The Peer and the Park
Followers of last year’s television series, The Peer and the Park,
will know that the running of a Victorian estate in the twenty-first
century is more than a few steps removed from its original operation.
Host for the event, The Lord Dunleath, is enthusiastic however,
about the forthcoming festival and the estate’s temporary return
to the relaxed splendour of that golden era. “It will be quite
wonderful to experience in part the unique ambience of Ballywalter’s
heyday as a society venue. I am most looking forward to seeing many
of my guests arrive at the ‘party’ in the style and comfort of the
horse drawn carriages that will carry them around the park for the
two days or in the next stage of locomotion, the vintage car. We
have a wonderful Victorian stable block, which will be returned
to its former glory for the Festival with the stalls full and the
tack room elevated to the status of a working museum.”

For the two days of the Country Lifestyle Festival, Ballywalter
Park will be open to guests, who can roam the extensive gardens
which will be in full bloom, and explore the well preserved Victorian
kitchen garden, complete with wonderfully refurbished glass houses.
There is also the opportunity to take an optional tour of the
house. There will, however, be much more on offer, with an extensive
village of tented pavilions featuring the very best of country
sports and living products. There will be high fashion, including
an exclusive fashion show, food and drink, art, antiques and crafts,
guns and tackle and, indeed, all things country that reflect the
sheer style, luxury and elegance of country living at its best.

Besides the house and pavilions, there will be a full programme
of special events to enthral and amuse, including a huge display
of horse drawn and vintage vehicles, falconry displays from Europe’s
foremost ‘hawkmaster’, Chris Tuffrey, angling demonstrations by
Trevor Morgan and the full range of country sports, including
horses and hounds, gundogs and shooting and fishing.

The emphasis is very much on participation and guests can shoot,
fish, fly a falcon, enjoy a carriage ride or the thrills of the
off road 4X4 course, sample fine foods and enjoy cookery demonstrations,
view the very best of country sports and living demonstrations
and competitions, theatre and music or simply relax and let the
fantastic atmosphere take them back in time to an era of pleasurable
and luxurious country living.

“More than a Game Fair….”
One of the Festival Directors, Albert Titterington, who is
well known as the man behind the 25 year history of the Northern
Ireland Game Fair, said: “The Country Lifestyle Festival
is much more than a Game Fair. In fact, I would say it is the
evolution of the game fair concept into a new style of countryside
show focused on wider interests and a different segment of the
market. Whilst our field sports competitions, exhibits, displays
and demonstrations will be of a superb international standard,
visitors will see that the countrysports element of the show has
been put into a much wider context that embraces everything that
is best about our countryside. In short, the Country Lifestyle
Festival is ‘la crème’ of country life and will provide
a weekend of relaxed entertainment for couples that has rarely
if ever been matched by any other event in Ireland.”

Country Lifestyle – a new concept in country lifestyle entertainment
from an experienced team….
Whilst the Irish Country Sports and Living Festival is a brand
new concept show, it is organised by a team with an impressive
track record in the successful organising and promotion of international
class events including ( Irene and Albert Titterington, John Mc
Clelland, Paul Robinson and Edwin Dash ).

In addition the Festival is supported by an experienced team of
Vice Presidents including : Lord Dunleath ( Patron) ; Vibeke Lunn,
Victor Mc Devitt, Alderman Jim Shannon MLA, Alderman Tom Hamilton
MLA, Councillor Jim Mc Briar ( Mayor of Ards), Ronan Gorman and
Bert Carlisle ( Countryside Alliance), Jack Gilliland ( Strangford
Lough Wildfowlers), and David Brennan , David Robinson and Donal
Mc Cloy (representing the Gun Trade associations of NI and the
ROI).

Also an experienced team of event organisers including Joe Johnston
and Tim Crothers ( Gundog Directors); Trevor Morgan ( Angling
Director); Sam Warden ( Clay Pigeon Shooting Director); Philip
Titterington ( Equestrian Director) and the Terrier, Lurcher and
Ferret displays will be in the capable hands of the Mid Antrim
Terrier and Lurcher Club.

With the combined expertise of this team which represents virtually
all strands of country sports, country living and local interest,
it should be no surprise to learn that the organisers have the
ambition to make it the show case for stylish country living and
quality country sports in Ireland.

A Unique Location for a Unique Event
…..
Since Albert started the NI Game Fair over 25 years ago the Fair
has been staged in parkland at Shanes, Clandeboye and Ballywalter
and copied in various locations. However what makes the Countryside
Lifestyle Festival so unique is that for the first time the House,
yard and lawns of the stately home will be integral to the event.

