Arts & Culture

ITS unprecedented success has brought it back for a third year at the Ennis Trad Festival. With 10 bands readying themselves to do battle, Árd Ghaisce na mBuíonta – the great céilí band challenge – is set to cause foot-stompin’ havoc at the West County Hotel this Saturday at 7pm. As the only céilí band competition outside the protective boundaries of comhaltas, Saturday’s contest between many of the country’s finest musicians will afford audience members the opportunity to put pen to paper and vote their preference as the fifth adjudicator. Many of them have spent years dancing their sets to the various bands throughout the county and further afield so it is, quite literally, their only chance to vote. They are, after all, dance experts and this is their music. But beware – those wishing to have their votes counted must be in attendance before the first band takes to the stage. Six new bands are accepting this year’s challenge …

Once again the amateur drama movement has bestowed honours on Ennis Players, as Jackie Scanlan has been elected as chairman of the Drama League of Ireland (DLI).

MEMBERS of Ennis-based Pantaloons are counting the weeks until they take to the stage for this year’s pantomime when the fairytale story of Sleeping Beauty comes to Glór from Sunday, December 27, to Sunday, January 3.

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STEVE Earle, the ‘hardcore troubadour’ will be playing in Glór on November 13.

FRANKIE Gavin and the newly formed De Dannan will take to LIT’s Millenium Theatre Stage on Saturday, where they will showcase some of their new material, as well as tracks to be released on their forthcoming album, Jigs, Reels and Rock and Roll.