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This week former Bessbrook artist, Roisín McGuigan is bringing her stunning new exhibitions of works, ‘Unearthing Place’ to the Carroll Gallery at Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry.
The exhibition, which consists of 21 pieces of art, opens this Thursday 4 August and will be on display during normal opening hours until Wednesday 31 August 2016.
Now based in Tralee County Kerry, Roisin McGuigan is a graduate of the National College of Art Design, and Burren College of Art. She is represented by The Paul Kane Gallery in Dublin and her work has been exhibited as part of Cork European City of Culture at The Crawford Gallery of Art. Other notable galleries who have hosted her works include The Hun Gallery, New York, Emerge Art Fair in Washington DC and the Irish Museum of Contemporary Art, Dublin.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick said, “Originally from Bessbrook, we acknowledge and welcome Roisín to The Sean Hollywood Arts Centre and wish her every success with her exhibition. These works of art are truly stunning and we are delighted for them to be on display in the Newry, Mourne and Down District.”
Roisín’s work is included in 30 Years, Artists, Places which is currently touring across the country and she will also be on residency at the Tyrone Guthrie Centre, Annaghmakerrig, Co Monaghan later this year.
For further information on the artist and her works, contact The Sean Hollywood Arts Centre on 028 3031 3180 or email arts.reception@newryandmourne.co.uk.
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This year's Iúr Cinn Fleadh - Newry City Music Festival will take place from Thursday 8th September to Sunday 11th September 2016 and for the first time there will be a choice of eight different Trad Cruises, a series of Tall Ship trips down Newry Ship Canal with live music and a few glasses of wine.
Schooner Soteria will be based at the Albert Basin with two hour sailings at 2pm and 7pm every day from outside the Quays Shopping Centre to Victoria Lock and back. Each sailing will have different local musicians on board and the full list can be found at www.iurcinnfleadh.com Tickets are £12.50 and sure to go fast so book yours quick.
This four day event embraces all aspects of our Culture and Traditions. Running for the third year Iúr Cinn Fleadh will highlight the immense musical and dancing talent of Newry and surrounding areas and will attract visitors from throughout Ireland and further afield.
Headlining this year will be Paddy Casey and Moxie
Paddy Casey is an Irish singer-songwriter from Dublin. When he was 12 years old he began busking on the streets of Dublin. Paddy released his first album Amen (So Be It) in 1999. This album was certified triple platinum in Ireland. The ‘Saints and Sinners’ singer will be playing in The Bank on Saturday Night 10 September with support from new trad band on the block A Fair Distance and the night will finish off with Newry folk legends Crubeen taking to the stage of The Bank Beer Garden. A night not to be missed.
Moxie are a band all hailing from the West Coast of Ireland. Their music has a traditional backbone and is influenced by a number of genres of music, but very important amongst them is the traditional music of county Sligo. Moxie are fast becoming a festival favourite in Europe and beyond and this year already has seen them performing at the Port Fairy Festival in Australia and closer to home playing a slot in the Late Late Show. They will be playing ‘Live at the Market’ on Friday 9 September.
Five exciting new events that are taking place during the Fleadh are:
Trad Cruise on the tall ship Soteria: Numbers are limited so be sure to get your tickets quickly.
Street Theatre: On the Saturday and Sunday there will be short productions from Newpoint Players at various locations throughout town with the theme - 1916: but apart from that …
Live at the Market: On Thursday 8 September Newry Comedy Club presents Two Priests and a Prod - Stand Up Comedy from Fr Ted stars; Joe Rooney and Michael Redwood and NI comedian, Neil Dougan who's hit show 'The funny thing about being a Prod' has been described as, Fr Ted for Protestants. On Friday 9th, Moxie take the stage and on Saturday 10th, a culinary demonstration to whet your appetite complete with trad session and Irish Dancing will take place in the bustling market.
Storytelling with Belfast man Eamonn Keenan in the Railway Bar. Eamonn is bursting with tales of local myths and legends and has travelled the world gathering and telling stories. Join him in the Railway Bar on Sunday 11 September for The Final Fling of the Fleadh and maybe add your own story or song to the mix!
Newry Film Club will host the Fleadh Film Festival with a screening of Mise Eire on Friday 9th and The Long Road to Glenties on Saturday 10th with Live music from renowned Fiddlers Danny Diamond and Conor Caldwell in Sean Hollywood Arts Centre. For families, Song of the Sea will be shown on Saturday afternoon followed by Sticky Fingers Arts and Crafts Workshop. Tickets at door.
