TO CRAFT a perfect comedy show, you’ve got to have the right ingredients – how about loneliness, home invasion, drugs and suicide? That might sound like an unlikely list, but they’re all at the centre of Nuala McKeever’s acclaimed black comedy In The Window. Having scored five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe and a much-praised…
Beach ‘jewel’ tarnished by pollution spill
FURTHER water tests were being carried out yesterday (Wednesday) at Ballyholme beach, after a pollution incident at a nearby river stopped local swimmers from taking the plunge in this local beauty spot. Earlier this week, members of the public were warned not to enter the water or swim at Ballyholme Beach because of a pollution at…
Bangor’s carnival of culture returns for day-long delight
BANGOR’S very own carnival of culture is set for a return visit next month – and the organisers are calling on you to show your stuff. On Saturday August 22 the town will be taken over by a five-hour free feast of creativity with the second ever Bangor Culture Day. It follows on from last…
‘Government cock-up means we could close in two weeks’
A VITAL service helping women back into work could close in just two weeks because of a government cash cock-up. Kilcooley Women’s Centre in Bangor is currently under threat, centre heads told the Spectator, because the government hasn’t handed out tens of thousands of pounds the centre is owed in EU money. Staff haven’t been…
Ireland’s oldest pub opens doors once more
IRELAND’S oldest pub and Donaghadee landmark Grace Neill’s is set to reopen its doors at last. The historic public house closed in April, but is set to fling its doors open once more tomorrow (Friday) at 3pm. Grace Neill’s has been taken over by new management – restaurateur Paul O’Kane and his wife and business…
Council: Arts spend is ‘high quality, low cost’
OUR council is ‘committed to delivering a full programme of arts and cultural events and services’, a spokeswoman has told the Spectator in the wake of revelations about their arts budget. Last week the Spectator detailed a report from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland that claimed the new Ards and North Down Borough Council…
Donaghadee festival promises fun-filled fortnight
DONAGHADEE Festival is back for another fun-filled fortnight with dozens of events taking place in various locations around the town from August 1-15. The Festival Fortnight programme, co-ordinated by the Donaghadee Development Group, is out now and has been widely distributed free to homes and outlets throughout the area. Details will also be included on…
VIP visitors tour new ‘Space’ in Bangor
WITH construction of The Space – the South Eastern Regional College’s new performing arts, computing and engineering facility – well under way at Castle Street in Bangor, two well-known figures have paid it a visit. Local actor, writer and director Dan Gordon and East Belfast MLA Chris Lyttle witnessed the progress being made on the…