Featured Event - 5/34 - Ulster Tatler

Jet2.com Celebrates 15 Years of Operating to Dubrovnik from Belfast International Airport

Posted on May 7, 2024 by admin

On Thursday 2nd May 2009, the first Jet2.com flight landed in Dubrovnik from Belfast International Airport and a decade and a half later, the leading leisure airline is celebrating 15 years of operating award-winning flights to the popular destination.

Since that first flight, the company has enjoyed tremendous growth, both through Jet2.com and the UK’s largest tour operator Jet2holidays, with thousands of customers having travelled to Dubrovnik from Belfast International Airport.

For Summer ’24, the companies have weekly Friday services on sale to the city in Southern Croatia from Friday 16th April to Friday 1st November, meaning customers in Northern Ireland can continue to enjoy flights and holidays this summer to Dubrovnik from Belfast International Airport.

Dubrovnik offers days of sightseeing and island-hopping adventures giving way to evenings of waterfront wining and dining. Taking centre stage is the city’s swoon-worthy Old Town, with its network of ancient alleys, pretty piazzas and terracotta rooftops, all wrapped up in grand stone walls. Outside of the town, secluded coves, fragrant pine forests and handsome harbours are ripe for exploring.

As well as booking and travelling on award-winning flights and ATOL protected package holidays, customers can experience and enjoy the company’s VIP customer service which has seen Jet2.com and Jet2holidays win high-profile accolades, such as Which? Recommended Provider.

Customers travelling to Dubrovnik from Belfast International Airport can choose from a flight-only option with Jet2.com, including friendly low fares, great flight times and a generous 22kg baggage (plus 10kg hand baggage) allowance or an ATOL protected package holiday with Jet2holidays. Holidaymakers booking through the UK’s largest tour operator, Jet2holidays, receive that very same VIP customer service and flights through Jet2.com, as well as in-resort Customer Helpers, a 24/7 customer helpline, transfers, Free Child Place holidays and ATOL protection, all for a low £60 per person booking deposit.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “This year marks 15 years since we started operating to Dubrovnik from Belfast International Airport, and we are delighted to have flown thousands of customers to this magnificent destination. Such growth and success over the last decade and a half would not be possible without the fantastic partnerships we have in Dubrovnik, and I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to hoteliers, airports, tourist boards and all our partners.

“As we continue to grow and take more customers to Dubrovnik on our award-winning flights and holidays from Belfast International Airport, we will continue to put that partnership approach at the very heart of everything we do and bring even more happy holidaymakers to the destination.”

Kristjan Staničić, Director of the Croation National Tourist Board (CNTB), said: “For the last 15 years, Croatia and Great Britain have been successfully connected by Jet2.com, the leading British leisure airline.

“CNTB’s long-term strategic partnership with this prestigious airline significantly encourages the growth of the number of arrivals of British tourists to Croatia, which continuously favours positive tourism trends from this important market for Croatian tourism.

“At the same time, the stable cooperation between the CNTB and Jet2.com strongly impacts the positioning of Croatia as a safe, accessible and attractive tourist destination, as evidenced by the announced increase in the number of airlines to the most popular destinations of southern Croatia, such as Split and Dubrovnik.”

For further information or to book, visit: www.jet2.com or www.jet2holidays.com.

QUB Showcases The Vital Role of Arts in Conflict Resolution

Posted on May 3, 2024 by admin

Queen’s University Belfast has brought together world-leading academics and professionals for an arts and conflict resolution showcase in New York City, highlighting the vital role both play in promoting peace.

A one-day symposium reflected on the role played by artists throughout the peace process at the American Irish Historical Society. Speakers looked at those who use theatre, film and testimony to address the complex legacies of conflict that exist in Northern Ireland today.

Professor Anna Bryson from School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast was at the event and said: “A big takeaway from this event is the overlaps, tensions and shared learnings from academics and professional working in different areas. Theatre can amplify law, justice and reconciliation. Innovative theatre techniques can help us reach people about social justice, accessing these difficult concepts in a more authentic way.”

