Bonanza Birthday for Exploris
1st June 2012
As part of their 25th anniversary celebrations, Exploris Aquarium in Portaferry is hosting a four day Big Birthday Bonanza over the bank holiday weekend with face painting, party games, jelly and more for all the family.
Take a trip back in time to the age of pirates and wreckers with Valhalla Street Theatre. Historical re-enactments of these, the Battle of Trafalgar and other fantasy and deviant characters will take place throughout Saturday and Tuesday.
For the children there’s a special offering from Clydebuilt Puppet Theatre with a performance of ‘Diving Belle’. Join us as we dive into the magical world of Belle’s Carousel Café, with Tom the lighthouse keeper and the glittering undersea life that surrounds these friends. Tom fishes by the jaggedy rocks and watches the ships by night. Everything seems fine and dandy, until one day a storm brews up! Must Belle reveal her magical secret… A beautiful story of friendship, told with table top puppets and original music. Puppet theatre performances take place on Sunday and Monday and are followed by a drop in puppet making session.
For a full programme of events and activities, visit www.exploris.org.uk or phone 028 4272 8062 for further information. more... The Northern Ireland Aquarium Celebrates 25 Years
7th February 2012
Exploris Aquarium will be celebrating a milestone birthday this year. After 25 years in operation Exploris - The Northern Ireland Aquarium will host a number of special events throughout the year.
more... Predator to Prey - Shark Week at Exploris
7th October 2011
Shark Week at Exploris
Sharks are in the spotlight in Portaferry during the week ahead as Exploris aquarium joins a Europe-wide campaign to raise awareness of the threats faced by shark species in European Waters. The aquarium will host Shark Week from Saturday 8th to Sunday 16th with the hope of converting young people into shark lovers rather than shark haters.
Of the 40 shark species found in European seas, one-third are threatened by intensive and illegal fishing, sport fishing and accidental capture, according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The last 15 years have seen an 80-per cent drop in the shark population, and 20 per cent of the European species are on the verge of critical status for survival.
Using a mixture of exhibitions, life size models, entertaining talks and fun activities, Shark Week aims to dispel many of the popular misconceptions of sharks as mindless man-eaters by showing the facts behind the fiction.
Education Officer Andy O’Neill said: “We hope that the combination of coming face to face with living shark species, babies, fun quizzes and our own shark workshops will help to provide our visitors with a different view of these much-maligned predators. I’m sure that we will manage to convert some of the visitors into, if not shark lovers, then at least shark supporters.”
British and Irish waters are visited by around 30 different shark species – including the world’s second largest, the harmless Basking Shark, which can grow to over 12 meters.
Exploris is open daily during Shark Week. For more information contact 028 4272 8062 more... Jet into Exploris for some airport adventures!
9th July 2011
more... Exploris will be closed on the 24th, 25th and 26th of December and will re-open on Monday the 27th. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our supporters!
23rd December 2010
more... During April, May & June unguided groups cannot be guaranteed a discovery pool demonstration before 2.00pm due to the large number of guided groups
27th May 2010
During April, May & June unguided groups cannot be guaranteed a discovery pool demonstration before 2.00pm due to the large number of guided groups
more... There's something brewing at Exploris
28th May 2009
more... Basking Sharks........spectacular encounter .... read more...
15th June 2008
The Crew of the Newcastle Inshore Lifeboat had a spectacular if rather startling encounter recently .......... read more...
more... Strangford Lough Leatherback
10th April 2008
Leatherback turtle spotted in Strangford Lough meets sad end .... read on
more... E-xploris Launches Web Developments
27th April 2007
Exploris – The Northern Ireland Aquarium and Seal Sanctuary is leading the way in new e-tourism initiatives.
more... |
