The Linenhall Arts Centre

• Performances
• Workshops
• Exhibitions

The Doubles Partner

LUNCHTIME THEATRE Saturday 18th May @ 2.00pm

It’s another ‘quiet night in’ with the crossword over at John and Mary’s house. But John has forgotten to mention that his new doubles partner is calling around later for a visit. When she arrives, life may never be the same again...
After winning first place in this year’s Claremorris Fringe Theatre Festival, Castlebar writer Ken Armstrong’s blackly-comic fifteen-minute drama hits the Linenhall for a Saturday lunchtime treat.
With a strong cast featuring Donna Ruane, Eamon Smith and Tara Kelly, directed by the good Ken himself, and sporting some excellent word-of-mouth from those who saw it in Claremorris, this is one you might not want to miss! Come and celebrate some seriously talented local talent.
Running time: 15 minutes

Adm. €5

Jon Kenny Live

COMEDY Thursday 16th May @ 8.00pm

Jon Kenny Live heralds a return for Jon to the type of work that gave him the reputation as one of Ireland’s most talented comedians. Jon uses the changing face of contemporary Ireland as the scaffold on which to build his hilarious observations and
characters in this new show. Running through such contrasting experiences as supporting Munster rugby to visiting a health spa, Jon takes no prisoners and delights in emphasizing the humour in everyday life. He adds, “The show is really intimate. There
are no sets, no props, no costume changes it is just fun and laughter all the way!” Formally one half of the hugely successful duo d’Unbelievables, Jon Kenny is one of Ireland’s best-loved entertainers. In these days of doom and gloom, an evening of
hilarious comedy in the company of the inimitable Jon Kenny is just what the doctor ordered.

“He has an uncanny eye for the most absurd elements of life as we know it while at the same time lampooning the idiocies spawned by recently discovered (and just as quickly lost) affluence.” - Hot Press

Adm. €18 / €14 (concessions)

Amour

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 14th May @ 8.00pm

Winner of this year’s Oscar for Best Foreign Film, two veteran actors, Emmanuelle Riva and Jean-Louis Trintignant are superb as the central roles in Michael Haneke’s latest film. A couple in their 80s, Georges and Anne are cultivated, retired music teachers. After an attempted break-in at the couple’s apartment, the next morning over breakfast Anne goes into a trance heralding the beginning of her physical and mental decline, in which the couple s long-standing love is put to the ultimate test. A tour de force from a great director.

“This is a masterpiece.” - Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inqirer
“Amour is the simplest yet most passionate film of Haneke's incredible career.” - Peter Howell, Toronto Star
“In the history of movies about love, Amour shall last forever.” – Mary Corliss, TIME magazine
“Transfixing and extraordinarily touching, perhaps the most hauntingly honest movie about old age ever made.” - Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly
“A film of delicacy and immense force.” - Jonahan Romney, Screen International
“Devastatingly original and unflinching… a staggering, intensely moving look at old age and life’s end.” - Dave Calhoun, Time Out

Adm. €5


Access Cinema website.

Máirtín Ó Connor, Zoë Conway & Dónal Lunny

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Monday 13th May @ 8.00pm

This dream Music Network concert brings together the dazzling talents of three of the country’s finest musicians. The consummate button box player, Máirtín Ó Connor was one of the driving forces behind the Riverdance phenomenon. Add to that his work with the bands De Dannan, Midnight Well and Skylark, his reputation as a composer and solo artist, and recording sessions with Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello and Mark Knopfler, and it’s easy to see why Ó Connor is regarded as something of a national treasure. Fiddle player Zoë Conway is an awesome talent equally at home playing and singing Latin jazz with Rodrigo y Gabriella, as a guest soloist with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, performing with Lou Reed and Nick Cave, or touring the world with Riverdance. However, traditional Irish music remains close to her heart, witnessed in her highly-acclaimed solo albums.
Guitar and bouzouki player Dónal Lunny needs no introduction, having made his name as a member of the hugely influential groups Planxty, The Bothy Band, Altan and Moving Hearts. A gifted composer, arranger and producer, Lunny has also worked with rock and pop musicians such as Van Morrison, Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello and Kate Bush. Put the three together and you have a musical match made in heaven!

“Máirtín O’Connor is a squeeze box player in the very top echelon.” - Irish Music Magazine
“Virtuoso – one of Ireland’s most gifted young musicians.” - The Irish Independent on Zoe Conway
“Donal Lunny… a man who has been at the coal face of Irish music for the past five decades.” - Hot Press

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)
Music Network website

Whitethorn Theatre Company - The Salvage Shop

LOCAL ARTS: THEATRE Thursday 9th & Friday 10th May @ 8.00pm

Sylvester Tansey, owner of The Salvage Shop, is a strict taskmaster who demands loyalty from family, friends and the band he conducts in the seaside town of Garris. In his twilight years, the opera buff and bandmaster is left with his unfulfilled dreams, and the bitter memory of his band failing to win a prestigious state-wide musical competition. Now rebellion is brewing in the ranks, and the time has come for the maestro to pass on his baton, but Sylvester has a long memory and the sting of betrayal still smarts after all these years. Meanwhile his son Eddie, euphonium player in exile, invokes the intervention of the great Luciano Pavarotti as he struggles to forge a reconciliation with his father…
Written by playwright Jim Nolan, directed by veteran director Frank Herraghty. A Whitethorn production in association with the Linenhall Arts Centre.

Adm. €14 / €12 (concessions)

The Sapphires

BEALTAINE: FREE FILM MATINEE Thursday 9th May @ 3.00pm

Australia 2012 103 mins Certificate: PG

Inspired by a true story, The Sapphires follows four vivacious, young and talented Aboriginal Australian girls from a remote mission as they learn about love, friendship and war. Set at the height of the Vietnam War and the civil rights movement and brimming with Motown hits, this portrait of a late 1960s girl group - Australia's answer to The Supremes - is a celebration of great music and triumph in the face of adversity after the foursome - Gail, Julie, Kay and Cynthia (energetic performances throughout from Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy, Shari Sebbens, Miranda Tapsell) - are discovered one night in a dusty outback tavern by talent scout Dave (Chris O'Dowd). Directed by Wayne Blair and based on the hit stage play by Tony Briggs, whose mother and three aunts formed the real-life singing quartet, The Sapphires is an effervescent, irresistible crowd-pleaser, with plenty of sass to go along with its fully earned sentiment.

“A gem of a film.” - Toronto International Film Festival 2012

Adm: FREE


Access Cinema website.

Rocks’n’Roses

LOCAL ARTS: CHORAL Tuesday 7th/Wednesday 8th May @ 8.00pm

Established in September 2012 at Rock Rose House in Castlebar, Rocks’n’Roses is a choir for people that have had a cancer diagnosis. The members of the choir are from all around County Mayo, and they come together every Wednesday to practise, guided by their Musical Director, Belcarra native Kathy Fahey. In the short time of being together, the choir has covered many genres, and from this Kathy has picked a collection of songs that are lively, easy to sing along with and, most of all, fun. Special guests appearing on both nights will include the Mayo Gospel Choir. This will be the first time that Rocks'n'Roses has performed in front of an audience, and by doing so, the members will ably demonstrate how they have grown in confidence, and also prove that life can be good after a serious illness, gaining new energy and new friends along the way.

Adm: €14 / €12 (concessions)

The Giants (Les Géants)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 30th April @ 8.00pm

Belgium 2011 84mins Language: French with English subtitles
Director Bouli Lanners introduces us to two adolescent brothers and their friend in this joyous, heartwarming film with an endearing Mark-Twain-meets-Ken-Loach vibe that deftly negotiates between heartbreak and hilarity. Neglected by their families, the three lovable scamps fend for themselves in a house in the woods that belongs to the brothers’ late grandfather. But euphoria and bravado are tested by a picaresque series of events including encounters with a psychotic big brother and a drug dealer looking to use the house as a marijuana farm. Lushly filmed, the story is underpinned by three superb central performances by the boys.

“A lovely drunken roll of a movie, brightly played by its adolescent cast, luxuriating in a Belgian countryside of whispering grass and fairytale forests.” - Xan Brooks, The Guardian
“Films seldom capture the quicksilver highs and lows of being young half as well as this light-touch Belgian drama.”
- Cath Clarke, Time Out

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

Giulio Cesare (Handel)

OPERA: THE MET LIVE IN HD Saturday 27th April 2013 @ 5.00 pm (note earlier time)

The opera that conquered London in Handel’s own time comes to the Met in David McVicar’s lively new production. Leading countertenor David Daniels is Julius Ceasar opposite the remarkable French soprano Natalie Dessay as an irresistibly exotic Cleopatra. Baroque specialist Harry Bicket conducts.

Classical Arts Ireland website.

Standard ticket: €24 Student/child: €12 Family of 4: €60
Season ticket (all 7 operas from 15th December 21012 – 27th April 2013): €105
3 For 2 Offer: €48 for any 3 CONSECUTIVE operas

Barbara

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 16th April @ 8.00pm

Germany 2012 105mins Language: German with English subtitles
A simmering, impeccably crafted Cold War drama set in 1980, Barbara is a Berlin doctor who has been banished to the stifling grind of a rural East German medical centre as punishment for applying for an exit visa. Continually harassed by a local Stasi official, and plotting an escape to the West and her West German boyfriend, she finds herself growing more attached to a young fellow physician, a gentle loner whose intentions are never quite clear, and she’s eventually thrown into a dilemma between the need for freedom and the warmth and gratitude she receives from others. An Oscar-nominated film from writer/director Christian Petzold.

“An enthralling little gem.” - Pauline McLeod, Daily Express
“An elegant drama based on human and political dilemmas.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“Tough and tender, it’s the best Iron Curtain drama since The Lives of Others.” - Philip Wilding, Empire Magazine

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

Trio Mediaeval (Norway)

VOCAL MUSIC Monday 15th April @ 8.00pm

“Beguiling”, “intoxicating” and “mesmerizing” are just some of the superlatives used by critics to describe the extraordinary sound of Trio Medieval, a Norwegian vocal ensemble that has captivated audiences worldwide with a songbook spanning medieval music, traditional Norwegian ballads and contemporary works. The unique voices of sopranos Anna Maria Friman and Berit Opheim and mezzo soprano Catherine King blend together with seamless and unnerving accuracy, but for all the hauntingly pure harmonies and vocal finesse, the trio deliver songs from a bygone era with a tenderness that melts away the centuries. Founded in 1997, the group’s first album Words of the Angel reached Billboard’s Top 10 Bestseller list, while their most recent release Folk Songs won a Grammy nomination in 2008. The ensemble has performed in cathedrals, monasteries and industrial spaces as well as prestigious halls such as the Concertgebouw, Wigmore Hall and the Vienna Konzerthaus. (Due to health issues, Trio member Torunn Østrem Ossum is indisposed and unfortunately has withdrawn from her participation in this tour. Music Network is pleased to confirm that renowned mezzo soprano Catherine King joins Trio Mediaeval for these performances. Catherine has performed as part of Trio Mediaeval on numerous occasions and has very kindly agreed to replace Torunn for the tour period.)

“If you could bottle the joie de vivre that comes from the members of Trio Mediaeval you could probably sell it not just as a pick-me-up, but as some form of basic life-force.” Michael Dervan, The Irish Times

Adm. €16 / €14 (concessions)
Music Network website

Fishamble - Silent

THEATRE Thursday 11th April @ 8.00pm

Homeless McGoldrig once had splendid things. But he has lost it all - including his mind. He now dives into the wonderful wounds of his past through the romantic world of Rudolph Valentino, in this brave, bold, beautiful production. Silent has been wowing audiences on an extensive tour both nationally and internationally in Europe and the USA. Written and performed by Pat Kinevane, and directed by Jim Culleton, this production was winner of the Fringe First and Herald Angel Awards at Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2011, and Argus Angel at Brighton Festival 2012. Together with Forgotten (see above) part of an exciting double bill from Fishamble: The New Play Company. Running time: 80 mins.

“Passionate one-man show… stunning.” - The New York Times
“A must-see if ever there was one.” - The List
“Fabulous dance of whirling words.” - The Herald
“Dazzling theatricality.” - The Guardian
“Remarkable. Marvellous.” - Irish Independent
“A striking performance under Jim Culleton’s effective direction... pulses with the erratic noise of life.” - Irish Times

Adm. €16 / €14 (concessions)
Double Deal with Forgotten: see both shows for €25

Fishamble's website.

Fishamble - Forgotten

THEATRE Wednesday 10th April @ 8.00pm

‘Has no one a skitter o’ dignity left?’ Flor wants to bath himself; Dora wants her chowder now; Gustus wants his house back; Eucharia wants to make an announcement… With exhilarating theatricality and haunting honesty, Pat Kinevane’s captivating performance brings to life these sometimes forgotten voices of society. This production is now in its 7th year, with over 100 performances throughout Ireland and on tour to the UK, USA and Europe. Written and performed by Pat Kinevane, directed by Jim Culleton. Together with Silent (see below) part of an exciting double bill from Fishamble: The New Play Company, a multi-award winning Irish company dedicated to the discovery, development and production of new work for the theatre. Running time: 80 mins.

“Beautifully written... vivid… uniquely memorable.” - The New Yorker
“Drop everything. Book now...captivating, moving and - yes - even unforgettable.” - The Irish Times
“An incredibly moving piece of theatre…unequivocally beautiful.” - The Scotsman

Adm. €16 / €14 (concessions)
Double Deal with Silent: see both shows for €25

Fishamble's website.

Holy Motors

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 2nd April @ 8.00pm

France 2012 115mins Language: French, English
The latest offering from director Leos Carax (Les Amants du Pont-Neuf) is a remarkable film located firmly in the Surrealist tradition, defying categorisation or explanation. From dawn to dusk through the streets of an eerie, beautiful and strangely fluid Paris, the mysterious Monsieur Oscar is driven by his chauffeuse Céline in a white stretch limousine to a series of situations, assuming for these ‘appointments’ a range of elaborate and preposterous disguises: an old woman, a wealthy businessman, a tramp, an assassin… While this may sound like hardcore ‘arthouse’, critics from all quarters have hailed this film as groundbreaking, extraordinary and beautiful. Come and see why for yourselves.

“Captivating and compelling…weird and wonderful, rich and strange… wayward, kaleidoscopic, black comic and bizarre… a bravura exercise in pure imagination.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“Exhilarating.” - Richard & Mary Corliss, TIME Magazine
“[A] crazy-beautiful reverie about movies, love, the love of movies, and the inevitability of human melancholy.”
- Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

Iarla Ó Lionáird, Cleek Schrey & Ivan Goff

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Monday 25th March @ 8.00pm

There’s no mistaking the sublime, utterly compelling vocal talents of Iarla Ó Lionáird. One of the most ambitious recording artists in Ireland today, he has performed with groups as diverse as The Gloaming, Afro Celt Sound System, Gavin Bryars, Peter Gabriel and The Crash Ensemble, while reimagining sean nós crooning in his solo albums, most recently in the critically acclaimed Foxlight. For this Music Network tour, Ó Lionáird is accompanied by Cleek Schrey’s unique fiddle playing, which fuses Irish stylings with the Old-time music of Virginia. Sharing Ó Lionáird’s pioneering spirit, Schrey has collaborated in recent years with old time fiddler Stephanie Coleman, percussive dance phenomenon Nic Gareiss, and the viol consort Sonnambula. Completing the line-up is All-Ireland champion piper and fellow New York resident Ivan Goff, who has performed in many theatrical productions as well as playing with Riverdance, Whirligig, Cathie Ryan and Lúnasa.

“The finest sean nós singer in these islands today.” Hot Press
“One of the most dramatic voices in contemporary music.”
- The Guardian
“Genius is the operative word here.” - Time Out

Adm. €16 / €14 (concessions)
Music Network website

Pat Shortt - I Am The Band

COMEDY Saturday 23rd March @ 8.00pm

Pat Shortt’s new one-man comedy show charts the life of solo lounge musician Dixie Walsh. The show is a tribute night where Dixie’s peers and friends (the audience) come to celebrate his career, as Dixie reminisces about the path his career has taken and the struggles he has had to endure to get to the top of his game. Pat Shortt is one of Ireland’s best-loved comedians. As Dixie Walsh, he has had one of the biggest selling number one singles with The Jumbo Breakfast Roll. A much-loved character in two of Pat’s sell out shows, Dixie now takes centre stage to tell his life story and shares his unique style of music with you. Pat Shortt’s quirky interpretation of rural Irish characters brings to life Dixie’s mother, his teacher and other locals who queue up to recall their daft memories of Dixie and his music. I Am The Band is a hilarious look at life on the back roads between Ireland’s dance halls, and a tribute to one of this country’s true music legends - Dixie Walsh.

“Shortt is a master of the art of lampooning the weird and wonderful characters of rural Ireland. One of our most successful funny men seemingly has plenty of devilment up his sleeve, and it’s a pleasure to witness it close up” - Eamon Sweeney, Irish Independent

Adm. €28

Pat Shortt's website.

Garrymore Drama Group - Dancing at Lughnasa

LOCAL ARTS: THEATRE Thursday 21st March @ 8.00pm

Since its premier production at the Abbey in 1990, Brian Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa has rapidly established itself as a modern classic in both Irish and international theatre. Set in 1936 in Ballybeg Co. Donegal, the home of the five unmarried Mundy sisters and their brother Jack, a priest recently returned from 25 years in an African leper colony, this memory play unfolds from the point of view of adult narrator Michael, then 8 years old, the illegitimate son of the youngest sister. His memories of that fateful time, centred round the festival of the Celtic god Lugh, bring into sharp focus images of love, loss, and moments of intense emotion in a play of layered meanings, conflicting rituals and family tensions. Garrymore Drama Group has been in existence since the early 1980s and are well established with many successful productions and two All Ireland Confined titles to their credit. This year they bring to life Brian Friel’s much-loved classic, in a production directed by Frankie Ralph O’Malley.

Adm: €14 / €12 (concessions)

About Elly (Darbareye Elly)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 19th March @ 8.00pm

Iran 2009 109mins Language: Persian with English subtitles
The huge success of Oscar-winning A Separation resulted in director Asghar Farhadi’s back catalogue coming to international attention. Beginning with a little white lie, About Elly is a gripping psychological drama exploring social strictures and tensions that showcases one of the brightest new stars of contemporary Iranian cinema. A group of well-heeled young former college friends from Tehran head off on a break to the seaside with newcomer Elly, who they hope might hit it off with recently divorced Ahmad. But lively banter and high spirits fade as events escalate, and when Elly disappears recriminations fly as the truth emerges.

“Superbly acted, morally challenging, packed with legitimate suspense, this is film-making of a high order.” – Philip French, The Observer
“Fascinating psychological drama… powerfully acted, disturbing and suspenseful.” – Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“Incredibly gripping and brilliantly directed.”
– Jennifer Tate, ViewLondon

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

Francesca da Rimini (Zandonai)

OPERA: THE MET LIVE IN HD Saturday 16th March 2013 @ 4.00pm (note earlier time)

Zandonai’s compelling and melodic opera, inspired by an episode from Dante’s Inferno, returns in the Met’s ravishingly beautiful production, last seen in 1986. Dramatic soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek and tenor Marcello Giordani are the doomed lovers. Marco Armiliato conducts.

Classical Arts Ireland website.

Standard ticket: €24 Student/child: €12 Family of 4: €60
Season ticket (all 7 operas from 15th December 21012 – 27th April 2013): €105
3 For 2 Offer: €48 for any 3 CONSECUTIVE operas

Vickers Vimy

FOLK MUSIC Thursday 14th March @ 8.00pm

Vickers Vimy is a five-piece collective formed by Ed Drea and Fintan Hanley, who write and perform “laid back folk tunes in the style of Paul Simon or Jack Johnson”. The Galway-based band takes its name from one of the most celebrated cross-Atlantic adventures, the flight of the Vickers Vimy from New Foundland to Clifden, Connemara in 1919. Inspired by the story, Ed and Fintan wrote and recorded an album. Produced by Daragh O’Toole and mixed by Ger McDonnell, it features Colm Mac Con Iomaire from The Frames and The Swell Season and a good crew of friends, with well-known Davitt College Music teacher and school Musical Producer Eamonn Mulderrig on drums. Vickers Vimy have supported such greats as John Martyn, The Hothouse Flowers, Mundy, The Guggenheim Grotto and Maria Doyle Kennedy. They released their critically acclaimed debut single, Devil on Your Back in 2012. Their long awaited debut album That Vinyl Scratch will see light of day in March 2013.

“Stand up and take a bow Vickers Vimy… you write some lovely songs and you exude a gorgeous vitality!” - Hot Press

Adm. €12 / €10 (concessions)

Vickers Vimy's website.

Deirdre Moynihan & The Irish Baroque Orchestra Chamber Soloists - Hidden Handel: Where Light and Shadows Merge

CLASSICAL MUSIC Tuesday 12th March @ 8.00pm

Hidden Handel brings together a number of Ireland’s foremost Early Music artists to perform a collection of Handel’s most joyous and profound arias. Experience the mellow and haunting sounds of original Baroque instruments. Be transported from the hectic pace of modern life by the ethereal voice of soprano soloist, Deirdre Moynihan. A celebration of the wonders of nature: dramatic melodies; vivid imagery; sweet stillness. A unique opportunity to hear international soprano Deirdre Moynihan and the Irish Baroque Orchestra Chamber Soloists perform live in the Linenhall. Don’t miss it!

“Deirdre Moynihan... sheer quality.” - John Rountree, Chairman, Ardee Baroque Festival
“Irish Baroque Orchestra... fresh invigorating vitality.” - Munster Express

Adm. €16 / €14 (concessions)

Deirdre Moynihan's website.
Irish Baroque Orchestra website.

St Gerald’s College - Spring Concert

LOCAL ARTS: MUSIC CONCERT Monday 11th March @ 8.00pm

St Gerald’s College Art and Music Department proudly presents its third annual Spring Recital. The Music Department is a busy spot in St Gerald’s College with students involved in much music making both in the school and locality. Highlights of the Recital will include: the school choir who participated in the Sligo Choral Festival, the grúpa ceoil who played at the Trad for Trócaire gig in the school, solo singers and instrumentalists who have competed in All Ireland Schools Talent Search and various ensembles. A variety of genres will feature from rock to pop, classical to traditional. All are welcome to see and hear for themselves just how talented these young boys are!

Adm. €10 / €5 (concessions)

A variety of paintings and prints from students of all years will be on display on the night as part of a concurrent exhibition by St Gerald’s College Art students. (See ‘Exhibitions’ page for details.)

Samsara

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 5th March @ 8.00pm

USA 2011 99mins Language: None
Described as an unparalleled sensory experience searching for the elusive current of interconnection that runs through our lives, Samsara is a new, non-verbal documentary from filmmakers Ron Fricke and Mark Magidson, An ‘audiovisual symphony’ filmed over a period of almost five years and in twenty-five countries, Samsara transports us to sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial sites, and natural wonders. By dispensing with dialogue and descriptive text, Samsara subverts our expectations of a traditional documentary, instead encouraging our own inner interpretations inspired by images and music that infuses the ancient with the modern.

“Transcendental...masterful... one of the most breathtaking cinematic experiences this year.” - Raffi Asdourian, The Film Stage
“Awesome, gorgeous, spellbinding. Not to be missed!” - Boston Herald
“A film that dazzles the eye. Who knew the world still concealed so much eccentric loveliness?” - Donald Clarke, The Irish Times
“Achingly beautiful and visually transfixing... It’s a movie to get lost in.” - Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

Ger Carey Live - Stand-Up for Teenagers

YOUTH THEATRE Monday 4th March @ 11.20am

Ger Carey is back with his new show!
Stand-up for Teenagers is 90 minutes of stand-up comedy for teenagers, taking a hilarious sideways look at fame, television, music, advertising and the future for teenagers. If you are between 15 and 19, you cannot afford to miss this show!

Adm. €10 (Teachers free)

NB: Booking through Armed Eye. Tel: 059 9141333

Parsifal (Wagner)

OPERA: THE MET LIVE IN HD Saturday 2nd March 2013 @ 5.00pm (note earlier time)

The great German tenor Jonas Kaufmann stars in the title role of the innocent who finds wisdom in François Girard’s new vision for Wagner’s final masterpiece. His fellow Wagnerian luminaries include Katarina Dalayman as the mysterious Kundry, Peter Mattei as the ailing Amfortas, Evgeny Nikitin as the wicked Klingsor, and René Pape as the noble knight Gurnemanz. Daniele Gatti conducts.

Classical Arts Ireland website.

Standard ticket: €24 Student/child: €12 Family of 4: €60
Season ticket (all 7 operas from 15th December 21012 – 27th April 2013): €105
3 For 2 Offer: €48 for any 3 CONSECUTIVE operas

Beezneez - Scorpion

THEATRE Tuesday 26th February @ 8.00pm

John McDwyer’s new play is a searing, honest appraisal of life at the end of the Celtic Tiger. Three Sales Managers meet in their Sales Director’s office, ostensibly to meet their new Managing Director but, in fact, to meet their future. For some, that is more promising than for others. As they await their call, they ‘bat the breeze’ and in scenes rich in uncompromising dialogue they fight for position and score points on one another without fear or favour. Written by the Beezneez Artistic Director, McDwyer pulls no punches with his dialogue in this important new work and, while full of witty comment and sparkling one-liners, Scorpion ultimately delivers “a bang up to date commentary on the state of Ireland in the current climate” and presents the audience with identifiable characters who will remain in the memory long after the show is over.

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

The Unthanks

FOLK MUSIC Saturday 23rd February @ 8.00pm

Known for their timeless, unsentimental and quietly subversive tales of loss, fear, booze, brawls, abuse and sorrow, siblings Rachel and Becky Unthank are honest, young storytellers outside of time, forging links between folk worlds old, new and other. With fans as diverse as Radiohead, Portishead, Robert Wyatt, Elvis Costello and Rosanne Cash, The Unthanks have established themselves as the most innovative and critically acclaimed folk band in modern history. Using a kaleidoscope of unlikely instruments, their unique approach to storytelling straddles the complex relationship between modernism and learning from the past. And it is wonderful. Their second album The Bairns was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and appeared in The Best Albums of the Decade in both Uncut and The Guardian. Their latest offering, Here’s the Tender Coming (2009) was both BBC and Mojo Magazine Folk Album of the Year.

“Music that is so complete, so wonderful, unique and yet familiar that it stops you in your tracks.” - BBC Music
“They are fresh and new and I really don’t think they know how good they are.” -Robert Wyatt
“..a rare, undisciplined magic... formidable.” - fRoots (of Here’s the Tender Coming)
“Absolutely exquisite.” - Paul Morley, The Observer

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

The Unthanks' website.

The Snows of Kilimanjaro (Les Neiges du Kilimanjaro)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 19th February @ 8.00pm

2011 France 107mins Language: French with English subtitles
Inspired by a Victor Hugo poem, director Robert Guédiguian introduces us to the world of Michel and Marie-Claire, a couple who have lived happily together for 30 years. Upstanding middle-aged factory worker and socialist shop steward Michel has just been forced into early retirement, but soon after they are attacked in their home, beaten, tied up and robbed of everything including their wedding rings. However it transpires that one of their attackers is a co-worker also made redundant, a young man who is attempting to support himself and his young dependents. An eloquent and quietly gripping film about the politics of everyday life.

“Honest and affecting… honourable, immensely moving and eventually inspiring... It left me with tears in my eyes.” - Philip French, The Observer
“Engaging, affecting, and never afraid to show its political heart… offers an important parable for our times.” - Film Society Lincoln Center
“Richly textured... hearty... fable-like.” – Richard Brody, The New Yorker
“Populist, politically intelligent drama.” - Geoff Andrew, Time Out

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

Rigoletto (Verdi)

OPERA: THE MET LIVE IN HD Saturday 16th February 2013 @ 5.55pm

Director Michael Mayer has placed his new production of Verdi’s gripping tragedy in Las Vegas in 1960. In this production, inspired by the antics of the Rat Pack, Piotr Beczala is the womanizing Duke of Mantua, Željko Lucic is his tragic sidekick, Rigoletto, and Diana Damrau is Rigoletto’s daughter, Gilda.

Classical Arts Ireland website.

Standard ticket: €24 Student/child: €12 Family of 4: €60
Season ticket (all 7 operas from 15th December 21012 – 27th April 2013): €105
3 For 2 Offer: €48 for any 3 CONSECUTIVE operas

Dyad Productions - Female Gothic

THEATRE Tuesday 12th February @ 8.00pm

An artist, gripped by the clutching fingers of a dead past; a scientist, defying nature in the dark realm of the senses; an expectant father driven mad by creeping shadows… In the unquiet, Stygian darkness between life and death, a lone, haunted woman tells chilling tales of the macabre and terrifying, illuminating the curious frailties of human nature… The Victorian fascination with tales of mystery and the supernatural created an enduring legacy of Gothic fiction; but it is often the male writers that we remember. Many thrilling and eerie stories from the great female writers of that era have gathered dust and been forgotten. Until now.
This dark celebration of female gothic is adapted and performed by Rebecca Vaughan (Austen’s Women, I, Elizabeth), and directed by Olivier Award Winner, Guy Masterson.

“Rebecca Vaughan is amazing. A master class in storytelling. Chilling, haunting, dazzling. Female Gothic is a real delight. Brilliant, brilliant work." - Hairline magazine
"A classy one-woman show... undeniably atmospheric, and the images that Vaughan evokes in the theatre linger for a while after you’ve left her dark parlour, haunting you still." - The Stage
“Wonderfully eerie to experience and manages to capture that most intangible of theatre goals, the real fear of the audience. Genuinely chilling." - British Theatre Guide
“Exquisite… Brilliant. Beautiful.” - One4Review
“Holds the audience in the palm of its hand. A near perfect piece of theatre.” - The Scotsman

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Dyad Productions' website.

I’ll Live ‘til I Die - Celebrating the Life of Delia Murphy

MUSIC & PERFORMANCE Thursday 7th February @ 8.00pm

Liam Clancy described Delia Murphy as a pivotal figure who took up the Irish ballad and turned it into something of her own. I’ll Live ‘til I Die is a celebration in words and song of the iconic Delia (1903-1971), the renowned Mayo-born singer who gave the Irish ballad international recognition and ensured its everlasting appeal.
Musician and teacher Gerry Anderson plays and talks through Delia’s career drawing on his knowledge of the singer as the first inspiration as a folk balladeer and Traditional musician, and looking at her place in Irish music and the people she inspired as Ireland’s first lady of song. A selection of Delia’s favourite songs such as The Spinning Wheel and If I Were a Blackbird will be performed by professional actress and singer Márín O'Donovan. And Delia’s niece, the poet and playwright Carmen Cullen, adds some family reminiscences and reads from her novel Two Sisters Singing, a book inspired by the larger-than-life Delia herself.

"Delia Murphy... a heroine and the most popular singer in the country.” - Liam Clancy

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

IFI National presents A Mayo Ciné-Concert

ARCHIVE CINEMA + LIVE MUSIC Tuesday 5th February @ 8.00pm

IFI National presents A Mayo Ciné-Concert
This remarkable programme of films from the IFI Irish Film Archive features films made in and about Mayo by amateur and professional filmmakers. It includes:

Whaling Afloat and Ashore – the earliest documentary made in Ireland filmed at a whaling station on Iniskea in 1908.

Waters of Providence - a film made by Fr Francis Browne SJ at the Foxford Woollen Mills in 1947 which provides a fascinating record of the community at work, at prayer and at leisure.

The films will be accompanied by a score devised by internationally renowned musicians Colm and Rossa O Snodaigh of Kíla and harpist Cormac de Barra, who will use instrumental, percussive, foley and vocal elements to produce a dynamic fusion of traditional and contemporary music.
This programme is funded by Arts Council Touring.

Adm. €10

Irish Film Institute website.

Big Guerrilla Productions - The Sand Park

THEATRE Thursday 24th January @ 8.00pm

The Sand Park is the some¬times hilar¬i¬ous account of how big-hearted Offaly farmer James Anthony Low¬ery, a man in his mid-fifties, came to terms with the death of his son fif¬teen years ago and now, more recently, that of his wife Rose. It’s a play about rural Irish life and the way we cope with the inevitable, it’s a play about how life and death and humour and love and sad¬ness all live in the same house together… And then a strange thing happens… Funny, uplifting and real, The Sand Park is a new play writ¬ten and per¬formed by Sea¬mus O’Rourke, following on from the success of his sell-out hit comedy Victor’s Dung, which played 95 performances to packed houses around the country. The Sand Park has been getting standing ovations wherever it’s been performed. Come and see why.

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

“Unashamedly rural, unassumingly brilliant… Utterly compelling, funny and tender, The Sand Park is a beautifully crafted piece of theatre and O'Rourke is absolutely superb.”.” - Will Govan, The Moth magazine
“The play turns all the clichés of how the Irish deal with death, funerals and wakes upside down. I cried and I laughed but as with all of O’Rourke’s work I left the theatre with a lot to think about.” - Charlie McGettigan, Shannonside Radio

The Imposter

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 22nd January @ 8.00pm

UK 2012 95mins Language: English
A totally gripping documentary feature by Bart Layton based on bizarre true life events. In 1994, 13 year-old Texan boy Nicholas Barclay vanished without a trace. In 1997 the boy is found in Spain, with a story of kidnap by shadowy captors. His family is ecstatic to have him back no matter how strange the circumstances, but back in Texas suspicions begin to surface. How could the Barclay’s blonde, blue-eyed son have returned with darker skin and eyes? How could his personality and even accent have changed so profoundly? Why does the family not seem to notice the glaring differences? And if this person isn’t the Barclay’s missing child, who is he? And what really happened to Nicholas? A fusion of confessional interviews, strikingly creative re-enactments and suspenseful storytelling that poses questions about truth, perception and the ease of fooling people who want to be fooled.

“Pure, delicious suspense.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“Dazzling.” - Tirkdad Derakhshani, Philadelphia Inquirer
“Enthralling.” - David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

Maria Stuarda (Donizetti)

OPERA: THE MET LIVE IN HD Saturday 19th January @ 5.55pm

The stunning Mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, takes on the virtuosic bel canto role of the doomed Mary, Queen of Scots. Director David McVicar turns to the second opera of Donizetti’s Tudor trilogy, which explores regal characters at fateful moments of their lives. Elza van den Heever sings Elizabeth I, and Maurizio Benini conducts. A Met premiere.

Classical Arts Ireland website.

Standard ticket: €24 Student/child: €12 Family of 4: €60
Season ticket (all 7 operas from 15th December 21012 – 27th April 2013): €105
3 For 2 Offer: €48 for any 3 CONSECUTIVE operas

Fractal - Philip Lawson & Anna Murray

CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL Wednesday 16th January @ 8.00pm

Fractal is a contemporary music production company set up by composer, musician and writer Anna Murray and Irish classical guitarist Philip Lawson. It aims to create new contexts for contemporary music through informal settings and collaboration with other media. Dedicated to new Irish music, for this concert Fractal has commissioned new works for guitar and electronics from five Irish composers, to be performed as part of their debut tour by Philip Lawson. The pieces run the gamut from exciting rhythmic studies to contemplative musical meditations, each accompanied by a visual realisation of the music by Irish video artists including Maura McDonnell, Eric Grehan, Carsten Krieger and Jane Cassidy.
Programme: Garrett Sholdice - 3 Interludes; Conal Ryan - Catalogue; Francis Heery - Reflected Shadow Reversed; Sebastian Adams - Tweet Piece (#2): Anna Murray - Mutter; plus Benjamin Dwyer - Étude No. 1; Fergal Dowling - Stops.

“Philip Lawson… sensitive interpretations, mastery of tone and strong sense of musicality.” - Irish Composers’ Collective

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Fractal on Facebook.

Les Troyens (Berlioz)

OPERA: THE MET LIVE IN HD Saturday 5th January 2013 @ 5.00pm (note earlier time)

The Met offers worldwide HD audiences a rare opportunity to witness Berlioz’s vast epic, last performed at the Met in 2003. Deborah Voigt, Susan Graham, Marcello Giordani, and Dwayne Croft lead the star-studded cast, portraying characters from the Trojan War. Met Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi marshals the enormous and spectacular musical forces involved.

Classical Arts Ireland website.

Standard ticket: €24 Student/child: €12 Family of 4: €60
Season ticket (all 7 operas from 15th December 21012 – 27th April 2013): €105
3 For 2 Offer: €48 for any 3 CONSECUTIVE operas

Aida (Verdi)

OPERA: THE MET LIVE IN HD Saturday 15th December @ 5.55pm

The Met’s lavish and unforgettable production of Verdi’s ancient Egyptian drama stars Liudmyla Monastyrska as the enslaved Ethiopian princess caught in a love triangle with the heroic Radamès, played by Roberto Alagna, and the proud Egyptian princess Amneris, sung by Olga Borodina. Fabio Luisi conducts.

Introduction to the Show
Classical Arts Ireland website.

http://classicalartsireland.com/aida/

Standard ticket: €24 Student/child: €12 Family of 4: €60
Season ticket (all 7 operas from 15th December 21012 – 27th April 2013): €105
3 For 2 Offer: €48 for any 3 CONSECUTIVE operas

The Artist

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 11th December @ 8.00pm

France 2011 100mins Silent... almost!

Travel back to a golden age of cinema in this enchanting, comedic tribute to silent films. It’s 1927, and the handsome, debonaire George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) is Hollywood’s biggest star. Unhappily married, he unwittingly steals the heart of unknown extra Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo), who dreams of stardom. When the studio converts to the ‘talkies’, Valentin takes it upon himself to keep the silent era alive, risking his career and his fortune. Needing little introduction at this stage, The Artist became the most awarded French film in history, scooping 3 Golden Globes, 7 BAFTAs and 5 Oscars for this highly entertaining romantic comedy-drama. Here’s a chance to see it on the big screen as it was intended. Laugh, cry, love it.

“A small, exquisitely-cut jewel.” - Ty Burr, Boston Globe
“A dazzling tale of love and loss.” - Philip French, The Observer
“Delightful, ingenious, funny, poignant and, in its own small way, profound.” - Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

Julie Feeney + St Joseph’s Secondary School

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC Monday 10th December @ 8.00pm

Multi-award-winning singer-composer Julie Feeney has performed sell-out shows across America, Ireland, England, France, Italy, Germany, Canada and Holland with her own ensemble and numerous orchestras. Her third album is due for release this autumn, and she is currently working on her first opera commission. Sharp witted, unpretentious and fiercely passionate, Julie’s sound is unquestionably original, rooted in Classical music whilst comfortably straddling pop and theatre. As part of this innovative national project and tour, Julie will be scoring music for and working with ten different local choirs, each of which will part-accompany her at their local performance venue. The choir appearing with Julie for this very special performance at the Linenhall is St Joseph’s Secondary School, Castlebar.

“An innovator, an original... incomparable...” - The Irish Times
“Charming, urbane and dreamy…theatrical on the shell, intricate at the core.” - New York Times
“A rare gem.” - The Irish Independent
“A major talent...Feeney towers over her contemporaries.” - The Observer

Adm. €16 / €14 (concessions)

Julie Feeney's website.

