The Stunning to brew up a storm at The Royal Castlebar

Fri, Oct 03, 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 Theatre and Event Centre on December 28. Steve Wall on guitar and vocals and Joe Wall on bass and vocals are joined by Cormac Dunne on drums, Jimmy Higgins on trumpet and percussion and Derek Murray on guitar. Fans of The Stunning can look forward to a set-list of all of their biggest hits. From first single “Got to Get Away” to instant classics “Half Past Two”, “Romeo’s on Fire” and “Brewing up a Storm", The Stunning rapidly became one of Ireland’s biggest bands.

Autumn season rolls along at Ballina Arts Centre

Fri, Oct 03, 2008

Ballina Film Club’s autumn programme
Ballina Film Club’s autumn programme opens on Tuesday October 7, at 8pm, with My Kid Could Paint That, Amir Bar-Lev’s poignant documentary about Marla Olmstead, a sweet little 4-year-old girl in New York, who appeared to have an extraordinary talent for abstract art. Her mother Laura was a dental hygienist and dad Mark was a keen amateur artist who had evidently dabbled in various styles. Little Marla's big, ambitious, swirling canvases were exhibited at a nearby coffee shop, and people were actually buying them. The media picked up on the story and soon Marla's paintings were selling for five-figure sums; she had become the modern art world's sensational child prodigy. When the media started asking questions about who was actually creating the paintings, the truth began to surface. Amir Bar-Lev’s film began as a documentary about an astonishing prodigy, but turned into a painful, even tragic story, of family dysfunction and denial.

Ballina Film Club’s autumn programme opens on Tuesday October 7, at 8pm, with My Kid Could Paint That, Amir Bar-Lev’s poignant documentary about Marla Olmstead, a sweet little 4-year-old girl in New York, who appeared to have an extraordinary talent for abstract art. Her mother Laura was a dental hygienist and dad Mark was a keen amateur artist who had evidently dabbled in various styles. Little Marla's big, ambitious, swirling canvases were exhibited at a nearby coffee shop, and people were actually buying them. The media picked up on the story and soon Marla's paintings were selling for five-figure sums; she had become the modern art world's sensational child prodigy. When the media started asking questions about who was actually creating the paintings, the truth began to surface. Amir Bar-Lev’s film began as a documentary about an astonishing prodigy, but turned into a painful, even tragic story, of family dysfunction and denial.

Fiddler on the Roof’s Joe McGann insists that the show must go on

Fri, Sep 26, 2008

Joe McGann can’t wait to return to Ireland and, as the lead role in the touring production of Fiddler on the Roof, he will have his chance when a seven performance run of the show starts in the brand-new Royal Castlebar Theatre and Event Centre on September 30. “I was supposed to be with the company when we brought Fiddler on the Roof to Killarney in August,” explains Joe, “but I broke my elbow and unfortunately could not make it. We have had a great time touring with the show. We have been in 30 different venues; from my home city of Liverpool to Sunderland, Edinburgh and Manchester. Our tour finishes at the Royal Theatre Castlebar, which I am reliably informed is a wonderful new venue. As a man with a proud Irish heritage, I am delighted to be able to come over to Ireland. My elbow has just now recovered enough to allow me to return to work and it is a great thrill to be able to get back on stage.”

Chart toppers The Feeling lined up for Royal Theatre gig

Fri, Sep 26, 2008

A number one album and numerous top ten singles have made The Feeling one of the most talked-about acts to come out of Britian in the past few years. Tracks like “Fill My Little World”, “Sewn”, “Never Be Lonely” and “Love it When You Call” saw their debut album Twelve Stops and Home rocket up the charts in 2006. Sixteen months of solid touring ended in May 2007 during which they had played more than 200 shows and sold over a million copies of their critically acclaimed debut album, 'Twelve Stops and Home. The Feeling are not one of those bands who respond to success by getting grumpy and telling you how hard their lives are now. This, after all, was a band who had previously spent several ski seasons as a covers band in the Alps, playing two sets a night in two different bars (and carting their own gear between them). "That was bloody hard work, for bugger all money" says frontman Dan Gillespie Sells. "But we did it because we loved it. And we still do."

A fortnight after returning from the tour ending, The Feeling found themselves starting work on album two. Within two highly productive weeks, The Feeling had finished recording four songs, despite taking a day off to collect their well-deserved Ivor Novello Award for Songwriters of the Year. Progress continued throughout the summer, with the band spending their weeks recording in Bradley House and weekends playing gigs. When it was released in Feburary this year, Join with Us debuted in the UK charts at number one. It was preceded by the hit single from the album, "I Thought It Was Over". Deeper and more ambitious than its predecessor, Join With Us is an album where jaunty boogie woogie pianos give way to rollicking metal guitar solos; where harmony-soaked MOR choruses swerve into duels between harpsichords and string quartets; and where there's absolutely no shame in unleashing a monster prog finale. "We put a lot of love into making this album,” says Gillespie Sells, “and it sounded great from the very beginning. We're ridiculously pleased with the way it's turned out." The Feeling’s live highlights included their own sold out Forest tour, a triumphant Isle Of Wight festival set and a show-stealing performance at the Diana memorial concert at Wembley Stadium.

