Beauty of local landscapes feature in exploration events

Beauty of local landscapes feature in exploration events

2 February 2022

SEVERAL familiar locations in Downpatrick, Newcastle and Strangford are at the heart of this month’s Northern Ireland Science Festival.

There will be a selection of events between February 17 and 27 with people across the district encouraged to explore something new as various venues prepare to play host to a series of stirring events.

The so-called STEM celebration — which has grown to become the largest of its kind in Ireland — boasts more than 120 events over 11 days.

On February 19, the St Patrick Centre in Downpatrick is the venue for the Patrick & The Pagan Hills event which provides an opportunity to follow in the footsteps of both the patron saint and pagan in an exploration of the landscape that Patrick himself encountered when he returned to Ireland nearly 1,600 years ago.

On February 18 and 19, the Strangford Activity Centre is hosting a “paddle back in time” kayak adventure to Mahee Island following a traditional smuggling route undertaken by Daft Eddie and the Merry Hearts. 

There will also be an opportunity to discover ruins of the monastic site of Nendrum, life in the monastery in the Middle Ages and the role played by the Vikings in the Strangford Lough area between the 9th and 11th centuries.

The Strangford Activity Centre is also hosting “paddle with a purpose” on February 20 and 24 with participants invited to do their bit for the environment by joining a clean-up of Strangford Lough.

And “foraging afloat” on February 22 and 24 at the same venue sees people joining with the Centre’s Rory Martin and Andrea and Graham Gannon of Peninsula Kelp for a unique guide to the sights and flavour of the area as spring arrives on the lough and with it an array of seasonal wild food.

On February 27, there’s an opportunity to discover the wonders of the Mournes at a range of festival events.

During the Diamond Rock Walking Tour on February 27, guide Peter Rafferty will explains how to identify diverse rock types and how the Mournes were formed, alongside learning about the amazing geology and history of the area at the Geology on the Rocks event on February 19.

The following day, the Men of Mourne – Stone & Steel hiking tour takes place with an opportunity to hear stories of hardship and endurance as participants take to rocky mountain tracks.

During the Mourne Stone Walling – A Granite Kingdom event, there’s a chance to experience the beauty and hard graft behind the 5,000-year-old craft of dry-stone wall building. A date for the event has yet to be confirmed.

On February 26 at the Newcastle Community Cinema, Film Hub NI is inviting families to a special screening of ‘The Snail and the Whale’, a joyous, empowering story about the natural wonders of the world and discovering that no matter how small you are, you can make a difference. 

And to coincide with this special screening, NI Science Festival has organised an interactive seashore adventure with Beach Schools NI which will take place a short walk from the cinema and is included in the ticket price.

Festival director, Chris McCreery, said the event exists to engage audiences, stimulate discussion, and ignite interest in the wonders of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“We are confident that this year’s diverse programming will expand the horizons of festival goers of all ages and abilities across Northern Ireland,” he added.

The Science Festival is supported by the Department for the Economy, Belfast City Council, Tourism NI, Derry City and Strabane Council, Queen’s University,Ulster University, British Council Northern Ireland, MCS Group, The Open University NI, Innovate UK, Matrix NI, Film Hub NI and Arts and Business NI.