Of course the old favourites are still there with the Trad Trail on Friday and Saturday nights showcasing the wonderful talent of our area around the City’s bars, there’s Music Workshops in banjo, fiddle, singing and bodhran (Book via Website), a Ceili with the Copper Plate Ceili Band and caller Raymond Carroll in the Hall for All on Saturday 10th, Singing Pub with Fil Campbell in St John Bosco, Beginner Session in Newry Library on Saturday afternoon for all to hone their skills and confidence, Live music at Riverside Church and St Catherine’s Dominican, Irish Dancing, The Caroline Session on Sunday afternoon in the Canal Court Hotel, free Currach trips down Newry Canal on Sunday 11th with Carlingford Lough Currach Club, Sunday walking tour of Newry with Newry Man Lost, food tastings, Buttermilk Drinking Challenge and much more.
Watch out for the Fleadh Event Guide throughout Newry.
Main Sponsors Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Arts Council NI are backing this years festival.
Most events are free. Tickets for Paddy Casey, Moxie, Two Priests and a Prod Stand Up and Tall Shop Soteria trips available from Buttercrane Help Desk or Fleadh Website at www.iurcinnfleadh.com
Keep up to date on Facebook at facebook.com/iurcinnfleadh
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This weekend sees Warrenpoint's newest festival Wake the Giant take centre stage following last weekends successful Maiden of the Mournes.
Two school children will be heading a motley crew in Warrenpoint to wake a sleeping Giant on 20 and 21 August.
Nine year old Tegan McKibben from St Patrick’s, Newry and Matthew Murphy from St Matthew’s, Castlewellan will headline a ‘clamour’ of local children and community groups to wake a 32 foot sleeping giant in Warrenpoint Park as part of the Council’s Giant Adventure summer programme.
The school children were part of 600 strong group pupils from schools in Downpatrick, Mayobridge, Castlewellan, Hilltown, Newry, Warrenpoint and Rostrevor and Dromintee who worked with writer Declan Carville throughout June 16 to storyboard a magical adventure - based on the myth of a sleeping giant reposing on the Cooley Mountains.
The output from the children’s workshops formed the inspiration for a spectacular event which takes place over the weekend of 20th and 21st August in Warrenpoint.
On Saturday 20th, visitors can enjoy live street theatre, entertainment and free children’s craft workshops to make Giant Feet and matching head pieces to wear when they take part in the ‘Glamour Clamour’ parade to wake the specially commissioned Giant snoozing in Warrenpoint Park on Sunday 21st.
On Sunday 21st, local groups will attempt to wake the Giant with music, loud noises and spectacular performances. The whole event will be coordinated and directed by a larger than life character - the Point Man - who will enthral and entertain the waiting crowds.
The event also gives the opportunity to highlight local food and drink at an Artisan Fayre at the promenade car park beside Bells Amusements throughout the weekend.
On both days Dock Street will be transformed in to a live music hub with the sounds of James Peake Experience, Motown Sensation, the Logues, the Professionals, the Nookes and local band The Shout, culminating with a spectacular laser show at 10.30pm.
Chairperson Cllr Gillian Fitzpatrick said: “This is a huge event to develop and we’re really excited to bring this new Festival to Warrenpoint, following many months of nurturing ‘big’ ideas. The investment in this new event will put the region on the map as an event state in a ‘gigantic’ way and draw new visitors. Once here they can experience the beauty of our water and mountain based activities, enjoy the local food and drink produce and the high standard of our hospitality providers.
“It will give this stunning region a unique selling point - one which we can build upon annually to make Wake the Giant an unmissable weekend with significant national and international draw,” Gillian added.
Wake the Giant is a free event on 20th and 21st August delivered by Newry, Mourne and Down District Council. It’s one of a series of Giant Adventures taking place over the summer including Footsteps in the Forest at Slieve Gullion on the weekend of 26th and 27th August - during which magical creatures from across the region will gather for their annual conference and interact with visitors as they explore the forest.
Download the Event Guide below
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The popular King of Gullion 10k Challenge takes place on Sunday 16th October 2016 at Slieve Gullion Forest Park. Growing year on year, the 2016 race promises to be bigger and better than before with all proceeds to Southern Area Hospice Services.
Registration will open at 8.30am and the race will start at 10am sharp. The King of Gullion 10k Challenge is a race from the Courtyard around mountain roads and trails where participants can enjoy the spectacular scenery in the Ring of Gullion. There are winner’s prizes of 1st, 2nd & 3rd for male and females and finishers medals up for grabs which have been kindly sponsored by our headline sponsor mac-interiors. Participants can also avail of the tasty refreshments which will be sponsored by Synge & Byrne Slieve Gullion post run! Race registration costs £17. You can run or walk or do both! The race is suitable for all levels– so why not challenge yourself and try something new?
