A spiritual odyssey

Thu, Apr 04, 2013

DURING THE late 1970s when we had a bookshop in Maynooth, there is a memory of a young student who was the wittiest, most cynical, and most laid back person I had ever met. He was the quintessential bohemian and seemed to be totally at ease with, and somewhat disdainful of, the world around him.

It became quickly evident though that Michael Harding was not the relaxed, confident, person he appeared to be. Behind the quick repartee, the easy way of the man about town who knew exactly who he was and where he was going, there was a restless spirit looking for a spiritual identity that was eluding him.

Sharon Olds: poems not afraid to get naked

Thu, Apr 04, 2013

THE GUARDIAN has described Sharon Olds as “America’s greatest living poet”. There are others who have claim to that title – Charles Simic, Gary Snyder, and John Ashbery spring to mind.

‘It’s that inability of men in particular to communicate…’

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

IT WAS the undoubted theatrical highlight of 2012 and it was named Best Production in The Irish Times Theatre Awards. Now DruidMurphy returns for a national tour commencing in Galway’s Town Hall Theatre.

The Waterboys to play Fisherman’s Blues in Leisureland

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

IN THE Mid 1980s, a band of Scottish musicians came to County Galway and between the city and An Spidéal they created the album many see as their masterpiece.

This was Fisherman’s Blues, released in 1988, and revealed how Waterboys’ leader Mike Scott had taken the band from the ‘big rock’ sound of This Is The Sea towards folk, Scottish and Irish roots, singer-songwriter, and trad. The title track and ‘A Bang On The Ear’ have since earned classic status.

Contemporary dance classes

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

THE GALWAY Dance Project will host contemporary dance classes with Katherine O’Malley in Galway Rowing Club, Woodquay, next month.

Beginning on April 8, the classes will run on Monday mornings throughout April with an advanced/professional class at 11am and a beginner/intermediate class at 2pm.

‘A situation only interests me when it becomes very fraught’

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

AMONG THE many exciting authors making their way to Galway for next month’s Cúirt International Festival of Literature, is the much-praised American fiction writer Ben Marcus.

Good Vibrations - when Belfast was the heart of punk

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

IF IT was not for Terri Hooley there might never have been a punk scene in Ireland. Dublin was never convincing, Cork was virtually silent, and Tuam’s Blaze X ploughed a lone furrow west of the Shannon.

See new Irish film Pilgrim Hill in The Eye

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

PILGRIM HILL, the new Irish film directed by Gerard Barrett, winner of the Rising Star awards at this year’s IFTA, will be shown in The Eye Cinema next month.

Attack of the killer B-movies

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

MONSTER FLICKS, gory horrors, B-movies, and cult films will be the order of the day at the first NUI Galway Film Society film festival from Monday April 1 to Wednesday 3.

Tea & Choonage

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

TEA & CHOONAGE, the local electronic music collective/event at The Secret Garden tea shop, hosts its final gig this evening from 5pm to 11pm.

The line up for this evening is Dublin’s Bluefood, Miles Iwes, and Zyme alongside Galway’s Chris Crehan, Brian Concannon, Welfare, and Deletia. The tea shop is on William Street West, near The Small Crane and Massimo. Admission is free.

Voice of Ireland winner @ Monroe’s Live

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

THE 2012 winner of the Voice of Ireland, Pat Byrne, will play Monroe’s Live on Saturday April 6 at 9pm.

Get ready to boogie with Michael Kaeshammer

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

MICHAEL KAESHAMMER, the jazz, swing, and boogie pianist, vocalist, and songwriter returns to the Róisín Dubh on Thursday April 4 at 8pm.

GAC(h) Duine music fest @ Galway Arts Centre

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

SOME OF Galway’s best indie-rock and folk/roots bands will perform across three days in the Galway Arts Centre for the venue’s new music festival GAC(h) Duine.

One Night Love Affair @ Electric

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

LEADING EUROPEAN DJs San Soda and Mr Ties are coming to One Night Love Affair, a celebration of all things house and disco at the Electric Garden & Factory this Saturday.

This is a night for lovers of dancing under glittery disco-balls to real house music and decadent disco, with entry free before 10pm.

The Vincents @ Monroe’s

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

INSPIRED BY psychedelia, surf rock, and nineties alternative rock, The Vincents are part of a new indie wave in Cork.

Rudeboys v Soulboys this Saturday night in the Cellar

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

This Saturday night sees the return, in a brand new venue, of the Rudeboys v Soulboys clubnight. Expect to hear anything from Jamaican Ska, 60s R&B, Latin Boogalloo, Northern soul and more from some of the countries top vinyl DJs.

The Amazing Apples reach last five of Le Crunch contest

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

POPULAR GALWAY band The Amazing Apples have made it into the last five for the national final of the Le Crunch Apple of My Eye Song Contest.

Galway writers and workshops at Cúirt

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

GALWAY WRITERS will feature in this year’s Cúirt International Festival of Literature through readings, booklaunches, and The Cúirt Literary Brunch.

An Estonian/Irish fusion

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

LINKS BETWEEN Irish and Estonian traditional music will be explored at a concert in Johnston’s Hall, Kinvara, this Saturday at 9pm.

Lorg Printmakers night at the dogs

Thu, Mar 28, 2013

LORG PRINTMAKERS will hold a fundraising event at the Galway Greyhound Stadium, aka The Sporstgound, on College Road, tomorrow, Good Friday.

Lorg is a non-profit print workshop and artist resource organisation. All proceeds raised will go toward ‘Lorg Presents...’ an exhibition in The Shed, Galway Harbour, in April.

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