Arts & Culture

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.  

West Clare was well represented in the Munster Fleadh last weekend, with 10 sets from the John ­Fennell School of Set Dancing competing. St John’s from Kilrush won the U-15 mixed while The Shannonside girls from Kildysart won the U-18 competition.Both sets begin their preparations for the All-Ireland Fleadh in Cavan, which takes place on the weekend of August 17 and 18.  The St John’s Set was made up of Mark Fennell, Thomas and Seán Bonfil, Damien Giffin, Saoirse Quinn, Laura Dunphy, ­Aoife Hasset and Tara Malone. The Shannonside girls are Sarah and Laura Meaney, Gillian and Ciara Finnucane, Amy Coffey, Fiona O’Brien, Rachel Shanahan and Clare Talty The Hell For Leather group of dancers performed on the gig rig in Dungarvan square on Saturday evening in their Clare jerseys. Their performance included brush dancing, sean nos set dancing, singing and music.  

Plans are at an advanced stage for the Kilrush Traditional Music and Set Dancing Festival, from August 8 to 12. The festival starts on Wednesday, August 8 with a seisiun in Teach Ceoil, Grace Street. The local Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann branch will launch its first CD on the Thursday of the festival in conjunction with the Singers Club in the Haven Arms. There will be three open air céilis on Friday (Brian Boru Céili Band) Saturday (Johnny Reidy Céili Band) and Sunday (The Five Counties Céili Band).The line-up for the gala concert includes The Howley Sisters from Kilfenora and Danny O’Mahony from Kerry. There is also a concertina competition this year. Contact Anne Hayes at 087 2663718 or Vincent O’Halloran at 086 0854834 for more information.