Featured Event - Ulster Tatler

Women In Media 2024 at QUB

Posted on November 6, 2024 by admin

Women in Media Belfast (WIMB) held the ‘WIM 24’ Ireland and Britain partnership summit in the Great Hall at Queen’s University Belfast on October 24. The event, attended by up to 200 delegates, featured a range of panel discussions and individual speakers addressing the triumphs and challenges for women who work, and appear, in the media. WIMB and Dublin’s Women on Air (WoA) announced further collaboration for 2025 including training workshops.

WIMB also plans to take events on the road, so if you want a spotlight on your area or issues check out: www.wimbelfast.com

Missing persons advocate Joanne Dorrian, outgoing Mirror editor Jilly Beattie, and Ireland’s press ombudsperson Susan McKay.

WIMB director Niamh Campbell, athlete Katie Morrow, broadcaster Denise Watson and freelance reporter Clodagh Traynor.

BBC presenter Claire Graham with PA Westminster correspondent Claudia Savage and Women in Journalism Scotland’s Anna Burnside and Catriona Stewart.

Artist and Éadach designer Sara O’Neill with fashion editor Bairbre Power.

Shonagh Gill, Erin Bowman, Abi Dynan and Mrudula Srivatsa.

What To Expect For 2025 Weddings

Posted on October 14, 2024October 14, 2024 by admin

From Champagne Coupes and Pets in the Pictures to Best Women and Flower Boys…

Galgorm Collection’s Wedding Expert, Beth Greenan, shares her guide to what to expect in the world of weddings in 2025.

As peak wedding season heads towards its close for 2024, wedding couples across the land are already making plans for their special days next year. Mood boards, wedding mags and a trawl of the biggest online stars’ social media accounts will be playing their part in creating some serious wedding inspiration.

But look no further, because here, Beth Greenan, Galgorm Collection’s resident wedding expert, who has been helping loved-up couples create their dream big days for 20 years, is on hand to share her insights into what the country’s coolest couples will be doing in 2025.

“What we’re seeing is that couples are more and more confident in making their own decisions,” she says. “They’re working within broader traditions but doing it their own way. Things are bigger, bolder and more creative than ever – and social media has played a huge part in that. Couples want a picture-perfect experience, and they’re making whatever adjustments they need to get it.”

Here’s what to expect in 2025.

Multi-day Events

“More and more couples are thinking of a full experience for their guests, rather than just the wedding day itself,” says Beth. “If guests are travelling, they want to spend quality time with them, not just grab a quick chat outside the church, so multi-day events are huge.

“There could be a rehearsal or welcome party the day before as the excitement builds and a brunch or more informal event the day after. For example, some of our guests would have the wedding at Galgorm then go to Parisien the next day for lunch. It’s all about the “experience”. This used to be the reserve of destination weddings abroad as guests made a holiday out of their trip, but now the multi-day, “destination feel” event is something couples are doing closer to home.”

Social Media Generation

“We all remember the standard was to have a photographer, and maybe a videographer to capture the big day,” says Beth. “Now there’s a third to factor in, and that’s the social media content creator. We’re seeing them more and more across all our venues as couples want to capture every moment – often putting them out live on the day on the couple’s social media channels.

“And this isn’t just for the well-known, or for major social media influencers, this is just couples who have grown up with high-quality online content, and really value it. Not only are the content creators capturing the bridal party and guests in candid VTs, they’re also getting the photographer and videographer in the shots creating full, glossy content for socials to reflect the full magic of the day.”

Venues with Impact

“In the past, couples would pick a beautiful hotel, but one that wouldn’t necessarily reflect their style,” says Beth. “They would spend a lot of their budget dressing the room to transform it from what it was to how they wanted it to be. Now, couples are opting for venues that already look incredible, and suit their own style and tastes, so that need to splash money on décor just isn’t a factor anymore.

“From picture-perfect and quite quirky hotels like The Rabbit, to museums and venues with real impact, choosing somewhere slightly different that already works for your style and taste is becoming the way to do it – and crucially, it allows you to channel the budget into backdrops with impact or additional entertainment or catering for the day.”

Cakes and coupes

“The wedding cake, or perhaps a “cake tower” is still a big factor for most wedding days,” says Beth. “But not for all. Increasingly we’re seeing the “cut the cake” moment being swapped for a Coupe Champagne Tower, where the couple pour champagne down the tower of glasses, which makes for an incredible picture – and gorgeous footage for socials. The “back-drop” for the cake or coupe is also a must, making pictures really pop.

“There might also be a dessert table, packed full of opulent dessert options, which again looks amazing on camera – and tastes phenomenal too, of course. Food is being reimagined. It’s not just the big three-course dinner, with a finger buffet in the evening. People are going for all sorts of cool options, like a Mexican fiesta in the evening, or anything at all. It’s really fun to get creative.”