Paul Durcan

POETRY Wednesday 5th December @ 8.00pm

One of Ireland’s foremost and most prolific poets, Paul Durcan returns to his Mayo roots for one of his legendary readings. Surreal, idiosyncratic, iconoclastic and full of quirky roguishness, Paul Durcan has carved out a distinctive status that straddles critical acclaim and popularity, a rare achievement in the world of poetry. With a back catalogue that includes A Snail in my Prime, Crazy About Women, Greetings to Our Friends in Brazil, the Whitbread Prize-winning Daddy, Daddy and Cries of an Irish Caveman, his 22nd collection, the recently published Praise in Which I Live and Move and Have My Being, has confirmed that Durcan remains one of the most potent voices in contemporary poetry.

“Durcan has wit, charm and spark. Poetry is his - and our - rescuer.” - Kate Kellaway, The Observer
“Durcan is a charismatic performer whose voice, once heard, haunts the printed pages of his books. If there were a prize for the best reader of one's own poems, he would probably win it hands down.” - Fran Brearton, The Guardian
“A simply marvellous poet.” - Thomas McCarthy, The Irish Examiner

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Irish Times feature on Paul Durcan.

Bruiser - Lady Windermere’s Fan

THEATRE Thursday 29th November @ 8.00pm

Lady Windermere’s Fan is Oscar Wilde’s bitingly satirical comedy exploring and exploding the morals of society, and marriage in particular. The story concerns Lady Margaret Windermere, a woman of high-morals and absolute conviction who discovers, to her horror, that her husband may be having an affair with a woman of dubious moral standing. What follows is a succession of parlours and parties, eavesdropping, misunderstandings, secret information, letters falling into unintended hands, twists and turns and the cheeky wooing of pretty young daughters. Does Lady Windermere learn about life, society and love? You bet she does, and Wilde’s razor-sharp wit and satire of high society is as keenly observed and relevant to today as any contemporary writer. A new adaptation by Patrick J. O’Reilly (who formerly worked on the company’s dazzling Candide and Othello), Bruiser adds its inimitable dramatic flair, unique physical stamp and bold playing style, highlighting the grotesque and absurd, with a dynamic fusion of commedia dell’arte and witty dialogue providing a real theatrical treat!

“Bruiser - bursting with fun, energy and invention.” - Brendan Deeds, Culture Northern Ireland
"Bruiser… a force to be reckoned with." - Culture Northern Ireland
“(Bruiser)… one of our best tellers of theatrical tales." - The Belfast Telegraph

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Bruiser's website.

Dalai Lama Renaissance

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 27th November @ 8.00pm

USA 2007 81mins Language: English

Dalai Lama Renaissance is a feature length documentary film, produced and directed by Khashyar Darvich, and narrated by actor Harrison Ford. The film documents the 14th Dalai Lama’s meeting with the self-titled Synthesis group in 1999, an invited ‘think tank’ comprising 40 of the West’s most innovative thinkers, which he invited to his residence in the Himalayan Mountains of Dharamsala, India to discuss the world’s problems and how we can solve them. What transpired is described as “unexpected and powerful, and what was captured by a film crew is inspirational.” The film features (amongst others) quantum physicists Fred Alan Wolf and revolutionary social scientist Jean Houston.

“A provocative, even enlightening film... fascinating, ravishingly beautiful and sonically soothing.” - John Griffin, Montreal Gazette
“I narrated Dalai Lama Renaissance because I believe His Holiness is making a positive influence in our world. For me, the film represented an opportunity to continue assisting the optimistic efforts of an extraordinary individual.” - Harrison Ford
“A big spiritual harvest for everyone.” - Qiu Zu, China Times

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet with Nobuko Imai

CLASSICAL MUSIC Monday 26th November @ 8.00pm

Music Network’s final tour of the season brings together the internationally-acclaimed RTÉ Vanbrugh Quartet with the sensational Nobuko Imai, regarded as one of the most outstanding violists of her generation. Noted for her flawless technique and warm, expressive tone, Imai has performed as a solo artist with many of world’s finest orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, the Royal Concertgebouw, and the London Symphony. As a chamber musician, she has been a member of the much-lauded Vermeer and Michelangelo Quartets in addition to collaborating with a veritable who’s who of international stars including Yo-Yo Ma, Gidon Kremer, Midori, Isaac Stern and Itzhak Perlman. Based in Cork as Resident Quartet to RTÉ for over 25 years, the national treasure that is the Vanbrugh Quartet needs no introduction to Irish audiences. The ensemble enjoys a thriving international career, performing at such venues as London’s Wigmore Hall, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and Carnegie Hall, New York.

Programme: Beethoven Quintet Op.29; Brahms Quintet Op.111; John Kinsella Dialogue

“Imai's stature is revealed in her beautifully exact double stopping, perfect rhythmic poise, and the way she searches out and presents the true character of each piece. Great viola playing!” Gramophone
“This committed ensemble feels more galvanised and exciting than ever” The Strad on the Vanbrugh Quartet.

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)
Music Network website

Brendan MacQuaile - March Away My Brothers

MUSICAL THEATRE Thursday 22nd November @ 8.00pm

March Away My Brothers is a one man show taken from the Book of the same name by Brendan MacQuaile; it follows the journey of a young lad, Lawrence Kelly from Bridgefoot Street in Dublin’s Liberties to the Christmas Truce in 1914, somewhere near the Messines ridge in Flanders where many Irish fought and died during the course of this terrible conflagration. But Larry’s story is not one of hell and damnation, let’s face it, he is already dead, blown to bits at the now infamous Passchendaele and remembered only as an inscription on the Menin Gate. Larry looks back with the excitement of the early call to arms still palpable, the Guinness Pals brigade forming after Kitcheners call to arms and the sheer chaos and melee of new troops arriving in France, gung ho, ready to serve the crown, and do their bit before it was ‘over by Christmas’. Many of the popular songs of the time such as It’s a Long Way to Tipperary and There’s a Long Long Trail a-Winding are included as an integral part of this fascinating tale. A fundraising event in association with Mayo Memorial Peace Park.

“What a great show, we enjoyed ourselves immensely.” - Joe Duffy, RTE
“Our members sang along and enjoyed every note.” - Des Byrne, Dublin Fusiliers Association

Adm: €15

Brendan MacQuaile's website.

Utsava Maigh Eo Indian Cultural Celebration

INDIAN FESTIVAL Friday 16th & Saturday 17th November

For one day and one night the Linenhall will be transformed into a place of “Utsava” - the removal of earthly woes - providing you with an opportunity to forget your troubles and enjoy great Indian music, film, dance, poetry, food and much, much more. A feast for the senses!

Fri 16th @ 7.00pm Official Opening by Anthony O'Brien – Artist and lover of India

Fri 16th @ 7.30pm Film Screening: 3 Idiots

Celebrate Bollywood in style with India’s top- grossing Indian film ever, starring Aamir Khan. Comedy, drama, romance, song, it’s got it all!‘Bollywood Style’ dress welcome on the night!
Adm: €5

Sat 17th @ 11.30am Tribal Caul Voice and Movement Workshop

Awaken the body, heart and mind through the Indian traditions of mantra and chant in this inspiring workshop with facilitators Jayne O’Donnell, Mary Doherty and Lucia Sheehan.
Adm: €10 / €8 (unwaged & 65+)

Sat 17th @ 2.00pm Bollywood Style Dance Workshop

Learn a Bollywood routine to a popular Bollywood Track by renowned Choreographer Joan Pires. Joan will share basic knowledge of Indian Classical & Folk dance, blended with Street and Jazz. No dance experience necessary. Dress comfortably.
Adm: Adult €10 / €8 Adult Concession (unwaged & 65+); Child (6-18yrs) €6; Family €25 (4 related persons, inc. 1 adult)

Sat 17th @ 4.30pm Celebrating Tagore with Gabriel Rosenstock & Sudipto Das

An afternoon of poetry, music and talk celebrating the life and work of Rabindranath Tagore
(1861-1941), the ground-breaking Kolkata-born poet, novelist and composer and the first non-
European Nobel Laureate. Poet, author and translator Gabriel Rosenstock has over 100
books to his credit including 12 volumes of poetry in Irish, and translated Tagore’s poetic
aphorisms Stray Birds into Irish to great acclaim. Sudipto Das is an Indian-born Hindustani classical vocalist, trained at the Gandarva Mahavidyalaya in New Delhi who currently resides in Ireland. Sudipto is a competition winner at both regional and national level in India. Musical accompaniment will be provided by Dara O'Brien and Sadanand Magee.Gabriel Rosenstock's reading presented by Poetry Ireland in association with Linenhall Arts Centre.
Adm: €10 / €8 (unwaged & 65+)


Sat 17th @ 8.00pm Performance: North Indian Classical Music

A performance of North Indian Classical Music featuring ethnomusicologist, teacher and
lecturer in Indian Music Dara O’Brien (sitar), with Australian-born troubadour and international
music performer and teacher Mattu (sarod), and multi-instrumentalistist member of the UK
music group Ananda and the Gandharva Loka Orchestra, Sadanand Magee (tabla).
Adm: €15 / €12 (unwaged & 65+)

Indian Bazaar Throughout the Festival
Presenting a range of arts and crafts, henna hand painting, music CDs and Indian sweets for your delectation and delight!

Please “LIKE” us on Facebook for up-to-date details: www.facebook.com/UtsavaMaighEo
Watch this space for further details.

Richie Heneghan with Patrick Doocey & Stephen Doherty

LOCAL ARTS: FOLK MUSIC Thursday 15th November @ 8.00pm

Singing for over 20 years, Castlebar man Richie Heneghan’s voice is as recognisable as it is pleasing to the ear. Also an accomplished bass guitar player, for this very special show Richie showcases his own favourite genre of stories told through traditional and more contemporary Folk music. Accompanying him on the night will be two fine young musicians, Foxford-based Boston-born guitarist and fiddle player Patrick Doocey, who has toured in Europe and America with various groups including the Swallows Tail Céilí band, and multi-instrumentalist Stephen Doherty from Foxford. Acclaimed as an “effortless musician”, Stephen features on a long list of recordings, and in the past year he has shared the stage with the likes of Lúnasa, Sean Keane, Dougie MacLean, Michael McGoldrick and Dermot Byrne, and has recorded in Nashville with Alison Brown and Tim O’Brien, and has also featured on RTÉ’s Nationwide. An evening that’s a must for anyone with an interest in “stories told through great songs new and old”.

Adm. €14 / €12 (concessions)

Ger Carey Live - Psycho Spaghetti

YOUTH THEATRE Thursday 15th November @ 11.20am

Ger Carey returns with Psycho Spaghetti, his brilliant stand-up comedy routine for young people aged between 15 and 18. This hilarious one-man show attempts to answer the age-old question: Just what is going on inside the teenage brain? The show aims to get teenagers to laugh at themselves and view themselves as part of a bigger picture. Book now to guarantee your students a fantastic theatrical experience. The show is perfect for Transition Year students, LCA, Youth Reach and even grown-ups!

Adm.: €10 (Teachers free)
NB: Booking through Armed Eye. Tel: 059 9141333

Le Havre

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 13th November @ 8.00pm

Finland 2011 93mins Language: French with English subtitles

Marcel plies his trade as best he can around the streets of Le Havre as an aging shoe-shine boy in a world filled with running shoes. When he comes across Idrissa, a young on-the-run illegal immigrant, he decides to hide him from the tough Inspector Monet who is doggedly in pursuit. A political fairytale that explores contemporary Europe through the lens of classic French cinema, this warmhearted comedy of underdog working-class solidarity, made with a mixed Finnish-
French-Senegalese cast in the French port city Le Havre, finds Finnish director Aki Kaurismäki in fine form as he presents a sympathetic and very human view of marginalised European society.

“Seductively funny, offbeat and warm-hearted… (with) ingenuous, Chaplinesque simplicity. It’s a satisfying and distinctively lovable film.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“A gorgeous hymn to the struggles of the working man.” - David Jenkins, Little White Lies

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

Dermot Byrne, Floriane Blancke & Brendan O Regan

TRAD/WORLD MUSIC Wednesday 7th November @ 8.00pm

Dermot Byrne is one of Ireland's most accomplished accordion players. A member of Altan from 1994, Dermot also has numerous duet and solo albums to his credit, and his effortless playing, combined with great subtlety, and a faultless ear, makes him one of the great accordion players of his generation. Born in Paris, Floriane Blancke is a talented harpist, fiddler, pianist and vocalist who has been embraced into Irish Traditional music circles over the past numbers of years, with a versatility that has also seen her performing with the likes of Shane McGowan and Patti Smith. Floriane and Dermot have just released a critically acclaimed eponymous duet album (co-produced by Brendan O’Regan), which features their delectable choice of material from all corners of the globe. Brendan O’Regan's name is synonymous with some of the best instrumental recordings made in Ireland to date, has worked with musicians including De Dannan, The Waterboys, Mary Black, Dolores Keane, John Prine and Townes Van Zandt and has scored for numerous productions with Druid Theatre and The Abbey Theatre. Together this potent trio present material off their new album and beyond in a musical evening guaranteed to thrill and engage.

“Bare-boned, spare arrangements that leave nowhere to hide…….Byrne and Blancke manage to cleanse palates long jaded by the overdrive of ensembles on full throttle.” - Siobhan Long, The Irish Times
“Well-known for his formidable abilities on the bouzouki, mandolin and guitar, Brendan O’ Regan has a sterling reputation as a composer/musician.” - Mullgan Records, mulliganrecords.com

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Dermot and Floriane's website.
Brendan's MySpace page.

Delicacy (La Délicatesse)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 30th October @ 8.00pm

France 2011 108mins Language: French with English subtitles

In her latest film, Audrey Tautou plays Nathalie a workaholic businesswoman trying to get over the death of her husband, and pondering the possibility of loving once more. The unlikely target for her newly discovered affections is Marcus, a physically unprepossessing but surprisingly sensitive and astute co-worker. While the plot of beauty and the beast may sound rather formulaic, David and Stéphane Foenkinos’ film threads a line that avoids Hollywood cliché and obvious gags, and instead presents as something rather more refreshing and unexpectedly poignant and engaging.

“Audrey Tautou remains a captivating yet elusive screen presence.” - Trevor Johnston, Time Out
“A charming French love story.” - Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post
“A real gem.” - Alex Zane, The Sun Online
“Poignant and charming, this romance will strike a chord with anyone who has loved and lost, and its optimistic message lingers fondly in the memory.” - James Healy, Radio Times

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

Branar - Croí á Mhúscailt / Awakening a Heart

THEATRE Sunday 28th October @ 2.00pm & 4.00pm

Níl Daideo ina chathaoir níos mó. Tá Mamó ag cur a saol agus a gcuid cuimhní i málaí ach baineann an cailín óg gach rud amach, chun spraoi leo. Pléann an scéal seo an gaol idir sean agus óg go paiteanta.
Grandad is not in his chair anymore. Grannny packs away the memories of their life in suitcases. The girl unpacks them and breathes new life into them. In this magical story, we explore the relationship between young and old.
Exquisitely told with puppetry, music and a wonderful chair. Branar, once again, take us on a beautiful heartwarming journey into the world of a girl and her Grannny.

“This is magic of a high order.” - Derek West, Irish Theatre Magazine (of Branar’s An Seanfhear Beag)
“...Branar’s capacity to instruct, stimulate and inspire young audiences.” - Siobhán O’Gorman, Irish Theatre Magazine

Adm: €8 / €25 Family Ticket (4 persons)

NB: For age 7years+ and adults of all ages

Branar's website.

Theatre Lovett - The House that Jack Filled

THEATRE Friday 26th October @ 7.30pm / Saturday 27th October @ 2.30pm

Jack McNally’s Hotel has 13 rooms (all of them sunny) for 13 people (all of them different). There is old Mrs Chelsea who is noticeably wobbly, Norma and Dorma the Italian twins, and Mr Truro who plays the spoons. Lionel O’Brien talks about trains, and his son Little Lionel does too. Brenda and Michael can seem a bit rough – but their hearts are as big as their record collection. Melanie Woodcott dreams of the sea, while Jack McNally dreams of Melanie Woodcott. But when the visitors stop visiting, and the dust settles on the furniture, Jack McNally must become a hotel’s worth of guests. He takes a deep breath, puts on a wig, and opens the door...Louis Lovett is Ireland’s leading performer for young audiences. His one-man performance in The Girl who Forgot to Sing Badly has received worldwide critical acclaim.

“Lovett is an incredibly accomplished physical actor whose gift dazzles when performing for children.” Irish Theatre Magazine

Adm: €8 / €25 Family Ticket (4 persons)
NB: For age 7years+ and adults of all ages

Funded by Arts Council Touring.
Commissioned by Theatre Lovett in partnership with Strollers Touring Network.
Theatre Lovett are part of Six in the Attic – An Irish Theatre Institute resource sharing initiative

Theatre Lovett's website.

ROOLABOOLA CHILDREN’S ARTS FESTIVAL 2012

Friday 26th - Monday 29th October

The Linenhall’s annual arts extravaganza for young people, celebrating its 15th birthday with a programme of top quality shows, film, workshops, free drop-in events, exhibitions and more. Click on the image below to browse the RoolaBoola brochure for full details!

Free Men (Les Hommes Libres)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 16th October @ 8.00pm

France 2011 99 mins Language: French with English subtitles

Set in Paris in 1942, Younes (Tahar Rahim, A Prophet) is a young Algerian making a living as a black-marketeer. During a crack-down on immigrants, he is arrested and becomes an informant to avoid jail. The authorities have suspicions about the activities within the Great Mosque of Paris, but as Younes becomes more familiar with its hidden dealings, meeting its charismatic rector Ben Ghabrit (Michael Lonsdale, Of Gods and Men) and befriending an alluring Algerian singer, Younes develops a new perspective on the Islamic and Jewish experience on his way to becoming a passionate freedom fighter. Based on real events of the time, director Ismaël Ferroukhi finds inspiration in the little-known histories of the Muslim men and women who joined the French Resistance.

“A gripping fact-based thriller... worth pondering in our present, conflicted times.” - Philip French, The Observer
“A canny thriller… splendidly acted.” - Michael Upchurch,
Seattle Times

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

Decadent Theatre and Nuns Island Theatre - Port Authority

THEATRE Monday 15th October @ 8.00pm

A young boy leaves home for the first time, a man begins a job for which he is not qualified, a pensioner receives a mysterious package… As each man confronts the significance of these events, they are forced to take stock of themselves, their feelings, and of the decisions they have made. In Conor McPherson’s Port Authority we meet Kevin, Dermot and Joe, three generations of Irishmen. Painting a vivid picture of life in contemporary Dublin with great wit and compassion, one of Ireland's leading dramatists Conor McPherson (The Seafarer, Shining City, The Weir, Dublin Carol) expertly exposes the heart of common man in a moving and funny tale of loves lost and found, the consequences of big dreams and the significance of even our smallest
choices.

“McPherson uses poetry that glimmers in the dark to probe and prod at the Irish male psyche.” - Lyn Gardner, The Guardian
“McPherson’s haunting fugue on passive lives and loves that might have been. I found myself holding on to what these actors had to say as if I were a 5-year-old at bedtime being introduced to The Arabian Nights.” - Ben Brantley, The New York Times

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

London Classic Theatre - The Importance of Being Earnest

THEATRE Monday 8th & Tuesday 9th October @ 8.00pm

“To lose one parent, Mr Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.”
Oscar Wilde’s theatrical masterpiece is widely-acknowledged as one of the greatest comedies in the English Language. Wonderful characters, sparkling wordplay, dazzling comic invention, gloriously improbable plot twists and a sprinkling of romance - The Importance of Being Earnest has it all. Jack is in love with Gwendolen. Algernon is in love with Cecily. But when an identity crisis spirals out of control, the previously separate worlds of town and country collide and delicious mayhem ensues. Thoughts of marriage and a happy ending must be put on hold until the inimitable Lady Bracknell can be convinced that the young men are worthy suitors. The Importance of Being Earnest has delighted millions since its first London performance in 1895. A scintillating comedy of manners, Oscar Wilde’s best-loved work overflows with dazzling wordplay and comic invention. London Classic Theatre (The Caretaker, Abigail’s Party, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Ghosts) promises to bring this 19th Century classic to vivid, extravagant life with our customary flair, attention to detail, high-quality casting and impeccable production values. And don’t forget your handbag.

"This absorbing and emotional adaptation." - The Stage (of LCT’s Ghosts)
“London Classic Theatre shines with quality"- Munster Express
“Beautifully directed...a memorable production" - The Stage (of LCT’s Beauty Queen)
“A tour de force.” - Irish Examiner (of LCT’s The Caretaker)

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

London Classic Theatre's website.

Theo Dorgan, Jack Lynch & Len Graham - Rhyme, Rant & Rann

WORDS & MUSIC Wednesday 3rd October @ 8.00pm

Tall tales, splendid songs and wickedly wise words! Three of Ireland’s finest performers conspire to delight you with an entertaining evening of great songs and heartwarming stories. Renowned storyteller Jack Lynch weaves his hilarious tales with sensitivity and expertise. Traditional singer Len Graham’s musical stories mingle sad farewells with joyous homecomings. Theo Dorgan’s love of the sea, and his epic ocean adventures, are fine inspiration indeed for memorable maritime musings in poetry and prose. Together this trio of master craftsmen create a gentle little gem of a show in which there really is something for everyone. Fresh, unfussy, and great craic altogether!
National tour supported by an Arts Council Touring Award.

Rhyme, Rant & Rann's national tour is kindly supported by an Arts Council Touring Award.

“Theo Dorgan, one of the great keepers of the Grail of Irish poetry.” - Bernard O’Donoghue, Irish Times
“Jack Lynch… a magical word of nods, winks and dry subtle witticisms … the match of anything for sheer imagination and vitality.” - Hotpress
“Jack Lynch… one of the best storytellers and comic actors that we have.” - Tom Matthews, In Dublin
“Len Graham, another of the great naturals. The rich, grainy voice and fluid, unhurried style bring a reassuring quality of warmth to the songs, and creates the sense of total empathy between the musician and his material.” - The Guardian, London.

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Rhyme, Rant & Rann website.

The Kid With A Bike (Le Gamin au Vélo)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 2nd October @ 8.00pm

Belgium 2011 87mins Language: French with English subtitles

When troubled 11-year-old Cyril is abandoned by his father, the boy obsessively searches for his bicycle - placing his last bit of hope in this symbol of their relationship. Almost by accident, he becomes the ward of a well-meaning hairdresser who agrees to foster him at weekends in a random act of kindness. With his wild, unpredictable behavior and his disastrous search for father figures, Cyril risks losing her - though she refuses to give up without a fight. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at this year's Cannes Film Festival and a Golden Globe nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, this raw but compassionate and deeply moving film is the latest offering by Belgian filmmakers Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.

“A quietly rapturous film about love and redemption.” - Manohla Dargis, New York Times
“The Dardennes' latest is one of their best, a memorable cinematic portrait of troubled youth and soul-saving charity.” - Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune
“A wonderfully human and humane story.” - Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times
“A big-hearted film far more complex than its brisk simplicity may at first suggest.” - Dave Calhoun, Time Out

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

An Evening with ward9writers

LOCAL ARTS: LITERATURE Thursday 27th September @ 8.00pm

The ward9writers are based in north-east Mayo and evolved from a group which participated in Creative Writing courses at GMIT, Castlebar.
The ten writers (Jackie Bohan, Noel Burke, Marcus Colquhoun, Charmaine Colvin, Carole Fabby, Maura Flynn, Pat Leyden, Noel Loftus, Margaret McDonnell and Peter Murray) will be reading from their recently published anthology Inspirations of a Curious Kind as well as introducing works from their new collection. The material draws upon life experience, imagination and observations spanning past decades to more recent volatile religious, economic and political times. It can be poignant but most likely will bring a smile to your face.
Copies of the anthology will be available for sale on the night.

Adm. Free

Culture Night

Open House @ The Linenhall! Friday 21st September, 6.00pm-10.00pm

Calling all vultures! As part of the annual national Culture Night initiative, the Linenhall opens its doors for a range of fun, free, family-friendly workshops and drop-in events over the course of the evening.

Intrigued? Come and see what we’ve got in store, and feel free to join in! Enjoy!

Adm. FREE!
Nb. Numbers for workshops will be limited, booking available only on the night.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to Culture Night, the Linenhall opens its doors for business at 1.00pm today.

Galway Music Residency/ConTempo String Quartet + John Feeley

CLASSICAL MUSIC Thursday 20th September @ 8.00pm

The Galway Music Residency is the oldest residency programme in Ireland and the only one of its kind in existence in this country. It has served the people of Galway and beyond with performances, master-classes, workshops and more. ConTempo String Quartet from Romania has been at the heart of the residency from the early days, moving to Galway as four young twenty-somethings and now 10 years later living permanently in Galway. To mark this milestone, The Galway Music Residency has invited some musicians who have worked with ConTempo over the past 10 years to return for this Celebratory Tour. For this very special concert, ConTempo share the stage with John Feeley, acclaimed by The Washington Post as “Ireland's leading classical guitarist”. The programme includes a selection of quartets, quintets and guitar solos, including, Luigi Boccherini’s Guitar Quintet in E minor, G. 451, which is featured on The Galway Music Residency 10th Anniversary Celebration CD.
Funding for this concert has been provided by The Arts Council.

"ConTempo… polished and professional… full of exuberance and with a fine sense of ensemble … real sensitivity … exceptional performance." - The Strad ( Wigmore Hall concert review)
"John Feeley has a talent of a high order - he is a stylish player, an intelligent musician with technical security in plenty." Classical Guitar, England.
“John Feeley… a trailblazer.” - Michael Dervan, The Irish Times

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Monsieur Lazhar

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 18th September @ 8.00pm

Canada 2011 94mins Language: French with English subtitles

After the suicide of a popular teacher at a Montreal school, Monsieur Lazhar shows up at the stressed head’s office and is appointed as the class’s substitute teacher. He is Algerian and claims to have 20 years’ teaching experience. A man of dignity and compassion, with his old-school methods Lazhar turns out to be an excellent teacher, bringing emotional stability to pupils troubled by the earlier events, but as the film unfolds his own tragic circumstances as a refugee from his native Algeria are revealed. Nominated for Best Foreign Film at this year’s Oscars, directed by Philippe Falardeau.

“This sweet, soulful drama… showcases a glorious performance from Mohamed Fellag as the substitute teacher who is not quite what he claims.” - Xan Brooks, The Guardian
“Director Falardeau and a wonderful cast provide a master class in grammar and most everything else.” - Tara Brady, The Irish Times
“Quietly devastating.” - Cath Clarke, Time Out
“Enthralling.” - Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

Enda Kenny

EMIGRANT LIAISON COMMITTEE LECTURE Friday 14th September @ 8.00pm

The Mayo Emigrant Liaison Committee - John Kennedy, CBE, KSG, KMCO, DL (Manchester) Annual Lecture.

An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD will deliver the 2012 Lecture.

Guest: Elaine Boyes, Lord Mayor of Manchester.

NB: Admission by invitation only.

Captured by Song - The Work of Folklore Collector Tom Munnelly

TALK - Monday September 10th @ 7.30pm

Ronan Galvin, Exhibition Curator and Lecturer in Irish Folklore, gives what promises to be a most interesting talk on the life and work of song, music and folklore collector Tom Munnelly. The talk coincides with the official opening of "Captured by Song" an exhibition of photographs and documentation from the Tom Munnelly collection, taking place concurrently in the Linenhall’s Foyer Gallery.

Tom Munnelly was employed by the Department of Irish Folklore at University College Dublin as a full-time song, music and folklore collector from 1971 until his death in 2007. In the course of his thirty-six year career, Tom’s recordings on reel-to-reel, digital and cassette audio tapes of folk song, music and lore make him one of the most important and fruitful collectors Ireland has seen. Ronan Galvin has been working on digitising the Tom Munnelly collection for the Department of Irish Folklore at UCD, and the talk, with audio recordings, will include selections from Tom Munnelly’s work in Mayo.

Adm: Free, Booking advised. Tel: 094 9023733

We Banjo 3

TRAD/ROOTS Thursday 13th September @ 8.00pm

The banjo has been likened to Marmite - you either love it or hate it. We Banjo 3 is here to dispel any doubts with a mix of virtuosity, verve and sheer joie-de-vivre. A member of the Brock McGuire band, banjo wizard Enda Scahill has won four All-Ireland titles, guested with the Chieftains, recorded with Ricky Skaggs, and toured with Frankie Gavin and Stockton’s Wing. In We Banjo 3, he has teamed up with Ireland’s hottest young banjo players, brothers Martin and David Howley, with over 10 All-Ireland titles to their names. Winners of the Music Network Young Musicwide Award, the trio from Galway combine Irish music with Old-Time American, Ragtime and Bluegrass influences, revealing the banjo’s rich legacy from its roots in African and minstrel music through to the Irish traditional sound pioneered by Barney McKenna. A real treat in store.


“We Banjo 3 are terrific. There really isn’t a better way to say it. Wonderful musicianship of the first order. Best of all, they are different.” - Bill Margeson, Irish Music Writer
“Enda does things on the banjo which should be impossible.” - Irish American News

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Music Network website
We Banjo 3's website.

Derek Mc Gowan and The Piston Slappers

BLUES ROCK Thursday 6th September @ 8.00pm

Derek Mc Gowan has been playing acoustic guitar since the age of 12 and is an accomplished player and lyricist. He has been on the same bill with many noted acts, both in Ireland and America, including Freddie White, Jimmy McCarthy, Nancy Griffith and John Hiatt. The Piston Slappers were formed to play the Clifden Country Blues Festival in 1993, creating a substantial following in the Galway/Mayo area. This band of accomplished musicians, comprising Derek Mc Gowan (lead guitar, vocals), Josie Joyce (drums), Dee Moore (bass guitar, vocals) and Patrick Early (electric fiddle, vocals), takes Blues Rock to a new level as they deliver music up there with the best of Blues acts in Ireland. The fact that much of their
fanbase is made up of fellow musicians is testimony to the high standard of their music, a heady brand of Blues Rock with influences from Rory Gallagher to Steely Dan, as well as their own distinctive compositions, all played with a style that is instantly recognisable. Get ready to get down!

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Tommy Tiernan - World Tour of Mayo SOLD OUT

Friday 10th August at 8.00pm SOLD OUT

Buffalo Country with the wide open skies, Tommy is delighted to be back in the County of Mayo. Its Tiernan country too, with relatives all over, from Cong to Kilmaine and to Louisburgh, the roots go deep here. Tommy comes from a long line of Mayo teachers, farmers and priests .One of his forebears set up the first school in the county and for that Tommy would like to apologise. He's always felt especially at home here and considers it homecoming of the ancestral sort.
Tommy’s mastery of stand-up allows him to take risks other comedians dare not. Through hilarious storytelling and a high energy, non- apologetic delivery he continually challenges his audience who can be confident they are in safe hands. To see Tiernan live is a rare treat, as his stories unfold and themes are elaborated his performance mesmerises as his lyrical way with words make you laugh harder than you’d ever believe possible.Tommy Tiernan’s brand new DVD “Crooked Man” has been receiving rave reviews from the critics see below some of the highlights:
If there's a more beautiful stand-up DVD out there, we've yet to see it. . It's also refreshing to see a comic put some love into their live DVD, rather than simply churning out another Christmas cash-in. It's beautifully shot and the Irish comic is on spectacularly funny form." – Time Out London

Adm: €28 (Booking opens Tuesday 5th June)
This show is now SOLD OUT. Details of seven other shows in Mayo on Tommy Tiernan's website.

River Mouth + Luke Davis

LOCAL ARTS: CONTEMPORARY FOLK Thursday 16th August @ 8.00pm

River Mouth is a fresh and upcoming young original folk band from Bristol fronted by Zoë Davis, daughter of Castlebar-born singer/songwriter Luke Davis. The band’s music is “an infusion of Folk and Celtic Irishness with a twist”, with lyrics in a mixture of Irish, Welsh and English and a strong line in melody and harmony delivered by all members. River Mouth has performed at Bristol Folk Festival, and their songs are showcased on the EP The Other One. The band’s line-up comprises Zoë Davis (vocals, flute), Sion Williams (guitar, sax, vocals), Paul Outen (percussion) and Chris Goodman (vocals, guitar). Appearing with River Mouth for this special concert is Luke Davis, who has been an enduring musical presence since he first came to public attention in 1989 with an appearance on RTÉ’s Nighthawks and subsequently reached the finals of RTÉ/BBC’s Go For It and Let Me Entertain You. Come and support a band full of fresh young talent on the rise.

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)

River Mouth on Myspace.

Beezneez - Johnnie’s Britches

THEATRE Thursday 2nd August @ 8.00pm

Leitrim’s ever-popular Beezneez returns with a lovely old Irish comedy, Johnnie’s Britches. Written by former Athlone schoolteacher P.G. O'Dea, the play was a runaway, nationwide hit when first produced in the 1940s, although the title was originally abbreviated to Johnnie because it was feared the inclusion of the word ‘britches’ would challenge people’s sensibilities. Now Beezneez theatre company brings its distinctive production values to this gentle comedy from another time. Anxious to be rid of their accident-prone servant girl, Ned and Bridget are willing to allow her to be married to almost anybody, including Johnnie (britches notwithstanding). However an unexpected letter from America throws all plans into confusion and it is left to Johnnie himself to untangle the web of conundrums that ensue. This laughter-filled comedy is directed by John McDwyer and Johnnie’s Britches is another guaranteed 'Good Night Out' from Beezneez.

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Declan O’Rourke

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC Thursday 19th July @ 8.00pm

Declan O’Rourke came to Dublin in his mid-20s and soon found himself trading songs with the likes of Paddy Casey, Gemma Hayes and Damian Rice. Today his songs have been covered by artists including Josh Groban, and Paul Weller, and he joined a stellar line up of artists including Alison Krauss for the BBC’s Transatlantic Sessions. He has toured extensively in Europe opening for, among others, Paul Weller, Snow Patrol, Paulo Nutini, Badly Drawn Boy and Paul Brady, and recently performed at the BBC Proms in the Park in Belfast. His latest CD Mag Pai Zai even managed to top the success of Declan’s first two albums, while A Little Something reached No. 2 in the Today FM Top 40. Both it and follow up single Time Machine were Singles of the Week. Mag Pai Zai was also cited as one of ‘101 Irish Albums to Hear Before You Die’ by the music editor of the Irish Times. Come and hear why.

“One of the best singer songwriters Ireland has to offer.” - Karen Lambe, heinekenmusic.ie
“Mag Pai Zai... glorious... A stellar collection.” - Hot Press

Adm.: €20 / €18 (concessions)

Declan O'Rourke's website.

Elaine Madden

LOCAL ARTS: TRAD/FOLK/CONTEMPORARY VOCAL Thursday 28th June @ 8.00pm

Castlebar-born singer Elaine Madden returns to the Linenhall in June to explore the evolution of the Irish love song. Although interested in many genres, her love of Irish grown music has inspired her to take a closer look at the Irish penchant for the Amhrán Grá. Accompanying her will be fellow vocalist and guitarist Barry Jennings, who, having found success with local band Social Welfare, will be showcasing his talents as a soloist and as part of the duet. With influences ranging from Led Zeppelin to Michael Jackson, he is as eclectic as he is talented. His rich tenor voice is a perfect match for Elaine's vocals and this combination promises to make this a night not to be missed.

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)

CAN Percussion Trio

PERCUSSION CONCERT Tuesday 19th June @ 8.00pm

CAN Percussion Trio presents a musical adventure full of dynamic contrast and subtlety that will open the audience’s ears and eyes to the amazing world of percussion. CAN showcases the remarkable talents of three dazzling percussionists. Noel Eccles is known world-wide for his innovative approach to percussion, a former Principal Percussionist with the RTÉ NSO who premiered Riverdance globally, has worked with groundbreaking group Moving Hearts, and is a firm favourite with Irish audiences. Joining Noel for this Music Network Tour are Chris Stynes and Alex Petcu, two of Ireland’s rising stars in the percussion world. Chris and Alex are well known as soloists and ensemble players with many of Ireland's leading professional performing groups, and in addition to their outstanding musical talents, bring their infectious, irrepressible energy to this tour. With a repertoire of contemporary percussion works from a range of leading international composers, and the strangest line up of instruments you’ll see this year - with a selection of Marimbas, Vibraphone, Bells, Taiko and Lion drums, Cahon - and yes, even a few cans - expect some familiar tunes, and a few surprises! Programme includes: Summon the Spirits - Kevin Tuck; 2-Gather - Mathias Schmitt; Marimba Phase / Nagoya Marimbas / Music for Pieces of Wood - Steve Reich; Trio Per Uno - N.J. Zivkovic; and Marimba Spiritual - Minoru Miki.

Part of a Music Network tour.

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Music Network website

Des Keogh - The Love Hungry Farmer

THEATRE Wednesday 13th June @ 8.00pm

Adapted and performed by Des Keogh from John B Keane’s Letters of a Love-Hungry Farmer, this acclaimed one-man show tells the story of John Bosco McLane, a bachelor of ‘indeterminate’ age and according to his own assessment, ‘past his best’, and still inexperienced in the ways of love. Des Keogh chronicles McLane’s amorous adventures that range from the hilarious to the pitiful. One of the great Irish writers, John B Keane’s ‘Letters’ series of books were a spectacular success, with The Love Hungry Farmer being particularly outstanding. Des Keogh, one of Ireland’s foremost actors and entertainers, returns with his hugely successful and award-winning show. Don’t miss it.

“Keogh is a wonder. A master-storyteller.” - Associated Press
“Des Keogh is superb. A consummate actor wedded to a skilled raconteur, the wine he offers is vintage.” - Irish Times
“Fiercely serious and bruisingly hilarious.” -New York Times

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Castlebar Active Retired Group Variety Concert

LOCAL ARTS: VARIETY CONCERT: FREE Wednesday 30th May @ 8.00pm

Castlebar Active Retired Group presents its ever-popular annual Variety Concert with music, songs, dancing, poems, storytelling and more at the Linenhall. The concert, for all ages, is part of Bealtaine, the national festival celebrating creativity in older age. So prepare to be entertained by some of Castlebar’s youngest at heart, together with friends from the community.
Part of the Linenhall Arts Centre’s Bealtaine programme of events.

Adm.: FREE

Please note: A complimentary tea and coffee reception will take place from 7.30pm prior to the concert.


(Castlebar Active Retired Group was established in 2000. The members meet once a week, on Wednesdays between 3.00pm and 4.30pm at the Welcome Inn on New Antrim Street in Castlebar. Newcomers are always welcome.)

Potiche

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 29th May @ 8.00pm

France 2010 103mins Language: French with English subtitles

Set in a provincial town in Northern France in 1977, Suzanne is the homemaker and submissive, housebound wife of wealthy industrialist Robert Pujol, who oversees his umbrella factory with an iron fist and is equally tyrannical with his children and “trophy wife”. When the workers go on strike and take Robert hostage, Suzanne steps in to manage the factory. To everyone’s surprise, she proves herself a competent and assertive woman of action. But when Robert returns from a restful cruise in top form, things get complicated... A pure delight of a French comedy starring Catherine Deneuve with Fabrice Luchini and Gerard Depardieu.

