December 2024
Mackle Petfoods becomes the first large food manufacturer to sign up to the Real Living Wage.
Armagh pet food manufacturer, Mackle Petfoods, has become the first large food manufacturer in Northern Ireland to commit to paying the real Living Wage for employees. The company, which employs 275 staff across three sites in Moy and Dungannon, will now ensure all staff are paid the real Living Wage which is the only wage based on the cost of living, and is a voluntary commitment by businesses who believe their staff deserve a wage to meet their everyday needs. As a result, Mackle Petfoods will now pay all hourly-paid staff a minimum of £12.00 per hour increasing annually in line with wage rates set by the Living Wage Foundation.
Last month Mackle Petfoods gained accreditation as a company committed to paying the Real Living Wage, following a commitment to ensure all staff are paid a wage that reflects their work. It now joins 15,000 employers across the UK, and 121 in Northern Ireland signed up to paying the real Living Wage.
Commenting on the real Living Wage accreditation for Mackle Petfoods, Francesca Murray, HR Manager, said; “Mackle Petfoods are delighted to become the largest food manufacturer in Northern Ireland to make a commitment to pay the real Living Wage. All our staff are already paid above the National Minimum Wage as we recognise their importance within the company. Now by signing up to the real Living Wage, we will now pay all hourly salaried staff a minimum rate above the current Government Minimum Wage. *
This new rate indicates our company commitment to ensuring all staff are paid a fair wage for a fair days work and is an investment in our people as reflected in the salaries of all hourly paid staff. In addition to hourly paid staff, Mackle Petfoods will also ensure that any contractors we work with are paid the real Living Wage too.”
The company is currently recruiting for new staff in various areas, including production operatives. To learn more about Mackle Petfoods commitment to ensuring hourly paid staff earn a real Living Wage visit www.macklepetfoods.com.
The real Living Wage initiative was launched in Northern Ireland in June 2024, with 121 employers already signed up to participate. Across England, Scotland, and Wales. For more information about the Living Wage, visit www.livingwage.org.uk.
*The current National Minimum Wage is set at £10.24 for 2024.
December 2024
Killeen Castle wins Top Customer Excellence Award at Golfers’ Guide to Ireland Awards
Killeen Castle Golf Resort has been recognised nationally for its outstanding commitment to customer service, taking home the Customer Excellence Award at the esteemed Golfers’ Guide to Ireland 2024 Awards. The 31st edition of the coveted awards ceremony was held at the elegant Ballymascanlon Hotel & Golf Resort in Dundalk, where industry leaders, enthusiasts and guests gathered to celebrate the very best in Irish golf. The Golfers’ Guide to Ireland is the ultimate all-island directory for golf lovers.
Attendees included notable representatives from the Irish golf community- RTÉ’s golf correspondent, Greg Allen, and Guest of Honour, Des Smyth with Cormac Devlin TD (TBC) present for the prize giving.
Accepting the award on behalf of Killeen Castle, Philip Rock, General Manager, said: -
Killeen Castle’s team embarked on Fáilte Ireland Program Great Places to Work Program using the Global standard Best Workplaces methodology as its basis and their ambition is to build a great workplace culture, employee & customer service experience.
Receiving the Golfers Guide To Ireland Customer excellence award on behalf of the entire team at Killeen Castle is a true indication that the programme is proving a success and is bearing fruit
Having recently been awarded a Great Place to Work certification, he recognised the importance of their committed team members, “Our team members are trained in the delivery of excellence in customer service along with providing outstanding facilities. We are fortunate to retain the team that have successfully delivered a “world class Golf Resort”
Speaking on behalf of the Golfers’ Guide to Ireland, Paddy McCarthy noted that “The increase of online reviews and customer feedback has proven Killeen Castle worthy of this award for golf, F&B and their newly opened lodge accommodation.
Building on its reputation, Killeen Castle is set to embark on an exciting new chapter with plans to transform its 800-year-old castle into County Meath’s first five-star property, located just 30 minutes from Dublin Airport. This strategic investment will enhance its ability to offer unique guest experiences, further cementing its place as a leader in Irish hospitality and golf tourism.
The Customer Excellence Award serves as a testament to the quality that guests can expect at Killeen Castle. Whether it’s a round on the world-class Jack Nicklaus golf course, savouring locally-sourced produce under the guidance of Chef Declan Cronin, or an overnight stay in the luxurious new lodge accommodations, Killeen Castle promises an unforgettable experience.
