Category: Uncategorized

Over 100 performers from local schools, choirs and community music groups came together for a series of pop-up performances in Victoria Square to mark Make Music Day on Friday 21 June.

The special event is one of a series of fundraisers being spearheaded by Victoria Square and its new charity partner, Oh Yeah Music Centre to support grassroots music initiatives in Belfast.

For one day only, a special line-up of pop-up performances took place throughout the centre with everything from toe tapping trad to operatic and orchestra performances right through to rousing renditions of pop hits from local choirs on the programme.

With performances from budding and experienced musicians aged from seven to 70, between 12-6.30pm, there was something to suit every taste, as the groups performed a series of rousing performances. As part of the line-up, a special event for tots and their parents took place in Victoria Square’s interactive children’s play area, as Oh Yeah’s popular ‘Acoustic Picnic’ family went ‘on tour’, with Over The Hill Collective playing sing-along hits and encouraging little ones to sing, dance and play instruments.

Shoppers were given the chance to win big prizes when they donated, with each donation made to Oh Yeah enrolling doners into a special Oh Yeah raffle. Prizes up for grabs will include concert tickets, Oh Yeah gig tickets, and five £100 Victoria Square Gift Cards. Prizes include concert tickets, Oh Yeah gig tickets, and five £100 Victoria Square Gift Cards. All donations made to The Oh Yeah Make Music Day raffle up until noon on Monday 24 June will go into the draw. Donations can be made online here and further information can be found at ohyeahbelfast.com/raffle

Make Music Day is a global celebration of music that has been celebrated for over four decades. The initiative is designed to be open to all, inviting people from all backgrounds, experience and genres top join in, make music and host performances, to fill cities around the world with uplifting music for everyone to enjoy.

Michelle Greeves, centre manager, Victoria Square Centre said: “We are proud to partner with Oh Yeah to celebrate Make Music Day in 2024 with a day of inspiring and uplifting performances that will support music in Belfast. The incredible genre and generationally expansive line-up featured orchestras, school groups and community choirs that showcased some of the incredible talent supported by our 2024 charity partner, Oh Yeah Music Centre. We’d like to thank everyone who came along, or who donated online – all donations will support Oh Yeah’s award-winning projects in the future.”

Commenting on the partnership, Charlotte Dryden, CEO, Oh Yeah Music Centre said: “We were excited to kick off our partnership with Victoria Square with this special fundraiser on Make Music Day. Oh Yeah is committed to ‘opening doors to music’ and we are proud to join forces with Victoria Square to shine the spotlight on some of the incredible community groups supported through our award-winning grassroots programmes. From school kids right through to seniors, our incredible collection of young people and experienced musicians, show that making music is an incredible and powerful way to bring people together.”

Funds raised from the Make Music Day event and from Victoria Square’s partnership with Oh Yeah throughout 2024 will be directly reinvested into Oh Yeah Music Centre programmes to support local musicians and music projects.

It will all bands on deck throughout 2024 at Victoria Square as the centre has pledged to offer a platform for local artists through its partnership with the Oh Yeah Music Centre. Over the next 12 months, local musicians and performers will have the opportunity to perform in the centre, which attracts over 200,000 weekly visitors.

Beauty SEEN is now looking after Molton Brown. Known for its wonderful bath and body product range rooted in British heritage, SEEN is excited to work on a fragrance-first approach for this well-loved home brand.

For over 50 years, Molton Brown has been a pioneer in the world of luxury home interiors, combining a passion for innovation with a commitment to sustainability and the finest ingredients sourced from around the globe. Each product is a testament to their dedication to craftsmanship, encapsulating stories of travel, adventure, and sophisticated, eco-conscious living.

The Art of Sustainable Home Interiors
At Molton Brown, they believe a home interior product is more than just a functional item; it is a journey towards sustainability and elegance. Their designers and artisans work tirelessly to create unique masterpieces that are both timeless and contemporary, while also being environmentally responsible. Whether it’s the warm, inviting ambiance of their Re-Charge Black Pepper candles, the refreshing scent of Orange & Bergamot diffusers, or the floral elegance of Jasmine & Sun Rose room sprays, each product is designed to captivate the senses and enhance your living space, all while upholding their commitment to the planet.

Their dedication to sustainability is reflected in every aspect of the brand, from ethically sourced materials to eco-friendly packaging. Striving to reduce their carbon footprint and support global communities by ensuring fair trade practices and contributing to environmental conservation is a huge priority.

Molton Brown Orange & Bergamont Aroma Reeds 150ml
RRP £48, available at John Lewis, Fenwick, Sephora UK and Cult Beauty.

A Sevillian courtyard of sun-dappled citrus trees. Lively airs of sweet orange, sparkling bergamot and blossoming neroli dance a scented flamenco. Green, vibrant galbanum and opulent ylang-ylang slip into enduring musk. Awaken your spirits; uplift with our modern classic, plucked from the naranja grove.

