Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year Awards

It was a real honour to attend the Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year Awards at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Belfast recently.
I was shortlisted in the 'Woman of the Year in Arts' category with three other fantastic ladies - arts consultant Carrie Neeley, playwright Leesa Harker and Belfast Poet Laureate Sinead Morrissey. Well done to Sinead who won the award - you can see the winning announcement here.
It was a truly enjoyable and humbling evening and we met some fantastic people including Richard and Leona Kane from Limavady rapeseed oil manufacturers 'Broighter Gold'; husband and wife hairdressing duo Paul and Leisa Stafford, the truly inspirational Margaret McGuckin who is a key campaigner for those affected by institutional abuse; media personalities Wendy Austin and Lynda Bryans, Belfast Telegraph's Gail Walker and Kerry McKittrick, and Arts Council of NI's Head of Literature and Drama Damian Smyth.
We stayed in the Ramada Plaza where the function was held which made it a real pleasure to be able to get ready and just walk down the corridor to where the action was. Here, we dined in style, the champagne flowed and the craic was mighty!
Huge congratulations to Una Crudden who won the overall Belfast Telegraph Woman of the Year for her tireless campaign for ovarian cancer awareness. Una took her 'Teal Takeover' campaign to Stormont recently and her story really touched the entire room. You can follow Una's story on Twitter @unacrudden - please do lend her your support!
A big thanks to everyone involved in organising the evening, especially all at Belfast Telegraph and Sarah Weir at JPR - and massive congrats to all those shortlisted and the worthy winners in each category. It really was a night to remember!

Songs for Amy

Jim is involved in a feature length movie Songs For Amy which will make it's big screen Dublin debut on May 1st before opening at selected IMC cinemas on May 2nd. The film, a love story based in the West of Ireland and New York, stars Sean Maguire (pictured with Jim in his role as Tom the busker) and is directed by Emmy and BAFTA nominated Konrad Begg. 

You can watch the trailer by clicking here and read more about the Dublin debut in this news feature from the Irish Film and Television Network 

Follow Songs for Amy's progress and news on Twitter @songsforamy. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Lots of love from Jim and Emma! We are celebrating lots today, including the release of my novel Crazy For You which is now available for digital download from Harper Impulse and only £1.99 on Amazon! Many thanks to the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for facilitating this photo of me to mark the occasion! xxx

Doing it in style in Donegal!

The rugged coastal county of Donegal has always claimed a strong hold on my heart as it is home to many fond memories; from running along the majestic beach as a child in Rossnowlagh and disco dancing as a teenager in Downings, to hanging out in the Las Vegas bling of Bundoran where amusement parks and slot machines and walking ‘rogie’ filled many a day away!

Therefore, it is no surprise that when it came to penning my first novel, Crazy For You, away back in 2007, I based a lot of it in Donegal in a fictional town called Killshannon which is loosely based on the fishing village of Killybegs.

My book also featured many scenes in Donegal town itself with its Diamond centre, quirky cafes and craft shops, so when Harper Collins, my brand new publishers, decided to re-release Crazy For You in an all new look 2014 version for Valentine’s Day this year, I took a trip to Donegal town to see how much it had changed since my first version of Crazy For You was written seven years ago.

There is a sense of warmth and homeliness in Donegal and while I love and cherish memories of staying in caravans and self-catering apartments from childhood days, this time we decided to do Donegal in style!

We chose to stay a night at the 5star Solis Lough Eske Hotel for a night of luxury, and it’s location just outside the town made it an ideal base for exploring the area and absorbing all I needed to bring my novel up to date.

The Lough Eske Castle is the only Irish hotel to claim a World Luxury Hotel Award and has won the World's Best Luxury Country Hotel title for the past FOUR consecutive years and the moment I mentioned to friends where I was going, those who had been became wide eyed with envy and it didn’t take me long to discover why.

We were met at the door by a friendly uniformed porter who took our bags and the staff at reception ran through our itinerary which included a ‘Smoke Your Own Salmon’ activity with chef David Doherty, dinner for two in the Cedar’s Restaurant and a full body massage the following morning for me at the award winning Spa Solis – so far, so great!

Our ground floor room was majestic to say the least. It had a separate living area with its own television (so we didn’t have to fight over the remote, explained our concierge), a luxury bathroom, stocked mini bar and patio doors which overlooked a picturesque courtyard. It was luxurious yet cosy and we settled in immediately, chilling out and enjoying the surroundings before it was time to meet the chef and sample some salmon smoking!

