Category: Featured Event

Music and song to take centre stage in Belfast St Patrick’s Day programme

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Belfast’s musical heritage will be celebrated in this year’s St Patrick’s Day programme, taking place across the city from 1-17 March. This year, Belfast City Council has joined with Seachtain na Gaelige and Féile na Earraigh to support events and activities running as part of both festivals, which begin on Friday 1 March and continue until St Patrick’s Day itself.

The event will include the St Patrick’s Day Music Weekend – three days of concerts, céilís, displays, taster sessions and workshops in venues across the city centre, delivered with Belfast TradFest. Featuring traditional music, song and dance, bagpipes, Highland dancers, Irish dancing and bodhrán circles, a festival village will be located at Cathedral Gardens, next to Belfast Cathedral, and will include a host of free performances, alongside food stalls, céili workshops, family-friendly activities and much more.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, said: “2024 is the year to celebrate Belfast’s creativity and diversity – and this year’s St Patrick’s Day programme really reflects that concept, with something for everyone to come along and enjoy. We are internationally recognised as a City of Music and are embracing our growing reputation as a trad hub with an amazing line-up of live performances, from all aspects of the musical spectrum, both in the run-up to, and across, St Patrick’s weekend itself”.

Spraoi Cois Lao – an Irish language fun day – will take place at Custom House Square on Saturday 9 March from 1pm-4pm and is open to everyone to attend. Organised by Conradh na Gaeilge and Féile an Phobail, the event will be the biggest of its kind and will include musicians, dancers, activities, games, food and entertainment, all celebrating the Irish language. Admission is free.There will be several ticketed performances too, including Anúna in Belfast Cathedral on Friday 15 March, a Kiddy Céili at Belfast Cathedral on Saturday 16 March as part of Belfast Children’s Festival, a gala concert with Frankie Gavin and Dé Dannan at Ulster Hall on the same evening, an all-day céilí and a finale event with Stockton’s Wing and John Spillane at the MAC Belfast on Sunday 17 March.

To book for the ticketed performances, and to view all event times, visit belfastcity.gov.uk/stpatricks

The traditional St Patrick’s Day parade will also bring a sea of colour to the city’s streets on Sunday 17 March, starting at 1.30pm from City Hall. The parade will follow a circular route, via Chichester Street, Victoria Street, High Street, Castle Place and Donegall Place, before making its way back to City Hall.

Sunday 17 March, 2 Royal Avenue – the city’s cultural hub – will open its doors to families for a day of free events, including art workshops, dance performances, music, a games area and lots more.

St George’s Market will also be also getting in on the craic with lunchtime performances from musicians from Ards Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann on both Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 March.

From Sunday 10 to Sunday 17 March, visitors and music lovers can also enjoy the return of the Trad Trail, offering free music performances in bars, restaurants, hotels and visitor attractions across the city. Delivered by Féile an Phobail, it will mark Belfast’s status as a UNESCO City of Music with performances from the best local and national trad musicians.

For more info on all St Patrick’s Day events, visit belfastcity.gov.uk/stpatricks

Musicians Alannah Greer and Chloe McGregor join performer Louise Glendinning to launch Belfast’s St Patrick’s Day programme.

 

(From left to right) Local musicians Brendan Quinn, Chloe McGregor, Alannah Greer and Ciara Maguire join circus performer Louise Glendinning at the launch of Belfast’s St Patrick’s Day programme.

 

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, and circus performer Louise Glendinning join local musicians and representatives from Belfast Tradfest, Conradh na Gaeilge and Féile an Phobail to launch Belfast’s St Patrick’s Day programme.

This year’s Belfast Parks Photographic Competition winners revealed

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Belfast held its 16th annual Belfast Parks Photographic Competition on Thursday 22nd of February.  The competition was sponsored by John McQuillan Contracts Ltd with over 500 photographs submitted from over 200 entrants this year. The winners were revealed at a special event at Malone House.

Councillor Micheal Donnelly, Deputy Chair of the council’s People and Communities Committee, said: “This is the 16th year of the Belfast Parks Photographic Competition and the standard of photographs submitted this year was remarkable with judges having a difficult task of selecting the winning images.

“I want to congratulate the worthy winners today – our parks and open spaces are a valuable asset in the city and the competition enables us to see the parks through ‘your eyes’.”

