Backing Belfast

Now the snow has disappeared, everyone is concentrating on encouraging people to visit Belfast and support the bars and restaurants and enjoy the shopping in the city. We have felt and upsurge in inquiries and hope that 2013 will be a year for lots of visitors and a good time for all.

The campaign aims to encourage people to vote with their feet, to come out and get behind 

retailers, restaurants and bars.

Already struggling with the recession and winter weather, many in the hospitality sector have been 

brought to their knees by weeks of flag protests.

For seven weeks, normal daily life has been disrupted by ongoing protests and rioting that have 

turned away vital custom and forced traders to watch profits plummet.

But we believe our city can bounce back. Today’s paper includes a series of deals and special 

offers to encourage people to come into the city this weekend.

Our campaign has received wide-ranging support from across Northern Ireland and beyond — from 

Prime Minister David Cameron and First Minister Peter Robinson, other senior politicians 

politicians, business groups and those in the entertainment industry.

And their message is unequivocally the same — please make a point of doing something to support 

the local economy, especially this weekend.

Snow arrives in Belfast

The snow arrives at Whitethorn 2013

We expect my tomorrow morning it will be a good bit deeper as there seems to be plently of snow falling now.

Latest pictures of the snow here at Whitethorn Cottages today. Both Belfast  airports are open.

Ten reasons to visit Northern Ireland

10 reasons
to love Northern Ireland.

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Northern Ireland is a great place to live, and we've got plenty of sights, sounds and people that make a difference to all our lives. We've decided to start a bit of a showcase of just why we all rock, and why you can continue to be proud to live in Northern Ireland. In no particular order here are 100 reasons to love Northern Ireland.

1) Our People

Recognised for our kind nature around the world, Northern Ireland people are a unique, beautiful, intelligent race far superior to other nations. Fact.

Seriously though, you won't find a friendlier more welcoming country, and for that we should be very proud.

Northern Ireland folk as you'll see later in this article have done some wonderful things both past and present, and for that reason, our people makes the list.

2) Our Wee Accent

The Northern Irish accent has been voted one of the sexiest, according to a poll and we've awesome folk like Jimmy Nesbitt, Barry the Blender, Christine Bleakley and *cough* Nadine Coyle?! (with her own dialect) speaking the native tongue as Northern Irish brand ambassadors around the world. Go Team!

3) Our sense of humour

Northern Irish folk are always up for a bit of craic and we don't take ourselves too seriously. We have a dark self-deprecating sense of humour, and we are pretty quick witted at times too.

Northern Ireland has its fair share of comedians, and funnymen, as you'll see later on.

We also beat England in 2005 in a football match (see David Healy) and we'll never let them forget it.

4) Irwin's Nutty Crust

Nutty Crust high fibre plain bread is well recognised and renowned as the perfect Northern Irish way to keep you regular.

Irwin's bakery is based in Portadown, and respected for it's nutritional benefits from Lord's and Ladies alike.

Both Nutty, and Crusty, its not unlike some of the wonderful people of Northern Ireland.

5) Our weather

The irish weather is a wonder in its own right. Generally speaking the way we tell the difference between a good and bad day is to measure the temperature of the rain.

To accompany the unpredictable nature of our climate, we've also developed our own rare collection of Northern Irish sayings to describe just how bad or good it is. Classics such as "She's lashing out of the heavens." or "It's bucketin' down." - (the rain is heavy), "S'terrible close." - (Humid) and "Sun's splittin' stones." - (Sunny), make it that bit more entertaining for tourists attempting to get the forecast from locals.

Foodies

Famous food from Northern Ireland. Doesn't get any tastier than these badboys.

6) The Ulster Fry

It is well known that an Ulster fry is a vastly superior national dish to a full English breakfast. So much so, that there's even a Facebook group dedicated to raising awareness on this matter of national pride. Perfect when you could eat the beard off Moses.

7) Tayto Crisps

If you haven't tasted the wonderous potato snack well, you aren't living the dream. It is widely known in Northern Irish circles that the magical potatoey snack are simply the best crisps IN THE WORLD. An inspired choice amongst many Norn' Iron snack fans, the classic crisp sandwich isn't complete without some Tayto Cheese and Onion.