Families are also welcome to come along to enjoy a Halloween themed workshop and have fun at the award-winning Adventure Playground and the fantastic Giant’s Lair onsite. Fancy dress is also welcome from runners and spectators.
You can register for this event online at www.active.com or contact the Hospice Fundraising office via email mulgrewg@southernareahospiceservices.org or telephone on 028 3025 1333
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Newry, Mourne and Down District Council has announced an action packed, family friendly, spooktacular programme of Halloween events taking place in Newry as well as MourneQuest based events in Newcastle. Mournequest is the creation of Newry man Garry McElherron.
Newry's Halloween events take place on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 October with Halloween night reserved for Newcastle and it's Hallowtides Festival.
Events on Friday 28 October include the very popular Twilight Market at Newry Market followed by a Fireworks Display at the Albert Basin.
The Twilight Market will have on offer the finest food and drink the area has to offer with a wide selection of pop up restaurants, food producers, craft beers and ciders available all combined with entertaining chef demonstrations, food tastings, full bar facilities and live entertainment all kicking off at 5pm at Newry Market. Children can get into the Halloween spirit by taking part in pumpkin carving from 5pm to 8pm
On Saturday 29 Newry Town Hall will be a hub of spooky fun from 11am – 5pm. Costume makers will be on hand to inspire and create, make-up artists will transform sweet cheeks into terrible terrors, there will be ghoulish caricatures drawn and the Mourne Quest adventure story will be delivered by the author himself. You might even catch a glimpse of ghostly players from days gone by!
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick commented, “It is fantastic to see Halloween events taking place across the district and this year the packed Hallowtides programme will provide something for everyone. This year Newcastle is set to be bigger and better than ever as the myths and legends of the MourneQuest adventure will be brought to life!”
Councillor Fitzpatrick continued, “The Newry Twilight Market and fireworks display will combine Halloween and the Year of Food and Drink in a fantastic way. Newcastle and Newry really get into the eerie spirit and I would encourage visitors to come to town and join in on the fun.
Hallowtides not only provides entertainment for the whole community but also attracts significant numbers of visitors contributing to Newry, Mourne and Down’s wider tourism strategy.”
For further information or a free copy of the festival programme please contact Newcastle Visitor Information Centre on 028 4372 2222 or full event listings online at www.newrymournedown.org
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Sticky Fingers’ International Children's Festival returns this month and it will be well worth waiting for, with a brilliant and exciting line up to keep the little ones busy this October.
The Festival sees the return of the much loved Comedy String Quartet, making classical music wickedly funny and fantastically exhilarating for everyone, young and old. We are proud to present the Irish Première of the international award-winning performance of Pinocchio, a slightly darker with a thrilling twist of this traditional tale by the renowned Spanish theatre company La Baldufa. We also welcome the Tales from Old Japan and their enchanting, mysterious and hair-raising stories of magnificent Mount Iwate. Keeping within the season, we are delighted to host “Spookies”, a felt workshop by local artist Caoilfionn Murphy-O’Hanlon. And of course, there is much more for every one to see and do!
The spectacular showcase event “The Ghost of Halloween” is set to take centre stage, appropriately timed over the Halloween weekend with witches mixing potions, trolls playing tricks and of course the infamous fairies who have taken all up residence at Narrow Water Castle during the magical season to bewitch, and play tricks on unsuspecting little visitors and perhaps upset some of the more long standing ghostly residents of this ancient castle.
“Sticky Fingers’ Festival 2016 will not fail to delight with much loved characters, magic and mayhem. We are delighted to showcase a selection of our favourite international theatre from the far corners of the world, programmed especially for local children, creating long lasting happy memories.” says Grainne Powell, Sticky Fingers’ Chief Executive.
The Ghost of Halloween follows on from a number of successful productions staged at Narrow Water Castle with each event becoming bigger and better. The 2015 “Fairytale of Christmas” attracted over 7,000 people from across Ireland with many families traveling from as far as Derry- Londonderry, Limerick and Coleraine to participate.
The Ghost of Halloween at Narrow Water Castle will be held over three days (29th to 31st October). It has been devised especially as a family experience together with something to appeal to all ages. Availiabity is limited so book early to avoid disappointment.
“The Arts Council is committed to making the arts accessible to everyone in our society. We are delighted to support the impressive Sticky Fingers Festival which introduces children to the very best professional, international and local arts. For many children and families, the festival is their first experience of live arts and is an important means of improving wellbeing for children and young people. This years festival includes something for all tastes and I congratulate Sticky Fingers for yet another enchanting programme of events.”
Sticky Fingers’ Festival 2016 and “The Ghost of Halloween” are funded and kindly supported by the Arts Council for Northern Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland, BBC Children in Need and the Foyle Foundation.
