Blues, wit and haiku

Thu, Sep 01, 2011

THERE ARE those who say there are too many women poets nowadays. For these reactionary critics all was well in the garden of poetry until it was ruined by feminism and the advent of poetry workshops, which have conspired together to encourage many more women to write poetry. And most of it, shock horror, does not even rhyme.

In this context, it’s great to be able to welcome debut poetry collections by three very different female poets; each of which does its bit to confirm that the old style poetry world, in which women knew their supposed place, no longer exists except in the dreams of male versifiers of a certain age.

Made in Galway; Future stars of dance

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

EIGHT GIFTED Galway dance students, members of Corrib Dance Academy and Youth Ballet West, have recently secured placements on elite courses at prestigious schools in the UK and mainland Europe. The eight dancers are Stephanie Dufresne, Mary Walsh, Elspeth McKeever, Rebecca Lee, Caitlin Langan, Jessica Nolan, Brigitte O’Reilly and Gemma Brook. To have so many dancers from the region progressing to these blue-chip establishments is a truly remarkable achievement, as Youth Ballet West director Judith Sibley explains; “Normally each year there would be four young dancers from all of Ireland going away to these top vocational colleges, so to have eight going from Galway city is phenomenal. And these are hugely competitive courses, one school I spoke to had 4,000 people apply for just 25 places.”

Shortcut to Hallelujah at Town Hall studio

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

FOLLOWING HOT on the heels of their box office smash, Sunday Morning Coming Down, Truman Town Theatre returns to the Town Hall with another darkly hilarious play, Shortcut to Hallelujah, written and directed, like its predecessor, by Mick Donnellan.

The Vaccines set to rock the Roisin

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

Tuesday September 6 will be etched in the diary of music fans all around the west as the Roisin Dubh welcomes new music sensations The Vaccines. This gig, starting at 9pm, has been rescheduled from March and aficionados will be hoping it is worth the wait. Drawing comparisons to The Jesus & Mary Chain and The Ramones, they describe their influences as "'50s rock 'n' roll, '60s garage and girl groups, '70s punk, '80s American hardcore, C86 and good pop music."

Formed just 14 months, the band consists of Justin Young (vocals), Árni Hjörvar (bass), Freddie Cowan (guitar), and Pete Robertson (drums). They quickly released a demo entitled ‘If You Wanna’ and its quality spurred Zane Lowe to name it as his hottest record in the world on August 18 last year. The debut album, What did you from The Vaccines? was released in March and reached number four in the UK album charts and they placed third in the BBC's Sound of 2011 poll.

The return of SBB Ina Shuí

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

EARLY EVENING on Irish TV in the early 1980s - I remember it well. A shot of a bus rolling down a road in Connemara soundtracked by Horslips’ ‘Sword Of Light’ - SBB Ina Shuí was on.

Eighth Burren Annual ready for opening

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

The eighth Burren Annual exhibition opens on Saturday at the Burren College of Art in Ballyvaughan, Co Clare. Curated by Josephine Kelliher, the event features a collaborative project from artist Marie Hanlon and composer Rhona Clarke linking the visual arts and music. The exhibition features both individual and collective pieces, prompted by and developed in response to the unique environment of the Burren. 

Visual media and music are juxtaposed and balanced, each inspired by the same location. Although not all pieces are collaborative, there is a cohesion that is central to the exhibition and a strong dialogue between sound and image. A video work entitled Relic, is the result of close collaboration by both artists. The piece draws its visual material directly from the topography of the Burren. Initially sequences appear unconnected, but as the film progresses a pattern of cycles emerges: the cycle of the tides, the cycle of the seasons and ultimately the cycle of life and death. From this stark terrain a narrative is constructed, mainly through the use of detail and close-up. Images of rocks, pools and vegetation give way to rusting debris, alluding to both the passing of time and the human presence in the landscape. 

