The inimitable Des Keogh delivers a one-man delight of comedy theatre in Confessions of an Irish Publican at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Monday June 8 and Tuesday June 9 at 8pm.
Des Keogh’s new tour de force comedy is based on the work of one of Ireland’s best known storytellers, John B. Keane’s Confessions of an Irish Publican, in which the lives of the inhabitants of Knockanee are brilliantly evoked by Kerry publican Martin MacMeer — proprietor of the Journey’s End pub. Having premiered off-Broadway at New York’s Irish Rep Theatre, this hilarious one-man show sees the incomparable Des Keogh switch from character to character as he brings the play and its characters to life. So come to Journey’s End to meet MacMeer, the parish priest, the Reverend Mother, feisty Dublin woman Grace and many more. Des Keogh performs Confessions of an Irish Publican at the Linenhall Arts Centre on Monday June 8 and Tuesday June 9 at 8pm. Booking advised.
A night out of great traditional music
A night of Gaelic song and music at its best is on the cards when Julie Fowlis and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh bring their dazzling musical talents to the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Wednesday June 3 at 8pm.
Julie Fowlis and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh are two Gaelic singers and instrumentalists from islands off a West coast: Julie is a native of Uist, Scotland, and Muireann is from Inisheer off west Kerry. While both talented musicians have careers in their own rights (Muireann is a member of award-winning traditional group Danú and is a regular contributor to television and radio programmes at home and abroad, including the BBC’s recent Highland Sessions; Julie is BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year 2008, recorded the award-winning album Cuilidh and featured on the BBC’s Later... with Jools Holland and the Transatlantic Sessions series ), in 2004 they joined forces in a collaboration that has come to glorious fruition in the acclaimed CD Dual. Performing with the two singers on the night, as on the album, are Éamon Doorley (bouzouki, fiddle ) and Ross Martin (guitar ). Julie Fowlis and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh perform at the Linenhall Arts Centre on Wednesday June 3 at 8pm.
Castlebar Gospel Choir take to the stage
The hugely popular Castlebar Gospel Choir presents its great new show Songs of Freedom at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Wednesday June 17 at 8pm.
Making a welcome return to the Linenhall for a wonderful evening of uplifting music, Castlebar Gospel Choir’s Songs of Freedom celebrates the spirit of freedom that has evolved in the USA from slavery, through the Civil Rights movement to the inauguration of President Barack Obama. This history has produced some of the most enduring songs ever written, and on its 10th anniversary Castlebar Gospel Choir celebrates this powerful legacy together with some very special guests, under the musical direction of Kathy Fahey. Prepare to be uplifted!
Free family concert
In a relaxed and accessible format, The Whistleblast Quartet (Mary Curran, French horn; Kenneth Edge, saxophone; Síle Daly, oboe, cor anglais; Andrew Synnott, piano ) will present a wide selection of music including Fauré, Britten, Stravinsky and the theme from The Simpsons. This concert will also feature the premiere of Irish composer John Buckley’s piece ‘As Far as the Eye can See’ which was especially commissioned for the quartet by the Arts Council. Pupils from Derrywash National School will also perform a short piece with the Quartet which they will have composed during school workshops. Come and enjoy!
The Whistleblast Quartet family concert takes place at the Linenhall Arts Centre on Thursday June 11 at 6pm. Admission is free. Booking: 094 9023733.
Aileen Lambert exhibition
Opening next Friday June 5 at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar is Come and Gone, an exhibition of video, sound, and performance by artist Aileen Lambert. Aileen’s practice is concerned with the relationship which the body has with its environment. According to artist and writer Shirley MacWilliam, “Throughout the works of Come and Gone, earth, air, water and the heat of the sun and of the body are drawn into conjunctions - a finger melts through the ice of a puddle; a one-hour shadow cast across a frosty field creates a patch of unthawed grass; a voice is made visible as condensation in the night air.” Aileen lives and works in Co Wexford. Her work has been presented nationally and internationally.
Postcard exhibition
An Post C Both Sides: An Exhibition in Postcards opens in the foyer of the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Tuesday June 2. In 2007, An Post launched An Post C Both Sides, asking people from all over the country to create a postcard relating to their experience of Ireland in 2008. The response to the project was that people from all areas of the community contributed to a dynamic, informative collection of social history and art. An exhibition of those postcards, curated by Irish curator Helen Carey alongside Westmeath artists Teresa Doyle and Edel O’Reilly Flynn, appears here as part of national tour. “The huge response to the invitation from An Post indicates the project caught the public imagination,” said Helen Carey. The fascinating and engaging results are here for all to see. An Post C Both Sides will be officially opened on Tuesday June 2 at 4pm. All welcome. The exhibition runs until Saturday June 13.
The Linenhall Gallery and foyer are open to the general public Monday to Friday from 10am to 5pm; Saturday from 11am to 5.30pm. Admission to exhibitions is free. Further details from the Linenhall. Tel: 094 9023733 Website: www.thelinenhall.com