Killeen Castle gift vouchers are the perfect gift for a loved one. Discover www.killeencastle.com.
November 2024
Armagh apple company Natural Umber launches in Marks & Spencer Stores across Ireland.
Local Armagh company, Natural Umber, who manufacture premium organic apple cider vinegar, have found their magic and sparkle early this year as the business is now being stocked by Marks & Spencer for the first time across 15 stores in Ireland. This exciting development will see Natural Umber available in the following M&S stores including the major Lisburn, Belfast, Dublin and Cork stores. The Natural Umber range will be available to purchase from the following stores from early November including:
- Boucher Rd, Belfast
- Lisburn
- Newtownbreda
- Malone Lisburn Rd
- Banbridge
- Newry The Quays
- Ballymena
- Belfast
- Bangor
- Abbey Centre, Belfast
- Omni Park, Dublin
- Liffey Valley, Dublin
- Cork
- Dundrum
- Blackrock
Luke Mackle, Director with Natural Umber, has welcomed this opportunity with Marks & Spencer, saying: "We are thrilled to be stocked by Marks & Spencer across Ireland. This is a significant milestone for Natural Umber, as it allows us to reach more customers who are seeking high-quality, organic products. Marks & Spencer's commitment to excellence and sustainability aligns perfectly with our own values, making this collaboration a natural healthy fit.
We are delighted to secure this partnership, which will also see Natural Umber added to the shelves across the UK in early 2025 as part of this opportunity with Marks & Spencer."
Natural Umber which has been awarded Gold in the Northern Ireland Great Taste Awards and Gold in the Blas na hÉireann Awards is renowned for its distinctive taste and superior quality. Produced from carefully selected organic apples, the apple cider vinegar is raw, unfiltered, and contains the 'mother' – a complex structure of beneficial acids that occur naturally as part of the fermentation process. The name "Natural Umber" reflects the rich, deep colour of the vinegar, distinguishing it from other products on the market.
This product not only enhances the flavour of dishes but also offers numerous healthy benefits, making it a versatile addition to any kitchen and healthy lifestyle. From salad dressings to marinades, Natural Umber is the go-to choice for those who value both taste and wellness.
For more information about Natural Umber and its many benefits, visit www.naturalumber.com.
November 2024
Relax and unwind this Winter at Killeen Castle
As the days and weeks draw closer to winter, and the twinkling lights and joys of Christmas beckon, Killeen Castle is the perfect spot for families and couples to enjoy the festive season and unwind in our glorious rural setting. Our new luxury Lodge Style guest accommodation offers the ideal getaway both before and after the Christmas rush.
It's the perfect winter escape for loved ones to gather and celebrate the season, superb base for Christmas Shopping or simply relax and unwind after all the festive cooking. Killeen Castle is also the perfect place to party as you celebrate the season of sparkle with a choice of two restaurants. We have your party season covered- gather your friends or colleagues for a festive celebration with delicious food and unforgettable live Christmas tunes from local bands. Dance, sing along, and soak in the holiday cheer.
For those wishing for a quieter holiday season, our new Lodge accommodation makes for the perfect place to relax and take in the gorgeous Winter landscape as you enjoy the serenity and surroundings of Killeen Castle and our 600-acre estate. Killeen Castle now holds a Failte Ireland Accreditation as a quality assured location for our gorgeous accommodation and recently all members of the management team completed the Failte Ireland Employer Excellence Programme and has been accredited as a Great Place to Work.
Our beautifully decorated bespoke guest lodges sleep up to 12 people and are suitable for romantic seasonal escapes or family holidays in December and the New Year, with cosy furnishings and accessories to create a ‘home away from home’ atmosphere and all the Christmas trimmings, we will even have the perfect tree up for you to capture that special moment.
Onsite there are many places to explore and enjoy including the new Killeen Castle Woodland Walks, now open to the public. Pop on your winter clothes, grab a map from reception and you're good to go out and explore our beautiful surroundings. Take a stroll around the estate and treat yourself to a tasty hot chocolate or tuck into a sumptuous lunch.
Our onsite restaurant Sixteen offers a range of culinary delights for you to indulge in, with exclusive festive menus during the Winter months. Savor a culinary adventure with dishes crafted by our Executive Head Chef, Declan Cronin, and his team—each plate bursting with unique seasonal flavors locally sourced from within the Boyne Valley.
