58 | THE LOCAL TOURIST


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Popular NI Distillery to Offer Tour Bus Visits from Belfast


April/May 2026


Boots & Boarding Passes at the Ready as Limavady Youths Head for Training Camp!


FLYING from City of Derry Airport, 70 young players head to Birmingham to take


Wanderers 2026 training camp giving them access


part in Wolverhampton to world-class


coaching. This once in a lifetime training


opportunity marks the start of a broader programme that will see more Limavady players making the journey throughout 2026. Timmy


Dixon Chairman


HINCH Distillery has expanded its visitor experiences with the launch of an enhanced Hinch Tours programme, including a new dedicated tour bus departing from Hilton Belfast. The new service, initially operating Wednesday to Friday, will transport guests


directly from Hilton Belfast to Hinch Distillery, where visitors can enjoy guided tours, premium whiskey tastings and immersive behind-the-scenes experiences. As a grain-to-glass distillery, Hinch oversees every stage of the whiskey-


making process on site, offering visitors an opportunity to see how its spirits are created from start to finish. Guests can also enjoy the distillery’s restaurant and shop as part of the experience.


Iconic Umbrella Display Returns to Belfast’s


Commercial Court


BELFAST’S beloved rainbow umbrella installation will return to Commercial Court this week, following a major refurbishment that promises a bigger, bolder and brighter visual delight for visitors and locals alike. The iconic


overhead Commercial which display, represents which a led to Court becoming one of the most


photographed streets throughout the UK and Ireland, has been switched back on. The project,


substantial


investment, has been delivered with the help of local tradespeople, led by Belfast-based specialists Sign Craft, who have worked painstakingly on the refurbishment and significant extension of the installation. The installation has been extended to double its length,


original


canopy overhead the popular thoroughfare outside the iconic Duke of York A total of 42 umbrellas – double the original number – have been finished with high performance architectural coating designed to endure the Belfast weather for many years to come. The installation incorporates 500 metres of colour change lighting, creating a visual feature day and night. Willie and Joanne Jack said the return of the


umbrellas was about bringing a sense of positivity to the city. “Our umbrellas have become a real symbol of Belfast’s sense of fun and creativity. After five years facing every type of Belfast weather imaginable, they deserved a little TLC,” said Willie Jack. “This refurbishment is a major investment in the street and in Belfast, and we’re proud to have worked with local tradespeople to bring the project to life.” “With the days getting longer, the tourist season beginning again and so much happening in the city in the months ahead, it felt like the perfect moment to bring them back,” added Joanne Jack. “We’re looking forward to seeing the street buzzing again, with brighter days ahead for Belfast and plenty of people stopping to look up and enjoy the view.” Paul O’Hare, from the Duke, joked that the timing


of the refurbishment may have tempted the weather gods. “It honestly felt like the moment the umbrellas came down it rained for forty days and forty nights,” he said. “So hopefully putting them back up will


Claire McLernon, Head Tour Guide and Experience Manager at Hinch Distillery,


said: “Visitor experiences are a key part of what makes Hinch Distillery special. The


new tour schedule and transport link from Belfast allow more people to discover how our spirits are made, from the distillation process through to maturation in our warehouses. Whether guests are exploring our whiskey portfolio, tasting exclusive cask strength releases or creating their own gin recipe, we want every visitor to leave with a memorable experience.” Gary Quate, Food and Drink Tourism Manager at Tourism NI, said: “Northern Ireland’s distillery experiences are playing an increasingly


important role in attracting visitors and supporting regional tourism. At Hinch Distillery, visitors can connect with the stories behind our producers and discover the craft of distilling first-hand. Initiatives such as the Northern Ireland Spirits Trail, alongside dedicated transport services from Hinch Distillery, are making it easier for visitors to explore more of our regions and experience the depth and quality of our distillery offering. I would like to congratulate the team at Hinch Distillery on their continued success and wish them an exciting year ahead.”


local airport keeps convenient and stress He continued, at


Limavady Youths FC, said that using their


travel free while


giving young players the chance to experience training in a professional environment.


“This initiative


not only nurtures local talent and opens pathways to higher levels of football but also demonstrates how local businesses can invest in the community for shared success.


with youth football clubs like ours boosts community promotes as


positive discipline, values


Sponsoring and collaborating engagement,


such teamwork, and


aspiration among young people, and strengthens the region’s social fabric. In


benefits through increased local usage of the airport. We are grateful for this meaningful support and look forward to many more successful trips in 2026 and beyond.” Steve Frazer, Managing Director


at City of Derry Airport expressed his delight prior to the first groups departure on Friday: “We are thrilled


to welcome the young


players, coaching team and parents from Limavady Utd Youths, on the first trip to Wolverhampton training camp from the Gateway of the Northwest.”


Hillsborough Castle Unveils Benjamin Franklin Exhibition for US Independence 250th Anniversary


turn, it drives economic


creating an even more dramatic


bring a bit of welcome sunshine with them. If nothing else, they’re guaranteed to brighten people’s day when they walk down the street.” Chris McNevision, Owner of Sign Craft, said the


installation showcases Belfast craftsmanship at its best. “This has been a fantastic project for our team. There’s been a huge amount of planning behind the scenes, from finishing the umbrellas in their rainbow colours to integrating more than 500 metres of colour-change lighting into the canopy,


all fabricated locally and


showcasing the best of our skills. It’s a great example of modern LED technology working alongside traditional neon, and it’s fantastic to see the street continue as a backdrop for photos and memorable moments in Belfast.”


Alongside the umbrellas, visitors will also notice new


neon artwork at bottom of the lane named ‘Rainbow’s End’, with a gold bench located nearby, adding playful new photo opportunities in one of the city’s most loved


streets.


HILLSBOROUGH Castle and Gardens have launched a new exhibition that showcases their connection to Benjamin Franklin who comissioned the building of Hillsborough Castle and Britain’s first Secretary of State for the Colonies. The exhibition marks the 250th anniversary of US Independence. Visitors will experience the story of Franklin and Wills


Hill who commissioned the building of Hillsborough Castle and Britain’s first Secretary of State for the Colonies. In January 1771,


the two men clashed in London during a


heated exchange over Franklin’s appointment as agent for Massachusetts. The exhibition will showcase Hillsborough Castle’s historic


state dining room where Franklin dined during his stay and was has temporarily been name after him for the exhibition. It explores how dialogue, diplomacy and disagreement contributed to events that would soon reshape the world. Caroline Walker, Head of Hillsborough Castle and


Gardens, said: “As America marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, this exhibition shines a light on Hillsborough Castle’s remarkable connection to that defining moment in world history.” The exhibition will also showcase a rare July 1776 New York printing of the Declaration of Independence,


three


original letters from the Franklin Papers, Franklin’s personal 18th-century chess pieces and an iconic 1777 portrait of him by French artist Jean-Baptiste Greuze.


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