Galway Baroque Singers in Leisureland

Thu, Jun 04, 2009

ON THURSDAY June 11 at 8pm, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and the Galway Baroque Singers will perform their annual concert in Leisureland.

American writers to read in Galway

Thu, Jun 04, 2009

WRITERS PARTAKING in NUI, Galway’s American Conference for Irish Studies, will do two special readings for Over The Edge in Sheridan’s Wine Bar.

Proust Questionnaire

Thu, Jun 04, 2009

What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Waking up on the couch after a long time away, being handed tea and toast by my Mam or sister.

Once Upon A Time In The West

Thu, May 28, 2009

TO CELEBRATE five very successful years and to get the next chapter in its story under way, the Róisín Dubh will host Once Upon A Time In The West, a festival of music concerts, DJ sets, and pub trails throughout the west of the city from today until Bank Holiday Monday.

In 2004 the Róisín Dubh was taken over by local businessmen Kevin and Greg Healy and music promoter Gugai and in the five years since it has become the music venue in the city, playing host to promising up and coming bands (Official Secrets Act, Fight Like Apes, The Kanyu Tree), the coolest indie/alternative acts around (Port O’Brien, Jens Lekmann, Sparklehorse, Silver Jews, Iron & Wine, I’m From Barcelona), and genuine music legends (Arlo Guthrie, Mercury Rev, The Skatelites). The venue is set to continue those high standards with shows by Blitzen Trapper, New York Dolls, Horace Andy, and Okkervil River all on the way.

The Handsome Family’s twenty year honeymoon

Thu, May 28, 2009

It all began one day in a bar. Brett Sparks was waiting for a friend when Rennie showed up and he was smitten by this raven haired woman. They got married in 1989 and indulging their passion for music, they released their debut album Odessa in 1995. The Handsome Family were born.

The Handsome Family play the Róisín Dubh on Saturday June 6 at 9pm. The husband and wife team of Brett (vocals, guitar) and Rennie Sparks (bass, vocals) are regular visitors to this city and even 2007’s cryptosporidum crisis has not deterred them from making a return visit this year.

Have a Gigantic Bank Holiday weekend

Thu, May 28, 2009

GIGANTIC AT De Burgos will host a series of clubnights throughout the Bank Holiday weekend and Volvo Ocean Race stopover, with Norman Jay’s DJ set the highlight on Sunday.

Galway Arts Festival line-up preview

Thu, May 28, 2009

THE GALWAY Arts Festival takes place from Monday July 13 to Sunday 26 and this year’s programme will be launched on Tuesday June 2. However if you can’t wait until then, here is a sneak preview of what to expect.

Opera UK brings Barber

Thu, May 28, 2009

GALWAY’S OPERA buffs are in for a treat as one of Britain’s most highly-regarded companies brings a new staging of Rossini’s The Barber Of Seville to the Town Hall for one night only on Wednesday June 10 at 8pm.

Hurling play comes recommended by GAA greats

Thu, May 28, 2009

NO LESS a hurler than Eddie Keher has hailed Bondi Beach Boy Blue, by NUI Galway graduate Benny McDonnell, as “really capturing the hurling scene and ethos”.

Breakdance workshops in Westside

Thu, May 28, 2009

YOUTH WORK Ireland are holding breakdance workshops with B-boy Stan and the I Nee Money Cru in Westside Community Centre every Thursday.

Two sessions are offered, from 5pm to 6pm and from 6pm to 7pm. All levels of experience from age nine and up are welcome to learn in a fully supervised and friendly environment. The I Nee Money Cru will hold weekend workshops on Saturday at 2.30pm in Shantalla Community Centre.

Stephen Fretwell to play Róisín Dubh

Thu, May 28, 2009

HE’S PLAYED bass with The Last Shadow Puppets, shared the stage with Oasis, but Stephen Fretwell is very much his own man, with a line in descriptive, sweetly melancholic, and intelligent acoustic songs.

Intinn to launch debut album in the Warwick

Thu, May 28, 2009

INTINN, THE Galway conscious reggae, dub, drum’n’bass, and Irish trad band will launch their debut album in The Warwick Hotel, Salthill, on Friday June 5.

James Priestley @ LowerState

Thu, May 28, 2009

JAMES PRIESTLEY, the DJ and SecretSundaze head promoter will kick off the Bank Holiday weekend with a set at LowerState in Deeper at The Cellar Bar, tomorrow at 10pm.

Julie Feeney releases new album

Thu, May 28, 2009

ATHENRY SINGER, composer, multi instrumentalist, orchestra conductor, inaugural Choice Music Prize winner, and watersports enthusiast Julie Feeney, releases her new album pages on Friday June 5.

Cinema Review - Angels & Demons

Thu, May 28, 2009

As a bit of a Dan Brown fan I cringed at the first movie attempt, and expected very little from the second but Angels & Demons was a blessed surprise.

Despite being plagued by several damning reviews this flick, based on Dan Brown’s novel by the same name, was to me very entertaining with plenty of suspense, relinquishing clues and explanations at all the right points. However, perhaps much of the appeal of this film could be attributed to the magnificent backdrop of Rome itself and the beautiful architecture and sculptures of Vatican City, the various churches, and plazas? I’m a bit of a fan of the city too. If nothing else the film will do wonders for its tourism.

Galway Arts Centre exhibitions

Thu, May 28, 2009

THE GALWAY Arts Centre is hosting a series of travel and ocean themed exhibitions and events to coincide with the Volvo Ocean Race stopover in the city.

African Film Festival

Thu, May 28, 2009

GALWAY’S SECOND annual African Film Festival takes place this Sunday, starting at 11am in the Town Hall Theatre, showing films from South Africa, Kenya, and Senegal, and all events are free.

The festival will screen Return To Goree, in which the acclaimed singer Youssou N’Dour traces the history of jazz, (4.30pm); From A Whisper, a winner of five African Film Academy Awards, which deals with the aftermath of the Nairobi Embassy bombings in 1998 (6.15pm); and an exclusive preview of Jerusalema, a blockbuster action-movie from South Africa which will be introduced by the producer Tendeka Matatu (8pm). The festival will also have films for children such as the cartoon Kirikou and The Wild Beasts (12 noon).

Seona Tully, following mother’s footsteps into Druid’s Playboy

Thu, May 21, 2009

AMONG THE many notable events being staged in Galway to mark the Volvo Ocean Race, one of the highlights is Druid’s revival of their much-lauded Playboy Of The Western World at the Town Hall for five nights only, from June 2 to 6.

Obama approved Hypnotic Brass Ensemble to play Cuba*

Thu, May 21, 2009

“I CANNOT get enough of these guys, they soothe the soul.” So said US president Barack Obama about the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, who will launch their new album in Cuba*, Eyre Square on Friday May 29 at 8pm.

Make the right choice and go see Jape

Thu, May 21, 2009

JAPE, THE solo alter ego of The Redneck Manifesto bassist Richie Egan, makes a welcome return to the Róisín Dubh on Friday May 29 at 8pm as part of the venue’s Once Upon A Time In The West festival.

This year has been a good one for Richie as in March his album Ritual won the Choice Music Award. The follow-up to 2004’s excellent The Monkeys In The Zoo Have More Fun Than Me, it saw him add elements of dance and techno to his indie-rock sound.

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