PORTICO Blog

All of us at Portico were deeply saddened to hear of Jackie Whiteside’s death this week.  Jackie has been a stalwart volunteer, through thick and thin, at Portico for many years.  

Unfailingly upbeat, wonderful company, hilarious, never afraid to give advice – but her advice was always invaluable; always there, always utterly reliable.  

We will miss Jackie beyond measure and send our deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers to her daughter Jackie and to the wider family circle. 

Portico is seeking a new manager. The Manager will be responsible for the day to day operation of, and implementing the agreed strategic plan, for Portico.  This includes: building on, and running, our dynamic arts programme; event management; business development (particularly focusing on the use of our heritage building); fund raising (particularly grant writing); and stakeholder engagement, to ensure Portico continues to develop and grow as a thriving cultural hub in the heart of Portaferry.

Click here for more details about the role.

Over 50 of Portico's wonderful volunteers got together for our annual party on Friday 4th September. Great food and great craic were shared by great people - Portico could not operate without their brilliant support and dedication, thank you again to them all. 

If you would be interested in joining us and becoming a Portico volunteer send an email on [email protected] to find out more.

A big thank you to our volunteer photographer Arian McClure for providing the photo too.

Fancy a spot of choral singing?  Always thought that you might like to join a choir but never got around to it?

Now is the time to put that right.

The New Quay Singers is a group of singers of all levels of ability from those who can read music fluently to those who, to be perfectly honest, don’t have much of a clue about what’s going on…  If you can sing, you are welcome to come along.  We meet on Wednesday evenings at 7.30 in Rockport School in Craigavad and we perform three times a year in Portico.   We sing some fairly challenging stuff and its almost always from the great choral liturgical repertoire. 

Probably it’s the friendliest choir ever!

Interested – contact [email protected]

Do you know someone with an upcoming birthday or celebration you want to honour with a special gift for them to enjoy? A voucher for one of our exciting events is a great place to start!

Help Shape the Future of Entertainment at Portico.

At the Portico of Ards, programming is never static — it is a constantly evolving process shaped by a vast array of creativity, community, and a shared love of unforgettable, meaningful live experiences. From spectacular tribute performances and laugh-out-loud comedy nights to elegant classical concerts, we are always exploring new ways to bring exciting entertainment to our audiences.

Get ready for an unforgettable night of timeless rock as The Illegals featuring Niamh Kavanagh arrive at Portico on Friday 14th November for a spectacular live celebration of two of the greatest bands in music history. 

Many of you will be wondering what’s going on with Portico and alcohol at shows.  We decided in January to abandon the raffle system and work towards having a proper alcohol licence for Portico.  

Let’s Go Girls! The Ultimate Shania Twain Tribute Comes to Portico of Ards This September.

Get ready to dust off your cowboy boots and sing your heart out, because the ultimate celebration of country-pop royalty is heading to the stage at the Portico this autumn.

Lovers of classic pop music - we have a treat in store for you! Get ready for a spectacular night of nostalgia, unforgettable music, and feel-good entertainment as the Icons of the 70’s Show comes to Portico on 13th February 2027!