“A hilarious French comedy of deliberate naffness… Deneuve’s fine comic performance.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“A delightful screwball comedy.” - Jason Solomons, The Observer
“Delightfully relevant, [Deneuve] gets her best role in years, and she plays it to the hilt.” - Rex Reed, New York Observer

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

Barbershop Vocal

BARBERSHOP COMPETITIONS Saturday 26th May @ 11.00am & 11.45am

Barbershop music, with its close, unaccompanied four-part harmonies and ringing chords, originated in the US in the 19th century - initially in barbershops, which served as places of socialising particularly by African Americans. Since then the form has crossed cultures and become an internationally recognised style of singing. As part of the Mayo International Choral Festival 2012 (May 24th-27th), the Linenhall is hosting two Barbershop competitions, which are open to the public, and which offer a really enjoyable introduction to the world of barbershop singing.

Barbershop Chorus Adjudications
Time: 11.00am Duration: 45mins (approx)
Participants: No Half Measures; Tone Cold Sober.

Barbershop Quartet Adjudications
Time: 11.45am Duration: 60 mins (approx)
Participants: Sweeney Toddlers; Note-Orious 4; Close 'n Time.

Adm: €5, payable at the door, ticket includes entry to both competition adjudications in the Linenhall.
NB: No pre-booking.

Mayo International Choral Festival website.

My House in Umbria

BEALTAINE FREE MOVIE MATINEE Wednesday 23rd May @ 3.00pm

USA, UK, Italy 2003 103mins

Adapted from William Trevor's novella of the same name, My House in Umbria stars Dame Maggie Smith in an Emmy-winning role as a British romance novelist living in Italy who survives a terrorist attack on a train to Milan. After a tragic train accident, she invites the three other survivors from her compartment - an orphaned American girl, a crusty British general and a troubled young German - to recuperate in her handsome villa, as a police inspector investigates exactly what happened.
Set in the sprawling Italian countryside, this charming film boasts a top-notch cast starring Ronnie Barker, Chris Cooper, Timothy Spall and, of course, Maggie Smith.

“Delightful and uplifting.” - Urban Cinefile
“The brilliance of the film owes much to Hugh Whitemore's careful script, to director Richard Loncraine's thoughtful pace and, most of all, to Smith's (…) magnificent and uncharacteristically restrained performance.” - David Wiegand, San Francisco Chronicle
”Superb.” - Daily Variety

Adm.: Free

Access Cinema website.

CheeryWild Productions - Love All

THEATRE Tuesday 22nd May @ 8.00pm

A comedy about love, murder… and tennis! From the Wimbledon finals to the hangman’s noose, this is the terrible and true(-ish) tale of Irish sporting legend Vere St. Ledger Goold and his mercenary wife Marie Violet Giordin - an extraordinary globe-trotting journey from the heady heights of sporting stardom to complete catastrophe. CheeryWild have starched their whites, re-stretched their racquets and are ready to serve a virtuoso volley of Victorian melodrama. Love All delivers an hilarious, rapid-fire, homicidal train ride from passion to pandemonium… Winner of 2011 Clonmel Junction Festival Judges Choice Award, a production directed by Donal Gallagher and performed by Aideen Wylde and Tadhg Hickey, presented by Ten42 Productions.

“CheeryWild and its Love All, currently the funniest, smartest and most entertaining show on the stage.” - Peter Crawley, The Irish Times
“As smart as any play you’ll see.” - Lucy White, Metro
“Loads of verve… an hour of unadulterated fun.” - Emer O’Kelly, Sunday Independent

The Linenhall Arts Centre acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council in making this performance possible.

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)

CheeryWild on Clonmel Junction Festival website.

Southern Tenant Folk Union

FOLK/BLUEGRASS Wednesday 16th May @ 8.00pm

Formed in 2006, the Edinburgh-based Southern Tenant Folk Union is now the most highly rated folk and bluegrass outfit in the UK today. Taking its name from the ground breaking multi-racial union of sharecroppers and non-landowning tenant farmers founded in Arkansas in the 1930s, words like ‘groundbreaking’, ‘excellent’ and ’breath of fresh air’ are never far from descriptions of the band and its music
Now with their fourth album they’ve continued to appropriate themes and ancient sounding chord progressions from traditional folk songs. Using these to document and reflect modern life they keep the essential simplicity and directness of style but often with a modern update to the underlying lyrical subject matter. New tunes that touch on atheism, intolerance and most recently (on The New Farming Scene and Pencaitland) a post-fossil fuel, post-technological, agrarian future. These guys are the real deal. Don’t miss them.

“The band knock up a fierce, raw and earthy music that is the stuff of Mumford & Sons dreams. Compelling.” - Maddy Costa, The Guardian
“Surging vocal harmonies riding a railroad of strings.” - Jim Gilchrist, The Scotsman,
“Those harmonies, especially A cappella, are glorious, and the playing is out of the top drawer too.” - Keith Bruce, The Sunday Herald
“A smart conflation of Celtic tradition and bluegrass played with rare intuition.” - Rob Hughes, Uncut
"A compelling mix of bluegrass, gospel, old time and celtic swing that is memorably embellished with warm and richly woven harmonies." - The Irish Times
"The musicianship is faultless." - Country Music People

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)


Southern Tenant's website.

Little White Lies (Les Petits Mouchoirs)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 15th May @ 8.00pm

France 2010 154mins Language: French with English subtitles

Director Guillaume Canet assembles an outstanding cast of some of France’s finest actors - lead by Academy Award-winning Marion Cotillard (La Vie en Rose) and including Jean Dujardin (star of The Artist) - for this entertaining and acutely observed drama of manners. A gathering of close friends is hosted every year by a couple at their beautiful beach house as they all leave their city stresses behind. But this year is different. One of the friends has been badly injured in a motorcycle accident just before they leave Paris. After being assured that there is nothing they can do, they decide to embark on their annual trip, but tensions are simmering just under the surface, waiting to erupt... Think The Big Chill à la plage and you’ll get something of the flavour of this immersing and entertaining ensemble piece.

“This funny and warm French ensemble effort plays out like an early Woody Allen comedy, with its bourgeois characters, witty banter and relationship intrigues.” - Stella Papamichael, Radio Times
“Canet… gets the best out of an excellent cast.” - Trevor Johnston, Time Out
“Gorgeous cast, irreverent humour and beautifully drawn characters… smart comedy-drama.” - Anna Smith, Empire magazine

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

Truewest Theatre/Eska Riada - Baglady

THEATRE Wednesday 9th May @ 8.00pm

Written by Frank McGuinness, Baglady is a touching and revealing drama on how a woman becomes alienated from life: a gentle soul whose life has been destroyed by violence. This one-woman play explores the conditions and circumstances which caused her to become estranged from society and gradually reveals the terrifying events which shaped her life. Directed by Caroline Fitzgerald, and starring Abbey and Peacock veteran actor Maria McDermottroe, whose credits also include the film Angela’s Ashes, Glenroe, and Kilinaskully (as Mrs Gilhooley). Baglady is a rarely performed play from one of Ireland’s leading playwrights, Frank McGuinness. It has not been seen on an Irish stage for 25 years but its story is as relevant now as when it was first written.

“McDermottroe is ultimately triumphant as she excavates the pure child from the raddled old woman ...” - Declan Burke, The Sunday Times
“Astonishing solo performance ...” - The Irish Times
“McDermottroe is quietly searing.” - The Sunday Independent

Adm. €12 / €10 (concessions) (NB: performance time 55mins)

David Munnelly Band

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Wednesday 2nd May @ 8.00pm

Over a decade on the road, the David Munnelly band has captivated audiences world wide led by accordion player par excellence David Munnelly. Founded in 1999, what sets the band apart and puts it in a class of its own is the capability and ease with which it weaves in and out of different musical styles while remaining firmly rooted in the earthy tones of Irish Traditional Music. The band boasts some of the finest talent that Irish music has to offer, with every member bringing his own unique stamp to the overall sound. Looking for an evening of musical skill, energy and excitement? Look no further.

“The E street band of Irish Traditional Music” - Siobhan Long, Irish Times
“Munnelly is arguably the best button box player in the world...This is a uniquely gifted group of musicians who are having a ball onstage while playing unexcelled Trad music. These guys are the best." - Irish-American News
"The Dave Munnelly Band give an incredibly energetic performance..." - BBC World Television

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)

David Munnelly's website.

Pina

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 1st May @ 8.00pm

Germany 2011 103 mins Language: English & German with English subtitles

Internationally renowned German contemporary dance pioneer Pina Bausch died in 2009. Acclaimed director Wim Wenders (Buena Vista Social Club, Paris Texas, Wings of Desire) was beginning to make a documentary about her at the time, and continued his project by interviewing the dancers of Tanztheater Wuppertal, the company she ran for 36 years, interspersing these between excerpts from several of Bausch’s key dance works. The result is elegiac, celebratory, and a visual treat.

“An immensely attractive film.” - Philip French, The Observer
“Deeply intelligent, a heartfelt tribute… achieves a poignant, elegiac quality, shot through with an overwhelming sense of loss.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“Pina is, in every way, a moving experience.” - Richard Corliss, TIME magazine
“Pina gives us the supreme pleasure of watching fascinating bodies of widely varying ages in motion, whether leaping, falling, catching, diving, grieving, or exulting” – Melissa Andersen, Village Voice
“The beauty of Wenders’s film is that his imagery and gaze on Bausch’s work has the same essential, uncluttered and wryly funny quality as the work itself. Entrancing and truly inspiring.” - Dave Calhoun, Time Out London

Adm €5

Access Cinema website.

Fishamble Theatre Company - Wheelchair On My Face

THEATRE Wednesday 18th April @ 8.00pm

Actress and stand-up comedian Sonya Kelly (Savage Eye) delivers a hilarious and poignant one-woman show based on her own childhood experience. Sonya was diagnosed with myopia when she was seven years old. “I got my first pair of glasses when I was seven. A nurse came to the school and tested everyone’s eyes. And so it was discovered why I’d thrown bread to the floating crisp packets in our local pond and walked into lamp posts and said, ’excuse me’. Until that day the world was a swirl of moving coloured blobs. I thought it was the same for everyone. How wrong I was.” Part memoir, part theatre and part stand-up comedy, Wheelchair On My Face is written and performed by Sonya Kelly and directed by Gina Moxley for Fishamble, one of Ireland’s most dynamic theatre companies.

“Delightfully whacky… hilarious… tight script and engaging performance… terrific.” - The Irish Times
”Hilarious, poignant… it will please viewers of all lens-prescriptions and none.” - The Irish Theatre Magazine

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)
NB: Performance: 55 mins duration

Fishamble's website.

The Skin I Live In (La Piel Que Habito)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 17th April @ 8.00pm

Spain 2011 117mins Language: Spanish with English subtitles

The acclaimed director of Volver, Talk to Her and many more, Pedro Almodóvar's latest film is a macabre suspense thriller is about obsession, drawing the work of Davids Lynch and Cronenberg as well as Hitchcock into his directorial palette in a melodramatic offering more redolent of his earlier films. Also harking back, the film sees the return of Antonio Banderas to Almodóvar's repertory company, as a plastic surgeon seeking to develop an artificial skin after his wife has died as a result of horrific burns caused by a tragic car crash. Offbeat, perhaps, compelling and dazzling film-making, certainly.

“Scintillating… a moving exploration of the nature of human identity. Almodóvar at his daring, provocative and allusive best.” - Philip French, The Observer
“A psychosexual thriller whose wild events are anchored soberly in Almodóvar’s meticulous direction and a performance from Banderas that… offer(s) an intensely controlled, deadly and charming screen presence.” - Dave Calhoun, Time Out
“Bizarre, elegant… A luxury pulp fiction, a body horror film, an exotic brew that only Almodóvar could ever make.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Adm €5

Access Cinema website.

Brendan Begley & Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Thursday 12th April @ 8.00pm

Two consummate Traditional musicians, Brendan Begley and Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, combine their formidable talents to present A Moment of Madness, an evening of “wild and beautiful music from the West coast if Ireland”. Hailing from the Dingle peninsula Brendan is a renowned button accordionist, touring at home and in Europe. A member of acclaimed outfit Boys of the Lough, Brendan's exciting dance music, sensitive emotional slow airs and singing as gaeilge make him a great favourite with audiences. He is also acclaimed for his TV presentations of traditional music on TG4. Dublin-born fiddler Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh is rapidly becoming known as one of the most interesting and creative musicians in Traditional music. Since the widespread success of his 2003 album Kitty Lie Over with Mick O'Brien, he has performed in the US, Canada, Alaska, Asia and all over Europe. Irish performances in 2006 included Farmleigh House, West Cork Music in Bantry, the National Concert Hall, the Kilkenny Arts Festival, Liberty Hall, and a tour for the Improvised Music Company. He features regularly on RTÉ radio and tv, and has recently worked with the likes of The Waterboys, Iarla Ó Lionáird and Peadar Ó Riada. Top Trad in prospect.

“An inspired pairing. Music of depth and daring... thoughtful, exploratory, driving,
delicate, heartfelt, fascinating, and fun. Theirs is some of the most maddeningly nourishing, elevating and mesmerizing Irish traditional music you'll hear today.” - Earl Hitchner, The Irish Echo
"The music of this duo is joyous indeed, sparkling with energy and life.” - Fíacha O’ Dubhda, http://othermusics.wordpress.com

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)
Brendan and Caoimhín's website.

The Way

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 3rd April @ 8.00pm

USA 2010 128mins Language: English

The Way is a touching film about the testy yet unbreakable bond between father and son, and the familial connections that can form among strangers. American father Tom is informed that his son has died in a freak accident on a pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago. On arriving to collect his son’s remains, he decides to undertake the 800k pilgrimage in an attempt to honour his son’s memory. Along the way he encounters other travelers, each with their own motivations: a gregarious Dutchman who wants to lose weight, a Canadian woman hoping to stop smoking, and an Irish author struggling to write a travel book. As they travel together they come to form a surrogate family unit and support each other through their various tribulations towards their final goal and with it greater self-knowledge and understanding. Director Emilio Estevez directs his father Martin Sheen in the central role of this heartfelt and uplifting film.

“A moving and potent character study buoyed by a great soundtrack and an immensely likable cast.” - Toronto International Film Festival 2010
“Funny, moving, hip and transcendent… a movie of beauty, humor and disarmingly humble devotion… A sensuous, expansive hymn to travel and transformation.” - Ann Hornaday, Washington Post

Adm. €5


Access Cinema website.

Eduardo Niebla

FLAMENCO JAZZ GUITAR Thursday 29th March @ 8.00pm

Hailed as one of the world's great guitarists, Eduardo Niebla returns to the Linenhall with his internationally acclaimed guitar duo, to present an amazing repertoire of “stunning flamenco jazz” (The Sound) from his latest albums.

His lyrical, breathtaking music has garnered huge respect within his adopted UK homeland, and also internationally, with appearances at the Jaipur Festival India, the Queen Elizabeth Hall London, the Tbilisi International Jazz Festival, the Greek Olympic Games, the San Isidro Fiesta in Madrid, Glastonbury and the Brecon International Jazz Festivals, as well as extensive concert tours throughout Europe, the Baltic States, the Middle East and South Africa.

Continually seeking out new musical terrain, Niebla has traversed the worlds of pop, jazz and world music, collaborating with such diverse partners as sitar maestro Nishat Khan, George Michael, Lol Coxhill and Craig David. Accompanied for the concert by fellow guitarist Matthew Robinson, expect a spellbinding evening of passion, verve and fleet fingered virtuosity from one of the most potent forces in flamenco jazz fusion.

”Poignantly poetic... and truly breathtaking.” - The Scotsman
”Stunning flamenco jazz.” - The Sound
“Niebla is the king of Latin guitar, a world-class virtuoso.” - Time Out
“Astonishing.” - Q Review
"Stunning… a potent force." Jazz UK
“Dramatic, emotional, spicy, fleet-fingered… Niebla continues to play from the heart.” - The Herald

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)
Eduardo Niebla's website.

Splódar Theatre Company - Sive

CANCELLED Monday 26th March @ 8.00pm

We regret any inconvenience caused.

Preston Reed

CONTEMPORARY GUITAR Wednesday 21st March @ 8.00pm

“Question: when is an acoustic guitar not an acoustic guitar? Answer: when it’s in the hands of New York visionary Preston Reed.” - Total Guitar
Preston Reed is recognised internationally as one of the greatest guitarists in the world, and also as a ground-breaking musical innovator. In 1987 he invented a two-handed playing style and compositional approach that integrates the full percussive potential of the guitar body. In doing so Reed revolutionized guitar playing. Preston tweaks the nose of musical convention, pokes the eye of accepted wisdom, and burns the rulebook of the past. Reed fuses chord-based grooves, soaring melodic runs and polyrhythmic percussion with his breathtaking two-handed style. The power and depth of his original compositions are as unique as the man’s execution, as blues, rock, funk and jazz meet, interlock and attack to create a sonic brew quite unlike anything you've heard before. Need we say more?

“Widely thought of as the world’s most gifted guitarist.” - Total Guitar
“In a class of his own.” - Jack Massarik, London Evening Standard
“Reed's fiendishly intricate blend of blues, rock, country and metal styles ducks and weaves itself away from measurability.” - The Irish Times
“True spellbinding guitar mastery.” - Guitarist Magazine
“Spectacular… a terrific performer.” - Eamon Sweeney, The Irish Independent

Adm: €16 / €14 (concessions)
Preston Reed's website.

Le Quattro Volte

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 20th March @ 8.00pm

2010 Italy 88 mins Language: Italian with English subtitles

Le Quattro Volte (literally ‘the four times’) is a transcendent, contemplative and exquisitely filmed meditation on the cycle of life by director Michelangelo Frammartino. Set in the Calabrian countryside, the film explores the Pythagorean notion of four states of being (human, animal, vegetable, and mineral), commencing with an old goatherd emerging out of the smoke rising from a charcoal kiln and ending with the charcoal haze of what was once a mighty fir tree drifting across the screen. What happens in between has left film critics struggling for superlatives. We’ll leave the hard sell to them. Suffice to say, an unforgettable cinematographic experience is on the cards.

“Pure delight… a wonderful film about life, the universe and everything. It’s captivating, touching, wryly humorous, mysterious, intriguing and uplifting.” - Trevor Johnston, Time Out
“This beautiful movie… slow, precise, superbly filmed.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“Extraordinary… A cinematic poem, a spiritual exploration of time and space, designed to make us think and feel about the world around us and our place in it.” - Philip French, The Observer
“(Its) view of nature is among the most profound, expansive and unsettling I have ever encountered on film. Mr. Frammartino's eye for both comedy and mystery produces compositions that are so strange and memorable that they seem to reinvent the very act of perception.” - A.O. Scott, The New York Times
“A devastating, profound and at times surreal work of art.” - Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post

Adm. €5

Access Cinema website.

Mephisto - Grenades

THEATRE Wednesday 14th March @ 8.00pm

Northern Ireland, 1979: Nuala is a tough 9-year old living with her mother, brother and grandfather, she thinks the class bully is just a big baby, and that all the nuns are cranky old wrinkled-up cronies. She loves Thin Lizzy and The Undertones - just like her big brother, Oran, who is 15 and thinks he’s Casanova. Nuala thinks he’s more like Jesus; she’d do anything for him. But what she does one day for her brother, no-one could ever have imagined…
Set in a prison 10 years later, Grenades is a compelling drama that has at its heart the bruised innocence of Nuala, who must re-live the events of her childhood and finally make sense of them all. A highly acclaimed first play by Tara McKevitt, winner of the 2010 RTÉ PJ O’Connor Award and a Gold Award at the New York Festivals Radio Awards 2011 for the radio version of Grenades. Tara is a participant on The Abbey Theatre’s New Playwrights Programme 2011/12. An evening of dazzling new Irish theatre in prospect from top theatre company Mephisto.

“…enthralling…heart-wrenching…” - Irish Theatre Magazine
“…fantastic performance… …a vital production” - Culture Northern Ireland
“…little fire-cracker of a play…” - Herald Scotland
“…powerful… …O’Grady’s fierce, heart-wrenching performance is impossible to fault”. - Scotsman
“…explosive… …beautifully nuanced performance… …packs an emotional and sociopolitical punch…” - STV

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)
Irish Theatre Magazine review of Grenades.

Open Mike Night

LOCAL ARTS: POETRY & MORE Thursday 8th March @ 8.00pm

The latest in the ongoing Open Mike series at the Linenhall: an informal and thoroughly enjoyable evening of poetry, prose and music, when writers from all over Mayo come to read from their own work in front of an enthusiastic audience of peers, pundits and the public in general. The event takes place in the Linenhall Café, where refreshments will be available to enhance the ambience and bonhomie. Come along to share your own work, or enjoy the work of others.

Adm. FREE

Irish Youth Chamber Choir - Messengers: 30 Years On Song

YOUTH CHORAL CONCERT Friday 9th March @ 8.00pm

The Linenhall @ Christchurch presents Messengers, part of the Irish Youth Chamber Choir's 30 Years On Song. Since 1982, hundreds of Ireland’s most talented singers and musicians have benefited from the Irish Youth Choir experience by being a part of this exciting, vibrant choir. In the thirty years since IYC first came together through the Association of Irish Choirs, its members have gone on to form the backbone of musical life in this country and beyond as conductors, choir founders, singers, teachers and musicians. In 2011 IYC realised a long held ambition to create a smaller chamber choir of 24 singers, selected from within the 100-strong Irish Youth Choir. Singing some of the most dazzling repertoire from around the world, these young singers offer a new perspective on choral music. Innovative programming and interpretation underpin a desire to stage vibrant concert performances which are genuinely engaging and relevant to people of all ages. Under Artistic Director Greg Beardsell, IYC will perform a programme including works by Pawel Lukaszewski, James Macmillan, Eric Whitacre, Greg Scanlon and Moses Hogan. This performance is recipient of a Touring Award from The Arts Council.

“A dazzling repertoire from around the world that is bound to engage with music fans of all ages.” - The Irish Times

Adm.: €12 / €10 (concessions)

NB: Venue: Christchurch Church of Ireland, Castlebar.
Booking through the Linenhall.

Irish Youth Choir website.

MOONEY ON TOUR - The Derek Mooney Show Live Broadcast

Live RTE Broadcast Thursday 8th March @ 2.45pm

MOONEY ON TOUR comes to the Linenhall Arts Centre on Thursday March 8th!!!
Derek Mooney and his team will broadcast a special live radio show full of music, entertainment, quizzes and local features.
Flora Pro.Activ will be on site before the show offering free cholesterol testing.
Audience tickets are FREE! You can book them by calling the Linenhall Box Office now on 094 9023733.
Tickets are first-come-first-served and you can book as many as you like! All applicants for tickets must be over 18.
On the day doors close at 2.45pm and the show will be LIVE from 3.00-4.30pm.

Ger Carey - Stand-Up for Teenagers

YOUTH THEATRE Wednesday 7th March @ 11.20am

Comedian Ger Carey brings his new show Stand-Up for Teenagers to the Linenhall Arts Centre as part of his 2012 nationwide tour. The show takes a comic look at some major influences on young adults’ lives, such as television, music, social networks and advertising, and contrasts the resultant land of fantasy with the reality of what awaits them in the real world! The show is perfect for Transition Year students, LCA and Youth Reach.

To book, call 059-9141333. Tickets €10, teachers free. 11.20am and 2pm. March 7th.

“Fantastic theatrical experience.” - Roscommon Arts Centre

Adm.: €10 (Teachers free)
NB: Booking through Armed Eye. Tel: 059 9141333

Mammuth

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 6th March @ 8.00pm

France 2010 87mins Language: French with English subtitles

The story of a man, a mission and a motorbike, Gérard Depardieu teams up with subversive farceur directors Benoit Delépine and Gustave de Kervern for a trouble-making road comedy about an old biker heading back to his past. Depardieu plays an abattoir worker who retires only to find that he doesn't have a pension and needs to track down paperwork from his former employers. Hitting the road on his Mammuth bike, he has a series of variously humiliating and inspiring encounters on the course of his bittersweet and picaresque journey to recover lost wages and buried memories, with a gem of a central role that finds the larger-than-life Depardieu at his best.

Adm. €5

“Delépine and de Kevern’s best yet… a funny, sad and weird road movie starring Gérard Depardieu in a pungent role.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“Depardieu makes the most of it. Gallic scuzziness has rarely seemed so sweetly tender.” - David Fear, Time Out New York
“Enjoyably offbeat and frequently hilarious… (with) a terrific central performance.” - Matthew Turner, LondonView
“Blends social commentary with deadpan humour.” - Tom Dawson, Total Film

Access Cinema website.

CAN Percussion Trio - CANCELLED

PERCUSSION CONCERT Monday 27th February @ 8.00pm

CANCELLED due to unforseen circumstances.
For possible rescheduling later this year.

Castlebar Concert Band

CONCERT BAND NIGHT Thursday 23rd February @ 8.00pm

The ever-popular Castlebar Concert Band, one of the longest surviving town bands in the region, has been active since the 1920s. Comprising up to 32 members of all age groups, Castlebar Concert Band is a regular feature throughout the year at concerts, festivals, charity functions and street carolling, while the marching element performs at football matches and parades. This year for the first time the Band will be leading the Mayo Men’s Association of New York down Fifth Avenue on St Patrick’s Day, and will also perform at Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral on the day. For this Linenhall concert, the Band performs a programme of music to suit all tastes, from Light Classical to Jazz and a few Marches too, under the baton of Director of Music Jackie Graham. Satisfaction guaranteed!

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)

Honey (Bal)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 21st February @ 8.00pm

Germany/Turkey 2010 103mins Language: Turkish with English subtitles

In the densely forested region of north-eastern Turkey, beekeper Yakup goes about his business collecting honey from hives in the tallest trees in the woods, accompanied by his admiring six year-old son Yusuf. Just starting in primary school, the young boy is a lonely child, dealing with a stammer, desperate for attention, longing to get a "reward" badge for reading aloud in class. When the bees disappear, Yakup is forced to hang his hives in more remote areas, but does not return home from his trip. After many days waiting and fruitless searching with his mother, Yusuf decides to head off to seek his father in the forest on his own. A deeply poetic and lyrical film full of beautiful cinematography, director Semih Kaplanoglu won a Golden Bear for this film at Berlin Film Festival.

Adm. €5

“Calm, contemplative and compassionate… poetic film-making.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“This gorgeous film… a precise and psychologically involving Oedipal drama.” - David Jenkins, Time Out
“Beautiful images and a poetic sense of yearning.” - Allan Hunter, Daily Express
“Cast(s) a lyrical, magical spell.” - Andy Webster, New York Times

Access Cinema website.

Noriana Kennedy

FOLK MUSIC Tuesday 14th February @ 8.00pm

Noriana Kennedy has been an in-demand folk singer and musician in Galway for over five years, and is beginning to generate a buzz nationally with her debut album Ebb ‘N’Flow. Her musical career began in 2005 as lead singer of Irish contemporary trad band Nábac. The five-piece performed regularly in Ireland’s well known folk venues and at music festivals and their spirited performances saw them tour in Austria, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Denmark. The release of Noriana's debut album Ebb ‘N’ Flow is a fresh exploration of the links old between Irish and Appalachian folk music, her pristine voice taking the audience from cruel wars to kind love, from New England to Waterford, and a thousand heartworn places in between. Graced by the warm stage presence, Noriana will be joined on the night by two fellow Galway musicians, percussionist/mandolin player and harmony singer Nicola Joyce and singer/songwriter Noelie McDonnell, to weave a beguiling tapestry of Irish and American Folk music. What better for a Valentine’s Night out?

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)

"...exquisite phrasing and a songbook as wide as a Southern porch..." - Irish Times
"Really a terrific CD, reflective of the new reality that is young Irish roots music today..." - Brian O'Donovan, WGHB Boston
"Noriana Kennedy's music is pure folk, the good stuff, and deserves to fill many more rooms…" - Celtic Radio Glasgow

Noriana Kennedy's website.

Peter Sheridan - 47 Roses

THEATRE Thursday 9th February @ 8.00pm

Warm, disarming, wry and poignant, 47 Roses is a one-man show devised from Peter Sheridan’s memoir of the same name, performed by the author himself. Drawing on his reminiscences of a family set within inner-city Dublin, Sheridan conjures up the voices, sights and songs of his 1960’s childhood in a powerful coming-of-age story peopled with deliciously eccentric characters and wonderfully bizarre incidents. In what Sheridan describes as “a stage play written in the style of a film”, a son tries to discover the truth about the nature of his father’s relationship with the mysterious Doris after he passes away. Over an illustrious career, Peter Sheridan has won the Rooney Prize for Literature, was writer-in-residence at the Abbey Theatre, co-founded the Project Theatre Company; film credits include the award-winning short The Breakfast and the feature Borstal Boy; and books 44: A Dublin Memoir, Forty-Seven Roses and the novel Big Fat Love. A highly acclaimed production. Don’t miss it.

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)

“A coming of age story brilliantly told by the charismatic Sheridan… As performer and writer, Sheridan is magnificently compassionate.” - The Irish Times
“A beautiful piece of theatre... catch this while you can” - Caomhan Keane, entertainment.ie
“Sheridan comes up smelling of roses…….pure theatre.” - The Sunday Independent
“A twinkly little gem.” - The Times (UK)

47 Roses Irish Times review in full.
47 Roses Irish Theatre Magazine review in full.

Beautiful Lies (De Vrais Mensonges)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 7th February @ 8.00pm

France 2010 105mins Language: French with English subtitles

30-year-old Emilie runs a hairdressing salon where she provides an endless stream of well-meaning advice to her clients and friends, but the only person she cannot seem to help is her own recently separated mother. Jean, a young man who works for Emilie, is secretly in love with her but too shy to declare his feelings. Finally, unable to contain himself, he opens his heart to her in a passionate anonymous letter, but Emilie has other plans and redirects the letter to her mother. Director Pierre Salvadori (Priceless) reunites with Audrey Tautou for this charming romantic comedy, also starring Nathalie Baye as her mother, with a plot that tips a nod and a wink to Jane Austen’s Emma. Sit back and enjoy.

Adm. €5

“An amusing script and winning performances.” - Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
“Audrey Tautou is utterly captivating playing cupid in this intelligently written and tenderly directed delight.” - Alliance Francais French Film Festival 2011, Australia
“Baye is wholly delightful.” - Philip French, The Guardian
“Frisky and watchable.” - The Daily Telegraph

Access Cinema website.

The Emilie Conway Jazz Quartet - You Must Believe in Spring

VOCAL JAZZ Tuesday 31st January @ 8.00pm

Join jazz vocalist Emilie Conway for the launch her debut album “The Secret of a Rose” with an evening of music to celebrate spring as a season of new love, hope and change: "You Must Believe in Spring", "Joy Spring", "Aguas de Marco", "It Might As Well Be Spring", "But Beautiful", "So In Love" and many more..
Emilie explains, “The repertoire for this concert and album developed out of my personal response to the prevailing negativity in our country the past few years. Life has taught me that there is always hope and there is beauty and that this is a beautiful life we have here, despite, and indeed because of the light and the shade.Born in Dublin, Emilie has won scholarships to Berklee College of Music, Boston, The Vermont Jazz Centre, and Souza Lima, Brazil, She has studied with Sheila Jordan, Jay Clayton in the US, and Fionna Duncan UK. Her main influences are Billie Holiday, Elis Regina, Edith Piaf, Abbey Lincoln, Kurt Elling and Joni Mitchell but also include Prokofiev, Satie, Ravel, Mahler and Dolly Parton.
Strong ties with jazz musicians and audiences outside of Ireland have seen Emilie a welcome guest vocalist in Vermont, Boston, Chicago and Europe. In 2010 she was invited to perform at The Copenhagen Jazz Festival and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. At home “Emilie Sings Elis,” a Tribute to Brazilian singer Elis Regina got festival invitations to the Ranelagh Arts Festival, and Flatlakes Festival, while “Emilie Sings Billie, a Tribute to Billie Holiday” won an Arts Council touring grant. Emilie has made several radio appearances on Arena Arts show on RTE 1 radio, most recently on 18th Oct 2011 as part of RTE’s Big Music week. The Emilie Conway Quartet perform regularly at their musical home: Bewley’s Café Theatre, Grafton St. Dublin.
This evening also features the talents of Emilie’s top in-demand Quartet. Johnny Taylor, piano, Dave Fleming, double bass, Dominic Mullan, drums are among Ireland's leading musicians, sought after by leading jazz musicians north and south. The quartet has been working together for the past 6 years so that, according to Emilie, “the musical relationship has become so close as to be symbiotic”.

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)

“Emilie Conway is a heart stealer with the voice of an angel, smooth, mellow, sincere and deeply connected to both music and lyrics. She is no imitator but has a fresh approach and a sound that lingers on ...” - Fionna Duncan, jazz vocalist
“A wonderful talent. Emilie Conway sings her songs from her heart.” - Sheila Jordan, US
”Emilie Conway is a jazz vocalist who will melt your heart to butter and then spread it on a freshly baked croissant on a warm Paris morning. Yes, folks, she’s that good!” - Stephen Kennedy, Nighthawks
“An unforgettable experience.” - Real Travel, San Francisco

Emilie's website.
Emilie on MySpace.

David O Doherty: Seize the David O Doherty

COMEDY Friday 25th January 2013 @ 8.00pm

The 2008 Edinburgh Comedy Award winner and 2010 Hot Press Irish Comedian of the Year is back with his musings and keyboard for another great night of original comedy. "Life is a marathon, not a sprint. But it is a sort of marathon that you really have to sprint. And there are hurdles and weights to lift. And swimming. And shooting. Life is basically The Olympics. But at the end you don't get a medal, you die."

Adm: €18 / €14 (concessions)


"A national treasure" - The Irish Times
“A triumph.” - The Montreal Gazette

David O'Doherty's website.

The Teetotallers - Martin Hayes, Kevin Crawford & John Doyle

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Tuesday 24th January @ 8.00pm

What do you get when you combine TG4 Gradam Ceoil Traditional Musician of the Year 2008, a key member of two of Ireland’s most celebrated instrumental bands, and a Grammy award nominee for 2009? Answer: The Teetotallers. Three of the most praised, popular and highly regarded exponents in Irish Traditional music today combining forces to create a powerfully potent brand of Trad: fiddle player extraordinaire Martin Hayes, who is recognised as one of the most important Irish musicians of his generation; virtuoso multi-instrumentalist Kevin Crawford, who is a key member of Lúnasa and Moving Cloud; and dazzling guitarist/bouzouki/mandolin player and singer, founder member of Irish-American band Solas and Grammy nominee John Doyle. The Teetotallers represent a breathtaking summit of talent, skill, and imagination that will captivate followers of Irish Traditional and other roots music everywhere. A group brewed in heaven. Expect the extraordinary. Part of a Music Network tour.

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)

“A dream team made real. The Teetotallers should generate enormous excitement among Irish traditional music fans around the globe.” - Earle Hitchner, Irish Echo, The Wall Street Journal
"Three masters of Irish music whose time has come… some of the greatest and influential players of their age." - Jim Magill, Director, The Swannanoa Gathering
Music Network website
The Teetotallers on Music Network website.
The Teetotallers on YouTube.

Truman Town Theatre - Shortcut to Hallelujah

THEATRE Wednesday 18th & Thursday 19th January @ 8.00pm

"....Sure Mayo aren't goin’ to win again until that curse is lifted..."
From the creator of the smash hit Sunday Morning Coming Down comes the latest play from Ballinrobe playwright Mick Donnellan. Set during the run up to the All-Ireland Football final, Mayo are playing Kerry and the clientele of Quinn’s Bar in Ballinrobe are certain the Sam Maguire Cup is coming home at last. But rumours begin to surface of a curse on the team. The last time Mayo won, the celebrations upset a Traveller’s funeral, and it was decreed that Mayo would never win again until everyone on the original team had died. It’s now over 50 years later and the last player is still alive. Meanwhile, heavy-drinking young Chris McGuire is in a bitter dispute with local landgrabber Black Tom Tully based on a bitter family feud, and is adamant that Tom Tully won't get a single blade of grass from him. And Chris’ fiancée Eimear finds that despite her best efforts, she can't reconcile herself to a life in Ballinrobe, but her attempts to leave always prove more difficult than she imagined. After completing an MA in Writing at NUIG, writer and director Mick Donnellan worked with Druid Theatre under the New Writers Programme and more recently as a Screenwriter with RTÉ. The play stars Cathal Leonard, Sean O’Maille and Kate McCarthy. And Chris’ fiancée Eimear finds that despite her best efforts, she can’t reconcile herself to a life in Ballinrobe, but leaving proves more difficult than she imagined. A darkly hilarious exploration of small town Irish life, the play proved a major success at its sell-out run at the Town Hall Theatre in Galway. Come and see why.

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)

“Donnellan exposes a stark space familiar to many: a self-conscious community in which addiction and delusion work to repress painful truths. As such, this is powerful theatre.” - Siobhán O’Gorman, Irish Theatre Magazine about Sunday Morning Coming Down

The Certain Three Tour featuring Katie Kim, The Lost Brothers & Puzzle Muteson

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC Thursday 12th January @ 8.00pm

The Certain Three makes its 3rd annual nationwide outing with a triple bill of fresh and diverse contemporary acts. Katie Kim presents her signature Slowcore, ethereal, ambient folk/pop sound, as witnessed on her acclaimed debut album Twelve and the up-for-release Cover & Flood, with musical layers of fuzzy drips and murky clouds revolving around her distinctive vocals. The Lost Brothers music reflects “a gumbo melting pot of influences with touches of country, doo-wop, golden era rock
and roll, dark folk tales and tales of love gone wrong, all sprinkled with that magic Lost Brothers dust”. Only this year they opened the main stage at Electric Picnic, and appeared on the same bill as Van Morrison and Bob Dylan. And last but not least, Puzzle Muteson is an enigmatic songwriter from the Isle of Wight, rendering his music in a tremulous tenor over a finely spun web of fingerpicked guitar, as displayed on Puzzle’s debut En Garde described as “a mysterious, intimate record by a fearless songwriter and lyricist” (Bedroom Community). A great chance to sample three contemporary musical talents on the rise.

The Certain Three is presented by the Linenhall and Finbar Hoban Presents.

Adm.: €16 / €14 (concessions)

The Certain Three website.
Katie Kim's website.
The Lost Brothers' website.
Puzzle Muteson's website.

CRAFTMAKERS’ CHRISTMAS FAIR

Saturday 10th December, from 10.00am-5.00pm

The Craftmakers’ Christmas Fair brings together a selection of diverse craftmakers from all over Ireland to present their distinctive wares for your delectation, delight and purchase. A range of delectable ceramics, woodcraft, leather work, jewellery, textiles, metalwork and more will be on show, with an opportunity to meet and buy direct from the makers themselves. The Craftmakers’ Christmas Fair is quickly becoming a firm favourite with people searching for top quality distinctive craft products. Looking for that special Christmas gift? Look no further!

