This aptly named 'Writer's Square' area of the magnificent St Anne's church courtyard was…read moretransformed for one night only in to a Mecca of arts and culture where various stalls, tents and stands were set up and all displayed their various wares, arts, skills and events all in relation to Culture Night. There were a number of interesting, fun stalls where you could get henna tattoos or get your face painted or pick up information about the various charities and events relating to Culture Night around Cathedral Quarter. There was live music playing throughout the night as well as a miniature stage show from 'Leon and the place Between' which will be debuted at the Belfast Festival at Queens. Any one who missed this night should be well prepared for next year as it seems to be growing and flourishing in to a fantastic event on the Belfast calendar. It was here I discovered the publication 'Belfast Flags of Hope' which is a fascinating and great publication by The Thomas Devlin Fund. This group was set up to commemorate the young school boy (Devlin) who was viciously murdered on his way home from the shop, one summer night, five years ago. The fund provides financial support for teens involved in creative and musical ventures. The 'Flags of Hope' idea was thought up by local artist Raymond Watson who wanted to represent the aspirations of school children in the fight for the hope of a day where sectarianism no longer exists. This scheme touched my heart as I was at school with Dev and I think it's great to see even a glimmer of good coming out of his death.

Today I brought my 3 children to visit World of Owls. There was a free of charge car park just a…read morefew metres away from the entrance which was surrounded by beautiful scenery. When we entered we were greeted very pleasantly by Mike. The entrance fee is cheap and it feels even better knowing its all for a charity that is caring for such unique animals. The birds were all so beautiful and their enclosures were clean with the volunteers hard at work when we were there. We even got to hold one of the Owls and any questions my kids had Mike answered and told us a lot of interesting facts about the birds. At the end of our visit we had a picnic at the picnic benches and the kids all had fun on the climbing frame and swings. The kids were even asking when they could come back again and we hadn't even reached the car! 100% recommended for a day out with children.

Despite the name, they also have minature donkey and Soay sheep. The petting park has Apacas…read more There's a cafe too. They have falcons, hawks, and owls from around the world... but not in the petting park. This is a bird of prey conservation education centre.

The Giants Ring is one of the sites of the LaganValley area. It's situated approximately 4 miles…read morefrom the city centre and it's a lovely area to go for a stroll/ jog. Theres a car park at the site for easy access. The main feature is the Stonehenge monument dating back to neolithic times, 2700BC which predates the Egyptian Pyramids. It's a pretty cool site and great for photos. When I arrived there was a bridal party using the stonehenge as the backdrop to their photos, definitely something different. The path around it is quite short so it won't take long to cover but if you want to extend your walk it's right beside Shawsbridge and the LaganValley towpath where you can walk all the way to Lisburn and take in the beautiful scenery and nature.

One of the many benefits that Belfast offers is the ease with which you can get out of the city,…read moreinto the countryside and in no time, less than 15 minutes I would say you could be wending your way up a little country road to a prehistoric monument - in this case the Giant's Ring. I admit to having a particular fondness for these ancient places. The Giants Ring, dated around 2,700 BC, is a burial ground with an impressive dolmen consisting of five upright stones and a capstone set in a large rampart. Originally the dolmen would have been a chambered grave covered with a cairn of stones and earth. It's completely unspoilt, wild and windswept and a great place to clear the cobwebs. It does not really take long to visit, nor is there a great deal of effort required but it's just right for quick, refreshing walkabout.

Next time you are in Conway Square taking a break from the hectic Saturday market, or chomping on a…read moredoner kebab in the early hours of a Sunday morning, take a minute to consider local and highly decorated war hero Lieutenant Robert Blair Mayne who's statue has stood proudly in Ards town centre since 1996. Most commonly known by his nickname "Paddy" he has been hailed as a hero of the rugby pitch and battlefield alike. With caps for Ireland, the British Lions and most famously recognized as a founding member of the SAS there is clearly good cause for a statue in his memory. It is said that many men owe their lives to his heroics behind enemy lines in WW2 and, by all accounts, his gallant actions would not have been too far out of place in an Indiana Jones movie! With locals still campaigning for a posthumous award of the coveted "Victoria Cross", and lingering rumours of a film documenting Paddy's life, there is every reason to acquaint yourselves with this legendary statue in Conway Square!

Who knew this great man was right beneath our noses this whole time? Not me, well until recently…read more While shopping on a busy Friday in Ards with my mum I waited outside another one of those women's clothes shops I was being dragged into all afternoon. It was after she had been away for around ten minutes I decided to go have a closer look at the life size Iron statue that stood proudly in Conway Square. Underneath it said Blair "Paddy" Mayne and I thought that name sounds familiar. So like any former student I did my research and it turns out Mayne was a Newtownards and Northern Irish legend. He fought in the Second World War, He won an Irish Boxing Title and he could drink too. The statue is in Conway Square to commemorate all these achievements, except drinking, and a noble mans life. Mayne tragically died in a car collision in December 1955 and the whole country came to a standstill. The people of Newtownards erected this statue in honour of a great man who defended the county at war and on the battlefield. If you want to be inspired I suggest you pay his statue a visit and read up on his life.