Goodbye ‘Receiving Line’

“I did this at my wedding, and lots of couples used to do it,” says Beth. “The couple and their immediate family would greet the guests one by one outside the church or at the hotel to make sure they spoke to everyone. But now, with the longer events, this fairly formal aspect really isn’t as common as it used to be as there’s more opportunity to spend time with everyone in a more laid-back way over a few days.”

Animals welcome!

“Years ago, it would have been really unusual for a couple to have a pet at a wedding,” says Beth. “But now, it’s 100% accepted and I’d say we’ve got a dog at a wedding nearly every week. To have a pet featuring in pictures, or even taking part in the ceremony itself in some way, is not a strange request for us at all anymore. We have even welcomed a horse!”

Gender fluid

“Wedding parties are really mixing it up at the minute in terms of who does what,” says Beth. “We’ve got flower boys coming down the aisle, we’ve got Best Women, men in the bridal party, brides and maids-of-honour doing fantastic speeches. As with most other things, the fundamentals are there in terms of traditions in that the same things are happening, but couples are doing it their own way and choosing precisely who they want for each role.”

Table Plans 2.0

“Back in the day, a table plan would consist of names listed out on a printed piece of paper,” says Beth. “Couples would often come up with quirky names for the table to give guests a giggle, but the ante has been well and truly upped here, like it has been everywhere else. Now, we’ve got table plans presented on photographs, on records, on vases of flowers. The more creative the better, as far as the couples are concerned. And of course, it all looks great for social media.”

The Walk In

“This was always a lovely part of the day, when the couple walked into the room to a tune they loved after the wedding,” says Beth. “But while it used to be a pretty small part of the day, now it’s a major moment of the day for lots of couples. Guests are encouraged to swing those napkins aloft while the turns are pumping. We’ve had one couple led in by their little son who was driving a remote-control car, we’ve had grooms dancing their way in, we’ve had big elaborate moments involving the full wedding party. It’s definitely as impactful and important as the walk out of the ceremony, which used to be the main moment.”

Multi-cultural celebrations

“Couples are getting more confident in incorporating different cultures into their celebrations,” says Beth. “We have lots of people who are getting married close to home, but their partners are from different backgrounds or parts of the world, and more and more those varied traditions are being embraced. At a recent wedding the bride was from Northern Ireland and the groom was from Nigeria, and we had this amazing moment when they did a full Nigerian walk in, where they danced into the room and did a traditional Nigerian ‘money spray’ where guests shower the couple with money. It made their wedding so special and personal to them, and that’s what we want to help couples create, whether it be through unique food offerings, entertainment or their own specific traditions. Whatever works for them makes their wedding – their event – one to remember for everyone involved, and we love to help them incorporate and celebrate their own cultures.”

Gorgeous groomsmen – and multiple dresses for the bride

“While women’s wedding dresses are still as incredible as ever, and really there’s a huge range of what people now choose, it’s the men we’re watching now,” says Beth. “Gone are the standard suits and one-colour ties for the groomsmen, now they’re really going for it with their fashion choices. It’s great to see because it’s a chance for the groom and his party to really have fun with fashion on such a huge day in their lives. They’ve got more confidence in going for something different, which often creates a talking point on the day. On the bridal front, it’s really not unusual for the bride to have another dress to change into in the evening. One wedding dress no more!”

Draping – and colour scape 2025

“Drapes are having a big moment,” says Beth. “And we expect that to continue into 2025. In terms of colours, trends come and go, but red is a big one for next year, as well as metallic colouring. Couples make their own choices depending on their tastes of course, but these fashions do have an impact on what we see.”

Music noon til night

“Again, it’s the full “experience” for guests that comes into play with music now,” says Beth. “No longer do couples just book a band to play for after dinner, now there’s very often music at every point in the day – from the ceremony, arrival and reception drinks, and surprise performances through dinner, to elevated band and DJ set-ups for the evening reception and even Day 2.

“Couples now have so much choice and they are definitely well-informed and discerning what they want. If they’re savvy, they may pull back on one aspect of the day to make something else really special and memorable to them. They’re a confident bunch – and it shows in their weddings.”

To find out more about weddings across Galgorm Collection visithttps://www.galgorm.com/galgorm-collection-weddings.html

‘TIME FLIES’ as Minnows debut album ‘Holyland’ gets long-awaited digital release

Posted on July 24, 2024 by admin

ONE of Northern Ireland’s most iconic singles of the ‘90s, ‘Time Flies’ by Belfast band The Minnows, will soon be available to stream or download for the first time as the band give their debut album ‘Holyland’ a long overdue digital release on July 29.

‘Time Flies’ was released on vinyl and cassette by The Minnows (then known as tiBeriuS’ minnoWs) as their first single on Terri Hooley’s famous Good Vibrations record label in 1991.