The competition included four awards categories – ‘Active Living’; ‘Seasons in Our Parks’; ‘Park Landscapes’ and an ‘Under 16s’ category – with the winners sharing a prize fund of £1,000. Judging took place by photographic agency, Aurora PA, and a representative from John McQuillan Contracts Ltd.

Active Living

1st Tory Gaston – capture of Ormeau Park
2nd Andrew Tees – capture of Cave Hill Country Park
3rd Eva Komuves – capture of Cave Hill Country Park

Seasons in Our Parks
1st  Patsy Reavy – capture of  Lagan Valley Regional Park
2nd Virajith Vitharana–  capture of Ormeau Park
3rd Dhinakaran Annamalai– capture of Botanic Gardens

Parks Landscapes
1st Robert Kidd  – capture of Barnett Demesne
2nd Chloe Campbell – capture of Waterworks Park
3rd Bertie Chapple – capture of Victoria Park

Under 16s

1st Leo Huhnholz– capture of Botanic Gardens
2nd Raniya Hamid – capture of Victoria Park
3rd Eva Eyres – capture of Botanic Gardens

 

Some of the winners of this year’s Belfast Parks Photographic Competition, run by Belfast City Council, holding their winning images of parks across the city. Also in the photo is Karen Rogan from McQuillan Companies, sponsor of the competition.

 

Tory Gaston who came first place in the Active Living category of the Belfast Parks Photographic Competition. Her capture was taken of afternoon dancing at Ormeau Park bandstand.

 

Eva Komuves with her winning entry taken of herself doing a yoga pose while the sun rose at Cave Hill Country Park.

New toolkit urges tourism businesses to embrace inclusivity

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Belfast City Council has developed a new toolkit to help tourism and hospitality providers in the city become more inclusive and accessible to visitors with disabilities.

‘Embrace the Inclusive Spirit’ is the latest initiative delivered by the council to support Belfast’s growing tourism sector and was launched at an event in Titanic Belfast. The free resource pack, developed with Tourism NI, Visit Belfast and the Northern Ireland Tourism Alliance, will help local businesses take steps to tap into a market worth an estimated £249 billion each year to the UK economy.

The toolkit includes online training videos and access to ‘Living Library’ feedback events where businesses can chat to service users and test drive ideas. There are also suggested itineraries for disabled visitors, based on recommendations from local residents with disabilities, and details of accessibility features at local venues and facilities, in partnership with AccessAble. At the event, videos were shown of ‘24 hours in Belfast’ by residents/visitors to the city with autism, visually impaired and cerebral palsy. There was also a special performance by disability dance group Luminous Soul.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, said “We’ve heard a lot recently about what Belfast isn’t doing – but today shows the very real improvements that are being made in our city, and the partnership work taking place in the background to improve the visitor experience, support local businesses to attract new custom and create new opportunities by exploring different markets.”

“This toolkit is all about highlighting simple changes that services and products can make to put inclusivity and accessibility at the heart of what they offer and improve the visitor experience for everyone. Well done to everyone who has helped to develop this valuable resource.”

Among the speakers were Sinéad Burke, disabled educator, broadcaster and author, Sean Fitzsimons, disability rights activist; Ross Calladine, Accessibility & Inclusion Lead with VisitEngland and Amy Waumsley from AccessAble.

Sinéad spoke of her experiences as an educator and founding her company Tilting the Lens to bring visibility to inaccessibility and designing with people with disabilities. Some of the company’s work included working with brands including British Vogue fashion magazine to produce editions focusing on the stories of disabled people from across fashion, sport and creative industries with Sinéad featured in the cover of one of the editions.

Eimear Callaghan, Head of Experience & Industry Development at Tourism NI, said “Northern Ireland is renowned for its friendly people and outstanding visitor experiences, and we are committed to working with our industry to ensure that our giant welcome is extended to all our guests.”

Judith Owens MBE, CEO Titanic Belfast, said “Titanic Belfast is delighted to be the venue partner for Belfast’s first inclusive tourism seminar, as we know first-hand how important it is for businesses to be inclusive for all guests.We look forward to continuing to work with our industry partners across the city to make Belfast and Northern Ireland accessible to all!”

The Embrace the Inclusive Spirit toolkit will be available to download from the Visit Belfast website at visitbelfastpartners.com or by calling the council’s Tourism, Culture and Arts team on 028 9027 0426.

