Arts & Culture

CLARE’s very own Aisling Drennan has proven herself to be a real ‘dancing queen’ taking to the stage with the stars of the new international show Women of Ireland. The show recently launched its national debut at the INEC in Killarney with special guests, the legendary traditional super group Frankie Gavin and De Danann.

CLARE will be well represented at the Session with the Pipers traditional music recital which takes place in Dublin’s Cobblestone Bar next week. Taking part will be Miltown Malbay piper Séamus Ó Rócháin alongside the ever-popular Tommy Peoples on fiddle. They will be joined on September 1 by such other noteworthy musicians as Tom McElvogue on flute, Tom Morrow, fiddle and Dermot Byrne, accordion.

THE look of the Kilfenora Céilí Band may have changed over the years, but that doesn’t mean that the heritage of the legendary band has been forgotten. The Kilfenora Ceilí Band’s 100-year anniversary celebrations continue next week with a series of events in the North Clare village taking place from Thursday to Sunday.

RENOWNED Clare soprano Maretta O’Hehir is about to fulfil a long-held ambition with the release of her newest album. Faith, Hope and Love, an album of church songs will be launched at the Temple Gate Hotel on April 25 and Maretta told us she is thrilled to be releasing the CD.

MURDER, drink, pornography, dodgy footwear – just some of the elements of a good night out in the Town of Fiction, a collection of new short stories by the Atlantis Writers’ Collective, which features scribes from Limerick through Galway to Sligo.