A Top 10 hit in Northern Ireland, the song achieved widespread critical acclaim on its release but has gone on to become a signature tune for the band and an enduring favourite of fans at home and beyond – if anything becoming even more popular as time passes.

Following its success as a single, it was to be another five years before ‘Time Flies’ would feature on The Minnows’ debut album ‘Holyland’ in 1996, which also included the popular early single ‘Another Rainy Day’.

Four thousand CD copies of the ‘Holyland’ album were pressed at the time and these sold out very quickly, with Japan the biggest market outside of Ireland. Despite selling out, there was never a second print run of the popular album, which has led to growing demand in the years that followed for copies to be made available either physically or online.

Now, on the back of increasing interest in the band, following the success of their most recent album ‘Californian Poppy’ and a return to the live stage in 2023 (after an 11-year absence), The Minnows have finally decided to give the album a digital release across all major streaming platforms from July 29, 2024.

The ‘Holyland’ album offers a diverse selection of songs, featuring 13 tracks recorded at two different studios in two very different sets of circumstances.

Four tracks, including ‘Time Flies’ and ‘Another Rainy Day’ were recorded professionally at the famous Homestead recording studio in Randalstown, produced at the time by the late Mudd Wallace and local musician Rod McVey. The remaining songs capture The Minnows at their innocent best – recorded by the band themselves as they experimented and found their way around Green Dolphin Studios in Belfast.

“We were learning the ropes and hadn’t much a clue what we were doing to be honest,” explains lead guitarist and general technical ‘wizard’ Paul ‘Maynesy’ Maynes, now an award-winning sound engineer in his own right.

“I was learning my trade on work experience at Green Dolphin recording studios when the owners went on holiday, so we had the studio to ourselves for two weeks to experiment and to try and capture our live sound on record. A fortnight later, after much experimentation, we had what we felt was the foundation of a good album. We already had some professionally recorded songs from Homestead Studios – including ‘Time Flies’ and ‘Another Rainy Say’ so we added them to the mix and hey presto… Holyland was born,” said Maynesy.

Minnows lead singer/songwriter Michael Rafferty (aka ‘Raff’) added: “We’re delighted to finally give Holyland its digital release after all these years. It’s been a long time coming and something we’ve been meaning to do for ages – but I suppose we just never got around to it.

“It’s certainly not a typical album, having been recorded in two studios. The quality of ‘Time Flies’ and the Homestead recordings is there for all to see but the Green Dolphin sessions were very much ‘trial and error’ and capture a young band finding its feet in the studio, refining its sound and expanding its song-writing horizons.

“We know those recordings are far from perfect, but innocence and naivety are great qualities that cannot be forged or replicated later and we still have a lot of people who come up to us and say that those early raw ‘Holyland’ recordings are their favourites of all the work we’ve done.

“We know that four thousand people out there have a rare copy of the Holyland CD – it’s great that the album will now to be available globally to a whole new audience, and its longevity now secured online,” said Raff.

The ‘Holyland’ album will be available to stream or download from July 29 on all digital platforms, including iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Bandcamp, and the band’s website www.minnowsband.com.

The Minnows are Michael Rafferty, Paul Maynes, Kevin Carson and Stephen O’Sullivan. For more Minnows news and music, check out www.minnowsband.com or the band’s Facebook page.

Belfast in Bloom Competition

Posted on July 18, 2024July 18, 2024 by admin

The Lord Mayor visited a local hospitality business in the city centre today congratulating them on their win at last year’s ‘Belfast in Bloom’ competition. He also took the opportunity to call on businesses and commercial premises in the city to enter this year’s awards which will close for entries soon – on Friday 26 July. Councillor Micky Murray was at Granny Annies on the junction of Chichester Street and Victoria Street meeting with staff – the premises won the award for ‘Best Restaurant’ in the competition last year.

The Lord Mayor said: “Our Belfast in Bloom competition has been running for many years now and is open to businesses and commercial premises in the city centre and across Belfast. By cheering up outside hanging baskets and planters with striking, colourful flowers and foliage, these actions are lauded by visitors, workers in the city and residents -calling in and spending more time in the premises – inside and out, as they contribute to them being even more attractive and welcoming.

“Granny Annies scooped the award for ‘Best Restaurant’ in the competition last year and it is easy to see why with their stunning, eye-catching flower planters outside the premises. They are also very well spotted and create a‘ wow’ factor for many along a main road in the city centre from people walking past or travelling by in cars, bikes and buses. Belfast in Bloom also contributes to council’s work in ensuring the city centre is green, vibrant and welcoming. It links in too with our street planting programme where colourful planters have been added to key arterial routes as well as visitor attractions like City Hall, 2 Royal Avenue and St George’s Market.

“I hope that many businesses and commercial premises in the city centre and across Belfast can now follow Granny Annies and enter this year’s Belfast in Bloom competition – getting their entries in by Friday 26 July. They can fill in our short application form or enter online on our website with all the details at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/belfastinbloom Good luck to all!”

