Arts & Culture

TUBBER native, Mary O’Donoghue, has released her first novel to critical acclaim.Before the House Burns, set on Ireland’s Atlantic coast, concerns the lives of its three young narrators, children of a bereaved father and witnesses to a shared grief. Mary O’Donoghue is an award-winning short story writer and poet. She was born in 1975 and grew up in Tubber. Her short stories have been published in Agni, Salamander, The Dublin Review, Literary Imagination and elsewhere. Her awards for fiction include Hennessy/Sunday Tribune New Irish Writer and a writer’s bursary from Massachusetts Cultural Council. She is the author of poetry collections Tulle (Salmon Poetry, 2001) and Among These Winters (Dedalus Press, 2007). She teaches in the Arts and Humanities division at Babson College, Massachusetts, and lives in Boston. Her first novel, Before the House burns, has been published by The Lilliput Press and is described by Booker prize-winning author Anne Enright as “Electric, real and utterly modern: this is a voice …

THE paintings of Ennis artist, Tomás O’Maoldomhnaigh, are currently on display at Kenny’s Gallery in Lahinch.Tomás’works can be found all over Ireland and is represented on the walls of many of the country’s top corporate companies. His exhibitions are held on an ongoing basis and paintings have been sold to the United States, Europe, Africa and Australia. He now lives and works as a full-time artist and illustrator in his adopted hometown of Ennis. He was born in Limerick, however, his grandmother came from Ennis and his great aunts still lived there when he decided to make Ennis his home 18 years ago. “As an artist, I’m enthralled to put brush to canvas; it is at once both public and private. The world I reveal is an expression of my passion for both classic European portraiture and bright contemporary realism. I’m in awe of artists such as Sargent, Orpen and the American Tony Ryder. I find the classic styles to …

A PLAY featuring the life and times of the Feakle-born, Irish singing clown, Johnny Patterson, is coming to his home place at the end of the month.Actor Muiris Crowley will play the lead role of Johnny Patterson and will be supported by a strong cast, including former Kerry Rose, Karen McGillycuddy in the part of Biddy Donoghue. The scriptwriter is Declan Mangan from Killorglin and the show features many of John Patterson’s best-known songs. Mick Jones supplied fresh arrangements of Patterson’s old favourites and composed original new songs to complete the story. The play will be staged in the Marquee at Pepper’s Bar, Feakle for one night only on July 24 at 8.30pm.

RTÉ is offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for young hip-hop dancers to form a new dance group and feature in a new 10-part TV series called Supercrew.The competition is open to hip-hop dancers and teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 years of age on January 1, 2011. The winning crew of selected individuals will be mentored and choreographed by top names from the world of hip hop and get to perform nightly in this year’s Olympia pantomime Cinderella alongside pop sensations Jedward.Auditions are currently being held nationwide, with remaining auditions taking place in Belfast in the Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue this Thursday from 1pm and in Dublin next Tuesday, July 6 from 10am in the Burlington Hotel, Ballsbridge. All under 16s must be accompanied by an adult and a parent/guardian must sign a release form for all those auditioning. For more information, see www.rte.ie/twotube/The new show will be presented by Aidan Power and he will be on the road …

A NEW CD of Irish traditional music will be launched this Friday night in McGann’s Pub, Doolin. The live album features the music of Kevin Griffin (banjo), Eoin O’Neill (bouzouki) and Quentin Cooper (banjo and mandolin). It was recorded at The Burren Centre, Kilfenora last summer as part of The Riches of Clare series of lunchtime concerts. These three musicians have played and toured together for many years and this recording will be a chance for the listener to relive many a wild session in Doolin over the years. “It’s mainly Kevin taking the lead on this album with Quentin and myself encouraging him along, although Quentin does join him on second banjo for a few sets of tunes,” Eoin O’Neill explained. “We are deeply grateful to Jack Talty who captured the concert on tape, Finola Ryan, Siobhán Mulcahy and all The Riches of Clare crew for permission to unleash this CD on an unsuspecting world,” the musician and well-known …

THE second annual BobFest, a celebration of Bob Dylan’s music, takes place on the ground of the Angler’s Rest, Clonlara this Saturday, the day before the man himself plays in Thomond Park.The organisers are encouraging people who are going to the Bob Dylan concert to come to the BobFest and camp out overnight, as Thomond Park is only a 15-minute drive from Angler’s Rest. Bobfest is an outdoor event and will feature musicians playing and singing his songs, as well as the screening of some Dylan-related visuals. There will be a late bar and hot food available as well as free camping and the use of a big car park.“If you’re a musician and you have a love of Dylan, a musical instrument and some songs to sing or you just want to enjoy this one-day mini festival, then Bobfest is for you,” festival organiser, Keith Forde said.Tickets for Bobfest are on sale at the Angler’s Rest, Doonass, Clonlara or …

FIVE scholarships, valued at €5,000 each, are on offer at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at the University of Limerick for its Masters in Community Music and Masters in Classical String Performance. Ellen Byrne of the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance said that the successful candidates should display the skills necessary for the programmes in question, with special reference to their suitability for internships with the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s Community Outreach Initiative, as an integral part of their study programme. “Both programmes lead to a Master of Arts degree from the University of Limerick following one year of full-time study. The successful applicant, as well as demonstrating the necessary musical requirements for the programme in question, will also have a proven ability to interact in a challenging classroom context. A capacity to work with voice or strings will also be an advantage,” she added.Applicants should apply in writing, including a CV and two referees, to …

TWO Clare DJs will representthe Banner at the Mystic Music Festival at the Thornhill Complex, Tullow, County Carlow on July 31.John O’Connor and Kenji are both resident DJs at Ennis’ Techno night Alive at the Queen’s nightclub and will be playing in the festival’s Micronite arena. The Mystic music festival is a 12-hour event with over six stages. International DJs including Paul Woolford, X-Press 2, AudioJack, Luka Baumann, Loco and Jam are also on the festival’s bill. There is also a live stage for bands along with free camping, a funfair and stalls. “The idea behind the Micronite arena is to showcase the best the west has to offer and give credit to those who endlessly put in hard work to bring their localities some of the best electronic music available,” a festival organiser said.The all-day event takes place on Saturday, July 31. More information on the Mystic Music Festival can be found on www.facebook.com/mystik.fest or www.wix.com/RaymondcRockwell/Mystik-Fest-Website.