Killeen Castle has a range of seasonal offers for winter and New Year breaks. Our popular 'Winter Warmer' package for two, starting from €200, includes:
● Overnight stay in luxury lodge accommodation
● Traditional Irish breakfast each morning
● Evening meal in Sixteen or The Kiln
● Access to 6km of ancient woodland walks
● Complimentary Wi-Fi and car parking
If you're looking for the perfect getaway gift, our gift vouchers make an ideal Christmas present and are available for purchase on our website. Learn More
Wrap up warm and grab your clubs to enjoy a world-class golfing experience at our Signature Jack Nicklaus Golf Course. Our Residential Stay and Play Golf packages offer exceptional value this Winter too – so all the more reason to perfect your swing. Book Now
Located just 30 minutes from Dublin, Killeen Castle is the perfect spot to explore the Hill of Tara, Newgrange, or enjoy a family day out at Emerald Park’s Christmas ‘Jingle Fest’.
October 2024
Award winning Tyrone probiotic drinks company Moocha Kombucha secures Tesco Northern Ireland partnership.
Local County Tyrone business, Moocha Kombucha has ‘mooch’ to celebrate this week as it announces a major deal with UK retailer Tesco to stock its Moocha Kombucha range across 14 Tesco stores in Northern Ireland from this week. The multi award winning probiotic drink which is made using the highest quality organic ingredients is packed with probiotics and antioxidants, supporting good digestive health and wellbeing, and comes in a range of flavours launched in Tesco as part of its healthy food and drinks selection last Friday. Tesco NI stores will now offer three flavours of Moocha Kombucha for sale, as part of its lunch and food to go ‘meal deals’, including Elderflower and Lemon, Cola and Mixed Berry in 250ml cans, all containing over 3 billion live cultures per can!
Founded in 2020 by Benburb native Bronagh Quail, Moocha Kombucha, an organic certified kombucha using only certified organic ingredients, was created after Bronagh saw an opening for a healthy tea-based drink which was good for gut and overall health and wellbeing. On her travels to Australia in 2009, Bronagh became unwell, mainly as a result of travelling on a shoestring, and not eating well enough (in her own words) resulting in illness. A visit to a natural herbalist introduced Bronagh to her first kombucha and herbal drinks, and on returning to Ireland and working for nearly a decade in design, Bronagh revisited the moment her life changed and decided to try her hand in drinks and create her first SCOBY (symbiotic Culture of bacteria and yeast) to create her new Kombucha drinks.
It is fair to say its been a really healthy decision for her and her business ever since. Since starting the kombucha at her kitchen table in Benburb and attending farmers markets across the province, Bronagh has now grown Moocha Kombucha into over 140 retail, cafes, delis and local health shops, and now retailing in 14 Tesco stores here in Northern Ireland.
Commenting on the partnership with Tesco Northern Ireland, Bronagh said; “I am so excited by this partnership with Tesco and Moocha Kombucha. As a small family run company, it is a real moment of pride to see my drinks range on the shelves in Tesco as part of everyday ‘food to go’ meal deals and drinks for sale.
This is the first time Tesco NI have incorporated a kombucha into food to go, which makes me even more thrilled to be part of this with Moocha Kombucha. It fits in perfectly with Tesco’s focus on healthy food and drinks, and I am sure the three flavours of organic Elderflower and Lemon, Cola and Mixed Berry will be big hit with customers. Each can is bursting with flavour and over 3 billion live cultures, making it the perfect drink to incorporate into daily routines for people on the go.”
Welcoming Moocha Kombucha to its stores as part of its ‘food to go range’, David Thompson, Buyer from Tesco Northern Ireland added; “I am delighted to help launch Moocha Kombucha into Tesco NI. Bronagh and the team have worked tirelessly to perfect a delicious, award-winning, NI Based drink. It’s a pleasure to be able to work with them and be part of their journey.”
Last month, Moocha Kombucha won the Gold Award for drinks presse at this year’s Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards hot on the heels of having received the Micro Business of the Year at the Northern Ireland Food & Drink Awards in spring 2024.
September 2024
Louise McDonnell opens 24,000 square foot LMD Beauty Superstore in Ballymena.
