sleeps six and offers stunning sea views, from Glenarm Bay to the beautiful Scottish Isle of Jura. It is situated right on the scenic Antrim Coast Road within the coastal village of Glenarm, being 50 metres from the shoreline and a five minutes’ walk from Glenarm Forest, which is home to native red squirrels. Also within walking distance is Glenarm Castle, one of Ireland’s oldest estates, which boasts a variety of fun activities for all ages with places to shop and eat and a tranquil walled garden.

It has all modern conveniences, including free Wifi, a fully equipped kitchen, oil-fired central heating, combined bathroom/toilet, with over-the-bath shower, as well as offering a traditional open fire and secluded enclosed BBQ patio area to the rear.

“We’ve had a lot of returning customers,” Karen said. “They love the scenic location. They love the fact that it’s convenient to everything on the Causeway Coastal Route and the attractions of Belfast – plus the location is beautiful.”

Guests can choose to include the storytelling experience as part of their stay. Storytelling sessions can take place beside the open fire, on the terrace at the rear of the property or in another location of the guests’ choosing, such as Glenarm’s beach.  

Karen said that in addition to guests loving her storytelling and her and the traditional music on offer locally, they delight in Sid’s exciting stories about his time as an extra in Game of Thrones. They particularly enjoy the tranquillity and what they can see while relaxing. “The view is something that really stands out for people,” she said. “They just love it. When you see the sun rise over Glenarm Bay it really does take your breath away.”

 

To find out more about Karen’s storytelling sessions visit https://www.channelvistaholiday.com

 

Top Blues Artists Return To Blues Cafe At Deers Head

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Local blues singer Tony Villiers is among the artists taking to the stage at The Deer’s Head in Belfast for the return of the Guinness Blues Cafe.

Tony Villiers and the Villains will perform on Saturday September 17 as the popular blues event returns after a summer break.

Also on the autumn bill are The Davy K Project, Chris Taplin Blues Band and Frank Carberry Blues Band & Guests.

Organised by the Belfast City Blues Festival the Blues Cafe has already welcomed thousands of people through its doors since its inception in August, 2021.

Promoter Seamus O’Neill said he was delighted to be bringing the Blues Cafe back to The Deer’s Head.

He added: “We started the Blues Cafe to get musicians back into work but also to create a magnificent Saturday afternoon vibe, which we have done with an outstanding team and venue. It’s been great for the city and for the people.

“Between now and Christmas we have a host of brilliant bands lined up; everyone is in for a brilliant Saturday afternoon you just won’t want to miss.”

Performing alongside the Villains, Tony Villiers hopes the power of everything blues and country music will put a smile on the faces of those in attendance.

Tony said: “The Deer’s Head is perfect for blues and country blues music. It’s an incredibly well organised venue with a great sound system and an amazing crowd. It’s always full of music lovers, which is the key to creating a good vibe. Performing at the Deer’s Head makes being a musician so much easier.

“The Guinness Blues Cafe has always been a great idea, and I think its success over the last year proves that. Afternoon shows are becoming much more popular now and there’s always a certain ambiance to the gig that a night time gig doesn’t always have.

“It’s such a solid concept and adds a new element to the culture surrounding blues music. It’s something out of the ordinary, which is always a good thing.

“We’ll have our talented band members joining – Aidan Migillian on drums, Damien Shields on bass guitar and Doc Doherty on electric guitar, and playing alongside these three is just heaven alone. 

“People can expect good, honest music played well. We just want to put a smile on people’s faces.”

Chris Taplin of the Chris Taplin Blues Band shared that he was excited to bring high energy, classic blues to his show on October 1.

He added: “It’s going to be great getting back to The Deer’s Head in October. It’s a great great venue with a great stage and sound; it’s just a really good setup. I would say it’s one of the best stages and one of the best sounds for music in Belfast.

“It’s going to be great having something on every week for blues fans again, the more the better. The calibre of musicians who play at the Blues Cafe is just second to none and it’s something you won’t get anywhere else on a Saturday afternoon.”

For more information and tickets go to eventbrite.co.uk/belfast-city-blues-festival

Agriculture Minister Wishes Competitors Good Luck For European Ploughing Championships This Weekend

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Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs of Northern Ireland, Edwin Poots MLA has wished competitors headed to Ballykelly this weekend for the European Ploughing Championships good luck.

