Author: Brian Ogle

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AFTER restating its confidence in the supply of jet fuel, meaning that summer is on, Jet2 has emphasised its industry leadership and consumer champion position after being named Best Airline for the third year running at the prestigious Routes Europe Awards.

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FAMILIES looking to escape the UK for May half-term are jetting off on short-haul breaks, with holiday favourites in the Mediterranean proving popular.

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 TO mark World Limerick Day, Irish Ferries has launched Limericks for Kids, a new initiative to encourage creativity and storytelling, while celebrating the wonder of ferry travel with an amazing prize pot worth over €10,000.

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Jet2 has moved to reassure customers today, reporting positive updates about fuel supply, supporting its plans to operate its flying programme as normal this summer.

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BUSKERS of all abilities are being invited to sign up as Banbridge prepares for the return of its annual music festival, Buskfest, on Saturday, June 20, 2026. 

1. Titanic Belfast Curates… Northern Threads, Belfast, until 30 September. The exhibition showcases how fashion and textile design is bold, expressive and deeply connected to place. It’s about what’s being created now and the ideas, stories and influences shaping it. At the heart of Northern Threads are Gráinne Maher, Hope Macaulay, Kindred of Ireland by Amy Anderson and Éadach by Sara O’Neill.
   
2. Sea Bangor, County Down, 23 – 24 May. Sea Bangor is a free, family-friendly maritime festival celebrating the rich coastal heritage of the city of Bangor. Taking place along the seafront, the event offers a packed programme of nautical-themed activities both on and off the water, along with live entertainment, music, and delicious local food.
   
3. Lir Sessions, Ballycastle, County Antrim, 21 – 25 May. Lir Sessions is a new folk and traditional music festival bringing five vibrant days of music, culture and craic to the seaside town of Ballycastle. The festival features over 40 free events and performances, including headline concerts, intimate gigs, lively session trails and interactive activities for all ages.
   
4. Rathlin Sound Festival, Ballycastle, County Antrim, 21 – 31 May. The long and rich coastal traditions of Rathlin Island are showcased during this festival which celebrates local cuisine, live music and maritime heritage.
   
5. OM Dark Sky Park and Observatory, Davagh Forest, County Tyrone, visit website for open dates and times. Take a journey through time and space with a visitor experience that’s out of this world. Book your visit to Northern Ireland’s only International Dark Sky Park. Fully guided by an experienced tour guide, the centre will give visitors a unique opportunity to experience the night sky as it is rarely viewed.
   
6. Ballymena 400, County Antrim, 23 May. Join us as Ballymena marks 400 years with a full day of celebration for all ages. The day begins at 10.30am with a vibrant town centre parade showcasing Ballymena today. Expect a colourful procession featuring community, youth groups and sports organisations, all brought together with music and atmosphere as the town celebrates its past and present. From midday until 4pm the celebrations continue in People’s Park with a free family friendly event.
   
7. Names of the Land at Sir Hans Sloane Centre, Killyleagh, County Down, 22 May. A talk by Dr Frances Kane (Associate Fellow of the Institute of Irish Studies. Queen’s University Belfast). Place-names are one of the most enduring records of language, history, and everyday life. This talk explores how Irish and Ulster-Scots have shaped the names of townlands, fields, roads, and settlements, and what those names can tell us about how people understood the land around them.
   
8. Wild Caving – Marble Arch Caves, Florencecourt, County Fermanagh, 23 May. Delve off the beaten track with their experienced and qualified Cave Leader to explore “wild caving” in the depths of the Marble Arch Caves system. Your group of ten will explore wild cave passages, negotiate boulder chambers and clamber through the well-known flyover to emerge into the public tour area of the show cave before navigating your way out through the wild chambers.
   
9. Orchard/Cider Tour Experience with Tastings, Tea/Coffee, Apple Tart & Fresh Cream with Long Meadow Cider, Portadown, County Armagh, 23 May. Enjoy a fully immersive orchard/cider experience in the company of the McKeever family. No visit with the McKeever family would be complete without tasting their award-winning craft ciders and apple juice.
10. Family Fun BBQ at Roe Valley Resort, Limavady, County Londonderry, 24 May. Enjoy daytime dancing, ice cream, character meet & greets, and fresh BBQ eats while your little explorers dive into a kids’ activity zone made just for them. They’ll bounce sky-high on a giant inflatable, take on the bungee trampoline, and cruise mini 4x4s around our child-sized track, plus enjoy the colourful Helter Skelter, kids’ arcade, and adventure play park for nonstop fun. No need to book, just follow the fun and purchase your activity wristbands and BBQ tokens in their Kids Activity Zone.

For more information on what’s on, or to plan your next giant adventure in Northern Ireland, visit: discovernorthernireland.com.

Subject to availabilities with select dates.

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ABTA is supporting its members ahead of the key summer holiday season with a new phase of its ‘Travel with confidence’ campaign, telling UK holidaymakers that ‘The Time is Now’ to book with an ABTA member.

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BRITISH holidaymakers face a summer travel lottery amid the global jet fuel crisis – with some airlines better placed than others to dodge anticipated flight chaos.

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MORE than a third of Northern Irish holidaymakers say they have delayed making travel plans this summer due to recent global events, according to new research.

KEFLAVIK (KEF) Airport, Reykjavik, has launched the world’s first on-site airport tour programme – its very own series of guided tours designed to offer visitors another view of Iceland before departing.