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, with speakers at the ‘Embrace the Inclusive Spirit’ launch at Titanic Belfast – Sean Fitzsimons, Sinéad Burke, Ross Calladine and Amy Waumsley.

 

Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy with Eimear Callaghan, Tourism NI; Judith Owens, Titanic Belfast and MaryJo McCanny, Visit Belfast at the launch of the ‘Embrace the Inclusive Spirit’ initiative to support Belfast’s growing tourism sector.

The Book Clinic comes to Bangor for Young Aspects

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Children’s Books Ireland invite parents/guardians and children to drop in for an informal consultation with one of the friendly Book Doctors, who are ready to offer the best advice for young readers.

Come and see the Doctor with a difference when The Book Clinic comes to Bangor Carnegie Library on Saturday 2 March, as part of Young Aspects! The Doctors will give each patient a unique ‘consultation’ and a personal prescription, recommending books based on the patient’s particular interests!

Aspects Festival Director Patricia Hamilton said:“We are delighted that the Book Clinic will be part of Young Aspects this year. This is a fun way to inspire and introduce young readers to books they may not have come across, all tailored to their own specific interests.”

When the Book Doctor is ready to see a patient, the consultation begins with some questions about books the young reader previously enjoyed as well as activities, movies, tv shows and video games they enjoy. This lets the Book Doctor know a little bit more about the patient so they can write a book prescription, which is a personalised list of books recommended for the individual patient.

Every patient leaves the Book Clinic with a book prescription to take to their local library or bookshop to have filled. The Clinics will run from 12noon – 4pm on Saturday 2 March and will operate on a first-come, first-served basis. The clinic is FREE to attend, no booking is required. Young Aspects is presented by Ards and North Down Borough Council and will run from 1 – 3 March at various locations around Bangor.

To view the full programme, visit:https://aspectsfestival.com/whats-on

 

Book Doctor Síne Quinn with a young reader attending a Book Clinic.

Belfast City Council confirms ‘The Walk’ event featuring Little Amal

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‘The Walk’, a world-renowned creative project featuring Little Amal, a 12-foot-tall puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee, will arrive in Belfast from 16-19 May – the latest event to be confirmed as part of Belfast City Council’s Belfast 2024 programme.

Little Amal was designed and built by the Handspring Puppet Company of South Africa, creators of the award-winning puppets for the hit show War Horse. Since Little Amal’s creation in 2021, she has travelled over 9,000 km across 15 countries and been welcomed by over two million people and tens of millions online, through creative events led by artists and local communities. Little Amal represents all children fleeing war, violence and persecution and has become an international symbol of compassion and human rights.

The acclaimed production will be a signature event in the city’s biggest ever creative and cultural celebration, with almost 200 events, workshops and activities taking place across Belfast between March and December this year. Belfast City Council is investing £5.9 million into Belfast 2024, supporting jobs in the creative sector, creating new opportunities for residents to enjoy and participate in the arts, and showcasing the city as a global destination for culture, through its three key themes of People, Place and Planet.

‘The Walk’ is one of 20+ commissions planned during 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.

“What a spectacular event for Belfast to host in what is shaping up to be an amazing year for culture and arts in our city, with so much for communities and visitors to see, do and get involved with,” said Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy.

Presented by The Walk Productions, Little Amal will arrive in Belfast on Thursday 16 May for the first leg of a unique all-island collaboration, delivered in partnership with Arts Ekta and Belfast-born creative director Des Kennedy. She will then travel across the border and onto Dublin for the finale to her visit. ArtsEkta is an award-winning cultural organisation that works to develop intercultural relationships at the heart of the community and is home to the Belfast Mela – the largest celebration of cultural diversity on the island of Ireland.

“We are so excited to bring Little Amal to the island of Ireland during this special year for Belfast and can’t wait to see her welcomed by the city’s communities and provide new opportunities to showcase Belfast’s growing diversity,” said Amir Nizar Zubai, Artistic Director with The Walk Productions.

She will arrive by boat along the River Lagan for a spectacular evening opening event along the city’s Maritime Mile. A procession of music and movement will lead Little Amal to Titanic Slipways where she will form part of an outdoor theatre performance, taking the audience on a time-travelling journey through Belfast’s history, brought to life by a cast of up to 500 professional and community performers and featuring original music and dance choreography.

