Author: Brian Ogle

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IT WAS the sound of summer last year and now the UK’s consumer champion, Jet2, is inviting customers to be part of the advert that everyone is talking about through a new competition.

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MARBELLA is set to shine even brighter this summer as the Starlite Occident Festival returns from June to August 2026 with one of its most star-studded line-ups to date. Maroon 5, John Legend, Lenny Kravitz, Rick Astley, Anastacia, the Gipsy Kings, Nile Rodgers & CHIC, Deep Purple and Kool & The Gang are just some of the names taking to the stage at the open-air auditorium carved into the natural quarry of Nagüeles.

1. Cultra Motorsport Festival, Holywood, County Down, 6 June. Hosted in partnership with the Thoroughbred Sports Car Club NI and Porsche Centre Belfast, this is an action-packed day with vintage, classic and modern cars on display at Cultra Manor, including gems from the Ulster Transport Museum collection, released from the Ulster Transport Museum’s private stores just for this event.

2. Every Voice Festival, Derry~Londonderry, 6 – 14 June. The Every Voice Festival celebrates the transformative power of singing together. From powerful sacred music and inspiring youth performances to community choirs, workplace singers, care home concerts and spectacular gala performances. Whether you love choral music, storytelling, live performance or simply celebrating community spirit – there’s something for everyone.

3. Long Meadow Cider Orchard/Cider Tour Experience with Tastings, Tea/Coffee, Apple Tart & Fresh Cream, Portadown, County Armagh, 6 June. Enjoy a fully immersive orchard/cider experience in the company of the McKeever family. Enjoy an orchard walk explaining the various orchard plantations in place. Visitors can experience the apple blossom in May or the trees laden with fruit from June-October. And, of course, no visit with the McKeever family would be complete without tasting their award-winning craft ciders and apple juice.

4. The Benjamin Franklin Dining Room at Hillsborough Castle, Royal Hillsborough, County Down, visit website for dates and times. Step into a fascinating chapter of transatlantic history at Hillsborough Castle, where visitors can explore the castle’s remarkable connection to America’s founding story. To mark the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence, the magnificent State Dining Room has been transformed into the Benjamin Franklin Dining Room, showcasing a unique collection of historic objects linked to the celebrated statesman.

5. Celtic Heart at Belfast Waterfront, Belfast, visit website for dates and times. Created in collaboration with The Music Yard, Celtic Heart is a locally produced show celebrating Belfast’s rich storytelling, traditional music and homegrown talent. Transporting audiences to the industrial heart of early-1900s working class Belfast, Celtic Heart is an intimate and powerful storytelling experience brought vividly to life through the spoken word, live traditional music, captivating vocals, and breathtaking dance choreography.

6. Titanic Belfast Curates… Northern Threads, Belfast, visit website for dates and times. A celebration of style, creativity and contemporary design in Northern Ireland. 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.

7. Under the Hawthorn Tree at Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, County Tyrone, visit website for dates and times. A powerful story of hardship, loss and survival, this exhibition brings Marita Conlon-McKenna’s much-loved children’s novel, Under the Hawthorn Tree, to life. The exhibition uses objects, sounds, smells, interactives and illustrations to tell the story, inviting visitors, young and old, to experience the story in a new and immersive way.

8. Viking Village at Fermanagh Fun Farm, Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh, 6-7 June. Step back in time at the Viking Event at Fermanagh Fun Farm. With live battle re-enactments, interactive warrior demonstrations and a fully set up Viking village to explore, there’s plenty to see and experience.

9. Little Construction Club at Millennium Forum, Derry~Londonderry, 4 June (more dates available). Little Construction Club is a pop-up construction-themed play experience for toddlers and young children. Children can explore a fully themed mini construction site featuring ride-on diggers and dumper trucks, build zones, sensory play, dress-up stations, roadworks roleplay, ball pit fun and interactive play areas designed to encourage imagination, creativity and active play.