Speaking ahead of the event which also includes the European Vintage Ploughing Championships and Horse Ploughing competition at Shackleton Barracks in Ballykelly this Friday and Saturday the Minister said he was pleased to have offered sponsorship of the event from the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA).

In praising the NI Ploughing Association (NIPA) for hosting the European Ploughing Championships, the agriculture Minister said: “I’m pleased that Northern Ireland is hosting the European Ploughing Championships and that my Department is helping to sponsor the event. It is encouraging to note that 100 competitors are expected to take part, with some visitors coming from as far away as Canada.

“This event provides a further opportunity to showcase our agri-food sector to a wide audience, in addition to boosting the local rural economy through large visitor numbers, hotel bookings and dining etc.

“Being an avid machinery enthusiast myself, I am acutely aware of the skills required in handling the tractors and equipment and I would like to take this opportunity to wish the NIPA a successful event and all competitors the very best of luck for the competition.”

Set to be a family friendly fun-packed event, trade stands, horse ploughing exhibitions, children’s entertainment, crafts stalls and a vintage display are among a range of attractions that will be available onsite throughout the two day competition.

The event is hosted by the Northern Ireland Ploughing Association, the governing body of competition ploughing across Northern Ireland uniting 21 affiliated ploughing societies across the country with approximately 500 members.

Adrian Jamison, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Ploughing Association said of the event: “We are delighted to be bringing the European Ploughing Championships back to Northern Ireland and to be able to welcome our fellow ploughmen from across Europe to Ballykelly.”

He also explained that hosting events like the European Ploughing Championships helps people within the farming community “to congregate and meet as well as people in the local areas who are just interested in finding out a bit more about the agricultural traditions here in Northern Ireland.”

This year over 100 competitors are set to compete in seven different categories: World Style Reversible, World Style Conventional, Vintage Class, Horse Class and Horse Style & Appearance Class. 

Competitors from Wales, England, the Republic of Ireland, the Netherlands, the Isle of Man, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Scotland and Northern Ireland, are set to compete at Shackelton Barracks in Ballykelly this weekend.

The European Ploughing Championships take place at Shackleton Barracks in Ballykelly, Co Derry/Londonderry, on Friday and Saturday, September 2-3, 2022.

More information can be found at niploughing.com or at facebook.com/niploughing 

NOW WE’RE SUCKIN’ DIESEL WITH NEW DATES ANNOUNCED FOR LINE OF DUTY EXPERIENCE

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DUE to increased demand, Hastings Hotels and McComb’s Coach Travel have announced new dates for the hugely popular Line of Duty Experience, the original tour of filming locations from the hit TV series, on Saturday 8th October, 5th November and 3rd December.

The Line of Duty Experience, begins with lunch in the Grand Café in the Grand Central Hotel, before an action packed guided tour onboard a luxurious coach, taking in some of the most recognisable filming locations and finishing the afternoon with an AC12 cocktail or Wee Donkey mocktail in the Observatory, Ireland’s tallest cocktail bar. Guests will also receive the Hastings’ Line of Duty duck which has been designed with some of Northern Ireland’s best-known sayings.  

Caroline McComb from McCombs Coach Travel is joined by Cáelán McVeigh from the Grand Central Hotel as it is announced that new dates have been added for the hugely popular Line of Duty Experience (£65pp), the original tour of filming locations from the hit TV series, on Saturday 8th October, 5th November and 3rd December.  For more information or to book go to www.mccombscoaches.com or call 028 9086 6162.  

The tour starts at Belfast’s Grand Central Hotel in Bedford Street which is located beside the Invest NI building – the setting for AC-12 HQ. There will be various stops across the City Centre including ‘Pelbury House’ the headquarters of the Central Police force which provided the backdrop of Ted Hastings famous peaked-cap adjustments; ‘Kingsgate Printing Services’, the building used as a front for members of the OCG (Organised Crime Gang); the Lorry Park where Kate shot Ryan Pilkington before doing a runner with Jo Davidson in Series 6 and of course the iconic Subway location, the favourite meeting point for Steve and Kate to have their secret rendezvous, and perhaps the most striking spot to get that LOD selfie!

There’ll be the chance to visit the sites of some of the most memorable car chases including the crash from Series 6 when DC Chloe and DI Arnott had been transporting Jimmy Lakewell from prison to AC-12 HQ to interrogate him when the police convoy was attacked by the OCG as well as the bridge where DI Fleming dramatically fired an assault riffle at a fleeing four-wheel drive, killing her dodgy partner and crime gang mole, Dot Cotton.