The playwright behind one of Northern Ireland’s most critically acclaimed plays, ‘Agreement’, Owen McCafferty also attended the showcase and said: “I think the arts succeed in telling the story of a society because they make it accessible. Whereas the thing itself that may seem distant, art can make it understandable; it can make it human.”

Queen’s later hosted a special performance of ‘Agreement’ as the Irish Arts Centre, preceded by an In Conversation with Queen’s alumnus and CNN correspondent Donie O’Sullivan.

Leading the showcase, Queen’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Sir Ian Greer, said: “Queen’s has always been a key arena for political debate, providing a safe environment for political leaders to have difficult and challenging conversations post-conflict. There are many learnings to be had, not only from experts in peace and reconciliation but also from those in the arts whose creativity to tell powerful stories can have a lasting impact on communities. It’s important as an academic institution, we look at these connected issues to better understand the complex legacies of conflict that continue to affect our communities and explore ways to share learnings on what is widely regarded as the world’s most successful peace process.”

Agreement Playwright Owen McCafferty, Director Charlie Westenra, Queen’s University President and Vice Chancellor Sir Ian Greer, Executive Director at The American Irish Historical Society Dr Elizabeth Stack and Queen’s University Dr Mark Phelan at the Post Conflict Stage and Screen in Northern Ireland symposium at the American Irish Historical Society.

Queen’s University Belfast Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Ian Greer addresses audience at Irish Arts Center, New York City.

Little Amal to Join Lord Mayor’s Day Celebrations

Posted on May 2, 2024May 9, 2024 by admin

Little Amal will be a special guest at a free family fun day on the lawns of City Hall on Saturday 18th May, hosted by Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy.

The giant puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl – the centrepiece of internationally acclaimed creative project ‘The Walk’ – is visiting Belfast from Thursday 16th to Sunday 19th May for four days of free family events as part of Belfast City Council’s Belfast 2024 programme.

After being crowned the ‘May Queen’ at Writer’s Square, Little Amal will lead a colourful parade of wildlife, nature and flowers along Donegall, Bridge and High Streets, into Donegall Place and towards City Hall, starting at 12.30pm.

Visitors to City Hall grounds can enjoy an afternoon of free family entertainment, from 12pm to 5pm, celebrating the city’s growing diversity.

Little Amal will feature in ‘Gulliver’s Egg-traordinary Tale’, a unique piece of free street theatre, created by Christina Nelson, which puts a new spin on Gulliver’s Travels and features magic, circus and music.

Families can also enjoy nature-inspired arts and crafts, henna tattoos, face painting and traditional games, and there will be live music and dance from Belfast Ukulele Jam and the South Asian Dance Academy, mummers The Wren Boys and African band Magwere. Also on offer are circus acts, walkabout performers and games and activities for older visitors as part of the council’s Age-Friendly Belfast programme.

Looking ahead to the day of events, Councillor Ryan Murphy, said: “During my year in office, I’ve been able to see first-hand how much Belfast is growing and changing and, as a mayor for all, I’ve been welcomed into every corner of our city.

“This is my chance now to give back and reflect back upon, as well as showcasing, the amazing talent, diversity and vibrancy our city has to offer and which I’ve been privileged to experience this year.

“I’m really excited to host Little Amal at City Hall as part of our celebrations – it’s going to be a packed afternoon of free and fun activities and everyone is welcome to come along and join in.”

Entry to the Lord Mayor’s Day event is free, with activities running from 12pm until 5pm. Capacity may be limited at times due to numbers within City Hall grounds.

For more details, visit: www.belfastcity.org.uk/lordmayorsday.

The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, joins Dessie and Farrah Doyle, along with Arts Ekta performer Weihong, to announce details of his Lord Mayor’s Day event on Saturday 18 May, 12pm-5pm.

W&G Baird Triple Win at Irish Print Awards

Posted on May 1, 2024May 1, 2024 by admin

W&G Baird announced that they have been the recipients of three accolades at this year’s Irish Print Awards. This year’s ceremony marked an exceptional celebration of invention and outstanding quality within the Irish printing industry and constituted the 45th iteration of the Irish Print Awards.

This grand occasion took place at the splendid Clontarf Castle in Dublin on Friday 26th April 2024, assembling the best of the industry to recognise their accomplishments.