Set in the magnificent grounds of Ballywalter Park on the picturesque
Ards Penninsula of County Down, Country Lifestyle 2003 promises
to be an exceptional and exclusive event. Uniquely for any exhibition,
the actual venue will be a major attraction in itself. The beautifully
restored Ballywalter House, its elegant stone courtyard, its extensive
Victorian green houses and its most beautifully designed gardens,
will be integral to the event and provide a very lovely setting
for it. Visitors will have relatively unrestricted access to all
aspects of the estate, at this grand but intimate ‘garden party’,
as they soak up the sights and atmosphere of the country at its
best.

Ballywalter House
is one of Ireland’s few remaining great houses still in private
ownership. The seat of Lord Dunleath, the house itself is of exceptional
architectural significance, as one of the most complete examples
remaining of the work of Sir Charles Lanyon. The conservatory
is of special interest, as is the great hall and the house has
been painstakingly restored and refurbished by the present Lord
Dunleath. The gardens are also exceptional, featuring a superb
collection of trees, shrubs and plants and the rhododendron collection
attracts visitors from all over the world. The estate also houses
the largest dairy herd in Northern Ireland, and the farm features
a state-of-the-art milking parlour covering two acres in the main
farmyard and an extensive fruit growing operation. The ultimate
example of all that is best in Ireland’s countryside, Ballywalter
Park is the perfect setting for Country Lifestyle 2003.

Festival Highlights
The event will seek to recreate the unique atmosphere, style and
elegance of a country house party of the Victorian era, together
with the opportunity to view and purchase leading brands of products
and services for stylish country living ; the opportunity to try
various country pursuits and to see the very best of country sports
competitions and demonstrations. To help provide this ambience
it has been decided to make it an adult only event focused on
providing couples with a relaxed day out.

From the magnificent setting of a real country estate, and the
glittering opening May Ball organised by Countryside Alliance,
to the quality of products on display and the uniqueness of the
exhibits, displays, competitions and demonstrations, the emphasis
will be on exclusivity, elegance and style.

Opening Event
The Festival will open with a glittering May Ball , (an exclusive
evening of dancing and romance in the fabulous setting of Ballywalter
organised by the Countryside Alliance) preceded by the spectacular
burning of a wicker man. The burning of the wicker man was part
of an ancient Celtic ceremony, Beltane, held during the first
days of May to herald in a bountiful Summer.

Beltane and burning men festivals were grafted upon to quite a few
cultures including that of Ulster-Scots and festivals are held in
such diverse places such as Aberdeen and Nevada.

The Festival wicker man will not only be environmentally friendly,
being built out of willow specially grown in the ROI as a source
of renewable energy, but will be extremely well crafted as it is
built by Rupert Till.

Although born in England Rupert has become well established as one
of Ireland’s leading sculptors of life size animals and figures.
His client base is international (not to mention distinguished –
you’ll find his work is included in the collections of Jilly Cooper,
Oscar de la Renta, Tony O’Reilly and the Australian entrepreneur
Kerry Packer among others.) but commissions for Irish clients are
constantly increasing. In fact, his work has proved so popular with
the Irish market that it culminated in a solo exhibition at The
Solomon Gallery in Dublin in 1999 and his unmistakable sculptures
can be seen at Punchestown Racecourse, Co Kildare, the famous Ballymaloe
Cookery School in Cork and Rathsallagh House, Co Wicklow.

Other commissions include a life-size horse and jockey poised elegantly
on a single hoof in mid-jump for well-known equestrian artist Peter
Curling, a pair of wire sheep for Country Life’s gold-medal winning
gardener Rupert Golby, a family of unicorns commissioned by the
Belgium Government and a stag for the National Lottery Conference
centre in Scotland.

Apart from the wicker man Rupert will be displaying some very topical
sculptures at the Festival including a ‘shooting party’ and a ‘horse
and hounds’.

Countryside Alliance…
The organisers of the CountryLifestyle Festival have recognised
that this is a crucial period for country sports and the whole rural
way of life and that is why they have invited Countryside Alliance
to join them in the organising of this event.

Apart from mounting a major 4,000 country sports and conservation
exhibit Countryside Alliance are organising a glamorous masked May
ball , an inter estate clay pigeon flush, an auction of sporting
goods and art, and hound displays. The organisers would ask you
to give your support wherever possible to these CA events. For further
details contact CA on
Tel: NI (028) 9263 9911 ROI (048) 9263 9911 E: [email protected]

The organisers are delighted that the CA will host a book stand
put on by two of the UK’s most famous country people – Clarissa
Dickson Wright and Sir Johnny Scott the stars of the BBC television
series ” Clarissa and the Countryman”. Viewers can purchase
copies of the various books produced by these ‘two larger than life’
characters and have their copies signed there and then.

For further details on the Festival call 028 9048 3873 ( from the
ROI 048 90480195) mail [email protected]