The Playboy – as you've never heard it before

Thu, Dec 17, 2015

THAT DOUGHTY old warhorse, JM Synge's The Playboy Of The Western World, has just been given a rollicking musical makeover by Galway artists Justin McCarthy and Diarmuid de Faoite and it is being broadcast this Saturday on RTÉ Radio 1 at 8pm.

Glór Na hAoise –Triple CD of music and words inspired by Shell to Sea

Thu, Dec 10, 2015

OVER THE past decade the Shell To Sea protest campaign against the Corrib Gas project in North Mayo has not only made headlines in Ireland but around the world. In that time numerous artists - musicians, authors and poets - have lent their support to the campaign with an array of songs and writings that tell the stories of the issues and personalities involved with great eloquence and power.

Catholic guilt and terrible weather make Irish Bitches Be Crazy

Thu, Dec 10, 2015

BEING EDUCATED by the nuns, being bowled over by the beauty of Brazilian women, pestering a teenager about social media, and the combined effects of bad weather and Roman Catholicism have all contributed to why Irish Bitches Be Crazy.

December delight with Ballet Ireland’s witty Coppélia

Thu, Dec 03, 2015

THESE RECENT winter nights have been grey and gloomy indeed, but all that should be dispelled by Ballet Ireland when the company comes to the Town Hall Theatre with its sparkling new version of much-loved comic ballet Coppélia.

'It's always about improving on what you've done'

Thu, Nov 26, 2015

THERE ARE few musicians, who, more than two decades into their career, produce a set of songs many regard as among their finest, if not indeed their best, that go on to get a Mercury award nomination, in a year which is also the 20th anniversary of the album with which they originally made their name.

Italian artists Grounded in Galway

Thu, Nov 26, 2015

A BEGUILING exhibition featuring three Italian artists has opened in the Town Hall Theatre bar. Entitled Grounded, it features paintings and prints by Elena Dova, Gaia Biscardi and Gregorio Vecchione, all of whom have made their homes in Galway over the past couple of years.

Pure imagination, based on science-fact

Thu, Nov 19, 2015

ART AND science, one based on subjectivity and a response to the emotions and imagination; the other the result of rational inquiry, study, and experiments to proving or disproving; would seem unlikely bedfellows, each requiring different sides of the brain.

Two short operas about love and lies from OTC

Thu, Nov 19, 2015

OPERA THEATRE Company comes to the Town Hall Theatre on Monday November 23 at 8pm, with an exciting double bill of short works, Poulenc’s The Human Voice and Wolf Ferrari’s Susanna’s Secret.

Galway writer Alan McMonagle lands two-book deal with Picador

Thu, Nov 12, 2015

THE HIGHLY regarded Galway writer Alan McMonagle has just hit literary ‘paydirt’ as Picador has snapped up the rights to his debut novel, Ithaca, as well as its follow-up.

Aimee Banks - Young Galway soprano aims for Eurovision glory

Thu, Nov 12, 2015

This year, for the first time, Ireland will be competing in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in Sofia on Saturday November 21. Representing Ireland is Aimee Banks, a 13-year old from Moycullen, who will be singing ‘Réalta na Mara’/‘Star of the Sea’, a song which she co-wrote and composed.

The Unlucky Cabin Boy

Thu, Nov 05, 2015

A GRIPPING true drama of shipwreck, cannibalism, and survival comes to the Black Box Theatre next week in the shape of the musical drama, The Unlucky Cabin Boy. Devised by Gúna Nua Theatre Company with playwright Mike Finn and The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra, the show tells the story of teenager Patrick O’Brien of Limerick.

Lasting impressions with Oliver Callan

Thu, Oct 29, 2015

HAVING KICKED off his latest Irish tour off with a packed Olympia Theatre gig recently, award-winning impressionist Oliver Callan is currently bringing his live music, satire, and comedy across the country sending up the top names in politics, sport, and entertainment. The Callan bus pulls into the Black Box Theatre on Friday November 27 at 8pm for what promises to be a laughter-packed evening.

'Laughing is the common ground'

Thu, Oct 22, 2015

NO MATTER where you go, or who you meet, everyone loves to laugh, and if you can make them laugh, and tell them about life in a way that strikes them and makes them go 'That's exactly how it is', you can connect with anybody. It's what Shappi Khorsandi's comedy aspires to and achieves.

The funny side of the political, the personal, and the social

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

GALLANT it was not. Neither was it dashing. Even less was it sophisticated, but in spite of all that, Tiffany Stevenson admits that Galway was where she was treated to "the best chat-up line I've ever heard".

'I have yet to write my best song,'

Thu, Oct 15, 2015

Albert Hammond owes a lot to a man who had a barber's shop in Gibraltar. As a child the world famous singer/songwriter used to sweep hair off the floor in exchange for guitar lessons.

CoisCéim - dancing with wolves at Baboró

Thu, Oct 08, 2015

THE BABORÓ International Children's Festival swings into action next week and a must-see highlight will be the world premiere of CoisCéim’s The Wolf and Peter, an exciting new dance interpretation of Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, one of the most popular pieces of music ever written.

Ways of looking with author Colum McCann

Thu, Oct 08, 2015

COLUM MCCANN, one of Ireland’s finest writers, will read from his new book, Thirteen Ways Of Looking, at an event tomorrow evening [Friday October 9], organised by Cúirt International Festival of Literature and An Taibhdhearc Theatre.

'Performance is very emotional, it's human expression'

Thu, Oct 01, 2015

FINGHIN COLLINS may declare himself "a musician first and then a pianist", but there is no doubting either his magnificent as a player, or his view of the piano being "a very complete instrument", as he will display in his upcoming Galway concert. Yet his love of, and interest in, other instruments, is genuine, particularly one that is somewhat under appreciated in classical music - the voice.

Damian Clark; stolen phones, rude pics, and laughs galore

Thu, Oct 01, 2015

AMONG THE posse of cool comics riding into Galway for the Vodafone Comedy Carnival is acclaimed Aussie gagmeister, Damian ‘Damo’ Clark with his new show, Grand Theft Damo. Originally from Perth, Damian has been based in Britain for the past three years, following a stint living in Ireland, and has been delighting audiences and critics with his infectious energy and rambunctious routines.

'I am a shameless liberal'

Thu, Sep 24, 2015

IN 1961, a young singer-songwriter, originally from Seattle, but now part of the thriving folk community in New York's Greenwich Village, released her debut album, A Maid Of Constant Sorrow. The closing track was 'The Rising Of The Moon', an Irish ballad inspired by the 1798 Rebellion. The choice of that song was both a confirmation of deep Irish roots, and of a long association with Ireland that continues to this day.

E-paper

Read this weeks E-paper. Past editions also available from within this weeks digital copy.