Search Results for 'Brian Friel'

SLOWLY BUT surely the men and women e writings made Ireland one of the greater global cultural centres from the 1960s to the 1990s are gradually passing on.

As part of the fund-raising efforts for the Ballina Arts Centre Redevelopment campaign, there will be a Meet the Author Brunch in the Downhill Hotel, tomorrow (Saturday) at 12 noon.

FROM SHAKESPEARE to history’s forgotten women, and from Gombeens to Brian Friel, the Cúirt International Festival of Literature promises Galway a feast of theatre from Tuesday April 21 to Sunday 26.

Duck Baker, one of the most highly regarded finger style guitarists of his generation, performs at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Monday April 20 at 8pm. Born Richard R Baker IV in Richmond, Virginia, ‘Duck’ is unique among jazz guitarists in that his repertoire spans the entire history of music from ragtime through swing to modern masters like Thelonious Monk and Herbie Nichols and into free improvisation. His devotion to American music, also encompasses more traditional forms like blues, gospel, Appalachian music, and its Scots-Irish ancestry. Duck’s extensive discography reflects the diversity and quality of his musical talent, as do collaborations with the likes of bluesmen Charlie Musselwhite and Jerry Ricks, bluegrass’s Tim O'Brien and Dan Crary, traditionalists Ali Anderson and Brian MacNeil, new music icon John Zorn, rock legend JJ Cale, Irish fiddler Kieran Fahy, and guitarists Jamie Findlay, Woody Mann, and Ken Emerson. A chance to see a true original in the flesh. Don’t miss it. Duck Baker performs at the Linenhall Arts Centre on Monday April 20 at 8pm. Booking is advised.

Brian Friel drama on stage

The 2009 RTE All Ireland Drama Festival will get off to a flying start on Friday May 1 next as Kilmeen Drama Group from Cork take to the stage with Jimmy Murphy's touching play The Kings of the Kilburn High Road. Successfully adapted for film as Kings, this award winning work, which tells the tale of a group of Irish emigrant workers who meet up 25 years after they first set off seeking employment in England, will set the standard at this year's festival.

The amateur drama movement is a fundamental and integral part of Irish society and the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival has re-affirmed Athlone’s position as the Mecca for all theatre enthusiasts the length and breadth of the country.

THE ROMAN Catholics of Northern Ireland have very little to thank British governments for, except a piece of legislation, which would help empower a generation to speak out against discrimination of Catholics in Ulster.

GALWAY’S SECOND annual theatre festival takes place from October 20 to 25 and details of this year’s programme were announced at its press launch recently in Massimo’s Bar.

BELFAST’S AISLING Ghéar Theatre Company come to the Town Hall studio next week with their hilarious staging of Flann O’Brien’s classic comic novel An Béal Bocht/The Poor Mouth.