Dancing Hours at the Mill Times Hotel

Fri, Sep 26, 2008

A new concept in entertainment has begun in the Mill Times Hotel (formerly the Westport Inn Hotel ). Each Sunday evening, a live band will take the stage in the beautifully appointed O Malley Banqueting suite, commencing at 9pm and playing all the oldies and popular tunes of the past decades. Traditionally, Sunday evenings were always family and couples nights out but with the end of the Celtic Tiger and the subsequent “doom and gloom” this quality time seems to have got squeezed out of everyday life. While lamenting this decline in the social scene, proprietor of The Mill Times hotel, Joe O Malley, and renowned showband maestro. Vinnie Mongan elected to attempt and change this downturn in the social week. As Vinnie says, “over the years I know that the general public love to socialise, listen to good music and dance. Historically, most of the dancing would be done at weddings and various functions but we want to give people the opportunity to enjoy an evening out, be entertained and have the freedom to dance and express themselves. The beauty of this Sunday evening idea is that folk can come of their own wish, without invite, to dance, there is no wedding expense and all can be at home at a civil hour to rise for work on Monday morning.” And Vinnie, while performing himself with his band, promises various acts throughout the season.

Claremorris open exhibition attracts huge numbers

Fri, Sep 26, 2008

This years’ Claremorris open art exhibition has been attracting record crowds who have been coming from far and wide to see the huge range of art on offer. This year’s exhibition features artists from Ireland and abroad. COE 08 was curated by Lizzie Carey Thomas from the Tate Gallery, London who selected 32 artists from a record number of entries.The exhibition was opened last week by Mayo’s most famous TD Beverley Flynn. According to this year’s artist in residence, sculptor Cathal Mc Carthy, the exhibition is being received very warmly on account of the rich variety of works to be seen and there is something for everybody in Claremorris this year from video to painting to sculpture and installations.

Mary Staunton exhibtition at the Clew Bay Hotel

Fri, Sep 26, 2008

Mary Staunton, née Kenny, felt privileged to have been born and reared in such a beautiful place as Westport. To wake up every morning to the magnificent view of Croagh Patrick. To smell the trees, wild flowers and grass on her way to school. The sights, sounds and smells of a rural setting, surely one is forever moulded by an environment such as this.

Sleeping Beauty featuring Bosco comes to the Royal Theatre

Fri, Sep 26, 2008

The Lambert Puppet Theatre presents Sleeping Beauty with Bosco at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar on Sunday October 5 at 3pm. The Lambert Puppet Theatre’s production of the classic children’s tale of Sleeping Beauty will appeal to everyone. Children of all ages will be delighted to know that Bosco will make a starring appearance in the show.

Foster and Allen line up Ballina show

Fri, Sep 26, 2008

Foster and Allen are the only Irish artists to have had an album in the UK Album Charts every single year for 16 years from 1983 to 1999 and again for six years from 2002 to 2007. This amazing achievement is recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. In December 1993 they beat Take That and Diana Ross to the number one spot in the British Pop Video Charts. Take That were number two and Diana Ross was number three. They have won numerous awards over the years and were honoured alongside Bono in the Hall of Fame. Foster and Allen were among a number of entertainers honoured at a special reception by Irish President Mary MacAleese. Foster and Allen have sales in excess of 19 million worldwide to date.

Foxfest ready to roll this Saturday

Fri, Sep 26, 2008

The re-scheduled Foxford Fest will take place on Upper Main Street, Foxford tomorrow Saturday 27 September from 5pm to 9pm. Featuring live street music, children’s entertainment, barbecue. This event is absokutely free, put the date in your diary and make sure you tell all your family and friends. Organised by Foxford Development Association and sponsored by the businesses of Foxford.

There is a lot of work involved in organising and running an event of this nature. We would greatly welcome a call from anyone who would like to join the organising committee or would like to volunteer their time on Saturday. Please contact Anthony Ruane 087 253 1213, Frances Casey 086 063 0900, Helen Clarke 086 390 2022, Michael Ruane 087 626 8114, Bernie Byron 086 853 2293 if you wish to become involved.

Duke Special lines up Royal Theatre gig

Fri, Sep 12, 2008

Lyrically poetic and delicately decadent, Duke Special, the enigmatic Belfast performer, will release his new single “Sweet Sweet Kisses” on October 10. A nationwide tour has also been announced for November and December 2008. And the tour will touch down in the Royal Theatre, Castlebar on Sunday November 30. Taken from the eagerly anticipated new album I Never Thought This Day Would Come, releasing on Universal Music Ireland on October 17, “Sweet Sweet Kisses” is produced by Paul Wilkinson, who worked on the Duke’s previous Choice nominated album Songs from The Deep Forest. The perfect taster for the new album release, “Sweet Sweet Kisses” features the RTE National Symphony Orchestra and will be available on CD single and download. Glowing with the Duke’s charisma and unique sound, the track is definitively Duke Special.

Unique remembrance concert at the Royal Theatre

Fri, Sep 12, 2008

Mayo Remembrance Concert is a unique event which will take place in the Royal Castlebar Theatre and Event Centre on Monday, October 6. This special concert is being held in honour of all those from County Mayo who served and died in both world wars and in the many conflicts of the past century in the cause of world peace. The fallen will be permanently commemorated in the Mayo Peace Park Garden of Remembrance which will be officially opened on the following day by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese.

The show features some of the leading choirs of County Mayo-the Cill Aodain Choir, the Moy Singers, the Mayo Male Voice Choir and Castlebar Parish Choir – as well as two international choirs-the Singgemeinschaft Wachenroth from Hochstadt, Germany and the Irish Guards Choir from Liverpool. They will be singing songs of hope and inspiration and a number of very popular numbers of their own choosing. The Mayo Concert Orchestra, under the direction of George Lee, will provide musical entertainment for the occasion. It will also feature the leading internationally famous Mayo tenor Sean Costello from Ballinrobe and the equally famous and popular soprano Francie McNicholas from Swinford.

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