'The panto is a special part of Christmas in Galway'

Thu, Dec 20, 2018

A GALWAY Christmas without the Renmore Panto is as unthinkable as Santa without his sleigh, and this year’s spectacular offering, Sleeping Beauty, opens on December 29 at the Town Hall and runs to January 13.

Daithí - from electro wunderkind to artist

Thu, Dec 13, 2018

DAITHÍ’S MUSICAL evolution, from the exuberant, breezy, early singles like ‘Chameleon Life’, to the brooding, ambitious, art-pop he now creates, has been one of the great artistic journeys in modern Irish music. Ahead of next week's Róisín Dubh gig, he reflects on an extraordinary 2018, and the creation of his finest songs to date.

Síomha - 'My life has always revolved around music'

Thu, Dec 13, 2018

COMING FROM a family steeped in music, the soulful, Clare-born, chanteuse Síomha, grew up on a diet of musical greats, with the sounds of jazz, trad, folk, and soul creeping in and leaving an indelible mark on her musical tastes and influences.

The 'tangible magic of Christmas', Whileaways-style

Thu, Dec 06, 2018

AFTER A sold-out nationwide tour, The Whileaways play their final gig of 2018 in Galway city, with the high-flying trio set to transform The Black Box, bringing the warmth and intimacy of their unique live show to one of Galway's biggest venues.

Laoise unleashed at the Róisín Dubh

Thu, Dec 06, 2018

ONE OF the brightest rising stars in Irish pop music today is Galway woman Laoise and she hits the Róisín Dubh on Friday December 14, for what promises to be a triumphant homecoming gig.

'Galway felt like a really good place to come and make the record'

Thu, Nov 29, 2018

WHEN DECLAN O’Rourke’s debut album, Since Kyabram, was released in 2004, it confirmed, indeed exceeded, the promise and expectations that had been building up around the Dublin singer-songwriter.

Blue Teapot offer a seasonal ‘Twist’ on Dickens

Thu, Nov 29, 2018

THE PAST year has been something of an annus mirabilis for Galway’s Blue Teapot Theatre Company. Len Collin’s inspired film of the Blue Teapot play Sanctuary was screened in Britain to ecstatic reviews and was later shown by RTÉ. In May, the company staged its ground-breaking production of Dancing At Lughnasa at the Town Hall.

'Messiah is a piece for everybody'

Thu, Nov 22, 2018

HANDEL'S MESSIAH is as much a Christmas staple as Santa Claus and sleigh bells and, on Saturday December 8, Music For Galway presents this festive masterpiece at Galway Cathedral, performed by the Irish Baroque Orchestra.

'Rex’s performance is electric and the response has been overwhelming'

Thu, Nov 22, 2018

HAILED AS "a beautiful portrait of young Irish manhood," by the Sunday Independent, and a "one-man show whirlwind," by the Edinburgh Reporter, Philip Doherty’s acclaimed drama, Pilgrim, starring Rex Ryan, comes to the Town Hall next week.

Hugh Cornwell celebrates some more heroes, and villains

Thu, Nov 15, 2018

WITH A cracking new solo album, Monster, just released, former Stranglers front-man Hugh Cornwell rocks up to the Róisín Dubh next week for what promises to be a storming gig featuring both gems from his solo output and beloved Strangler classics.

'Laughter and tears' with poet Stephen James Smith

Thu, Nov 15, 2018

DUBLINER STEPHEN James Smith’s poetry videos have amassed over 2.5 million views and he has performed at prestige venues and events such as the National Concert Hall, the London Palladium, Electric Picnic, and Glastonbury.

Soldier Still - “dark, arresting, violent, moving”

Thu, Nov 01, 2018

INSPIRED BY interviews with current and former soldiers from the Irish Defence Forces, the British army, and survivors of the Bosnian war, Soldier Still, the critically acclaimed new production by Junk Ensemble, is coming to Galway next week.

Exploring nostalgia and harmony through TULCA

Thu, Nov 01, 2018

SYNTONIC STATE is the title of the 16th edition of TULCA Festival of Visual Art which opens tomorrow, Friday November 2, and continues to November 18, featuring work by more than 20 artists.

James Joyce meets Italia ’90 in Portrait of the Artist

Thu, Oct 25, 2018

ROUGH MAGIC Theatre Company hit the Town Hall Theatre next week with Arthur Riordan’s vibrant version of James Joyce’s Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man. Stephen Dedalus's spiritual rebellion and restless search for artistic self-expression becomes a thrilling theatrical odyssey, which The Irish Times called a "fast-paced, fun and refreshingly unconventional".

Maelíosa Stafford - 'A big trip down memory lane'

Thu, Oct 25, 2018

A STAR-studded line-up of Taibhdhearc performers from past, present – and future - come together for the gala celebration Taibhdhearc@90 tomorrow, Friday October 26, and Saturday October 27, to mark the 90th birthday of ‘the grand old dame of Middle Street’.

'I want everyone to have fun, but I want to throw in truth bombs as well'

Thu, Oct 18, 2018

PAUL CURRIE'S comedy is like few others on the circuit right now. It is a compelling mixture of sketch comedy, theatre of the absurd, puppetry, slapstick, and mime, delivered with great physicality and energy, and usually, without the comic uttering a single word.

The Floating world of Finbar at Baboró

Thu, Oct 18, 2018

RUNNING ALL this week at NUI Galway’s O’Donoghue Centre is Floating, a swirling, surging, colour-filled rush of an exhibition by Finbar McHugh, as part of the Baboró International Arts Festival for Children.

'Baboró is crucial because it is an outlet which shows children they can express themselves'

Thu, Oct 18, 2018

THE 2018 Baboró International Arts Festival for Children is in full swing and continues until this Sunday. This week’s Baboró Ambassador is Michaela McDermott, the children’s section manager of Charlie Byrne’s Bookshop, where she has been working since 2014.

'We are ambitious. We're looking to go as far as we can'

Thu, Oct 11, 2018

SOMETIMES THE hype is justified. When The Last Mixed Tape call The Clockworks “a band definitely on the verge of breaking through”, Outcast magazine declared them ”Ireland's next big thing”; and U&I described them as the kind of group “the Irish music scene has been overdue for some time”, it was not talk. It is fact.

The Young King - a royal treat for Baboró audiences

Thu, Oct 11, 2018

ONE OF the highlights of next week’s Baboró International Arts Festival for Children will be when acclaimed Australian theatre company, Slingsby, brings to the stage its award-winning adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s story The Young King.

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