Local Magherafelt businesswoman and social media powerhouse Louise McDonnell will this week open the first ever LMD Beauty Superstore in Northern Ireland bringing together her own LMD Cosmetics brand alongside other major international beauty brands she has worked with since launching her career. The new Superstore located at the Fairhill Shopping Centre in Ballymena, will employ 12 staff.
Mum of one Louise, who first began undertaking makeup classes in her utility room in 2008, has forged her career as a professional make-up artist and has made up thousands of faces in that time. Louise is renowned for her expertise and makeup artistry, having worked on many famous faces, including Lauren Goodger, Chloe Ferry, Katie Price, and SoSu Cosmetics/Dripping Gold CEO and social media sensation Suzanne Jackson, as well as working to create the perfect look for thousands of brides and bridal parties, and people who just love makeup.
Already Louise owns 3 companies, Louise McDonnell (content creator brand), LMD Cosmetics (beauty products and accessories) and now the opening of LMD Beauty in Ballymena will see the merging of two previous store sites from Magherafelt and Ballymena into one large Superstore.
Commenting ahead of the launch of LMD Beauty Superstore, Louise said;
“This is beyond my wildest dreams, from starting out in my dad’s house, to now owning the largest independent beauty store in Northern Ireland, I am really excited and grateful in equal measure! Our new 24,000 square foot LMD Beauty Superstore will provide free 15-minute match up consultations in the main store, house our offices and have a content room where any business can come and use the space to create content for their channels – complete with movement for backdrops,
professional photos and props. I have worked with so many excellent brands so alongside my own, I am delighted to bring them all to Ballymena, and to also have some very exclusive brands in store too.
I fully understand how important the store will be as a business, and I want to use it to support businesses too, especially those wanting to create content for social media. I am really excited about the future and looking forward to working with our brilliant talented team on developing the next chapter of LMD here from Ballymena.” Louise added.
Within her business Louise currently works with major brands including BPerfect, Bellamianta, Azio Beauty and Polished London, among others and bases her partnerships on brands she believes in. Louise created her own brand LMD Cosmetics which has over 20 lines, reflecting Louise’ loves of the opportunity to create, and share makeup and beauty products that she knows customers love and will use every day. Keen to ensure she is creating products for the everyday girl to get their make-up done and teach them how to do it - Louise has created a brand that is relevant, affordable, and fun.
With the opening of her Superstore in Ballymena, akin to the likes of Sephora, Louise will now become the only independently owned beauty Superstore curated by a make-up artist selling key brands. Louise will exclusively stock a number of brands in Northern Ireland only, as well as teaching through classes and courses tips on make-up, and classes on becoming a MUA, how to undertake bridal makeup and learning how to take the professional makeup look home.
Louise who is preparing for her own big event her wedding to her partner Neil in 2025 and has one daughter Alara age 3 employs 8 staff alongside herself in the business, and as a result of the new store opening has added a further 3 employees, bringing her staff team to 12. The expansion in the business by Louise has seen her staff from Magherafelt joining with the team in Ballymena and growing, bringing the two businesses into one large retail space.
The new LMD Beauty Superstore will officially open at 6pm on Thursday 12 September 2024 in Fairhill Shopping Centre in Ballymena with hundreds of beauty lovers and an array of social media stars and business owners expected to attend.
The beauty Superstore will open daily from 9am to 6pm Monday to Wednesday, and Saturday, and on Sundays from 1 pm to 6 pm with late night opening on Thursdays and Friday to 9pm. For information on LMD or the store visit www.lmdbeauty.com.
September 2024
Gold for Moocha Kombucha at Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards in Dublin.
Tyrone company Moocha Kombucha is celebrating this week after the drinks company won the Gold Award for drinks presse at this year’s Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards.
The healthy drinks business owned by Bronagh Quail was the only Northern Ireland independent drinks company to win in its category at this year‘s Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards which was held in Dublin. Now in its 11th year, the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards is well-recognised badge of excellence amongst customers and the food and drink community across the island of Ireland.
An awards ceremony was held on Tuesday 7 September 2024 at The Mansion House, Dublin where Moocha Kombucha was awarded Gold in the Soft Drinks - Carbonates, Cordial & Presse category for its Cola Kombucha.
Made from a delicious hand-crafted blend of Organic green tea infused with warming spices such as Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Orange Peel, and an additional 3 billion live probiotic cultures in every can, the new sparkling cola flavour kombucha pays homage to the retro cola we all know and love. It is vegan, gluten free and brewed the traditional way on the farm in Tyrone.