10. The Gobbins, Islandmagee, County Antrim, visit website for dates and times. Experience a thrilling world where bridges will carry you over crashing waves to sunken caves and sheer cliff faces. On the thrilling Gobbins Experience, nature isn’t content to just sit back and be admired. It completely engulfs you: from the all-enveloping Irish Sea winds and the dolphins dancing off the coastline, to the squawking native sea birds and the salty air as it hits your lips.

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.

AER Lingus has celebrated the take off of its first flight from Dublin Airport to Pittsburgh.

1. Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne Guided Tour, Castlerock, County Londonderry, 25 May. Join the team at Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne on a guided historical tour around the Earl Bishop Hervey’s Estate – one of the true jewels of the Causeway Coast.
   
2. Sizzle, Sips & Sounds at Montalto Estate, Ballynahinch, County Down, 25 May. Visit the stunning and exclusive Walled Garden at Montalto Estate on Bank Holiday Monday for a day full of entertainment and food in perfect surroundings. From 11am – 4pm, grab a bite to eat at their BBQ station, along with a cold, refreshing drink while enjoying live music by local musicians.
   
3. W5 Space, Belfast, 23 May – 31 August. Step into an immersive training mission at the Space Explorer Academy, where young astronauts are recruited to embark on a journey beyond the stars. Take on cosmic challenges, test your skills through hands-on missions, and discover what it takes to become a true explorer of the universe. From countdown to launch, to interstellar discoveries, every experience is designed to ignite curiosity and fuel imagination.
   
4. Birdwatch morning at WWT Castle Espie, Comber, County Down, 27 May. Join the experts for a relaxed and informative birdwatching walk across the reserve, timed to catch the birds at their most active. It’s perfect for all experience levels – whether you’re just getting started or a seasoned spotter, our team will help you identify species, understand behaviour, and make the most of the wetland’s seasonal highlights.
   
5. From Blossom to Bottle Tour with Armagh Cider Company, Portadown, County Armagh, 27 May. Come and learn about the history of Ballinteggart and how it has become the home of Armagh cider. With a welcome drink in the mature grounds, discover the history of the area, farm and family. You’ll enjoy sampling their range of drinks produced from their own spring water and take time to dander through their traditional orchards.
   
6. Royal Hillsborough Farmers Market, County Down, 30 May. The popular Royal Hillsborough Farmers Market returns to the historic village for three markets on the last Saturday of May, June and July. The market is set along the Dark Walk and extending into the grounds of Hillsborough Fort. It makes a lovely day out, especially when combined with a browse of the eclectic mix of independent shops and eateries in the village.
   
7. Glenravel International Furnace Festival & Forge In, Newtowncrommelin, County Antrim, 30 – 31 May. Expert smelters and blacksmiths from around the world are gathering in the small mining area of Glenravel in the Antrim hills to bring traditional iron skills back to life.
   
8. Timeless Tastes – The Fermanagh Experience, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, visit website for open dates and times. Begin your adventure deep underground at the Marble Arch Caves, where the Owenbrean River Cave Tour leads you through an ancient limestone labyrinth. Hear the echoes of rushing water, feel the cool cave air on your skin, and marvel at breath-taking underground formations sculpted over millennia. Then, return to the surface and indulge in the craft of spirit making with a guided tour of Boatyard Distillery on the tranquil banks of Lough Erne.
   
9. Magherafelt Speciality Market, Magherafelt, County Londonderry, 30 May. Find and support independent businesses while enjoying a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. From artisan produce, gifts, art and craft to delicious street food. It’s the perfect base to explore the vibrant Magherafelt town.
   
10. The Garden Fair at Corick House Hotel and Spa, Clogher, County Tyrone, 24 – 25 May. Enjoy the seasonal changes at Corick House Hotel & Spa with their Garden Fair – a vibrant two-day celebration taking place within the stunning surroundings of their countryside estate.

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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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.