The 'Travel' Life of Brian

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Continue reading “JET2 PUTS CUSTOMERS FIRST AND RULES OUT SURCHARGES” →

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EASYJET has announced two new routes from Belfast to Rome Fiumicino and Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt.

Continue reading “EASYJET ANNOUNCES NEW ROUTES TO ROME AND SHARM EL SHEIKH” →

ASSOCIATION ISSUES CLARITY ON FUEL AVAILABILITY AND PRICES

WITH media stories circulating about the price and availability of jet fuel and what this may mean for holidays following the conflict in the Middle East, ABTA is supporting its travel industry members by providing reassurance to customers that holidays are still going ahead.

Continue reading “ABTA PROVIDES REASSURANCE THAT HOLIDAYS ARE STILL GOING AHEAD” →

1. Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival, Belfast, 29 April – 10 May. Recognised as one of the top things to do in Belfast in May, the festival brings more than 100 events to venues across Belfast’s historic cultural quarter. From atmospheric concerts to thoughtprovoking talks and unforgettable latenight shows, CQAF offers something for every curious visitor.
   
2. City of Derry Jazz & Big Band Festival, Derry~Londonderry, 29 April – 4 May. Celebrate the 25th anniversary with an unforgettable event, drawing over 100,000 music lovers to experience world-class performers.
   
3. Enniskillen TradFest 2026, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, 1 – 4 May. Over four days, Enniskillen will host a series of traditional music sessions featuring talented local musicians alongside visiting performers. Pubs across the town will open their doors to the sound of fiddles, flutes, accordions and bodhráns, creating the warm and energetic atmosphere that makes trad sessions so special.
   
4. Among the Apple Blossom at Long Meadow: Orchard Cooking & Cider Stories, Portadown, County Armagh, 3 May. Enjoy a relaxed coach tour from Armagh City to Long Meadow Cider Co., guided by Donna Fox and hosted by the McKeever family. This relaxed, participatory experience includes a guided walk through a working cider orchard in full bloom. You’ll hear family stories of generations of apple growing and insights into how their business has evolved into one of Armagh’s best known cider producers, before being introduced to their award-winning cider and juice range.
   
5. International Dawn Chorus Day Guided Walk at Downhill Demesne, Castlerock, County Londonderry, 3 May. Celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day with a guided, early-morning walk through the beautiful Downhill Demesne and Forest. Join a National Trust Regional Ecologist to learn the basics of identifying birds by their song and enjoy the rich variety of calls that fill the air at sunrise.
   
6. Magnificent May Weekend at Montalto Estate, Ballynahinch, County Down, 3-4 May. Come along to Montalto Estate for their Magnificent May Weekend – the perfect family day out filled with exciting activities for all ages. Bask in the spring sunshine inside the stunning Walled Garden, relax with live entertainment, and indulge in a mouth-watering BBQ, delicious ice cream, and more.
   
7. Eco Boat Tours of Strangford Lough, Killinchy, County Down, 2 May. Learn about Strangford Lough’s world renowned eco system, become a sustainable user of our coasts, and take in the stunning and peaceful scenery. Partnering with Sam, a marine biologist from Coastal Catchups, this new experience focuses on the wildlife of Strangford Lough.
   
8. Specialist Plant Fair at Mount Stewart, Newtownards, County Down, 2 May. A vibrant array of specialist nurseries and garden-themed traders will join Mount Stewart’s passionate Garden Team to take over Front of House for a special event dedicated to the celebration of all things horticulture.
   
9. Festival of Fools, Belfast, 2 – 4 May. Festival of Fools is a jam-packed weekend of circus performances, featuring breathtaking acrobatics, gut-busting comedy and jaw-dropping juggling. The festival is the largest comedy, circus and outdoor arts festival on the island of Ireland, with over 70 performances taking place on the streets of Belfast City Centre and Cathedral Quarter.
   
10. Under the Hawthorn Tree at Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, County Tyrone, until 31 March 2027. A powerful story of hardship, loss and survival, this exhibition brings to life Marita Conlon-McKenna’s much-loved children’s novel, Under the Hawthorn Tree. 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.
    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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RYANAIR has announced that from Tuesday November 10, check-in and bag drop services at all its airports will close 60 minutes prior to scheduled departure.

