Broadening scope at second Ennis Fringe Festival

ENNIS Fringe Festival returns for its second year next weekend, where over the course of Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 21 to 23, artists of various disciplines will show their artwork to the public.
The concept behind the inaugural Ennis Fringe Festival last year was to promote the work of local artists, performers, and musicians and to encourage people into local businesses. Alternative spaces were used, such as cafés for the presentation of artworks, which could have easily been situated in more traditional gallery spaces, in an effort to raise the profile of artists with the general public.
This year the festival, has broadened the scope of the initial event and comes to more venues and offers new performers and artforms including painting, photography, performance, theatre, animation and live music.
It was and continues to be, a combined effort from a group of artists presenting new and original works. Once again, all the events are free of charge due to the support of local businesses and the festival committee is inviting people to come out and support their local artists.
The festival launch takes place on Friday, September 21 between 6pm and 8pm in the ground floor of Tom Mannion’s Travel on O’Connell Street. This event will also mark the opening of Clare Art Collective’s autumn show. 
From Friday, Tommy Kelly will hold a photographic exhibition in the back room of the Rowan Tree Hostel.
Also on Friday, Marie Connole and Maeve Collins present an animation exhibit entitled Metamorphosis + Reality equals Odyssey at the Clare County Museum, which is open between noon and 9pm.
Using cut-out paper, drawing and photographs, both artists are interested in the notion of transformation. The selected short films and animations vary in themes and are connected by their humour and intrigue. This event is suitable for all ages, children are welcome and it also offers a chance to meet the artists.
Meanwhile, David O’Rourke will present a video installation entitled Persistence of Memory at MT Pockets between 6pm and 8pm, which was last shown in the Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon.
“For this piece, I wanted to goes back to the origins of cinema and limit myself accordingly. The first motion picture, by the Lumiere brothers, needed a complete narrative in one take from a fixed viewpoint due to the constraints of technology at the time, so I strove with modern technology to do likewise. No editing, effects and using the original sound. This piece also has a complete narrative, while using the imagery of a train journey,” David outlined.
Singer/songwriter and guitarist Chris Nash will be in the Diamond Bar from 10pm to 11pm. Chris Nash lived in Germany for many years playing throughout Europe. His music ranges from soulful to folksy to rock and it has been compared to Bob Seeger, Rod Stewart and Ray La Montagne. Chris has returned to Ireland where he has been living for the last 10 years and he is currently recording an album of original material.
Thereafter, The Buzzmonkeys will be in Tom Steele’s from 11pm until late. The group is currently working on their third album. The group has built a solid reputation for pure rock ‘n’ roll mayhem from the controlled chaos of their gigs, which blur the line between madness and genius.
On Saturday, September 22, there will be a free introductory session to laughter yoga upstairs in Brogan’s Bar from 1pm to 2pm. This event includes laughing, singing, dancing and handclapping to help participants relax, breathe deeply. This type of yoga also involves playing games, using imagination to be childlike and to have fun in a safe and supported atmosphere of The Ennis Laughter Dragons.
From 8pm on Saturday, performance artist, Conway will be in Brandon’s Bar and lounge. Originally from Ennis, artist Alex Conway is based in Dublin and he works in mixed media but his principle area is in live work. The process he uses generally begins with an image or object and a response to space. He has exhibited and performed nationally and internationally, most recently at Terminal Convention in Cork Airport this year. He is also a member of The Performance Collective.
Also from 8pm in Brandon’s Bar, Immediate Theatre will host a performance of Commencing, a short comedy by Jane Shepard.
On Sunday, September 23, Tommy Kelly presents a slideshow display entitled Journeys at Barcode from 8pm. This will be followed by live music.
This year’s Ennis Fringe Festival will conclude in the Rowan Tree Hostel at 9pm on Sunday when there will be a festival roundup and music by Paddy Mulcahy.