Derry has beaten off strong competition from more than 1,400 entries from all over Ireland to make the final five in “The Irish Times” Best Place to Holiday in Ireland competition.

Outside Derry’s Playhouse on Tuesday builders were working on Artillery Street. Inside the building young people were busy rehearsing and the intercom was steadily broadcasting announcements.

In the lead up to Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Rick Edwards presents BBC Three’s debate show Free Speech, live from Derry on Wednesday, 22nd May with an audience of 120 people aged 18-25.

With her hair dyed bright pink, teacher Maire Cassidy certainly made an impression when she joined the hundreds of ladies taking part in the recent Brides Across the Bridge event in aid of the Foyle Hospice.

This weekend sees the start of the 2013 Earhart International Festival, and a host of fantastic events will ensure this year will be the best yet for Greater Shantallow Community Arts’ annual celebration of history, arts and culture in the community.

Ahead of the annual comics extravaganza that is the 2D Comics Festival, the Verbal Arts Centre are reminding the city’s budding young artists about their amazing 2013 comic art competition, ‘Colmcille VS Loch Ness Monster – the Battle!’

Fear not if you’re one of the many who missed out on One Big Weekend tickets! Derry will host its own alternative to the BBC’s musical Goliath in the form of next weekend’s North by North West Urban Festival.

It’s a gig many established journalists would give their right hands for - an interview, in person, with one of the world’s most popular rock bands.

Friday, 14th and Saturday, 15th June 2013 are dates that music fans will want to put in their diaries. In what will undoubtedly be one of the true highlights of the City of Culture programme when Phil Coulter returns to the ‘Town He Loves So Well’ for a unique and historic event at The Venue 2013. In the biggest and most ambitious concert he has ever performed in his hometown, Phil will be joined by a host of special guests, The Priests, Moya Brennan, Ralph McTell, Damien McGinty and local choir Codetta and the glorious sounds of the Ulster Orchestra.

A new exhibition entitled ‘Catholic Blood’ by Andrei Molodkin opens at Void on Patrick Street tomorrow night., May 18, at 7.30pm, with an artist’s talk at 8.15pm.

One is a well-known local crooner. The other, a former member of local heroes Tie The Boy. Now, musical cousins Martin John McCafferty and Tim Hegarty have come together to create a powerhouse of a new band they call DERRY...

The president of Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann has said the “warmth and friendliness” of the people of Derry will help ensure the success of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

Other Voices Season 11 (the second decade) is now being broadcast on RTÉ Two television on Wednesday evenings.

Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin will host one of the hottest new acts on the UK folk scene this Saturday, May 18, at 7.30pm when Rura perform.

Masons Comedy Club is returning to help supply the chuckles for City of Culture.

An evening performance of the long-awaited play ‘Re-energize’ will be captioned this Friday night, May 17, for audiences who are deaf or hard of hearing in the city.

A new drama exploring the origins of the Orange Order is continuing its tour of local primary schools.

Attitudes to yoga have changed dramatically since the days when it was first marketed as a relatively new age pastime.

People from all over Ballymagroarty and Hazelbank availed of a ‘Health Drop In’ day at the Ballymagroarty Community Centre on Wednesday.

It’s taken almost ten years but J.J. Abrams has finally won me over.