Belfast parks retain Green Flag status

ONCE AGAIN, 15 of #Belfast City Council’s parks have achieved prestigious Green Flag status for consistently maintaining high quality standards.

The UK-wide Green Flag status is awarded to parks that show excellence in management and maintaining clean, aesthetic open spaces. It’s also awarded to parks promoting conservation and heritage, environmental sustainability, safety, and community involvement.

The parks that have retained their Green Flags are: Belfast Botanic Gardens; Barnett Demesne; Grove, Belmont; Cavehill Country Park; Dunville; Lagan Meadows; Musgrave; Ormeau; Falls; Roselawn Cemetery; Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park; Woodvale; Knocknagoney and Waterworks Park.

Councillor Matt Garrett, chair of the People and Communities Committee, said: ‘To retain Green Flag status in so many of our parks is fantastic news for Belfast. The hard work and dedication shown by our parks staff on a daily basis is brilliant and I’m delighted that these awards give proper recognition to their efforts.

‘Parks right across our city provide fantastic open spaces for local communities and visitors to enjoy and are always a hive of activity.’

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Game of Thrones trail for Northern Ireland

TOURISM #IRELAND launched its latest campaign celebrating Northern Ireland as #GameofThrones Territory for the sixth year running. The campaign will roll out weekly until the end of season six at the end of June. 

A feature of the campaign is a series of ten intricately carved doors, depicting moments inspired by this season. The doors will be unveiled each week as season six unfolds. They will be carved from trees blown down in this winter’s storms at the Dark Hedges in Co. Antrim, which serves as the backdrop for the Kingsroad – perhaps the most iconic Game of Thrones location in Northern Ireland.

The doors will hang in pubs and other venues near filming locations across Northern Ireland, giving visitors a Game of Thrones Territory trail to follow. Tourism Ireland will release a mixture of short films and images from the campaign on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube in ten markets – including Great Britain, the US, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia.

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Picture Credit: Game of Thrones</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin

‘Wear It Blue’ day kicks off Titanic Belfast’s Year of Access

TITANIC BELFAST has launched its Year of Access, aiming to highlight the issue of disability access and encourage industry improvements when dealing with disabled travellers, with Autism NI’s ‘Wear It Blue’ day. 

Each month, it aims to focus on a different disability and ensure Titanic Belfast’s services and facilities develop to meet the needs of guests.


Titanic Belfast has been listed by SAGA and the Rough Guide to Accessibility Britain as one of the most accessible attractions in the UK.

Deputy chief executive and director of operations at Titanic Belfast Judith Owens said: ‘At Titanic Belfast, we are very proud to be consistently recognized as industry leaders on a local, national, and international level for our accessibility standards.

‘We have designated 2016/17 as our Year of Access. Each month, we aim to look at different disabilities and ensure that we are fully accessible for all our differing customers’ needs. We also hope that our example will inspire the tourism industry locally, nationally, and internationally to do more to better cater for disabled travellers.’

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Food NI sets out its stall for local producers

FOOD NORTHERN IRELAND (Food NI) will be offering stalls to eligible producers at a dedicated pavilion at the #BBCGoodFoodShow in #Belfast later this year (October 14-16). 

The show – which will take place in Ulster for the first time – is set to attract more than 12,000 visitors from across the island of Ireland. Food NI will host a dedicated area for local producers which will allow businesses to showcase quality food and drink.

To be eligible for a stand in Food NI’s Year of Food and Drink Village, applicants must be a Northern Ireland food or drink company with products made in Ulster, using NI ingredients where possible, and sourcing, using, and promoting Northern Ireland produce.


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Picture Credit: By User:Jpatokal - Own work, GFDL, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=22922800

Ulster’s white knuckle walk re-opens

A CLIFF FACE walk in County Antrim, #Northern Ireland, designed and built more than a century ago has been re-opened to the public.

The #Gobbinscoastalpath in #Islandmagee was the brainchild of Irish railway engineer Berkley Deane Wise. It opened in 1902 and soon became famous as a white knuckle walk. Edwardian-era visitors were able to have close encounters with waves and wildlife.

