John Spillane back in Castlebar for one special show

Fri, Jan 09, 2009

John Spillane will perform at The Royal Castlebar Theatre and Event Centre on Friday January 9. John Spillane is well known in the world of music and has received both national and international acclaim as a singer/songwriter. John is a native of Cork, the county he lovingly describes as “the centre of the universe” and it has been a huge influence on this modern-day troubadour. Vocally, Spillane is quite unique with an almost sean nós element and has been described as having a voice “full of honesty, commitment and sensitivity”.

Mrs Whippy lines up Castlebar run

Fri, Jan 09, 2009

Based on a novella by bestselling author Cecilia Ahern, Mrs Whippy is a new play which will be staged at The Royal Castlebar Theatre and Event Centre on Thursday, February 5.

Tommy Flemming live for one night only

Fri, Jan 09, 2009

Tommy Fleming, a native of Aclare, County Sligo, is one of the finest singers to emerge out of Ireland in many years. He will perform at The Royal Castlebar Theatre and Event Centre on Saturday January 10.

Get rid of the January blues with Arlo Guthrie

Fri, Jan 09, 2009

Arlo Guthrie was born with a guitar in one hand and a harmonica in the other in New York in 1947. He is the eldest son of America's most beloved singer/writer/philosopher Woody Guthrie and Marjorie Mazia Guthrie, a professional dancer.

Re-Session Rocks !!

Tue, Dec 23, 2008

The Stunning are back! The coolest and most iconic of Irish bands have re-assembled the original line-up and will play at the Royal Castlebar on Sunday, December 28. Anyone who has been to see The Stunning live will testify to their greatness, the Galway gig on July 21 will undoubtedly be a truly superb event.The Stunning have long since retired from creating new music, fans can look forward to a set list of all their biggest hits. From their first single “Got to Get Away” to instant classics “Half Past Two”, “Romeo’s on Fire” and “Brewing up a Storm”, The Stunning took Ireland by storm. the Walls “To the Bright and Shining Sun” was one of the most played songs on radio by an Irish band in the summer of 2003

Get ready for a rocking New Years Eve at Bar Ritz

Tue, Dec 23, 2008

On New Year’s Eve December 31, The Massive Alternative New Year’s Eve Alternative Rock Party with the following line-up: Music For Dead Birds, Hoovers and Sledgehammers, the Funeral Suits and headliners We Should Be Dead. Basically it will be the best of the Finbar Hoban series 2008 and more. Limerick group We Should Be Dead make a welcome return to Castlebar before they plan to take on America in 2009, During their trip to the States earliear this year they met up with a lot of influential and connected people who are eager to work with them, the band are looking forward to heading over in early January to record their second album in between extensive touring for the next 12 months.

They will play a number of farewell gigs including one of their last shows at Bar Ritz this New Years Eve. Also making a welcome return to Bar Ritz are Hoovers and Sledgehammers, with the successful release of their ep Visions From Eceloe Mountain back in August of this year; the camp alternative group won’t be found sitting back and basking in their glories. Instead they are going through a highly productive period creating more hook-laden rythms and lyrical themes that would match the best of the Gonzo-ear writers, like songs entitled “Release the Priest”. They were kindly invited to play the Fight like Apes-curated Ruby Sessions in Doyles in Dublin on December 2. So get there early as this is a band not to be missed. Other bands to make their premier at Bar Ritz this New Years Eve are the Funeral Suits, they consist of three snot nosed young men from Dublin and Limerick, the three came together in 2008 to write a soundtrack for The Apocalypse but when that didn’t happen they formed the Funeral Suits. With a common disgust for the generic indie bands that had taken over the music scene the three conspired to form a band so that they could write some songs that would make their friends smile for a while.