Other filming locations on the tour include Brentiss Prison which viewers watched prisoners being escorted to, including Detective Superintendent Jo Davidson after her arrest; Tresco Storage, the company used in Series 3 by Danny Waldron to store the decapitated head of Linus Murphy which was later discovered by Steve; and who could forget the incident in the opening episode of Series 6 that first made viewers suspect that DCI Davidson was a bent copper, when enroute to raid the address of a suspect in the murder of Gail Vella Hickies, she redirected the convoy to Hickey’s Bookmakers for what she ‘suspected’ was an armed robbery.

The Line of Duty Experience is £65pp and to book go to www.mccombscoaches.com or call 028 9086 6162.  

Newcastle Streets Get Ready for Eats & Beats

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Newcastle is gearing up to host Visit Mourne’s brand new Eats and Beats festival this weekend from Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September.  With two food villages and three stages, it will be jam-packed with celebrity chefs, special events, live music, street performers, family fun, and a world of cuisine.

Festival goers can browse more than 60 food, drink, arts and crafts stalls at the Homegrown and World food villages in Donard Park and Castle Park.  Villages will be open from 11am to 8.30pm on Saturday and 11am to 7.45pm on Sunday. The Newcastle Artisan Market, located outside the Newcastle Centre, running from 11am-3pm on Saturday only.  As if that isn’t enough there will also be lots of family fun activities, a sustainability village and a series of fringe events taking place this weekend. 

Visitors can also sit back and relax with a drink at one of the bars located in each of the food villages while being treated to an incredible array of performances offering an eclectic mix of styles and genres that is sure to create a big festival vibe across the seaside town. Live music at the Homegrown stage in Donard Park, the World Music stage in Castle Park and the Rising Stage on the Promenade starts each day from 12noon – be sure to check the various artists set times at visitmournemountains.co.uk.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Michael Savage said, “Newry, Mourne and Down is becoming well known for the quality of its catering outlets, food produce, microbreweries and distillers and it has long had a strong track record for producing talented and successful musicians.  It is therefore timely that the Council through its tourism arm, Visit Mourne, is hosting a festival which showcases its strongest assets in one of the district’s most beautiful locations.  All roads will be leading to Newcastle this weekend as the Eats & Beats festival finishes off the Council’s summer events programme on a high.”

On the Homegrown stage in Donard Park its two day line up will be hosted by QRadio presenter, comedian and DJ Ryan Hand.  Award-winning band, Kíla, heralded as one of Ireland’s most innovative and exciting bands, will headline the stage on Saturday evening.  While The Undertones, known for one of the best punk anthems of all time – ‘Teenage Kicks’, will rock Newcastle on Sunday evening and delight crowds as they belt out their famous hits.

Anyone looking for something different will find it at the World Food Village and Stage in Castle Park where you can lose yourself in the vibes of Brazilian Samba, Indian Bhangra, Latin, African and many other traditional music forms from bands such as The Mons Wheeler, the Streetwise Samba Band, the Balkan band, Basork whose fusion ensemble draws on Irish, European and Middle Eastern music and the Belfast Community Gospel Choir (BCGC). Award-winning Irish singer/songwriters, Zoe Conway and John McIntyre can also be found on the World music stage on Saturday afternoon.

The Rising Stage at The Promenade will host new and upcoming acts including singer-songwriter RUE who will join indie-folk duo, Lathya and Downpatrick’s own indie/alternative rock band, The Thing Is.  Parker, Winnie Ama, Jack Devlin and Dark Tropics will also take to the stage over the two-day event.

For anyone travelling to Newcastle, there will be a Park and Walk located at Bryansford GAC and a Park and Ride will operate from the Northfield site on both days.  Toilets and disabled amenities will be located across the site while Changing Places facilities can be found at Donard Park.

Stay tuned to the Visit Mourne Facebook and Twitter pages where the full festival line-up, carparking and other important festival information will be posted throughout the weekend. Further information on where to stay, eat, and things to do during your stay can be found at visitmournemountains.co.uk.

Relive The Golden Age Of Steam At Whitehead Railway Museum

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Families that are exploring the land shaped by sea and stone this summer may want to plan a trip to Whitehead Railway Museum. Promising an immersive, family-friendly experience throughout its five impressive and interactive galleries, guests will be able to rub shoulders with the giants of the steam age.