Eimear Quinn

CONTEMPORARY VOCAL Wednesday 14th December @ 8.00pm

Eimear Quinn's ethereal voice first enthralled the world as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1996 with Brendan Graham's The Voice. Dublin born Eimear joined her first choir at the age of 4 and at 15 she started formal vocal training at the College of Music in Dublin. A former soloist with Celtic chamber choir Anúna, Eurovision success brought Eimear international fame and acclaim. In this intimate a spiritual night, Eimear will bring her own special rendition of Christmas songs and carols to the Linenhall for a memorable musical experience, blending Eimear's beautiful voice with string quartet and guitar. So sit back and let the hustle and bustle fade away. The Christmas season begins right here, let your spirit be moved!

Adm.: €20 / €18 (concessions)

“Eimear Quinn's voice is soft and pure, yet full and strong.” - Stephanie Giamundo, CelticCafe.com
"A beautiful young woman with a cherub’s voice that floats in an ethereal cloud of its own making" - The Sunday Independent

Eimear Quinn's website.

Game Set Match - Dramatic Canapés

LOCAL ARTS: THEATRE Monday 12th December @ 8.00pm

Game Set Match - Dramatic Canapés
A tasty cocktail of comedy monologues and sketches from
Castlebar drama group Game Set Match (formerly the Tennis Club Players), offering the audience a flavour of some of the funniest plays from around the world, from the delectable Shirley Valentine to a delicious display of Alan Ayckbourn’s Mother Figure.

A sumptuous feast of comedy and light hearted entertainment sure to leave you shouting for seconds.

Presented as a fundraiser for Castlebar Tennis Club.


Adm. €15

Maria McGarry

PIANO RECITAL Wednesday 7th December @ 8.00pm

Maria McGarry is a pianist who brings a deep insight and sensitive musicianship to the music she performs. The Mayo-born virtuoso pianist has received consistent praise from critics for her intuitive musicianship, depth of interpretation and uniquely personal style. A graduate of the Juilliard School’s most prestigious programme, the Artist Diploma in Performance, she has represented Ireland at many international events, performing at the Biennale for Contemporary Artists in Puglia, Italy; the European Music Festival in Warsaw; the EU Cultural Week in New Delhi and at the Palais de Nations, Geneva. Winner of numerous prizes and awards, Maria has performed as soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Spain's New Millennium Orquesta, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, the London-Irish Camerata and the Dublin Symphony Orchestra. Her recordings are released on Lyric fm’s recent CD Hiccup and CMC’s Contemporary Music from Ireland Volume 9. She has recorded for Polish National Radio, Lyric Fm and has featured on RTÉ's The Late Late Show and, as a fluent Irish speaker, on TG4

Programme: J.S. Bach/F. Busoni: Chaconne (from Partita 11 for Violin solo BWV 1004); F.Chopin: Berceuse Op. 57; Ballade No. 2 Op. 38; L. Van Beethoven: Sonata No. 31 in A flat major Op.110; C. Franck: Prelude, Choral et Fugue.
A magical evening in prospect.

Performance facilitated by a Music Network Performance and Tour Award.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“...captivating…” - The Sunday Business Post
“…enchanting... utterly compelling.” - The Sunday Tribune
“…instinctive imagination and musicianship... a model of how to let music play for itself...” - The Irish Times
Music Network website
Maria McGarry's website.

Chico and Rita

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 6th December @ 8.00pm

Spain 2010 94mins Spanish with English subtitles

A charming and beautiful animated love story by Spanish artist and designer Javier Mariscal and his compatriot, Oscar-winning director and music producer Fernando Trueba - the passionate relationship between a singer and a piano player. In Cuba in 1948, Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer. Music and romantic desire unites them, but their journey from Havana to New York, Paris, Hollywood and Las Vegas is not an easy road. With ‘cameo’ appearances by the likes of Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Chano Pozo and Ben Webster, the film is also an affectionate homage to a golden age of jazz.

Oscar-winning director Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque) and Catalan successful designer Javier Mariscal have created a passionate, animated Cuban love story.

Adm: €5

“Charming. This lush and nostalgic animated gem… a perfect melding of two distinctive sensibilities to produce a single, impeccable piece of craft.” - David Jenkins, Time Out
“Beautifully designed… wonderfully passionate.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“All buzz, colour and sublime jazz, Chico & Rita is an instant design classic - and cracking cinema too.” - Ellen E Jones, Total Film

Access Cinema website.

Alexej Gorlatch

PIANO RECITAL Thursday 1st December @ 8.00pm

Young Ukrainian pianist Alexej Gorlatch is something of a musical phenomenon. Entering the University of Arts in Berlin at the age of 12, within a decade he had a trophy cabinet jam-packed with awards, including First Prize at the prestigious Hamamatsu International Piano Competition in Japan, First Prize at the Dublin International Piano competition and Silver Medal at the Leeds Piano Competition, in a performance described by The Guardian as “immaculate in its poetry and aggression”. Gorlatch has poise, power and passion in equal measure, entrancing audiences from Carnegie Hall to the Salle Cortot in Paris with his relaxed stage manner, singing lines and soulful performances. Prepare to be spellbound!

Programme: Beethoven’s Sonata op. 2 no.1 in F minor; Chopin’s Polonaise-Fantasie op.61; Bill Whelan’s The Currach; Brahms’ 4 Ballades op.10; Chopin’s Mazurkas op.68 no.s 1 & 2, and Scherzo op.31 in B flat minor

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"Awe-inspiringly confident and assured… with a perfection which apparently effortlessly sets him apart from everyone else... Alexej Gorlatch is one of those players who can take you into areas that others just can’t reach. " - Michael Dervan, Irish Times
"This remarkably talented pianist… played with finesse and maturity."
The New York Times
Music Network website

Living Colour

FILM SCREENING Wednesday 30th November @ 3.00pm

A documentary film exploring the world of an artists’ collective in Callan, Co. Kilkenny, which focuses on the artists’ abilities instead of their special needs. An intimate portrayal of the artists, as it takes us farther into their unique world it throws up questions about the deeply human need to make art. Living Colour is, in itself, a celebration of what it is to be human. Filmed over a 12-month period in the K.C.A.T studio in Callan, director Éamon Little gained unique intimate access to the studio and the artists. The film undertakes a journey into the creative processes of five extraordinary artists - Lorna, Karl, Andrew, Declan and Francis - as they create paintings, sculptures and animations in an atmosphere free from ego. Presented to mark International Disabled People’s Day, with funding through a Mayo County Council IDPD Project Award.

“Moments of humour, insight and joy come together to define this uplifting and enlightening piece of cinema and its extraordinary tale of people communicating
through art.” - Film Ireland

Adm. Free
Living Colour Trailer.

The Raw Bar Collective

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Thursday 24th November @ 8.00pm

With a refreshingly uncluttered approach to playing, Raw Bar Collective presents a vibrant and excitingly earthy style of Irish Traditional music. The Raw Bar Collective is a fluid gathering of Irish musicians, each of them an acknowledged standard bearer within the tradition. They are anchored by Conal Ó Gráda (flute), Benny McCarthy (accordion) and Dave Sheridan (fiddle), all three recognised as among the top instrumentalists in Ireland. They are joined by stellar guests sean nós singer Nell Ní Chróinín, one of the most exciting traditional singing talents of her generation, and consummate bodhrán player Colm Murphy. The Raw Bar Collective focuses on connecting with the listener. Their music is presented with warmth, wit, passion and respect. Recorded live, debut album millhouse measures reflects these values and crackles with the energy generated by such a genuine connection with the listener. Their live shows do likewise. Come along and see for yourselves.

The Linenhall Arts Centre acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council in making this performance possible.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Three virtuosos… music filled with the warmth, passion and respect.” - Philippe Cousin, Le Peuple Breton
“The music of millhouse measures is a deliciously no-frills treat.” - Earle Hitchner, Irish Echo, US

The RBC's website.

Life, Above All

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 22nd November @ 8.00pm

South Africa/Germany 2010 106mins Sotho & Pedi languages with English subtitles

Set in a contemporary Johannesburg township, director Oliver Schmitz’ film is a beautifully observed and handsomely-made drama based on Allan Stratton's bestselling novel Chanda's Secrets. Khomotso Manyaka gives a riveting performance as 12-year-old Chanda, who has to deal with a drunken, good-for-nothing stepfather and a loving but gravely ill mother. Following the death of her newborn sister, Chanda is forced to grow up fast, as gossip and rumours threaten the survival of the family within a local community riven by fear and denial. A film that is heartfelt and angry, but never preachy, through Chandra’s eyes we are brought close to the difficulties and hopes facing a generation of Africans.

The Linenhall Arts Centre acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council in making this screening possible.

Adm: €5

“Huge warmth and humanism, in the vivid details of daily life and superb performances.” - Cath Clark, The Guardian
“Extremely touching… a heart-rending performance from Khomotso Manyaka.” - Philip French, The Observer
“A tale of resilience without platitudes about the triumph of the human spirit.” - Manohla Dargis, New York Times
“The film is about deep human emotions, evoked with sympathy and love.” - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Access Cinema website.

Dyad Productions - Austen’s Women

THEATRE Thursday 17th November @ 8.00pm

Thirteen of Jane Austen’s most celebrated female characters are brought to life in this bold revisiting of the most exciting moments from novels including Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility and Emma. In scenes of high comedy and moments of profound pathos, Lizzy Bennet, Emma Woodhouse, Marianne Dashwood and many more fall in love, alienate their friends and commit notorious improprieties. Using only Austen’s words, Rebecca Vaughan offers a brilliant and illuminating distillation of 19th century feminism. A sell-out success at Edinburgh 2009 and Adelaide Festival 2010, Austen’s Women is directed by Guy Masterson and adapted and performed by Rebecca Vaughan, who was responsible for the magnificent I, Elizabeth. A brilliant, illuminating and highly entertaining evocation of Jane Austen’s works - a treat for Austen lovers and the perfect introduction for the uninitiated.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Cleverly written and superbly performed.” - Adelaide Theatre Guide
“Nothing short of breathtaking.” - One4Review
“Thoroughly recommended.” - Edinburgh Guide
“Witty and fast-paced…will resonate with a modern audience whether they are fans of the novels or not.” - Adelaide Advertiser
“A startling feat of performance, portrayal, writing and direction... a strongly recommended show.” - Fringe Review

Dyad Productions' website.

Ger Carey Live

YOUTH THEATRE Wednesday 16th November @ 11.20am

Ger Carey returns with his brilliant stand-up comedy routine for young people aged between 15 and 18. This hilarious one-man show attempts to answer the age-old question: Just what is going on inside the teenage brain? The show aims to get teenagers to laugh at themselves and view themselves as part of a bigger picture. Book now to guarantee your students a fantastic theatrical experience. The show is perfect for Transition Year students, LCA, Youth Reach and even adults!

Adm.: €10 (Teachers free)
NB: Booking through Armed Eye. Tel: 059 9141333

Fidil

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Monday 14th November @ 8.00pm

Fidil is rapidly forging a reputation for exhilarating traditional music for the 21st century, mindful of its origins but breathtakingly exciting in its ambition and delivery. Fidil's line-up is composed of three dazzling Donegal fiddle players: 2010 TG4 Young Musician of the Year Aidan O'Donnell; Ciarán Ó Maonaigh, a former TG4 Young Musician of the year and nephew of Altan's Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh; and Damien McGeehan whose unique ability to bring different sounds and techniques to the fiddle helps see Fidil go boldly where no Trad band has gone before. A groundbreaking use of fiddles coupled with the depth of lore and tunes of the Donegal fiddle tradition makes Fidil one of the most unique and entertaining ensembles in Irish Traditional Music today. Awarded the Young Musicwide Award by Music Network in 2008, over this past year they have toured extensively, including New York, London, Canada, Iceland, Latvia and Macedonia.
Fidil’s acclaimed album 3 was described as “a milestone in traditional music” by The Irish Times. Come and find out why for yourselves. You won’t be disappointed.
Presented in association with Music Network.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Fearless… compelling… A rich, rewarding sonic palette … Enchantment inevitably follows.” - Earl Hitchner, The Irish Echo
“A rare mix of virtuosity and sheer joie de vivre… by three exceptional and ambitious musicians.” - Siobhan Long, The Irish Times
Music Network website
Fidil's website.

Volumes of Character - The Past and Future of the Printed Book

BOOK SEMINAR Saturday 12th November @ 2.00pm-5.30pm

A one-day symposium discussing the past and future of the printed book at a time when its dominant position in Western culture looks to be in serious decline with the rise of electronic publishing. Dr Elizabeth Tilley of the English Department at NUIG will discuss the golden age of the Irish publishing trade in the late 18th and early 19th centuries; Catherine Twibill, Digital Expert at ePubdirect.com and formerly graphic designer at Cork’s award-winning Mercier Press, will discuss the ongoing and rapid changes in publishing worldwide; and Sioban Piercy, a well-known book artist and lecturer in the Print Department at GMIT, will introduce fine art printing techniques, and explore the idea of the book as an art form. The symposium will be chaired by Dr John Mulloy.

A book fair in the Linenhall foyer accompanies the symposium, which has been organised in asssociation with the exhibition Volumes of Character concurrently on show in the Linenhall Gallery.

Adm.: Free

Nancy Carney - Farewell Philadelphia

BOOKLAUNCH Friday 11th November @ 7.30pm

A booklaunch celebrating Mayo author Nancy Carney’s debut book, Farewell Philadelphia.

In April 1924, the Carmania set sail from Cobh, Co. Cork bound for Philadelphia. On board is Catherine Brennan, one of the many passengers hoping to make her fortune. Now grand-daughter Sally Staunton, reared by Catherine since the age of 4, tries to get her beloved grandmother to tell her life story before she succumbs completely to Alzheimers. Farewell Philadelphia tells a story of emigration and return, and of a way of life now found only in the Ireland of the past.

Farewell Philadelphia is published by Author House.

Farewell Philadelphia will be officially launched by John Grant of Western Alzheimers Association.

Adm.: Free

Farewell Philadelphia on AuthorHouse's website.

The Music Makers

MUSIC & FILM PERFORMANCE Thursday 10th November @ 8.00pm

We have a number of renowned musical instrument makers living in our midst in County Mayo, and this summer film-maker Myles O’Reilly visited four of them to record them in their workshops. We’ve placed the resulting instruments in the hands of four superb Traditional musicians, added edited film of the craftsmen at work and the result we hope will be a thrilling evening of music-making of the highest calibre. Join us to glimpse violin maker Graham Wright, bow maker Gary Leahy, mandolin and guitar maker Brian Lofthouse and uilleann pipes maker John Butler file, plane, bend, stretch and glue with incredible skill while the instruments they created are plucked,
bowed, strummed and played with equal skill by musicians Julie Langan, Finbarr Naughton, Brian Lofthouse and John Butler. And yes, two of the makers are also musicians. The performance will be followed by a 15-20 minute question-and-answer session with the instrument makers.
A Linenhall Arts Centre Production.

Adm. €15 / €12 (concessions)

axis: Ballymun - When Jolie Met Christie

CABARET THEATRE Wednesday 9th November @ 8.00pm

Aonghus McAnally performs a compelling one-man cabaret-theatre show inspired by the life and music of Christie Hennessy, as recounted by the Broadway star Al Jolson. The late Christie Hennessy, one of Ireland’s great singer-songwriters and much loved performers, was fascinated with Jolson and spent much of his boyhood imitating the great Broadway troubadour. In When Jolie Met Christie Al Jolson speaks of his admiration for Christie and his new understanding of him now they are together in the afterlife, comparing the struggles and triumphs of their two careers. What is the motivation behind all the great performers? And what sacrifices do they make as they try to follow their dream? This is a quirky, funny and sometimes dark meditation on the price of fame, featuring many of Christie’s greatest songs. When Jolie Met Christie brings together axis Director Ray Yeates, playwright Seán McCarthy, artistic designer Robert Ballagh and performer, entertainer and musician Aonghus McAnally (who often played with Christie over the years) in a national tour of this acclaimed sell-out show.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“This show is all heart… It’s the music that does the talking. One suspects that’s how Hennessy would have liked it.” - The Irish Times

When Jolie Met Christie latest on axis:Ballymun website.
When Jolie Met Christie Trailer on YouTube.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 8th November @ 8.00pm

France/Germany 2010 95mins Language: English

Director Werner Herzog returns to documentary with Cave of Forgotten Dreams, for which he gained exclusive access to the Chauvet-Pont-d’Arc Cave in the Ardèche in Southern France, discovered in 1994 and containing hundreds of remarkable drawings by early man around 32,000 years ago. In a fi lm that is full of stunning visuals, Herzog presents what he suggest as “the beginnings of the modern human soul” in a typically idiosyncratic and compelling way (remember the brilliant Grizzly Man?) in this enthralling exploration of the gulf between ourselves and our past.

The Linenhall Arts Centre acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council in making this screening possible.

Adm. €5

“Fascinating subject matter coupled with stunning cinematography… An unforgettable experience from one of cinema’s greatest filmmakers.” - Glasgow Film Festival 2011
“A tremendous film.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“Tantalising… a mixture of awe and scepticism, humility and wit.” - Ben Walters, Time Out

Access Cinema website.

Beezneez - United

THEATRE Wednesday 2nd November @ 8.00pm

Based on his well-received RTÉ radio play, John McDwyer’s new play United charts the lives of a rural Irish family over fifty years from the Munich air disaster in 1958. When the matriarch passes
away, her remaining children congregate for her funeral. Over the days of the funeral, dark secrets are revealed which lead to conflict until eventual reconciliation is reached and the family is, once more, united. A moving and life enhancing play from the author of Lovely Leitrim, Callaghan’s Place and Unforgiven and given the usual Beezneez production values, a richly rewarding evening of theatre is guaranteed. Directed by John McDwyer.

Adm. €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Beezneez, renowned for their production values.” - Meath Chronicle
“Beezneez... this accomplished company.” - Leitrim Observer

The Paper Princess

ROOLABOOLA CHILDREN\'S ARTS FESTIVAL - PERFORMANCE Sunday 30th October @ 11.00am and 1.00pm

You are invited to a party! There’s glitter and sparkles, a tiny theatre and a magical story to be told. So roll up your sleeves, open your ears and sit down and watch as the paper princess is whisked away, up into
the sky, out into the world. Based on the book, "The Paper Princess", by Elisa Kleven, an enchanting and unique theatre and workshop experience for younger children, where they are encouraged to make their own princes or princesses, and then enjoy this magical puppet show, with live music accompaniment.

Suitable for children aged 3 years and upwards
Duration of show: 40 minutes
Adm: €6

Eleanors Secret

ROOLABOOLA CHILDREN\'S ARTS FESTIVAL - FILM Saturday 29th October @ 4.00pm

When his eccentric old Aunt Eleanor bequeaths herseaside house to his parents, seven year-old Nathaniel discovers a cast of heroes and villains from children’s literature hiding in her book collection! But there is more – they are actually the original characters and are counting on Nat for protection, because if they leave the library they will disappear along with their stories! And unless Nat can learn to read, all these fairy tale characters will disappear forever. In a race against time and before his parents start to sell off the books, he must fight to save his new-found friends. A charming animated film with a message from Academy Award-nominated French animator, Dominique Monfery.

Suitable for children aged 5 years and upwards
Film Duration: 75 minutes
Adm: €4

The Speks

ROOLABOOLA CHILDREN\'S ARTS FESTIVAL - MUSIC Saturday 29th October 11.30am and 2.30pm

The Speks are a six-piece traditional Irish music group for children. Hailing from Glasses Island (where everybody wears glasses!), musicians Quince, Naymon, Tommo, Pete, Ed and Rafferty perform nursery rhymes and sing-along songs set to acoustic Irish music. Recent winners of a prestigious Parents’ Choice award for their debut album, and featured regularly on RTÉ Junior and on radio stations for young people all over the US, the Speks’ shows are full of fun, singing and dancing, where everyone is invited to join in!

Suitable for children aged 3-5 years
Show duration: 35 minutes
Adm: €5

The Speks website.

ROOLABOOLA CHILDREN’S ARTS FESTIVAL 2011

Saturday 29th - Monday 31st October

The Linenhall’s annual arts extravaganza for young people, celebrating its 14th birthday with a programme of top quality shows, film, workshops and more. Check out the RoolaBoola brochure for full details!

David O’Doherty is Looking Up

COMEDY Friday 28th October @ 8.00pm

2008 Edinburgh Comedy Award winner, 2010 Hot Press Irish Comedian of the Year, 1990 East Leinster under 14 triple jump bronze medallist, founder member of Destiny's Child, inventor of the iPad, star of 2Fast 2Furious, and until recently he always mispronounced the word 'hyperbole'. The number one ranked person called ‘David O’Dohert’y on Google appears at the Linenhall “with small keyboards/talking”.

Adm: €16

“A triumph.” - The Montreal Gazette
“A beautiful mix of acute observation and startling invention.” - The Irish Times
“A delightfully soft focus from a mild superhero.” - The Evening Standard, London
“Can there be anything more evil than someone trying their damndest to give musical comedy a good name? David O’Doherty not only attempts this malevolent feat, but succeeds to the point of very nearly elevating this stand-up subgenre to true art.” - The Scotsman

David O'Doherty's website.

Thought-Fox

JAZZ Wednesday 26th October @ 8.00pm

So Jazz is dead? Not while there are still young people with creative voices yearning to be heard. Exhibit A is Thought-Fox, winner of Music Network’s Young Musicwide Award for 2010-13, a serendipitous collaboration of some of the freshest improvisers on the Irish and UK jazz scene. Taking its name from a Ted Hughes poem, Thought-Fox’s often other-worldly compositions pivot around the powerful yet hauntingly gorgeous voice of Lauren Kinsella, who uses text and poetry to stunning effect alongside vocal techniques blending jazz, South Indian and European folk influences. Fellow foxes include trombonist Colm O’Hara, who has performed with luminaries such as Kenny Wheeler and Michael Brecker, and pianist Tom Gibbs, a stalwart of the Scottish jazz scene. Rhythmic propulsion comes courtesy of Waterford bassist Mick Coady and drummer Simon Roth, who between them have appeared with the likes of Louis Stewart, Ronnie Cuber, Scott Hamilton, Julian Arguelles, Tina May and John Taylor. A hot night of jazz energy in prospect.

The Linenhall Arts Centre acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council in making this performance possible.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"An artist in the complete sense...Kinsella stands in the excitingly undefined space between the airy yet shadowy blues modernism of Abbey Lincoln and the daring flexibility of form of Annette Peacock..." - Kevin Le Gendre on Lauren Kinsella
"A star in its ascendancy." - BBC Radio Scotland on Tom Gibbs
"His huge tone and immaculate, accurate technique powered the front-liners and he also showed formidable talents as a soloist." - Nottingham Post on Mick Coady
"Edge of your seat stuff." - London Jazz on Simon Roth
Music Network website

Oranges and Sunshine

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 25th October @ 8.00pm

UK/Australia 2010 105mins

Based on her own book Empty Cradles, Oranges and Sunshine follows the story of Nottingham social worker Margaret Humphreys, who in 1986 began investigating one of the most significant social scandals in recent times: the organized deportation of children in care from Britain to Australia, a practice that took place from the 1940s to the 1960s. Almost single-handedly, against overwhelming odds and with little regard for her own well-being, Margaret reunited thousands of families, brought authorities to account and worldwide attention to an extraordinary miscarriage of justice. A directorial debut by Jim Loach,(son of Ken) and starring Emily Watson as Margaret Humphreys, this is a stirring but unsensationalised account of a dark period in Britain’s social history.

Adm: €5

“A powerful, admirably restrained, real-life drama.” - Film4
“Deeply moving.” - Richard Kuipers, Variety
“Powerful, deeply moving.” - Philip French, The Guardian

Access Cinema website.

DoYou Playhouse - The Moon Cut Like a Sickle

YOUTH THEATRE Mon 17th/Tue 18th October @ 11am & 2.30pm Wed 19th/Thu 20th October @ 8.00pm

Terry is getting his first car, but his girlfriend Lisa is worried he will drive too fast - just like all his friends do. She comes up with a radical plan which might just slow Terry down once and for all.
An exciting and extremely relevant play by successful Castlebar-based writer Ken Armstrong, written in 2006 especially for DoYou Playhouse, and now revived in a new production in association with The Road Safety Authority.
DoYou is the brainchild of Donna Ruane and Oisín Herraghty, two highly experienced members of the Mayo drama community who have been delivering top quality youth productions since 2002. The original 2006 production toured to Sligo and the play was subsequently published and produced in The Mill Theatre Dundrum by Young Balally Players. Here’s a chance to relive the original success with the original
company. And remember, youth theatre isn’t just for young people, it’s for everyone. Enjoy! (NB: Not suitable for under 12s)

“DoYou… a vibrant and talented group.” - Connaught Telegraph

8pm Public Shows: Adm.: €10 / €5 (concessions)
11am & 2.30pm shows (Schools): Transition Year and upwards

Branar - Mise, Scéal Cailín

CHILDREN’S PUPPET THEATRE Thu 13th October @ 11.00am & 7.30pm + Fri 14th October @ 10.00am & 12.00noon

Tarlaíonn rud beag uaireannta agus is rud beag é ach i do cheann méadaíonn sé agus méadaíonn sé go dtí gur fadhb mór mílteach é. Is scéal é seo faoi chailín nach féidir titim ina codladh de bharr an rud beag a rinne sí agus ansin faoin scamall nach bhfágann í. Le puipeadóireacht álainn, ceol beo agus beochan, insíonn Branar go paiteanta an scéal simplí ach draíochtúil seo . Tá Mise, Scéal cailín arna tacú ag An gComhairle Ealaíon agus Foras na Gaeilge agus arna léiriú i gcomhar le Draíocht Arts Centre agus The Strollers Touring Network. D’oibrigh Espen Dekko de chuid Dekkoart Teatre, An Iorua, linn mar shainchomhairleoir ealaíne.
Sometimes small things happen, and they are small things, but in our head they grow into huge problems. This is the story of a little girl that can’t sleep because a small thing happened and the cloud that won’t leave her. With beautiful puppetry, live music and animation, Branar, in association with artistic consultant Espen Dekko of Dekkoart Theatre Norway, tells this simple magical and moving story of the night the girl couldn’t get to sleep and the adventure she had trying. Mise, Scéal cailín is supported by the Arts Council and Foras na Gaeilge and is produced in association with Draíocht and The Strollers Touring Network.

Adm: €7

7.30pm suitable for families with children 5 years+
10.00am, 11.00am, 12.00noon shows (schools): 2nd-4th class
Duration: 45mins

Branar's website.

NoCrows

FOLK/TRAD/WORLD Wednesday 12th October @ 8.00pm

NoCrows is an awesome foursome of fine musicians based in Sligo. Guitarist Felip Carbonell’s Flamenco/Manouche-style guitar provides the engine for NoCrows’ exciting and stylish music, with the energetic style and repertoire of violinist par excellence Steve Wickham of The Waterboys adding spice to the quartet’s sound. Anna Houston's Swiss/Celtic roots are apparent in her intricate and soulful playing of the cello and mandolin, while Eddie Lee provides the hot grooves on his double bass. Their repertoire is truly global as their music ranges from Irish traditional to classical and gypsy swing as well as folk tunes from Finland, Moldova, Russia, Venezuela, Greece and beyond, as witnessed on acclaimed albums Magpie and the recently released No Crows On The Moon. NoCrows has toured in Spain, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, including performances at two of Europe’s major festivals, Glastonbury (UK) and Dranouter (Belgium).

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Vibrant.” - Joe Breen, The Irish Times
“The four musicians possess an emphatic understanding of each other’s musical nuances and the results are collective alchemy in action. Magpie is a gloriously freewheeling eclectic combination which, like NoCrows, defies classification.” -
John O’Regan, fRoots
“Untamed rhythms, musical ingenuity and, most of all, the sheer unfettered originality… A well of musical excellence.” - Marty McCool, Music Reviews

NoCrows' website.

Benda Bilili!

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 11th October @ 8.00pm

Congo/France 2009 86mins Lingala & French with English subtitles

Hailing from Kinshasa, Congo’s capital, Staff Benda Bilili is a group of middle-aged wheelchair users and able-bodied street kids who have become one of Central Africa’s most highly regarded musical outfits. In their infectious, Rumba-based songs and a spectrum of music that spans the world, they sing about life on the streets, suffering from Polio and sleeping on cardboard. Benda Bilili means ‘see beyond’, and this documentary follows the band’s central players - mouthy frontman Ricky Lickabu, soulful co-founder Coco Ngambili and adolescent prodigy Roger Landu - as they struggle to keep the band together in the face of personal tragedy, record their first album, and head to Europe in search of fame and fortune. Thoroughly uplifting, this beautifully photographed French documentary (which was 5 years in the making) follows the band's fairytale journey from the streets of Kinshasa, Congo to international stardom.

Adm: €5

“Artful and utterly compelling… an uplifting, understated and wholly engaging insight into a world entirely unlike our own.” - Tom Huddlestone, Time Out
“Fantastic music and remarkable characters make this an uplifting and unforgettable film.” - 20th Bath Film Festival
“One of the cinematic journeys of the year. Don’t miss it.” - Philip Wilding, Empire Magazine
“Exhilarating.” - David Parkinson, Radio Times

Access Cinema website.

Open Mike Night

LOCAL ARTS: POETRY, PROSE & MORE Thursday 6th October @ 8.00pm

The latest in the ongoing Open Mike series at the Linenhall: an informal and thoroughly enjoyable evening of poetry, prose and music, when writers from all over Mayo come to read from their own work in front of an enthusiastic audience of peers, pundits and the public in general. The event takes place in the Linenhall Café, where refreshments will be available to enhance the ambience and bonhomie. Come along to share your own work, or enjoy the work of others.

Adm.: free

Brighton by Jim Nolan

THEATRE Wednesday 5th October @ 8.00pm

Set in the Sisters of Calvary Nursing Home in London, Brighton follows elderly Irishwoman, Fulham FC supporter and ‘Terror of the Third Floor’, Lily Thompson on her last great adventure. Sustained by her daily pilgrimage to the shopping mall at Hammersmith Tube station and the friendship of Care Assistant and passionate Arsenal fan, Dave, the arrival of a new resident, the celebrated actor Jack Dunhill, brings them all unexpected challenges and new horizons.

Presented in association with The Strollers Touring Network.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“A stunningly beautiful, deeply uplifting play.” - Arena, RTE Radio 1
“Funny and poignant… Brighton celebrates friendship, hope and the resilience of the human spirit.” - Úna Kealy, Irish Theatre Magazine

Full Irish Theatre Magazine review.

Andrew Forster, Terry McDonagh, Rab Wilson

POETRY NIGHT Thursday 29th September @ 8.00pm

A three-way poetry reading.
Andrew Forster has published two collections of poetry with Flambard Press, Fear of Thunder (2008), and Territory (2010). His poems are included on the GCSE syllabus. Digging, a pamphlet of new poems with accompanying drawings by artist Hugh Bryden, was published by Roncadora Press in 2011. Andrew is currently Literature Officer with the Wordsworth Trust in Cumbria.
Mayo-born poet and dramatist Terry McDonagh has published six collections of poetry, drama, letters and a novel and poetry for children. His work has been translated into Indonesian and German. He is part of poet/piper duo, Raithneach with Diarmaid Moynihan, and 12 of his poems have been set to music by Eberhard Reichel. His latest collection The Truth in Mustard was published by Arlen House in 2010.
Rab Wilson was born in Ayrshire. Acclaimed for his Scots translation of The Ruba’iyat of Omar Khayyam (2004), his collections of poetry, Accent o the Mind (2006), Life Sentence (2009) and the recent Map for the Blind are all published by Luath Press. Rab has also collaborated on music, film and drama projects, and has occupied the Dumfries and Galloway Robert Burns Writing Fellowship since 2007.

Adm.: €7 / €5 (concessions)

“Wilson… poetry to rival the best written by a Scot in the past 30 years.” - Scotland On Sunday
“Forster… These poems… have the visual power of paintings and the depth and narrative structure of novels.” - Vicki Feaver, poet
“McDonagh… Rich perceptive language… full of vivid colour.” - Colette Nic Aodha, Inis Literary Magazine

Andrew Forster's blog.
Terry McDonagh's website.
About Rab Wilson.

Archipelago

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 27th September @ 8.00pm

UK 2010 114mins

The members of the middle-class Leighton family take themselves off to the Scilly Isles for an out of season getaway before son Edward embarks on a trip to Africa as a voluntary worker. Against a backdrop of picturesque surroundings and holiday activities, the fractures that exist between Edward, his mother Patricia, sister Cynthia, their cook Rose and father (notable by his absence) begin to surface. With nods to master directors Ozu and Rohmer, Joanna Hogg's highly anticipated second film (the brilliant and acclaimed Unrelated being her debut) offers a film of astute and authoritative observations on the malaises of the middle-class.

Adm: €5

“Archipelago confirms Hogg as one of the most intriguing and vital voices in modern British cinema.” - Michael Hayden, BFI London Film Festival 2010
“Quietly outstanding.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“A sad, funny, wise film.” - Peter Andrews, The Financial Times
“Excellent.” - Philip French, The Observer
“A daring new riff on familiar themes.” - Dave Calhoun, Time Out
Access Cinema website.

Town Hall Theatre Galway Productions - Faith Healer

THEATRE Monday 26th September @ 8.00pm

Faith Healer is widely recognised as one of the masterpieces of Ireland's greatest living playwright, Brian Friel. Frank is a faith healer. Traveling with his two companions, Grace and Teddy, he roams Scotland and Wales healing the sick. By the edge of forests, at the base of mountains, in remote coastal villages, the lame, the ill and the broken hearted gather for the Fantastic Francis Hardy: Faith Healer. But who is Frank? Are his miracles real or imaginary? And what is the true price the saved must pay? Haunting, tender and passionate, Faith Healer takes us into the heart of what it means to believe. As we are drawn deeper into the world of Frank and his companions, our certainties fall away as we are led towards the play’s unforgettable climax. This new production by Town Hall Theatre Galway is directed by Andrew Flynn, and stars Lalor Roddy, Ali White and Rod Goodall.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Faith Healer… Brian Friel's mesmerising play about faith and art.” - Michael Billington, The Guardian
“Faith Healer…a mesmeric intensity that draws you back time and again…” - New York Times
“Inspired casting… a tour of ambition.” - Colin Murphy, Irish Independent

Audience reaction to Town Hall Theatre's Faith Healer .
Interview with the production's Director Andrew Flynn

Switchback

AMERICANA/CELTIC MUSIC Friday 23rd & Saturday 24th September @ 8.00pm

Brian FitzGerald and Martin McCormack of the award-winning duo Switchback have been playing their ‘American Roots and Celtic Soul’ brand of eclectic music in concert halls, arts centres and festivals around the world for almost 20 years. Switchback's vast repertoire covers many musical styles including heart pounding versions of songs like Folsom Prison Blues, hard driving Irish Rebel songs, danceable tunes and soft tender ballads, including over 300 original songs and a discography of 12 award-winning Celtic and Americana albums to the duo’s credit. Switchback’s live concerts are always a crowd pleaser, with stories of travels, audience participation, and a healthy dose of comedy thrown in for good measure. Appearing with Brian and Martin will be the Kosier dancers, bodhrán player Takeshi Horiuchi from Japan and percussionist Nick Hirka. All in all, two great nights of music and entertainment in prospect.

Friday 23rd September concert is a fundraising event for Mayo Memorial Peace Park.
Saturday 24th September concert is a fundraiser for Castlebar Town Youth Football Club.

Adm.: €20

“A great show by first class musicians and singers. Excellent stuff.” - Matt Molloy, The Chieftains
“With Everly Brothers harmonies and FitzGerald’s whirlwind and soulful guitar and mandolin work, Switchback romps and reels with audacity and talent.” - Performing Songwriter Magazine
“A stack of talent and musical ability!” - Americana U.K.
“Stellar… Switchback are fine songwriters and musicians.” - Lloyd Maines, Grammy-winning producer

Switchback's website.

Culture Night

OPEN HOUSE AT THE LINENHALL Friday 23rd September @ 3.30pm-7.30pm

We’ve loads of free activities for you to try out as part of Culture Night at the Linenhall. Check them out:

Light Relief
Using an assortment of materials create a low relief art work in a contemporary or old-fossil style with artist Breda Burns.
Suitable for all ages. Duration: 30mins

Loopalicious
Create your very own sonic sculpture using a Loop Machine and a variety of sound-making devices, not forgetting your own personal instrument - your voice. Explore the art of layering and combining sounds in rhythmical patterns in order to create an audio collage of various textures and melodies with guidance from
loopalicious expert Kate McKeown.
Suitable for all ages. Duration: 20mins

Mug Shot
Have your portrait taken and learn how to enhance your image through computer wizardry - because you’re worth it! Katriona Gillespie will be on hand to reveal the new you.
1 portrait every 15 mins

Express Yourself
Create your very own monoprint with artist Claire de Berry. Using your own words or images learn about printmaking and try out the Linenhall printing press.
Suitable for ages 10 years up

Talking Heads
Artist Ian Wieczorek does a ‘walk and talk’ about his latest exhibition of paintings, concurrently on show in the Linenhall Gallery.
Suitable for all ages Duration: 15mins

Finding the Spark
A series of zippy, inspiring talks from creative people in our locality. These snappy five minute talks take place in the informal setting of the Linenhall’s Coffee Shop.
6.00pm onwards Suitable for all ages

Intrigued? Come and see what we’ve got in store, and feel free to join in! NB: Numbers for individual workshops will be limited, booking available only on the day. Enjoy!

Admission to all Culture Night events is FREE!

The Alan Kelly Gang with Eddi Reader

IRISH TRADITIONAL MUSIC Wednesday 21st September @ 8.00pm

Fronted by Ireland’s piano accordion maestro, together with three of Ireland's finest musicians Tola Custy (fiddle), Steph Geremia (flute & vocals) and Tony Byrne (guitar), The Alan Kelly Gang has been creating quite a stir on the Traditional and Folk circuit taking their audiences by storm and impressing both music lover and critic alike with beautifully arranged songs and instrumental pieces from throughout the Celtic regions, as well as original compositions, all skilfully executed and soulfully delivered. Joyous and uplifting, the Gang’s sound is fresh and unique with strong dynamics, driving rhythms and buoyant harmonies, delivered with plenty of passion. For this very special touring concert, The Alan Kelly Gang is joined by iconic internationally acclaimed Scottish songstress, Eddi Reader, (formerly of Fairground Attraction, and with seven acclaimed solo albums to her credit) and guitarist and songwriter John Douglas. The tour will mark the release of The Alan Kelly Gang’s first official band album, Small Towns & Famous Nights, which features a beautiful evocative song from Eddi called Connemara. A dazzling night in prospect.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Alan Kelly… in league with the best piano accordionists in the world.” - The Irish Voice
“(The Kelly Gang’s) arrangements are world class, as are the musicians.” - Irish Music Magazine
“Reader's spine-tingling voice…” - Sid Smith, BBC Music
“Eddi Reader… one of Scotland's greatest national treasures and most vibrant natural resources.” - Martin Lennon, The Scotsman

Alan Kelly Gang in Irish Music Magazine.

