Ballina is the place to be this weekend
Starting from tonight August 12 and then tomorrow Saturday August 13, Ballina is the place to be when the Ballina Music Festival kicks off. Things will get going at 7.15pm on the main stage in Scoil Padraig when Gorilla Radio take to the stage, followed by the winners from the busking competition which was held in the town then the entertainment will be closed off by Hot House Flowers. On Saturday, The O’Donnell Family will kick things off, they will be followed by more of the busking competition winners before Sharon Shannon and the big band bring the festival to a close. There will also be plenty of fringe events in around the town, including a daily busking competition and music in the bars across the town over the weekend.
Ballina Printmakers make their debut…
Ballina Arts Centre’s eclectic visual art programme continues throughout August with P is for Print..., the debut exhibition by the Ballina Printmakers group. The group was set up by Ballina Arts Centre in 2010, as a support for artists already working in print, as well as artists who would like the opportunity to explore the medium. P is for Print... is curated by printmaker Marianne Heemskerk, and features work from a number of the group, including Bernie Garvey O’Mara, Mike Absalom, Sabine Lacey, Kathleen Browne, Angela Gallagher, Marliese Hertfelder, Mary Treacy, Gary Dullaghan, Jane Dunn, Clare de Berry, Denise Clarke, Vincent Coleman and Marianne Heemskerk.
The Full Irish continues at the Linenhall
The Full Irish series of traditional concerts at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar continues with top drawer harp and fiddle duo Laoise Kelly and Michelle O’Brien on Thursday August 18 at 8pm.
Laoise Kelly is a traditional Irish harpist from Westport, Since her musical journey began she has been involved in more than 50 recordings with artists as varied as Steve Cooney, Sinéad O’Connor, The Chieftains, and Kate Bush. Fiddle player Michelle learned her music at her local primary school from acclaimed teacher Frank Custy, and subsequently with legendary Tommy Peoples, and Tommy's daughter Siobhán. Michelle has an All-Ireland Fiddle title and Pan-Celtic Fiddle title to her credit, teaches at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in Limerick, and performs at many festivals throughout Ireland and Europe. This is the fourth concert in the series at Linenhall Arts
Printmaking workshops for adults
On Saturday August 13, 20 and 27, Ballina Arts Centre will unveil its new printmaking studio with a three-Saturday series of printmaking workshops for adults. The series is aimed at beginners and the more experienced. Participants will – under the guidance of Marianne Heemskerk – be working with techniques of drypoint and carborundum on aluminium plates; working from their own designs; and experimenting with print techniques and colour. No previous experience is required. These are full-day workshops. The workshops will run from 10.30am to 2.30pm (with a break for lunch ) and cost €50 or €45 with a concession.
