Arts & Culture

TEENAGERS will be taking over the town of Ennis once again this weekend. Experience Ennis, in collaboration with Coláiste Muire and Rice College, are bringing Teen Takeover 2 to the county capital. The event offers a jam-packed afternoon of activities for all ages in the Chapel Lane Market Building on Sunday, May 8 from 1 pm to 5 pm.   With a focus on Slow Fashion, you can learn to create a purse out of a milk carton or how to upcycle jeans into aprons. Lots more workshops such as tie-dye, mending and Junk Couture. Learn how to create die fabric with flowers or how to create a Ukrainian Flower Crown from dandelions and daises. You can also peruse our racks of fabulous vintage clothing.   There will be live bands performing from 3pm to 4pm and a treasure hunt throughout Ennis with fantastic prizes. The day will also provide fun for smallies with face-painting, hair braiding, oversized Jenga, Connect Four …

CAHER-based artist Jane Seymour has teamed up with will fellow ceramics specialist, Mike Byrne, for an exciting new exhibition at Kenny’s Gallery in Galway. The show, entitled, ‘Forms and Surface’ opens on May 6 and will include some stunning pieces with a range of different inspirations. Jane is a self-taught artist and ceramist while Mike trained in Ceramic Design in Limerick. Their work shares a commonality in its use of strong, slab-built, cut and altered sculptural forms, and refined surface treatment. Mike builds tall abstract vessels, applying layers of different coloured slips, which he sands down to reveal the colours beneath, giving a smooth tactile surface. Jane textures each piece, etching deeply into the surface of the clay with her drawings, inspired by an interest in the figurative, and uses oxides to colour her work. “Although our work differs from each other and we come from very different backgrounds as far as training, we both make strong, collectable, sculptural pieces …

POLISH photographer Beata Rosik who is based in Ennis has been awarded the TONES Studio Residency Award. This award, announced by Clare Arts Office, will provide Beata with access to a shared studio facility at the EASI (Ennis Access to Spaces Initiative) artist studios in Ennis for 12 months, a small production budget and supports needed to progress her work and her career. Arts advisor, Moran Been-noon, will work with Beata to provide the most appropriate support. Beata Rosik originally worked as a primary school teacher for 12 years in her native Poland. Since 2007, she has been living in Ennis. Not long after arriving in Ireland, Beata was diagnosed with cancer. During her treatment and recovery she discovered a passion for photography. Her style developed and, using her life experiences and current affairs for ideas, she found techniques to bring her own signature style of art to her photographs. This style resulted recently in two gold medals in the …

A North Clare family from both sides of the Atlantic will be reunited next week in Doolin for the Ireland premiere of an award-winning documentary about their family history. This film, showing on May 4 at Hotel Doolin, highlights the story of a traditional Gaelic clan of the Burren, the O’Dubhdaboreinn. The film, called ‘Burren Girl,’ (www.burrengirldoc.com) follows the quest of Irish American Rita Davern as she searches ancient records and wanders the Burren interviewing friends and distant relations to learn more about the land and people her grandmother left behind in 1887. Ms. Davern, who produced and directed the film, said, “I am excited to bring this film back home to the Burren, where the my family’s story began more than 1200 years ago. “Twelve people from the extended Davern branch, and a few filmmakers will also come over from Minnesota for the premiere. They are excited to finally meet the Davorens they encountered in the film. “Our ancestors …

THE extraordinary story of the O’Higgins brothers will be told this Friday night at the Festival of Finn in Corofin. Cumann Staire is Dúchais Chora Finne will present the story of the four brothers of North Clare, all of whom participated as soldiers in the First World War. The story will be presented by Dermot Hayes, who conducted the research interviews connected with this historical narrative for a Radio Corca Baiscinn documentary, which subsequently won a national gold community achievement award for the station. Dermot worked closely on the project with retired army captain Fionnán Ó hUigínn and his sister Máiréad both of whom will join Dermot in Corofin on Friday night. The story tells how Liscannor natives Richard and Thomas O’Higgins emigrated to Argentina to set up a new life there . However both were subsequently to return to Ireland in order to enlist in the army when World War 1 broke out in Europe in 1914. Both joined …

ACCLAIMED author and playwright Danny Morrison will be in Ennis for the Clare launch of his latest work this Friday evening. “Free Statism and the Good Old IRA” is the Belfast man’s eighth book and his fourth work of non-fiction. He is a regular media political commentator and a former editor of An Phoblacht. In his new book Mr Morrison asserts that from its inception and through its many incarnations from Free State to Éire to the Republic of Ireland, the establishment and mainstream media in the South have promoted a partitionist mindset – Free Statism.  The book examines the nature of the Tan War, bomb and gun attacks, the killings of RIC men, on- and off-duty, the execution of informers, the IRA campaign in England, and other multiple-parallels between two struggles separated only by time. The launch will include a question and answer session with the audience, and will be chaired by Clare Sinn Féin councillor Donna McGettigan. Councillor McGettigan …

THE month of May will get off to a sweet start in Ennis next Monday (May 2), as Mike Hanrahan and five choirs take to the steps of the Courthouse. At 3pm, the Stockton’s Wing legend will sing alongside Cantare, The Really Truly Joyful Gospel Choir, Ballyea choir, Front Line Choir and a new choir, Inis Soul. The event, entitled Bealtaine Voices with Mike Hanrahan is part of a month-long celebration of creativity in older age, and is supported by Clare County Council and Creative Ireland. Songs will include ‘Dreams’, ‘On Days Like These’, ‘May the Road Rise to Meet You’, ‘Clare My Heart My Home’, ‘Celebrate’ and Stocktons Wing classic ‘Beautiful Affair’. More details are available on Bealtaine.ie. Meanwhile, Mike has teamed up with Gavin Glass for to release ‘Spindrift’ – the second song from a series of works created during the past two years called Songs from The Box Room, which will be released in the autumn. With …

SINGER-SONGWRITER John Spillane has just been unveiled as headline act for the Mountshannon Arts Festival this summer. With the welcome return of in-person events, the hugely talented Corkonian, is set to captivate audiences from well beyond East Clare, when he performs at St Caimin’s Church. Rooted in people, place and story, John’s music transports the listener, and his live performances have thrilled audiences around the world. The award-winning musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet and dreamer will perform within the hallowed historical walls of 18th Century Church of Ireland on Saturday, June 4. Mountshannon Arts Festival Chairperson, Mel White, said the committee is delighted to have secured such a talented and popular performer to headline this year’s event. “John’s music is a reflection of Ireland today, and we are honoured to have him performing in Mounshannon,” she said. “And not only that, John is also hosting a song writing workshop where he will help participants lose whatever inhibitions and …