Commenting on the Gold Awards Bronagh Quail, owner of Moocha Kombucha, said; “This is an amazing award for us to win for our small family run business. We are absolutely thrilled as we were in such prestigious company on the shortlist. The award is a reflection of the focus and quality behind Moocha Kombucha - and my ambition for it. Everything we create and make is focused on helping people, with health and well-being. The Cola Kombucha which contains so many lovely healthy ingredients has many benefits for gut and health. It is currently stocked across many health shops and food shops in Ireland and Northern Ireland and in a few weeks' time we will be stocking it alongside other Moocha Kombucha products in Tesco stores across Northern Ireland which is something else to shout about and celebrate!”
Moocha Kombucha was established by Bronagh in 2020 and is available across health and retail as well as online.
June 2024
From kitchen table to multi million-pound brand, new look Naturo unveiled by Mackle Petfoods.
County Armagh company Mackle Petfoods has unveiled a complete rebrand of its award winning Naturo Natural Petfood range and announced 12 new additions to its current range for cats and dogs increasing from 45 to 57 products. Naturo, which was created at the kitchen table of owner John Mackle in 2010, provides 100% natural food to pets, using high-quality ingredients and providing healthy diets for cats and dogs alike. Today Naturo is the No.1 natural wet dog food brand in retail*, sold worldwide across grocery and pet trade, generating £30m annually across Naturo eCommerce and retail. *(Source: IRI Grocer Retail 12/23)
The rebrand was made across the whole Naturo product range, trays, cans and pouches. It includes the addition of their exciting new cat and dog food products catering for kittens to senior cats, and puppies to senior dogs. The rebrand promotes the natural ingredients and benefits to pets and their owners who want the best for their furry friends. The Naturo range focuses on foods for pets with sensitive guts and allergies, reflecting the customers'' needs towards their family pets. Ingredients for the healthy clean food recipes are locally sourced where possible, with recipes created by Naturo’s in-house expert pet nutrition team, and contain no artificial flavouring, colours, or additives, with 100% traceability from farm to bowl.
New Naturo ranges launched in the rebrand include Naturo puppy 400g trays for larger breed puppies, and Naturo 150g & 100g pouches for dogs. In addition, brand-new recipes for kittens, senior and indoor sterilised cats have been created to help improve cat health throughout all stages of life. These contain natural antioxidants from blueberry, cranberry and pomegranate. Built on 6 key nutrients - protein, carbohydrates, omega oils, prebiotics, minerals, and vitamins, Naturo recipes are individually created and brought together to provide quality nutrition to help with growth, digestive systems, coat maintenance, healthy hearts and wellbeing, and vitality.
Commenting on the relaunch, Naturo brand Marketing Manager with Mackle Petfoods, Eva Mooney, said; “We are delighted to share this refresh of our Naturo brand which focuses on the benefits and nutritional value of the product range, placing pets and their owners at the heart of our brand. The brand refresh reflects the excellence across all ranges, and alongside new recipes, the most important thing is the same excellent quality products remain for pets to enjoy.
Working with our in-house nutrition team we have refreshed some recipes to build on the already excellent Naturo products reflecting our ongoing relationship with pet owners, who like us, want the best for their pets. Given the company focus on excellence in our products, and ensuring the best quality nutrients in Naturo, we wanted to use the rebrand to share with our customers how much we, like them, really care about their pet’s nutritional needs and how we deliver those with Naturo natural petfood. Every Naturo pet is one of our family.” Eva added.
Adjustments to recipes include an increase in meat content in some ranges and the introduction of added ingredients across the mix of vegetables and fruit within recipes for pets. The rebranded Naturo creative and product range has now commenced a full roll out to customers and suppliers across UK, Ireland and Northern Ireland and is available across Tesco, Asda, Sainsburys and Supervalu.
May 2024
100 million reasons to join Mackle Petfoods as company launches campaign to celebrate its petfood family.
Mackle Petfoods has launched a campaign to highlight the many opportunities for students, apprentices and graduates to join the company and become part of their global petfood family business. The company which produces 100 million units of petfood annually from its sites in Moy and Moygashel, has over 275 employees, with over a third of its workforce in training, development, undertaking studies and progressing their careers through continuous learning.
