If you’re a landlord, you may be eligible for a discount on your rate bills, but time is running out. Bills should be paid in full by Friday 28 September in order to receive an allowance deduction on your bill. Allowance If you have an Article 20 or A… read more
With high winds forecast for some areas, disruption to traffic or travel could be a consequence. Power cuts are also a possibility. There are things you can do to prepare in case your electricity goes off. There are practical steps you can take if it does.
High-sided vehicles are most affected by windy weather, but strong gusts can also blow a car, cyclist, motorcyclist or horse rider off course. This can happen on open stretches of road exposed to strong cross winds, or when passing bridges or gaps in the hedges.
In very windy weather a vehicle may be affected by turbulence created by large vehicles. Motorcyclists are particularly affected, so keep well back from them when they are overtaking a high-sided vehicle.
Motorists are also advised to drive with care due to possible wind-blown debris.
If there are any problems on the roads as a result of high winds, you can get the latest updates on the TrafficwatchNI website.
If you’re planning to travel by air or sea, you should check with the ferry company or airline in case there are any delays or cancellations.
It’s important to be prepared for a potential loss of power. You should:
If you depend on electrical equipment that is vital to your health, contact Northern Ireland Electricity Network (NIE) to get on their Critical Care Register:
If your electricity goes off, you should:
If your power is off and you want to report it or get more information, contact NIE’s Customer Helpline or visit their website:
Check in with someone if you’re worried about their mental well-being and ask them how they’re feeling. Mental health problems can affect anyone at any time of life and in different ways. Anyone who is in distress or despair can contact the Lifeline he… read more
European Heritage Open Days (EHOD) (Saturday 9 September to Sunday 10 September) offers the opportunity to visit historic buildings and places of interest, free of charge – some of which aren’t usually open to the public. With events kicking off tomorrow, below are some final ideas of where to visit over the weekend.
Visit the ruins of a 400-year-old castle, later remodelled by architect John Nash, with an original tower house.
There’ll be a talk and guided walk from the castle towards the large artificial lake created for the Agnew family who lived here and were the tax collectors for Co Antrim.
The village of Poyntzpass, Co Armagh is steeped in history and there is lots to do in the village on Saturday 9 September.
There will be a guided walk taking in some of the village’s interesting sites – the 100-year-old stone ‘Face in the Wall’, the Newry Canal, and the Red Hand Inn, scene of a gruesome murder in days of yore.
Visit Poyntzpass railway station – the Victorian signal-man’s cabin is the only one of its kind on its original site in Northern Ireland with all of its equipment intact.
There’ll be an exhibition at the Credit Union, and refreshments are available at the former village courthouse where a variety of petty misdemeanours were dealt with in this building for over 100 years.
Are you and your family partial to puzzles? Kids crazy for conundrums? Test your brain power and explore the grounds of Belfast City Hall for a cryptic challenge. Discover the secret symbols and hidden heritage to be entered into a prize draw.
There’s also a special children’s challenge – they can explore the City Hall grounds and gardens and to discover Belfast’s past to be entered into a prize draw.
These eight cottages, dating back to the 1600s, are now restored and maintained. Most of them have granite open fireplaces and granite floors.
There will be talk on the history of the ‘Clachan’, an Irish settlement, and insight into the daily lives of the people and how they lived.
Waterways Ireland headquarters will be open for guided tours of its archive and building in Enniskillen.
Housing a collection of original engineering drawings, maps, and toll books from the 1800s, the archive offers a unique insight into Ireland’s industrial past.
More information on the Waterways Ireland website.
This self-led nature trail is perfect for families looking to explore nature on their doorstep. Work together to find 10 hidden tiles along the trail showing mammals, birds, and invertebrates on the site. Solve the clues and write down your answers to claim a prize at the activity centre.
Discover the remains of a passage tomb situated on the summit of Knockmany in the forest park with archaeologist Edith Logue.
The cairn and the passage are no longer present, but the stones of the chamber are visible and are decorated with characteristic passage tomb art, including spirals, zigzags, and circles.
If you want to find out more about what and when properties are opening, what events are on, and if you need to book, you can get information and download the brochure at the following link:
Keep up-to-date with European Heritage Open Days on Facebook and on Twitter (@ehodni).
The weekend promises to have something for everyone so why not come along and enjoy a little bit of history right on your doorstep?
This year properties and locations are opening to the public for the first time during European Heritage Open Days weekend (Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September). Almost 400 buildings are part of the event.
Among the highlights of the new locations is Carnfunnock Country Park. It offers over 191 hectares of mixed woodland and colourful gardens against a backdrop of spectacular coastline, with panoramic views of the Antrim coast and North Channel.
In Enniskillen, visit the Cornmarket Yard, open this year for the first time. This was the site of fairs in the olden days and the local volunteers will help visitors discover the history of the area.
The Market Cross in the centre of the yard has a history of its own to tell. There’ll also be a local history fair and a demonstration of crochet-work on Saturday 9 September.
Why not take the opportunity to visit a property not normally open to the public, such as Ennish Scutch Mill in Dungannon. A small family-owned 18th Century mill complex, it was originally a corn mill and later converted to a flax scutch mill.
Now restored to full working order by its current owner, there will be ‘scutching’ (beating the flax) demonstrations showing how flax plants become linen threads at this traditional stoned building in a beautiful riverside location.
Killymoon Castle in Cookstown (pictured) was built for James Stewart in 1671 and has recently had extensive restoration. Designed by the famous London architect John Nash, the castle was Nash’s first Irish design and cost £80,000.
If you want to find out more about what and when properties are opening, what events are on, and if you need to book, you can get information and download the brochure at the following link:
Keep up-to-date with European Heritage Open Days on Facebook and on Twitter (@ehodni).
The weekend promises to have something for everyone so why not come along and enjoy a little bit of history right on your doorstep?