Application form for licence

The licence fee where there are less than 100 spectators is £30; for 100 to 1,000 spectators is £80; and for more than 1,000 spectators is £160.

You can find the application forms for a licence at these links:

Application forms are also available:

• by phoning 0300 200 7881
• directly from a registered retailer

Registered firework retailers

Retailers of fireworks must be registered and must display, prominently at the point of sale, their current licence or certificate of registration.

Don’t be tempted to buy from illegal sources as you could face prosecution, and will be gambling with the safety of your family and friends.

You can find a list of registered firework retailers throughout Northern Ireland, listed by town/ city in alphabetical order on the following page:

Members of the public are encouraged to pass information about the illegal sale of fireworks to the PSNI or Crimestoppers on:

Firework safety

Make sure you handle fireworks safely and prevent accidents.

Fireworks can inflict serious injuries if mishandled, so follow the firework code at all times.

You should also be aware of the law around the use of fireworks.

More useful links

Getting the vaccine

The flu virus spreads through the air. Because young children don’t always cover their noses or mouths when coughing or sneezing, the virus can spread very quickly among them. 

The free flu vaccine for children provides them with the best defence against the illness and helps protect their wider family and friends.

Pre-school children in Northern Ireland aged two years and over are eligible to get the vaccine through their GP.

Children in primaries one to seven will be offered the vaccine in school.

In addition, people over 65, ‘at risk’ children and adults, and pregnant women, can get the vaccine at their doctor’s surgery.

Some GPs may not invite all of their registered patients who are eligible for vaccination directly.

If you, or someone in your care, is eligible to be vaccinated but does not get an invitation, contact your GP to find out more about their flu vaccination clinics.

The vaccine changes each year to cover the strains which are likely to be circulating over the course of the flu season, so it’s important to get immunised each year.

As it takes approximately two weeks following vaccination to develop maximum protection against flu, it’s important to get vaccinated. If you wait until flu starts circulating, it may be too late for the vaccine to protect you, so get the flu vaccine and stay well this winter.

Nasal spray

Most children will get the vaccine through a quick and painless nasal spray. The nasal vaccine has been shown to provide even greater protection for children than the flu injection.

There are a few children who cannot get the nasal spray and they will be offered the injection instead.

You can find out more on the flu vaccine for children page.

More useful links

Something for everyone

With more than 360 historic buildings and places of interest opening their doors, including historic cottages, mills, private houses, and castles, there really is something for everyone.  

Bun na Margái Friary, Ballycastle

Experience the golden stones and stories of Bun na Margaí Friary, Ballycastle through expert guided tours and lectures.

Built by Rory MacQuillan in 1500, the rival MacDonnell clan claimed the Friary in 1588 and the coffin of Sorley Boy MacDonnell lies here.

See and hear the stories of the Friary through Gaelic clan warfare and World War, or discover its links with the Spanish Armada.

Marlacoo House, Co Armagh

A private home, this charming two-storey Georgian House is 200-years-old. Situated beside Marlacoo Lake, where Hugh O’Neill kept his wife and valuables safe on a crannog during the nine years’ war.

Knockbracken Healthcare Park

A guided tour of selected buildings of the former Purdysburn Villa Colony, a former ‘asylum’ for mentally ill patients built between 1902 and 1913.

Purdysburn was laid out as a suburban-style settlement in an innovative design that was based on German colony asylums of the late 19h century.

The tour will consider how the buildings were built to maximise patient health.

Cockle Row Cottages, Groomsport

Cockle Row Cottages are restored fishermen’s cottages dating back to the 1600s, beside the harbour in the picturesque village of Groomsport. They are home to a living history exhibition.

There will be free entertainment, including a magic show, sand art workshop, and a demonstration of traditional skills over the weekend.

Fermanagh historic graveyards

Explore by bus the stories hidden within two historic graveyards.

This trip visits the old graveyard on Cleenish Island, Upper Lough Erne, which has links to the heritage of St Columbanus.

It also will allow you to discover the history of Aghalurcher Church and graveyard (see pic above), and enjoy the performances of the history of these graveyards.

Tower Museum

Discover the Story of Derry exhibition, covering the history of the city from 5,000 BC to modern day.

Why not take part in  Paper Quilting Workshop?

See behind the scenes of the museum’s vast collection of items not currently on display and see how objects and archives are stored and cared for on this short family-friendly bus trip.

Woodrow Wilson Ancestral Homestead, Co Tyrone

Explore the rich Ulster-American connections and learn how the fate of Woodrow Wilson, 28th President of the United States, was to lie in the hands of local man James Wilson.

Artefacts on display include a wide selection of household furnishings, kitchen utensils, and farm implements.

Enjoy storytelling, craft demonstrations and short talks.

European Heritage Open Days events

To find a full list of European Heritage Open Days building openings and events you can either use the map viewer or download a brochure for more information.

You can also pick up a brochure from your local tourist information centre, council office, or from museums and libraries.

More useful links

Selection of events 

Many EHOD events have been organised with a view to looking at new ways of sharing stories, and many of them are not usually open to the public. Below are just a small selection of events on the sharing theme.

Greenmount Campus, CAFRE, Antrim

Explore the 200-year-old walled garden and other heritage garden features and find out how they have been and still are used.

Horticulture skills past and present will be shared and there are guided tours available of the heritage and modern gardens.

Armagh Observatory and Planetarium

Join the celebrations for the Planetarium’s 50th year and find out about the history and people behind this attraction.

Enjoy a tour of the Planetarium building and grounds, and explore the heritage of this unique organisation involved in groundbreaking research and that has been exploring the cosmos since 1790.

Historic Great Light Tour, Titanic Walkway, Belfast

Join the interactive tour of the Great Light, which is one of the largest lighthouse optics of its kind ever built.

Your guide will bring to life the story of lighthouses, changes in technology, memories of the light-keepers, and role in the maritime and industrial history of Belfast and beyond.

Annalong Cornmill

Situated by pretty Annalong Harbour, near the foothills of the Mourne Mountains, this once-busy cornmill was in operation from the early 1800s to the 1960s.

There are free guided tours, and you can meet the miller and watch the water wheel in action to experience life in the Mournes in the past.

Headhunters Railway Museum, Enniskillen

Why not visit the world’s only railway museum in a working barber shop? You will find one of the largest collections of Irish railway memorabilia on display.

Starting at the reconstructed booking office, where the ticket collector invites you to step on board, your journey recreates railway travel through Fermanagh and the border counties until the closure of the lines in 1957.

Heritage tour of Moneymore

Join Moneymore Heritage Trust for a tour to discover the hidden beauty of Moneymore.

You will make your way around the village to hear the heritage behind the limestone with visits to unique buildings, including the Common Barn, Corn Stores, Courthouse and Assembly Rooms.

Buildings  are opened with the kindness of the community – a true example of the art of sharing.

European Heritage Open Days events

To find a full list of European Heritage Open Days building openings and events you can either use the map viewer or download a brochure for more information.

You can also pick up a brochure from your local tourist information centre, council office, or from museums and libraries.

More useful links