The path, which is carved into black basalt cliffs, was an engineering triumph: it's connected by a network of walkways and bridges, the most iconic of which was a tubular bridge. Post-war austerity meant decline for the 1.5 mile walkway; it was closed to the public in the 1950s.

A £7.5 million restoration project began in 2013, replacing bridges, hand rails, and constructing a new visitors centre.

Before starting the walk, visitors are given a safety briefing and a hard hat in the visitors centre.

The walk is described as strenuous and is not suitable for everyone. No-one under the height of 3’ 9” will be allowed to take the walk, and visitors with cardiac, respiratory, asthmatic, or joint conditions are urged not to attempt it.

Groups of 10 to 15 will be guided along the bridges which cling to the cliff face just feet above the sea. The route allows visitors to see coastal birds such as Puffins, Guillemots and Kittiwakes up close. It's also possible to spot porpoises off the coast.

Tours should be booked in advance and the costs are £8.50 for adults, concessions £6, and a family rate of £23.

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Picture Credit: Wikimedia 

Ulster in drive for Australian tourists

AUSTRALIA offers significant potential for tourism to Northern Ireland, according to a new Tourism Ireland strategy. 

The three-year strategy for growth sets out ambitious targets which will see the number of Australian visitors grow by +20% by the end of 2017.

#Australia is the third most important market for tourism to Northern Ireland (after mainland Britain and the United States) in terms of visitor numbers and revenue.

The strategy highlights key factors working in Ulster’s favour: 

· Recent strong performance: since 2010, visitors from Australia to the island of #Ireland have grown by more than 40%; in 2014, more than 180,000 Australians visited the #island of Ireland. One-third of all Australian visitors include Northern Ireland in their itinerary.

· Strong cultural affinity: Ireland and Australia have many things in common, including language, heritage, sense of humour, love of sport … and both drive on the left.

· Improved air access: there are twice-daily, one-stop flights now available between Australia and Ireland (via the Middle East). Australians who are visiting Great Britain and mainland Europe can also use excellent connecting flights to Belfast.

· Australians are highly prized visitors; they travel throughout the year, stay longer (on average 12 nights), spend more (approximately £760 – almost double the average visitor spend), and like to get off the beaten track – so are more likely than other nationalities to tour rural areas.

Niall Gibbons, CEO of Tourism Ireland, said: ‘Australia has performed well for #tourism to Northern Ireland and the island of Ireland in recent years and the future is undoubtedly bright. We believe this is a market of considerable potential over the coming years – given that these high-spending visitors travel right throughout the year and enjoy getting off the beaten track.’

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Picture Credit: Shrove Beach Oct 07 by NorthernCounties - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons, Scrabo Tower near Newtownards (3) - geograph.org.uk - 775719 by Albert Bridge. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Ulster mansion re-opens

MOUNT STEWART HOUSE – a National Trust neo-classical 18th century mansion in County Down, Northern Ireland – has re-opened after a three-year, £7 million restoration project.

Visitors will be able to see new rooms, nationally and internationally significant family portraits, silver collections, and other family treasures. 

The gardens are another must see feature of this beautifully restored mansion and have many interesting, curious and humerous aspects to be found within them.

www.nationaltrust.orq.uk/mount-stewart

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Picture Credit: Mount Stewart - geograph.org.uk - 70209 by Dr Charles Nelson. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons,The Ark with dodos - geograph.org.uk - 70463 by Dr Charles Nelson. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

Tallest building in Ireland to be converted into a hotel

IRELAND’S tallest commercial building is to be transformed into a hotel. The 22-storey Windsor House office block in Belfast has been acquired by Hastings Hotels for £6.5 million.

Planning permission to convert the building into a hotel of ‘major city international quality’ will be submitted within a few weeks, according to the company which has six hotels in Ulster and one in Dublin. The hotel will see the creation of 150 jobs in the hospitality sector.

The building has dominated the Belfast skyline since it was built in 1974.

The hotel will see the creation of 150 jobs in the hospitality sector.

Hastings Hotels said: ‘Tourism in Northern Ireland continues to thrive and it is ideal timing to extend our portfolio of hotels with more high profile events coming to the city as well as an increase in business tourism which will be helped by the opening of the £29.5 million expansion of the Belfast Waterfront next year.’