Friday 17 May 
Little Amal will be welcomed at a street party in Writers’ Square, with entertainment from drummers and street performers. A celestial-themed procession will mark the transition from night to day as she makes her way to St Anne’s Cathedral, where she will join community choirs and diverse musicians for an immersive evening of music and song, with the united message of hope. Local artists will work with communities to create a handmade patchwork quilt, featuring over 100 individual designs, which will be gifted to Little Amal before she spends the night in the cathedral.

Saturday 18 May
Little Amal will take part in a unique Lord Mayor’s Day event at City Hall, hosted by Councillor Ryan Murphy. Families can enjoy free fun and games on the lawns, while guests from new and migrant communities will be invited to meet with Little Amal, alongside users from the Lord Mayor’s four civic charities, at a ‘Big Lunch’ event, hosted in partnership with Eden Project Communities NI, with music from local asylum and refugee groups.

Belfast will be the 16th location for Little Amal, who has travelled to 160 towns and cities in 15 countries and won a range of awards, including being named New York’s No. 1 Art Event by Time Out magazine in 2022.

For more details of the Belfast 2024 programme, visit www.belfast2024.co.uk

Little Amal
Little Amal

Ulster University celebrates inspirational scholars

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Ulster University’s Development and Alumni Relations Office welcomed scholars, donors and University supporters for an evening of celebration to mark the incredible achievements of hundreds of students who have been awarded scholarships.

The annual Scholarship Celebration Event took place on the Ulster University Belfast campus last week. This was an evening of celebration, recognition and appreciation offering opportunities for scholars to celebrate with their loved ones as well as meeting and thanking donors who make Ulster University scholarships and awards possible. Guests enjoyed music while networking with donors and supporters before hearing from University Provost Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan and previous scholarship recipients about the powerful impact this support has on transforming the lives of students.

“The annual Scholarship Celebration Event is a valuable opportunity to thank our incredible donors who are supporting the development of hundreds of Ulster University students at present. Scholarships are a lifeline for some students, allowing them to continue their education at university, often in the face of challenging personal circumstances.” Professor Cathy Gormley-Heenan.

Alongside a range of scholarships funded by the generosity of individual donors, trusts and foundations, corporate donors who attended the event included Action Renewables, Aflac NI, Allen & Overy, Allstate NI, Belfast Harbour, Choice Housing, FinTru, KPMG, Optum Ireland, the SHS Group, SSE Airtricity, and Subway Ireland.

“We are investing in future talent, rewarding academic excellence, and building the skills of top performing students from non-accounting backgrounds. We know scholarships make a real difference to the student experience and impact strongly on career outcomes”. Jonny Hannah, Partner in Charge, KPMG in Northern Ireland.

Meet the Scholars!

Among those awarded a scholarship is Saorla Boyle, a Paramedic Science student at Ulster University Derry~Londonderry, whose journey to Ulster has been defined by determination and resilience, despite her diagnosis of a long-term condition three years ago. Since her diagnosis, Saorla has continued to strive for excellence to achieve her place on the competitive Paramedic Science degree programme, balancing her studies alongside volunteering and being the sole carer for her young daughter. Saorla has remained resolute in her commitment to a career in Paramedicine despite financial hardships and setbacks in education and considers her scholarship as the key to stability and a brighter future, enabling her to fully focus on her education and support her young daughter.

“I feel hugely privileged to have been awarded this scholarship. It will allow me to focus solely on my studies and raising my daughter, while alleviating some of the pressure that comes with being a full-time student and single mum. I am grateful to have gained a place on the much sought-after Paramedic Science programme, and now, with this added support, I can give my all to reaching my potential and becoming part of our wonderful healthcare community.” Saorla Boyle Ulster University Student.

Ulster University Paramedic Science student Saorla Boyle (left) pictured with her daughter at the Scholarship Celebration Event.

 

Recognised at the celebratory event was Jonathan Weir, an undergraduate student who, after suffering a life-threatening spinal cord injury in his previous career as an electrical engineer, is re-skilling at Ulster University for a career in technology, a sector he has a keen interest in. Now a Year One Computer Systems student, Jonathan is using his bursary to fund his travel costs to the Ulster University Belfast campus and to purchase wheelchair equipment and other adaptive equipment for his computer.

