There are stacks of fun things to do across NI, from family days out to gigs and cultural events. Here are 10 exciting things taking place this week (8- 14 January 2018)
1) Brown Bonds Hill Fine Food Tour, Belfast – Derry~Londonderry, 13 January. Browns Bonds Hill has been a firm fixture on the foodie map since 2009, foodies can enjoy dining at three of the groups award winning restaurants; Browns Bonds Hill, Browns in Town & Ardtara Country House Hotel as part of this food tour. Tour departs Belfast at 9am and returns from Derry~Londonderry at 6pm, providing breakfast, nibbles and dinner with a glass of wine. Tickets cost £75.
2) Wizarding Weekend, Carrickfergus, 13-14 January. Carrickfergus Castle will be transformed into a fantasy world filled with potion making, broomstick and wand training and fantastical creatures. This is an opportunity for children and adults of all ages to journey into an enchanted world and uncover their magical powers.
3) David O’Doherty: Big Time, Belfast, 12 January. David O’Doherty is delighted to present an evening of his latest jokes and songs at the Ulster Hall.David has spent the last year on tour around America with Flight of the Conchords and performed at the Edinburgh Fringe and Melbourne Comedy Festival. Over Christmas he sold out a record-breaking eleven nights at Whelan’s, and has just completed his largest ever UK tour. Book tickets visit 3. UlsterHall.co.uk.
4) The Streets of Donaghadee Exhibition, Newtownards, 6-27 January. Donaghadee Historical Society present this exhibition on ‘The Streets of Donaghadee’, featuring the old hotels, pubs and businesses of Donaghadee’s past.This exhibition is free for all to visit in The Space at Ards Visitor Information Centre. Please note it is closed on Sundays.
5) Secrets From the Government Files: 1992, Belfast, 11 January. Dr Eamon Phoenix, a political historian and Irish News columnist, and Sam McBride, the Political Editor of the News Letter and the Northern Ireland Political Editor for the i newspaper, will reveal the secrets behind the news headlines from government files of 1992 at the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.
6) Foil, Arms & Hog – OinK, Belfast, 11 January. Former children and regular eaters Foil, Arms & Hog are back with the Northern Irish premiere of their new show on the Ulster Hall stage. OinK is a fast paced sketch show featuring a collection of songs for the elderly, a baggage handler’s interpretive dance and a shop that naively sells only balaclavas. The show has yet to be reviewed but when it is, it will be ‘utterly spellbinding’ and ‘a triumph.’ Book tickets visit 6. UlsterHall.com.
7) Jake O’Kane – Cool FM Comedy Club, Belfast, 10-13 January. Jake O’Kane, Northern Ireland’s top comic and star of the BBC panel show ‘The Blame Game’, brings his brand new show entitled ‘Still Sittin’ on the Fence’ to the Waterfront Hall. In his traditional end-of-year review show, Jake will be casting a satirical eye over the preceding 12 months, combining stories and pictures from the Irish News with the madness of the Internet to debunk the great, the not so great, and himself. Book tickets visit 7. WaterfrontHall.co.uk.
8) Out To Lunch Arts Festival 2018, Belfast, 5-28 January. Now in its 13th year, the utterly unique and totally boutique Out To Lunch serves up a feast of music, comedy, spoken word and theatre with a thrilling mix of familiar favourites and fresh talent. Line-up includes Andrew Maxwell, Cat Stevens and Joanne McNally, for the full programme of acts and dates visit 8. cqaf.com.
9) Declan Nerney, Lisburn, 12 January. Enjoy an evening of country and Irish traditional song at Lagan Valley Island from Drumlish-born singer Declan Nerney. To book tickets visit 9. LaganValleyIsland.co.uk.
10) Rowan Leslie With Graeme Armstrong, Belfast, 13 January. The Crescent are delighted to welcome County Antrim fiddle player and composer Rowan Leslie to the stage, accompanied by guitarist Graeme Armstrong.
For more information on these events or to plan a short break in Northern Ireland, visit www.DiscoverNorthernIreland.com