With major brands including Naturo, Brandy, Cat Club and private label, Mackle Petfoods creates over 50,000 tonnes of high quality, nutritious petfood annually, using the best locally sourced ingredients. The company employs staff across pet nutrition, marketing, finance, IT and sales, engineering, technical, production, and transport, and is constantly on the look out for placements, graduates and school leavers wanting to develop their career in food and nutrition, for pets! A series of nine videos across key areas of the business have been created featuring staff and apprentices across production, engineering, manufacturing, technical and new product development.
A new campaign featuring staff from within the company has been developed to highlight the breadth and opportunities that the company provides, and the importance of their roles, as well as the full support offered across training and career development to all staff who wish to develop their skills and knowledge. Featuring staff who are part of the petfood family for over 40 years through to new apprenticeships, the project led by the Managing Director, John Mackle, reflects his passion to have the best people in the business, and highlights how people are front and centre to the business success, and highlights the importance of manufacturing as a career.
Commenting on the project which launches on 6 May across local media, Zivana Bennett, HR Advisor, said; “For over five decades, Mackle Petfoods has been part of this local community, and this campaign reflects and celebrates our people, who make up and are central to the company and the family business. Our staff are made up from so many disciplines and from our newest recruit through to our longest serving colleague, everyone is a key part of what makes us as a team, and this has always been something the business has embraced, celebrated and continues to build on. We are continuously recruiting and welcoming new people to our team, and this campaign helps to share the diversity of roles, opportunity and potential careers that petfood manufacturing provides and how important people are within the company, they are the company!
Mackle Petfoods works alongside local Regional Colleges, CAFRE, Queens and Ulster Universities respectively to bring on students for placement, graduate roles and apprenticeships, and we are always on the look out for ambitious future leaders too. Anyone who wants to find out more about our multi award winning petfood family, can contact our HR team through the company website,” Zivana added.
To view the new campaign, and find out about Mackle Petfoods careers and opportunities for school leavers, graduates, and apprenticeships visit www.macklepetfoods.com/careers
January 2024
Belfast Children’s Festival launches 2024 programme - on sea, land, under the earth’s surface and in a circus big top
Nine-day festival to feature ‘world leaders’, a spot of weather and inclusive dance, theatre and music.
Roll up, roll up, Belfast Children’s Festival 2024 is coming to town!
Launched today (25 January 2024) at the Crescent Arts Centre, this year’s circus themed festival will welcome crowds to ‘big top’ venues including The Lyric, The MAC, Belfast Cathedral, Culturlann MacAdam Ó Fiaich and Crescent Arts Centre from 8-16 March.
Over 100 events and performances will take place during the festival, which features productions from the Netherlands, Scotland, England and Ireland, local artists, firm festival favourites like Baby Rave and several UK and Ireland premiers.
The Belfast Children’s Festival is principally supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, and by Belfast City Council.
Speaking at the launch of Belfast Children’s Festival, Young at Art Director, EibhIín de Barra said: “We are so excited to launch Belfast Children’s Festival 2024 as we bring together everything from the big top circus to sea, land and the world of creativity in between. After last year’s 25th anniversary, we are delighted to bring over 100 events and performances to Belfast during the nine-day festival for families, small children from 0-100. Age is just a number when it comes to the festival. We are really pleased to be bringing world and UK premières to the festival and tackling some major real-life issues around neuro divergence, wellbeing, relationships, disability, and diversity. As well as firm favourites like Baby Rave, we are delighted to have so many new pieces, and visiting artists from Europe, UK and Ireland. So, whether you are young, or simply young at heart, roll up, roll up, and come and explore the festival with us!”
Looking forward to the 2024 Belfast Children’s Festival, Roisín McDonough, Chief Executive, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, added: “Thanks to the National Lottery players, for many children, the Belfast Children’s Festival will be their first experience of live, professional arts. There is no better place to start. Our early encounters with theatre and storytelling can have a deep and lasting influence on our creative imaginations and the way we view the world around us, so we owe it to our children – all of our children - that these formative experiences meet the highest possible standards. 26 years championing the rights of children to enjoy full creative lives and in the process, building one of the biggest and certainly one of the greatest children’s arts festivals on these islands, means that every one of the hand-picked events that you will have the opportunity to enjoy, comes with BCF’s copper-fastened quality assurance.”
Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Ryan Murphy, who addressed guests at the festival launch said: “Our city is just bursting with creativity and potential and that’s exactly what we’re celebrating during Belfast 2024.