 

“I have always had an interest in technology and fixing problems, so the Computer Systems course is allowing me to pursue a new career that I can work comfortably in following my accident. Travelling up to 100 miles per day for my studies is costly, however my scholarship is supporting with the purchase of a wheelchair accessible vehicle and other adaptive equipment.” Jonathan Weir Ulster University Student.

 

Ulster University Computer Systems student Jonathan Weir pictured at the Scholarship Celebration Event.

 

In 2023, the University saw a 28% increase in applications to the Student Opportunity Fund and a 59% increase in applications for Academic Opportunity Scholarships from full-time students, in comparison to the previous year, with more and more students under financial strain in light of the cost-of-living crisis. 

Ulster University continues to prioritise fundraising for scholarships as a result, with donations from corporate donors, individual supporters, trusts and foundations helping the University to continue transforming Northern Ireland through sustainable regional economic and social development by harnessing the power of its people, place, and partnerships.  

  

Belfast to host free spring safety event at City Hall

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Over 30 exhibitors will be on hand to give free home safety and crime prevention advice at City Hall on Friday 01 March. The Belfast Policing and Community Safety Partnership (PCSP) has organised the event, which is free and will take place from 10am-1pm in Belfast City Hall. Complimentary tea, coffee and refreshments will also be provided.
Exhibitors at the event will include statutory agencies, including the PSNI, Housing Executive, NI Fire and Rescue Service, Libraries NI and Belfast City Council, as well as community and voluntary groups, such as Samaritans, Belfast Women’s Aid, Victim Support NI and the General Consumer Council. DigiSkills will also be in attendance. Visitors can avail of a free cyber security check on their phones or tablets to make sure that all security settings are correctly activated. No booking is required and the service will run on a first-come first-served basis.
Councillor Dónal Lyons, Chair of Belfast Policing and Community Safety Partnership, said: “I’m delighted to see the return of the PCSP Spring Safety to City Hall on 01 March. The event last year drew in over 500 visitors and it was excellent to see so many making use of the many complimentary home safety provisions on the day. “This year, we are poised to welcome back over 30 exhibitors and, in particular DigiSkills, who will once again offer free mobile phone security checks.”
Belfast Policing and Community Safety (PCSP) is a partnership organisation which works to make communities safer, making sure the voices of local people are heard. Work includes working in partnership with local communities, partners and agencies to improve policing and community safety in all areas of the city.

 

Belfast City Hall in Northern Ireland, UK

Local Lager Recieves Global Award

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HARP lager, one of the leading and most-loved lagers in Northern Ireland, has struck gold at a prestigious global beer competition.
The Global Beer Masters is an internationally renowned blind-tasting competition welcoming beers from around the world to compete for recognition and the chance to benchmark their taste against competitors. The beers were judged by a panel of industry experts who evaluated each one based on appearance, smell, taste, and style characteristics, resulting in Harp Irish Lager proudly scooping a gold medal in the International Lager category.
 
Noting Harp Irish Lager was a lesson in how to achieve crispness and balance in a subtle brew, judges shared their tasting notes, “A pale gold lager with great clarity and a slightly sweet malt aroma, a little bitterness on the body, but very gentle. It has a grainy aroma alongside fresh herbal notes. Palate is well round, supported by good carbonation and herbal notes. Nice balanced finish.”
Harp is an authentic pilsner lager, brewed with pride for Northern Ireland. First produced in 1960 under the guidance of distinguished German brewer Dr Herman Muender, Harp fused German knowledge with Irish brewing heritage to create a delicious Irish Lager. Today Harp is still naturally brewed for a refreshing, crisp taste using only four ingredients: pure water, malted barley, barley, and hops of which are all locally sourced.

Stix & Stones delivers an authentic barbecue experience with launch of ‘Meat Wagon’ restaurant

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Award-winning Belfast restaurant creates 20 new jobs with the opening of a new restaurant focused on perfectly cooked slow and low barbecue food.

Award-winning Belfast restaurant, Stix & Stones, is now offering local meat lovers a mouthwatering authentic barbecue experience with the launch of its new Stix & Stones Meat Wagon restaurant in the heart of Belfast.

The opening of the new restaurant on Wellington Place has created 20 full-time and part-time roles across its kitchen and front-of-house operation with plans to create an additional four jobs with the launch of a dedicated takeaway section.

Stix & Stones Meat Wagon is focused on offering customers an authentic, diner-style barbecue experience with slow and low-cooked meat charred to perfection by the restaurant’s highly experienced pitmaster and team of skilled chefs.  

