Arts & Culture

By John Rainsford   ‘FAR away hills are always greener’ goes the saying but for some people at least, there is satisfaction in knowing they really are. One of these is former Shannon employee Andrew O’Gorman, who only recently turned his hand to screen writing. Amazingly, his very first film script has been accepted for production by a major Midlands filmmaker. “My dream was always to be a writer but in my earlier life, perhaps, I did not always believe that it was a viable choice. I suppose it was a self-confidence thing. Now that I am a bit older and have some life experience under my belt, it has become something more tangible. I have always been a major movie fan and see story-telling as a basic human trait, especially in Ireland. “My first breakthrough as a screen writer came when I attended a Script Writing for Beginners course, in 2010, led by Eleanor McSherry at the Limerick Writers’ …

LIMERICK Printmakers’ Studio and Gallery are hosting Turning Point, an exhibition of work by Martina Cleary, which has previously been on show at Glór in Ennis. The show was officially opened by Breda Lynch, artist, lecturer and curator recently and will continue until August 9.Speaking about the work, Ms Cleary said, “The work presented at Limerick Printmakers’ Studio and Gallery is part of an extended project carried out during the period 2008-11, supported by the Create Phase 1-Artist in the Community Scheme and the Irish Arts Council. “The works are tableau vivant in style, using the Greek myth of Demeter and Persephone as a metaphorical device to address the psychodynamic of recovery from abuse.“While earlier work in this project was of a more documentary nature, the decision to use this allegory as a starting point came from a need to preserve anonymity, to offer cohesion or potential for meaning in events that often seem to have none. “The work was …

LEGENDARY Clare fiddle player Martin Hayes had a busy week recently. After playing a part in Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy in Miltown Malbay for a week, he took to the stage in the O2, Dublin in front of more than 14,000 people on Friday, July 13 to join Paul Simon on the second night of his Graceland 25th Anniversary Tour.It is 25 years since Simon released his groundbreaking world-pop masterwork with worldwide sales of 14 million, coupled with two Grammy awards. The hit album catapulted the little-known Ladysmith Black Mambazo, together with Hugh Maskela and Miriam Makeba, to international attention.When Graceland originally came out, it caused some degree of controversy as Simon had breached an international cultural boycott of Apartheid South Africa. Most people who understood his rationale knew he was not in South Africa to do a ‘Sun City’ show. Others had done so, including Queen and Elton John, and had gained significantly in financial terms as a result. …

CEO of the Irish Chamber Orchestra, John Kelly is retiring after 19 years at the helm.During his tenure, the orchestra developed strong relationships with world-class soloists and conductors, commissioned some of the country’s finest new works for chamber orchestra, toured internationally from the US to China, Singapore and Australia; brought world-class performances to small communities around the country, developed innovative and effective education and outreach programmes and worked closely on projects with the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at UL.2007 was a landmark year for the orchestra, as Government funding was secured for a €3.5 million home for the ICO, including office and rehearsal space, as well as a fully equipped recording studio. This complex has been the home of the ICO since 2008.Mr Kelly said he enjoyed his time with the orchestra. “It has allowed me to pursue and achieve a dream – to establish an Irish orchestra that would be recognised as one of the leading …

A BOOK of poetry entitled Anthology for a River, which is being published to raise funds for the River Shannon Protection Alliance, is being launched.The book is edited by well-known poet Teri Murray and there are 38 contributing poets.Gerry Siney is involved in the River Shannon Protection Alliance and he said the poets are drawn from far and wide. “Most of them are Limerick based but not exclusively so. There are poets based in Clare and in Dublin, Cork and Kerry, some from the UK and some from the US. They are all poems in praise of, or in defence of, the River Shannon. It’s a homage to the River Shannon. That is the main theme running through it.”The River Shannon Protection Alliance was founded in opposition to plans to take water from the Shannon to serve Dublin.Mr Siney said the plan is unnecessary and would be very detrimental to the river. “The two pillars of the River Shannon Protection …

AN exhibition which features the work of Killaloe-born Andrew Whitelaw has officially opened at the National Craft Gallery in Kilkenny.The exhibition includes work from the 12 graduates of the Crafts Council of Ireland’s Skills and Design Course. Andrew won the coveted Crafts Council of Ireland Chief Executive’s Award at the exhibition opening. He comes from a family with a background in ceramics as his mother and father are both practising makers and throughout his upbringing, he was surrounded by the family’s collection of contemporary pots.After finishing secondary school, he spent a year travelling through Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia. He began his third-level education in 2009 at the Limerick School of Art and Design, completing the first-year foundation course, while in 2010, he was successful in obtaining a place on the Ceramics Skills and Design Course.“My source of inspiration comes from contemporary forms and vessels that are not necessarily ceramic but glass, metal or wood. I like to translate and …

MUSICIANS Ryohei Kanemitsu and Mattu Noone are set to perform two concerts in Clare at the end of the month.After meeting some eight years ago, Japanese sitarist Ryohei Kanemitus and Australian-born Mattu Noone developed a deep friendship. They met while undertaking studies in North Indian Classical Music in Santiniketan in West Bengal. Each year, the pair would meet again during the winter season of concerts and encourage each other’s development and practice.In 2011, Mattu was invited by Ryohei to go to Taiwan to travel, perform and teach. This year, Mattu wanted to return the favour. Mattu plays the Indian lute called the sarode and has studied under the guidance of Sougata Roy Chowdhurly since 2004. Mattu is well known to Irish audiences through his work with fusion group the Bahh band and performances of Indian classical music.Ryohei, who is nicknamed Yo, is based in Taiwan but has been studying sitar since 2004. Yo has been instrumental in introducing the sitar …

A FUNDRAISING night in aid of Tony O’Loughlin’s Everest Base Camp Climb for Foundation Nepal, Cahercalla Hospital and Hospice and Laura Lynn House will take place in Brogan’s Bar and Restaurant this Friday from 9.30pm. The evening will kick off with a traditional music session with Eoin O’Neill, Joan Hanrahan and special guests followed by Shuckin’ and  Jivin’ with Andrew MacNamara.