Lovely walk to do on a nice day, it is right by the sea and makes for an enjoyable little bit of…read moreexercise! Loads of parking available in the car parks, it is for the most part, a flat, well paved route, which can be done by anyone, until the actual ascent starts. It's a lot of steep steps. I had my wee dog with me and began to feel a bit sorry for her and carried her the rest of the way. The views were beautiful!

Most amazing place I have ever stayed. Full kitchen. Wash for clothes. Very private. Close to a…read morepub and walking path. Im planning my next trip as we speak!

Having lived in Northern Ireland all my life, and being a massive fan and reader of great…read moreliterature, I decided it was completely sacrilegious to still not have visited this important place. It is of course the homestead where Patrick Bronte, father of the three famous sisters was born into a farming family. There are several buildings that you can visit, including the Church he visited, the school and various cottages including the cottage he was born in. It's a truly fascinating area to visit, and really worth a look if you're at all interested in the lives of the Brontes, or even just if you are interested in farming life and history in Northern Ireland. The picnic site is really lovely too, a great place to sit and take a break with your family or fellow travellers and enjoy the gorgeous countryside, while sitting in the site of a former 'shebeen' - an illegal drinking den...very Irish indeed!

Moored in the Lagan is The Belfast Barge, quiet and unassuming it doesn't blow its own trumpet but…read moreit really should. There are 3 elements to the Belfast Barge which was news to me when I visited last week. Much more than just a boat The Belfast Barge is a successful restaurant, a museum and an events venue. Next week they are hosting a comedy night in their events venue, which will be very cosy. The museum is full of maritime facts and history depicting Northern Irekand's ship building and boating heritage. The museum also hosts temporary exhibitions. The restaurant is fully licensed and acts as a café bar during the day and at night live music and cabaret dominate the barge, the boat will literally be rocking!

A unique performance space. I have seen comedy performances and gigs here. It's holds a lot of…read morepeople and worth going to if you get a chance #Comedy #Music

We were staying in the neighborhood, quite close, so we had to go for a walk to see it. It's in a…read morequiet working class neighborhood with a small plaque to let you know you're at the right house. I'm a huge Van Morrison fan so I was pleased. If you're staying in East Belfast and are close by, certainly go. But don't make it a priority or a big effort to get there.

I went to see Van Morrison in December in Boston. I saved for two months for the $360.00 dollar…read moreticket. I went to the concert and he had a cover band. not who I came to see. I paid for Van Morrison. when he came out a younger couple sat down and immediately started talking so loud I could not hear him. four people to my left told them to stop talking, but they kept talking loudly. I loo f help, but no one could be found. I never heard a song that was sung. I wast my money. what a disappointment. I wrote to Van Morrison and told him what happened, but this fell on deaf ears. He could care less for his fans. I'm no longer a fan after fifty years, I have had enough of him. I feel he is white trash. no good. he should have refunded my money. White trash!

Portaferry Harbour always fills me with a great sense of nostalgia, it reminds me of long summer…read moredrives and school trips to the Aquarium. Yesterday we decided to take my nieces on a day trip to Portaferry. I'm happy to report that much has changed down at Portaferry harbour, it's still as scenic as I remember! Now on to the useful stuff. If you want to get the ferry across to Strangford it will set you back £1 for a single passenger or £2 return. The ferry is an excellent experience, especially for kids. Strangford town is historic and well worth a visit. If you're on the ferry be on the look out for wildlife. Strangford lough is known for its huge ecosystem - look out for the seals in particular!

Exploris the Portaferry Aquarium is currently closed but that's not all there is to do in…read morePortaferry. On Saturday we took a day trip to Portaferry and we walked the Portaferry Trail along the harbour and past the historic Portaferry Castle. To be perfectly honest I didn't know this trail existed until we actually got to Portaferry (some promotion is needed). the trail is about 1.5 miles in total and it allows you to take in views of the breathtaking Strangford lough whilst also providing cultural and historical insights in to Portaferry town. This is an unmanned trail, you can pick up literature about the trail at the tourist information centre but apart from that you'e on your own. In all fairness the trail is well signposted with brass/bronze signs guiding the way. In terms of parking you can either park behind Exploris or near the ferry. There are no facilities on the tour, you'll have to find somewhere to grab refreshments in Portaferry town it's only a short walk so don't worry. This is a really nice scenic tour - perfect for a day trip. We brought the dog, although there's not much greenery for your four legged pals to enjoy so I suggest keeping them on the lead!