Tag Archives: Arts

MUSIC has always been a part of John Hennessy’s life, and the soundtrack to his childhood was an eclectic one. No surprise, because the Drumcliffe native’s dad is the legendary Michael, a music teacher and an inspiration to generations of budding performers.  Now based between Berlin, Cork and Ennis, John is fast making his own name in music. Credited by none other than Mojo magazine with developing a “neo rock ’n’ roll” style, John’s on stage persona is Black Pope. Blending darkly beautiful lyrics with impeccably smooth guitar riffs and a flavour of fizzling glam rock, Black Pope’s sound defies easy comparisons. A multi-instrumentalist and song writer, John is modest about the waves he has been making since bursting onto the music scene. Ahead of a hometown gig at Glór later this month, he is reflective about his musical influences.  “The piano was a constant when we were growing up,” he tells The Champion. “I played violin for a while, …

CLARE’S artistic community have shown their true colours of generosity by finding various ways to support the people of Ukraine. From selling artworks to raise funds for charities helping those affected by the war with Russia, to offering to give lessons to refugees who have found shelter in Clare, a number of local artists across the county have offered their support. Among those is Lahinch-based artist Michael Hanrahan who recently auctioned off one of his paintings with funds raised going to the Red Cross to help the people of Ukraine. He has also offered to provide water colour classes for Ukrainian refugees who have arrived in North Clare, believing the power of art may provide some kind of therapy for the new arrivals. Michael, who travels the world teaching watercolour painting on cruise liners, painted a view of the Algarve in Portugal while visiting the country earlier this year. He said that when news began to emerge of what was …

THIS summer, national children’s arts and health charity Helium Arts will launch its first Creative Health Programme location in Clare at CBS Primary School in Ennis. The charity’s first outpost in Clare will provide arts programming for children living with long-term medical conditions. Helium Arts’ new Ennis location builds on the success of hubs in Cork, Limerick, and Galway which have served over 2,000 children living with long-term medical conditions since 2019, supporting their wellbeing, creativity, and ability to cope with their conditions. Helium Arts is dedicated to empowering these children and teenagers through creativity and the arts by creating connection and belonging for young people who can feel lonely and defined by their health condition. Led by local artist Ana Colomer, the workshops are a space for children to play, learn, and explore their creativity through hands-on activities. As a parent whose child recently took part in a recent Helium Arts programme put it, “My son’s creativity was opened …

LOCAL people will be among those showcasing their talents alongside the Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre when the company brings their brand new show to Ennis next week. Fidget Feet are bringing their new show “HOUSE” to Clare Marts, Quin Road on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10. Ahead of the show, Fidget Feet put a call out to the people of Clare through to join them in this collaborative community spectacle with circus, theatre and drive-in bingo. “HOUSE Open Days” is a community project that integrates local communities into the show itself and will see community part-takers dance alongside 20 experienced and talented Fidget Feet dancers in the show. According to the company this project brings people together both young and old with an integral focus on the arts, wellbeing, mental and physical health. The show is a sequel to their hugely successful show Bingo Wings and brings its bingo fever to the 1980s Royal Broadway Parish Bingo, …

ENNIS’ glór will celebrate International Womens’ Day with a musical collection of iconic women and their music. Singer, actor and musician Edel Murphy will be accompanied with a live band for the performance of MOTHERLAND : Songs of 20th Century Women on Tuesday. Following extensive tours with Grammy winning shows Celtic Woman and Riverdance, Edel and the band will bring you through the Dustbowl of the Great Depression, into the homes of 1950s urban desperation, down streets of protest in the 1960s and into the tumult of the 21st Century. Featuring evocative projected images alongside thought-provoking spoken word, Edel performs iconic songs of struggle and celebration from such songwriting greats as Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Nina Simone, Kate Bush, Nanci Griffith, Dolly Parton, and The Beatles. Dick O’Riordan, of the Business Post said it was “an amazing show” “Edel Murphy was stunning, the sharpness of her delivery was outstanding. The songs are acerbic and to the point and the backdrop of visuals was …

A NATIONWIDE tour by the Irish National Opera of The Lighthouse will include a performance in Ennis later this month. Directed by Edwina Casey and performed by tenor Gavan Ring, baritone Ben McAteer, bass John Molloy, and the Irish National Opera Orchestra, the opera takes its audience on a journey to the Fladda Isles of Scotland, where a lighthouse mysteriously goes dark. When a visiting supply ship visits the island, the crew finds the building in order, but the three keepers vanished.  Ring, McAteer and Molloy, in multiple roles, explore the psychological state of the fractious men, relive an official investigation, and project a supernatural explanation. The opera’s composer, the late Peter Maxwell Davies, who based the structure of the opera on the Tower of the Tarot, leaves no simple answers.  First performed in 1980 as part of the Edinburgh Festival, The Lighthouse is inspired by a true story, which unfolded in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland in 1900.   The opera will be staged in various locations across Ireland including a performance in Ennis’ glór on November 27. Commenting at the launch, Artistic Director at INO, Fergus Sheil said: “We are delighted to return to theatres …

A HANDBALL alley in West Clare might not seem like the obvious place to showcase artistic talent, however this weekend at Querrin Pier the local sports facility will play host to a visual workshop for teenagers. The workshop with artist Ruth Wood is just one of many events taking place in the county as part of this year’s Call & Response youth music and arts festival presented by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s Local Creative Youth Partnership. The festival, which kicks off on Culture Night in Clare, will bring a host of free creative events to the young people of the county including the launch of a new pilot theatre project in Kilkee. Monica Spencer, Creative Youth Partnership Co-ordinator with the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board tells us that Call & Response is all about encouraging and engaging youth voices. “The name of the festival came from the call and response term in music, but really …

REGENERATION and resilience will be celebrated in Mountshannon later this month, thanks to a collaboration between diverse members of the East Clare arts community. The pandemic presented all kinds of hurdles in terms of live performance and, after taking their offerings online in 2020, Mountshannon Arts Festival this year opted for two mini-festivals on the theme of ‘regeneration’. The first event was held in June and the second is scheduled for September 24-26, traditionally the weekend of the Mountshannon Trad Festival, which ran to huge acclaim between 2010 and 2019. Aistear Park will be the focal point for a weekend of arts events and traditional music and will host an open air market for the duration. The collaboration has been made possible thanks to a funding award secured by Cliodhna Donnellan, artist, promoter, producer and co-ordinator of Mountshannon Trad Festival, under the Live Outdoor Local Performance Scheme from Clare County Council. The event will provide a platform for traditional artists …