Last year’s winners included the Errigle Inn on the Ormeau Road for ‘Best Public House’, Ten Square Hotel in the city centre for ‘Best Hotel’ and SPAR Malone Road for ‘Best Commercial Premises’.While Union Street (Maverick Bar) won the award for ‘Best Commercial Street’ with judges noting “the great effort being made to add floral colour to the street with hanging and manger baskets adding colour and large planters with permanent evergreen shrubs”. These award categories are also open for entries this year from businesses/commercial premises.

Lucy Anderson from Granny Annies said: “We were absolutely delighted to win the ‘Best Restaurant’ award in the Belfast in Bloom competition last year. It was a very simple process to enter – just going online on the council’s website and completing a short application form. Our beautiful flower planters and hanging baskets – over 40 of them, filled with begonias and petunias, have stopped many people on the street who have said they look really wonderful, calling into our premises for food and drinks or else sitting outside to enjoy them. A lot of visitors from cruise ships and tour groups in the city centre have also called in and said how stunning they look and get photos taken beside them.

“I would definitely encourage businesses in the city centre and across Belfast to enter the awards. Just by planting flowers in a planter on a window sill or hanging basket, you can add that little bit more sunshine to your premises.”

Belfast in Bloom is also open to local residents, community groups and schools. There are entries for ‘Best Hanging Basket’, ‘Best Window Box’ and ‘Best Front Garden’. Community groups/organisations can enter for ‘Best Community Street’, ‘Best Community Group’ and ‘Best Community Garden’. There are also awards for ‘Best Individual Allotment’ and ‘Best Allotment Site’ in Belfast.

More information on the competition is available at www.belfastcity.gov.uk/belfastinbloom

Lord Mayor Councillor Micky Murray with Lucy Anderson from Granny Annies.

Beefsteak Club and Waterman House Launch ‘Wine to Dine For’ Event

Posted on July 3, 2024 by admin

Beefsteak Club Wines has teamed up with award-winning chef Niall McKenna and his Waterman Restaurant in Belfast to host a special culinary experience for local wine enthusiasts and food lovers.

Distributed in Northern Ireland by Craigavon-based United Wines, Beefsteak Club is inspired by London’s dining clubs of the 18th century and offers a cracking range of quality wines from around the world, all perfect for pairing with your favourite food dishes – something guests will have an opportunity to experience at Waterman House on Saturday 12th October 2024.

As part of Beefsteak Club’s ‘Wine to Dine For‘ campaign, this exclusive ‘supper club’ style event will be hosted by Ciaran Meyler, Wine Manager at United Wines, who has enjoyed an outstanding career as a wine professional from server to seller.

Guests will receive a glass of wine on arrival, followed by an opportunity to indulge in four delicious small plates, each paired perfectly with a glass of Beefsteak Club wines.

Tickets for the ‘Wine to Dine For‘ event are available now at just £55 per person and are expected to sell out quickly with only 80 seats available – so early reservations are recommended. To secure a place, tickets can be purchased at www.waterman.house/collections/events/products/beefsteak-club-wine-evening.

Ciaran Meyler, Wine Manager at United Wines, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with Waterman House to bring this exceptional Beefsteak Club Wines event to Belfast. If you love wine and love food, then you won’t want to miss this exclusive celebration of fine wines, gourmet food and the vibrant culinary culture of Northern Ireland.”

Waterman Chef Proprietor, Niall McKenna, who also operated the popular James St. Restaurant, added: “Hosting this ‘Wine to Dine For’ event in partnership with Beefsteak Club and United Wines is an exciting opportunity for us to showcase our culinary expertise and to create a memorable experience for our guests.

“Beefsteak Club is a superb selection of wines inspired by London dining clubs of the 18th century and will be perfectly matched to a menu created by our Waterman chefs. We really look forward to welcoming guests to this special culinary and wine-tasting experience which promises to be an unforgettable evening for connoisseurs and enthusiasts alike.”

Niall McKenna has been cooking since the age of 15. Having studied professional cookery at Belfast Metropolitan College, he moved to London where he worked with Michelin-starred chefs such as Nico Ladenis, Gary Rhodes and Marco Pierre White.

Having returned to Belfast in 2000, he opened his own James Street South in 2003. A strong supporter of local Northern Irish produce, he has since operated a string of popular restaurants in Belfast, most recently Waterman House, incorporating a Cookery School, events spaces and tasting rooms, as well as the Waterman Restaurant.

Founded in 1985, United Wines, a subsidiary of Heineken Ireland, is now one of the biggest drinks distributors on the island of Ireland.

Operating from an 80,000 square foot warehouse in Craigavon, with 55 staff on its books, United Wines distributes an extensive portfolio of beers, wines, spirits and soft drinks to more than 1,000 bars, restaurants, hotels, off-licenses, cash & carries, regional wholesalers and national multiples throughout the country.