Tegolin Knowland & Seán Coyne - The Aran Islands

DRAMATIC RECITAL Thursday 15th September @ 8.00pm

A ‘dramatic recitals for two voices’, adapted, devised and directed by poet Eamonn Grennan, and performed by actors Tegolin Knowland and Seán Coyne. The Aran Islands is based on excerpts from JM Synge’s book chronicling his experiences visiting Inishmaan between 1898 and 1901, “partly a romantic lyrical evocation of this wild place, partly a series of anecdotes, partly an almost anthropological study of the people’s lives, their habits, their folk-tales.”

Adm.: €10 NB: Running time 1 hour

More on the Aran Islands performance.

WhistleBlast Quartet

FREE FAMILY CONCERT Wednesday 14th September @ 6.00pm

The WhistleBlast Quartet - Mary Curran (French Horn), Ken Edge (Saxophone & Clarinet), Andrew Synnott (Piano) and Síle Daly (Oboe & Cor Anglais) - performs a short Free Family Concert for all ages. The new programme, featuring guest Double Bassist Joe Csibi, includes Saint-Saëns’ Danse Macabre, Prokofiev’s Montagues and Capulets, James Bond themes and a special piece written and performed by Joe. All to rock the musical senses with an emphasis on Fun! Children from Snugboro National School will also perform a short composition that they will have created with the Quartet. An informal and accessible concert guaranteed to delight: need we say more?

Adm.: FREE NB: Pre-booking ESSENTIAL

Funded by Mayo County Council, Arts Council and the National Concert Hall Learn & Explore Programme.

WhistleBlast's website.

My Afternoons With Marguerite (La Tête en Friche)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 13th September @ 8.00pm

France 2010 82mins French with English subtitles

An uplifting story of life's random encounters, My Afternoons With Marguerite follows the unlikely friendship between two disparate characters in a small French town: the illiterate Germain, a nearly illiterate man in his 50s who is considered an idiot by his comrades at the local bistro, and Marguerite, a tiny elderly woman with a passion for the written word. Separated by 40 years and 200 pounds in weight, a chance meeting on a park bench develops into an unlikely friendship. Under Marguerite's tutelage, Germain discovers a love of literature and with it, a new-found wisdom that enriches both his own life and those around him. Directed by Jean Becker, with stand-out performances by Gérard Depardieu and Gisèle Casadesus.

Adm: €5

“This charmer from France… a pleasure.” - Christopher Tookey, Daily Mail
“Depardieu is endlessly charismatic.” - Donald Clarke, Irish Times
“Depardieu and Casadesus… genuinely affecting.” - Derek Malcolm, London Evening Standard
Access Cinema website.

Rise Productions - Fight Night

THEATRE Thursday 8th September @ 8.00pm

One Chance. One Shot. Fight Night. No Excuses.
Fight Night is a gripping journey charting the comeback of Dan Coyle Jr, a failed amateur boxer from a long line of accomplished fighters. Living in the twin shadows of his overbearing father and his brother’s Olympic success, Dan lets his training slip in favour of girls and booze. Then, an incident with his father minutes before a crucial bout splinters the family and exiles Dan from the ring. It’s not until the birth of his own son years later that his competitive fire is reignited, and he takes the first tentative steps on his road to redemption. Written by Gavin Kostick and directed by Bryan Burroughs, this fast-paced and engaging solo performance by Aonghus Óg McAnally combines intense physicality with a classic Dublin wit in a storytelling experience that will leave audiences both exhausted and exhilarated.
Winner of both Best Actor and the Bewley’s Little Gem Award in Dublin’s ABSOLUT Fringe 2010. Production presented by Rise Productions in association with Lisa Richards Agency.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"A smashing play… I loved it." - Emer O’Kelly, The Sunday Independent
"An impressive and extremely physical performance." - Irish Mail on Sunday
“McAnally and Kostick deliver a knockout blow … extraordinary … exhilarating and cathartic.” - Peter Crawley, The Irish Times
"A terrific turn from a beautiful actor." - Caomhan Keane, entertainment.ie

Fight Night feature on entertainment.ie website.

Mayo Emigrant Liaison Committee Lecture

LECTURE Wednesday 7th September @ 8.00pm

The Mayo Emigrant Liaison Committee - John Kennedy, CBE, KSG, KMCO, DL (Manchester) Annual Lecture.
Guest speaker Sir Patrick Duffy, former President of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (formerly the North Atlantic Assembly), economist, erstwhile Member of Parliament and Government Minister, addresses the topic: Growing Up Irish in Britain and British in Ireland.

NB: For booking and further information contact 087 9351773

More information on Sir Patrick Duffy.

Emer Mayock, Mick O’Brien & Aoife Ní Bhriain

TRADITIONAL MUSIC: THE FULL IRISH Thursday 25th August @ 8.00pm

Emer Mayock is a musician and composer from Co. Mayo. A multi-instrumentalist, she has produced two albums: Merry Bits of Timber and Playground, the latter comprising mostly her own compositions. Uillean piper Mick O’Brien was born in Dublin, and started playing the pipes at 9. Since then he has performed with the likes of The Dubliners, Frankie Gavin and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra. Joining them on stage is Mick’s daughter Aoife Ni Bhriain, an amazing fidlle player who recently won the Seán Ó Riada Traditional Fiddle competition. The trio will perform music drawn from the Goodman manuscripts, a treasure trove of
Munster tunes collected in the 1880s.

Adm. €15 / €12 (concessions) Family Ticket (4 seats) €45

Emer Mayock's website.
Mick O'Brien on the web.

BUY TICKETS

Laoise Kelly & Michelle O’Brien

TRADITIONAL MUSIC: THE FULL IRISH Thursday 18th August @ 8.00pm

Originally from Westport, Co. Mayo, Traditional harpist Laoise Kelly has been involved in more than 50 recordings with artists as varied as Steve Cooney, Sinéad O’Connor, The Chieftains and Kate Bush. But one of the highlights of her recording career is the extraordinary album The Wishing Well, made with fiddle player Michelle O’Brien. Michelle is from Toonagh, Co. Clare. She has an All-ireland Fiddle title and Pan-Celtic Fiddle title to her credit, teaches at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance in Limerick, and performs at many Festivals throughout Ireland and Europe.

Adm. €15 / €12 (concessions) Family Ticket (4 seats) €45

Laoise and Michelle on YouTube.
Laoise Kelly's website.
Michelle O'Brien on the web.

BUY TICKETS

Julie Langan, Verena Commins & Pádraig Ó Broin

TRADITIONAL MUSIC: THE FULL IRISH Thursday 11th August @ 8.00pm

Verena Commins (accordion) and Julie Langan (fiddle) first met at the Willie Clancy week in 1996. Verena was born in Coventry, of parents from Ballina and Bohola, and Julie comes from Newport so the two musicians have their roots in County Mayo. By coincidence they both ended up living and performing together in Galway. They recorded their highly acclaimed album Fonn Chaoi in 2001. They will be joined by Castlebar man Pádraig Ó Broin on guitar who has played with them at numerous sessions over the years and whose guitar style provides the perfect accompaniment.

Adm. €15 / €12 (concessions) Family Ticket (4 seats) €45

Julie and Verena on YouTube.

Beezneez - Don’t Dress for Dinner

COMEDY THEATRE Wednesday 10th August @ 8.00pm

The ever-popular Beezneez Theatre Company returns with a rollicking summer farce. Don't Dress for Dinner is a frenetic comedy of mistaken identity with more twists than a corkscrew. When Jacqueline decides to visit her mother for a few days, her husband Bernard sees an opportunity for a cosy weekend with his new mistress. His bachelor pal Robert calls to announce his return from Hong Kong, so Bernard invites him along as his alibi, also hiring a Cordon Bleu-level cook to cater a delicious dinner. But when Jacqueline realizes Robert is coming for a visit everything changes, and the high speed farce begins! Directed by John McDwyer, Don’t Dress for Dinner carries a Beezneez cast-iron guarantee of ‘A Good Night Out’. Need we say more?

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Harry Bradley, Tommy Keane & Seosamh Ó Neachtain

TRADITIONAL MUSIC: THE FULL IRISH Thursday 4th August @ 8.00pm

Harry Bradley (flute) was born in West Belfast. With influences going back to Traditional recordings of the 1920s, Harry has recorded three solo flute CDs, and collaborations with Paul O’Shaughnessy, Jesse Smith and John Blake. Hailing from An Spidéal, Co. Galway, Seosamh Ó Neachtain (sean nós dance, accordion) has received both national and international acclaim and has performed with some of the most influential acts in traditional Irish dance music: Altan, De Danann and Mairtín O’Connor. Tommy Keane (pipes, flute) was born in Waterford City and took up the uilleann pipes in his 20s. His debut CD The Piper’s Apron brought him to wider attention, as have collaborations with Jacqueline McCarthy, Tommy McCarthy and Alec Finn.

Adm. €15 / €12 (concessions) Family Ticket (4 seats) €45

Harry Bradley on Myspace.
Tommy Keane's website.
Seosamh Ó Neachtain on the web.

Joe Carey, Liam McGonigle & Séamus Ó Mongáin

TRADITIONAL MUSIC: THE FULL IRISH Wednesday 27th July @ 8.00pm

Geesala native Joe Carey (accordion, vocals, guitar) is one of Mayo’s best-loved musicians. Joe has been playing Traditional music both in Ireland and overseas for many years and has recorded a number of notable albums. Seamus Ó Mongáin (concertina), from Dumha Thuama in the Erris Gaeltacht, is a well known performer and teacher who has appeared on many radio and TV programmes such as Céili House, Geantraí and TG4’s Gradam Ceol. From Belmullet, Liam McGonigle (accordion, melodeon) has been playing since he was 6. Now at the ripe old age of 17 joins his fellow musicians on the night for some reel Mayo magic!

Adm. €15 / €12 (concessions) Family Ticket (4 seats) €45

John Carty and Guests

TRADITIONAL MUSIC: THE FULL IRISH Wednesday 20th July @ 8.00pm

Born in London, John Carty (fiddle, banjo, tenor guitar) has established himself among the elite of Irish Traditional musicians and is a staunch supporter of its preservation. John was justly awarded the Irish-language Television station TG4’s Traditional Musician of the Year in 2003. He regularly plays with a variety of our finest musicians, so we eagerly await to see who will join him on the night!

Adm. €15 / €12 (concessions) Family Ticket (4 seats) €45

John Carty's website.

Leonor Bethencourt - Zocorro Rose of Tralee

COMEDY THEATRE Thursday 23rd June @ 8.00pm

Zocorro is a Spanish testosterone-fuelled nanny who dreams of becoming the next Rose of Tralee. She tackles the tribulations of nannying Foxrock children, hospitals, leprechauns and Ryanair, and will sacrifice love and bare whatever is necessary to achieve her goal: to be crowned the Rose of Tralee, and win the keys to the Volvo that comes with it. Can a surprise random urine test shatter her dreams? Almodóvar meets Joyce in this one-woman show written and performed by Leonor Bethencourt, which was a sell-out success and Best Show nominee at Dublin’s Fringe in 2009.

Adm: €12 / €10 (concessions)

“A deliciously wicked one-woman satire that hits all targets… A little gem.” - Michael Moffatt, Irish Mail
“A deadpan monologue, expounding on the vagaries of Irish life with such earnestness that their inherent comedy is instantly evident. Where she shines is in her attention to detail and an impeccable timing that marks her out as a keen comic talent. Ees funny.” - The Irish Times
“Zocorro’s Spanish ingénue-with-a-twist delivers killer jokes… to howls of laughter.” - Irish Theatre Magazine

Zocorro's website.

Kim Rosen - Speaking the Soul

POETRY CONCERT Thursday 16th June @ 8.00pm

Can someone really be saved by a poem? Kim Rosen’s answer is a resounding “yes!” A poet performance artist and teacher of self inquiry, Kim sees poetry as “our most ancient form of prayer” and believes it is especially relevant in these times of global and personal uncertainty. Kim has touched listeners far and wide with poetry’s power to awaken, inspire, and heal. She speaks the poems of modern and ancient visionary poets to music in a way that “wakens and nourishes the soul”, in the words of Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul. Kim offers a whole new approach to poetry, encouraging you “to feel the poem as a healing medicine, which can bring every level of your being - body, mind, feelings, and soul - into alignment with what matters most to you.”

Adm.: €10 / €7 (concessions)

“Kim’s gift of speaking poems is a gorgeous incantation, an irresistible call to break open. For those who are afraid of poetry this is a door opening. For those who love poetry this is a sure deepening.” - Eve Ensler (author of The Vagina Monologues)

Kim Rosen's website.

Truman Town Theatre - Sunday Morning Coming Down

THEATRE Wednesday 15th June @ 8.00pm

A poignant, dark comedy by Mick Donnellan, Sunday Morning Coming Down is a rural play set in the playwright’s home town of Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo. It centres around the McGuire family and their often comic attempts to perform as a functional family in a house dominated by alcohol, religion and social pressures: the two brothers, teacher John and slaughterhouse worker Chris; father and gravedigger Joe, in a rocky marriage with Theresa. And then ex-girlfriend Sharon arrives on the scene to throw John’s future plans into turmoil. Presenting us with razor sharp wit and a tight character driven story, the play is “a rollercoaster of comedy, tragedy, and the hilarity often associated with the darker side of a small Irish town”. After completing an MA in Writing at NUIG, writer and director Mick Donnellan worked with Druid Theatre under the New Writers Programme and more recently as a Screenwriter with RTÉ. The play features actors PJ Moore, Sean O'Maille, Theresa Leahy, Cathal Leonard, Niamh Shiggins and Conor Geoghan. Sunday Morning Coming Down was staged as a sell-out public reading Druid Theatre company in 2009. Here’s the chance to see the play in its full glory.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Donnellan exposes a stark space familiar to many: a self-conscious community in which addiction and delusion work to repress painful truths. This is powerful theatre." - Siobhán O’Gorman, Irish Theatre Magazine

Sunday Morning Coming Down Irish Theatre Magazine full review.

Seán Tyrrell, Kevin Glackin & Ronan Browne

TRADITIONAL/FOLK MUSIC Thursday 9th June @ 8.00pm

Three of the most highly respected musicians on the Irish traditional/folk scene come together for a night of great music and song. Seán Tyrrell, renowned for his unique singer/songwriter talents, legendary fiddle player Kevin Glackin and creative uilleann piper Ronan Browne combine their talents on stage as part of the Tyrrell Glackin Browne CD Tour. Seán, Kevin and Ronan have been playing and performing together since the 1980s but have only now (after major hounding by their fans) recorded a CD of songs and tunes. The CD is “nicely balanced between gentle and wild, without suffering from that modern ailment, over-production - just warm, friendly music and singing.” Can’t say fairer than that. The CD will be released by Cló Iar Chonnachta in May.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Tyrrell/Glackin/Browne website.

Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (Loong Boonmee Raleuk Chat)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 7th June @ 8.00pm

Thailand 2010 117mins Thai with English subtitles

Returning to the forests of Northern Thailand to settle his affairs, soft-spoken farmer Boonmee takes stock of his time on earth as he succumbs to renal disease. Underpinned by the beliefs of Zen Buddhism, director Apichatpong Weerasethakul conjures up the ghosts and experiences that have shaped a man’s consciousness in a sequence of episodes that trace the meandering journey through past lives and experiences. An elusively poetic film, winner of the Palme D’Or at Cannes.

Adm: €5

“Beautiful, mysterious and playful… the most persuasive and beguiling account of mysticism and religion that I've seen in the cinema recently, or perhaps ever. Sublime and visionary… mysterious, dreamlike, gentle, quiet, magical... Uncle Boonmee offers pleasure and heartbreak in equal measure.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“As a film which sees death as just a single, tiny link in an infinite chain of life, it’s incredibly uplifting.” - David Jenkins, Time Out
“A beautiful, slow-moving meditation on life, death, and relationships that transcend time and space.” - Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer
Access Cinema website.

Moth Productions - The Pitch

THEATRE Thursday 2nd June @ 8.00pm

Philly lived and played for his team, the jersey, the parish, his friends, and the very pitch his enemies are now trying to take from him to turn into a housing estate. Like Philoctetes abandoned by his comrades as they go off to the Trojan War, Philly is tormented by painful memories and the unjust fate that holds him prisoner, as he replays the events of that day when his club won the County Championship for the one and only time, and he wasn’t allowed to play. Accused of fathering an illegitimate child, and now threatened with retirement to a nursing home, he holds tight to the Herculean feats of his youth - and to the land on which these dramas unfolded. The old pitch is sacred ground, and it is here that he will make his last stand. Written by award-winning writer and actor Shane Connaughton, directed by veteran writer, director and producer Kerry Crabbe, and starring Shane Connaughton, Fiona Fitzpatrick and Niall Lynch.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Pitch perfect.” - Irish Free Press
" A memorable night of theatre." - Damian McCarney, The Anglo-Celt

The Pitch article in The Anglo-Celt.

Active Retired Group Variety Concert

LOCAL ARTS: VARIETY CONCERT Wednesday 25th May @ 8.00pm

Castlebar Active Retired Group will stage their very own concert with music, songs, dancing, poems and storytelling at the Linenhall Arts Centre. The concert, for all ages, is part of Bealtaine, the national festival celebrating creativity in older age. So prepare to be entertained by some of Castlebar’s youngest at heart! Part of the Linenhall Arts Centre’s Bealtaine programme of events.

Adm.: FREE

Please note: A complimentary tea and coffee reception will take place from 7.30pm prior to the concert.

(Castlebar Active Retired Group was established in 2000. The members meet once a week, on Wednesdays between 3.00pm and 4.30pm at the Welcome Inn on New Antrim Street in Castlebar. Newcomers are always welcome.)

Peepli (Live)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 24th May @ 8.00pm

India 2010 105mins Hindi with English subtitles

First-time filmmaker Anusha Rizvi addresses the growing problem of suicide in the farming community in India - a phenomenon that has resulted in the deaths of over 200,000 farmers in the past 10 years - in a sharply satirical comedy harking back to Frank Capra. Faced with losing the family land due to an unpaid loan and following a callous suggestion from a local politician, local farmer Natha decides to commit suicide in order to take advantage of a government compensation scheme to pay the bereaved families. When the story breaks, a media frenzy ignites and soon the whole country is caught up in the saga of the farmer who vows to kill himself. Eschewing Bollywood excess for a more realistic approach, the film mercilessly pokes fun at journalists, government bureaucrats, and opportunistic politicians, with a superb central performance by folk-theatre actor Omkar Das Manikpuri as the desperate Natha.

Adm: €5

“A largely unknown confident cast, rousing folk music and Rizvi’s understated direction result in a fresh, credible comic gem.” - Anil Sinanan, Time Out
“Manikpuri is perfect… a great comic performance.” - Kirk Honeycutt, The Hollywood Reporter
“A satirical gem.” - Cath Clarke, The Guardian
“One of the most intelligent and humourous Indian commentaries in a long time.” - Mayank Shekhar, Hindustan Times
Access Cinema website.

Lisa Hannigan

THEATRE Sunday 22nd May @ 8.00pm

From a singing fairy on the top of a Christmas tree at the age of 6, Lisa Hannigan has come a long way. After a seven year collaboration with singer songwriter Damien Rice, a time of musical development and establishing her presence as both a songwriter and vocalist, in 2008 Lisa began a solo career with the acclaimed debut album Sea Sew, winning Hot Press Best Debut Album and Best Irish Album, and earning nominations for Choice Music Prize, Meteor Awards and Mercury Prize and tv appearances including the prestigious BBC showcase Later with Jools Holland. Lisa’s charm and unique musical abilities are to the fore on her first single Lille, which has received accolades on both sides of the Atlantic. A great chance to catch Lisa in the intimate setting of the Linenhall. Prepare to be enchanted.

Adm: €20

“Sea Sew…a piece of lo-fi loveliness... wonderfully creaky and raw, but also poised, lucid and beautiful. She will beguile anyone attracted to honest, simple music. (The) raw beauty of Hannigan's voice live…delicate strength, stirring warmth and humanity.” - Matthew Magee, The Telegraph
“Exquisitely ethereal.” - New York Times
“Charmingly idiosyncratic.” - Los Angeles Times

Lisa Hannigan's website.

London Classic Theatre - Ghosts

THEATRE Thursday 19th May @ 8.00pm

Helene Alving is preparing for the opening of an orphanage, built in memory of her late husband. Her beloved artist son, Oswald, has returned from Paris to honour the occasion, but his long-awaited homecoming rapidly descends into tragedy as his presence triggers the exposure of a dark story of hypocrisy and betrayed love. Written in 1881 by one of the fathers of modern drama, Henrik Ibsen’s study of hidden passions, family secrets and moral hypocrisy remains as dramatically alive as ever in award-winning Irish playwright and poet Frank McGuinness’ vital new version. Ghosts is the second production in London Classic Theatre’s Modern Takes season, presenting European classic plays with a contemporary twist, as seen recently in LCT’s dazzling production of After Miss Julie.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“London Classic Theatre shines with quality.” - Munster Express
“London Classic Theatre… continue to produce quality shows.” - John Hannam, The Stage
“A stunning reworking of Ibsen’s masterpiece.” - The Stage

London Classic's website.

The Bonfire Band

BLUES/COUNTRY/FOLK MUSIC Tuesday 17th May @ 8.00pm

Hackney-based The Bonfire Band is building a reputation based on good songs and hard work. The Bonfire Band’s easy-going blues/folk/country style offers an impressive selection of harmony-driven self-penned songs full of musical and lyrical maturity, as witnessed on two albums, One Man Can’t Carry Half a Piano and Recordings from The Plough. The band boasts an accomplished line-up of musical talent in the shape of: Ben Faulkner (guitar), Will Heath (bass), Adam Beattie (banjo/lead guitar), Dominic Brider (drums), and Will Butterworth (piano). Looking for an evening of musical pleasure? Look no further.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“The Bonfire Band are one of those bands that are just about to explode on the scene. They have a tremendous variety of song and their harmonies can make your spine tingle.” - Bruce Macgregor, BBC Radio Scotland
“Easy-flowing harmonies and melodies… lyrics smiling in the face of life and love’s travails. Why no one has snapped them up is a deep mystery.” - Andy Fyfe, Q magazine

The Bonfire Band on Myspace.
The Bonfire Band's website.

Julie and Julia

BEALTAINE: FREE FILM MATINEE Monday 16th May @ 2.30pm

USA 2009 123mins

Two true stories are interwoven to create a light and fragrant comedy drama. Based in 1940s post-war Paris with her diplomat husband, American Julia Child completed Le Cordon Bleu and subsequently wrote the seminal Mastering the Art of French Cooking, a book that opened up French cuisine to the American public. In 2002, New Yorker Julie Powell undertook to cook all 524 recipes in Child’s culinary tome over the course of a year, a project she also chronicled in a blog that became the bestseller Julie & Julia: 365 Days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen. Add a top cast of Meryl Streep, Stanley Tucci, Amy Adams and Chris Messina, season with deft direction by Nora Ephron, and you have a dish guaranteed to delight. Cert 12A
Presented as part of the Linenhall Arts Centre’s Bealtaine programme of events celebrating creativity in older age. Screening sponsored by Seven Seas Active 55.

“One of the gentlest, most charming American movies of the past decade.” - The New Yorker
“Scrumptious biographical comedy-drama.” - Empire Magazine
“Civilised, civilising and generally delightful.” - Philip French, The Observer
“Blissful moviemaking.” - Boston Globe

Adm: Free

Access Cinema website.

Six Irish Shorts

BEALTAINE: LUNCHTIME SHORT FILMS Monday 16th May @ 1.10pm

Running time: 45mins

Here’s a compilation of six of the best recent Irish short films for a light lunchtime treat:
Deep End Dance: Director Conor Horgan’s mother and son dance film, above and under water, choreographed by David Bolger.
Ray: Director Ferdia MacAnna’s documentary style drama showing things aren’t always what they appear to be!
Stone Age: Shane Hogan and Tom Burke’s film of stone sculptor Brendan Crowe as he shares his thoughts on craft, work and happiness on the eve of his retirement.
Sweet Spot: Director James Kelly and choreographer Fearghus Ó Conchúir’s dance film, part of Triptik, a series of dance works involving Macushla Dance Club.
Teeth: Directors Ruairí O’ Brien and John Kennedy offer a short ‘last laugh’ tale of two old friends, their teeth and a series of events that leaves them lost for words.
Undressing My Mother: Ken Wardrop (His & Hers) directs a poignant documentary that explores a woman's unique take on her overweight and aging body.

Why not do something different for lunch?
Presented as part of the Linenhall Arts Centre’s Bealtaine programme of events celebrating creativity in older age. Screening sponsored by Seven Seas Active 55.

Adm: free

Access Cinema website.

Croagh Patrick 365 - An Illustrated Talk & Chatback with Matt Loughrey

ILLUSTRATED TALK Saturday 14th May at 11.00am

In June 2010 Matt Loughrey began his challenge: 365 consecutive daily ascents of Croagh Patrick by one climber. Backed up with a daily photographic and text post to a Facebook page boasting upward of 35000 post views each day, Matt’s challenge, Croagh Patrick 365, has been inspiring people the world over. Join Matt here at the Linenhall for an illustrated talk which will include screenings of some of the fabulous images he has captured of Croagh Patrick over the past year. Those in attendance will have the chance to ask questions and discuss the Croagh Patrick 365 project with Matt.
(This talk will be complemented by two creative arts workshops with The Reek and the Croagh Patrick 365 project as the inspirational focus. See Workshops page in this website.)

Adm. FREE (Booking ESSENTIAL)

A charitable adventure, a photographic adventure, and a mountain adventure, Croagh Patrick 365 is a fundraising initiative for the Society of St Vincent de Paul, in the West of Ireland. Croagh Patrick 365 website.

The Foghorn Trio

OLD TIME AMERICAN MUSIC Thursday 12th May @ 8.00pm

The Foghorn Trio features three musical luminaries in their own rights: Stephen ”Sammy” Lind on fiddle, banjo, guitar and vocals, Caleb Klauder on mandolin, guitar, fiddle and vocals and Nadine Landry on guitar, bass and vocals. This latest incarnation of the critically acclaimed Foghorn Stringband has just released its first full-length collaboration, Sud de la Louisiane. It’s a sound that could be coming to you from a big console radio in a 1930′s living room, or an Appalachian front porch; instead it’s being delivered by a group of players from the thriving old time music scene of Portland, Oregon. Together, they blend voices, repertoire and instruments to create a diverse performance true to the roots of American music, throwing some Cajun and Caleb's vintage sounding originals in the mix. Expect a night of great music with great heart: prepare to be enchanted.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Genuine passion for their music.” - The Glasgow Herald
“Wonderfully vibrant and alive.” - American Standard Time
“Trading instruments and harmonies with ease and speed, these Portland firebrands perform raging Cajun melodies and rip-roaring fiddle music from days of yore.” Jessica Steinhoff, The Daily Page, Isthmus

The Foghorn website.

axis - The Parting Glass

THEATRE Wednesday 11th May @ 8.00pm

Where were you when Ireland’s World Cup dreams were dashed by Thierry Henry in 2009? Eoin was at the heart of the drama in Stade de France on that fateful night. After emigrating to Germany in the 80s and making a new life for himself, now he returns to an Ireland that has boomed and bust. Humorous and poignant by turn, Irish everyman Eoin reflects on mid-life and Ireland’s recent turbulent history with mischievous Dublin wit and sharp home truths. axis Ballymun continues its immensely successful association with one of Ireland's best-known writers, Dermot Bolger, in a one-man play directed by Mark O'Brien and performed by Ray Yeates.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"A rare achievement." - The Irish Times
"A remarkable piece of storytelling." - Sunday Business Post
“A rare achievement…Actor Ray Yeates delivers this monologue play with verve and excellent comic timing, punctuating pathos with wit, and vice versa.” - The Irish Times
"An exquisite meeting of humour and tragedy. Ray Yeates as Eoin is luminous. His mobile expressions and lively inflection capture the nuances of Bolger's script beautifully. This is the sort of work that cuts through to the heart of human experience, across all boundaries." - NYTHEATRE.COM

The Parting Glass on axis' website.

Of Gods And Men (Des hommes et des dieux)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 10th May @ 8.00pm

France 2009 120mins French with English subtitles

Based on the kidnapping and murder of monks in Algeria in 1996, director Xavier Beauvois creates a masterful portrait of eight Cistercian monks living in a country is increasingly in the grip of Islamic fundamentalist violence. Set against the backdrop of a monastery in the Atlas Mountains, the brothers must decide whether to stay or leave. A compassionate, unsensationalised plea for understanding between cultures, the film is underpinned by superb photography and terrific performances from an ensemble cast including Lambert Wilson and Michael Lonsdale.

Adm: €5

“Beauvois vaults into the realm of mature mastery with this sombre, humane and provocative drama.” - Jonathan Romney, BFI London Film Festival 2010
“Thrillingly audacious… stunningly passionate and deeply moving … one of the year's highlights.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“Beautiful, somber and rigorously intelligent.” - A.O. Scott, New York Times
“A transfixing meditation on religious conviction, post-colonial strife and the force of actors who elevate every gesture to a loftier domain.” - Jordan Mintzer, Variety
Access Cinema website.

Julie Feeney

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC Wednesday 4th May @ 8.00pm

Julie Feeney is a true musical phenomenon. With two highly critically acclaimed, award-winning albums, 13 songs and pages to her credit, in the past year she has performed everywhere from Glastonbury to The National Concert Hall in Dublin, to China, France, England, America and all over Ireland, all to rave reviews. Receiving massive radio airplay in all quarters, her song Impossibly Beautiful was selected for a major TV and radio commercial, and she featured on the RTÉ One documentary special The View Presents Julie Feeney. Julie was also nominated for 'Best Irish Female' at the Meteor Music Awards 2010. She’s just back from her first US tour. Catch her live at the Linenhall, while you have the chance.

Adm: €20

“An innovator, an original; incomparable with any of her contemporaries.” - The Irish Times
“One of the most original talents on the Irish music scene today.” - The Sunday Business Post
“A rare gem.” - The Irish Independent
“A major talent.” - The Observer

Julie Feeney's website.

Gúna Nua Theatre Co. - Little Gem

THEATRE Wednesday 27th & Thursday 28th April @ 8.00pm

Love, sex, birth, death, dildos and salsa classes: Little Gem sees three generations of Dublin women on a wild and constantly surprising journey, expertly blending slapstick humour and sharp comic timing with strength, courage and honesty. Kay’s got an itch that Gem can’t scratch (but maybe Kermit can)… Lorraine’s boss wants her to see a psychiatrist… Amber has fierce bad indigestion and the sambucas aren’t getting rid of it. And then there’s Paul, the bollix, who is just using Amber until he can get to Australia… and the hairy man who fancies Lorraine but fails to rise to the occasion… and of course Gem , who doesn’t like the neighbours coming in to ‘mind’ him. If all that wasn’t bad enough, Little Gem makes his presence felt and life is never the same again. Starring Anne Kent (Fair City’s Angela O'Connell), Neili Conroy and Birdy Beaman, directed by Paul Meade. After sell-out seasons in New York, London, Paris and Ireland’s National Theatre and an upcoming tour of Australia, the ever popular Little Gem undertakes a countrywide tour. Don’t miss it.

Adm: €15 / €12

“...as hilarious as it is poignant.” - The Sunday Times
“…intimately told and beautifully acted” - New York times
“***** (5 stars) …a tiny treasure…” - Time Out, London
“Impressive.” - Sunday Independent

Gúna Nua's website.

Winter’s Bone

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 26th April @ 8.00pm

USA 2010 100mins English language

Against the bleak backdrop of Missouri’s Ozark Mountains, director Debra Granik’s gripping social thriller finds 17 year-old Ree Dolly looking after her two younger siblings and depressive mother. When the local sheriff informs her that absent father Jessup has posted the family home as bail for a forthcoming court appearance, Ree undertakes to find the errant father. What ensues is a dark voyage through the backwoods underbelly, a land of ramshackle shacks and farms, and a haunting line-up of ‘kin’ and neighbours living on the edge of society and law, as Ree unearths some very dangerous secrets and the journey edges to a climactic resolution. An earthy yet surprisingly sensitive film with an outstanding lead performance from Jennifer Lawrence as Ree.

Adm: €5

“Exquisite.” - Time Out New York
“A backwoods classic. It builds inexorably through successive stages of tension to an extraordinary finale.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“A work of art that grabs hold and won't let go.” - David Denby, New Yorker
Access Cinema website.

Ballinrobe Folk Group

LOCAL ARTS: MUSIC Thursday 21st April @ 8.00pm

Founded on 2002, Ballinrobe Folk Group began as a small group of enthusiastic music lovers who wished to uplift and inspire through the medium of music and song within their local community. The group has grown from strength to strength and now numbers 35 from Ballinrobe and surrounding areas, performing a diverse range of musical styles encompassing Celtic Traditional, Gospel and contemporary music. The group presents an annual Christmas recital, which was broadcast on Midwest Radio on Christmas Day 2009. The group has performed in many churches in South Mayo and monthly performance at the first Saturday evening of the month in Ballinrobe Church are attracting an ever-increasing audience. This concert will now brings the group’s unique sound to a wider audience. Come and check them out.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions

Michael Gray - Searching for Blind Willie McTell: A Biographer in the Deep South

MUSIC LECTURE Thursday 14th April @ 8.00pm

Michael Gray is a music historian who has written extensively about popular music. He is regarded as a leading authority on the life and work of Bob Dylan (he is the author of Song & Dance Man III: The Art Of Bob Dylan and the Bob Dylan Encyclopedia), and has also written books on Elvis Presley and Frank Zappa. Michael’s talk Searching for Blind Willie McTell is based on his book Hand Me My Travelin’ Shoes: In Search of Blind Willie McTell, which was shortlisted for the 2008 James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Biography, and described by the Fox 5 channel as “the definitive bio on the bluesman who has inspiried scores of modern musicians including The Allman Brothers, The White Stripes and Bob Dylan”. The event discusses the special difficulties of researching the life of a creative artist from an oral culture and who lived at a time when officialdom didn’t bother to generate paperwork on black people in the South. (McTell died in 1959.) Witty, effusive and self-deprecating, Michael Gray is a masterful speaker, well known for his lively, funny, stimulating and authoritative talks.

Adm: € 10 / €7 (concessions)

Eyes Wide Open (Eynaim Pekukhot)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 12th April @ 8.00pm

Israel 2009 91mins Hebrew with English subtitles

Set in Jerusalem’s Jewish community, this brave and sensitive film by talented young Israeli director Haim Tabakman explores taboo issues in the face of rigid and insular ultra-Orthodoxy. When Aaron reopens his late father’s butcher shop, he charitably takes on a young and enigmatic Talmudic student as an apprentice. The respectable husband and father of four finds himself confronting issues of sexuality, family loyalty, community pressures and religious faith as he embarks on an increasingly intense relationship with the younger man. A fascinating insight into a society rarely viewed in isolation.

Adm: €5

“A gripping tale of a man fighting with himself, his community and religion.” - Dave Calhoun, Time Out
“A sensitively directed and movingly acted story of forbidden love.” - Tom Dawson, Total Film
Access Cinema website.

Calmus Ensemble

CLASSICAL VOCAL Monday 11th April @ 8.00pm

For over ten years the remarkable Calmus Ensemble has wowed audiences with its unique style of a capella singing, blending five scintillating and soulful voices - four male and one female - in a clear-voiced, perfectly balanced ensemble. Originally formed by five graduates of the St. Thomas Boys‘ Choir, Leipzig, the group added the glittering soprano voice of Anja Lipfert in 2001 in order to expand their repertoire, which now encompasses everything from Gregorian chants, Irish airs, jazz and folk songs to the music of Palestrina, Bach and Debussy. Acclaimed for its flawless intonation and extraordinary harmonic amalgam, this award-winning ensemble has toured extensively in Europe, North and South America and performed alongside the likes of the King’s Singers and the Raschèr Saxophone Quartet. Part of a Music Network tour.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"Technically stunning singers, but equally important, their interpretive talents and musicality are matchless… they bring passion to their interpretations and whatever they sing to glorious life." - Deseret Morning News, Salt Lake City


Music Network website
Calmus' website

Branar - Clann Lir

CHILDREN’S THEATRE Friday 8th April @ 11.00am & 7.30pm

A father’s love for his children is at the heart of this beautiful re-telling of the ancient tale of Clann Lir. In this vivid production Branar focuses on the fairytale elements of the story: a father’s search for his children; magical transformations; the three chances to break a spell; and much more! This magical tale is told with puppetry, vivid imagery and enchanting newly-composed live traditional music. Directed by Marc Mac Lochlainn, with live music by Micheal Chang and Freda Nic Giolla Chatháín. This project was developed with help of Deis funding.
Tá grá athar dá pháistí ag croílár na hathinsnte seo den sean scéal clúiteach Clann Lir. Sa léiriú beoga seo, díríonn Branar ar an seanscéal mar shíscéal. Feiceann muid
Tóraíocht Lir a pháistí; claochlú draíochta; trí dheis chun an gheis a bhriseadh; agus go leor eile! Insítear an scéal draíochta seo le puipéadóireacht, íomhánna fuinniúla agus ceol aoibhinn nua- chumtha. Arna stiúradh ag Marc Mac Lochlainn. Ceol le Micheal Chang agus Freda Nic Giolla Chatháín.Buíochas le Deis as tacaíocht a thabhairt don togra seo.

Adm: €7
11.00am show (schools): 1st-4th class;
7.30pm suitable for families with children 6-10 years.

Branar's website.

Bruiser Theatre Co. - Othello

THEATRE Wednesday 6th April @ 8.00pm

“O! beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-ey'd monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.”
Bruiser Theatre Company explodes onto the stage with an electrifying contemporary take on Shakespeare’s most brutal and gripping thriller-tragedy of love, paranoia, jealousy and murder. The story of General Othello, his love for the beautiful Desdemona and their tragic downfall at the hands of the scheming and manipulative Iago. In typically exciting, engaging and physical style, as previous productions (The Government Inspector, Candide, Oh What A Lovely War, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui) testify, this Bruiser adaptation is bareknuckle Shakespeare for today, in an adaptation by Stewart Parker Award-winner Patrick J. O’Reilly. None of Shakespeare’s script is modernised, yet those who might be fearful of the Bard will find this gritty, breathless drama both exhilarating and relevant!

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Bruiser - bursting with fun, energy and invention.” - Brendan Deeds, Culture Northern Ireland
"Bruiser… a force to be reckoned with." - Culture Northern Ireland
“(Bruiser)… one of our best tellers of theatrical tales." - The Belfast Telegraph

Bruiser's website.

