Summer music in Bofeenaun
The annual summer classical music festival in Bofeenaun church is a must for the music lover. On Saturday July 16 and Monday July 18, a group of outstanding classical musicians will again be filling this beautiful church, set against the dramatic backdrop of Nephin Mountain, with a blend of familiar and less familiar pieces, introduced, as always, with their trademark humour and insight.
The performers this year will be led by Iain King (violin ), originally from Scotland and now living near Ballina.
Iain has played with the Philharmonic Orchestra (first violin ) and the English Chamber Orchestra (assistant leader ) and has worked on more than 600 recordings. Caroline Clemmow (piano ), an outstanding soloist and chamber musician with a wide-ranging repertoire, has toured the former Soviet Union and has been particularly involved in resurrecting unjustly forgotten works. A newcomer this year, Su-a Lee (cello ) is originally from Korea, trained at the Juilliard and founded the Mr McFall’s Chamber group. Her musical interests range far and wide and she has been known to play the saw.
The two concerts will be held on Saturday July 16 and Monday July 18, at 8pm both nights, and there will be a cheese and wine reception during the interval. Tickets, which cost €20, are on sale from Bofeenaun Post Office (096 51006 ). Book early to avoid disappointment. For further information visit www.mayosummerclassics.com
Eyes Wide Shut at Ballina Film Club
A doctor becomes obsessed with having a sexual encounter after his wife admits to having sexual fantasies about a man she met and chastises him for dishonesty in not admitting to his own fantasies. This sets him off into unfulfilled encounters with a dead patient's daughter and a call girl. But when he visits a nightclub, where a pianist friend is playing, he learns about a secret sexual group and decides to attend one of their congregations. However he quickly learns he is in well over his head and finds he and his family are threatened.
After two years of production under unprecedented security and privacy, the film was released to a typically polarised critical and public reception; Kubrick claimed it was his best film to date. The screening will take place in the Ballina Arts Centre on Tuesday June 21 at 8pm.
Comedy cabaret at the Linenhall
Looking for an evening of fun and laughter? Then look no further than Zocorro Rose of Tralee, Leonor Bethencourt’s hilarious one-woman cabaret show at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar for one special night on Thursday June 23 at 8pm, with reduced price tickets, informal comedy club seating, and a complimentary glass of wine to add to the ambience.
Zocorro is a dark-haired avenger of myriad injustices and self-proclaimed epitome of a modern Irish woman, who dreams of becoming the next Rose of Tralee. She tackles the tribulations of nannying Foxrock children, hospitals, leprechauns, and Ryanair, and will sacrifice love and bare whatever is necessary to achieve her goal: To be crowned the Rose of Tralee, and win the keys to the Volvo that comes with it. This one-woman show, written and performed by Leonor Bethencourt, was a sell-out hit and award nominee at Dublin’s Fringe in 2009. Go along for a great night you will not forget in a hurry.
Galway Arts Festival box office opens
Galway Arts Festival Box Office has opened its doors to the public since yesterday, Thursday June 16, at Galway Tourist Office, Forster Street, Galway. Festival audiences can book tickets to see a stunning array of international and home-grown Irish talent featuring at this year’s festival. The festival will also launch its first iPhone app, which is available to download this week.
“The festival is delighted to have the box office located at Galway Tourist Office once again and we would like to thank Fáilte Ireland for providing us with such a central location,” said festival chief executive John Crumlish. “Online booking has been very good to date with huge interest in Misterman, starring Cillian Murphy, Mike Bartlett’s great new play Love, Love, Love, the Propeller Shakespeare Season, and of course the festival big top shows. We expect to have a very busy summer and look forward to welcoming regular audiences back to the festival in addition to the many national and international visitors expected in Galway for the festival.”
The festival also announced details of its new iPhone app, which is now available to download. “We are delighted to introduce our new festival app, a first for the festival,” said artistic director Paul Fahy. “The app is really easy to navigate, features all aspects of the programme and allows bookings for all festival shows.”
The box office is open from Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5.30pm and Sunday July 17 from 1pm to 5pm. Phone 091 566577 or log on to galwayartsfestival.com for more information.