Continue reading “RYANAIR REDUCES BAGGAGE CHECK-IN TIME FOR PASSENGERS” →

1. Planetarium Sound Journey Under the Stars, Armagh, County Armagh, 26 April. Embark on a journey to explore the Youniverse at the unique sound spa, “Sound Journey Under the Stars,” within the Armagh Planetarium Dome. Immerse yourself in a unique experience as you listen to soothing sounds while journeying under the stars and through the expansive cosmos.
   
2. Family Woodcarving Workshop: Make a Toy Sword, Castlerock, County Londonderry, 25 April. Join the team at Hezlett House for a hands-on family woodworking workshop with expert craftsman, Stephen Ryan, whose 28 years of professional experience began with a childhood love of making things from wood. In this creative two-hour session, Stephen will guide you through the safe use of traditional woodworking tools and techniques as you craft your very own wooden toy sword. Each participant (adult or child) will make their own sword to take home, learning fundamental woodcraft skills along the way.
   
3. Wild & Fired – Goodwood Fuel BBQ School, Derry~Londonderry, 25 April. Lo & Slo’s Wild & Fired BBQ School offers an immersive, interactive experience combining foraging, dining, and live fire workshops in a historic, private walled garden, showcasing Northern Irish culture through locally sourced food.
   
4. Fermanagh Classic Fishing Festival 2026, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, April 26 – 1 May. Calling all fishing enthusiasts. Join the Classic Fishing Festival in Fermanagh, where anglers come together to celebrate the art of fishing and the beauty of Fermanagh’s lakes and rivers. Mark your calendars, gather your fishing gear, and get ready for a week filled with laughter, camaraderie, and fantastic fishing action.
   
5. Bronze Age Connections: Smoked Fired Pottery, Bushmills, County Antrim, 25 April. Step into the Bronze Age to decorate and smoke a North Coast ceramic incense pot with artist Patricia Millar. The incredible landscape of the Causeway Coast is made up of layers of limestone, basalt and red ochre. People have a long history of using ochre for body paint, cave paintings and decorating pots.
   
6. The Unlucky Mummy, Belfast, 23 April. Join dark historian Andrew Johnston of Alternative Ulstours for an illustrated Templemore Talk on the conspiracy theory that a cursed Egyptian mummy-board sank the RMS Titanic. Hear the hieroglyphic warning that adorned her tomb, meet the unfortunates who experienced the mummy-board’s evil and discover where it can be viewed to this day – if you dare visit!
   
7. Behind the Scenes: Transport Store Tour at Ulster Transport Museum, Cultra, County Down, various dates available until October. Explore these collections through a self-guided tour. Highlights include Rex McCandless’ innovations, historic bicycles, motorbikes, boats and planes (notably the rare Shorts Sealand). This is an opportunity to see inside a working museum store, quite unlike our conventional public galleries but equally fascinating.
   
8. Garden Walk and Talk at Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne, Castlerock, County Londonderry, 22 April (and 29 April). Join the team at Mussenden Temple and Downhill Demesne for a gentle garden walk and talk, led by gardener, Una Quinn and her dedicated team who care for these gardens throughout the seasons. Stroll with Una through the tranquil Bog Garden, first created by Lady Bruce in 1910, and follow a short trail into the Bishop’s Gate Arboretum.
   
9. The Sperrin Sculpture Trail, various locations, County Tyrone, visit website for open dates and times. Deep within this beautiful landscape of the Sperrin Mountains, lie three gentle and majestic giants. The trio form the Sperrin Sculpture Trail, an art installation created by world acclaimed artist, Thomas Dambo, to showcase the geology, archaeology and heritage of the Sperrins. The giants represent the past, present and future.
   
10. UK Aufguss Championships 2026, Ballymena, County Antrim, 21 – 22 April. Experience the UK Aufguss Championships at the award-winning Galgorm Resort, as the Thermal Spa Village hosts this prestigious celebration of sauna culture. Your day spa ticket includes full access to the Thermal Spa Village, four immersive Aufguss performances showcasing theatrical towel-waving, music and aromatherapy and lunch in Elements Spa Café.

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.

1. ARDS International Guitar Festival 2026, Newtownards, County Down, 15 – 19 April. The Ards International Guitar Festival is back with a bang in April 2026 celebrating 30 years of guitar inspired gigs and free fringe events. Expect a jam-packed line-up of blues, folk, rock, bluegrass and classical and contemporary music for guitar aficionados across Newtownards.
   