We met chef David outside the kitchens where he had prepared a table of spices and flavours, and he carefully explained and showed us how to prepare the salmon which was fresh from the waters of Killybegs. We sipped a glass of cold wine as he demonstrated the work of art, then brought us outside to the smoking room – a wooden hut which did exactly what it said on the tin, and in true ‘here’s one I made earlier’ style, he presented some delicious smoked salmon, took it back to the kitchen while we waited and within minutes we were tucking in to its succulent taste, marvelled at the attention to detail which had gone in to preparing the popular dish.

Our dinner was  served in Cedar’s Grill Restaurant later that evening where Jim had six oysters on chilled ice with lemon and shallot vinegar for starters and I chose the Pork Belly with fennel, apple compote and balsamic dressing. I tried one of the oysters (my first time tasting them!) and with a little tobasco sauce for an extra kick, I actually liked them! Our main course was the most delicious fillet steak with sides of seasonal vegetables and pepper sauce and we squeezed in a white chocolate panna cotta for dessert. The service as impeccable, the restaurant busy and David the chef even took time out to see if we were satisfied with the service and we both agreed that hands down, the food at Lough Eske is the best we have ever tasted!
We rounded the evening off around an open fire with some new found friends from Belfast and Jim treated them all to a few tunes on the guitar, and the following morning I eased into the day with a wondrous massage in the Solis Spa, followed by breakfast served to our room.

We said goodbye to the Solis Lough Eske Hotel with a heavy heart – it is truly a magical taste of luxury and shows Donegal hospitality at its finest. Our friends were right when they said it was one of their favourite places in the world and I can totally understand why the list of awards keeps getting longer.

On our way home, we explored the town while I made notes that could contribute to the new style of my novel. We visited the Craft Village where we met artist Johnny McCabe and watched him work at a mind-blowingly accurate portrait, just one of a collection of watercolours, pencils, pastels and oil paintings he had on display.

We finished our trip with a quick bite in the Abbey Hotel in the town centre, lapping up the atmosphere and stopped off for a drink in The Reel Inn Bar which shows old style Donegal in its finest form.

With its warmth and homely feeling, Donegal still holds that same place in my heart as it did seven years ago, and I have a feeling that it’s something that will never go away.

Enjoy a Mid Week Tranquility Package at the Lough Eske Hotel which includes 2 nights bed and breakfast with four course evening meal in Cedar’s Restaurant, complimentary use of Spa Solis Thermal Suite and heated pool, 20% off Spa treatment and traditional afternoon tea on the afternoon of your choice. Based on 2 people sharing. From €395 per room. Available until 31^st March 2014. To book, visit www.solishotels.com/lougheskecastle

Crazy For You by Emma Heatherington will be released by Harper Collins (Harper Impulse) on 13^th February as a digital download (Kindle, etc). Available on Amazon.co.uk

Belfast Buzz at Christmas!

Christmas is a time when memories are made for life, so as soon as December kicked in, I couldn’t wait to pack the kids into the car and head to Belfast for a family day trip to remember and the opportunity to check what was going down in the City for a future night out over the festive season.

For families…

At aged eleven and twelve, the children are just on the cusp of the traditional beliefs of Christmas so a visit to Santa was top of the list and this year we did it with a difference – Titanic style!

Tourists just love Titanic, there is no doubt about it! People of all nationalities posed for photos outside, most of them imitating the famous ‘I’m the King of the world’ pose from the James Cameron movie and this brought a smile to our faces as we drove into the parking lot.

We were greeted by Rory, a member of the Front of House team who took great time in explaining to us the story behind the story i.e. why the building was made in the way it was and we were blown away by the attention to detail of the grounds (even the small lawn areas have a meaning, representing the numbers of first, second and third class casualties) and the outdoor seating which you can view from the higher floors is laid out just as it was on the ship itself.

Titanic at Christmas really does have a personal touch and there were lots of photo opportunities on the way to see Santa which got us into the festive spirit. Tea and coffee is served for mums and dads and the children took great delight in sampling the gingerbread men and shortbread. There are arts and crafts tables and beautiful mock shop fronts of a post office and a toy shop, plus the opportunity to write and post a letter to Santa for those who are running a bit behind on the letter writing front! 