Theatre classes at Galway Actors Workshop

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

Galway Actors Workshop is offering a new daytime course in creating theatre as part of its autumn course programme. It is also offering the popular introduction to acting for adults who have always wanted to give it a try, and a scene study class for those with more experience.

Theatre for Change Festival two weeks away

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

THE RENOWNED Theatre for Change Festival will take place on September 10 and 11, in Áras Éanna on Inis Oírr.

Feedback at the Galway Arts Centre

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

FEEDBACK, A collaborative exhibition between artists David Beattie and Karl Burke and writer and curator Chris Fite-Wassilak opens in Galway Arts Centre on September 2 and runs until October 1. Feedback a multimedia exhibition uses light, movement, and sound to take a quiet look at how we relate with our surroundings and provides us with the unique opportunity to respond to what we see. Through sculpture, photographic sequences, video, and sound the artists and writer tap into our uneasy relationship with the hidden processes of the natural world, look critically at experience and search out the possibility of wider perspectives.

Tulca Arts Festival on the lookout for volunteers

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

TULCA FESTIVAL of visual arts is an annual festival taking place in Galway. Running since 2002, Tulca features dynamic and exciting work from national and international visual art practitioners.

Great local line up for Amnesty gig

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

A CHARITY music gig in aid of Amnesty International will take place tonight from 8pm upstairs in Kelly’s Bar. Performers include Mikey and the Scallywags, Mark James, and Mumblaroo.

Maria Doyle Kennedy to SING at the Crane tonight

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

TONIGHT, THE Crane Bar welcomes a special performer who will be well known to many of us for varying reasons. While Maria Doyle Kennedy has starred in some of the most popular films and television series of the past two decades, tonight this multifaceted talent will bring her musical gifts to an enthralled Galway audience. Since breaking onto our screens playing Natalie in The Commitments in 1991, Maria has gone on to feature in The General as well as prominent roles in television series such as The Tudors and Dexter, not forgetting the “great honour” of appearing in an episode of Father Ted.

Two Nights for Celia

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

THIS SATURDAY and Sunday will see two nights of indie, rock, metal, electronic alternative and punk at the Roisin Dubh. Twelve bands are giving it everything in aid of the Celia Griffin Famine Memorial.

Win tickets to One Day

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

TWENTY YEARS…two people. Directed by Lone Scherfig (director of An Education, Academy Award-nominated for Best Picture), the motion picture One Day is adapted for the screen by David Nicholls from his beloved bestselling novel of the same name. After one day together, July 15, 1988, their college graduation - Emma Morley (Academy Award nominee Anne Hathaway) and Dexter Mayhew (Jim Sturgess of Across the Universe) begin a friendship that will last a lifetime.

Win a Harley at Monroes

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

Wednesday night at Monroes will see a remarkable first prize up for grabs in a raffle designed to raise funds for Haiti.

Alleviate Awards launched

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

ALLEVIATE PUBLICATIONS has launched the Alleviate Awards 2011, an opportunity for all writers, artists, and photographers in Ireland to showcase their talent in a published format to an international audience.

Art exhibition in Monivea

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

An exhibition featuring almost 50 original works by a selection of 10 local artists will take place in Cooke’s Yard, Monivea, from 12 noon to 5pm on Sunday August 28.

Over The Edge reading takes place tonight

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

THE AUGUST Over The Edge open reading takes place in Galway City Library, St Augustine Street, this evening from 6.30pm to 8pm.

Róisín Dubh Comedy presents Foil, Arms and Hog

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

Foil, Arms and Hog’s blend of bizarre, ridiculous and surreal sketches have made them one of the country’s most popular ensembles. The all-male, three piece, Dublin based, cymbal smashing sketch group are now an established act at festivals around Ireland and the UK.

Trad music concerts in St Nicholas’

Thu, Aug 25, 2011

THE FINAL Tunes In The Church gigs take place in St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church from 8pm to 9.30pm tomorrow, Monday, and Wednesday,

E-paper

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