Céide + Coda

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Wednesday 30th March @ 8.00pm

Céide are known both locally, nationally and internationally as a top-drawer group of Mayo-based Traditional musicians who invest great care and time into their music. The six-piece band (Brian Lennon - flute/whistles/vocals; John Mc Hugh - fiddle; Tom Doherty - accordion/melodeon; Kevin Doherty - bass/cello/whistle; Marianne Knight - vocals/flute/bodhrán; Declan Askin - guitar) has recorded two critically acclaimed albums, Like a Wild Thing and Out of Their Shell, playing music that reflects its individual style and influences. Appearing with Céide for this concert is a new 8-man a capella group Coda, made up of members of Cór Mhaigheo (winners of National Open Competition in the 2009 Cork Choral Festival), with a programme of classic and contemporary folk alongside some modern interpretations of well known songs.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Céide... a distinctive and original sound.” - Matt Molloy
“Céide take time with their craft. You could do a lot worse than try and catch them playing live.” - Sean Walsh, Irish Music magazine
“Out of Their Shell is the most striking album to be released by an Irish traditional band for some years.” - Geoff Wallis, Irish Music Review

Céide's Myspace website.

The Illusionist

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 29th March @ 8.00pm

UK/France 2010 79 mins French with English subtitles

Sylvain Chomet’s long awaited follow-up to Belleville Rendez-vous is another animated masterpiece, this time based on an unproduced script by French comedy legend Jaques Tati. Relocated from the original Prague setting to Scotland, this poignant story follows a down-at-heel magician Tatischeff (Tati's real name) in the last days of variety theatre, and the star-struck young girl Alice who joins him on his travels. Respecting the original storytelling style and pace, the magnificent result is both an act of homage and cinematic love.

Adm: €5

“Stunning… a startling combination of pictorial loveliness and wonderful melancholy.… Nothing less than a modern classic.” - Trevor Johnston, Time Out
“Utterly distinctive and beguiling, with its own language and grammar of innocence: gentle, affectionate, whimsical, but deeply felt.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“A true masterpiece of visual enchantment.” - Rex Reed, New York Observer
Access Cinema website.

TooDog Theatre Co. - Bardot Bites + Lucy Bastible

LOCAL ARTS: COMEDY DRAMA Thursday 24th March @ 8.00pm

A comedy double bill of 2 new one-act plays by TooDog, a company founded in 2009 by Liam Daly and Denise Quinn to promote the performance of new work by emerging writers. In the light-hearted comedy Bardot Bites, we meet 45 year-old Bid who has led a sheltered life looking after her ailing mother. When the mother dies, Bid is catapulted into the world of work, with a job on the cheese counter in the local deli where she learns the ways of cheese and men, and succeeds in teaching her sister a long overdue lesson. Lucy Bastible finds a privileged woman, the doyenne of her social set, whose world is rocked to its foundations when her husband Jeremy strays. In this darkly comic one act play, Lucy gives us a glimpse into her crumbling world and psyche as she seeks vengeance. Both plays are written and performed by Denise Quinn, directed by Mary Curtin.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Gerry Carney

COUNTRY & IRISH Wednesday 23rd March @ 8.00pm

Singer songwriter Gerry Carney is well known for his original ballads, based on everyday simple storylines. Gerry was born and raised near Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo where he still resides. His infectious lyrics address all aspects of life, and some of his most recent songs, as witnessed on his recent CD Paddy (including the Irish Chart-breaking single of the same name), echo themes of family, emigration and backward glances at one’s homeland. His previous album The Flame was an Album of the Week on 2FM, and he has performed a number of duets with Niamh Kavanagh, as well as making appearances on UTV and RTÉ television. He also wrote Cottage by the Sea, which has been recorded by a number of artists and is one of the most requested Irish songs on radio. Come and experience the man and his music live.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Paddy has captured the public imagination and is without fear of contradiction the big hit for Summer 2010. Gerry is moulding himself into one of the strongest singer/songwriters this country has produced in a long time.” - Western People

Gerry Carney's website.

White Material

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 15th March @ 8.00pm

France 2009 102mins French with English subtitles

Maria Vial is a white coffee farmer in a postcolonial African country where law and order is breaking down, incited by inflammatory media broadcasts targeting the colonial white population. In the face of increasing personal danger, Maria refuses to leave the plantation that is her livelihood and the home she shares with husband André and unbiddable son Manuel. Starring Isabelle Huppert in the central role, director Claire Denis’ latest film is enriched by her own experience of growing up in Africa, and is full of subtle, unspoken and unexplained complexities, with the threat of violence exerting an increasingly menacing presence.

Adm: €5

“Haunting… a mesmerising portrait of civil war, racial tension and one woman’s resistance to change.” - Dave Calhoun, Time Out
“Denis's powerful, disturbing film about modern Africa… her best since Beau Travail.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
Access Cinema website.

Kaziukas Fair + Aisva (@ 6.00pm)

LITHUANIAN CULTURE EVENT Sunday 13th March 12.00noon-4.00pm & 6.00pm concert

St Casimir, Lithuania’s patron saint, is honoured each year in Vilnius during Kaziukas Fair, a tradition dating back to the 17th Century. In the spirit of this tradition, the Linenhall will play host to Castlebar’s very own Kaziukas Fair, with an Arts & Crafts Fair presenting a whole range of Lithuanian goods and crafts, including jewellery, knitted goods, straw baskets, baked goods and lots more.
And to provide music for the occasion, modern folk band Aisva will perform their own brand of Lithuanian folk songs combined with modern styles of music. Since 2007, Aisva has been performing in Lithuania and abroad (including Ballinrobe!), has appeared on television and radio, and has participated in a number of music contests, including winning the Silja Symphony Song Contest.
Aisva perform after the Fair at 6.00pm. Come and see them live.
Kiekvienas yra sveikintinas. Eime ir švęsti su mumis!

Aisva's website.

Tony Reidy, Ger Wolfe & Ger Reidy

FOLK MUSIC + POETRY Thursday 10th March @ 8.00pm

A triple-bill of contemporary folk music and poetry from three established talents. Since the 80s, Aughagower-born singer-songwriter Tony Reidy has been responsible for a string of highly regarded albums and enjoys regular airplay both on RTE and BBC Radio. Last November saw the release of his fifth album, Hayshed Days, which like its predecessors has received critical and popular acclaim both in Ireland and further afield. Cork singer-songwriter Ger Wolfe has earned a reputation as one of Ireland’s most unique contemporary singer/songwriters. Since 1998 he has released five albums of original music on his own label Raggedy Records, and his highly-regarded, “heart-born” songs have been covered by the likes of Karan Casey, Danú, and Sharon Shannon. From the 90s, Aughagower poet Ger Reidy has established himself as one of the strongest and most enduringly popular literary voices in Mayo, with two collections, Pictures from a Reservation and the recent Drifting Under the Moon. Put them all together and you have an evening guaranteed to engage and entertain.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Tony Reidy… heartfelt story songs of quality…invariably offset by a keen ear for melody and chorus.” - Colin Irwin, MOJO
“A lyricist of power and diversity - Tony Reidy stands out from the pack .” - John O Regan, fROOTS
“Surefooted and astute though retaining a childlike simplicity - Ger Wolfe delivers his words with a spirit of celebration.” – fRoots
“Songs of love and loss, of birth and death, war and peace, all merge to create a magical sound-scape, marking this out as one of the most honest albums to emerge in recent times.” - Irish Music magazine (on Ger Wolfe’s No Bird Sang)
“Ger Reidy… fresh and uncompromisingly honest." - Dermot Healy, Cyphers

Tony Reidy's Myspace website.
Ger Wolfe's website.
Ger Reidy podcast.

TheatreCorp/Town Hall Theatre - The Glass Menagerie

THEATRE Tuesday 8th March @ 8.00pm

One of the greatest plays ever written by an American writer, The Glass Menagerie is based on Tennessee Williams’ guilt- ridden attempt to flee his mother in order to claim his artistic destiny. A son longs to escape from his stifling home, where his genteel mother worries about the future prospects of his shy lame sister. As the family works hard to survive, the mother struggles to free herself of a dependent daughter, whilst she uses her own fantasies of a glamorous past in the Deep South to keep her own reality bearable. Her son meanwhile tries desperately to keep his own dreams alive. Williams’ classic play is brought to stirring life in this new production directed by Max Hafler, with a cast featuring veteran Abbey actor Maria McDermottroe with Marcus Lamb, Sean O Meallaigh and Ionia Ní Chroinín.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Director Max Hafler and his stripped-down staging and cast tell this story with relentless innovation” - Irish Theatre Magazine (on previous Theatrecorp production Blood Wedding)

Armed Eye Film & Theatre Co. - Armed Eye Film & Theatre Co. - Psycho Spaghetti - Stand-Up for Teenagers - SOLD OUT

YOUTH THEATRE Wednesday 9th March @ 11.30am & 1.00pm

Following on from last year’s sell out performance, Ger Carey is back in the Linenhall with his new show. Psycho Spaghetti - Stand-Up for Teenagers is 100 minutes of stand-up comedy for teenagers, taking a hilarious sideways look at fame, television, music, advertising and the future for teenagers. If you are between 15 and 19, you cannot afford to miss this show!
SOLD OUT.

Adm.: €10 (Teachers free)
NB: Details/ booking through Armed Eye. Tel: 059 9141333

Psycho Spaghetti website.

Poetry for Politicians

WORLD BOOK NIGHT EVENT Saturday 5th March @ 7.00pm

On Saturday 5th March 2011, one million books will be given away by an army of passionate readers to members of the public across Ireland and the UK. Here at the Linenhall Arts Centre we have been selected to give copies of Seamus Heaney’s New Selected Poems 1966-1987 to all the County and Town Councillors in Mayo. We believe Heaney’s poetry has the power to win the hearts and minds of our local government leaders, and encourage them to continue to support the arts through the current economic crisis. Join us for this event to mark the hand-over of books at the Linenhall!
World Book Night represents the most ambitious and far-reaching celebration of adult books and reading ever attempted in Ireland and the UK. It has the full support of the Publishers Association, the Booksellers Association, the Independent Publishers Guild, the Reading Agency with libraries, World Book Day, the BBC and RTÉ.

Adm: Free (Limited tickets available)

World Book Night website.

Dr Tom Duddy - From Folklore to Philosophy: The Life and Work of William Larminie of Castlebar

LECTURE Thursday 3rd March @ 8.00pm

A talk by Tom Duddy, Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, NUI Galway.
Poet, folklorist and translator William Larminie was born in Castlebar in 1849. In this talk, Tom Duddy will give a brief account of Larminie’s life, and then discuss the three areas in which Larminie made a meaningful contribution to Irish cultural life - the collection of the folklore of the West of Ireland, and the advocacy of both Irish poetry and Irish philosophy. Among the works discussed will be Larminie’s West Irish Folk-Tales and Romances, his own poetry, and his translation of the work of the great Irish-born philosopher John Scottus Eriugena. Tom Duddy teaches Philosophy in the School of Humanities at NUI Galway. His academic publications include A History of Irish Thought and, as editor, Dictionary of Irish Philosophers. He has also published two volumes of poetry - The Small Hours and The Hiding Place. This talk is part of the ‘Humanities in the West’ series of talks sponsored by the School of Humanities, NUI Galway.

Adm: Free

London Classic Theatre - After Miss Julie

THEATRE Wednesday 2nd March @ 8.00pm

July 1945, a country house near London. Celebrations for the Labour Party’s landslide election victory are in full swing. The lady of the house, Miss Julie, descends into the servants’ kitchen to seek out John, her father’s chauffeur. As the night draws in and flirtation turns to passion, the two lovers embark on a consuming and deadly dance of desire. Sex, class and ambition battle for centre stage as multi-award-winning playwright Patrick Marber relocates Strindberg’s brutal, sensual love story to post-war England. London Classic Theatre (Abigail’s Party, The Caretaker, The Beauty Queen of Leenane) presents its thrilling new production, starring Helen Barford, Andy Dowbiggin and Kathryn Ritchie, directed by Michael Cabot. Don’t miss it.

NB: Contains strong language and sexual themes. Suitable for ages 16 years+

“An unforgettable night of white-hot theatrical intensity.”
- Daily Telegraph

London Classic's website

The Secret in Their Eyes (El Secreto de Sus Ojos)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 1st March @ 8.00pm

Retired Buenos Aires prosecutor Benjamín Espósito sets out to write a novel based on a case that has haunted him for over 20 years: the rape and murder of a beautiful young woman in 1974. Reconnecting Benjamín with Irene Menéndez, his senior prosecutor of the time, the film coolly places itself between present and flashback 1970s Argentina, an ugly, paranoid era of military junta and the ‘disappeared’, of corruption and violence both political and opportunistic. Juan José Campanella's assured and tightly paced feature, full of smart dialogue and powerful, moving performances, was Winner of Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscars.

Adm: €5

“Beautifully made and superbly written, this is an emotionally absorbing thriller with a terrific central performance from Ricardo Darin.” - Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
“This spellbinder from Argentina will sneak up and floor you. It's that good.” - Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
“Dark sinewy film, supremely watchable.” - Peter Bradshaw, Guardian
Access Cinema website.

Gúna Nua Theatre - Hamlet / Romeo and Juliet

THEATRE FOR SCHOOLS Tuesday 1st March

Here is an opportunity for Junior and Leaving Certificate students to observe and discuss key scenes from Shakespeare’s plays with working professionals. Students will be invited to observe key scenes from Romeo and Juliet or Hamlet. They will be introduced to the language structure, character interpretation and scene work. Students will be encouraged to ask questions and make suggestions, which the actors will take on the board and replay the scene accordingly. Facilitated by director Liam Halligan, together with three professional actors.

Contact Linenhall for performance details.

"...the perfomance this morning was amazing...the lads and ...the teachers really enjoyed it...thank you all so much." - Siobhan McLynn, Marion College

Gúna Nua's website

Paul Soye - The Boy in the Gap

BOOOKLAUNCH Thursday 24th February @ 8.00pm

Westport author and award-winning dramatist Paul Soye launches his compelling debut novel The Boy in the Gap. Examining the background to a terrible local crime, the book has been hailed as a striking debut novel, described as “reminiscent of Pat McCabe in its dark humour and McGahern in its detailed evocation of small town dynamics.” Paul Soye is the author of two full-length plays, Cherished and the 1996 Esso New Irish Play Award-winning The Birdcage. In 2002 he was short-listed for the BBC's Tony Doyle Award. Paul has also written a one-act play for young children and his play In Irons was broadcast on RTE Radio 1's Sunday Night Playhouse. The Boy in the Gap is published by Liberties Press. Come along and celebrate Paul’s latest literary success.

Adm: free

Liberties Press website
Mayo Books website

David Munnelly Band

IRISH TRADITIONAL MUSIC Tuesday 22nd February @ 8.00pm

One of the hottest bands on the traditional Celtic music scene, the David Munnelly Band was started in 2000 by Irish button accordion wizard David Munnelly, who has toured and recorded with The Chieftains and with DeDanann. With members from Mayo, Sligo, Donegal and Tyrone, this exciting sextet combines button accordion, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, piano, bodhrán and flute for a high-spirited instrumental sound coloured with a bit of jazz and ragtime and extraordinary percussive dancing topped with the singing of All-Ireland champion Shauna Mullin. "The Irish band to see" (according to The Irish Voice) has won special acclaim for incorporating the sound of the 1920s and 1930s and such bands from that era as the Flanagan Brothers with its Traditional roots. Top Trad on the cards.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“The E street band of Irish Traditional Music” - Siobhan Long, Irish Times
“Munnelly is arguably the best button box player in the world...This is a uniquely gifted group of musicians who are having a ball onstage while playing unexcelled Trad music. These guys are the best." - Irish-American News
"The Dave Munnelly Band give an incredibly energetic performance..." - BBC World Television

David Munnelly Band website

A Room and A Half

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 15th February @ 8.00pm

Russia 2009 130 mins Russian with English subtitles

A unique journey to the early life of Nobel Prize-winning Russian poet Joseph Brodsky and the country of his youth, an ironical fairy tale in which the poet crosses not only geographical barriers but barriers of time as well. The film, directed by Andrey Khrzhanovskiy, blends fiction, animation and historical footage to create a compelling evocation of St. Petersburg in the 1950s and 60s as, consumed by nostalgia, an aging, exiled Brodsky reminisces about the country that shaped him as a writer and a Russian.

Adm: €5

“A fantastic, unique voyage to Russia’s past and its genius - delicate, intimate, revealing.” - Rotterdam International Film Festival 2010
“Richly textured, wholly involving, unconventional biographical portrait… One moment it’s affectionately earthy Fellini-esque reminiscence, the next its phantasmagorical animation echoing Chagall and Gilliam, while throughout the sense of place is palpable (…) with the elegiac frisson of a Tarkovsky.” - Trevor Johnston, Time Out
“Beautifully made… a rich, resonant and deeply satisfying movie.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
Access Cinema website.

Zoe Rahman Trio, with special guest Idris Rahman

JAZZ Monday 14th February @ 8.00pm

Since winning Perrier Young Jazz Musician of the Year in 1999, pianist Zoe Rahman has quickly established herself as one of the brightest stars on the contemporary jazz scene. Her second album, Melting Pot, was nominated in 2006 for the Mercury Music Prize and more recently she achieved an achingly beautiful fusion of jazz, classical and Bengali music in her highly-acclaimed Where Rivers Meet. Zoe’s willingness to push musical boundaries is matched by her technical brilliance. Noted for her inventiveness, explosive technique and the tumbling cascades of notes she often trades with her brother, honey-toned clarinetist Idris Rahman, this mesmerising pianist is aided and abetted by a top-notch rhythm section featuring American drummer Gene Calderazzo and British bass player Oli Hayhurst. Part of a Music Network tour, In the words of jazz reviewer Chris Parker, brace yourself for “all the punch, pith and sheer verve of the Rahman live act.”

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"Anyone who's seen Zoe Rahman live will be aware of an exceptional talent." - Mojo
"Staggering….uplifting and majestic….great to see music of integrity still being made." Snowboy, Blues and Soul Magazine
Music Network website
Zoe Rahman's website

The Three Tenors & Star Violinist

OPERATIC CONCERT Thursday 10th February @ 8.00pm

They hardly need an introduction. Hailed as “Ireland’s greatest voices”, Ireland’s very own and hugely successful The Three Tenors make a welcome return to the Linenhall. The trio of John Scott, David Martin and Declan Kelly, with their amazing voices and friendly approach, bring a very warm atmosphere to their concert, singing a wide selection of popular songs. They create a special rapport with their audience and receive standing ovations at the end of every concert. Their unique ‘crossover/classic mix’ features the world’s most beautiful songs from Elvis (Love Me Tender), Sinatra (My Way), Simon & Garfunkel (Bridge Over Troubled Water), Leonard Cohen (Halleluia), Pavarotti (Nessun Dorma), and a unique and very lively Irish selection! Joined by top violinist Anne Phelan from the RTE Concert Orchestra, Ireland’s hottest trio is guaranteed to delight and thrill all ages. A star show not to miss!

Adm: €30

“Breathtakingly good. Every song was a new pleasure. I would recommend The Three Tenors’ wonderful show to anyone. It's the most delicious box of chocolates your ears could ever have.” - The Times

The Three Tenors' website

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 1st February @ 8.00pm

France 2009 132mins French & Russian with English subtitles

In 1920, fashion designer Coco Chanel befriended composer Igor Stravinsky, offering the penniless musician and his family refuge in her country mansion. Director Jan Kounen takes the rumoured affair that may have ensued between avant garde composer and fashion revolutionary, and delivers a beautifully judged story about the mutual attraction between two iconoclastic giants, finely balanced as it is by the loyalty and love Stravinsky feels for his wife and family.

“Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky embraces the brilliance of these two rebels, dissecting the intimacies of their personal lives with an empathy that leaves the viewer reaching for superlatives.” - Toronto International Film Festival 2009
“Intelligent and chic.” - Cath Clarke, Time Out
“A sumptuous re-creation of '20s France and the mad affair between two of the century's most iconic figures.” - Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
“Exquisitely designed, lushly photographed, beautifully acted… absolutely mesmerizing.” - Rex Reed, New York Observer
Access Cinema website.

Dyad Productions - I, Elizabeth

THEATRE Wednesday 26th January @ 8.00pm

At a vital crossroads in history, a young queen steps from the shadows to unburden herself of her many troubles and reveal her innermost thoughts on marriage, succession, religion, war, and the challenges to her throne. But time is against her...
Elizabeth I: Queen at 25, political phoenix and famously unmarried, she was the most educated woman of her Age - but who was the woman beneath the crown? Using only Elizabeth's words, solo performer Rebecca Vaughan explores Elizabeth’s struggle to reconcile the desires of womanhood with the duties of sovereignty in an acclaimed production directed by Guy Masterson. A five-star sell-out hit at Edinburgh 2010, this is exciting new theatre at its best.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“This spellbinding performance is evidently a true labour of love, created with delicacy and portrayed with startling conviction.” - Whatsonstage
“An outstanding achievement.” - One4review
“A performance worthy of an Academy Award Oscar.” - The Carrick Newspaper
(5 *) “A moving, emotional and passionate production ... A definite must see for history and theatre addicts.” - Hairline

Dyad Productions' website.

Geraldine Mitchell - World Without Maps

POETRY BOOKLAUNCH Friday 21st January @ 8.00pm

Poet Geraldine Mitchell, winner of the 2008 Patrick Kavangh Poetry Award, launches her debut collection World Without Maps, published by Arlen House. Born in Dublin, Geraldine has lived near Louisburgh since 2000. Her poems have won many awards and have been widely published in journals in Ireland and the UK . Geraldine is also the author of two novels for young people and a biography of Muriel Gahan, a woman with strong Castlebar connections. Launching World Without Maps will be much loved and admired workshop facilitator and poet, Jean Tuomey.

Adm: free

“Geraldine Mitchell writes with such sophistication and élan that it is difficult to think that this is a first collection.” - Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill
“These are the poems of a considered and considering intelligence, surefooted, meditative and clear. One is in the presence of a clear-eyed sensibility that considers, but does not judge, human fallibility.” -Moya Cannon and Theo Dorgan, Judges’ Report, The Patrick Kavanagh Award 2008

Crossing the Shannon

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Wednesday 19th January @ 8.00pm

Top musicians Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh (voice, flute) and John Wynne (flute) join forces with musical ambassadors for Connaught John McEvoy (fiddle) and John Blake (guitar, flute, bouzouki) to explore the wild dance music, slow airs and haunting songs of the West of Ireland. Muireann is best known for her work with top Irish group Danú, John Wynne is regarded as one of the best Traditional flute players of his generation and a regular collaborator with fiddler John McEvoy, while multi-instrumentalist John Blake is a highly sought after musician in his own right with name checks on many top albums. A great night of music in prospect. Part of a Music Network tour.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"Danú’s greatest asset is Nic Amhlaoibh’s magnificently earthy voice." - Siobhan Long, Irish Times
“It’s hard to beat the classic combination of flute and fiddle and no better men than John Wynne and John McEvoy to show us why.” - Hot Press
Music Network website

Fish Story (Fisshu sutôrî)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 18th January @ 8.00pm

Japan 2009 112mins Japanese with English subtitles

A badly translated Japanese novel; a song by an obscure proto-punk band; a young girl who meets a would-be superhero in action-packed circumstances; a chance meeting at a bar; a giant meteorite heading towards earth…
Director Yoshihiro Nakamura draws together these seemingly disparate and unconnected stories that straddle time and genre in this hugely imaginative and quirky movie based on a novel by Kotaro Isaka. Fresh and inventive, the joy of this film is as much in the telling as the conclusion (and don’t worry, we won’t spoil it for you!). A unique film experience.

Adm: €5

“Captivating… weaves together separate storylines with a quirky touch.” - Philip French, The Observer
“Madcap charm…a multi-stranded, time-juggling, space-hopping, genre-straddling apocalypse curio.” - Catherine Shoard, The Guardian
“A wonderfully entertaining and affecting patchwork of ideas, incidents, contrivance and coincidence.” - Tom Huddleston, Time Out
Access Cinema website.

Eimear Quinn

CONTEMPORARY VOCAL Wednesday 15th December @ 8.00pm

Eimear Quinn's ethereal voice first enthralled the world as the winner of the Eurovision Song Contest in 1996 with Brendan Graham's The Voice. Dublin born Eimear joined her first choir at the age of 4 and at 15 she started formal vocal training at the College of Music in Dublin. A former soloist with Celtic chamber choir Anúna, Eurovision success brought Eimear international fame and acclaim. In this intimate a spiritual night, Eimear will bring her own special rendition of Christmas songs and carols to the Linenhall for a memorable musical experience, blending Eimear's beautiful voice with string quartet and guitar. So sit back and let the hustle and bustle fade away. The Christmas season begins right here, let your spirit be moved!

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Eimear Quinn's voice is soft and pure, yet full and strong.” - Stephanie Giamundo, CelticCafe.com
"A beautiful young woman with a cherub’s voice that floats in an ethereal cloud of it's own making" - The Sunday Independent

Eimear Quinn's website

George Hamilton IV

COUNTRY MUSIC Thursday 9th December @ 8.00pm

2010 marks George Hamilton IV's 54th year in Music, his 50th Anniversary as a Member of the Grand Ole Opry and his 36th Anniversary as "The International Ambassador Of Country Music". Over the years, he has become one of the best-known names in Country Music around the world via constant International Touring, Recording and Radio and Television appearances. During George IV’s award-winning career, he has entertained on the renowned stages of Carnegie Hall, London's Palladium, Wembley Arena and Royal Albert Hall, to name a few, and has toured globally, performing on just about every continent. Come along and see the great man in the intimate setting of the Linenhall for an unforgettable night of popular greats performed by a living legend.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“The International Ambassador Of Country Music." - Billboard Magazine

George Hamilton's website

Departures (Okuribito) - CANCELLED

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 7th December @ 8.00pm - CANCELLED

Japan 2008 130mins Japanese with English subtitles

Following the death of his father and the dissolution of his Tokyo orchestra, concert cellist Daigo retreats to his picturesque hometown in northern Japan to look for work, together with his obedient wife Mika. Responding to an ad for a company called Departures, he discovers that the company caters to morticians who perform “encoffinments” - highly stylized and meticulous ceremonies to prepare bodies for burial or cremation. Daigo has mixed feelings about working in an industry that carries such taboo in Japan, but he can’t refuse the salary. Soon he finds pride in helping grieving family members cope with the loss of their loved ones, but he still can’t find the courage to admit to Mika what he does for a living. A subtle and moving film inspired by Japanese author Shinmon Aoki’s memoir Coffinman, and winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Film 2009.

Adm.: €5

“A tonally eccentric, lushly scored, moving, and funny drama that uses the rituals of death to foster a greater appreciation of life.” - Seattle International Film Festival 2009
“Fascinating, witty and heartfelt.” - Kevin Maher, The Times
“Heart-warming, funny, wise and profound. Not to be missed.” - Philip De Semlyen, Empire Magazine
Access Cinema website.

Crash Ensemble - Stranger Folk - CANCELLED

CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL Monday 6th December @ 8.00pm - CANCELLED

Crash Ensemble was founded in 1997 by composer Donnacha Dennehy, conductor and pianist Andrew Synott, and clarinettist Michael Seaver. Since its first sold-out concert in Dublin in 1997, the group has attracted enthusiastic audiences and critical acclaim for its particular blend of music, video and electronics. Stranger Folk comprises works composed with an influence of folk music, drawing from Irish, US, South American and Dutch traditions, featuring such composers as John Zorn, Osvaldo Golijov, Donnacha Dennehy, Gerald Barry, John Godfrey and Jacob TV. In a programme spanning World Music, Trad, Klezmer and New Music, this full ensemble concert promises an evening of excitement, energy and dazzling virtuosity!

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“The Irish new-music band that plays with the energy and spirit of a rock group.” - New York Times
“Undoubtedly Ireland's foremost contemporary music outfit…Crash's outlook is exemplary and to be commended." - Liam Cagney, www.musicalcriticism.com
“Crash Ensemble, bastion of contemporary music.” - Pat O’Kelly, The Irish Independent

Crash Ensemble's website

Here's a taster of some previous Crash Ensemble projects on YouTube.

Blue Raincoat Theatre Co. - Sanctuary + The Cat and the Moon

THEATRE Wednesday 1st December @ 8.00pm

Blue Raincoat Theatre Company presents two of its repertoire pieces as part of its Mobile Theatre Project 2010. The Cat and the Moon is one of W.B. Yeats’ most evocative works. Two beggars mutually dependent on one another - one is blind and one is lame - search for a holy well reputed to host a supernatural saint with the power to cure their afflictions. When they finally manage to encounter the saint however he presents them with a difficult choice. Sanctuary is by Blue Raincoat Writer_in-Residence and co-founder Malcolm Hamilton. Dolly stands barefoot on the edge of a beach, a beach she played upon as a child. We watch her struggle to understand the past through the memories of a summer’s day spent at that beach many years ago. Blue Raincoat Theatre Company’s Mobile Theatre Project is supported by the Arts Council of Ireland Touring and Dissemination Award 2010.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“One of the most satisfying half hours I have spent in a theatre in a very long time.” - Emer O’Kelly, Sunday Independent (on The Cat and the Moon)
“Beautifully realised and performed.” - Irish Theatre Magazine

Blue Raincoat's website

Cara O’Sullivan

CLASSICAL VOCAL RECITAL Monday 29th November @ 8.00pm

Prepare for a night to remember as and one of Ireland’s leading sopranos Cara O’Sullivan reveals a more intimate side to her singing with a collection of gorgeous art songs and lieder. Famed for her sparkling voice, opera star Cara has enraptured audiences in many of the world’s most prestigious venues, including Sydney Opera House, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, the Opera de Paris and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. For this tour Cara is accompanied by award-winning Irish pianist Ciara Moroney in An enchanting programme of songs by Britten, Schubert, Rodrigo, Debussy, Verdi, Gounod, Donizetti and more. Part of a Music Network tour.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"O’Sullivan is undoubtedly the Irish superstar of her generation." - The Irish Times

Music Network website

CRAFTMAKERS’ CHRISTMAS FAIR

Saturday 27th November, from 10.00am-5.00pm

The Craftmakers’ Christmas Fair brings together around 30 of the foremost exponents of a diverse selection of crafts from all over Ireland to present their distinctive wares for your delectation, delight and purchase. A range of delectable ceramics, woodcraft, leather work, jewellery, textiles, metalwork and more will be on show, with an opportunity to meet and buy direct from the makers themselves. The Craftmakers’ Christmas Fair is quickly becoming a firm favourite with people searching for top quality distinctive craft products. Looking for that special Christmas gift? Look no further!

The Reserved Moments

LOCAL ARTS: MUSIC Thursday 25th November @ 8.00pm

Back by popular demand, locally-based group The Reserved Moments makes a welcome return to the Linenhall. It has been a busy year for the band writing new material, playing in venues in the West and South. The music will be a mixture of originals and covers taken from the last number of decades and the theme will be one of zest and love for life with a sprinkle of romance and story telling.
The Moments’ line-up comprises: David Tuomey (lead vocals), Kelvin Frain (rhythm & lead guitar), Donal Hoban (drums), Siobhan Shiels (vocals), Teresa Burke (guitar/vocals), Mick Buckton (rhythm & lead guitar), and Alan Geraghty (bass). You can see and hear them on You Tube and My Space but for an uplifting musical night come and experience them live at the Linenhall!
Reserve yourself a few special musical moments…

NB. The band would invite you to have a complimentary glass of mulled wine before the show from 7.30pm.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Reserved Moments on MySpace

Mary Madec

READING/BOOKLAUNCH Wednesday 24th November @ 8.00pm

Poet Mary Madec was born and raised in Kilmeena, Westport. In recent years her work has appeared in many poetry and literary publications including Crannóg, West 47, The Cúirt Annual, Poetry Ireland Review, the SHOp, The Sunday Tribune, Iota, Nth Position, Natural Bridge and The Stand. In Spring 2007 she was chosen for the Poetry Ireland Introductions Series and for the WINDOWS Showcase Readings and Anthology, and has read at Over the Edge and was selected for the Over the Edge Showcase in 2008. In 2008 she won the Hennessy XO Award for Emerging Poetry. Her first collection, In Other Words was published by Salmon in May 2010. Tonight Mary will read from her collection, which will be launched by professional singer Anne-Marie Gibbons from the Mayo Vocal Academy.

Adm.: free

"I have long believed that Mary Madec is one of the best new poets we have." - Kevin Higgins, The Galway Advertiser
“Mary’s poem dazzled me immediately with its chutzpah and its linguistic fireworks, its intellectual brio. It’s a poem about identity that is densely argued and unrepentantly smart.” - Douglas Kennedy, Hennessy Award Judge 2008

Mary Madec on Salmon Poetry website

The Girl Cut in Two

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 23rd November @ 8.00pm

Claude Chabrol was one of the founding fathers of the New Wave of French film, best known for his masterful suspense thrillers, subversive female roles and stinging critiques of the bourgeoisie, over a career spanning 52 years and over 80 films. To mark his death earlier this year we present his penultimate film The Girl Cut in Two, in which the old master lobs another elegant missile in the direction of the French class system, as the film chronicles the travails of an innocent young woman torn between two powerfully different lovers. She thinks she’s manipulating them, but, alas, it soon becomes apparent that the reverse is true. A film that finds Chabrol in typically fine form.

Adm.: €5

“Exquisitely skewed comedy of manners, yet also an undertow of suspense… Fuss-free storytelling which sketches in characters and situations with unfailing, utterly assured economy. When you’re this good, you just don’t need to show off.” - Trevor Johnston, Irish Film Institute programme
“One of Chabrol’s most elegant, acerbic and heartfelt entertainments in years.” - Wally Hammond, Time Out London
Access Cinema website.

Preston Reed

CONTEMPORARY GUITAR Thursday 18th November @ 8.00pm

Most great guitarists would be grateful to create a legacy of classic recordings, stand-out performances and blistering technique, but Preston Reed has gone much further by inventing an entirely new way of playing the guitar. Welcome to Preston Reed’s guitar revolution and a 6- and 12-string thrill-ride through the impossible and unforgettable in acoustic guitar music, as with blurred hands he taps, tickles, slaps and soothes his instrument, fusing polyrhythmic percussion with emotive melody to create a compelling sonic landscape. Yet this is not guitar wizardry for its own sake. Blues, rock, funk and jazz meet, embrace, interlock and attack to create a musical brew quite unlike anything you’ve heard before. Playing an array of guitars from acoustic to electric to classical, Reeds vast range of explosively original music will forever change your expectation of a guitarist.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Spectacular… a terrific performer.” - Eamon Sweeney, The Irish Independent
“Widely thought of as the world’s most gifted guitarist.” - Total Guitar
“In a class of his own.” - Jack Massarik, London Evening Standard
“Reed's fiendishly intricate blend of blues, rock, country and metal styles ducks and weaves itself away from measurability.” - The Irish Times
“True spellbinding guitar mastery.” - Guitarist Magazine

Preston Reed's website.

Armed Eye Film & Theatre Co. - Psycho Spaghetti

YOUTH THEATRE Wednesday 17th November @ 11.30am & 2.00pm

Ger Carey’s Psycho Spaghetti is a brilliant comedy written specifically for teenagers. This hilarious one-man show attempts to answer the age-old question: Just what is going on inside the teenage brain? The show is 100 minutes of laugh-out-loud comedy aimed at getting teenagers to laugh at themselves and view themselves as part of a bigger picture. The show is perfect for Transition Year students, LCA, Youth Reach and even grown-ups!

Adm.: €10 (Teachers free)
NB: Booking through Armed Eye. Tel: 059 9141333

Armed Eye website.

The Seasons

VINTAGE FILM SCREENING Monday 15th November @ 6.30pm & 8.30pm

The Irish Film Institute is proud to present a special screening of The Seasons with live music from members of Kíla and harpist Cormac de Barra. The Seasons is an intimate diary of life in the village of Kilkelly, Co. Mayo, in 1935. Made by amateur filmmaker Dr. John Benignus Lyons, it charts the social and agricultural life of the village over the course of a year. Meticulously shot in black and white and colour, with inter-titles in both English agus as Gaeilge, The Seasons is a technically adept and remarkably thorough study of a small village in days gone by. The film covers everything from ploughing and sowing, the footing of turf, school, handball games, the Patron’s Day Fair, the annual harvest and the blanket of snow at the year’s end. This very special screening brings the film back to the county from which it came, with live musical accompaniment from harpist Cormac de Barra, who will be joined by Colm and Rossa O Snodaigh from Kíla to create a magical soundscape that will breathe life back into the village of Kilkelly back in the 30s. The Seasons is presented as part of IFI National, the Irish Film Institute’s initiative which tours special events across the country.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)


Irish Film Institute website.

Diarmaid & Donncha Moynihan

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Thursday 11th November @ 8.00pm

Uilleann piper Diarmaid and guitarist Donncha Moynihan are widely acknowledged as two of Ireland’s finest musicians. They first teamed up in 1996 as Calico, a Traditional band who released two award-winning albums, Celanova Square and Songdogs. The band was one of the most influential ensembles to come out of Ireland, touring widely in Europe and the USA. Their latest album, The Lights of Ranzanico, is a collection of beautiful original tunes fused with Irish and European melodies, and once again demonstrates both creative vision and extraordinary lyrical approach to music, and was RTÉ Lyric FM’s Album of the Month for May. Performing tonight with top drawer guest musicians Christy Leahy (accordion) and Donal Siggins (bouzouki).

“Layer after layer reveal themselves with repeated listening as only the best musical outings do.” - The Irish Times (****)
“The Lights of Ranzanico is close to perfection.... an album to be seized upon, greedily devoured or lovingly cherished: a highlight of the year.” - Irish Music Magazine

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Diarmaid Moynihan's website.

I Am Love

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 9th November @ 8.00pm

Italy 2009 119mins Language: Italian with English subtitles

In a film of high drama that feels like grand opera, director Luca Guadagnino offers a story of power and passion set in the privileged world of Milan’s upper classes and the powerful Recchi family. Opening with the handover of familial power to the next generation, the film finds a family in flux, with offspring attempting to live their own lives in the face of conservative, parochial pressures, and Russian émigré mother Emma watching as the palatial family mansion becomes a gilded cage. Fuelled by the heady music of contemporary composer John Adams and breathtaking cinematography, the intoxicating whole is underpinned by a cast on top form, with an exceptional central performance by Tilda Swinton as Emma.

Adm.: €5

“A work of masterly daring and skill… intoxicating… total cinema.” - Dave Calhoun, Time Out
“Words like "lush" and "gorgeous" don't even begin to scratch the surface in (this) retro-styled melodrama.” - Christy Lemire, Associated Press
“Elegantly directed and exquisitely photographed, the movie is a triumph.” - Rex Reed, New York Observer

Access Cinema website.

The Cappa Ensemble (Ireland/Poland/UK)

CLASSICAL ENSEMBLE Monday 8th November @ 8.00pm

Named after the celebrated 17th-century Italian violin-maker Gioffredo Cappa, this exciting young chamber ensemble has quickly established itself as a quartet of outstanding artistry, touring extensively in Australasia and Japan as well AS throughout the UK. Winner of Music Network’s Young Musicwide competition in 2009, the quartet boasts a line-up of top performers in their own right: Michael McHale has established himself as one of the leading Irish pianists of his generation; cellist Brian O’Kane has collaborated with artists such as the Vanbrugh Quartet, the Philharmonia Orchestra and Vladimir Ashkenazy; violinist Bartosz Woroch has toured with the Bern Symphony Orchestra and the Polish Radio Chamber Orchestra; and violist Adam Newman has played with the London Steve Reich Ensemble, the English Chamber Orchestra and the London Conchord Ensemble. An exciting night of music in prospect.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"Michael McHale… has an intuitive feel for music, and can cross musical boundaries effortlessly. " - Sunday Business Post
"Bartosz Woroch… intensely poetic." - New Zealand Herald
"O’Kane’s tender cello ..." - www.classicalsource.com
Music Network website
More on the Cappa Ensamble.