A burst of snow met us at the door of Santa’s house which really added to the atmosphere and Chris the photographer/elf (elves are so multi-talented these days) introduced us to the big man whose conversational skills were second to none. He knew each of the three children by name and we had a great chat about what Rudolph likes to find as snacks on Christmas Eve (red apples are top of the list this year, just so you know…).

The gifts from Santa, who has a real white beard by the way, were more than substantial and full of Titanic goodies and we set off to take the Titanic tour which left us very moved and touched by the tales of the men who made the ship as well as those who made their final journey onboard.

After a quick bite of lunch in the town centre, it was time to separate the men from the boys so to speak, with a visit to the new Winter Wonderland at Custom House Square and a spot of outdoor ice skating!

As a veteran Dundonald Ice Bowl visitor (ok, I’ve been no more than ten times but still), I was quietly confident with my skating skills. We laughed until our sides were sore as some of our party fancied themselves as Torville and Dean despite having never donned a pair of skates before and the results were, well, let’s just say there was more time spent sitting on the ice than skating on it! It was great fun!

The atmosphere at Winter Wonderland will make even the most sceptic of us ‘wow’ and indulge in the magic of Christmas. We were blessed with a mild, dry evening under a beautiful night sky and the watchful eye of the Albert Clock. The children tried out almost all of the amusement rides and even won a few prizes on the hoopla which added to the excitement and upped the competition almost as much as the ice skating antics!

Do not miss this fantastic experience – lots more family members have visited on our recommendation since and they each have had an absolute ball.

After Dark…

Christmas in Belfast is a busy time for bars and restaurants and there are so many to choose from but the Cathedral Quarter is a favourite haunt of mine with its cobbled streets and Mediterranean atmosphere.

We look forward to returning to Belfast (no children this time!) on New Year’s Eve when we will ring in 2014 to the sounds of Van Morrison at the Harp Bar on Hill Street.

The Harp Bar (formerly Nick’s Warehouse) is a music lovers paradise with live music seven nights a week – there is no disco or karaoke here, that’s for sure! On my first visit here just a few weeks ago, I was given the distinct impression that this place is special. It truly is the ‘read deal.’

The interior seeps of authentic Belfast with its museum like décor and ornamental memorabilia, paying homage to the bygone days of ‘good vibrations’ and sticking to the origins of the building which was once the headquarters of the Bushmills Distillery.

If you fancy a live sing-a-long to your favourite anthems this is the place to be on any night of the week, you’ll love the Harp Bar on Hill Street.

Something for Everyone…

We were genuinely impressed by the buzz of Belfast this festive season. 

For a family day trip or a couple’s night out, it really is the place to be. Now, is that Dancing on Ice on the phone….? Somehow I’d doubt it very much! Happy Christmas everyone!

Emma’s family day trip was organised courtesy of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.  For more information on Northern Ireland visit discovernorthernireland.com

Belfast Winter Wonderland

Custom House Square is hosting an extra special Christmas this year with the arrival of Belfast’s Winter Wonderland.  Lose yourself in the magic of Christmas with an open-air skating rink, rides, mulled wine, hot cider and hot chocolate, opened until January 5.  

W: www.belfastswinterwonderland.com

Titanic Belfast

Visit Santa Claus in his old curiosity shop, play traditional games and enjoy the atmosphere of the traditional street scene at Titanic Belfast until December 23.  Children can enjoy arts and crafts as well as story-telling and if they haven’t yet sent their much anticipated letter to Santa they can do so in the magical post box.

W: www.titanicbelfast.com T: +44 28 9076 6399

Livin' it up in London!

GROWING up with the Bardic Theatre in Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, there was simply no escaping the magic of musical theatre.

As they say around these parts, I was reared on it so when a weekend in the West End of London beckoned, I was like a child in a toy shop at the very thought of choosing an evening out to the theatre, but which to see and where to start?

For me it was easy.

In fact my musical of choice was a no brainer really.

I’ve been a tad obsessed you might say with the Oscar winning Dublin based movie ‘Once’ for a while now, so when some clever person decided to make it into a Tony and Grammy award winning stage show I was chomping at the bit to go see it since it made its debut in London earlier this year.

Compared to other musical phenomenon such as Les Miserables, Wicked and Billy Elliott, Once is perhaps still a baby of the bunch, but despite its young age it is standing strong amongst the big boys with a stellar cast, a funny and touching script and packed out audiences to prove its worth. 