Its menu features a selection of tender, smoky, and succulent meat dishes including house-smoked brisket, baby back ribs, chicken wings, and loaded smash burgers, along with tasty sides and delicious extras like dirty fries, Jalapeno poppers, corn on the cob and slaw.

Stix & Stones launched its first hugely successful restaurant in Belfast city centre in 2014, before opening its Ballyhackamore outlet on the Newtownards Road in 2023. The restaurants are best known for offering diners the distinctive experience of cooking dry-aged steaks on hot stones.

It also launched its very own Stix & Stones Butchery in 2022 on Wellington Place in Belfast, conveniently located next door to the Stix & Stones Meat Wagon restaurant. The state-of-the-art butchery stocks and supplies its restaurants with the finest cuts of dry-aged beef reared by an award-winning Co. Down pedigree rare breed beef farmer.

Rory Lee, Head Chef at Stix & Stones Meat Wagon restaurant, said: “We’re bringing an authentic, high-quality barbecue experience right to the heart of the city, complemented by our own dedicated butchery next door.

“Stix & Stones Meat Wagon has been designed to offer customers a mix of intimate table settings and booth dining that’s perfect for a relaxed get-together with friends and family to enjoy mouth-watering and tasty barbecue food lovingly smoked by our pitmasters.

“Our authentic slow and low cooking techniques, combined with our farm-to-fork commitment and supporting local suppliers of fresh quality food and ingredients, ensures every dish we serve is not only bursting with flavour, but contributes to boosting the local economy.

“With the creation of 20 new jobs, and more on the horizon, we want to share our love for great barbecue, as we feel we have created something truly special here for meat lovers across the region to enjoy over and over again.”  

For more information on the Meat Wagon visit: https://www.meatwagonbelfast.co.uk/

Award-winning Belfast restaurant, Stix & Stones, is now offering local meat lovers a mouthwatering authentic barbecue experience with the launch of its new Stix & Stones Meat Wagon restaurant in the heart of Belfast. The opening of the new restaurant on Wellington Place has created 20 full-time and part-time roles with plans to create an additional four jobs with the launch of a dedicated takeaway section.
Pictured launching the Stix & Stones Meat Wagon restaurant are Rory Lee, Head Chef, and Lauren McDermott, Restaurant Manager.

 

MERCURY RETAINS THE KEYS TO THE CASTLE

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Mercury Security & Facilities Management wins pitch to retain CastleCourt security contract

NORTHERN IRELAND’s biggest independent security provider and facilities management company Mercury Security & Facilities Management (MSFM) has been reappointed to provide a complete security solution to CastleCourt Shopping Centre following a rigorous tender process.

CastleCourt, in the heart of Belfast’s busy city centre, first opened its doors in 1990 and is one of Northern Ireland’s biggest and busiest shopping centres.

The three-year contract will see Mercury Security & Facilities Management provide an integrated security solution that combines a team of well-equipped and highly trained security and customer service officers with the latest in CCTV and monitoring technology to protect the assets of the shopping centre and its tenants.

Headquartered in Lisburn with offices in Dublin, Limerick and London, MSFM has established a strong reputation as a leading security provider in the retail sector.

Its impressive portfolio of retail clients features household names such as Homebase, HMV and Woodie’s DIY stores, as well as a host of shopping centres, including the Kennedy Centre, Abbey Centre, Park Centre, Connswater, Angel Central (London), Ashley Centre (Epsom) and Lion Walk Shopping Centre (Colchester).

“Following a recent tender process, we are delighted to reappoint Mercury to look after our considerable security requirements,” said CastleCourt Centre Manager Leona Barr.

“Mercury’s understanding of our requirements gave us the confidence to continue with our partnership at the centre. Their knowledge of the local retail sector is an important factor and will allow us to deliver a safe customer focused experience for everyone.”

Mercury Security & Facilities Management Managing Director Liam Cullen added: “Winning new business is obviously great for any company, but holding on to existing customers, in a competitive tender process, is the true test of the work you do and the services you provide.  In this respect, everyone at Mercury Security & Facilities Management is delighted to be renewing our successful partnership with the team at CastleCourt Shopping Centre.

“This is a very prestigious contract and continues to place Mercury at the forefront of the industry as a trusted partner for some of the world’s leading companies and retail organisations,” he added.