Judged across 30 diverse categories by a respected panel of independent experts from the industry, the awards highlighted the energetic creativity and tenacity that are a hallmark of the Irish printing community. This year’s competition, more than ever, displayed the exceptional range and depth of talent in the sector, with entries underscoring the dynamic status of the industry and its progressive direction.

Trish Murphy, Commercial Director of Irish Printer, encapsulated the spirit of the occasion, stating, “As we celebrate the winners and all participants, the Irish Print Awards continues to be a beacon for excellence, encouraging creative professionals to strive for recognition in this ever-evolving marketplace. Each entry narrates a story of innovation and resilience, reflecting the robust and opportunity-rich state of our industry.”

Winning in all three shortlisted categories, W&G Baird are delighted to have won:

GOLD: Magazine, Brochure and Supplement Printer of the Year
GOLD: Sheetfed Colour Offset Printer of the Year
SILVER: Book Printer of the Year

To learn more about W&G Baird and the awards they won, visit: www.wgbaird.com.

Photography by Paul Sherwood – paul@sherwood.ie.

Irish Print Awards 2023, held in Clontarf Castle Hotel, Dublin. April 2024.

Festival of Fools Returns to Belfast

Posted on May 1, 2024May 1, 2024 by admin

Over 50 free performances taking place on the streets of Belfast City centre and Cathedral Quarter from Saturday 4th May to Thursday 9th May.

Ireland’s largest free street performance festival returns to Belfast City Centre from Saturday 4th May to Thursday 9th May 2024. This year’s exciting free daytime programme offers three days of jam-packed, all-inclusive daytime entertainment for the whole family, including circus, parkour, dance, archery and visual arts. Festival of Fools will inspire, entertain and engage, taking place at various locations across Belfast City, and with all daytime shows free to attend, this is a festival for everyone to enjoy!

As in previous years, Festival of Fools brings together the best local and international circus and street performance talent taking over the city streets across the Bank Holiday Weekend at the start of May. This year’s programme features award-winning talent from across the globe including Ireland, Canada, Italy, Argentina, Germany, France, Spain and Australia. In 2024, the programme will once again span indoor and outdoor venues, with 2 Royal Avenue becoming a central hub for performances by young people and emerging artists and drop-in workshops for children and adults alike. For visual arts fans, anew partnership with Leo Boyd and Laura Nelson will bring The Belfast That Time Forgot (in 3-D) to life for audience in-between shows inside 2 Royal Avenue. For the first time in 2024, Festival of Fools are working in partnership with Big Telly Theatre to deliver The Worst Café – an interactive experience for diners – and Sailortown Regeneration Project on a walking tour from the Big Fish ad Hit the North, a locally-led Street Arts Festival.

Expect an action-packed extravaganza from READY. AIM. FIRE! on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th. Sara Twister is a crowd-stopping phenomenon who, whilst balancing on her arms, can fire a bow and arrow with her feet! The classic Big Finish is back for all three days, but with a twist, so keep an eye out for that. Classic Connee will have you singing along, JUMPNI will make you gasp with some extreme parkour and there is also some classic aerial antics, juggling, acrobatics, custard pie fights and much more.

In addition to the daytime programme, Festival of Fools 2024 will also offer two very special thought-provoking evening shows ‘Contra’ and ‘Belonging’ on Wednesday 8th and Thursday 9th.

Gilly Campbell, Director of Arts Development, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, said: “The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is delighted to support the Festival of Fools, thanks to the National Lottery players. National Lottery funding is a game-changer in helping this festival spread amazement and joy across Belfast and bring communities closer together. Once again, this year, the organisers have curated a fabulously-fun programme with something to suit all ages and tastes. From the very young, to the very young at heart, I would encourage everyone to get outdoors this May and enjoy everything that this terrific celebration of circus has to offer.”

Jenna Hall, Festival of Fools Chief Executive, added: “We are excited to launch Festival Fools 2024! With over 50 professional shows taking place across the city, our all-inclusive programme offers something for everyone.

“Our strong partnership with 2 Royal Avenue continues in 2024 and, again, offers everyone the chance to take part and learn circus skills across a variety of workshops, a real hit at the 2023 festival.

