Glenea G le Coa C h Tours – dis C over T he Wonders of Wes T Cork

For almost 20 years guests from across the north have journeyed to southwest Ireland on a Gleneagle Coach Tour.

For many years this popular holiday service was provided by Ulsterbus Tours but in 2020 the service ceased.

trilling descent, repeated over and over. But the star is the blackcap, with a melodious song which is the reason for its alternative name, the nightingale of the north. If you want to listen to their songs, they are available at https://www. british-birdsongs.uk/ alphabetical/. Better still, get out into the countryside this spring and listen to them ‘live’. JVA

Since then, Gleneagle Coach Tours, part of the Gleneagle Group, has brought guests on a choice of tours to Bantry in West Cork and Killarney, Co. Kerry.

A holiday to County Cork is a memorable one. With some of the most stunning scenery in Ireland and close to the Wild Atlantic Way, this tour brings guests to these fabulous locations. Day tours to Mizen Head Signal Station, the Beara Peninsula and the quaint fishing villages of West Cork are included. Guest accommodation is the harbour-side Maritime Hotel, a 4-star hotel overlooking Whiddy Island and Bantry Bay.

All guests have access to the great leisure amenities and dining options.

The Maritime Hotel always has a warm welcome for guests and that unique West Cork hospitality approach.

Many tour guests have returned year after year to familiar faces in the hotel. During these years the hotel has continued to enhance its offering with a great selection of bedrooms, improved pool and gym options along with enhancements to guest’s dining experience.

This summer guests can enjoy a 5-day tour to Bantry with daytours, meals and transport from Belfast included.

Prices start from £349 per person in May and bookings can be made easily at Irish Tour Tickets at 10 Great Victoria Street or by phone.

Witc 2023 European Taekwondo Championships To Be Hosted In Northern Ireland

After a very successful WITC UK Open Taekwon-Do Championships held on the 25th of September 2022 in the National Badminton Centre Lisburn coupled with, outstanding success for the Northern Ireland National Junior Team at the WITC World Championships in November 2022.

We are delighted to announce that Northern Ireland has been invited by the WITC Committee, to host the European Open Taekwon-Do Championships over the weekend of the 24th and 25th of June 2023. This major sporting event will showcase Taekwon-Do and Northern Ireland by attracting competitors from all across Europe. The Northern Ireland National Junior Team attending the World Championships in November 2022 returned with forty-nine medals in total and eleven new World Champions, an inspiring success for our students here.

We are now inviting sponsors form local companies and businesses across the province through sponsorship to join us in promoting Northern Ireland through this prestigious sporting event. All proceeds from the championships will go to supporting the National Teams to travel to other championships around the world.

Taekwon-Do has become the fastest growing Martial Art in Northern Ireland, as a sport it is graceful and powerful yet dynamic, exciting and fun. It is suit- able for both males and females, children and adults, from the age of 3 years upwards. The UKTC (N.I.) offers a three-tier system for students depending on age and ability, which presents a step-by-step approach to learning this particularly popular style of Martial Art.

To promote the advantages of Taekwon-Do and sport in general to younger children, our ‘Little Tiger Cubs’ programme has been specifically designed to cater for children 3-5 years old. Its aim is to introduce basic martial arts skills through a mixture of simple games, fitness drills, and Taekwon-Do training. Our Little Tiger Cubs syllabus aims to assist in the physical development, improved health, and increased fitness of each child. The programme teaches our young members that good attendance, good effort, and good behaviour will help them to achieve their goals in life. http://www.uktc.co.uk/ LittleTigerCubs.aspx

For students aged 5-8 years we have ‘Active Tigers’ which will allow students to develop their Taekwon-Do skills at a more relaxed pace while retaining some of the fun elements of’ Little Tiger Cubs’. It will also allow children to progress through the grading system in a more ‘Bite-sized’ fashion, while our more formal Taekwon-Do classes and the white suit which goes with it, is something for our younger students to aspire to. https://youtu.be/ JKJR_y337aQ

In Northern Ireland the largest Taekwon-Do group is Leo Maguire TaekwonDo Schools. Leo Maguire, as the Northern Ireland National Coach and President of Northern Ireland ITF, he has brought the N.I. National Teams to victory at both National, European and World levels. This level of expertise is now being passed on to the group’s current students as our fully qualified instructors are dedicated to encouraging each child to achieve his or her full potential. For adults, our structured training program offers fitness, friendship, self-defence and confidence.

The group runs classes for Little Tiger Cubs, Active Tigers and TaekwonDo in over 100 classes at various locations across the province. To find out more please visit our website at www.taekwondo-ni. co.uk or our Facebook page, alternatively, contact Leo Maguire directly on 07891191494.