Thanks to the development of Whitehead’s railway lines by Belfast and Northern Counties Railway Company, and offers of free first-class tickets to those who moved there, people flocked in their thousands to Whitehead in the 20th Century. Since opening Whitehead Railway Museum in 2017, the site is once again attracting tourists to the picturesque seaside town.

The location of the museum dates back to 1903 when the railway opened a second platform for day trippers to allow for a separate train to head directly to the boat at Larne harbour. Then, as now, Whitehead is the only place in Ireland with two train stations.

“The railway companies were impressive marketers before marketing was a thing. They built hotels such as the Slieve Donard in Newcastle, the Laharna in Larne and the Northern Counties in Portrush to entice travel, as well as developing The Gobbins Cliff Path,” said Robin. 

Robin Morton, one of more than 100 volunteers at the museum, explained that there is much more happening around the site to make it a living, breathing museum.

“The museum is wrapped around our foundry and heavy engineering workshop so you can actually see volunteers at work on the steam engines and undertaking carriage restoration work. 

“Visitors on our tours have a truly sensory experience, and with our locomotives being repaired or undergoing regular maintenance work we plan for them to be here for a very long time to come,” Robin explained.

The museum also serves as the headquarters of the Railway Preservation Society of Ireland (RPSI), which boasts 1,200 members on the island of Ireland, GB and across the world and began in Whitehead back in 1966.

“A range of historical stock was tucked away in sheds including an engine from 1879 and carriage from 1911 just waiting for the public to discover,” said Robin. 

“To be able to open them up to the public proved how much interest there is.”

Additionally there is a station building with a tea room, stables gallery with education centre, locomotive and carriage sheds, a carriage gallery where visitors can board locomotives and sit in the driver’s seat and the machine workshop. 

With five galleries, interactive exhibits and a 60ft working locomotive turntable the museum continues to develop from when it first opened in 2017, welcoming in a new generation of train-loving tourists.

“Among the exhibits is the actual carriage used by the Queen in 1953, to travel around Northern Ireland,” explained Robin.

“There was a nice follow-on to that in 2016 when the Queen visited here again; she expressed a lovely memory about Benone Strand.

“We were able to provide the same carriage and the Queen and the late Duke of Edinburgh were able to travel on that same stretch of line from Kilrea to Bellareena. She said it brought back happy memories to her.

“In addition we have the Irish state carriage that was used by the ex-President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, which Irish Rail gifted to us for the museum.”

As well as the museum the RPSI normally runs regular ‘Museum on the Move’ events with seasonal steam train excursions at Easter, Hallowe’en and Christmas.

“We also run the Steam & Jazz specials on Friday evenings in June and July, plus the Portrush Flyer to the north coast on Sundays in August and the Steam Enterprise to Dublin. Unfortunately, these were halted by the pandemic but we hope to be back on track soon,” said Robin. 

“We will however still be operating short trips aboard a steam train on Saturdays during July and August. Steam engine No. 3BG Guinness, named after the Guinness Brewery in Dublin, will be in action at the museum from 12noon to 4pm. The locomotive, which was built over 100 years ago, is the star of the show when it hauls train rides up and down the museum’s main line.

“As part of the ‘Steam Saturdays’ visitors can see at close hand how this magnificent machine works. You can chat with the driver and fireman and see the footplate, the structure where the driver and fireman stand to operate the steam train.” 

Visitors can indulge their nostalgia and experience a different era through the museum’s guided 75-minute tours, which is a chance to hear locally told stories of the town’s development into a popular railway town. For those keen to explore self-guided, the museum offers a downloadable audio guide for smartphones. 

As well as the tours of the museum they also host events throughout the year including a Teddy Bears Picnic, an Easter Egg Hunt, European Heritage Open Days and a themed train day for Whitehead’s annual Victorian Street Fair, held in November. 

As a major attraction on the Causeway Coastal Route, the museum is just 30 minutes from Belfast, and if you travel by train to Whitehead with Northern Ireland Railways, you will receive a 20% discount. 

Whitehead Railway Museum welcome those of all ages to come along and meet their new mascot, Harvey the Teddy Bear, nicknamed after RH Smith Locomotive. Miniature stuffed versions of Harvey are available to purchase, along with Harvey’s new children’s book which was published in December 2020. 

For those seeking a bit of nostalgia, or perhaps those wanting to imagine themselves boarding the Hogwarts Express, a visit to the Whitehead Railway Museum is a must for the ultimate family-friendly experience.

For opening hours or to learn more about the museum, or book tickets visit steamtrainsireland.com/museum-tickets

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