“We are so proud to deliver yet another brilliant Festival of Fools in 2024. We are also very grateful to our funders and the audience who donate so generously to keep us coming back year after year. I can’t wait to showcase our talented performers across the city of Belfast.”

For the full Festival of Fools programme of events, visit: www.foolsfestival.com.

Grand Opera House Trust Announces New Chair

Posted on May 1, 2024May 1, 2024 by admin

The Grand Opera House Trust has announced that Janette Jones has been appointed Chair of the organisation, assuming the role from Colin Loughran who had served for the last seven years. A former PwC tax partner in Belfast who also led the firm’s private business practice in the region, Janette has been a Board member of the Grand Opera House since 2015. She previously chaired both the Audit and Risk, and Planning and Finance Committees and was appointed Deputy Chair in 2023 before being elected Chair in 2024.

Welcoming Janette’s appointment, Ian Wilson, Chief Executive of the Grand Opera House, said: “I am delighted that Janette has assumed the role of Chair and look forward to working with her as we continue to present an ambitious performance programme, supported by an efficient and sustainable organisation.

“As a former Deputy Chair and member of the Theatre’s Planning and Finance Committee, Janette’s thorough knowledge of the Grand Opera House will be of huge benefit as we build upon our position as Northern Ireland’s premier theatre as one of the most successful theatres in the UK and Ireland.”

Janette responded to her appointment: “I would like to thank Colin Loughran for his leadership of the Trust during the past seven years, and in particular for working with out Chief Executive, Ian Wilson, as they together realised the spectacular restoration of the Grand Opera House in 2020/2021.

“The Grand Opera House has been transformed in recent years because of the restoration and an ambitious and appealing performance programme, which is testament to the strong leadership of Ian and the Theatre’s entire management team.

“Like all Trustees, I am very proud to be associated with the iconic Theatre which not only enjoys a rich and colourful history, but which welcomes over 300,000 people each year and plays such an important role in promoting the best of Belfast and Northern Ireland.”

Ian Wilson, Chief Executive of the Grand Opera House, and Janette Jones, the new Chair of the Grand Opera House Trust.

Glorious Getaway

Posted on April 30, 2024 by admin

Ulster Tatler’s Joanne Harkness visits Lawlor’s of Naas, a 4-star hotel in County Kildare.

It is always a treat to have a weekend getaway and going over the border feels far enough away without having to board a plane and go through the dreaded airport delays. My husband and I recently took a road trip down to County Kildare, to stay in the renowned Lawlor’s of Naas for some luxury relaxation. This four-star hotel sits in the heart of the town, where it has stood proudly for over 100 years.

Weather warnings and sudden snowfall had hit Ireland in the lead up to our stay, but with a stroke of luck, on the day we arrived in Naas it was glorious – spring was finally making an appearance.

Our first port of call after our three-hour drive was the opulent lobby area, where we were seated by the roaring fire to enjoy a fabulous afternoon tea. Not meaning to boast, but we recently had afternoon tea in The Plaza in New York, so expectations were high… how would Lawlor’s compare? I’m pleased to report that it held its own – there were certainly similarities in the décor and the food choices. Highlights for me were the Coronation chicken and spinach wrap, the savoury scone with herb cream cheese and Parma ham, the chocolate mousse and the delectable lemon cake, all of which were washed down with a refreshing peppermint tea… and a glass of Prosecco!

Before we checked into our room we took a stroll through Naas to get a feel for the town. It has an array of boutiques, cafés, restaurants and high street shops – I particularly enjoyed browsing through books in Barker & Jones where I bought The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, which was a must-read recommendation from our Ulster Tatler digital columnist, Victoria Quinn.

After our jaunt around town, we headed up to our room to relax before dinner. The room was lovely – it was traditional with a modern twist. The pièce de résistance was the hidden flat screen TV which came up from the bottom of the bed at the touch of a button – very impressive!