Award-winning chef Niall McKenna of Waterman Restaurant in Belfast, and Ciaran Meyler, Wine Manager at United Wines, are hosting a special Beefsteak Club Wines‘culinary experience’ for local wine enthusiasts and food lovers at Waterman House on Saturday, October 12, 2024. As part of Beefsteak Club’s ‘Wine to Dine For’ campaign, guests at the exclusive ‘supper club’ style event will receive a glass of wine on arrival, followed by an opportunity to indulge in four delicious small plates, each paired perfectly with a glass of Beefsteak Club wines. Tickets are available now at just £55 per person and are expected to sell out quickly with only 80 seats available. To secure a place, visit www.waterman.house/collections/events/products/beefsteak-club-wine-evening.

248th Anniversary of US Independence

Posted on June 28, 2024July 4, 2024 by admin

The 248th anniversary of US Independence was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Ardnavally, Shaws Bridge, in Belfast on Thursday, June 27th. The event drew a distinguished crowd, including notable attendees Consul General Belfast James Applegate and his wife Sarah Boyke. Despite the unseasonable Belfast weather the gathering was a resounding success, marked by its vibrant and festive atmosphere.

Guests enjoyed a series of speeches that highlighted the enduring friendship between the United States and Northern Ireland.

The meticulously organised event provided an excellent platform for networking and celebrating shared values and history. The celebration was widely regarded as a worthy tribute to America’s enduring spirit of independence, leaving attendees with a sense of pride and camaraderie.

Lord Mayor Announces Four Charities For His Year In Office

Posted on June 21, 2024June 21, 2024 by admin

Each year, the Lord Mayor of Belfast selects charities to support during their year in office. Lord Mayor, Councillor Micky Murray, has announced his four official charities – DePaul, Inspire, Show Some Love Ltd and Oh Yeah Music Centre.

Meeting with representatives from each organisation at Belfast City Hall, Councillor Murray said his personal experience of supporting those coping with homelessness and addiction while working in the voluntary sector was a driving force behind his choices.

Representatives from Show Some Love Ltd, Inspire, Oh Yeah Music Centre and DePaul meet with Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, outside City Hall as they were announced as his official charities for his year in office. Councillor Murray has selected the four organisations for their work to deliver aid to those experiencing hardship (Show Some Love Ltd), support those coping with homelessness and addiction (De Paul and Inspire) and projects to empower young people and develop their skills (Oh Yeah Music Centre).
From left to right – Becky Bellamy, Show Some Love Ltd, Jackie McBurney, Inspire, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, Connor Kerr, Show Some Love Ltd, Tim McQuade, DePaul and Paul Kane, Oh Yeah Music Centre

“Both DePaul and Inspire do fantastic work here in Belfast – most of which goes unseen,” he said. “Whether it’s counselling, family support or accommodation, without them, many individuals and their families would be struggling even more.”

Tim McQuade, DePaul stated, “We can’t wait to have the Lord Mayor get involved in some of the projects that we have coming up in the year ahead, not least our 20^th anniversary of operations in Northern Ireland.” http://depaulcharity.org/

Inspire representative, Jackie McBurney expressed the charity was “very much looking forward to welcoming the Lord Mayor to our premises in the coming year.” She also stated her charity has “been delivering a service for over 45 years to the people of Belfast and beyond.” http://inspirewellbeing.org/

“As Lord Mayor, I want to highlight the many valuable services they offer and give them the opportunity to put forward what they need to be able to do their job more effectively and continue to deliver this vital support.”

With inclusion and diversity also a key theme for the Lord Mayor’s term in office, Show Some Love Ltd was another natural choice for Councillor Murray.

The charity provides projects, events and spaces to bring people together and offer aid for those experiencing hardship. They work closely with refugees, asylum seekers, the LGBTQIA+ community and those in financial difficulty. Their projects include free packs of toiletries and underwear to those in need, a clothing bank and workshops focusing on textile recycling.

“This organisation has a real ethos of inclusion that runs through all their work, and are strongly focused on reducing loneliness and isolation and improving empathy and understanding of those who are marginalised,” said Councillor Murray.

“Their projects are so diverse and I love their resourcefulness and hustle to take unwanted items and use creativity to turn them into something current, useful and beautiful. By getting together to share skills, they’re also supporting better mental health and doing something good for the environment too.”

Becky Bellamy and Connor Kerr from Show Some Love Ltd stated their community “are over the moon that Councillor Murray is our first gay Lord Mayor of Belfast. The fact that he has chosen us, at this time, whenever we’re a growing organisation with loads of potential, it’s really going to make a huge difference to us and our work.” http://anotherworldbelfast.com/

The final charity chosen by the Lord Mayor, Oh Yeah Music Centre, also has a strong track record in bringing people together, this time through music.

The venue, based in the Cathedral Quarter, runs a wide range of outreach and education initiatives with young people, including work with schools and youth groups from across the city.

