New York, NY; September 2010 :'Experience Northern Ireland - Titanic and More'came to Grand Central Terminal this September, aiming to boost vacation travel to Ireland's Majestic North. Vanderbilt Hall will be the site of the major destination promotion campaign - 'Experience Northern Ireland, Titanic and More' which is presented by Tourism Ireland in association with its partners - National Museums Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau and Continental Airlines.
From September 24-29, 2010, New York's iconic Vanderbilt Hall was filled with the sounds, tastes and images of Northern Ireland. This experiential extravaganza saw an array of vibrant characters from the worlds of theater, music and dance transport exhibit visitors across the Atlantic to Northern Ireland.
Highlighted in this ground-breaking consumer promotion was a packed schedule of events featuring top performers, including not-to-be-missed culinary delights from celebrity chefs Noel McMeel and Neven Maguire; Renowned singer Peter Corry; Irish music royalty The McPeake Family; traditional music sensations Kintra; and award-winning theater group Kabosh, USG Performing Arts Presenters, by Artistic Director Unateresa Gormley all took center stage. Visitors to the interactive exhibit at Vanderbilt Hall, Grand Central Terminal, took their own journey around Northern Ireland and explored the delights of the Causeway Coast, the walled city of Londonderry, follow in the footsteps of St. Patrick and enjoy the tranquility of the Mourne mountains and Fermanagh Lakelands. Also featured: an exhibit on Maritime Belfast and an interactive exposition built around a replica of the hull of the Titanic.
Mr. Joe Byrne, Executive Vice President in the United States for Tourism Ireland based in New York, said 'We believe strongly once visitors experience the sights and sounds of Northern Ireland in Grand Central terminal, they will want to make travel plans to visit. Northern Ireland is easy to get to with daily flights from New York to Belfast, it offers an excellent vacation experience and is home to some of the world's top golf links. We know that this splendid exhibit in the heart of New York will excite the interest and enthusiasm of all those who sample the sights and sounds presented during this showcase'.
When RMS Titanic sailed away on her maiden voyage on April 10th, 1912, she was hailed as 'the new wonder of the world'. A remarkable feat of engineering, she was the largest and most luxuriously-appointed ship ever built. Despite her tragic sinking five days later, she remains a source of enduring pride in the city where she was built in Belfast in Northern Ireland. Belfast embraces its past and has a wonderful vision of how it should be celebrated in the future. This historic city also acts as a gateway to Northern Ireland where stunning scenery and cultural attractions fuse seamlessly with towns and cities brimming with the energy and verve of cosmopolitan Europe.
The Cinemagic International Film & Television Festival for Young People was delighted to be screening the Cinemagic International Film Camp short film 'Gone' in the Vanderbilt Room in Grand Central Station. The short film is the final product of a 5 day residential filmmaking course for 15-19 year olds which took place in Belfast in August 2010 incorporating young people from Belfast, Dublin, Donegal, Los Angeles and New York. The film was introduced by the young people from New York who made the short film. After the screening Oscar nominated Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey took part in a Q&A hosted by Belfast actress Geraldine Hughes.
New York Here We Come!
Representatives from Northern Ireland’s tourism industry and top visitor attractions flew from Belfast to take part in the ‘EXPERIENCE NORTHERN IRELAND - TITANIC & MORE’ exhibition in New York’s iconic Grand Central Terminal.
The week-long celebration and exhibition has been organised by Tourism Ireland in association with National Museums Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Belfast Visitor & Convention Bureau, and showcased the very best of Northern Ireland tourism, our culture, music, entertainment and food. It gave millions of New York commuters and visitors to the city a taste of what Northern Ireland has to offer as a unique and vibrant tourism, and business tourism, destination.
The centrepiece of the New York event was a Titanic exhibition, featuring a replica hull of Belfast’s most famous ship and including interactive storyboards and screens. The story is brought to life through a range of illustrated talks and costumed guides are also on hand. Central to the ‘EXPERIENCE NORTHERN IRELAND – TITANIC & MORE’ exhibition was a packed schedule of events, featuring top Northern Ireland performers. More than 70 partners including top chefs, musicians, craft workers and tour guides were en route to New York to participate and make this event a real flavour of Northern Ireland. Musical entertainment will be provided by Peter Corry, Kintra, Kabosh, the McPeake Family, USG Performing Arts Presenters and others. There was also a full programme of lectures, story-telling and other performances highlighting the many aspects of our unique Northern Ireland culture. Representatives of the tourism industry will bring the different counties of Northern Ireland to life for visitors to the exhibition.
Commenting on the potential of the exhibition to bring Northern Ireland to the attention of a huge audience in New York, Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said: "With up to 750,000 commuters passing through Grand Central Station each day, this event is a fantastic opportunity for Tourism Ireland and our partners to promote Northern Ireland as a world-class tourism destination in the major gateway city of New York. In the run-up to 2012, Tourism Ireland is planning an extensive series of promotional events to keep Belfast, Northern Ireland and Titanic in the international spotlight and to encourage Americans - and other overseas visitors - to come and see where the whole story started."
Ben Glover and Anthony Toner - Maverick Magazine called this county Antrim artist a 'major talent in the making'. Ben's debut album, 'The Week the Clocks Changed' draws inspiration from the creative music scene of Nashville. He will perform at Grand Central Terminal with fellow Nashville fan, Anthony Toner.
Liz Weir - Story Teller - A fascinating story-teller from the Glens of Antrim. When Liz is not telling tales of her beloved Causeway Coast, she keeps herself busy running a hostel for international visitors to Ireland.
Kabosh Titanic Monologue - A multi-award winning theater company from Belfast, that reinvents the ways in which stories are told. Performance highlights at Grand Central Terminal will include 'Tall Ships', 'Gatherings' and 'Clipped Classics'.
Peter Corry - No stranger to the stage, Peter has the kind of voice you will never forget. Hailing from Belfast, his brilliant talent spans great musicals, opera, rock and jazz.
Cinemagic Screening - Designed for and by young people, Cinemagic uses the magic of film to entertain, educate, motivate and inspire. After the screening Oscar nominated Cinematographer Seamus McGarvey will take part in a Q&A hosted by Belfast actress Geraldine Hughes.
Kintra Music Group - This new young group celebrates Irish and Scottish Music in an exciting and colorful stage show. Kintra brings together a fusion of cultures from Ireland's North West for a unique blend of song and dance.
McPeake Family Concert
A family musical tradition that spans forty years, the McPeake"s distinctive blend of ulleann pipes and harmony singing continues to thrive today.
USG Performing Arts Presenters - NY Based, Artistic Director, Unateresa Gormley, showcased,
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