Ignacio Jarquin - Caruso and the Quake

OPERATIC THEATRE Wednesday 3rd November @ 8.00pm

Caruso and the Quake chronicles legendary Italian Tenor Enrico Caruso’s escape from the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, combining beautiful storytelling with live opera from Puccini and Rossini. When Caruso performed Carmen at the San Francisco Opera House in 1906, he was one of the most famous people in the world - having been the first recording artist to sell a million copies. The next morning the San Francisco earthquake struck. Mexican Tenor and stage actor Ignacio Jarquin recreates Caruso’s experiences in the ensuing chaos as he attempts to make his way out of the decimated city. A one man show by Brighton-based Prodigal Theatre, a multi award-winning company known for its exciting physical productions., in collaboration with playwright and author Andrew G Marshall in association with Richard Jordan Productions Ltd.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Opera singing that has a pure, fresh quality.” - The Scotsman
“Jarquin’s compelling re-creation of Italian tenor Enrico Caruso elevates this production to its towering heights.” - What’s On Stage
Caruso and the Quake website.

Sleeping Dragons

ROOLABOOLA PUBLIC EVENT @ RURAL TRAINING CENTRE Saturday 24th October @ 7.30pm

Be amazed as night draws in and a magical world of dragons, castles and fire leaps into magical life in the grounds of the Rural Training Centre! Artist Tom Meskell is back with another imaginative and magical night-time experience for all the family, accompanied by the percussive accompaniment of Batafada Samba Band. For families of all ages! Let sleeping dragons lie…

Adm.: FREE

ROOLABOOLA CHILDREN’S ARTS FESTIVAL 2010

Friday 22nd - Monday 25th October

The Linenhall’s annual arts extravaganza for young people, celebrating its 13th birthday with a bulging programme of top quality shows, workshops and much, much more. Check out the RoolaBoola brochure for full details! RoolaBoola programme.

(PLEASE NOTE: The Linenhall Arts Centre will be CLOSED on Tuesday 26th October, just to give us a chance to catch our breaths after the RoolaBoola weekend.)

WhistleBlast Quartet

FREE FAMILY CONCERT Thursday 21st October @ 6.00pm

The WhistleBlast Quartet - Ken Edge (saxophones), Síle Daly (oboe), Andrew Synnott (piano) and Mary Curran (French horn) - performs an enjoyable and relaxing free family concert for all ages. Music will include Fauré’s Sicilienne, Ravel’s Bolero, The Pink Panther Theme and much more. Children from Scoil Raifteirí will perform a short, imaginative piece with the Quartet as the grand finale. An informal and accessible concert full of charming favourites: need we say more?

Adm.: FREE NB: Pre-booking ESSENTIAL
WhistleBlast's website.

Five Lamps Theatre Company - Dear Frankie

THEATRE EXTRA DATE BY POPULAR DEMAND: Monday 18th October (NB: Tuesday 19th October SOLD OUT)

Who does an agony aunt turn to for advice?
Dear Frankie is the story of Frankie Byrne, Ireland’s iconic agony aunt. For over twenty years Ireland tuned in as Frankie solved the problems of a nation at lunchtime on Radio Éireann. Lovelorn teenagers, jealous husbands, concerned mammies, all wrote in looking for an answer to their problems. This by turns, hilarious and poignant play, tracks the life of this glamorous, successful and popular Irish figure as she considers the burning social issues of the time - all the while, concealing deep sorrows in her own life. Written by Niahm Gleeson (author of hit plays The Telephone Exchange and The Mariettas), with a three-strong cast starring the wonderful Nuala Hayes in the title role, Dear Frankie is not to be missed.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Irreverent, joyful... witty, acted with energy and gusto.” - E.P. Moriarty, The Village (for The Telephone Exchange)
“**** (4 stars).” - In Dublin magazine (for The Mariettas)

The Happiest Girl in The World (Cea mai fericita fata din lume)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 12th October @ 8.00pm

Romania 2009 100mins Language: Romanian with English subtitles

The happiest girl referred to in the title of director Radu Jude’s wry comedy drama is Delia, a provincial high-school student who wins a new car in a soft drink competition and travels to Bucharest with her parents to feature in the product’s latest TV advertisement. Over an increasingly fractious day attempting to film a 35 second commercial, replete with nitpicking sponsors and technical difficulties, the relationship between sulky daughter and cajoling parents unfolds. Delia wants to keep the car to impress her friends, the parents want her to sign it over so they can sell it to finance a B&B back in the country. Shedding an ironic light on post-communist Romania, the film explores both social and generational strands with typically deadpan Romanian humour.

Adm.: €5

“A gleaming jewel in Romanian cinema’s no-nonsense crown.” - Toronto International Film Festival
“This compact charmer… Deftly done, satisfying stuff.” - Trevor Johnston, Time Out London
“The rise of the new Romanian cinema continues apace with this sly satire on consumerism.” - The Independent

Access Cinema website.

Benbo Productions - The Adventures of the Wet Señor

THEATRE Monday 11th October @ 8.00pm

A Spanish Armada captain is washed ashore on a Sligo beach in 1588. Enduring dire hardship and incredible adventures, our hero Francisco traverses Gaelic Ireland in his quest to return home to his beloved Spain. Written and directed by the very wonderful Donal O’Kelly (creator of Catalpa, Bat the Father Rabbit the Son, The Cambria and many other theatrical tours de force), The Adventures of the Wet Señor is an intoxicating fusion of performance, music, visuals and pure theatre, based on the true story of a certain Captain Francisco De Cuellar, starring Jaimie Carswell, Sorcha Fox and Carrie Crowley, with music live on stage by Celtic fusionistas Kíla. Presented by Benbo Productions in association with Kíla and the Glens Centre, supported by the Arts Council of Ireland and Leitrim County Council. On previous form, a surefire theatrical treat is on the cards!

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Donal O’Kelly is one of the most original and distinctive talents working in Irish theatre.” - Dublin Theatre Festival

Burn the Bad Lamp

THEATRE Tuesday 5th October @ 8.00pm

An aging owner of an antique shop sits astride the tumble down remains of a life's work… Into this "rag and bone shop of the heart", a lamp, a genie and a shaft of magic appear, and a fairy tale for adults is spun. Burn the Bad Lamp is an adaptation of a short story by Kevin Barry from his award-winning collection There Are Little Kingdoms. It tells of a day in the life of Ralph Coughlan, a downtrodden and nervous man, and of the paths that open up for him when an unexpected visitor explodes into his antique shop. Directed by and featuring Rod Goodall, founder member of the legendary Footsbarn Theatre Company, together with a range of puppet characters played by Aine Ní Dhroighneáin, this unique and magical production brings a strange and wondrous world to life.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Imagination and exuberance.” - Róisín Stack, artsirelandmagazine.com
“Thoroughly warming… a spirited and unashamedly positive pick-me-up.” - Matthew Harrison, Irish Theatre Magazine

Dakota Dave Hull

ROOTS/BLUES Monday 4th October @ 8.00pm

Acclaimed by everyone from folk legends Dave van Ronk and Doc Watson to The Washington Post, Dakota Dave Hull’s guitar style spans a wide musical geography to create an infectious, uniquely personal blend of jazz, ragtime, folk, blues, Western swing and vintage pop. Alternatively mirthful and moving, and always melodic, Dakota Dave is a gifted composer as well as a strikingly original interpreter of older tunes, describing his music as “classic American guitar”. Beyond the sheer technical virtuosity, Dakota Dave’s performances are also great fun, full of heart and a love for the music he delivers so well. Come on down for a great evening of roots guitar and find out what everyone’s talking about.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“One of the best guitarists in the world.” - Dave Van Ronk
“Hull has been dazzling audiences for over 30 years with his lush finger-picking and quicksilver flat-picking.” - Scott Alarik, Boston Globe
Dakota Dave's website.

Lourdes

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 28th September @ 8.00pm

Austria/France 2009 96 mins Language: French with English subtitles

Jessica Hausner (a former pupil of Michael Haneke) directs an ensemble piece about the role of miracles in the modern world. The film focuses on the experiences of Christine (a superb performance by Sylvie Testud), a young woman living with multiple sclerosis who, while her attitude to religious belief is unclear, looks to the divine in the hope of physical improvement. Beautifully photographed and set against the backdrop of one of the world’s most famous sites of religious pilgrimage, low-key performances and a deadpan streak of humour steer away from oversentimental or pious overtones, while posing provocative questions about the value of religion to those in need.

Adm.: €5

“This quiet, witty, observant film encompasses hope, faith, death and doubt. A gem.” - Philip French, The Observer
“A provocative and surprising pleasure.” - Dave Calhoun, Time Out London
“As bewitchingly ambiguous as it is beautifully shot.” - RottenTomatoes

Access Cinema website.

Seán Tyrrell - Message of Peace

MUSICAL THEATRE Monday 27th September @ 8.00pm

Message of Peace tells the amazing story of a lesser-known Irish hero John Boyle O’Reilly: visionary, poet, rebel, freedom fighter, and civil rights activist. Galway troubadour Seán Tyrrell traces his journey from early childhood set against a backdrop of famine, revolution, Fenianism and penal servitude for life in Australia and his great escape from there to the USA, weaving effortlessly between narrative, instrumental and song as he traces O’Reilly’s colourful life. Since the 60s, Seán Tyrrell has been a potent musical presence on the Folk/Trad scene, with a string of acclaimed CDs and collaborative projects to his name, including The Orchard, Cry of a Dreamer and The Midnight Court. A double CD of Message of Peace was released last year. This project has received funding through Deis, the Arts Council’s Traditional Arts Initiative.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"The genuine article." - Billboard
“He’s simply one of the best.” - Folk Roots magazine
“A must see!” - P.J. Curtis
Seán Tyrrell's website.
Message of Peace website.

Culture Night

Friday 24th September @ 6.00pm-10.00pm

Open House @ the Linenhall

Calling all vultures! As part of the annual national Culture Night initiative, the Linenhall opens its doors for a bunch of fun, free, family-friendly bitesize arts chunks over the course of the evening:

6.30-8.00pm FUN IN SHORTS
Fresh film fun: a 30-minute selection of some of the best short Irish Films released in the last year, covering such diverse topics as a deer who thinks he’s a cow, a poetic riff on the Polish language, and a taste of Bollywood, Dublin-style. We run it on a loop so come and go as you please.

7.30-8.30pm: READ ANYTHING GOOD LATELY?
Bring along some of your favourite books and swap with other enthusiasts. It’s a great opportunity to meet like-minded readers and discover some hidden treasures, and the books should be interesting too!

8.00-8.30pm: HEAVY METAL
Explore artist Rory Breslin’s exhibition and glean some insights into the mysterious world of bronze casting.

8.30-10.00pm: EXPRESS YOURSELF
We invite you to sing, dance, read, especially if it’s original material. You will be rewarded with a glass of something on the house.

Intrigued? Come and see what we’ve got in store, and feel free to join in! Numbers for individual workshops will be limited, booking available only on the night. Enjoy!

Adm.: FREE!

Richard Gilewitz - Acoustic Adventures

GUITAR MUSIC Thursday 23rd September @ 8.00pm

American fingerstyle guitarist Richard Gilewitz returns to Ireland for his 8th tour with a platter of rousing concerts full of timeless musical history, colourful imagery, amazing guitar chops, storytelling and humour. Charming his listeners with a mixture of live guitar peppered with stories about the composers who have influenced acoustic guitar music, Richard takes his audience on an dazzling and illuminating excursion through European, Contemporary and Spanish Classical works to the Traditional, Folk, Blues, and American Primitive eras. Acoustic Adventures is a journey into the past and present realm of the guitar, a sound tunnel of timeless musical history that has received standing ovations around the globe. And, boy, can he play.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"A powerhouse of eclectic guitar styles and genres." - 20th Century Guitar Magazine
"Ear-boggling… where technical precision meets sheer passion for the instrument." - Washington Post
Richard Gilewitz's website.

Mary Staunton

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Thursday 16th September @ 8.00pm

Tourmakeady-born accordionist par excellence Mary Staunton showcases her newly released album Circle of Friends in a highly anticipated evening with a stellar line-up of fellow musicians: bouzoki virtuoso Alec Finn (De Danann), bodhrán player extraordinaire Johnny ‘Ringo’ McDonagh (De Danann, Arcady) and banjo/mandolin/fiddle all-star Mary Shannon (Bumblebees, Sharon Shannon Band, The Woodchoppers). Following up on Mary’s hugely acclaimed debut album Bright Early Mornings, this looks set to be a night of Irish Trad at its very finest.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Amazingly good.” - Don Meade, The Craic
“Simply too good to ignore.” - John O’Regan, fROOTS
Mary Staunton's website.

Mayo Emigrant Liaison Committee Lecture

Wednesday 15th September @ 8.15pm

The Mayo Emigrant Liaison Committee - John Kennedy, KSG, KMCO, DL (Manchester) Lecture, by Fr Peter McVerry SJ.

NB: Admission by invitation only. Further information from 087 9351773

Still Walking (Aruitemo aruitemo)

WORLD CINEMA Tuesday 14th September @ 8.00pm

A tender and gentle drama that centres on a lower middle class Yokahama family, on the day they come together to observe the anniversary of a loss in the family. A grown-up son and daughter return for a rare family reunion, bringing their own families with them, gathering to commemorate the tragic death of the eldest son, who drowned in an accident fifteen years previously. Grief provides a quiet backdrop in this subtle, entrancing and beautifully observed exploration of what makes modern families tick, by director Hirokazu Koreeda.

Adm.: €5

“This wonderful film... extraordinarily tender ensemble comedy.” - David Jenkins, Time Out
“A nuanced balance of gentle humour and wistful sorrow.” - Corona Cork Film Festival 2009
“If anyone can be considered an heir of the great Yasujiro Ozu, it might be Hirokazu Koreeda.” - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Access Cinema website.

Jane McNamee - CANCELLED

COUNTRY MUSIC Thursday 9th September @ 8.00pm - CANCELLED

Southern Tenant Folk Union

FOLK/BLUEGRASS Wednesday 1st September @ 8.00pm

Southern Tenant Folk Union is an explosive Edinburgh-based folk and bluegrass outfit, writing and performing its own unique brand of Old-Time, Bluegrass, Gospel and Celtic Folk. Taking its name from the ground breaking multi-racial union of sharecroppers and non-landowning tenant farmers founded in Arkansas in the 1930s, words like ‘groundbreaking’, ‘excellent’ and ’breath of fresh air’ are never far from descriptions of the band and its music. As is general acclaim. The band line-up comprises: Adam Bulley (mandolin/guitar/dobro/vocals; Silas Child (double bass/vocals); Ben Ivitsky (fiddle/vocals); Ewan Macintyre (guitar/percussion/vocals); Chris Purcell (guitar/vocals); Jed Milroy (guitar/vocals); Pat McGarvey (banjo/guitar/vocals). STFU’s third album The New Farming Scene has just been released. These guys are the real deal. Don’t miss them.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"A compelling mix of bluegrass, gospel, old time and celtic swing that is memorably embellished with warm and richly woven harmonies." - The Irish Times
"The musicianship is faultless." - Country Music People
Southern Tenant Folk Union website.

Community Solutions to the Global Financial Crises

Mayo Sustainability Forum Evening Monday 2nd August, 7.00pm-10.00pm

Mayo Sustainability Forum presents an evening titled Community Solutions to the Global Financial Crises, featuring a keynote talk "Making Sense of the Financial Crises in the Era of Peak Oil" by Nicole Foss. The talk will be followed by a short break, refreshments and an informal discussion on implications for local communities
This event is a must for everyone concerned about where we are heading as a society and how we are getting there.

Admission is free, and all are welcome. For more information contact: forum@sustainability.ie

All Stars Youth Theatre - A Midsummer Night’s Dream

LOCAL ARTS: YOUTH THEATRE Saturday 10th July @ 3.00pm & 8.00pm

All Stars Youth Theatre, based in Ballyheane Ballet and Drama studios, presents one of Shakespeare’s most magical plays: the tale of Puck, Titania and Oberon, Bottom and his group of amateur actors, and two sets of lovers, all caught in a web of mistaken identity, confusion, comedy and magic in an Athenian forest over the course of one fateful night. A child-friendly, high entertainment version of this classic play, directed by Eleanoir Cazabon-Regan and Phil Roberts, and featuring a young cast from All Stars Youth Theatre. Suitable for all the family.

Adm: €12 / €10 (concessions)

Jack L- EXTRA DATE ADDED: Wednesday 23rd June @ 8.00pm

Tuesday 22nd June BOOKED OUT

Jack L is widely regarded as one of the greatest performers ever to have graced a stage. He has performed to sell out crowds in America, a crowd of 40,000 nestled in the palm of his hand at Ireland’s Witness Festival, and he is one of only a few distinguished artists to have performed at the Glastonbury Festival for three consecutive days. The remarkable Irish singer, who has drawn comparisons to legendary talents including Frank Sinatra, Jacques Brel, Scott Walker and Nick Cave, is renowned for his exceptional live performances, has seven acclaimed albums to his credit: the latest, The Story So Far, a collection of his best material to date. From the magic to the mundane, from the carnal to the cosmic, Jack L’s distinctive songs and electrifying vocal style make this a concert not to be missed. As an acoustic performance in the intimate setting of the Linenhall, this promises to be a very special night indeed.

Adm.: €20

“Just brilliant.” - The Examiner
“An artist as unique as Ireland has ever produced.” - Hot Press
“Jack L… is perhaps the most singular talent to have emerged from Ireland in the past decade.” - Irish Independent
“This musical force of nature…” - Irish Times

Jack L’s website

Castlebar Gospel Choir + Eureka

LOCAL ARTS: GOSPEL MUSIC Wednesday 16th & Thursday 17th June @ 8.00pm

Making a typically vibrant return to the Linenhall, Castlebar Gospel Choir performs a selection of works from their Songs of Praise concert, previously performed in the John Field Room at the National Concert Hall, as well as a selection of new material. These songs evoke the arduous and emotional path taken by African Americans towards freedom and equality. In addition, there will be a performance of four songs by Eureka, another choir under the direction of Kathy Fahey, that has been in existence for six years. The concert a finale combining the talents of both choirs. Kathy will be ably assisted by Marese O'Hora, who will accompany Castlebar Gospel Choir on the piano.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Castlebar Gospel Choir website

Walk Tall Fashion Show with Julie Feeney

LOCAL ARTS: FASHION SHOW with JULIE FEENEY Thursday 10th June @ 8.00pm

Take your seat for the fashion event of the year. See the work of fifteen new designers from the Castlebar area, in a show-stopping catwalk extravaganza. The featured designers have worked with Castlebar’s Charity Retailers and three textile artists over six weeks at the Linenhall, to upstyle and re-fashion fifteen outfits that will receive their first public viewing at this fantastic event. Not only that, but the creators will model the outfits themselves, having taken part in gruelling deportment training in the lead up to the show! Other fashion highlights include a showcase of clothes on sale in a selection of Castlebar’s Charity Retail Outlets.

The “Walk Tall” fashion show will be introduced by composer, singer, and sometimes fashion model Julie Feeney. Renowned for her stirring and spellbindingly elegant performances, Julie’s award video for ‘Impossibly Beautiful’ won Best Styled Music Video at the IMTV awards in 2009.

Guaranteed to be a fun-filled event, this show marks the climax of an exciting project at the Linenhall Arts Centre designed to highlight the European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion 2010. We all have a role to play in combating poverty and social exclusion. What’s yours?

The Social Inclusion Division of the Department of Social and Family Affairs supports this project as part of its funding initiative for the European Year for Combating Poeverty and Social Exclusion (2010)

Adm: FREE

Lane Productions - Setanta Murphy

THEATRE Tuesday 8th June @ 8.00pm

Setanta Murphy is a young man with a lot of time on is hands. Paddy is his grand-uncle, a cantankerous 90-year-old with a razor-sharp tongue who spends his days around town and his nights at the dog track. When Paddy gets sick, they are thrown into the messy world of public hospitals until Paddy finds himself in a nursing home, plotting his escape. Setanta Murphy is the touching and funny story of a relationship between an old man and his nephew as they attempt to navigate their way through ups, and downs, of the Irish health system. Starring Luke Griffin (Pure Mule, The Clinic, The Disappearance of Finbar) as Setanta and Garrett Keogh (Veronica Guerin, The Clinic, A Love Divided) as Paddy. Written and directed by Garrett Keogh.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"An enchanting piece of writing, devastatingly and wickedly acted ... a hymn to fellowship and the human spirit ... not to be missed." - The Sunday Independent
"A moving piece of black farce ... burns with the same fire as Krapp’s Last Tape." - The Sunday Times

Andy Irvine

FOLK/WORLD MUSIC Thursday 3rd June @ 8.00pm

Legendary Irish singer/songwriter Andy Irvine makes a welcome return to the Linenhall with his impressive repertoire that ranges from Irish traditional songs to dexterous Balkan dance tunes, creating an exciting new fusion of Irish and World Music not to be missed. Having travelled the world with bands such as Sweeney’s Men, Patrick Street, Planxty and more recently Mozaik, Andy continues to pursue new combinations and styles of music. He has broadened his musical horizons over the course of his forty-year career to encompass the musical styles of countries he visits. Between the achievements of his solo, group work and collaborations, he is a highly revered troubadour of the Irish music world. Andy Irvine never fails to deliver a pulsating, heartfelt performance. In the intimacy of the Linenhall this promises to be a very special night of music from one of Ireland’s true originals.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Andy Irvine has been one of Ireland’s most creative talents for over 20 years.” - Boston Globe
“Andy Irvine is a tradition in himself.” - Irish Press
“Dazzling.” - The Scotsman

Andy Irvine’s website

Open Mike Night

LOCAL ARTS: POETRY, PROSE & MORE Thursday 27th May @ 8.00pm

The latest in the ongoing Open Mike series at the Linenhall: an informal and thoroughly enjoyable evening of poetry, prose and music, when writers from all over Mayo come to read from their own work in front of an enthusiastic audience of peers, pundits and the public in general. The event takes place in the Linenhall Café, where refreshments will be available to enhance the ambience and bonhomie. Come along to share your own work, or enjoy the work of others.

Adm.: free

Do Bhíosa Lá i bPortlairge - Music from the South East

IRISH TRADITIONAL MUSIC Wednesday 26th May @ 8.00pm

David Power (uilleann pipes), Fionn Mac Giolla Chuda (fiddle) and Ciarán Somers (flute) unearth a veritable treasure trove of music with its origins in the Co. Waterford Gaeltacht and the surrounding region. Virtuoso piper David Power is a former All-Ireland winner and member of Liam Clancy’s Fairweather Band in the 90s, with two highly-acclaimed solo CDs as well as performing alongside such Trad giants as Tony Mac Mahon and Máirtín O’Connor. Flautist Ciarán Somers is noted for his musical links with Brittany: his recent CD Faoi Bhláth was recorded there with fiddler Dave Sheridan and Breton guitarist Nicolas Quemener, formerly of Arcady. Fionn Mac Giolla Chuda first fell in love with traditional music in An Rinn and later returned there to record two CDs with local musicians. In addition to numerous TV and radio appearances he has toured in Japan and across Europe in the distinguished company of The Helvick Heads, Dónal Clancy and Gorumna.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“David Power brings a breathtaking freshness to the set, his fluid, fluent playing as light as a feather."- Siobhan Long, Irish Times
Music Network website

London Classic Theatre - The Caretaker

THEATRE Tuesday 25th May @ 8.00pm

Davies, an elderly drifter, is given shelter by the kindly but vulnerable Aston. He quickly makes himself at home in the squalid, junk-filled attic, but an uneasy peace is fractured by the arrival of Mick, Aston’s quick-witted, streetwise younger brother. As the shadows lengthen and the three men reveal more about the past and themselves, a battle of wits begins that will have irrevocable consequences for them all. A landmark of twentieth century theatre, Nobel prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter’s seminal work is compelling study of loneliness and power games that still has the capacity to amuse, to shock and to fascinate. London Classic Theatre (Abigail’s Party, Humble Boy, The Beauty Queen of Leenane) first produced The Caretaker in 2004, to critical and public acclaim. This revival will be the centrepiece of the company’s tenth anniversary year.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“One of the 20th century's great plays.” - Daily Mail
"Acting and direction superb." - Onstage Scotland
"Uncanny, unrelenting, and grimly humorous...captivating." - edinburghguide.com

London Classic’s website

Active Retired Group Variety Concert

LOCAL ARTS: VARIETY CONCERT Wednesday 19th May @ 8.00pm

Castlebar Active Retired Group will stage their very own concert with music, songs, dancing, poems and storytelling at the Linenhall Arts Centre. The concert, for all ages, is part of Bealtaine, the national festival celebrating creativity in older age. So prepare to be entertained by some of Castlebar’s youngest at heart! Part of the Linenhall Arts Centre’s Bealtaine programme of events.

Adm.: FREE

Please note: A complimentary tea and coffee reception will take place from 7.30pm prior to the concert.

(Castlebar Active Retired Group was established in 2000. The members meet once a week, on Wednesdays between 3.00pm and 4.30pm at the Welcome Inn on New Antrim Street in Castlebar. Newcomers are always welcome.)

Dean Spanley

CINEMA: FREE BEALTAINE MATINEE Tuesday 18th May @ 3.00pm

New Zealand, UK 2008 100 minutes Cert: G

A fantastical comedy-drama for all ages, based on Lord Dunsany’s 1936 novella My Talks with Dean Spanley, about the difficult relationship between a man and his cantankerous father, who is unable to come to terms with the death of his elder son in the Boer war and the subsequent death of his wife from a broken heart. A lecture on the transmigration of souls by a visiting swami leads to a chance meeting with singular new local clergyman Dean Spanley, whose liking for Tokay wine leads to a spiritual revalation that may lead to emotional redemption for the father. Starring Peter O’Toole, Jeremy Northam, Sam Neill and Bryan Brown. A small gem and a real charmer. Part of the Linenhall Arts Centre’s Bealtaine programme of events, sponsored by Seven Seas Active 55.

“Fraser’s delightfully eccentric and ultimately touching film set in Edwardian England features O’Toole on sublime form as an irascible curmudgeon...” - Michael Dwyer, The Irish Times
“An eccentric, absorbing and rewarding film... Delightful.” - David Cheal, The Daily Telegraph

Adm.: FREE


Access Cinema website.

Denis Buckley - BRIGHTNESS: a Live Performance with Harsh Words

AUDIO/VISUAL PERFORMANCE Monday 17th May @ 8.00pm

BRIGHTNESS is a 21st century Aisling: a vision text for the next one hundred years of the Republic, which suggests such texts might be best to ignore.
A live performance with video and original sound by artist Denis Buckley, BRIGHTNESS questions the role of past vision in Ireland’s current self-defining and asks what tangible part could imagination play in the countries future consciousness.
Using a mixture of original free verse in English, ancient/contemporary poetry, popular song in both Gaelic and English the suggestion is made that Irish identity is formulated from the poetic imagination. As Denis explains, “this is a powerful visceral spoken word audio visual performance, which demands to know how a country first imagined in poetic minds could turn out how it has, and if indeed it was those very visions that were to blame.”
Provocative and intriguing, this promises to be a unique and stimulating multimedia experience.
Denis Buckley was born in Kerry and has lived in London for twenty-five years. He was a member of the influential multi media performance company The People Show for ten years before touring his own brand of site specific interventions within the UK, Ireland and America.

Adm.: FREE (voluntary contribution)

The performance runs uninterrupted for 40mins and is followed by an open discussion on the themes of the work with the artist.
Denis Buckley’s website

Luke Davis

LOCAL ARTS: MUSIC Wednesday 12th May @ 8.00pm

Castlebar-born singer/songwriter Luke Davis first came to public attention in 1989 with an appearance on RTÉ’s Nighthawks. Since then he has reached the finals of RTÉ/BBC’s Go For It and Let Me Entertain You, and had a single in the Irish charts.
Describing his style as “easy listening” and citing Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young and U2 among his musical influences, Luke’s songs “are life experiences coming with a touch of fire”. Luke will be performing with a line up of well-known Mayo-based musical talent: David Warde (bass), Joanne Keegan (backing vocals, fiddle), Anthony Mc Namee (drums), Michael Kelly (keyboards), and Charley Cusack (guitar).
Support on the night will be provided by Luke’s daughter Zoe, who is, in Luke’s own words “greater than I am”. Come along and celebrate an enduring musical talent.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

The Black Balloon

CINEMA Tuesday 11th May @ 8.00pm

Australia 2008 97mins Language: English

Thomas is about to turn sixteen and start a new school but his main concern is his older brother Charlie, who is autistic. And with their pregnant mother under doctor’s orders to rest, Thomas’ responsibilities to look after his brother are increasing. And when a new romantic interest begins for Thomas, it turns out that Charlie has also become entranced by the focus of Thomas’ attentions. Avoiding over-sentimental or tragic excesses, this is both a coming-of-age drama and an endearing and enduring portrait of a family who ultimately just get on with life, underpinned by a sensitive script and great performances by Rhys Wakefield as Thomas, Luke Ford as Charlie and Toni Collette as the heavily pregnant mother holding the family together. Directed by Elissa Down.

Adm.: €5

“Unblinking family drama… blessedly free of noble lessons and filled with real people.” - Sheri Linden, Los Angeles Times
“The Black Balloon establishes this family with a delicate mixture of tenderness and pain.” - Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Access Cinema website.

Garrymore Players - Pull The Other One

LOCAL ARTS: COMEDY THEATRE Monday 10th May @ 8.00pm

Albert Perkins is blessed with a loving wife, Muriel, and a fearsome mother-in-law, Boadicea. When Albert’s friend Hilary writes to him reminiscing about the good times they used to have, Boadicea reads the letter and determines to remove her daughter from the clutches of what is clearly a sex fiend. Albert pleads innocence, and that Hilary is a man. However he isn’t helped in his explanation when same Hilary turns up in a blonde wig and dress direct from performing his drag act at a local pub… Chaos and shenanigans ensue in Norman Robbins’ riotous farce where misunderstandings, double entendres and lost clothing abound from start to finish. Presented by Garrymore Drama Group, which has been performing since the late 1960s. Directed by Ger Lynskey, with a cast of Mary Dixon, Jimmy Murphy, Rosemary Dixon, Padraic Hegarty, Paula Dixon, Ollie Dixon and Mattie J Connolly.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Katie Kim

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC Friday 7th May @ 8.00pm

Katie Kim is a songwriter, musician and performed going places. Twelve, her first album, of self-penned ambient ‘post-rock’ tracks, has garnered critical acclaim far and wide (see below), and, backed up by a definitive performance at last year’s Electric Picnic, has generated an overwhelming public response. Formerly a member of dreampop outfit Dae-Kim, Katie left the band in 2008 to start recording songs she had been writing over the past 5 years that had been lost after a computer mishap wiped over 50 completed works. Katie’s second album is due for release in early October of this year. Katie Kim has also contributed to David Kitt's newest record The Nightsaver, and is also featured on Mike Scott's newest venture, due for release in the summer of 2010. Presented by Finbar Hoban Promotions. Support by Mia Sparrow.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"…subtle, slow-burning magic... Post-rock music at its instinctive, risk-taking finest." - The Irish Times
“A remarkable beginning.” - Donal Dineen
"A trafficker in dreamy space-rock… there's always a sublime melody or quirky hook... Independently released, her album Twelve has already basked in ecstatic reviews." - The Independent
"Twelve… Album of the month." - Road Records

Katie Kim's website

Ladybirds Vocal Ensemble + Mayo Girls Choir - Old and New

LOCAL ARTS: CHORAL CONCERT Thursday 6th May @ 8.00pm

Ladybirds Vocal Ensemble originally got together to play handbells. However, they soon discovered that they all loved to sing and so, from the Bells of Mayo evolved this very entertaining vocal ensemble! In the short time they have been together they have wooed audiences with snappy arrangements of songs from the ‘Swing’ era of the ‘30’s to musical treasures of the 21st century.
Mayo Girls Choir was founded in 1994 to help promote choral singing for young girls in Co. Mayo. They have been awarded prizes in the Derry Feis Ceoil, Michael Van Dessel Festival, Pan Celtic Festival, Lyric FM Choirs For Christmas competition and in 2008 and 2009 they received the top prize for youth choirs in the Dublin Feis Ceoil. Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater is one of the most beautiful settings of this 13th century poem. Combine that with the pure voices of these young girls and you are assured of feast of musical beauty.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Ger Reidy

BOOK LAUNCH/POETRY READING Wednesday 5th May @ 8.00pm

Born in Aughagower, Westport, Ger Reidy began writing poetry in 1980. Since that time he has established himself as one of the strongest and most enduringly popular literary voices in Mayo, a fact confirmed by the recent reprinting of his first collection, Pictures from a Reservation, originally published by Dedalus Press in 1998. Since that time Ger has appeared in many prestigious poetry publications both in Ireland and internationally, has read widely at literary festivals and on both RTÉ radio and LyricFM, and has won numerous national poetry competitions. This reading sees the launch of Ger’s highly anticipated second collection, Drifting Under the Moon, also published by Dedalus. Ger will be reading from the collection and signing copies of the new collection. Come and celebrate a resonant Mayo talent.

Adm.: FREE

“The images are fresh and the emotions uncompromisingly honest." - Dermot Healy, Cyphers
"Ger Reidy's use of language has a quiet, unassuming simplicity which belies the power of his imagery and the eloquence of his words." - Arts West magazine

Ger Reidy's website

Xuefei Yang & Natalie Clein

CLASSICAL RECITAL Wednesday 28th April @ 8.00pm

Two truly spell-binding performers, Xuefei Yang (guitar) and Natalie Clein (cello), perform together for this unmissable concert as part of a prestigious Music Network tour. Natalie Clein’s remarkable talent first came to the world’s attention when, aged sixteen, she won the BBC’s Young Musician of the Year award. Since then she has performed with many of the world’s finest orchestras and chamber music ensembles, combining traditional repertoire with more experimental pieces. Xuefei Yang is the first ever guitarist in China to enter a music school or launch a professional career, and first to sign an international recording contract with EMI. Lauded for her “feisty virtuosity”, light touch and precision, Yang gives a new meaning to the phrase ‘in demand’: in 2003 alone she performed 54 European concerts for the Night of the Proms Tour, to a combined audience of over 800,000 people! A magical night in prospect.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Natalie Clein… a performer of such great magnetism that she sweeps her audiences along with her, so much so that it is almost a shock when she stops playing and you find yourself back in the real world once more.” - The Oxford Times
“One of the most extraordinary instrumentalists in the world. Ms Yang plays her Spanish music, like her other music, fabulously; with sparkle, clarity and flair.” - The New York Sun
Music Network website

Blue Eyelids (Párpados azules)

CINEMA Tuesday 27th April @ 8.00pm

Mexico 2007 98mins Spanish with English subtitles
Director: Ernesto Contreras
Starring: Cecilia Suárez, Enrique Arreola, Ana Ofelia Murguía, Tiaré Scanda, Luisa Huertas

Directed with maturity and delicacy, Ernesto Contreras’ charming debut feature gently explores solitude and the quest for love between two needy but awkwardly independent Mexico City singles. Self-contained twentysomething Marina works at a uniform factory, and one day wins a trip to a beach paradise. But she doesn’t have anyone to go with her. That is, until Victor unexpectedly presents himself to her as an old friend from high school, an old friend she doesn’t remember. But then she doesn’t seem to remember much as she quietly wanders through her daily life as it passes her by. Original and cliché-free, this often touching and occasionally very funny film is underpinned by a great central performance by Cecilia Suárez and Enrique Arreola.

“What a humane treat this film is: a pinsharp cine-poem of romance. A gem.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“A remarkable feature film debut.” - Sundance Film Festival

Adm.: €5

Access Cinema website.

Alan Kelly Quartet

TRADITIONAL/WORLD MUSIC Thursday 22nd April @ 8.00pm

One of Ireland’s most accomplished musicians in any genre, Roscommon piano accordionist, composer and arranger Alan Kelly exploded onto the traditional scene with his 1997 debut album Out of the Blue, an album which according to Folk Roots magazine “made the piano accordion hip in Ireland again.” His dazzling second album Mosaic established Alan as one of the hottest live acts on the Irish scene with its exciting blend of traditional, salsa and jazz rhythms, and propelled him onto the World Music stage. Alan’s newly released third album After the Morning is fuelled by a rake of self-composed tunes, rich in variety and drawing on musical influences from Brittany to Asturias, to Louisiana. Performing with Alan are three top-drawer musicians: veteran fiddle player Tola Custy; Lúnasa-founding guitarist Donogh Hennessy; and vibrant young flute and whistle player Steph Geremia. Alan Kelly doesn’t just play the accordion, he celebrates it in a way that draws you into the passion he puts into the music he plays. Come and join him in that celebration.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“ … brilliantly talented, effortless and exuberant.” - The Irish Times
"After the Morning" is an unqualified triumph … superb.” - The Irish Echo

Alan Kelly's website.

Rig the Jig

TRADITIONAL/FOLK MUSIC Thursday 15th April @ 8.00pm

Rig the Jig comprises eight musicians who met through their love of music in the 1990s. In recent years, the band has evolved into a leading exponent of Irish traditional and contemporary folk music. Some of the faces may have changed since the band's early days, but Rig the Jig has proven itself as a byword for wonderfully organic, talented and energetic performances of music and song. Irish and American folk songs find the captivating, story-telling voice of Michael Banahan, the lilting vocals and the passionate fiddle playing of Aoife Kelly and the beautifully ornate performances of Patricia Lane. There’s a sprinkling of magic in Noel Carberry's ethereal whistle playing and in the haunting sounds of the Uilleann pipes. The sweet and jaunty melodies from Brendan Emmet's mandolin complement the pulsating rhythm of Anthony McDermott s guitars. All of that energy, coupled with Ian Kinsella’s mastery of the banjo and guitar, the fluid, exciting style of Paul Gurney on guitars and keyboards, makes Rig the Jig a force to be reckoned with. Irrepressible and lively, Rig the Jig offers a combination of Irish traditional music and more contemporary American material, a repertoire of songs, ballads, jigs and reels that is fresh and invigorating, completely natural and spontaneous. Enjoy!