“I’ve always been impressed by the events and activities hosted by Oh Yeah and what they bring to our city,” said Councillor Murray. “They work hard to develop the next generation of talent, not just on the stage, but off it too – their programmes and workshops are focused on developing the skills young people need for the world of work and empowering them to be themselves, fulfil their potential, and follow their dreams.

Finally, Paul Kane from Oh Yeah Music Centre expressed how “it’s a real thrill to say thank you for the support the Lord Mayor is giving to us at Oh Yeah Music Centre, from our youth projects like Elevate and our talent development programmes to our live music venue.” http://ohyeahbelfast.com/

“I’m excited to work with all four of my charities this year and provide them with a platform to showcase their work and demonstrate their value within our city.”

From left to right (back) – Becky Bellamy, Show Some Love Ltd, Jackie McBurney, Inspire, Connor Kerr, Show Some Love Ltd
From left to right (front) – Tim McQuade, DePaul, Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, and Paul Kane, Oh Yeah Music Centre

http://depaulcharity.org/

http://inspirewellbeing.org/

http://anotherworldbelfast.com/

http://ohyeahbelfast.com/

Ulster Tatler Summer Drinks at Stephen Whalley Gallery

Posted on June 21, 2024June 21, 2024 by admin

Guests enjoyed wine and Four Star Pizza at the Ulster Tatler’s annual summer drinks party, which took place at the Stephen Whalley and Dawn Crothers Gallery & Studios in East Belfast. Guests enjoyed wine and beer courtesy of United Wines.

For Full Coverage See Our July Issue

Summer of Creativity Ahead as ‘Bank of Ideas’ Recipients are Announced

Posted on June 21, 2024June 21, 2024 by admin

Twenty nine schemes will share £50,000 from the “Bank of Ideas” to fund local creative projects across Belfast this summer and into the autumn, thanks to funding from Belfast City Council’s Belfast 2024 programme.

Belfast City Council is investing £5.9 million into Belfast 2024, which builds upon the council’s existing support for culture and arts and invites citizens to get creative, through a mix of new commissions and community-led programmes, all reflecting the city’s diversity and vibrancy.

A further £250,000 has also been secured from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for ‘Our Future Heritage’ which will enable people to explore Belfast’s tangible and intangible heritage and its impact on our identity through ten Belfast 2024 projects.

The aim of the Belfast 2024 programme is to support jobs in the creative sector, create new opportunities for residents to enjoy and participate in the arts, and showcase the city as a global destination for culture, through its three key themes of People, Place and Planet.

The projects secured the highest number of votes at a special ‘creative market’ held at City Hall on Sunday 2 June, where they showcased their concepts to visitors who had the final say in which schemes received funding and will be rolled out across the city between June and October. See full list below of chosen projects.

“We’ve had a great response to our invitation for communities to bring forward their own ideas for what they’d like to see, and deliver, in their neighbourhoods as part of Belfast 2024,” said Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray. “Their concepts are all unique, and show how creativity can bring people together, encourage them to try something different and provide opportunities for everyone to get involved, no matter what their ability or background. “It has also unearthed people and new groups who are passionate about where they live and the kind of place they want to create.”

Also coming up this summer as part of the Belfast 2024 programme is Midsummer at the Lyric, a new take on the Shakespeare classic from 4-7 July and the first open air production to be held in the Lyric Theatre’s outdoor amphitheatre space.
Tickets are now sold out, but a waiting list is currently open at lyrictheatre.co.uk

Wild Belfast are holding a number of outdoor workshops through their Safari in the City series, inviting residents to learn more about the butterflies, wildflowers, bats and other biodiversity on our doorstep, while Show Some Love Green House – located at 171-175 Victoria Street in Belfast city centre – is open daily 10am-6pm, with events and workshops.

Ahead of Water Works on Saturday 3 August, which will see thousands of boats of all shapes and sizes launched along the River Lagan, arts organisation are also inviting visitors to call into their pop-up shop in CastleCourt every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to get involved in making their own boat.

Keep updated on all upcoming Belfast 2024 events and projects – including ‘The Bank of Ideas’ – at belfast2024.co.uk or follow @belfast2024 on Instagram and Facebook.

Voting for The Bank of Ideas in the IOPD (International Observatory on Participatory Democracy) Awards is open until 12pm on 1 July at https://participate.oidp.net/

Antoinettte Campbell from Wonder Bubble Magic Show (left) and Hannah Goodall from Climate Craic Festival (right) – pictured with Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray – are among those to receive funding from Belfast City Council’s Bank of Ideas for creative projects in local communities this summer. 29 projects will share £50,000 of funding as part of Belfast 2024, the city’s celebration of culture and creativity. The grants will be used to support everything from children’s arts clubs and community libraries to craft workshops and fun days for those with special educational needs, with events taking place between now and October.

