Ennis dancing entrepreneur Michael Donnellan brings his international show The Rhythms of Ireland to his native stage this April.Michael first began dancing at the age of five at the O’Rourke school of Dance in Ennis and he has two world dance championships under his belt. When he retired from the competitive dance scene at 21, another avenue opened up.He took on lead roles with Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance and then performed in over 1,000 shows with Riverdance. The opportunity to choreograph and direct his own production came about in 1999 when his first stage show Magic of the Dance went on tour and it continues to tour currently.Having acquired a grá for this type of work, Michael produced his newest production, Rhythms of Ireland, which has been touring the international stage since 2007. Rhythms of Ireland features a host of stellar performers, who boast world championship dance titles and/or lead performances in shows such as Lord of the …

All-female comedy singing sensations, The Nualas come to The Lime Tree Theatre in Limerick for One Night of Dignity this weekend, and will play their first Ennis gig in Glór this April. In a world where pop stars think nothing of singing in their underwear, The Nualas buck the trend by sporting proper, yet unbelievably glamorous, and shiny, stage attire. The Nualas are made up of Sue Collins, Anne Gildea and Maria Tecce. Last year the trio reformed on The Late Late Show where they performed their debut song Yummy Mummy Recession Blues. They went on to storm festivals and venues alike.The Nualas were founded in the mid-1990s when Anne met Sue and over the years they have developed their own original self-penned numbers, scintillating vocal harmony, ambitious choreography along with laughter, tears, and chat.“We were both doing comedy at the time. I was doing stand up and Sue was doing comedy improv and she was an actress. That’s how …

LAST minute preparations are being made for the Ennis Book Club Festival, which will take place this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It’s the seventh year of the festival, which has consistently attracted internationally renowned writers.Ciana Campbell is chairperson of the festival and she says there is a lot to look forward to. “It’s lovely to have a Booker prize winner in town in John Banville. Our Gathering event with Joseph O’Connor is going to be great fun as well, it’ll probably be sold out in advance.“Marina Lewycka and Fergal Keane are coming over from the UK and we’ve been trying to get both of them for a few years, they’re on the Saturday night.”Abysmal government has been a huge factor in the Irish collapse and on Sunday Roisín Shortall, Mary O’Rourke, Dr Elaine Byrne and Professor Brian Lucey will debate ‘Power and Corruption’ at Glór in an event chaired by Caimin Jones.The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Education Department will be at …

PROBABLY the first novel to seriously deal with the human implications of the economic collapse, Donal Ryan’s first published novel The Spinning Heart marked him out as an outstanding talent.The Tipperary native works in Shannon for the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation as a Labour Inspector. He will be reading at the Temple Gate in Ennis this weekend.The Spinning Heart was the Bord Gais Energy Book of the Year last year, while Ryan was winner of the newcomer of the year award. His debut novel is told through 21 different voices, all belonging to people living in or associated with a small Munster town that has been struck by the recession. Several of the characters have been cheated by Pokey Burke, a local developer who has just run away from his responsibilities. Quite dark at times, there is real warmth and tenderness in it too and a sympathy for many of the characters. Donal felt the subject matter of …

WITH just days to go before the Ennis Musical Society take to the stage for their latest production, rehearsals are now in full swing for the troupe. From Tuesday to March 9, a host of local talent will bring the 1930s musical Me and My Girl to live on the Glór stage. Speaking of the society’s choice of production, EMS chairperson, Kate Corrigan said Me and My Girl is probably less well known than the society’s recent productions of The Sound of Music and Oliver! “But this is a great show and one to be enjoyed by all ages,” she added.Set in 1930s’ London, this comedy tells the story of a Cockney lad – Bill Snibson – who, it transpires, is heir to the title of Earl of Hareford, the head of a haughty and aristocratic family. In order to claim his title, Bill has to learn gentlemanly ways but whatever chance Bill has of overcoming his lowly background, his …

Doolin will get international TV exposure this coming week after a film crew from Mayo-based Irish TV captured the magic of the Russell Memorial Weekend for a special Sky TV programme. The hour-long programme called Out and About in Ireland will be broadcast on Ireland West TV, on Sky TV channel 191 this Thursday at 9pm. The entire programme can also be viewed on www.irishtv.ie. Out and About in Ireland presenter Edel Golden said this week’s programme from Doolin is one of the most engaging and entertaining programmes that Irish TV has filmed in the last year. “The Russell weekend is without doubt one of the best traditional festivals in Ireland. “The people of Clare really respect the talent of the Russell Brothers and musicians love coming to Doolin to commemorate their legacy,” she said.The programme this week will also feature talented local musicians Kevin Griffin, Hugh Healy, Tara Breen and Conor Crimmins among those filmed.  

Cultúrlann Sweeney library in Kilkee is currently hosting a photographic display of Ireland, both south and north by local photographer Josephine Glynn. The exhibition, entitled Josephine’s Ireland, opened on Wednesday evening. Over the years Josephine’s experience as a national tour guide has given her the opportunity to get to know her country well. In this exhibition she returns to many scenic places and observes many aspects of Ireland some of which are not well-known.Josephine has been taking photos and making videos since 1993 when she returned from working in Australia and bought a video camera. She has done many courses in filmbase and the Galway Film Centre but now directs her attention to still photography. She completed a video of reminiscence commissioned by Age Action The Good Old Days in two day centres in Galway and Castlebar which was widely distributed portraying a very positive approach to ageing. In June 2012 this video received an award at an international conference …

MamaDIRECTED BY: Andres MuschiettiSTARRING: Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, MeganCharpentier, Isabelle NelisseCERT: 15A Mama began life as a three-minute short film that caught the eye of horror master Guillermo del Toro, who came on board to produce the feature. Naturally enough his name is being used to flog the movie, giving the impression that it’s a much better horror film than it is.It kicks off with plenty of promise, though. A wealthy young executive (Coster-Waldau) heads for the hills with his two young daughters, leaving a trail of murder behind. They wind up in an abandoned cabin in the woods, where his plans come to a sudden supernatural halt. It’s a fine opener, marked by some great cinematography and a lovely piece of acting by little Morgan McGarry. She plays young Victoria, who can’t see without her glasses and doesn’t know what’s happened to Daddy.Five years pass without a trace of the girls but their uncle Lucas (also played by Coster-Waldau) …