Belfast Newsletter - Well well well. There is a whole different side to Belfast that I suggest many people have been totally unaware of - to their loss. So you are familiar with city centre shopping, Belfast City Hall, The Cathedral Quarter, the Ulster Museum and Botanic Gardens, the Golden Mile, the Victoria Square and environs, Lisburn Road and the Troubles Tours in the west of the city?
But what about the Titanic Quarter as a weekend leisure designation?
Never thought of it? Me Neither.
But that all changed with a stay in the delightful Titanic Hotel.
One of Ireland’s largest privately held companies, Harcourt Developments, has unveiled the results of the first phase of a €20 million investment in its hotel portfolio - The Harcourt Collection, at County Donegal’s five-star Lough Eske Castle.
The new additions are named “The Donegal Suites” and showcase furnishings, artworks and amenities sourced and created by local craftspeople and businesses. Overseen by Harcourt Developments Creative Director, John Doherty, interior features include working with world famous local tweed weavers Magee 1866.
A short film about the amazing artist Angela Conner FRBS who created a series of large kinetic sculptures for Park West Business Park in Dublin including the 40m (129ft) high, 20-tonne 'Wave' - the tallest kinetic sculpture in Europe, which is powered only by the wind. Our chairman Pat Doherty was delighted to be interviewed by the filmmakers Laura Warner and Dreweatts 1759.
Hollywood, Los Angeles - the team at Titanic Belfast were delighted to accept a THEA Award for Outstanding Achievement – Visitor Experience Re-envisioned at the ‘Oscars’ of visitor attractions.
The THEA Awards, organised by the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA), recognise achievement, talent and personal excellence from those who bring incredible experiences to life for people around the world. This is the first time an attraction has won twice in its 30-year history.
Belfast City Council - He sums up its work as bringing “step changes” to Northern Ireland, such as the emergence of a new film and TV industry in the 2000s after Harland & Wolff’s old Paint Hall was transformed into Titanic Studios.
It's among the milestones for Titanic Quarter witnessed by James Eyre since he joined Titanic Quarter Ltd, the company behind the massive seafront development, as a surveyor in 2006.
James, who studied estate management at UIster University, was last week named its new chief executive – the first at the company since a restructuring in 2015.
Hospitality Ireland - Pat Doherty is something of a legend. The founder of Harcourt Developments, he left school at 14, left home in Donegal for London at the age of 19, and started working in construction. From there, he has built an empire. Along the way, he became friends with Andrew Parker Bowles and was painted by Lucian Freud. Here, he talks to Emily Hourican.
Harcourt recently hosted Sir Paul McCartney, James Corden and the Late Late Show production crew at the Titanic Hotel while they were in Liverpool filming the latest episode of Carpool Karaoke.
Described as 'one of the most extraordinary interviews he's ever done', James Corden spent a special day with Paul McCartney exploring the city of Paul's youth, visiting his childhood home where he wrote music with John Lennon, performing songs in a local pub and of course driving around singing a few of Paul's biggest hits.
Harcourt recently hosted British reggae legends UB40 and the Virgin Holidays film crew at Carlisle Bay when they were in Antigua making a new music video for their top ten hit 'Come Back Darling' to encourage tourists to 'come back' to the Caribbean following a concerted recovery effort after the impact of Hurricane Irma.
The British Music Experience is the UK’s Museum of Popular Music. Featuring state-of-the-art effects, iconic memorabilia and artefacts from almost every major artist and musical movement since WWII, the attraction is located in the spectacular Cunard Building, one of Liverpool’s landmark Three Graces lining the city’s waterfront.
Your Move Magazine - It’s just a matter of days before Britain’s only dedicated museum of popular music opens in Liverpool.
The British Music Experience (BME), which arrives at its new permanent home on Liverpool’s waterfront after five years at London’s O2, charts the rise of popular music from 1945 up to the present day with over 600 rare music heritage items on display.
Billionaire Edouard Carmignac is one of France's richest men, and his €50bn company, Carmignac Gestion, is now the second-largest holder of Irish bonds after Michael Hasenstab at Franklin Templeton.
The Rolling Stones played a private gig for his top clients recently and he plays polo where he hangs out with Prince Harry and Harcourt Developments' Pat Doherty...
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