Creative projects meet with Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Micky Murray, to celebrate funding received through Belfast City Council’s Bank of Ideas for creative projects in local communities this summer. 29 projects will share £50,000 of funding as part of Belfast 2024, the city’s celebration of culture and creativity. The grants will be used to support everything from children’s arts clubs and community libraries to craft workshop and fun days for those with special educational needs, with events taking place between now and October.

The 29 ‘Bank of Ideas’ projects are:

ArtsFest – ArtsFest3: Engaging – June 2024
A festival bringing together Belfast creatives at Arts for All, with free inclusive workshops to co-create art and exhibitions for under-represented artists to showcase and sell their work.

Suicide Awareness and Support Group – Chill with Gill café and support for people with anxiety
A weekly support group for people with anxiety, run by a yoga teacher, with chats, deep relaxation, breathing techniques, and advice.

Antoinette Campbell – Wonder Bubble Magic Show – June-October
Experiential and immersive workshops in hostels and with assisted living residents, culminating in a wonder bubble magic show.

Tracey Tsang – Bee Wildflower workshops – July and August
Creative workshops for kids to make bee-shaped recycled paper and paper mache seed bombs, with a creative competition featuring an art exhibition and prizes.

Belfast Massage Project – July-September
Accredited aromatherapy health massage training for members of the asylum and refugee communities, promoting self-care, teamwork and mental health.

Sailortown Regeneration – A Brush with History – July-September
In collaboration with the local community, artists and the Belfast Archive Project, an initiative to re-animate areas of Sailortown with dynamic imagery of local heritage and culture from the area.

Chris Lowry – Community Garden Open Day – July-October
An alleyway garden open day for anyone near the Ormeau Road, with a barbecue, wildflower mural creation and a travelling bike-propelled art gallery!

Mark Cousins and Ross Anderson-Doherty – Disabled Cabaret performance – July
A disabled queer cabaret to raise awareness of the talent of disabled queer people in Belfast.

Meadow Ladies of Bog Meadows – The Meadow Heart Project – July-August
Creation of a large, heart-shaped public art mosaic in Bog Meadows’ new community Wilding Garden, with 15 small pieces to represent the elements of the nature reserve the ladies love the most.

Shannen McNeice – Between Galaxies (profound and multiple learning disabilities children’s show) – July
A multi-sensory theatre show for four young audience members with multiple and profound disabilities and three actors.

Janine Cousins – Community Craft – Give It a Go embroidery – July
Beginner workshops to teach embroidery stitches which can be used in mending or upcycling clothes/fabrics, empowering people and connecting them together.

Neurodiversity SPARK – Neurodiversity SPARK family fun day – August
A family fun day for neurodivergent parents and children, where parents and children can socialise with people like them, with arts stations, guitar lessons, creative writing sessions, quiet areas and food!

Shared Reading at the Duncairn – Stories from the Shadows – 9 August
A summer of pop-up flash fiction encounters on the theme of shadows, culminating in readings at a celebration of the Irish short story at the 10th annual Scribes at The Duncairn writers’ panel.

Black Moon DJ Collective – Mark Patty, Robert Whiteman, Steven Bradley & Deirdre McKenna – Pop-up Picnic Party – August
A music-filled, fun afternoon of creative community that is disabled-led, for all the family. Black Moon DJ will bring the music to get you dancing, with games and prizes. We invite you to join us and bring a picnic.

Corrina Askin for Grow Community Garden/Cave Hill Conservation Dreamer’s Space – expanding the trail – August
Training volunteers to expand on an inspiring art trail recently installed in Grow Community Garden and inspire creativity and wellness for children and young people.

SEN Reform Wellbeing Day for parents/Carers of children with special educational needs and/or disabilities – August
An initiative dedicated to amplifying the voices of neurodivergent youth. By showcasing personal stories through creative activities, it seeks to change attitudes and foster greater understanding of neurodivergence within society.

Spectrum Centre – Ausume Rascal’s Art Explosion – August-October
Art club for kids with an autism spectrum diagnosis to work with an artist to create colourful dinosaurs to be displayed in Shankill Road shop windows and public spaces.

Conway Education Centre – Threads of Empowerment: Transforming Lives through Sustainable Fashion – August-September
Sustainable fashion for refugee and asylum-seeking children, with a charity shop trip, upcycling training and guidance from a fashion designer and a professional photoshoot to showcase the outfits created.

Adele Huddleston – Lower Oldpark Community Association Children’s Community Library and Book Club – September- October
Children’s Community Library will allow children free access to borrow books, their own book club for discussing chosen books and take part in book-themed art and crafts.

Open Ormeau Community Collective – Ballynafest Community Fair – 7 September
Ballynafest will be a family-friendly event, showcasing local musical talent with circus performances, storytelling, community singing and family picnics where neighbours can meet and friendships can be forged at the heart of the community in Ormeau Park.