“We want to give people opportunities to dream and invent; to speculate and investigate; to learn and experiment; to imagine a new future, new spaces, a new balance with nature, new stories and new experiences. a celebration of our people and our place, as we look towards our city’s future.
“So a big thank you to Belfast Children’s Festival for curating an outstanding programme of creative, innovative and fun experiences for young people across all communities. We’re proud to invest in BCF and look forward to seeing even more people engaging with cultural experiences and their own creativity during Belfast 2024.”
I…um I from the Netherlands is a powerful performance exploring what it's like to lose your grip on reality. This astonishing show is set within a rotating box where the main character performs his daily routine, moving effortlessly between rooms. Trap doors open, hidden objects are revealed, all timed precisely and seemingly defying gravity. Slowly though, this carefully planned routine starts to unravel, as we witness our main character's battle with time and reality... and a giant fish!
BullyBully, asks - what do a toddler and the average world leader have in common? Do some presidents throw fits in the middle of a supermarket? Or scream furiously until they get their own way? Surely not! In BullyBully, two world leaders meet in no man's land. What follows is an awkward encounter between two childish but powerful adults who gradually get used to each other and learn to meet in the middle. This madcap musical about childish grown-up men, featuring two performers, songs, funny quarrels, a bit of bickering and eventually, a happy ending.
BullyBully and I…um I are part of the festival’s Dutch Focus, supported by Performing Arts NL and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
From bickering to another favourite local topic; the weather. Grand Soft Day is a brand-new show of all seasons: Splashing in puddles, wind whipping your hair, crunching frost under your feet, and rain dripping on your nose, now that’s a grand soft day. This playful show about always being prepared even though you do not know what the day will bring. An international co-production from the award-winning teams of Branar (Ireland) and New International Encounter (UK/Norway), Grand Soft Day celebrates the wonder of the world around us.
Every circus needs a venue, and Little Top is a magical first circus experience for babies and their adults. At a time in their development when children are discovering their own physicality and the pleasures and perils of gravity, Little Top invites babies to experience spectacular balances, astonishing tumbles and inventive juggling in a specially designed set, that miniaturises the magic of the Big Top! Here professional circus acrobats, acro-balancers and jugglers perform up close in babies’ line of sight, making eye contact and interacting and responding to their young audience. Babies and adults alike are transported into a playful, joyous, upside down, topsy turvy world where people can fly, patterns fill the air, and anything is possible.
Peek beyond the circus curtain and step into the wonder of Tabula Rasa! A magical space that holds many incredible feats from the world of circus and dance. This one-off show, curated specially for the Belfast Children’s Festival, will mesmerize the audience as bodies effortlessly flip, float and fly, filling air and ground with colour and awe.
From the tent to the sea, Making Waves is a magical sea voyage where audience and performers set sail in search of hidden treasure. An immersive multi-sensory dance theatre performance designed for disabled children and young people with mild to complex needs, participants join the adventure and are transported by the ebb and flow of the ocean through gentle soothing currents and on into the dynamic rhythmic beat of crashing waves. This inclusive show invites audience members to sit in pods representing boats on the stage, allowing everyone to become part of the adventure. The specially designed boats are suitable for wheelchair users too.
From the sea, you can descend into a mechanical world deep below the earth’s surface. Hollow, is a non-verbal inclusive theatre adventure inspired by the mysteries and sensations of subterranean exploration. It is the story of three living, breathing cogs who depend on each other’s unique abilities to maintain and operate a great perpetual machine. What might happen if our cogs stop spinning…?
Created and delivered by local Belfast Replay Theatre Company, in association with The MAC, this production incorporates evidence-based engagement strategies curated through a long history of engaging disabled and/or neurodivergent young people in many different forms. Hollow will perform to one autistic and/or neurodivergent young person per show within an immersive setting. Each audience member can be accompanied by three familiar adults, creating a meaningful shared social experience and memories that last.
The Festival includes an Irish Language programme at Culturlann MacAdam Ó Fiaich, featuring Babaithe Cultúir and a fun interactive session with Fearghas Mac Lochlainn and Paddy Donnelly, author and illustrator of An Slípear Gloine , winner of the Gradam Réics Carló 2020, An tOireachas, and the Judges Special Awards, KPMG Children's Books Ireland Awards
View the festival programme at www.youngatart.co.uk. Community groups wishing to secure tickets for events can apply via bookings@youngatart.co.uk