FORTHCOMING EVENTS IN BLACKTHORN COTTAGE

The final two events of the year were making shopping baskets from willow. The first of these, which was in November, was so popular that we had to run another at the beginning of December. We have three craft events planned for early spring 2012:

  • Mountmellick white embroidery;
  • Basket making, and
  • Introduction to pottery.

 The Mountmellick embroidery day will be taken by Ruth Burch and will be on Saturday18th of February.  Penny McBride returns to us to run a course on making a small bread basket from willow - this will be on Saturday 3rd March.  Out third spring workshop will be a one-day introduction to pottery, which will be taken by Jeanette Lammey on Saturday 10th March.  Please get in touch if you would like more information about any of these courses.

In November, Jeanette Lammey took another art class for a day of working with mixed media. The photo below is of Jeanette teaching at the August workshop. 

Jeanette offering advice to a participant on the recent art course

On Saturday 19th November, Penny McBride will be taking a one-day course in making a shopping basket from willow. For more details about any course, and to book a place, please get in touch by email or phone 07840245764.

EVENTS SO FAR THIS YEAR

Our first event of the year was on Thursday 13th January: an an art workshop was taken by local artist, Rory Hugh Reynolds. His workshop in water colours was enjoyed by both beginners and more experienced artists.

On February 26th, Penny McBride returned to take another course on basket making.  This is always a very popular event.

The well-known fiddler and fiddle teacher, Pete Cooper, author of ‘Mel Bay’s Complete Irish Fiddle Player’ (amongst other works), and director of the London Fiddle School, came from England and gave a very successful fiddle workshop on March 12th.  Participants came from as far afield as Canada via Scotland to join in the event.  Pete will be returning in September and this time will offer a full weekend of fiddle playing.

On 11th June, Clive Lyttle of Welig Crafts took a one-day course in drystone walling, which all the participants seemed to have enjoyed very much.  Clive might return in the spring to run a course in making stick furniture.

The basket making group met in July and August and various interesting baskets were created.

On a sunny day in August, Jeanette Lammey took a mixed media art class that was thoroughly enjoyed by its participants. Here are some of the work that was created on that day:

For more details about any course, and to book a place, please get in touch by email or phone 07840245764.

LOCAL EVENTS

February, The Screaming Silence of the Wind, Art exhibition of the work of Maurice Orr. See www.visitballymoney.com

or contact touristinfo@ballymoney.gov.uk or telephone 028 27660230

Ballymena Festival of Music, Speech & Dance, Braid Arts Centre, February & March, Telephone: 028 25635900; www.gatewaytotheglens.com

4th March, Bushcraft Fire, Ballymena, see www.nisurvival.co.uk

7-10th March, Ballymoney Drama Festival

See www.visitballymoney.com or contact touristinfo@ballymoney.gov.uk or telephone 028 27660230

17th March, St Patrick’s Day, Buses from ECOS Centre to Slemish – a traditional place of pilgrimage where, it is said, St Patrick tended his herd.

23rd March, Braid Comedy Club, Braid Arts Centre, 8.30pm

29th March – 28th April, Ballymena Arts Festival

19th May, NW200, Portrush, see www.northwest200.org

3-4 June, Olympic Torch

27th June – 1st July, North Atlantic Fiddle Convention, Derry, see www.nafco2012.com

28th June – 1st July, Irish Open Golf Championship, Royal Portrush Golf Club