Support for Ballina theatre needed

Fri, Apr 24, 2009

A number of national and international artists will be visiting Ballina this weekend to support the campaign for a new theatre for the town. Part funding of €4.3 million was allocated for the new theatre from the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism; Mayo County Council; and Ballina Town Council at the end of last year. However, in order to secure this funding, a further €500,000 must be raised in the local community by July 2009. A fundraising committee was set up earlier in the year to build on the good work already done by previous interest groups and a number of fundraising events have already taken place.

Support for the project will be boosted this coming weekend when nationally and internationally renowned artists will visit the town for the next two fundraisers — an art sale and a choral concert. Today, April 24, Ballina’s own Moy Singers will be joined by the Garda Choir for an evening of music and song at the Downhill House Hotel and, over the weekend, there will be a sale of art donated by renowned artists such as Dorothy Cross, Ger Sweeney, Dermot Seymour, Veronica Bolay, and Jackie Nickerson at the Ice House Hotel — viewing from April 24 to 26.

Funny man Andrew Maxwell returns to Castlebar

Fri, Apr 24, 2009

Andrew Maxwell returns for one night only in the Royal Theatre on Saturday May 16.

Springtime Concert in Ballinrobe Community School

Fri, Apr 17, 2009

On Thursday April 23 the Mayo Male Voice Choir and Ballinrobe native tenor Sean Costello are joining forces to stage a very special concert in Ballinrobe Community School. The choir has just performed its Spring Concert over two nights, playing to packed houses in the Linenhall Theatre Castlebar.

An epic night of entertainment at Bar Ritz

Fri, Apr 17, 2009

Last Saturday night saw an epic night of music come to Castlebar as the Finbar Hoban Presents series bought Ireland’s up and coming band Dirty Epics to Bar Ritz, Kicking off the night in spectacular fashion local band Orphan Alien bought their unique sound of heavy rock music, sounding at times very much like Rage Against The Machine with lead vocalist Shane Cunningham sounding very much like Zack de la Rocha. Look out for more from Orphan Alien in the future as the boys plan to play more shows around Castlebar in the future and are also heading back in to the studio to record new material in the coming months.

Jive the night away with Joe Fury and the Hayride

Fri, Apr 17, 2009

Joe Fury and The Hayride are based in the mid-west region of Ireland, on the Galway-Mayo border. The Hayride are a high energy live performance band who play a combination of styles that range from rockabilly, swamp, blues, bluegrass and vintage country. Joe Fury, originally from the south of England, was born to Irish parents and moved to the west of Ireland in 2002.

Spectrum art exhibition in Castlebar Library

Fri, Apr 17, 2009

Traces is the title of a fresh and engaging new group exhibition of painting, drawing, print and installation that opened in Castlebar Library on Wednesday April 15. This is the second group show by Spectrum Art Group, and showcases the work of the 11 2008 Art and Design Degree graduates of Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), Castlebar Campus.

Drama season at the Linenhall

Fri, Apr 17, 2009

Brian Friel drama on stage
Splódar Theatre Company presents its new production of acclaimed Irish dramatist Brian Friel’s play, The Home Place, at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Wednesday April 22 at 8pm. Friel’s award-winning drama probes the dilemma of a benevolent landlord as social and political forces close in around him. The author sets his play in 1878, the year of the assassination of Lord Leitrim, an event which marked the beginning of the end of landlords. Central to the plot is a beautiful love story which rivals that in Friel’s other masterpiece, Translations. The play is directed by Prin Duignan, and stars Mary Morris, Donna McDermot, Hugo Rooney, Hubert McMorrow, Roddy Quinn, Bernard McCartin, Michael Roper, Peter Davey, Tom Walsh, Deordre O’Meara, Fearghal Ryan, and drama newcomers Aoife Bonnichon, Bebhinn Flynn and Nuala Parkinson.

Rastrelli Cello Quartet at Ballina Arts Centre

Fri, Apr 17, 2009

Music fans are in for a real treat on Wednesday April 29, when the Rastrelli Cello Quartet bring their mix of classical, jazz and Latin American music to Ballina Arts Centre. The Quartet - Kira Kraftzoff, Kirill Timofeev, Misha Degtiareff, Sergio Drabkine, all cello – present a heady mix of styles and genres. With pieces by Astor Piazzolla, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Sulchan Zinzadze, Billy Strayhorn, Alfred Schnittke, Jimmy Forrest and Modest Mussorgsky amongst others, the result has to be heard to be believed.

Spring into summer with the national museum of country life

Fri, Apr 17, 2009

In the Deep Blue Sea
This event is a junior workshop for children under six accompanied by an adult.

This event is a junior workshop for children under six accompanied by an adult.

The High Kings Return for one night only at the Royal Theatre Castlebar

Fri, Apr 17, 2009

Having excited music fans on their inaugural sell out Irish Tour The High Kings return to the Royal Theatre Castlebar for one Night only on Sunday April 19 2009. Four top class performers create this unique ensemble, performing new songs and re-energising the great Irish ballads

This Easter Castlebar will be host to both the best of football and entertainment

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

In what promises to be an exciting weekend of football in Castlebar, the Royal Theatre has live entertainment all wrapped up.

Tyrone Guthrie bursary scheme

Fri, Apr 10, 2009

Mayo County Council is offering two special bursary awards to artists born or living in Mayo, to enable them to spend two weeks at The Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig, County Monaghan. Each bursary covers all board and lodging expenses for a two-week period, plus the use of a studio if necessary.

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