48 | LOCAL TOURIST


A public artwork was unveiled at Orangefield Park Pavilion last week as part of a special project with young men in the Orangefield area in east Belfast


to raise


awareness of mental health. Supported by Council and Eastside Greenways, East Belfast Alternatives worked with the group of 12 to develop the artwork in memory of their friend, Adam (Woods), who passed away last year, aged 21. The young men produced the artwork which they felt was a fitting tribute to their friend as well as celebrate his work as a local artist. The artwork at the pavilion has a poignant message ‘For every dark night there’s a brighter day’. It is hoped it will inspire and give comfort to people struggling with their mental health and promote mental health awareness among young people who use the park.


NI Communities Thanked for Big Turnout at Coronation Big Lunches Across the Country


THOUSANDS of people from across Northern Ireland have enjoyed a Coronation


Big Lunch, celebrating


neighbourhood and marking the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.


From Belfast to Bushmills, Carnmoney to Enniskillen, and Millisle to Drumbo, it was an opportunity for people to join together, sharing food, friendship and fun The Coronation Big Lunch, an idea by Eden Project and made possible by National Lottery, was also a chance to be part of history, boosting community spirit, helping to reduce loneliness and supporting charities and good causes.


Overnight ROI Visitors to NI Tops 1 Million For First Time


OVERNIGHT trips from the Republic to Northern Ireland reached record levels in 2022, topping one million for the first time, with huge increases also evident for spend by Republic of Ireland visitors. According to figures released by the Central Statistics Office in Cork there were more than 1.1m overnight trips by visitors from the Republic to Northern Ireland in 2022, compared to 756,000 in 2019, a 51% rise.


In addition, a total of 2.6m nights were


spent in Northern Ireland by visitors from the Republic in 2022, a 42% increase on the 1.9m nights in 2019.


The money spent by visitors from the Republic in Northern Ireland also saw a huge increase last year to more than £233m, up 65% on the £142m spent three years earlier. While


the number of holidays taken


in Northern Ireland by visitors from the Republic rose by more than 50%, the number of travellers from the Republic who holidayed at home saw less of an increase.


Drawn to water: Quentin Blake at WWT Castle Espie


www.nitravelnews.com


Public Artwork Unveiled at Orangefield Park to Raise Awareness of Mental Health


Quirky Luxury Within One of NI’s Top Hotels


ARE you even from Northern Ireland if the North Coast is not your favourite spot for a staycation?


The North Coast offers a vast array of charming towns and villages; Portrush, Ballycastle, Castlerock, Cushendun and Cushendall all but to name a few. Known for iconic tourist attractions including The Giant’s Causeway, Ballintoy Harbour, Bushmills Distillery and Carrick- a-Rede Rope Bridge, the North Coast is not just a firm favourite with the local tourist, but is a treasured choice for international travellers. The Causeway Coastal route is a popular driving route known for its striking sea,


NEW Loganair Heathrow Service Takes off from City of Derry Airport


SATURDAY 6th May 2023 was a proud and momentous day for the management and staff at City of Derry Airport, and the entire Northwest region, as the first service in history between City of Derry and London Heathrow Airport took to the skies. The new service operated by Loganair, who have a long-standing partnership with the Airport spanning over four decades, is now available three times per day. This not only provides frequent air access to one of the world’s leading transport hubs, but also offers a fast and convenient gateway for international outbound travel and inbound tourism opportunities via the Northwest. The launch was celebrated at the Airport with special guests; Cllr Sandra Duffy, the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Anna Doherty, CEO of Londonderry Chamber of Commerce, James Kilgore, Vice President of Causeway Chamber of Commerce, Shane Grant, Board Member at Letterkenny Chamber of Commerce, and Ciaran Doherty, Head of Regions at Tourism NI.


June 2023


The passengers on the inaugural outbound London Heathrow service received some VIP treatment with the provision of some complimentary refreshments and goodies to get their trip off to a best start, and the first


inbound passengers also received a truly memorable ‘Welcome to the Northwest’ with a water cannon salute to celebrate the inaugural arrival from London Heathrow!


NI Charity Wraps up the Magic of Disneyland Paris for 12 Children Living with Life-Threatening and Life-Limiting Conditions


THE Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust, a charity that makes dreams come true for children living with serious conditions that are either life- limiting or life-threatening, has taken 12 local children to Disneyland Paris this week where they will spend three days. The trip, which was last organised in 2015, has been brought back by the charity


to accommodate children whose conditions would not allow them to face the harsh temperatures of its annual Lapland trip. Instead, the very deserving children, their parent/s and sibling/s, are being accompanied by health professionals and support workers to absorb the magic of Disneyland Paris.


The trip has been made possible by the charity’s continuous fundraising activity including a recent abseil down the Europa Hotel and through its much-


valued corporate partnerships as well as its treasured individual donors.


The trip to Disneyland Paris makes up


the ‘Days to Remember’ element of the Lapland charity, which was introduced in 2015 to ensure all vulnerable children could experience extraordinary moments despite the challenges they and their families live with.


While in Paris, the 12 children and their


parties will have full access to the theme parks, meals, accommodation and travel.


REIMAGINE the wonder of wetlands and nature through the eyes of the UK’s best loved illustrator – Quentin Blake at WWT Castle Espie from 18 May until end of February 2024, as part of a partnership Drawn to Water: Quentin Blake at WWT between renowned illustrator Sir Quentin Blake and the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT). Throughout the partnership WWT Castle Espie will run three seasonal trails with guides using selected, rarely seen in public, illustrations of a watery nature from Quentin Blake to help inspire visitors to view the wonder of wetland nature in a different way.


Collect the illustrated guides full of Quentin Blake’s drawings and journey around the wonderful wetland world this summer. New seasonal trails will be launched later in the year, each with a different illustrated guide to collect and keep. Each of the trails,


Spring/Summer,


Autumn, and Winter, will highlight the amazing nature that arrives each season, showcasing new life, sparkling water and visiting birds, helping everyone experience nature in new, unexpected ways through Quentin Blake’s work.


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