“Over the years, we have invested millions in the latest technology and training available to enable us to provide innovative, integrated solutions to our growing list of clients, and big wins like this show that our investment strategy is paying off,” concluded Mr Cullen.

Mercury Security & Facilities Management is one of the UK and Ireland’s leading security and facilities management solutions providers.

Founded in 2001, the company has established a strong reputation as a pioneer in the area of integrated security solutions – combining physical manpower with cutting-edge technology to service an ever-growing client base.

In 2018, the company launched a new Facilities Management division to complement its existing suite of security services and is now the most highly accredited security and support services provider  in the UK and Ireland.

All MSFM services are provided and integrated using the state-of-the-art Intelocate workflow management software systemwhich gives clients full transparency of how their premises are managed.  This is done by recording actions, collecting data, and producing bespoke reports that can be submitted to third parties, including insurance companies who will expect businesses to be fully compliant with all relevant guidelines to protect the health, safety and welfare of employees and customers.

Mercury Security & Facilities Management is an NSI Gold Approved Company – a standard perceived and recognised as the best by Industry, the Police, Fire and Rescue Services and Insurers across the UK and Ireland.

For further information on Mercury Security & Facilities Management services, email enquiries@msfm.biz or call MSFM at +44 (0) 28 9262 0518.

KEYS TO CASTLE: Mercury Security & Facilities Management (MSFM) has been reappointed to provide a complete security solution to CastleCourt Shopping Centre in Belfast, following a rigorous tender process. The three-year contract will see Mercury provide an integrated security solution that combines a team of well-equipped and highly trained security and customer service officers with the latest in CCTV and monitoring technology to protect the assets of the shopping centre and its tenants. ‘Securing’ the deal at CastleCourt are (l-r) MSFM Operations Director Dave Queen, Site Security Manager Mark Campbell, CastleCourt Centre Manager Leona Barr, and Liam Cullen, Managing Director of Mercury Security & Facilities Management.
KEYS TO CASTLE: Mercury Security & Facilities Management (MSFM) has been reappointed to provide a complete security solution to CastleCourt Shopping Centre in Belfast, following a rigorous tender process. The three-year contract will see Mercury provide an integrated security solution that combines a team of well-equipped and highly trained security and customer service officers with the latest in CCTV and monitoring technology to protect the assets of the shopping centre and its tenants. ‘Securing’ the deal at CastleCourt are (l-r) MSFM Security Officer Matthew Braniff, CastleCourt Centre Manager Leona Barr, and Liam Cullen, Managing Director of Mercury Security & Facilities Management.

Host of Exceptional NI Leaders Share their Innovative Leadership Experiences with Ulster University’s 25@25 Cohort

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Four of Northern Ireland’s brightest minds and household names from across the tech, sporting, education and business sectors spent an inspiring day sharing their journeys with those on Ulster University’s 25@25 Leadership Programme.

Dr Tommy Bowe, TV presenter on Ireland AM – Ireland’s largest morning news show, and former Irish International Rugby player, Dr Sarah Friar, CEO of Nextdoor, Catalyst’s Dr Adrian Johnston MBE and Ulster University’s Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Bartholomew shared their insights and advice for innovative leadership with Northern Ireland’s future leaders on the Belfast campus this week.

Tommy Bowe is no stranger to Ulster University, having graduated in Construction Engineering and Management in 2006, shared his top tips for leading innovatively on the pitch, the sofa and in the boardroom.

He reflected on the ways in which he planned for a life after professional rugby, his passion for having a career which is different and unexpected and on taking risks: “I think I’ve had a fairly varied career, between rugby, television and business and any little bits of wisdom or learnings that I’ve had, its nice to be able to pass them on. I think that teamwork is so, so important, build a strong team around you. I think making sure you do your preparation, know what you’re going and putting yourself in the right position for opportunities that might arise. Believe in yourself – I think that’s the most important. Believe in yourself, – push yourself out of your comfort zone and have the confidence to try something new and different. Have that confidence to go and take it all on.”

Interviewed by Gavin Nelson, Chief Operating Officer at Third Sector Connect and one of the 25@25, Tommy said he was delighted to participate:
“The reason I got involved in the 25@25 Programme is I feel I owe an awful lot to Ulster University, they were really helpful to me in my early days and I like to try and give back.”