The story centres round an un-named Dublin busker who is pining for his lost love, singing songs in her name when he meets a Czech immigrant on the street and promises to fix her hoover. ‘Guy’ as he is known in the credits, soon discovers that musically, this beautiful quirky stranger is as talented as he is and as a deep relationship develops, music turns to magical love but not without hiccups and heartaches along the way.

For fans of the movie and newbies alike, Once The Musical will delight you and surprise you at the same time. It is much more comedic than the on screen version, certainly more lively in style and character and dare I say it…it’s even better.

I got shivers, I had tears in my eyes and the music with onstage fiddles, banjos, guitars and more was moving, mind blowing and achingly beautiful.

Jim was as enthralled as I was and as a singer/songwriter himself, he was blown away by the feeling and depth of Once, not to mention the highly charged emotional journey the live on stage story takes you on. This was his first musical theatre experience and one he described as ‘musical genius, a singer/songwriter’s paradise and breathtakingly better than the film.’

For me, it was a bit like meeting an idol – I wanted it to be good but had a fear of building my hopes up too much. However, I needn’t have worried as it exceeded every expectation I could have had and I’ve been telling everyone to go see it since we came home.

It’s a treat for the eyes, the ears and for those who love a laugh and a tug at the old heart strings, it really is a must see.

………..

Planning a West End break to London can be a minefield when it comes to accommodation and it’s easy to make the mistake of staying somewhere which cuts the cost per night but requires multiple Tube stops, swaps and taxi rides to get into the heart of theatre land.

However, the recently opened 4*Novotel in Blackfriars takes away any unnecessary time wasting travel with its South Bank location and walking distance to the heart of the action.

We stayed in an Executive Suite on the 13^th floor with a spacious room which looked out onto The Shard, London’s tallest building, and an invigorating skyline that which reminded us just how close we were to the lights of London’s city life.

Staff at Novotel were friendly and courteous and the breakfasts were to die for, plus it’s fresh, modern and clean interior told us that this was a young hotel which was out to impress. The centrally located bar in the foyer serves a mean cocktail list and its open plan design gives it a real metropolitan feel.

We sampled the sauna, Jacuzzi and swimming pool and there is also a fitness centre and a play area with computer games for kids. The rooms are ensuite with a rain-shower and the hotel has free WiFi too.

A delightful stroll across the Blackfriars Bridge allowed us to take in sights such as Big Ben, St Paul’s Cathedral, The London Eye and the Tate Modern Gallery and on a crisp Autumn night, it was truly a treat to be able to walk to our destination rather than miss it all by travelling on the Underground.

The Novotel’s key selling point is its location and despite our initial plan to stay only one night, we ended up staying three! I think that says it all really….

For culture vultures, West End fans or those who just like to see London rather than trundle through the Underground, the Novotel is simply perfect in every way.

And like us, you just might find it so good that you will want to stay there more than ‘Once.’

For seasonal rates and special offers at Novotel Blackfriars, click www.novotel.com

Once The Musical runs at the Phoenix Theatre Monday to Saturday with Saturday Matinees – tickets and info is available at www.oncemusical.co.uk

Get away from it all in GALWAY

GET AWAY FROM IT ALL IN GALWAY – it’s ‘g-REAT!’

Life doesn’t get any better than a stay in the ‘g’ hotel, Galway…

Add in a bustling arts festival, gorgeous food, great company, all serenaded with the sounds of Glen Hansard live at the Big Top and Galway really does have it all for a weekend away.  

Jim and I arrived at the 5 Star ‘g’ Hotel in the early afternoon and were greeted by staff member Sinead whose personal attention to detail on our check in left a lasting impression.  Sinead and the team served us complimentary drinks on arrival as we waited for our room and we took the opportunity to take in the fine surroundings of a hotel which has been the talk of the town since it first opened in 2007.

The entrance to the ‘g’ is truly a feast for the eyes with a huge open foyer and pockets of function rooms, dining rooms and bars which are so individual you really don’t know where to look first. A cocktail menu to die for, enough shades of pinks and purples to make you blush and the flowers…wow! It is almost worth a visit to see the magnificent flowers alone!