Embrace the Blizzards this Christmas

Tue, Dec 23, 2008

The Blizzards need no introduction. The band's profile has soared since the release of their number four platinum selling album, A Public Display of Affection. Songs as such “Trouble”, “Fantasy” and “Miss Fantasia Preaches” became instant chart hits. They capped off a fantastic 2007 with two sold out shows at Dublin's Ambassador Theatre. Earlier in the year they also played, for the first time, on the main stage at Oxegen, a performance which earned them the title of Best Live Act at this years Meteor Awards in February.

Countdown to High School Musical continues

Tue, Dec 23, 2008

As the big day approaches and with excitement building to a frenzy for younger members of the community, we decided to go straight to the top and talk to the people behind the huge upcoming event. No, not Santa Claus and his elves, we got talking to Disney’s James Harvey and the cast of High School Musical, which comes to the Royal Castlebar Theatre and Event Centre in the New Year and runs for 15 performances between January 20 and 31.

The Fureys and Davey Arthur bring

Tue, Dec 23, 2008

The band were formed in 1978 literally by accident. George, Paul and Davey were playing in Denmark with their own band called the Buskers and Eddie and Finbar, while touring in Germany, were involved in a road accident. When George, Paul and Davey got news of the accident they immediately travelled to Germany to be with their brothers. They then decided that they should all be playing together and this was the start of the Fureys and Davey Arthur. Inevitably changes have occurred over 30 years. Their brother Paul died suddenly in June 2002 and Finbar left the band in December 1996, however George, Eddie and Davey Arthur have continued to delight audiences on their tours and have been releasing a new CD every year. They will be touring in 2008 with two superb musicians - Luke Crowley and Dominic Leech.

Shayne Ward pops in after Christmas

Tue, Dec 23, 2008

Shayne Ward returns to Castlebar for a concert on December 29 Shayne had the privilege of being the first major act to perform in the brand-new, state of the art Royal Theatre. Just a few short weeks after that extremely successful appearance, another show was confirmed for the hugely popular winner of the X-Factor. Shayne won that huge competition in 2005

Get ready for a rocking Christmas at Bar Ritz

Fri, Dec 19, 2008

This Christmas at Bar Ritz Finbar Hoban Presents…to you a feast of live entertainment when on December 27, local bands will perform live at Bar Ritz with the Surrogate Band (full electric Pink Floyd tribute) along with support from another local Mayo band the Zen Yetis, and then on New Year’s Eve December 31, The Massive Alternative New Year’s Eve Alternative Rock Party with the following line-up: Music For Dead Birds, Hoovers and Sledgehammers, the Funeral Suits and headliners We Should Be Dead. Basically it will be the best of the Finbar Hoban series 2008 and more. Limerick group We Should Be Dead make a welcome return to Castlebar before they plan to take on America in 2009, During their trip to the States earliear this year they met up with a lot of influential and connected people who are eager to work with them, the band are looking forward to heading over in early January to record their second album in between extensive touring for the next 12 months.

Once upon a time in Panto

Fri, Dec 19, 2008

Once ipon a time in a place not too far away, the enchanted folk of Panto Land decided to share with mortals their tales of heroes, villains, magic castles and princesses. After consideration, it was agreed to entrust the not too fairy-like Castlebar Pantomime with their treasured tales. For it was agreed that the enthusiasm shown by these mere mortals within Mayo to annually reproduce the tales of Panto Land deserved the support of these enchanted folk.

As in years gone by, as their 2009 production draws ever closer, the good people of panto land have overseen the efforts of Castlebar Pantomime. This year, to re-tell the story of Puss in Boots as he restores his master’s fortunes in the Land of Arcadia, they magically gathered the largest chorus seen to date on a Castlebar panto stage, along with fresh new acting and singing talents of many first time principal actors. These wise panto folk also knew the best production team to bring together with director Princess Sharon Lavelle from the Land of Imagination, Assistant Director Baron Tony Varley from Covey Land, Duke John Flatley from the Land of Harmonies and Prince Jason Guthrie from the Land of Twinkletoes. Not forgetting the Lords and Ladies of Castlebar Pantomime Committee who happily reside in the Land of It’s-Hard-Work-But-We-Love-It.

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