The group spent the morning with Ulster University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Paul Bartholomew, where they examined what it means to become an innovative leader and spent time talking about vulnerability in leadership, the process of presenting a new innovative idea to a team and rolling out a culture of innovation by demonstrating it within your own conduct and leadership.

The Vice Chancellor coached the 25@25 participants on his strategies for leading change, reminding the young leaders of the importance of creating space for innovative thinking in their organisations.

They then spent the afternoon with Adrian Johnston, Director of Strategic Business Development at Catalyst and the current Chair of the Community Foundation for NI. Adrian is passionate about Inclusive Innovation and talked to them about the ‘big challenges’ for Northern Ireland and how they might tackle these using open innovation thinking and leadership. Adrian discussed the need for sharing, collaboration and transparency in creating open innovation and disrupting in a safe and confident way and, after sharing the common attributes of an innovative organisation, challenged each of the 25@25 to examine the culture of innovation in their own organisation.

Adrian is also an alumnus, he gained a PhD in Informatics / AI from Ulster University and in 2019 Adrian was awarded the Ulster University Graduate of the year, the same year he received an MBE for services to peace-building and the community in NI.

The cohort finished off an inspiring day reconnecting with CEO of NextDoor, Sarah Friar, who is an Ulster University Alumna having received an honorary degree from Ulster in 2018 for distinguished service to the international technology industry. Sarah shared her experiences of innovating in Silicon Valley and ran an interactive workshop on the Jobs To Be Done framework, a product development theory used in practice at Nextdoor.

In this session, the 25@25 participants were given the unique opportunity to share their own ideas for innovations that have the potential to better society in Northern Ireland with the Co. Tyrone born social network boss, who provided tailored feedback and useful tips on market research, product development, and knowing your competition.

So far on the 25@25 Leadership Programme the cohort have heard from an incredible line up of local and global leaders including Derry Girls creator, Lisa McGee; Glamour’s Americas Editorial Director, Samantha Barry; Head of the Civil Service, Dr Jayne Brady; Chief Medical Officer, Sir Michael McBride; Permanent Secretary of the Department of Finance, Neil Gibson; Former Co-Chair of the Green Party and Director of Friends of the Earth Sir Jonathon Porritt CBE, a writer and campaigner on Sustainable Development; Former CEO of Kainos, Brendan Mooney; Chief Executive of NOW Group and Chair of Clanmil Housing, Maeve Monaghan; and more – all of whom have generously shared their leadership lessons with the group.

To find out more about the 25@25 Programme, visit: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/twenty-five

2024 BRIGGS EQUIPMENT NORTH WEST 200 MEET THE STARS NIGHT

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The biggest race launch of the year, the spectacular Meet the Stars of the 2024 Briggs Equipment North West 200, returns on March 6 to the Lodge Hotel, Coleraine.

A night not to be missed, the evening provides a unique opportunity for road racing fans to get up close and personal with many of the leading names who will be in action on the North coast during race week on May 8-11.

Topping the bill will be newly crowned Irish Motorcyclist of the Year, Glenn Irwin, who won both Superbike races at Portrush last May to bring his Superbike victory tally at the meeting to eight, just one shy of the record of nine Superbike victories shared by the late, great Joey Dunlop and Michael Rutter.

With his 2024 plans still not revealed, the local favourite is certain to face lots of questions from the fans during the launch night as he bids to become the NW200’s most successful Superbike racer.

Irwin will be joined on stage by 2023 double NW200 Supersport race winner, Davey Todd, and Honda duo, Dean and Nathan Harrison.

Now fully recovered from the injuries he sustained in a Superstock race crash during last year’s North West 200, Nathan will line up alongside his namesake and latest Honda recruit, Dean Harrison during this special evening for road racing fans. Dean has joined Nathan and veteran, John McGuinness in the Honda Racing squad for 2024 with Davey Todd swapping the Milenco Padgetts Hondas he rode at last year’s North West for BMW power with Northern Ireland’s TAS Racing team.

The evening of fun and chat will be hosted by Claire McCollum and Stephen Watson and race fans will have lots of opportunities to meet their favourite riders for selfies and autographs during the night.

Entry is strictly by ticket only with only a limited number of tickets now on sale at £10 each so don’t miss out on your chance to join road racing’s biggest names with more stars set to be confirmed during the coming week. To get your tickets please visit

www.northwest200.org/meet-the-stars