Almodóvar’s The Skin I Live In next up for Westport Film Club

Fri, Jan 27, 2012

With The Skin I Live In (La piel que habito), Pedro Almodóvar delivers yet another twisted masterpiece, compounding his genius for turning the ridiculous into the sublime. Westport Film Club will be hosting a screening of the movie in Westport Cineplex on Wednesday, February 1 at 8.45pm.

The Spanish auteur’s latest visually sumptuous film is in equal parts a seductive melodrama, Gothic horror, poetic myth and suspense thriller, brimming with calculated perversity, intelligent wit, beauty and spectacle. It visits Almodóvar’s recurring themes of maternal devotion, sexual identity, transgenderism, obsessional activity, and the destructive power of male desire. Only someone as talented as Almodóvar could, or indeed would wish to, mix such elements.

Mayo County Council supports international disabled day projects

Fri, Jan 27, 2012

In 1992, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed December 3 as International Disabled People’s Day, which brings together individuals, businesses, community organisations, and governments from every corner of the world to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions, skills, and achievements of disabled people. Mayo County Council’s Arts Office has made a considerable commitment to the development of arts and disability and has an excellent working relationship with a number of local arts initiatives for groups of disabled artists such as the Luisne visual arts project, Ballinrobe, and the Scanán Technology project, Ballina.

The Willoughby Brothers are coming back to Castlebar

Fri, Jan 27, 2012

Richie, Des, Sammy, Robbie, Johnny and Jerome Willoughby hail from Coolboy in Wicklow. Six brothers, with just over a decade between the eldest and youngest, singing in harmony is what makes this act all the more special. They will take to the stage in the Royal Theatre on February 24 at 8pm. Their passion for singing and performing, combined with a genuine closeness, stems from a childhood filled with music and singing, a love they carried with them through the years into adulthood.

Big Whiskey live in Brennan’s Lane tonight

Fri, Jan 27, 2012

Big Whiskey is a tight three piece band hailing from Sligo, All three members have toured the country with other respected bands, and have now joined forces as one super band bringing all their respective musical tastes and talent together in the form of Big Whiskey; there will be no small ones had when Big Whiskey is in town. And tonight Big Whiskey will be taking to the stage in Live at the Basement in Brennan’s Lane, Ballina.

Upfront leading the three piece is Sean McCarthy on guitar and vocals, with Eddie Delaney keeping it all in time on the drums, and with Duane Gallagher on bass guitar and backing vocals. The trio will take to the stage tonight, Friday January 27 in Brennan’s Lane.

Ex-Iron Maiden front-man Blaze Bayley will be making his way to Castlebar this summer

Fri, Jan 20, 2012

Blaze Bayley started his musical career as the lead vocalist of Wolfsbane. When Bruce Dickinson departed heavy metal band Iron Maiden in 1993, Blaze Bayley was chosen as his replacement. Following Blaze Bayley's departure from Iron Maiden, he formed his own band, Blaze. In 2000 the band released their debut studio album Silicon Messiah. The album was followed up by Tenth Dimension and the band's first live album, As live as it gets. This summer he will be coming to The Clubhouse, Castlebar, on his The Kings of Metal tour thanks to Finbar Hoban Presents...

Activities continue at Museum of Country Life

Fri, Jan 20, 2012

The National Museum of Country Life keeps up its wide range of education and demonstration programmes in the coming weeks. A textile craft demonstration will take place on Sunday January 28 from 11am to 4pm. The following Friday, February 3, the knitting circle will return. This drop-in event will take place from 11am to 1pm and is open to all. The following day, Saturday February 4, it is the turn of the music circle to strike up a tune from 3pm to 5pm.

Power and Privilege: Photographs of the Big House in Ireland 1858-1922 continues to run in the museum. This exhibition from the National Library of Ireland gives a wonderful and rare insight into the life of landlord families and their homes. Photography was not long invented when many of these photographs were taken. Looking at the prosperity in these photographs it is hard to believe that this was also the time of Irish Land Wars. Many landed estates were soon to be a thing of the past. Now on view, at Level D in the Museum Galleries.

Poetry reading by Phoebe Dick at Creel Restaurant

Fri, Jan 20, 2012

Custom House Studios and the Creel Restaurant Westport Quay host a reading of “Like a Marble Rolled”, a contemporary epic poem written and performed by artist/poet Phoebe Dick, on Thursday January 26, at 8.30pm at The Creel Restaurant, Westport Quay. It tells the story of a journey two friends make across a city. Part spoken word, part slideshow, part good old fashioned storytelling, this is 75 minutes of bardic tradition with a modern twist. Further details; 098 28735 or log onto www.customhousestudios.ie

Man 1, Bank 0, an improbable true story for our times

Fri, Jan 20, 2012

Patrick Combs is an average guy. An average guy who, in 1995, decided on a whim to deposit one of those fake cheques so common in junk mail. Man 1, Bank 0 is Combs’ amazing-but-true story of how he deposited a $95,093.35 junk-mail cheque marked ‘non-negotiable’ into his own bank account and about what happens after his bank clears it. He’s rich – or is he? This outrageously funny and dramatic comedy that quickly becomes a staggering and funny David vs Goliath-like real-life adventure, returns to Ireland after a hugely successful tour in June 2011 and smash hit sold out shows in New York, Montreal, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Dooega Drama group bring John B Keane classic to the Royal Theatre

Fri, Jan 20, 2012

Steeped in classic John B Keane humour, Many Young Men of Twenty is considered by many to be one of Keane’s finest, and while it deals with the dark topics of poverty, love, and emigration in Ireland in the sixties, all of which have a particular resonance in today’s climate, the play is also raucously funny.

Emilie Conway brings her jazz style to Castlebar

Fri, Jan 20, 2012

Join jazz vocalist Emilie Conway for the launch her debut album The Secret of a Rose with an evening of music to celebrate spring as a season of new love, hope, and change, as the dazzling young chanteuse makes a welcome return to the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar with a trio of top musicians on Tuesday, January 31 at 8pm.

Newport flute player wins national prize

Fri, Jan 20, 2012

Flute player Tim McHugh from Newport in Mayo was announced as winner of the Seán Ó Riada gold medal and prize money of €2,500 on Friday night. He was among 15 traditional flute and whistle players who took to the stage in the Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork on Friday January 13 to compete in the final. The judges on the night were renowned musicians Mary Bergin and Michael Tubridy, and they were joined by Matt Molloy via Skype from 1,500 miles away in the Canary Islands.

Tim McHugh said that he was surprised but delighted to have won, and that he had greatly enjoyed the night and the atmosphere. Some of the other finalists on the night included friend and fellow Mayoman Ferdia Ó Mongáin, and Dubliner Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, so that ensured there was a bit of friendly rivalry. Tim McHugh learned most of his music from friends and family, and plays a lot around Westport, as well as in Dingle, Galway, and around Dublin where he currently lives and works as an engineer.

Tom Portman takes to Brennan’s Lane live

Fri, Jan 20, 2012

Multi-instrumentalist, performer and songwriter Tom Portman will be bringing his talents to the stage in Ballina tonight. Tom will be the main attraction live at The Basement in Brennan’s Lane.

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