In the evening we headed down to Vi’s restaurant, which is the focal point of the lobby. A spectacular, circular bar sits in the centre of the restaurant and the surrounding tables were filled with families and couples enjoying a Saturday evening together. The contemporary-style menu showcases high-quality ingredients, creating dishes that were truly delicious. I started with the roasted pumpkin, bacon and Burrata salad, which was served with pomegranate, tossed seeds and torn focaccia. It was light and refreshing and combined a mixture of flavours and textures that worked perfectly together. My choice of main course was the crispy skin salmon, which came served with sautéed bacon, pearl onion dressing, rissole potatoes and broccoli. I loved the saltiness of the bacon against the fresh salmon and the crunch of the zesty pearl onions. My husband went for the strip loin steak and scrapped his plate clean, which was a good sign. Finally, to finish we shared the chocolate fondue, which came with an array of treats for dipping into the warm chocolate sauce.

The high standard of food continued with breakfast the following morning, which offered both continental and hot buffets; the best kind of hotel breakfast in my opinion. We both enjoyed a traditional Irish cooked breakfast, which set us up for the day ahead. After what was a thoroughly enjoyable stay in Lawlor’s of Naas, we checked out at 11am, but our trip wasn’t over just yet! The hotel is located just a 15-minute drive from Kildare Village, so of course we had to make a stop at the ultimate shopping destination before heading home.

Lawlor’s of Naas

Poplar Square, Naas

T: 00 353 45 906 444

www.lawlors.ie

Belfast’s Korean Innovation Twin

Posted on April 30, 2024 by admin

Belfast and the Administration Capital of Republic of Korea, Sejong City, have pledged today to collaborate on research, business and projects that harness urban innovation to support growth in their respective regions.

A Belfast delegation led by Lord Mayor Councillor, Ryan Murphy, has visited:

The National Research Council for Economics, Humanities, and Social Sciences (NRC), Korea’s national think tank
Sejong Technopark,
The Sejong Centre for Creative Economy and Innovation;
and The Smart City Centre, which manages Sejong’s city operations.

Belfast Lord Mayor, Councillor Ryan Murphy said: “Harnessing innovation is a crucial part of a successful Belfast economy. So, when Innovation City Belfast – a partnership between Belfast’s main institutions – proposed that we should join the Innovation Twins programme, Belfast City Council gave the initiative its full support.

“It’s been fantastic to celebrate the signing of an Innovation Twins Roadmap with Sejong. This will support mutually beneficial learning in areas such as satellite and cybersecurity, urban mobility, net zero, innovation, trade and investment.

“The Roadmap, which we’ve developed with Connected Places Catapult, will contribute to both cities’ sustainable growth ambitions, and deliver benefits for citizens, businesses and institutions.”

Mayor Che, Sejong said: “We are delighted to partner with Belfast as our ‘innovation twin’ city. Sejong is the first city in the world to achieve international recognition as a smart city. We are building our knowledge and expertise to be the future strategic capital of the Republic of Korea and welcome the opportunity to partner with Belfast to achieve our ambitions.

“We believe there are rich opportunities for research and commercial collaboration between our two cities. By collaborating on proposals outlined in the Roadmap, we can accelerate both cities’ ambitions for economic development, trade and investment and, most importantly, enhance lives and opportunities for our citizens.”

Dr. Stephen McCabe, Head of Project Delivery at Queen’s University Belfast’s Momentum One Zero innovation centre, said: “Through our Queen’s-led innovation centres in advanced manufacturing, clinical research and secure, connected digital technologies, we’re growing research and innovation capabilities for businesses across Northern Ireland and beyond. A key part of that is about building partnerships to help to transform our region’s digital economy.

“It’s an exciting time for Belfast and Northern Ireland to build international collaborations to allow us to leverage our region’s strengths to grow trade and exchange knowledge with the rest of the world.

“Queen’s University has had long-standing engagements with South Korean research organisations for many years and, most recently, we have seen the success of a mutual commitment with Korean University Sejong on cybersecurity to drive transformative advancements in the field. We look forward to building on initiatives like these through the Innovation Twins programme.”

Innovation Twins builds upon existing cybersecurity collaborations between Kora University Sejong and Queen’s University Belfast; and a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Sejong Technopark and Invest Northern Ireland.

During the current visit, Belfast’s Catalyst is signing with Sejong Technopark to support opportunities for Belfast’s innovators and entrepreneurs. While Sejong’s Climate Neutrality Centre is signing an MoU with the Belfast Climate Commission to work towards a Green City Accelerator for local industry.