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Picture Credit: Windsor House, Belfast  by Albert Bridge. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Irish Rail reveals ambitions for Dublin Airport

IRISH RAIL has revealed plans to run trains direct from Dublin Airport to Cork, Galway, and Belfast.

Irish Rail chief executive, David Franks, said the development could cost €300 million (£223.2 million) while providing a significantly boost for tourism.

“One of the biggest contributions we can make to the economy is moving people over long distances and into city centres fast,” said Franks.

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Picture Credit: "IRISH RAIL INTERCITY 22000 DMU AT DUBLIN HEUSTON STATION" by calflier001 via Wikimedia Commons

£4.9 million grant for Belfast heritage project

A £4.9 MILLION grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) will enable the restoration of the derelict Harland and Wolff drawing offices where the Titanic was designed. It is part of a scheme to develop build a four-star, 84-bedroom hotel on the site of the shipbuilder’s former headquarters building in Belfast.

The Harland and Wolff headquarters building was the control centre of the world’s largest shipyard, where Belfast workers designed and built more than 1,000 vessels including the White Star Olympic Class Liners – Olympic, Titanic and Britannic – and naval warships.

The building has been vacant since 1989 and has been considered ‘at risk’ for almost a decade.

The HLF grant will specifically focus on developing the two drawing offices as spaces for public use.

Paul Mullan, head of HLF Northern Ireland, said: ‘This is an exciting project that will see one of Belfast’s most historic buildings re-born as a major tourist destination. This, like many of the city’s historic buildings, has incredible potential to act as a driver of regeneration and economic growth.’

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Picture Credit: From Top - "H&W Drawing office" via HLF; "The Harland and Wolff repair dock by night" by Ross via Wikimedia Commons

Ulster Way among world’s greatest walking trails

THE Ulster Way has been included in a guide to the world’s greatest walking trails.

The UK’s Independent Traveller put the 625-mile circular walking route in its list of the 16 top global routes, including the Inca Trail in Peru, the Appalachian Trail in the US, and the Camino de Santiago Compostela in France and Spain.

The Ulster Way was originally conceived in 1946 as a tour through the most scenic parts of Northern Ireland’s six counties. The route was adapted between 2004 and 2009 and now includes ‘quality’ sections, most of which are in designated Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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Picture Credit: "Gate and stile near Fofanny Dam, on the Ulster Way" by Albert Bridge via Wikimedia Commons

US travel agents take a look at Ulster

A GROUP of leading travel agents from 18 states across the US have visited Ulster as guests of Tourism Ireland and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

Their fact-finding trip included Belfast, the Causeway Coastal Route, and Londonderry.

Alison Metcalfe at Tourism Ireland said: ‘Familiarization visits such as these are extremely important, as the travel agents get to experience at first-hand the wealth of things to see and do here for American holidaymakers.’

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Picture Credit: "Coastal path at dusk - geograph.org.uk - 593655" by Ross - From geograph.org.uk. via Wikimedia Commons

City of song ....But you'd better move fast!!

THE City of Derry* International Choral Festival begins tomorrow and runs from October 22 to October 26. 

From shopping centres to care homes and churches to bingo halls, choirs will be taking to stages all over the city to give free performances.

As well as visiting international choirs, new local choirs will be given a platform.

LATE News from the festival - The Sixteen concert on Wednesday night is now SOLD OUT! There are still tickets left for other evening events: Neil Cowley Trio/Utopia & Reality Chamber Choir/Codetta on Thursday, The Swingle Singers on Friday and the International Competition on Saturday and Closing Gala Concert on Sunday and much more - You'd better move fast - we're expecting a full house every night! 

See more at - http://www.codichoral.com/2014-festival/

*Go Holiday editor David Kernek explains: Yes, I know this is the Ulster city with two names – Londonderry and Derry – and I know why it has two names, but this is festival’s official name.

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Picture Credit: From Top -  'Sacred Music Competition 2013, Primary Competitions 2013 courtesy and via www.codichoral.com/2014-festival/