For tickets and booking information www.stickyfingersarts.co.uk or telephone 028 30 25788
Download the programme below.
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This years Halloween weekend in Newry sees plenty of free fun events and activities for all the family to enjoy.
Newry Market will once again transform into a food and drink heaven and play host to the popular Twilight Market 28 October from 5pm to 11pm. Soak up the atmosphere and enjoy a wide selection of pop-up restaurants, craft beers and ciders, entertaining cookery demonstrations and food tastings plus workshops and activities for children from 5pm to 8pm. There will be prizes for best costumes and an opportunity to see the City fireworks display.
This year’s firework display will commence at 8pm and the viewing area is the William Street/Mary Street Junction; the perfect spot to see the crackle and sparks of spectacular fireworks before returning to the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the Twilight Market.
Newry Town Hall will provide a full day of children’s arts and crafts on Saturday 29 October.
Dare to climb the stairs and enter the ghostly realm of ‘The Theatre of Nightmares’. Come and make some dastardly decorations for your room, get your face painted in spooky style, learn creepy dance moves and star in your own “greenscreen” movie still. Transform into your very own caricature version of a vampire, werewolf or goblin! Visit the costume-makers’ table and have them run up a design for you, then make your way to the special effects experts, who will make you look ghastly for the evening. Garry McIlherron will also excite children and adults alike from 11am to 5pm with from MourneQuest – legend and fantasy characters based throughout the mystic mountains of Mourne and neighbouring lands.
Newry and Mourne Museum provide family fun with Halloween themed children’s arts and craft on Saturday 22 October and Spooky Cup Cake decorating with Linda McMahon on Saturday 29 October. Plus ‘Eamonn the Storyteller’ will weave tales of strange goings on, witches, ghosts, vampires, pookas, silkies and all sorts of fairy folk on Monday 31 October.
At Slieve Gullion on Saturday 29 October brave souls are asked to assist the fairies as the Forest Park is the setting for ‘Escape from Witch Mountain’- a free guided walk taking place in the forest at 10am, 11am, and 12noon. There are limited places available so booking is essential. For further information or book please contact Newry Visitor Information Centre on 028 3031 3030.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick said, “Halloween Celebrations this year will be a real treat for all. I am looking forward to another Twilight Market as the atmosphere and venue will be the perfect place to gather before and after the fireworks display on Mary Street. Newry Town Hall is another fantastic place for all the family to enjoy and I am particularly excited about the Mourne Quest element of this year’s programme. All of the events at Newry Market and Town Hall are free so I look forward to seeing everyone at their gory best over the festival”.
For more information check out www.visitmournemountains.co.uk
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Local guitarist Mickey Murphy is taking to the stage in Newry next Wednesday 2 November with two other guitar legends Thomas Leeb and Gary Lutton for what is promised to be a showcase night of guitar music.
Thomas Leeb makes a welcome return to Newry with his unique guitar style that sets him apart from his contemporaries. His ability to make pyrotechnics serve the music has earned the Austrian a loyal world-wide following.
Mickey Murphy is a guitarist and composer from County Down whose solo performances blend original compositions with his own arrangements. He has released two solo albums and played throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe.
Gary Lutton from Belfast was the winner of the UK/Ireland Sky TV competition Guitar Star (2015) in which he had the opportunity to work with legends such as Rodrigo y Gabriela, record at Abbey Road Studios and play the main stage at Latitude festival for 30,000 people.
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick says, “This is a great and rare opportunity to see these professional guitarists gathered together on the Newry Stage, and a night not to be missed”.
The auditorium at the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre is the venue with the performance starting at 8pm.
Tickets are £10.00 and are available from the Box Office on 028 3031 3180.
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The multi-talented Nuala McKeever takes to the stage in the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, on Thursday 17 November at 8pm in the acclaimed comedy ‘In the Window’.
Written and performed by Nuala McKeever and directed by Andrea Montgomery, ‘In The Window’ tells the tale of when life doesn’t turn out the way you want it to. Margaret is lonely as hell, in a house that won’t sell, no kids, no husband and a job that’s deathly boring. So tonight, she’s got a date with a bottle of pink fizz and a bowl of pink pills and she’s going to go out in style.
But her romance with death is rudely interrupted by an intruder, a nosy neighbour and a policeman – a tall, handsome policeman.
In her internationally-acclaimed comedy hit, Nuala McKeever delivers a poignant, hilarious cocktail that has wowed audiences from the USA to India.
In anticipating the arrival of the performers, Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Gillian Fitzpatrick said, “I would encourage anyone interested in a good night’s entertainment to attend this production, and see this very funny talented actress at her best”.
Tickets are £10. To book contact the Box Office on 028 3031 3180.
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