Climate Craic Festival – 14 September
An inclusive event in Belfast that uses creative arts to engage the community with climate action, promoting sustainability and fostering strong community connections through workshops, performances, and interactive activities.

Zara Birch – Belfast Women’s Circle – 21 September
A sharing circle for women and girls of all generations and cultures, coming together on World Gratitude Day to share stories, boost connections and mental health, with free yoga, meditation, mindfulness and writing workshops.

Roma Support Hub (Forward South Partnership) – Cosmopolitan Cooking Club – September
Bringing the local community together to prepare food and eat it together.

Meg Magill – The Wee Swap – September
A swap shop for children to swap and reuse clothing, toys and other items on the Newtownards Road with toy hospital, children makers’ space, embroidery station, rag mural and a clothes mender.

Community Together Belfast – Cregagh and Woodstock Diversity Carnival – September
A colourful, creative celebration of the many diverse cultures that exist on the Cregagh and Woodstock Roads, using dance, music, storytelling, visual art, food, and fun to bring people together.

Platform Arts – East Belfast Late Night Art – September
Creating a map of East Belfast arts locations for open gallery events on the first Thursday of the month, with a guided tour, talks and a shuttle bus.

Pitt Park Residents’ Association – Pitt Stop caravan – October
Turning a caravan into a creative community hub in Pitt Park as a drop-in for all ages for a cuppa and soup or for children’s games, crafts, and community fun days.

Ark Housing – Big Belfast Halal-o-ween Party – October
Inclusive celebration that re-imagines Halloween, making it more welcoming for Muslim families by blending cultural traditions, music and entertainment to create connections and showcase creativity and diversity.

Belfast Print Workshop – C’mon and print Belfast – October
Communal print-making on 10m rolls of paper with colourful ink, mark-marking with hands, wheels and flowers and more.

The Future of Shared Learning

Posted on June 20, 2024June 21, 2024 by admin

An exciting new initiative to encourage cross border education led by the Education Authority has been awarded €34.5m (£29m) of PEACEPLUS funding. This ASPIRE project will bring 111,000 students at every school level, from different cultural, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds together to learn over the next 5 years. The project will also provide joint training schemes to better equip 1,761 educators to facilitate shared learning.

The PEACEPLUS programme is co-funded by the EU, the UK and Irish Governments and the NI Executive, with total value of €1.14 billion. The initiative has gained a wealth of support, with Education Minister Paul Givan stating the programme will bring “educational, social and economic benefits”.

SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre hopes it will support children and young people to see that ‘difference’ is not a cause for division but an opportunity for learning and growth.”

Future of Shared Learning funding by the Education Authority.

Cinemagic Young Film Programmers’ Summer Scheme Launches for 2024

Posted on June 17, 2024 by admin

Cinemagic has launched its annual call for young film enthusiasts to take on the role of ‘film consultants’ this July, to participate in workshops and film screenings to help programme a series of films for the annual Cinemagic Festival that takes place in October 2024, supported by the Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen. The film consultants scheme runs in Belfast’s Ulster Museum and for the first time in Portstewart’s Flowerfield Arts Centre.

Participants in the 2-day programme will work in groups of 8 – 11-year-olds, 12 – 14-year-olds and 15 – 17-year-olds along with the Cinemagic team to discuss festival planning and to help steer the choice of films for the autumn, as they watch and critique films from around the globe!

If you are a budding film critic who would enjoy the opportunity to spend time with Cinemagic Film Festival, then this is a fantastic summer scheme opportunity to meet likeminded young people who love watching and discussing films, deciding on some of the content for the largest film festival for young people in the UK and Ireland. The programme is open to all young people in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland.

Chris Shaw, Cinemagic Programmer, said: “We are looking forward to welcoming young film fans to our annual young film consultants panel, which has been one of the longest-running initiatives of the Cinemagic Festival since its inception. The film consultants will have the opportunity to watch and review international films guided by the Cinemagic team and there will be lots of opportunities for discussion and debate.”

TICKET BOOKING: https://tinyurl.com/mph7anjr

Young consultants will meet on the following dates and participants must be available for both dates.

Cinemagic Young Consultants 2024:
15 – 18-year-olds: Thursday 18th and Friday 19th July
10.30am – 3.00pm: Ulster Museum, Belfast.

12 – 14-year-olds: Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July
10.30am – 3.00pm: Ulster Museum, Belfast.

8 – 11-year-olds: Tuesday 23rd and Wednesday 24th July
10.30am – 4.00pm: Ulster Museum, Belfast.

8 – 11-year-olds: Thursday 25th and Friday 26th July
11.00am – 3.00pm: Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart

For more information, visit: www.cinematic.org.uk

Cinemagic Festival supporters:
The Department for Communities through Northern Ireland Screen, Belfast City Council, Film Hub NI, part of the BFI Film Audience Network, awarding funds from National, Department of Education (Ireland).

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