For more information on the Roadmap, visit: smartbelfast.city.

Belfast-Sejong Roadmap Signing Ceremony.

Open College Network NI Strengthens Collaboration with The Open University

Posted on April 29, 2024 by admin

OPEN COLLEGE NETWORK NI (OCN NI) has announced details of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with The Open University in Ireland (OU in Ireland).

The MoU aims to establish a partnership between OCN NI and OU in Ireland to promote widening access for learners and create suitable progression pathways between OCN qualifications and OU higher education programmes.

The MoU emphasises both parties’ dedication to promoting the value of lifelong learning and providing high-quality and industry-recognised qualifications to individuals in Northern Ireland.

Speaking at the signing, Martin Flynn, CEO of OCN NI, said: “We have worked successfully in collaboration with The Open University in Ireland over a number of years on a variety of initiatives. During this time, it became clear that we have a number of shared values, not least the commitment to promoting the value of lifelong learning, so developing out relationship under the provision of a MoU was the logical next step.

“The MoU commits both parties to entitling and encouraging people to gain recognition for their achievements in learning, raising their potential and progress whilst respecting and valuing equality, diversity and inclusion.”

John D’Arcy, Director of The Open University in Ireland, said: “We are delighted to strengthen our partnership with OCN NI through this Memorandum of Understanding. The Open University promotes life-changing learning that enriches society and we are committees to working with OCN NI to increase access to education for all learners, regardless of their background or circumstances.

“Together we will develop and promote progression pathways that will allow learners to advance from OCN qualifications to higher education programmes with The Open University, supporting students in Northern Ireland to realise their full potential.”

OCN NI’s comprehensive range of vocational qualifications spans various subjects, including Business and Administration, Hospitality and Tourism, Health and Social Care, Information Technology, Construction, Creative Industries, and many more. The diversity of offerings caters to learners of all ages and backgrounds, ensuring inclusivity and equal access to education.

Vital Investment for Youth Mental Health Through PEACEPLUS

Posted on April 29, 2024 by admin

The roll-out of the €1.14 billion PEACEPLUS Programme continues to gather pace with the announcement this week of €20 million for Youth Mental Health and Well-being services.

Northern Ireland has some of the highest levels of mental ill-health among children and young people in Europe.

In 2020, the Youth Well-being Survey, funded by the Department of Health, found that rates of anxiety and depression are around 25% higher in the child and youth population in Northern Ireland compared to the rest of the UK.

In Ireland, the 2023 national Children and Young People’s Indicator Set shows a significant decline in the numbers of young people reporting optimal levels of mental health over the past decade, while research by the Economic and Social Research Institute has shown the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in particular on the mental health of young adults in Ireland.

The reasons for the higher levels of mental ill-health among children and young people here are difficult to determine. However, the history of violence and the legacy of the conflict is passed down through intergenerational trauma which impacts on young people’s mental health and well-being, their ability to engage with education and their opportunities for employment.

The funding announced today through the PEACEPLUS Programme will support positive interventions aimed at improving the mental health and well-being of thousands of children and young people across Northern Ireland and the border counties.

The funding has been awarded to two projects Our Generation, led by Action Mental Health and Peace of Mind led by Verbal.

These projects will make a considerable contribution to peace and reconciliation through a range of cross-community and cross-border youth mental health and well-being models; peace and reconciliation focused youth leadership programmes; and programmes which instil confidence in young people to act as agents of change, building peace for future generations.

Welcoming today’s announcement, Department of Education Minister, Paul Givan, said: “I welcome this investment in youth work initiatives focussing on mental health of out children and young people. A significant number of our children and young people are facing challenges relating to their mental health and emotional well-being. There is a clear need for a collective effort to provide learning and support in this area to ensure children and young people can manage these challenges and are happy, ready to learn and are thriving.”