1994 Smirnoff International Fashion Awards – Northern Ireland Final

Trevor McClintock, Chairman of Gilbeys of Northern Ireland, was delighted to host the Northern Ireland Final of the 1994 Smirnoff International Fashion Awards at the Europa Hotel.

The worldwide final of the competition was held in Dublin’s Point Theatre on November 9th, 1994.

A wonderful coup for Ireland’s fashion industry and a personal triumph for Trevor McClintock who, together with his staff, was responsible for securing this prestigious event for Ireland.

As part of their ongoing commitment to giving back to the community, Galgorm Collection proudly hosted its annual Charity Gala Ball on Saturday 27th April in The Great Hall at the stunning Galgorm venue. This year’s event brought together friends, colleagues and supporters for an unforgettable evening. For more coverage check out our digital issue. 

Younique Aesthetics is set to return to Down Royal Racecourse as sponsor of the Best Dressed Competition at this year’s Summer Festival of Racing

One of the most renowned weekends in Irish horse racing, Down Royal’s Summer Festival will return on the 21^st and 22^nd June 2024 with skincare clinic, Younique Aesthetics sponsoring the ‘Best Dressed Lady Competition’.

The highly anticipated Ladies Day event takes place on Saturday 22^nd June when frocks, fascinators, heels and hats are expected to be on display and visitors can take in some fantastic horse racing including The Ulster Derby (Premier Handicap) and The Ulster Oaks.

Younique Aesthetics is an award-winning clinic renowned for its professional aesthetic treatments and diverse cosmetic services, including injectables, skin rejuvenation and body treatments.

The ‘Best Dressed Lady Competition’ is open to all female racegoers, with the winner receiving an incredible £3,000 voucher for use on treatments and/or products at Younique Aesthetics branches in Belfast or Newry.

Judges for the popular competition include Cool FM Presenter and fashion enthusiast Rebecca McKinney alongside Miss Northern Ireland winner Hannah Johns.

Returning for what will be Younique Aesthetics’ second year sponsoring the ‘Best Dressed Competition’ Aine Larkin Msc PgDip Pgcert ALNP, Clinical Director at Younique Aesthetics said: “Following the success at last year’s ‘Best Dressed Lady Competition’ we are delighted to be returning as sponsor of this vibrant and stylish event.

“Ladies Day is a celebration of fashion, style and elegance among women. It’s a day where female racegoers can don their finest frocks, extravagant headpieces and chic accessories and we encourage all ladies to join us on Saturday 22^nd June and help us celebrate the glitz and glamour of the occasion.”

Kathryn Holland, Commercial Manager at Down Royal added: “Younique Aesthetics is synonymous with beauty and elegance making them the perfect partner for our ‘Best Dressed Lady Competition’.

“We’re delighted that they are once again joining us to celebrate the very best of both style and horse racing.

“The Ladies Day competition is always a highlight of what is an already prestigious sporting event and we’re encouraging all ladies to enter and be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize.”

Gates open at 12pm and for full details on the Summer Festival of Racing or to book tickets visit www.downroyal.com.

Maven Extends Opening Hours to Meet Growing Demand for Sunday Shopping

Independent Belfast interiors boutique, Maven, has announced extended opening hours in response to increasing consumer demand for Sunday shopping. Founded in 2013 by sisters Catherine and Patricia McGinnis, Maven is located in the historic former Bank of Ireland building on Belfast’s bustling Lisburn Road. The store is renowned for its eclectic collection of contemporary homewares and furniture, featuring prominent European brands such as & Tradition, Carl Hansen & Son, and Gubi, alongside independent makers like Annadale Brickworks and Field Day.

This strategic move to open on Sundays aligns with Maven’s 11th anniversary and the first year at their new flagship location on Lisburn Road, set to be celebrated in early July. Reflecting on evolving customer needs, Catherine and Patricia decided to extend their opening hours to accommodate the growing demand for in-store shopping.

Patricia McGinnis commented on the decision, highlighting the influence of changing shopping trends. “We pride ourselves on listening to and responding to our customers’ needs. Moving to a larger premises last year allowed us to expand our product offering significantly, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. By opening on Sundays, we provide our customers with more opportunities to visit and experience our curated collections firsthand.”

The new Sunday hours cater to a relaxed shopping experience, particularly benefiting customers with busy schedules. Additionally, the extended hours aim to attract more visitors from the south of Ireland, who often focus their shopping trips on weekends.

The decision also led to the creation of four new full- and part-time roles, expanding Maven’s team to eight employees. This growth supports the new seven-day operation and ensures that the boutique can continue to offer exceptional service and a wide range of products.

Catherine McGinnis emphasized the importance of adapting to customers’ lifestyles. “As people’s lives become busier, leisure time becomes more precious. Sundays offer a more relaxed shopping environment, and we want to be available for our customers whenever they have the time to visit us.”

Despite a thriving e-commerce platform at wearemaven.co.uk, the sisters recognized the increasing demand for a tactile in-store experience. The expanded hours and team will help Maven meet this demand and continue to provide exceptional service and products to their growing customer base.

For further information, visit wearemaven.co.uk or follow Maven on Instagram @wearemaven_.