The 5 star status of the ‘g’ hotel is by no means overwhelming though, as its magnificence is matched perfectly with a truly personal touch which made us automatically relax in such luxurious surroundings. The staff are pleasant, they greeted us with sincerity and I got the impression that they make everyone who enters the doors feel like a special guest.

The rooms boast huge beds, a double shower and white and cream interior in a deliberate contrast, I imagine, to the bright, plush surroundings of the ground floor of the hotel and give spectacular views over Lough Atalia and Galway Bay.

Later in the ESPA, which was conveniently on the same floor as our room, we cocooned ourselves from the outside world in rain showers, a crystal steam room, rock pool and vitality pool and I was treated to a full body massage with a choice of oils, ambient lighting and soft music.

We left feeling thoroughly invigorated, and having dressed for dinner, we followed a corridor lined with more signature separate bars and dining areas, all designed by famous milliner Philip Treacey in bold, breath taking colours which lead us to Restaurant Gigi where we chose our table and savoured the surroundings of 5 star decadence.

Jim enjoyed Pan Roasted Scallops for starters while I opted for a succulent Caesar Salad and we both had Chargrilled Wexford Hereford Rib Eye steak which was polished off with a palette refreshing sorbet. With no room for dessert but time to savour a delicious Bailey’s coffee, we bade farewell to the g for the evening and set off to see what treats the streets of Galway had to offer – and we weren’t disappointed…

The Galway Arts Festival, which takes place annually in July and is now in it’s 36^th year, is cleverly sandwiched between the famous Galway Film Fleadh and the Galway Races, making sure that the entire month is a feast for festival lovers of all kinds. Buskers line the streets, tourists of all nationalities visit theatre productions, outdoor spectaculars, galleries, comedy shows and concerts and as you mingle through the mix of sounds and sights, you are automatically caught up in a holiday feeling.

Our gig of choice was Glen Hansard live at the Big Top – a purpose built circus tent with a stage which has hosted acts such as The Coronas in recent years. With his 7 piece band, Glen Hansard took our breath away by opening with his Oscar winning track, Falling Slowly. For two hours, the Dublin born singer/songwriter of Commitments and The Frames fame held the audience firmly in his hands with magical poetic lyrics from the heart and soul, and he left us as he first captured us - on a high - until we spilled out on to the streets into the night where Galway was awaiting for the next round of arts festival fever. We finished off a truly perfect evening with dancing and drinks at Monroe’s on Dominick Street, one of the city’s premier live music venues.  

Our second night in Galway was spent at the magnificent Meyrick Hotel which overlooks the iconic Eyre Square.

A more traditional experience than the g, the Meyrick is in its own very different way equally spectacular in its grandeur. We were served the most sumptuous breakfast to our spacious and luxurious room and then set off to explore the city more before finishing our Galway getaway with lunch at the Dela restaurant on Lower Dominick Street.

Like the rest of our trip, the Dela certainly didn’t disappoint with it’s funky ambience and it’s quirky feel. Waiter Connall invited us to sample some White Gypsy beer which is brewed in Tipperary and I dined on Parsnip and Pear soup while Jim had Poached Egg with Asparagus, Champ, Black Pudding and Hollandaise Sauce. A friendly, easy meal in perfectly calming surroundings – just what we needed after our hectic few days!

Galway at festival time is fantastic, but then Galway is glorious at any time of year. No matter how long you stay, you might feel like you’re not finished because there is so much to take in and the atmosphere is enveloping.

From the magic of the Meyrick, to the grandeur of the g, and the enchantment of the arts festival, Galway certainly has lots of reasons to visit and is a great treat for couples, singles and families who love culture, arts and friendly faces. But the best thing of all about Galway, is that there are always lots and lots of reasons to go back…we certainly plan to.

GETTING THERE

I travelled  courtesy of Iarnrod Eireann to Dublin Connolly and then Dublin Heuston to Galway City. Visit www.irishrail.ie for prices and timetables.

AUTUMN OFFERS

Stay at the g Hotel from €180.00 per person sharing for 2 nights bed and breakfast, dinner on one evening and access to the Thermal Suite in ESPA.

Enjoy the luxury of Hotel Meyrick: October Mid-week 2 nights bed & breakfast with dinner on one evening from €154 per person sharing

PLAN AHEAD

Catch the Galway Arts Festival next year from July 14 – 27 2014. Keep up to date with events at www.galwayartsfestival.com