Bangor is a real hit if you go to the Ward Park 3 music festival
WHEREVER you go in Ireland you will have a banging time.
But it will be a real hit if you take on the Ward Park 3 music festival in Bangor just south of Belfast.
The trip doubled up as a 50th birthday present for my younger brother Ian, but it is fair to say that we were both blown away by the event, the people and the country.
Bangor sits proudly at the top of the Ards peninsula — the bit of Northern Ireland you see on a clear day from the southern tip of Dumfries and Galloway.
Often referred to as Belfast’s Brighton, Bangor is a great escape for the city’s inhabitants. Its large marina dominates the seafront and has become a focal point as the town reinvents itself as a centre for arts and culture.
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After a hearty breakfast at The Red Berry, with delicious local bacon, we wandered along Queens Parade to check out Project 24, a collection of artists’ pods where you can find a diverse range from candle makers to painters, cake decorators to felt makers and even a tattoo artist.
The pods are in an area which includes an open space where artists and musicians can perform and artisan food makers can promote their local produce.
GO: BANGOR
GETTING THERE: For best deals on ferry crossings from Stranraer to Belfast see poferries.com
STAYING THERE: Open House Festival have a three-day Premium package (Aug 23-26) from £495 (two sharing) and a two-day Regular package, (Aug 24-25) from £345 (two sharing) for Scottish Sun readers. Includes accommodation, breakfast, dining and music events. See openhousefestival.com/packages Rooms at the Salty Dog Hotel start from £99 a night. See saltydogbangor.com
MORE INFO: See ireland.com
It’s all part of a programme of events created by the charity group Open House — an independent music and arts charity that runs an annual summer festival for the whole of August.
They also promote concerts throughout the year in Belfast and Bangor, plus a vintage Seaside Revival and a major outdoor artisan food and drink event called the Sundown Market.
There’s a wide range of live music available most nights in the town’s bars and clubs.
These small venues practically burst at the seams in the evenings. We called in at Fealty's Bar just after opening and enjoyed one of the best pints of Guinness I’ve ever tasted.
We later headed off into the heart of the beautiful Ards peninsula to visit Northern Ireland’s only farm distillery. Echlinville Distillery offer a Tour And Tipple experience, which is a great way to sip whiskey and award-winning gin.
You get a real sense of the passion the owner has for what started out as a “hobby” but now sees Jawbox Gin exported across the world.
Back in Bangor it was time for Ward Park 3. The large public park regularly hosts live music events and is great exposure as local boys done good, Snow Patrol, bring together other local bands.
This year included budding superstars Two Door Cinema Club as well as Foy Vance, ASH, SOAK and a whole range of other talents. It was a spectacular night for the 45,000 crowd — even more so when Bono appeared to sing One Love.
Next day we headed off to Belfast for The Game of Thrones Exhibition.
There’s no hiding the passion ‘Thronies’ like me have for this epic fantasy and it was great to get up close and personal with props and costumes.
Ian, though, has never watched an episode in his life so this was a chance for me to convert him to the cause.
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After a delicious lunch in the bistro in the Titanic Experience building we wandered round the docks, enjoying the sunshine.
If Belfast is on your places to visit list, take the time to get out and visit Bangor and the Ards peninsula while you are there.
It’s a beautiful region, with great people and top music, art and culture they create. It’s banging!
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