By Hunter R. Slaton

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Titanic Belfast www.titanic belfast.com

Opening in March 2012,

Titanic Belfast is a new, state-of-the-art visitor attraction that will trace the story of the world’s most famous ship, from her construction to her

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Europa Belfast www.hastings hotels.com/europa belfast

Hastings Hotels’ stylish 272-room

maiden voyage and, finally, her re-discovery. Events can be held in the Titanic Suites, the largest of which will be able to host a banquet for 1,000 guests.

Europa Belfast is adja- cent to the Grand Opera House and across from the historic landmark pub the Crown Bar. Europa Belfast’s Grand Ballroom is one of Northern Ireland’s largest event spaces.To the northeast, another standout Hastings Hotels property is the five-star Culloden Estate and Spa.

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Ulster Folk& Transport Museum http://nmni.com/uftm

Roughly 15 minutes east of

the Belfast city center is the Ulster Folk&Trans- port Museum,which immerses visitors in the world of Northern Ire- land a century ago—a world of cottages, farms, horse-drawn carriages, and traditional handicrafts. Groups can meet in unique spaces including the 1800s-style Omagh Meeting House.

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Giant’s Causeway www.nationaltrust .org.uk/giants causeway

An hour-and-20- minutes’ drive

north of Belfast is Ireland’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site: Giant’s Causeway, which is made up of

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Royal CountyDown Golf Club www.royalcounty down.org

There are a num- ber of picturesque

places to play golf while staying in Belfast. Thirty miles south, in the resort town of Newcastle, is the Royal County Down

approximately 40,000 mostly hexagonal basalt “stepping-stones”— formed by volcanic eruptions 60 million years ago—evoking a “causeway” leading, according to legend, from Ireland to Scotland.

Golf Club, with a beauti- ful 18-hole links course within the Murlough Nature Reserve.Another great option is the Royal Portrush Golf Club,10 miles west of the Giant’s Causeway.

pcma convene December 2011 35

MAP BY JIM McMAHON

April–May, 2012

TitanicBelfastFestival2012 www.nitb.com/ni2012 /event_Titanic.aspx Tomark the 100th anniversary of the building of the Titanic, the BelfastCityCouncil and its part- nerswill host a range of events—including tours, plays, lectures, films,and concerts—over two months in 2012.Kicking it all off onApril 7–11will be amulti-night light showover the newTitanic Belfast attraction.