Plus - you haven't yet lived if you haven't taken a wee trip to Tandragee to visit Mr. Tayto in Tayto Castle. What a guy.

8) Spuds

A staple of the Northern Irish diet, you simply can't bate a good 'owl feed a spuds. With Kerr's pinks to Queens best, they are all equally as dear, and close to our hearts.

Add to that, the fact that Tayto crisps just wouldn't be the same - Spuds make it in to our awesome list.

9) Dale Farm Lollipop's

No one can deny the revitalising and thirst quenching qualities of Northern Irish classics such as the Pear Picking Porky, Joker, Mr Frosty, Polly Pineapple, or Choc pop. All lollypops born and bred on this fine soil.

10) Maud's Ice Cream

Mauds Ice Cream originally started as a part of a family grocery business in Carnmoney, Co. Antrim. It was named after Maud, the head of the family business at that time and produces quite possibly the best honeycomb ice-cream known to man.

'Pooh-bear' is a Northern Irish delicacy mixing creamy ice-cream from local cows, with honeycomb chunks from local bees. Delish.

The perfect place for a walk today

         This morning along the sea coast the Coast the sun was shining and all was beautiful.
There was an increase in maritime activity as HM Coastguard, vessels, RNLI lifeboats,helicopers,search and sea rescur coordinators,Belfast Harbour, emergency services and local authorities took part in a live large-scale incident exercise, within Belfast Lough.

Summer Sunshine and things to do

Summer sun is shining and the garden is in full bloom.

There are lots of activities on in the surrounding locations. There is the sunflower festival, Belsonic, Truckfest and even the Festival of India: yes all on near our location.

Belsonic is back with another amazing line up of acts.

Emeli Sande,Madness and Tom Jones to name just a few.

It goes on till the 26th August.

For music lovers there is also Tennent's Vital from the 21st -22nd with the Foo Fighters and the Stone Roses.

Thousands attend Belfast events.

Thousands of people will attend Titanic commemoration events in Northern 

Ireland this weekend on the centenary of the liner's sinking. 

The craftsmen of the replica Titanic stair case urge everyone to come and see their work.

It took around 1,500 man-hours to finish the four-tonne staircase, which is 23ft


high and 24ft in width. It was moulded from red oak — the same material used


to build Titanic’s grand staircase — which was specially imported from North America


for the project.


Pius Diamond who built the stairway said it was one of the most interesting projects he 


has worked on. “I would like it to be open to all. I would like the public to see it as much as 


possible,”

Stars perform at the Titanic Sounds Festival.

Thousands of music lovers packed the docks where the Titanic was built for a star-studded pop 

concert ahead of the 100th anniversary of the ship's sinking.

Chart toppers Olly Murs and Pixie Lott entertained an estimated 16,000 who braved the cold in

Belfast for the spectacular open-air gig.

Staged in front of the new multi-million-pound visitor attraction dedicated to the doomed liner, the

MTV Titanic Sounds festival also saw performances from artists Sean Paul, Rizzle Kicks and Katy B.

The old dockland slipway where revellers gathered for the music extravaganza witnessed another

major event 101 years ago, when thousands congregated to see the Titanic launched into the water for the

first time.

Belfast's most famous export sank a year later after striking an iceberg on its maiden voyage across the Atlantic.

The Titanic Sounds gig is among a series of high profile events being staged in the city to mark the enduring legacy of the ship.

While the mood was upbeat tonight, a more sombre tone will be set over the weekend as Belfast

commemorates the anniversary of the disaster that claimed more than 1,500 lives.

New Titanic Building open to visitors

Staged in collaboration with Belfast City Council and Northern Ireland Tourist Board, the gig was 

filmed and will be broadcast across 153 territories around the world as part of MTV's World Stage

series.

Titanic Belfast is now open to the Public



Come and visit our latest attraction. it is only 15 minites form Whitethorn Cottages

Build up to the new Titanic Building

The building was started in May 2009.

The design is based on a maritime theme.