![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.thedockchurch.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/04\/IMG_2011.jpg\" "\\"Titanica\\"")
<\/a>So… here we are. \u00a0It feels a little bit surreal. \u00a0The anniversary has finally arrived, the focus of months of preparation, so many ideas, plans, so much prep and sheer hard work… And now it’s arrived. \u00a0And we’re gonna do it right.<\/p>\nOne striking word I keep hearing when asking people in the TQ “How are ya?” over the past few days. \u00a0Two weeks ago, everyone answered Excited! Pumped Up! It’s Our Time!… one week ago, most people answered Tired…Knackered…Is It All Over Yet? \u00a0This week, the word is: “Emotional”.<\/p>\n
So, one last time, one last diary (for now…!) \u00a0Again updated as more events keep emerging, these are your chances to connect with this story and join the city in a Titanic Commemoration to match and balance our Titanic Celebration of a week ago. \u00a0Both are important. \u00a0And both are being done in Belfast like nowhere else in the world.<\/p>\n Saturday 14th April Sunday 15th April Wouldn’t it be great if we were grateful?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Today’s blog is brought to you courtesy of the excellent geniuses in the Apple Store – they took one brain-frozen Mac, one disconsolate, forlorn owner, replaced one little cable (its purposes known only to the Inner Sanctum of technorati) and…Voila! \u00a0I’m back, baby! So… here we are. \u00a0It feels a little bit surreal. \u00a0The anniversary … Continue reading One last time…<\/span> <\/a>For those of us (and I hope you’ve found ways to join me) who have followed along this great story, this Titanic story, in drama, music, spectacle, image, song, poetry, story – the wonderful rollercoaster rush of events over these weeks – the moment where we commemorate that terrible crash has real power. \u00a0As well as events at the City Hall, St Anne’s Cathedral and the Drawing Offices over the weekend, I’m involved in a special vigil tomorrow night at Titanic Belfast where we will mark the 11:40pm anniversary of that fateful crash with a virtual choir, a reading of Titanic’s SOS messages and a reading-aloud of the names of those who were lost by lantern-light in the shadow of Titanic Belfast. \u00a0Not much makes me nervous these days, but I have butterflies in my stomach as we approach this. \u00a0Lips may wobble. \u00a0This city will truly, properly pay a profound and heartfelt tribute to that tragic moment which shook so many lives, echoed around the world and still resounds down through the decades.<\/p>\n
\n5:30pm and 11:40pm \u2018Titanic the Musical\u2019 at the Grand Opera House –\u00a0www.goh.co.uk<\/a>
\n6pm Titanic Memorial Lecture by Dr Robert Ballard at Titanic Belfast –\u00a0www.titanicbelfast.com<\/a>
\n8pm \u2018White Star of the North\u2019 at Lyric Theatre –\u00a0www.lyrictheatre.co.uk<\/a>
\n8pm \u2018A Better Boy \u2013 Thomas Andrews, Shipwright\u2019 at the Belfast Barge –\u00a0www.belfastcity.gov.uk\/titanic\/<\/a>
\n8:30pm Titanic: A Commemoration in Music and Film at Waterfront Hall (& live on BBC2) –\u00a0www.belfastcity.gov.uk\/titanic\/<\/a>
\n9pm Titanic Requiem at St Anne\u2019s Cathedral –\u00a0www.belfastcathedral.org<\/a>
\n11pm \u2018Water Night \u2013 A Titanic Vigil\u2019 at Titanic Belfast –<\/strong>www.titanicbelfast.com
\n<\/a>11:30pm ‘Titanic – Minute By Minute’ on BBC Radio 2
\n\u2018Titanic 3D\u2019 in cinemas nationwide
\nSS Nomadic open for hard-hat tours –\u00a0www.nomadicbelfast.com<\/a><\/p>\n
\n6:20am Live coverage of Titanic Centenary events on BBC2
\n9am Unveiling of Memorial Garden at City Hall –\u00a0<\/strong>www.belfastcity.gov.uk\/titanic\/<\/a>
\n11am Titanic Requiem at St Peter\u2019s Cathedral –\u00a0www.belfastcity.gov.uk\/titanic\/<\/a>
\n11am \u2018From Loch Ness to the North Atlantic\u2019 \u2013 City Hall –\u00a0www.belfastcity.gov.uk\/titanic\/<\/a>
\n11:30am \u2018Into The Deep\u2019 at Titanic Belfast –\u00a0www.titanicbelfast.com
\n<\/a>3pm ‘A Night To Remember’ on BBC2
\n3:30pm Titanic Commemoration Service and pilgrimage walk at St Anne\u2019s Cathedral\u00a0–\u00a0<\/strong>www.belfastcathedral.or<\/a>g
\n4:10pm ‘Saving the Titanic’ on Channel 4
\n7:30pm \u2018The Titanic Story\u2019 at the Ulster Hall –\u00a0www.belfastcity.gov.uk\/titanic
\n<\/a>8pm \u2018Theatre Titanick\u2019 at Titanic Belfast –\u00a0www.belfastcity.gov.uk\/titanic\/
\n<\/a>8pm \u2018A Better Boy \u2013 Thomas Andrews, Shipwright\u2019 at the Belfast Barge –\u00a0www.belfastcity.gov.uk\/titanic\/
\n<\/a>9pm \u2018Titanic\u2019 (Julian Fellowes version) on UTV
\n10pm ‘Titanic: The Missing Link’ on UTV
\n11:15pm ‘Words of the Titanic’ on UTV
\n\u2018Titanic 3D\u2019 in cinemas nationwide
\nSS Nomadic open for hard-hat tours –\u00a0www.nomadicbelfast.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>I just want to say this: there’s a phenomenal new visitor attraction in Belfast, a gleaming addition to the city’s skyline. \u00a0Standing underneath its soaring hulls, catching that glimpse of what it felt to be one of Titanic’s builders, is free as a bird. \u00a0Entering the foyer to admire the glorious architecture, the criss-crossing escalators, the huge metal wall, the giant compass… no charge. \u00a0There’ a gallery (the Thomas Andrews Gallery) with a permanent photography exhibition and a rolling programme of events and lectures, open to the public, pay not a penny. \u00a0The slipways – the fabulous, sensitive, evocative treatment of Titanic’s ‘Ground Zero’ which I raved about a few days ago<\/a>\u00a0– a free-to-access public park. \u00a0Over the past fortnight, there have been events ranging from the intimate and profoundly moving (like the Titanic Diaries series) to the epic and spectacular (like the Titanic Light show – have you seen this video<\/a> of the highlights?); cost to you Sir? – \u00a30.00.<\/p>\n