2. A Night to Remember at Titanic Belfast, Belfast, 14 April. Join this special commemorative evening and retrace Titanic’s story through the voices of those whose lives were forever changed by her journey. During this 90-minute experience, guests will be guided through key locations within Titanic Belfast. They will hear poignant monologues, stirring musical performances, and stories shared by the knowledgeable crew. Guests are welcome to stay for the duration of the event and take part in the candle-lighting ceremony at 11:40 PM on the slipways, marking the exact moment Titanic struck the iceberg.
   
3. Garden Bites at Montalto Estate, Ballynahinch, County Down, 19 April. Step a little deeper into the story of these gardens with a guided mini tour of either the Lost Garden or the Walled Garden, included with your standard Trails and Gardens admission ticket. These relaxed, informal tours invite you to look a little closer, uncovering hidden details, seasonal highlights and the unique character of each space.
   
4. Golden Hour Alpaca Trekking Experience, Ballynahinch, County Down, check website for dates and times. This unique experience combines the serene beauty of a guided alpaca trek with the gourmet delight of a specially curated charcuterie board all set against the enchanting backdrop of golden hour. This is the perfect time to embark on a tranquil trek with the friendly alpacas in this experience that has been exclusively designed for adults.
   
5. Art on Your Doorstep, various locations across Derry~Londonderry, until 30 September. The National Gallery: Art On Your Doorstep is a programme that shares masterpieces from the collection with communities. Derry City and Strabane District Council is one of twelve partners that will be exhibiting stunning reproductions from the National Gallery during 2026 and 2027. The Council’s museum team has selected eighteen artworks for six sites, from familiar pieces by artists such as Renoir and Van Gogh, alongside art that engages us with nature, food and times of celebration.
   
6. Visit Marble Arch Caves, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, visit website for open dates and times. On a guided cave tour their carefully constructed paths enable you to comfortably traverse the Marble Arch Caves whilst discrete lighting displays the cave features and delicate cave formations. Their enthusiastic guides will lead you through awe-inspiring passages and further enhance your experience by interpreting the stories of this wonderous show cave.
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7. Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, County Tyrone, visit website for open dates and times. Wander well-trodden pathways and explore traditional farmhouses as you learn what life was like in rural Ulster. Step on board the full-scale emigrant ship, experience what the cramped quarters were like on the dangerous journey to America and find out how Ulster peoples’ emigration had a lasting impact through North America. To make the most of your visit they recommend you give yourself between two and three hours to explore all that the museum has to offer, including the ‘Under the Hawthorn Tree’ exhibition.
   
8. Navan Centre and Fort, Armagh, County Armagh, visit website for open dates and times. Step back in time by 2,000 years with a visit to the Iron Age area (open April-September), here you’ll meet the Celts going about their daily routines and bringing our historic past to life. Discover how the clan survived and thrived as you engage with this highly interactive & unique experience. After meeting real life warriors, learn more about the stories of the bravest of them all – Cú Chulainn and the Red Branch Knights.
   
9. Scarva Band Concerts, Scarva, County Down, until 27 September. Scarva Bandstand concerts will take place at the Bandstand, Scarva each Sunday from 3-4pm starting Sunday, 12 April, and running weekly until Sunday, 27 September. Admission is free and limited seating will be provided. It is advisable to bring your own fold up seat. Enjoy a varied programme of musical entertainment.
   
10. The Truffle Shuffle at The Chocolate Manor, Castlerock, County Londonderry, 18 April. The Truffle Shuffle Experience with Chief Chocolatier at The Chocolate Manor, Geri Martin, will guide you through making moulded and hand-rolled truffles. You will craft ganache and flavour your own truffles with maybe even a nip of your favourite tipple, if you wish.

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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EIGHTY NINE per cent of people say they are more likely to book with an ABTA member than a company that is not and 54 per cent say they are willing to pay more for a holiday booked through an ABTA member, according to new, independent research.

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FLYING Dutchmen Travel recently announced the 7th anniversary ‘Country Cruising‘ adventure, setting sail next spring.

Continue reading “‘COUNTRY CRUISING’ HIGH SEAS ADVENTURE FROM TAMPA NEXT SPRING” →

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DUBLIN Airport is gearing up for a busy Easter weekend, with almost 450,000 passengers expected to travel through the airport between Good Friday and Easter Monday.

Continue reading “GOOD FRIDAY BUSIEST DAY FOR ARRIVALS AT DUBLIN AIRPORT, WITH ALMOST HALF A MILLION TRAVELLERS IN TOTAL DUE OVER EASTER HOLIDAY PERIOD” →