Search Results for 'Charles Dickens'

Although the Great Irish Famine, which devastated Ireland in the 1840s and early 1850s, happened at a time when photography was only in its experimental stage, we still have vivid images of the appalling suffering that the vast majority of the people endured. A suffering that was heightened by systematic neglect by government, the total absence of a comprehensive humanitarian plan of relief, and the law of the land which only supported the rights of landlords.*

IT IS every publisher’s dream s/he should “discover” the author who will be as iconic as James Joyce, as commercially successful as JK Rowling, and as prolific as Charles Dickens. So when a potential candidate appears above the parapet the publisher will - rightly - not hesitate to sing loud and clear that the new literary protégé will out-Joyce Joyce, out sell Rowling, and outwrite Dickens.

PHYSIOGNOMY, A solo portrait exhibition by the Galway artist and graphic designer Michelle Campion is currently on show at the Renzo Café, Eyre Street.

There was a curious sequel to the story of poor Michael Kelly of Mirehall, Headford, whom I mentioned last week. Kelly, a substantial farmer and horse breeder, won the ‘gentleman’s race’ at Galway in 1884. However the stewards refused to give him the trophy claiming he was not a gentleman. Kelly sued, and won his case.

One of the most highly anticipated events of the year for fans of musical theatre across Mayo, the annual production from Ballinrobe Musical Society, kicks off with an eight night run of A Tale of Two Cities next week.

MAKING A welcome return to the Town Hall Theatre, after a sell out performance last year, is eminent British actor, Clive Francis, with his superb one-man adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Next year marks the 70th anniversary of the first show performed by St Mary’s Choral Society; now the Ballinrobe Musical Society. The musical committee spent many weeks deliberating and finally reached the unanimous decision to perform American composer and lyricist Jill Santiorello’s award winning show A Tale of Two Cities based on Charles Dickens’ popular novel. Set in both London and Paris at the beginning of the French revolution, A Tale of Two Cities has a rich mix of comedy, tragedy, conflict, love and resolution, combined with a score that will raise the roof.

Instead of dressing up as spooky ghosts, bloodthirsty vampires and wicked witches for Halloween, members of Ballinrobe Musical Society will be performing a one off concert to raise much needed funds for one of their own.

This year marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens. He was born February 7 1812, and died at only 58 years of age in 1870. His output was so prolific – vast novels with hundreds of characters – and his life was so frenzied, that it seems miraculous that he lived as long as he did.