Teddy bears, fridges and even beds are among the many things that students bring with them to start university life according to the UK’s largest ferry operator P&O.

 

The company, which operates the shortest, fastest and most frequent crossings between Ireland and Scotland, and estimates it carries thousands of students on these routes each year, has also reported seeing guitars, surf boards, roller blades and even the odd golf club or two on board during the run up to freshers week.

 

Among the other items routinely transported on P&O sailings are bikes, TV’s and games consoles and according to the company one student even brought a much loved pet.

 

Tracy Robb, Marketing Manager for P&O Irish Sea, said: “With the huge array of books, electrical items and other worldly possessions needed at the start of university life travelling by ferry remains one of the most popular choices for transporting loved one’s and their luggage in the run up to first term.

 

“Starting university and leaving home for the first time can be a scary prospect for many and so having a few well chosen items that remind students of home often brings comfort and security in the first few months of term. P&O takes the hassle out of travelling and because there is no maximum luggage allowance or weight restrictions it means that often Teddy gets to go too!”

 

According to UCAS over 3,000 students make the journey from Northern Ireland to England and over 1,000 move to Scotland to start university life*.

 

Tracy continues: “P&O operates 20 sailings per day on its routes between Larne and Troon and Cairnryan, and four sailings per day between Dublin and Liverpool**, and with fares as low as £79 for a car and driver P&O offers parents and students a hassle free journey towards the first days of university life.”

 

*2009 Annual data sets

**Except Sunday and Monday.

 

For more information on all day trips or to book, visit www.poirishsea.com

Allister Brown, a 33-year engineer from Lisburn has been chosen to represent Northern Ireland in the international finals of a Bushmills Irish Whiskey® competition that has attracted the interest of tens of thousands of people around the globe.

 

Allister will be competing for his chance of glory in the ‘Make it at Bushmills’ finals later this month against eight other rivals from the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, the United States, South Africa, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Bulgaria. The overall winner will be announced on Thursday 26 August at an awards dinner in the village of Bushmills on Ireland’s stunning north coast.

 

The line-up for the finals was decided by votes, cast by members, of the public on Facebook, for the hundreds of contenders who originally entered the competition. Launched in the New York Stock Exchange on St Patrick’s Day, the competition offers a prize of a 30 day stay in Bushmills, a chance to be the first person ever from outside the distillery staff to create a new blend of one of the world’s best loved Irish whiskeys, a month’s luxury penthouse accommodation in Ireland and £5,000 spending money.

 

The overall winner will be selected following a two-day ‘Bushcamp’ later this month when contestants will face the Master’s Challenge – a test of skills set by Bushmills’ Colum Egan. The performance of the contenders will be judged by a panel that includes Irish rugby legend, Keith Wood, Joel Harrison, contributor for the world renowned Whisky magazine and Foy Vance, one of Ireland’s most respected singer-songwriters.

 

Congratulating the shortlisted contenders, Colum Egan said:

 

“Allister along with the other finalists has done a fantastic job to make it this far – he’s already won his place at Bushcamp. His character, sense of humour and passion for life are what inspired people to vote for him. I have no doubt these qualities will be tested at Bushcamp when all nine contenders attempt to prove to us they have what it takes to make it at Bushmills.

 

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the interest Make it at Bushmills has generated and it’s been fantastic to see the competition talked about in blogs, magazines, newspapers and TV shows all around the world.

 

“The strong international interest in Bushmills is further reflected in the fact that since creating our first official Bushmills Global Facebook page earlier this year, it has attracted more than 30,000 fans, making it the world’s second biggest Irish Whiskey Facebook site,” adds Colum.

 

The finalists’ progress at Bushcamp will be charted on-line from 25-26 August at the Bushmills Facebook page - facebook.com/bushmills1608.

Picture shows bmibaby spokesbaby ‘Tiny’ and model Melissa Magee helping passengers in Belfast International Airport embrace the final weeks of summer by treating them to an ice cream poke.

 

Anyone travelling with the low cost airline on its evening flights to Birmingham, East Midlands and Manchester were greeted at check-in by Tiny and his ice-cream cart as part of the airline’s declaration that ‘Summer is still here, baby!’.

 

Julian Carr, managing director, bmibaby, said:

 

”With the school holiday season nearing an end we want to remind passengers that there is still time to enjoy the summer with a break away, by treating them to a traditional ice-cream poke from Tiny.

 

“With the opportunity to just pay taxes and charges on selected flights from Belfast International Airport, cutting the cost of a summer break before the schools go back couldn’t be easier.”

 

bmibaby currently flies from Belfast International Airport to East Midlands, Birmingham and Manchester.

 

For more information and to book visit www.bmibaby.com