Mayo Rose Edwenia to perform first official ‘home’ function
The newly-crowned Rose of Mayo, Louisburgh native Edwenia O’Malley, will perform her first official function for her home community tonight, Friday April 26. The UCD, student will officially launch the club’s hosting of the popular comedy play The Pull in Hotel Westport at 8.45pm.
“We are very honoured that Edwenia will be present for what will be her first formal Louisburgh-related event as Rose of Mayo, and it is particularly apt because she plays football with Louisburgh,” said Eddie Ball of Louisburgh GAA club.
Edwenia was chosen as the Rose of Mayo at last Saturday night’s gala contest in the TF Royal Theatre, Castlebar. She will now represent Mayo in the regional finals in Portlaoise from May 30 to June 2 in the hope of being picked as an entrant in the 53rd Rose of Tralee this summer. Tickets, costing €10, can be purchased on the door, or from club members. The event doubles as a fund-raiser for Louisburgh GAA club. More on halfsolid.com/louisburgh
Jon Kenny is coming back to Castlebar
A d’Unbelievable night of hilarity is on the cards when Jon Kenny brings his new show to the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Thursday, May 16 at 8pm. Jon Kenny Live heralds a return for Jon to the type of work that gave him the reputation as one of Ireland’s most talented comedians. Jon uses the changing face of contemporary Ireland as the scaffold on which to build his hilarious observations and characters in this new show. Running through such contrasting experiences as supporting Munster rugby to visiting a health spa, Jon takes no prisoners and delights in emphasising the humour in everyday life.
Ballyhaunis Summer Festival is coming up soon
Work is well underway in Ballyhaunis to get the 13th instalment of the Ballyhaunis Summer Festival up and running. The organisers of the festival are looking for people to help out with this year’s upcoming festival. Everyone can help in some way, it’s just a matter of being willing; it could be from coming up with an idea for an event to run, offering to help out with stewarding, to supplying a spot prize for one of the events or to provide a financial contribution. This year’s events will kick off with a big pub quiz on Thursday, May 30, and more details will be announced in the coming weeks. This year the committee is under particular pressure for funds and have come up with a raffle to assist in fundraising. There are some very attractive prizes and you will soon see tickets available in local outlets. Prizes include two tickets to this year’s Connacht Senior Football Final, dinner for two at the Hazel Bar and Restaurant, and lunch for two at the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris. Tickets will be on sale across Ballyhaunis from before the May Bank Holiday weekend.
The Morpeth Roll is something exceptional to see
The Morpeth Roll comprises 652 sheets of paper stuck together and wrapped around an enormous bobbin. The entire roll measures a staggering 420 metres in length. This huge document was assembled in just six weeks in the summer of 1841, as people across Ireland responded to Daniel O’Connell’s call for signatures. And then somebody made the inspired decision to wind these names around a large wooden bobbin housed in a chest. The Morpeth Roll is not just a monumental goodbye card, it is an extraordinary mechanical object – a continuously winding roll of paper. The exhibition will tell the story of why the roll was created and just how it was pieced together to make a document that when unrolled is three times the length of Croke Park in Dublin. This gigantic farewell card filled with 160,000 signatures was presented to the popular Chief Secretary for Ireland Lord Morpeth when he left Dublin in 1841. During his time in office Morpeth won many friends and admirers for his reforming legislation and for helping to advance Catholic politicians, and the people of Ireland wanted to give him a spectacular send-off. The Morpeth Roll will be in the large dining room of Westport House until Sunday, May 12. The house is open from 10am to 4pm daily and normal admission rates apply.
