The Wailin Banshees who will be headlining the stage in Butcher Street. THE countdown to the St Patrick’s Day celebrations in Strabane featuring a whole host of activities for everyone with a strong focus on music, dance and celebration. The main attraction of the event will be the St Patrick’s Day carnival parade which will take place in the town centre from 2-3pm. The parade will depart from the Canal Basin moving on to Railway Road, Lower Main Street, Main Street, and Back Street/Market Street into Abercorn Square, John Wesley Street, Main Street and finishing back at Canal Basin. The key focus of the event will be on families with a strong emphasis on celebrating Irish culture through the medium of the Irish language, music and dance. There will also be a strong multi cultural aspect to the celebrations also. In addition to the carnival parade, Butcher Street carpark will be the hive of the activity with Waillin Banshees and Off the Rails performing alongside a range of … [Read more...] about Countdown to Strabane’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations
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University of Chester stages celebration of Chinese culture
A festival celebrated seasonal Chinese culture. Students from the University of Chester offered a glimpse into the country’s culture and tradition with a spring festival on campus hosted by the university’s Chinese Society. The event, intended to strengthen friendship between Chinese students and the university, was supported by visiting students and staff and others interested in Chinese culture. In the afternoon visiting teachers from three Chinese universities prepared traditional Chinese dumplings. In the evening, Prof Tim Wheeler, the university’s vice-chancellor, gave a new year speech to launch the festival with members of the Chinese Society performing songs with new year blessings. Prof Phil Harris, director of the university’s business research institute and Ying Zhao, the Chinese Society’s president, presented prizes to those taking part. The Chinese students presented Prof Harris with a Chinese painting and read out spring festival couplets … [Read more...] about University of Chester stages celebration of Chinese culture
Easter 2018: When it is and why it’s celebrated with eggs
Easter's celebration date changes every year. It is one of the most important Christian celebrations and it commemorates the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb. When is Easter? Easter is usually celebrated on the first Sunday after the full moon, after the spring equinox. According to the Bible, Jesus Christ's death and resurrection occurred around the time of the Jewish Passover, which was celebrated on the first full moon following the spring equinox. This led to Christians celebrating Easter on different dates each year. For the Western churches, the earliest Easter can fall is on March 22, and the latest it is on April 25. Eastern Christianity bases its calculations on the Julian Calendar. Because of the 13-day difference between the calendars, March 21 corresponds to April 3 in the Gregorian Calendar. Easter, therefore, varies between April 4 and May 8 in the Gregorian calendar. Easter 2018: This year, in the Gregorian calendar, Easter will … [Read more...] about Easter 2018: When it is and why it’s celebrated with eggs
How to celebrate the royal wedding in style
(CNN) — If you haven't received an invitation by now, the chances are there won't be a seat for you at St. George's Chapel at Britain's Windsor Castle on May 19. From getting up close-ish on their brief processional route to having your own royal getaway, here are some travel options to allow you to say you were there -- at least in spirit. 1. Palace and castle hopping around the UK Stafford London's package offers a visit to St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle, where the couple will marry. Dominic Lipinski - WPA Pool/Getty Images The Stafford London couldn't be more appropriately located, just steps from St. James's Palace and Buckingham Palace. In business since 1912, the elegant spot is a hidden gem with historical royal connections of its own and is still regularly frequented by members of the royal family. Their five-night package includes an exclusive dinner at Kensington Palace, home to the young royals, a private visit to a stately home hosted by an … [Read more...] about How to celebrate the royal wedding in style
Far-Left French politician arrested for tweets celebrating heroic officer’s death in siege
A French far-Left politician has been arrested for apparently celebrating the death of a gendarme hailed as a hero for offering himself in place of a hostage taken by an Islamist gunman. Stéphane Poussier was detained after tweets posted from his account said: “Every time a gendarme gets whacked… I think of my friend Rémi Fraisse,” an environmental protester who died after police threw a concussion grenade during demonstrations in 2014. “And this time it was a colonel, great! It also means one less vote for (President Emmanuel) Macron,” said the tweet, which was quickly deleted and the Twitter account closed after it sparked an outcry. Lieutenant Colonel Arnaud Beltrame was shot and stabbed after taking the place of a woman whom Radouane Lakdim, who had already killed three people, was using as a human shield during his attack on Friday at a supermarket in Trebes in southwestern France. Mr Poussier, who failed to win a seat when he … [Read more...] about Far-Left French politician arrested for tweets celebrating heroic officer’s death in siege