Minister Roderic O’Gormon, TD, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, commented: “I am delighted that funding has now been awarded under this important investment area and that work can shortly begin on these excellent initiatives. A dedicated theme to support community activities to promote young people’s mental health and well-being is a new, and very welcome, addition to the programme. It is an addition that promises to have substantial impacts over the long term, including through providing capacity building for those working within the youth sector. I am delighted that my Department is able to support these cross-border and cross-community efforts and I want to congratulate the organisations involved, as well as the Special EU Programmes Body for its work over a number of years to get us to this point.”

SEUPB Chief Executive, Gina McIntyre, said: “We are immensely pleased to make this announcement today. Creating a better future for all our young people is one of the core objectives of the PEACEPLUS Programme. This funding will support children and young people to overcome mental health challenges which are one of the longest and most challenging legacies of the conflict.

“This vital funding will support childhood development and help to break that chain intergenerational trauma through focused interventions which will provide young people with the tools, knowledge and support to care for their mental health.”

Today’s announcement follows previous PEACEPLUS funding awards for youth services including €45 million for cross-community youth projects and €13 million for formal and non-formal shared learning initiatives.

The PEACEPLUS Programme has been designed to promote peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, and has a total value of €1.14 billion, to be delivered over the next five years. The Programme will support a wide range of sectors, including health and social care, the protection of the environment, rural regeneration, smart towns and villages, local regeneration and mental health services.

PEACEPLUS is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body and represents a funding partnership between the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Pupils from Pobalscoil Ghaoth Dobhair, in Donegal who participated in the PEACE IV funded project Our Generation.

Jet2.com Named Best Airline at Routes Europe 2024 Awards

Posted on April 26, 2024April 26, 2024 by admin

Leading leisure Jet2.com has been named Best Airline at the prestigious Routes Europe 2024 Awards.

The awards, regarded as one of the key accolades in European aviation, took place on Tuesday 23rd April at Routes Europe 2024 at Aarhus in Denmark. The awards bring together key figures from the industry to celebrate excellence in aviation, as well as outstanding achievements in the industry.

Jet2.com was recognised by judges for its sustainable and responsible growth which has been driven by new routes including more than 40 new routes for Summer ’24. Judges commended the UK’s third largest airline for fleet growth and the launch of new UK airport bases, Liverpool John Lennon and Bournemouth Airports, which means the company will operate from 12 UK bases in Summer ’25.

The airline was also praised for its partnership approach to working with airport and tourism partners, as well as for offering customers unrivalled choice and flexibility. Judges also recognised Jet2.com‘s industry-leading customer satisfaction scores, something the airline has repeatedly won high-profile accolades for, such as Which? Travel Brand of the Year.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this prestigious award which recognises Jet2.com‘s strength and success, as well as our industry-leading approach to supporting and working with airport and destination partners.

“The Routes Awards are truly global, so this accolade is outstanding evidence of the success of our business, our relentless focus on customer service, and our continued commitment to building long-term and mutually beneficial partnerships with airports and destinations.”

For more information, visit: www.jet2.com.

Celebrating their Best Airline award at the Routes Europe 2024 Awards are the Jet2.com team (l-r) Chris Groom (Head of Commercial Planning), Nick Louden (General Manager Airports & Tourism Organisations), Ricard Querol (General Manager Airports & Tourism Organisations), Janice Mather (Head of Airports & Tourism Organisations), Jake Bramley (General Manager Airports & Tourism Organisations), Ian Doubtfire (Sustainability & Business Development Director), and David Neill (Director of Planning).

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2, photographed at East Midlands Airport with one of the Jet2 jets.
2021/04/26 Picture by Georgie Gillard.

CastleCourt Opens Refurbed BPerfect Cosmetics Store

Posted on April 26, 2024 by admin

On Thursday 25th April, CastleCourt Shopping Centre opened their newly refitted BPerfect Cosmetics megastore. Huge crowds attended the event, including Celebrity Big Brother Contestants Ekin-Su and music industry mogul Louis Walsh (see our May issue).

The revamped megastore offers an immersive beauty experience, featuring cutting-edge technology, state-of-the-art hair and scalp diagnostics cameras, ready to unveil your tailored haircare regimen. Pay a visit to BPerfect Cosmetics’ signature, state-of-the-art base bar, where a team of skilled makeup artists will guide you to discover your perfect colour match.

To see more of the event, check out our May issue of Ulster Tatler!

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