Carols and more with the Castlebar Gospel Choir
Thu, Nov 24, 2011
As the evenings grow ever darker and December approaches, thoughts turn to the Christmas season; presents, nights out and music. The evening of Friday December 2 will see Castlebar Gospel Choir sharing their own take on some festive favourites and much more during their Christmas Concert in Ballintubber Abbey at 8pm.
Kathy Fahey and the choir have prepared an uplifting, energetic and eclectic repertoire for this concert which will be a wonderful beginning to the festive season. If that’s not enough to warm the coldest heart, Eureka Children’s Choir will also bring their musical magic and inimitable charm as guest performers.
Read more ...Big Maggie, a riveting story of money, land and secret sex
Fri, Nov 18, 2011
Big Maggie by John B Keane is a compelling vision of the Irish mother as sociopath, and it is making a stop in the Royal Theatre, Castlebar for two days only on December 6 and 7. Maggie Polpin (Aisling O’Sullivan) is a just widowed mother of four living in rural Ireland, now sole owner of the family shop and farm. She is a complex figure, far from the clichés of Irish femininity which preceded her. This is a hard-bitten, uncompromising woman who puts her personal security above all other concerns. She rejects the place which cultural precedent has laid out for her and chooses to drive all of her children away rather than nurture them like a mother hen.
Read more ...Calling all Gleeks
Fri, Nov 18, 2011
Following two sold out performances at The Olympia Theatre in Dublin in September, The Glee Experience comes to the Royal Theatre in Castlebar for a matinee show on Tuesday, December 27. Be part of the club and experience while these glittering bunch of Gleesters perform an unforgettable show, jam packed with all your favourite hits. The Glee Experience will be shown through a brilliant mixture of singing and dancing, and will bring to life all of the much loved hits from the popular TV show. With many harmonies and dances this show is fabulous for any age group and taste in music, so it would make a great family day out over the festive season, and an ideal gift for the grandkids.
Read more ...Sharon Shannon is back at the Royal Theatre
Fri, Nov 18, 2011
Legendary Irish musician Sharon Shannon is renowned for embracing all musical genres and collaborating with many different artists including U2, Sinead O Connor, Willie Nelson, Steve Earle, Jackson Browne, Nigel Kennedy, and Christy Moore. She is coming back to Castlebar to the Royal Theatre, on December 27 for a special post-Christmas show.
Read more ...Raw Bar hit the Linenhall next week
Fri, Nov 18, 2011
The Raw Bar Collective airs its distinctive traditional music credentials in concert at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Thursday, November 24 at 8pm.
Read more ...The Seducers live in Brennan’s Lane tonight
Fri, Nov 18, 2011
Formed in 2006, The Seducers are fast becoming one of Ireland's most sought after cover acts. The band is based in Meath and comprises five experienced musicians with the ability to cater for any occasion or musical taste.
A top of the range sound system and state of the art lighting, combined with real on-stage energy and the desire to play every show at their best has seen them build a large following of fans in this short space of time. Covering hits from every genre from the 50s right up to current chart hits, their philosophy is simple: take the best music of all time, recreate it authentically, and have a good time doing it. The Seducers will be taking to the stage in Live in the Basement at Brennan’s Lane tonight, Friday November 18.
Read more ...Anna Spearman exhibition at the Custom House Studios
Fri, Nov 18, 2011
Custom House Studios will continue to host an exhibition of recent sculpture by Anna Spearman which will run until December 11.
Read more ...Christmas Custom tour at the National Museum
Fri, Nov 18, 2011
You have up until the end of the month to get on board with the Focus on Irish History (1850-1950) daily tour at the Museum of Country Life. Once December kicks in the daily tour will focus on Christmas Customs in the lead-up to the festive season. The tours take place daily at 3pm, from Tuesday to Saturday. The tours cost €2 per person and children under 16 go free. Tours can be pre-booked also.
Other exhibitions currently on show in the museum include; Safe Secrets: The Story of the Coggalbeg Hoard. This important hoard of Early Bronze Age sheet gold work was found in a bog at Coggalbeg, Co Roscommon, in 1945. The lunula and the discs were placed in a safe in Sheehan’s pharmacy in the nearby town of Strokestown in 1947. In March 2009 a break-in took place at the shop and the pharmacy safe was stolen. This led to a massive investigation by An Garda Síochána which eventually led to the recovery of the gold in a rubbish skip in Dublin city. This exhibition will run until summer 2012. Also running is Straw, Hay and Rushes; you can imagine a mat made from straw. How about horseriding using a saddle made from rushes or insulating your home with plaited straw draught excluders? This exhibition includes these and more than 40 objects made from these natural materials, some of which you can experience for yourself. This exhibition has now reopened in the temporary exhibition gallery on Level B.
Read more ...WhistleBlast Quartet in Quay National School, Westport
Fri, Nov 18, 2011
The WhistleBlast Quartet – Ken Edge (Saxophones and Clarinet), Mary Curran (French Horn), Síle Daly (Oboe and Cor Anglais) and Andrew Synnott (Piano) – will be visiting St Colmcille’s Quay National School, Westport for a three-day Outreach/Recital Programme. The Quartet will perform Peter and the Wolf and an interactive, entertaining concert for up to 170 school children.
Read more ...And So I Watch You From Afar to play in Castlebar this Christmas
Fri, Nov 11, 2011
Ireland’s loudest rock band, And So I Watch You From Afar, have just been announced to play a very special show in the west of Ireland at The Clubhouse in Castlebar Celtic this Christmas. Known for their unrelenting tours that have seen them play more than 300 gigs since the start of 2009, Belfast’s And So I Watch You From Afar (ASIWYFA to their fans) don’t know how to take a break. From appearances at SXSW, Eurosonic, Electric Picnic, Novarock, Canadian Music Fest, Popkomm, Pukkelpop, Sonisphere, to tour dates in Europe, North America, Russia and a support slot for rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures, the instrumental band has been on the road playing music non-stop since the release of their fan-stirring debut self-titled album.
In between, the band were nominated for a Choice Music Prize for Irish Album Of The Year and XFM’s New Music Album Of The Year, released The Letters EP in February 2010 and a stop-gap tour single ‘Straight Through The Sun’ in November 2010.
Read more ...Christy Moore is coming back and has a new album
Fri, Nov 11, 2011
Christy Moore has just released his new album Folk Tale at the tail end of last month. It was produced by Declan Sinnott and Folk Tale is the latest result of Christy and Declan’s unique musical alliance. Their long collaboration has gained a loyal and ever increasing following. He will be back on stage in The Royal Theatre, Castlebar on Saturday April 28, and a ticket for the show could make a perfect Christmas present for the music fan in your life.
Read more ...Smokie are back and better than ever
Fri, Nov 11, 2011
They must be the most travelled band in the world, and they’re at it again with a one night only and long awaited return appearance in Mayo, when they play The Royal Theatre, Castlebar on Friday December 9. They will perform as one of the main Christmas party nights in The Royal Theatre which includes a five course scrumptious meal and Christmas novelties and caper. They have had numerous top 10 hits all around the world, went on to become radio staples and earned their ticket to travel the globe for the past 30 years. Also in the set now is a song written specially for them by Irish songwriting brothers Tommy and Jimmy Swarbrigg. It’s called ‘Tomorrow’ and it’s a big hit in the show all over the world.
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