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"When Rig the Jig let fly, a spirit of connection exists between Irish traditional music and contemporary American material, which is both fresh and invigorating as well as sounding completely natural and unforced." - John O'Regan, Folk Roots
“Rig the Jig is one of the most exciting new bands I have heard in my nearly 15 years as a radio programmer.” - Mike Fleischer, WDCB-FM, Chicago Illinois

Rig the Jig weblog

The Event

THEATRE Wednesday 14th April @ 8.00pm

A man stands on the stage. He is an actor. We know this because he tells us so, but also because our experience tells us that this is what actors do. Standing in a pool of light, he wittily deconstructs the theatrical experience while offering parallel insight into modern life: what if everything we believe and experience is an illusion - a fantasy designed to make us forget all that's important and... we do. Written and directed by John Clancy, and performed by David Calvitto, The Event is a deceptively simple piece of theatre - unpretentious and totally engaging - which playfully but profoundly leads us to question, not only the nature of reality, but the very nature of existence itself. A winner of the Edinburgh Fringe First Award, The Event is hugely acclaimed, beautifully conceived piece of theatre, masterfully delivering a profound, thought-provoking, imaginative experience. Definitely one not to miss.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"Absolutely superb theatre that lives long in the imagination and deserves to be the top of any must see list!" - The Mirror
“Intelligent and exhilarating.” - The Guardian
“Calvitto is one of the funniest and cleverest performers around.” - Neil Cooper, The Herald
“An extraordinary tour-de-force… Brilliant.” - Joyce McMillan, The Scotsman
The Event website.

Burma VJ : Reporting From a Closed Country

CINEMA Tuesday 13th April @ 8.00pm

Denmark 2008 85mins Language: Burmese / English
Director: Anders Østergaard

Director Anders Østergaard brings us close to Burma’s video journalists in this remarkable documentary. Filming covertly, and risking their lives in the process, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) smuggle their footage out of the country and have it broadcast back into Burma via satellite, providing free images to international media outlets. When, in September 2007, Buddhist monks lead a massive uprising, VJ Joshua is thrown into the role of tactician, coordinating a group of undercover reporters. With foreign TV crews banned from entering the country, it is left to Joshua and his crew to document the events, keeping the revolution alive on TV screens all over the world. - Irish Film Institute

“A flawlessly constructed piece of work, relentlessly gripping, and a stirring testament to individual bravery. Simply unmissable.” - Tom Huddleston, Time Out
“A rich, thought-provoking film.” - A.O. Scott, New York Times

Adm.: €5
Access Cinema website.

Limbik Theatre Company - The Harbour

PHYSICAL THEATRE Thursday 8th April @ 8.00pm

A contemporary re-imagining of a selkie tale - inspired by old stories of seal-women - The Harbour follows a daughter’s journey back to her island home, where she finally learns why her mother abandoned her as a child. Funny, moving and visually arresting, with haunting live music, Limbik explores the fragile nature of the relationships that give us shelter, and a safe haven, in a chaotic and unpredictable world. Presented by exciting new UK-based physical theatre company Limbik.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“A masterclass in surreal storytelling.” East Anglia Daily Times
“Haunting…imaginative… beautifully told.” - Rachel Sheridan, The British Theatre Guide

Limbik website.

Tony Manero

CINEMA Tuesday 30th March @ 8.00pm

Chile 2008 98mins Language: Spanish with English subtitles
Director: Pablo Larrain
Starring: Alfredo Castro, Amparo Noguera, Hector Morales, Paola Lattus, Elsa Poblete.

Set in Chile in 1978, with the country in the grip of Pinochet's oppressive dictatorship, fifty-something Raúl is obsessed that he is disco king Tony Manero, John Travolta's white-suited star of Saturday Night Fever. Inspired by repeated viewing of the film at his local fleapit, he forms and choreographs a low-rent dance troupe, performing at a rundown bar on the outskirts of the city. When a national Tony Manero competition is announced, Raúl feels he is destined to win, even when the murderous secret police start to take interest in the inhabitants of the bar and his fellow dancers. The result is at once an absurd black comedy, an unsettling thriller, a confrontation of dark days in Chile's recent history, and a horribly believable, realist portrait of obsession, underpinned by a brilliant lead performance from Alfredo Castro as the misanthropic, misguided anti-hero.

“A multi-textured, striking work of distinction.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“This tough, impassive, marvellous second feature from young Chilean Larraín.” - Wally Hammond, Time Out

Adm.: €5

Access Cinema website.

Splódar - Dancing at Lughnasa

THEATRE Thursday 25th March @ 8.00pm

Since its premier production at The Abbey in 1990, Brian Friel’s Dancing at Lughnasa rapidly established itself as a modern classic in both Irish and international theatre. Set in 1936 in Ballybeg Co. Donegal, the home of the five unmarried Mundy sisters, this memory play unfolds from the point of view of adult narrator Michael, then 8 years old, the illegitimate son of the youngest sister. His memories of that fateful time, centred round the festival of the Celtic god Lugh, bring into sharp focus images of love, loss, and moments of intense emotion in a play of layered meanings, conflicting rituals and family tensions. Splódar (formerly The Glens Players) is the resident drama company in the Glens Centre, Manorhamilton, and has been creating compelling drama since its establishment in 1995.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Brian Finnegan, Ed Boyd & John Joe Kelly

CONTEMPORARY FOLK/TRAD Wednesday 24th March @ 8.00pm

Brian Finnegan (flute, whistles), Ed Boyd (guitar) and John Joe Kelly (bodhrán) - erstwhile front man and rhythm section from Flook, one of the finest bands ever to have graced the folk scene - join forces to promote Brian`s new album, The Ravishing Genius Of Bones, a finely woven mix of traditional and original material. Wonderfully hypnotic, the perfect balance between grace and power, sunlight and shade, the three make for a uniquely thrilling union.A great night of music in prospect.

LATEST UPDATE: Unfortunately due to circumstances beyond our control Boris Grebenshikov will NOT be performing on the night as previously announced.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Sheer musical magic... enthralling.” - The Scotsman
“Multi-layered, rhythmically sophisticated and meltingly beautiful.” - Glasgow Sunday Herald

Brian Finnegan's website.
Flook website.

35 Shots of Rum (35 rhums)

CINEMA Tuesday 16th March @ 8.00pm

France/Germany 2008 100mins French, German with English subtitles
Director: Claire Denis
Starring: Alex Descas, Mati Diop, Gregoire Colin, Nicole Dogue

Regarded by many as Denis’ warmest and most affirmative movie to date, 35 Shots of Rum is a portrait of the close relationship between widowed train driver Lionel and his affectionate student daughter Jo, who share a cramped apartment on the outskirts of Paris. The film centres on the domestic intimacy of this arrangement, the evolving relationships the two have with their neighbours, whether romantic or parental, and the approach of Lionel’s retirement. In top directorial form, Denis presents an eloquent meditation on family, harmony, loss and loneliness.

“Marvellous.” - Wally Hammond, Time Out
“Outstanding… rich, quietly complex and subtle. A film to be savoured.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“A masterpiece.” - Armond White, New York Press

Adm.: €5

Access Cinema website.

Beezneez - Tuesdays with Morrie

THEATRE Tuesday 9th March @ 8.00pm

Based on the multi-million best-selling book by Mitch Albion, and adapted for the stage by Mitch Albion and Jeffrey Hatcher, Tuesdays with Morrie is a heartwarming play that tells the story of a professor and a student who meet again after sixteen years, when former student Mitch discovers that his much-loved tutor Morrie is suffering from a terminal illness. What starts as a simple visit turns into a weekly pilgrimage, and Mitch gets a final class in the meaning of life from the older man. A two-hander directed by John McDwyer and featuring actors Michael Roper and Pat Feeley, Tuesdays with Morrie is a warm, compassionate and life-enhancing evening of theatre by Leitrim’s finest, Beezneez Theatre Company.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"A touching, life-affirming, deeply emotional drama with a generous dose of humor." - NY Daily News

Beezneez website

Broken Embraces (Los Abrazos Rotos)

CINEMA Tuesday 2nd March @ 8.00pm

Spain 2009 127mins Spanish with English subtitles
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
Starring: Penelope Cruz, Lluis Homar, Blanca Portillo, Jose Luis Gomez

Almódavar’s latest film is a story dominated by jealously, the abuse of power, treachery and guilt. Harry Caine is a man who writes, lives and loves in darkness. Fourteen years previously, in his former life as film director Mateo Blanco, he was in a car crash on the island of Lanzarote. In that accident, he lost his sight and also Lena, the love of his life. Today, Harry lives thanks to the scripts he writes and to the help he gets from his faithful former production manager, Judit, and from Diego, her son. One night Diego has an accident and Harry takes care of him (when his mother is out of town). During his convalescence, Diego asks Harry about his time as Mateo Blanco. Harry finds that he can’t refuse and relives the events of that time and the affair that fuelled those fateful events.

“Sheer, gorgeous style… Almodóvar conjures a vivid, rich palette of colours… he moves back and forth between the past and the present with virtuoso fluency.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“A lush, deeply romantic noir dense with nods to films past. Almodóvar is above all a great entertainer. This movie is utterly irresistible.” - David Edelstein, New York Movies

Adm.: €5

Access Cinema website.

Niwel Tsumbu & The Song of the Nations Band

WORLD MUSIC Monday 1st March @ 8.00pm

Congolese guitar sensation Niwel Tsumbu and his new band are set to deliver a night of spine-tingling music to the Linenhall as part of a nationwide tour presented with funding from the Music Network Performance and Touring Award. Niwel and the Song of the Nations Band have been wowing audiences and critics alike with concerts nationwide and the band’s recent self-titled album. Since his arrival in Cork in 2004 from his war-torn homeland, Niwel has developed an enviable reputation as an elegant and fluent guitarist, vocalist and composer. The new album perfectly showcases his ability to vividly blend African rhythms, rumba, new jazz, classical flamenco and more. Playing electric and acoustic guitars and singing mostly in his native Lingala, Niwel performs a range of music that stretches from contemporary versions of Congolese traditional music from the 1930s and 40s to modern Jazz.
Performing with Niwel as The Song of the Nations Band are Hungarian bassist Peter Erdei, Irish percussionist Eamonn Cagney, violinist Kathryn Doehner from Germany and Cuban percussionist Frailan Moran Mendive. Come along and put some fresh musical joy in your life.

“Niwel and his band are at the top of their profession…Niwel Tsumbu’s live show is unmissable.” - Starlife Magazine
“Potent… indomitable, infectious spirit… a sweep of syncopated rhythms.” - The Irish Times
“Exceptional.” - Hot Press

Music Network website
Niwel Tsumbu’s website

The Crimlin Community Arts Music Collective - From The Ocean to The Fringe

MUSIC NIGHT Saturday 27th February @ 8.00pm

After a rollercoaster year that included performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and the Volvo Ocean Race Festival in Galway, the various bands and groups from Crimlin Community Arts perform in concert at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Saturday 27th February at 8 pm. The show will feature the Batafada Samba band, Na Ciotógaí, Rockafada, Pipa Riba, Joe Mc Hale, the Crimlin Pipe Band Drummers and Bata Óg. Special guest artists on the night will be the world renowned local traditional musician Emer Mayock and friends. The concert will showcase a wonderful variety of musical styles from traditional to folk and from samba to bagpipes and song with a touch of dance thrown in.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)
Tickets available from the Linenhall Box Office, or they may also be ordered locally through Crimlin Community Arts from Sheila 086 8202883.

Bruiser Theatre Co - The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui

THEATRE Monday 22nd February @ 8.00pm

The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui is one of Brecht's best known plays. It is an alarming and savagely hilarious allegory of Hitler's rise to power, in which the Führer is portrayed as charismatic Chicago gangster Arturo Ui, endeavouring to seize the city's fruit and vegetable racket from top-dog Al Capone. He systematically seduces the public and eliminates his political rivals in his bid for total domination. This is Political theatre at its best and most powerful. Six actor/musicians will play over fifty characters to bring this powerful story to life in typically exciting, engaging and physical Bruiser style, as previous productions(The Government Inspector, Candide, Oh What A Lovely War) triumphantly testify. Adapted by Ralph Manheim and directed by Lisa May (Belfast Telegraph Woman Of The Year In The Arts 2009), Arturo Ui is as relevant as ever. The battle for political status and the corruption of power still fill our newspapers in 2010. When credits crunch, to whom do we turn? Arturo Ui offers protection and freedom - but at what price?

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Bruiser - bursting with fun, energy and invention.” - Brendan Deeds, Culture Northern Ireland

Bruiser Theatre Company website

London Classic Theatre - The Beauty Queen of Leenane

THEATRE - BOOKED OUT - POSSIBLE RETURNS ON THE NIGHT Wednesday 17th February @ 8.00pm

Set in a claustrophobic kitchen of a rural cottage in the mountains of Connemara in the early 1990s, The Beauty Queen of Leenane tells the darkly comic tale of Maureen Folan, a plain, lonely woman in her early forties, and Mag, her manipulative, ageing mother, whose interference in Maureen’s first and possibly final chance of a loving relationship sets in motion a train of events that leads inexorably towards the play’s shocking denouement. The first part of the highly acclaimed and successful Leenane Trilogy, Martin McDonagh’s multi-award-winning play was first performed by Galway’s Druid Theatre Company in 1996. Presented here by London Classic Theatre (Abigail’s Party and Humble Boy), in an acclaimed production directed by Michael Cabot, The Beauty Queen of Leenane is a blend of black comedy, melodrama, horror and bleak tragedy, with the capacity to shock and surprise, with a masterful and violent sting in the tail.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“…wildly funny, deeply affecting and grotesquely macabre…an absolute cracker…” - Daily Telegraph
"Beautifully directed... a memorable production." - The Stage

NB: BOOKED OUT: possible returns on the night only

London Classic Theatre website

Katyn

CINEMA Tuesday 16th February @ 8.00pm

Poland 2007 121mins Polish with English subtitles
Director: Andrzej Wajda
Starring: Maja Ostaszewska, Artur Zmijewski, Andrzej Chyra, Danuta Stenka

A poignant drama by Polish veteran director Andrzej Wajda that traces the lasting effects of a national tragedy, the Katyn massacre of 1940, a subject of enduring rage and shame. On Stalin's orders, the Soviets slaughtered some 22,000 Polish prisoners of war in Katyn forest in western Russia. Originally attributed to the Nazis by the Soviet Union, the bitter truth was only finally acknowledged by Mikhail Gorbachev in 1990. Katyn recreates the stories of both the perpetrators and their victims. Focusing on the influence of politics and the impossibility of resolution for the victims’ families, Wajda’s film is not merely about the crime itself, but the process of collusion in which the post-war Polish state sought survival supporting a grotesque lie.

“A powerful and even remarkable memorial to these victims and to the belated destruction of one of the most persistent untruths about the Second World War.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“A poignant drama… a stately, exquisitely shot film.” - Dave Calhoun, Time Out

Adm.: Film Club membership

Access Cinema website.

Geraldine O’Grady + Oonagh Keogh

CLASSICAL VIOLIN RECITAL Thursday 11th February @ 8.00pm

Geraldine O’Grady has been in the forefront of Irish Music since she graduated from the Paris Conservatoire with the coveted Premier Prix and First Place, and has had a distinguished international career as recitalist and soloist with major symphony orchestras. Geraldine’s daughter, Oonagh Keogh, is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and has an Honours MA from the University of Limerick. She has performed extensively as a soloist and is a member of the much-acclaimed Irish Chamber Orchestra. As a duo, Geraldine and Oonagh have been co-soloists in classical and modern concertos. They have a wide repertoire of music and have given recitals throughout Ireland, Europe, The West Indies and the USA, and have recorded for radio, television and on CD. Margaret O’Sullivan is in constant demand as an accompanist, duo partner and repetiteur. Among her many awards is the top prize for solo pianoforte at the College of Music in Dublin. She performs regularly with Geraldine and Oonagh and was accompanist on their duo album Heartstrings in Harmony.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

The Good, The Bad, The Weird (Joheunnom nabbeunnom isanghannom)

CINEMA Tuesday 2nd February @ 8.00pm

South Korea 2008 130mins Korean, Mandarin, Japanese with English subtitles
Director: Ji-woon
Starring: Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, Jung Woo-sung

Korean director Kim Ji-woon’s homage to Sergio Leone’s seminal The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, set in the lawless badlands of Japanese-occupied 1930s Manchuria. A psychotic dandy gangster, a bounty hunter and an opportunistic small-time thief find themselves in a race to secure a stolen map, pursued by an international syndicate of bandits, some double-dealing drug dealers, and the amassed forces of the Japanese imperialist army. A film filled with train robberies, gun battles, knife fights, opium dens, horse chases and tense Mexican stand-offs, constant tonal surprise, occasional violence, offbeat comedic moments and grand action set-pieces. Energetic, stylish, outrageous - yes, it’s as amazing as it sounds.

“It's exciting, funny, thrilling, and as entertaining as hell.” - Anton Bitel, EyeForFilm.co.uk
“Gleefully deranged.” - Wendy Ide, The Times
“Wild, crazy and packed with memorable moments… one of the most genuinely fun and inventive movies to hit the screen in quite some time.” - Saxon Bullock, Film4

Adm.: Film Club membership

Access Cinema website.

Eduardo Niebla

FLAMENCO/JAZZ GUITAR Monday 1st February @ 8.00pm

Hailed as one of the world's great guitarists, Eduardo Niebla returns to the Linenhall to present a scintillating repertoire of dazzling flamenco jazz from his latest albums. His lyrical, breathtaking music has garnered huge respect within his adopted UK homeland, and also internationally, with concerts including Glastonbury Festival, the San Isidro Fiesta Madrid, the Olympic Games Greece and concert tours to India, South Africa, Jordan, Abu Dhabi, and much of Europe. Continually seeking out new musical terrain, Niebla has traversed the worlds of pop, jazz and world music, collaborating with such diverse partners as sitar maestro Nishat Khan, George Michael, Lol Coxhill and Craig David. He is currently recording his 23rd album. Accompanied for the concert by fellow guitarist Ricardo Garcia, expect a spellbinding evening of passion, verve and fleet fingered virtuosity from one of the most potent forces in flamenco jazz fusion.

”Poignantly poetic... and truly breathtaking.” - The Scotsman
”Stunning flamenco jazz.” - The Sound
“Niebla is the king of Latin guitar, a world-class virtuoso.” - Time Out
“Astonishing.” - Q Review
"Stunning… a potent force." Jazz UK

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Eduardo Niebla’s website

Jon Kenny - I’m Not Says I… I’m Fine

COMEDY Thursday 28th January @ 8.00pm

With our newspapers full of stories of doom and gloom and bad weather, an evening of hilarious comedy with former D’Unbelievable Jon Kenny is just what the doctor ordered. I’m Not Says I …I’m Fine heralds a return for Jon to the type of work that made his reputation as one of the most talented and best-loved comedians in Ireland. Jon uses the changing face of contemporary Ireland as the scaffold on which to build his hilarious observations and characters. Running through such contrasting experiences as supporting Munster rugby to visiting a health spa, he takes no prisoners and delights in emphasizing the humour in everyday life. This is a thrilling experience for lovers of comedy everywhere. So turn off your televisions and radios - they’re only making you depressed - and come out for an evening of guaranteed craic.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“He has an uncanny eye for the most absurd elements of life as we know it while at the same time lampooning the idiocies spawned by recently discovered (and just as quickly lost) affluence.” - Hot Press
Jon Kenny’s website

The Homecoming

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Thursday 21st January @ 8.00pm

Forget all the hype about the Irish Brand: here are four top musicians who left Ireland to ply their musical trade in the US in the 1980s and 90s. They went, they played and they conquered.
Paddy O'Brien (accordion), Susan McKeown (vocals), Cillian Vallely (pipes), Aidan Brennan (guitar).

Accordion maestro Paddy O’Brien made his mark with the legendary Shanachie trio and continues to spread the Gaelic gospel with his highly-acclaimed groups Chulrua and The Doon Céilí Band. Vocalist Susan McKeown hit the ground running with her debut album Bones in 1995. Eleven albums on she has a Grammy under her belt and list of collaborators that reads likes a musical who’s who. Fellow Dubliner and guitarist Aidan Brennan is a major presence on the Portland, Oregon trad scene who’s also worked with the likes of Martin Hayes, Emer Maycock and Loreena McKennitt as well as touring with Riverdance, while Armagh-born piper Cillian Vallely has appeared with fiddler Seamus Connolly, New York-based band Whirligig and on Tim O’Brien’s The Crossing. Oh yes, and he’s also a member of Celtic supergroup Lúnasa. A whole barrel of talent performing together as part of a very special Music Network tour.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“The music: button box wizard Paddy O’Brien gets it. Really gets it.” - Irish Music Magazine
“A singer of passion, grace and striking presence; she seems to personify both past and present.” - Irish Examiner on Susan McKeown
“Music that lives and breathes in the wider world.” - Q MAGAZINE
Music Network website

The Grocer’s Son (Le Fils de l’Epicier)

CINEMA Tuesday 19th January @ 8.00pm

France 2008 96mins French with English subtitles
Director: Eric Guirado
Starring: Nicolas Cazalé, Clotilde Hesme, Jeanne Goupil, Daniel Duval

A French summertime idyll, this second film from director Eric Guirado is touching and honest, with a genuine eye for character and the small battles of everyday life. Antoine, a 30 year-old grocer’s son unwillingly returns to his village of birth to run the family shop after his father has a heart attack. Accompanying him is his ‘friend’, Claire, a bubbly and pretty girl from the city who feels she could use some peace and quiet in the country to prepare for her upcoming exams. Guirado takes a rather less predictable route with this boy-girl scenario, an approach that makes for a moving coming-of-age story, ultimately delivering a quiet delight.

“Unforced and beautifully acted.” - J.R. Jones, Chicago Reader
“… unfolds with subtlety, humor and affection - a pure enchantment.” - Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Adm.: Film Club membership

Access Cinema website.

Open Mike Night

POETRY, PROSE & MORE Thursday 14th January @ 8.00pm

Going from success to success, here’s the latest in the ongoing Open Mike series at the Linenhall: an informal and thoroughly enjoyable evening of poetry, prose and music, when writers from all over Mayo come to read from their own work in front of an enthusiastic audience of peers, pundits and the public in general. The event takes place in the Linenhall Café, where refreshments will be available to enhance the ambience and bonhomie. Come along to share your own work, or enjoy the work of others.

Adm.: free

Desi Wilkinson, Máirtín O’Connor, Frank Hall & Lena Ullman - Buffalo in the Castle

TRADITIONAL/AMERICAN OLD-TIME MUSIC Monday 14th December @ 8.00pm

Buffalo in the Castle is an exploration of music inspired by the traditions of Irish and American Old-time music and song. Drawing together the genres is a dazzling line up of musical talents: Traditional luminaries Desi Wilkinson (flute, whistle and vocals) and Máirtín O’Connor (accordion) team up with two top musicians with an Appalachian musical background: Frank Hall (fiddle, vocals) and Lena Ullman (5-string banjo, vocals). Playful and lyrical, the result is a potent concoction that guarantees satisfaction to the last drop - be it poitín, moonshine or this stunningly enjoyable cocktail of the two.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“A stirring concoction of deftly played good-time music.” - Gerry Quinn, The Irish Examiner
“A pure distillation of Old Time American and Irish traditions: there for the savouring.” - Siobhan Long, The Irish Times

Buffalo in the Castle website

WhistleBlast Quartet - Christmas Family Concert

FAMILY CONCERT Saturday 12th December @ 3.00pm

The WhistleBlast Quartet (Mary Curran, French horn; Kenneth Edge, saxophones, clarinet; Síle Daly, oboe, cor anglais; Andrew Synnott, piano) performs and narrates Tchaikovsky’s magical Nutcracker Suite as arranged by Ken Edge as part of this Christmas Family Concert for all ages. The Concert also has lots of fun music including the themes from The Pink Panther and The Simpsons, This Little Babe from the Ceremony of Carols by Benjamin Britten and much more! A relaxed, informal and accessible family concert full of charming favourites: what better way to while away a Saturday afternoon?

Adm.: €8 (NB: Special Family Rate: €25 for 4 tickets)

WhistleBlast Quartet website

Peadar de Burca - Why Men Marry

COMEDY THEATRE Thursday 10th December @ 8.00pm

“Let me take you on a journey around a man’s mind…don’t worry, it won’t take long.”
Brace yourself as Peadar de Burca’s new one-man comedy takes you on a mission to find out what goes on in the mind of the most complex species on the planet. Irish comedian, actor and playwright Peadar de Burca interviewed over 300 men in Ireland and England trying to find out exactly what they wanted from life and love. Unfortunately, he found out. Following on from the sell-out successes of What Men Want and Why Men Cheat, Why Men Marry has continued with the tradition of rave reviews. Not for the bashful or the easily shocked, Why Men Marry is definitely not for men that can’t laugh… at themselves!

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“De Burca lays bare every insecurity men ever had, sizzling stuff.” - Conor Morrow, Sunday Tribune
“One of the funniest shows this year.” - Ryan Turbridy
“Four stars and a smile on your face.” - The Irish Times

Lemon Tree (Etz Limon)

CINEMA Tuesday 8th December @ 8.00pm France/Germany/Israel 2008 106mins Arabic/Hebrew with English subtitles

A fortysomething West Bank Palestinian widow decides to tackle the might of the Israeli state in court when her new neighbour, the Israeli Defence Minister, orders her family’s lemon grove to be uprooted as a perceived security risk. Eran Riklis’ multifaceted drama straddles the Palestinian-Israeli divide in a film full of irony, generosity, anger and even optimism.

“Tender, humane.” - Anthony Quinn, The Independent
“A powerful film.” - Philip Kennicott, Washington Post

Adm.: Film Club membership

Access Cinema website.

Castlebar Gospel Choir

CHORAL CONCERT Monday 7th December @ 8.00pm

Castlebar Gospel Choir makes a welcome return visit to the Linenhall with an inspirational and joyous evening of Christmas and spiritual music in tune with the time of the year. With a wonderful array of musical talent and enthusiasm, it’s easy to see why over the past 10 years the choir has won so many fans and admirers. For this concert, choir Director Kathy Fahey has lined up a programme of new music especially for the Christmas season. Come along and get yourselves into a truly festive spirit.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

The Reserved Moments

POPULAR MUSIC NIGHT Thursday 3rd December @ 8.00pm - SOLD OUT - Possible returns on the night

Old, new, borrowed, blue…
Locally based good-time group The Reserved Moments celebrates the music of the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and Noughties, along with original songs by David Tuomey, based around the theme of ‘Love and Romance’. The Moments line-up comprises David Tuomey (lead vocals), Adrian Gavin (guitar/vocals), Paddy Gannon (guitar/vocals), Kelvin Frain (bass guitar), Donal Hoban (drums) Roger Esaul (keyboards/vocals), Siobhan Shields (vocals) and Teresa Burke (guitar/vocals). So for a trip down the Memory Lane of heartbreak, lost love, found love and all the confusions that ensue, look no further, and reserve yourself a few special musical moments…

NB. Complimentary mulled wine from 7.30pm.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions) - SOLD OUT - Possible returns on the night

The Laudate Ladies Choir + Ronan Egan

CHORAL CONCERT Tuesday 1st December @ 8.00pm

Ronan Egan and the Laudate Ladies Choir present an intimate evening of song, featuring a programme of Classical, Sacred and Contemporary music directed by accomplished Musical Director Kathy Fahey and accompanied by renowned local musician John Flatley. Ronan Egan, originally from Wicklow and now living in Belcarra will perform some favourite Italian pieces, as well as songs from musicals and popular Irish songs. Mayo’s Laudate Choir has been together for four years and has earned a growing reputation for beautiful singing and unusual interpretation of a wide repertoire of music. A wonderfully entertaining evening of singing with something for everyone, including Vivaldi’s Gloria; Walking in The Air; Nella Fantasia; Love Changes Everything; and Time to Say Goodbye.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Mary Mc Partlan + Vincent Woods

MUSIC + POETRY EVENING Friday 27th November @ 8.00pm

An evening of music and poetry. Mary McPartlan is one of the most talented singers to come out of the Irish scene in recent years. Born in Drumkeerin, Co. Leitrim and now living in Galway, she started singing in the early 70s but it wasn't until 2003 that she decided to make music her full time career. Her debut album The Holland Handkerchief was released the following year to resounding critical acclaim and was collectively hailed as one of the finest Traditional albums of the year. Fellow Leitrim-born author, playwright and broadcaster Vincent Woods (whose oeuvre includes plays At the Black Pig’s Dyke and Song of the Yellow Bittern, and poetry collections The Colour of Language and Lives and Miracles) has written songs for Mary’s acclaimed album Petticoat Loose. A former Mayo Writer-in-Residence, Vincent will be reading from his work during the evening.
Musical accompaniment for the night is by acclaimed guitarist Garry Ó Briain.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Mary McPartlan has one of the great voices of Ireland.” - The Living Tradition
“McPartlan’s voice is gloriously earthy.” - The Irish Times
“A voice that pins you against the wall.” - Mojo magazine
Mary McPartlan's website

The Nomadic Theatre Company- The Rare Oul’ Times

COMEDY THEATRE Thursday 26th November @ 8.00pm

Set in 1950s Dublin in the back room of the Bailey public house, Ireland's two most volatile drinkers and literary figures, Brendan Behan and Patrick Kavanagh, discuss with great humour their lives, loves, successes and failures. The comedic play sympathetically highlights the complexities of both men, their fiery temperaments, their love of the written and spoken word and their longing for recognition. The Rare Oul' Times shows Behan at his most outrageous and Kavanagh at his most vitriolic, while the humour, poetry, songs and pints of porter flow. Written by Ken McElroy in 2003 for the Edinburgh Festival, this two-act play featuring Ken Mc Elroy as Patrick Kavanagh and Oliver Moore as Brendan Behan has toured widely in Ireland and the UK.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Poignant, abrasive and hugely funny. A great night’s theatre.” - Belfast Telegraph
“A nostalgic romp… wallow in their lovable eccentricity.” - Glasgow Herald
“A great piece of theatre. Do not miss this production.” - The Irish News

Rare Oul’ Times website

The Silence of Lorna (Le Silence de Lorna)

CINEMA Tuesday 24th November @ 8.00pm Belgium 2008 105mins French with English subtitles

Directors Jean-Pierrre and Luc Dardenne tell the tale of Lorna, an Albanian immigrant seeking Belgian citizenship, caught between love and the law of the underworld. Nuanced, surprising and deeply moving, this is a beautifully observed study of immigrants in the new Europe attempting to eke out a living through rather uncertain means.

“Brilliantly nuanced… the film feels almost spiritual in its investigation of a lost soul.” - Dave Calhoun, Time Out

Adm.: Film Club membership

Access Cinema website.

Armed Eye Film & Theatre Co. - Psycho Spaghetti

CHILDREN’S THEATRE Wednesday 18th November @ 11.30am & 2.00pm

Ger Carey’s Psycho Spaghetti is a brilliant comedy written specifically for young people aged between 15 and 18. This hilarious one-man show attempts to answer the age-old question: just what is going on inside the teenage brain? The show aims to get teenagers to laugh at themselves and view themselves as part of a bigger picture. A show perfect for Transition Year students, LCA, Youth Reach and even grown-ups!

Adm.: €10
NB: Booking through Armed Eye. Tel: 059 9141333

Armed Eye website

DoYou Playhouse - Multiplex

YOUTH DRAMA Monday 16th & Tuesday 17th November @ 8.00pm

A comedy written by Christopher William Hill, Multiplex revolves around the lives of a group of young cinema ushers obsessed with films. Reality and fantasy blur, as they imagine their own films under the direction of film-buff King. But King’s leadership is challenged when new usher Mouse arrives and the pecking order begins to disintegrate. Expect plenty of laughs as Castlebar-based youth drama group DoYou Playhouse delivers its latest success with a cast of some of Mayo’s very best young acting talent from 13-18 years of age. DoYou is the brainchild of Donna Ruane and Oisín Herraghty, two highly experienced members of the Mayo drama community who have been delivering top quality youth productions since 2002. Multiplex looks set to be their latest triumph. And remember, youth theatre isn’t just for young people, it’s for everyone. Enjoy!

Adm.: €10 / €5 (concessions)

The Lawnmowers - Cabaret for Fools

COMIC THEATRE Thursday 12th November @ 8.00pm

Cabaret for Fools is a series of beautifully crafted comic and tragic sketches exploring universal themes such as Love, Death, and Memory, using full Character Mask, Commedia dell’Arte and Clown, taking the audience on a wonderful journey into their comical observations of the world inspired by the likes of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin and Jacques Tati. The sketches are wordless and very physical, accompanied by an array of wonderful music and beautiful imagery. Since 1986 The Lawnmowers has been a vibrant company run by and for people with learning difficulties. It employs people with learning difficulties and uses performance based shows and workshops to lay the foundations for learning disabled people to participate fully in their own society, shape their lives and achieve their aspirations.
The Lawnmowers is brought to Mayo by the Arts & Disability Networking Pilot, a partnership initiative of the Arts Council, Arts & Disability Ireland and Mayo County Council Arts Office.

Adm.: €12/ €8 (concessions)

The Lawnmowers' website

Preston Reed

CONTEMPORARY GUITAR Wednesday 11th November @ 8.00pm

Welcome to Preston Reed’s guitar revolution. Everything you thought you knew is wrong. All the rules you thought applied have gone. For one night only, logic and reason leave the building and musical magic fizzes in the air, as the New York visionary credited with reinventing the acoustic guitar takes you on a six and twelve string thrill-ride through the impossible and unforgettable. Yet this is not guitar wizardry for its own sake. Blues, rock, funk and jazz meet, embrace, interlock and attack to create a sonic brew quite unlike anything you’ve heard before. Playing an array of guitars from acoustic to electric to classical, Reeds vast range of explosively original music will forever change your expectation of a guitarist.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Spectacular… a terrific performer.” - Eamon Sweeney, The Irish Independent
“Widely thought of as the world’s most gifted guitarist.” - Total Guitar
“In a class of his own.” - Jack Massarik, London Evening Standard
“Reed's fiendishly intricate blend of blues, rock, country and metal styles ducks and weaves itself away from measurability.” - The Irish Times

Preston Reed website

Quiet Chaos (Caos Calmo)

CINEMA Tuesday 10th November @ 8.00pm UK/Italy 2008 105mins Italian with English subtitles

Following the accidental death of his wife, film executive Pietro attempts to cope with loss and living, through immersing himself in the activities of daily life with his 10-year-old daughter. Antonio Luigi Grimaldi’s film is a thoughtful and mature adaptation of Sandro Veronesi’s novel, with a quietly compelling central performance by Nanni Moretti.

“A beautifully modulated, fluidly told film.” - Jay Weissberg, Variety

Adm.: Film Club membership

Access Cinema website.

Songs for Cecilia

OPERATIC RECITAL Monday 9th November @ 8.00pm

Two of Ireland's brightest operatic talents, soprano Celine Byrne and mezzo soprano Tara Erraught, present a delightful programme based on the theme ‘Songs for Cecilia’ accompanied by the pianist Dearbhla Collins. Celine Byrne was winner of First Prize at the 2007 Maria Callas Grand Prix in Athens and has recently collaborated with luminary tenors José Carreras and Roberto Alagna. Tara Erraught's star is assuredly in the ascendant, having recently won a slew of awards, including First Prize in the Jakub Pustina International Singing Competition, the Washington National Opera Prize and the Houston Grand Opera Prize. The two singers will be accompanied by highly respected prize-winning solo pianist Dearbhla Collins. The programme includes a specially commissioned piece by Ian Wilson, songs and duets by Purcell, Mozart, Schumann, Strauss and Puccini, as well as arias from Cosi fan Tutte, The Barber of Seville, Madam Butterfly and Norma. Part of a Music Network tour.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"Celine Byrne.... has presence, a powerful and flexible voice, and the intelligence to understand how music and words work together.” - Martin Adams, The Irish Times
"Erraught has the true mezzo's rare ability to illuminate the most ordinary segment of the human voice." - Andrew Johnstone, The Irish Times

Amongst Women

POETRY EVENING Thursdsday 5th November @ 8.00pm

An evening of poetry, music and prizewinners. Five women writers with Mayo connections present their work:
Geraldine Mitchell (Louisburgh), one of Mayo’s most distinguished writers, recipient of the 2008 Patrick Kavanagh Poetry Prize; Pearl King (Crossmolina), who has read with Anthony Cronin and features regularly at Open Mike events; Aoife Casby (Claremorris) winner of the Edgeworth Poetry Prize and published in Poetry Ireland; Helen Falconer (Killala), author of Primrose Hill and Sky High, two novels published in both the UK and US; and Sally Rooney (Castlebar), published in a Manchester Guardian anthology, and currently studying in Trinity College. Music on the evening will be provided by young singing sensation Elaine Madden, whose recent sell-out debut concert at the Linenhall received a standing ovation. A great celebration of Mayo talent where men are also more than welcome - but on this occasion only in the audience! Come and enjoy!

Adm.: €10 / €7 (concessions)

Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Wednesday 4th November @ 8.00pm

The brilliant, innovative harping of Máire Ní Chathasaigh, Irish Traditional Musician of the Year 2001, and the astonishing virtuosity and versatility of English guitar wizard Chris Newman, make a welcome return to the Linenhall with their addictive and stylish cocktail of powerhouse Irish dance-music, gorgeous airs, evocative old songs and striking new compositions, with shots of hot jazz and bluegrass thrown into the dazzling mix. The latest in a string of scintillating recordings, their new CD FireWire has garnered extraordinary critical acclaim. These two stellar talents, coupled with Chris's subversively witty introductions, guarantee a unique and captivating evening of music at its very best. Don’t miss it.

Máire Ní Chathasaigh's website
Chris Newman website

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Máire Ní Chathasaigh is in a class of her own.” - The Guardian
“Virtuoso playing... an eclecticism and spirit of adventure that is quite thrilling...” - The Times
“Dazzling virtuosity... The speed and complexity is to be marvelled at... exquisitely delivered... delightful.” - The Daily Telegraph

So & So Circus Theatre - The Hot Dots

CIRCUS THEATRE Monday 2nd November @ 8.00pm

Frank Johnstone and Evie Steele met in 1928. This is the story of two hugely successful vaudeville performers and their spectacular fall from grace.
Featuring award-winning London-based So & So's trademark acrobatic balancing and a fantastic story set against the backdrop of 1930s Music Hall, this show is a real one-off treat. Performed by So & So founders Kaveh Rahnama and Lauren Hendry, directed by Kristine Landon-Smith, featuring design by Sue Mayes and film by Mark Morreau. Don’t miss it!

So and So Circus website

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"It's clever and funny and poignant- really entertaining!" - Liz Arratoon, The Stage
"Outstanding." - The Observer

ROOLABOOLA CHILDREN’S ARTS FESTIVAL 2009

Monday 19th - Monday 26th October

The Linenhall’s annual arts extravaganza for young people, celebrating its 12th birthday with a bulging programme of top quality shows, workshops and much, much more. See our pulsating RoolaBoola brochure for full details. While the action comes to a climax over the Bank Holiday weekend, there are also public shows during the previous week that we’d like to draw your attention to, shows suitable for families and engaging and entertaining enough for adults on their own too!
Click here for full RoolaBoola programme and workshop listings.

The Magician’s Garden

ROOLABOOLA PUBLIC EVENT @ RURAL TRAINING CENTRE Friday 23rd October @ 7.30pm

The Magician has left his garden and his spells have gone wild, taking root and even taking flight! After twilight, the veil of reality slips just a little and visions appear in a magical glow of lights. An enchanting visual experience for all the family, devised by artist Tom Meskell in association with the HSE Rural Training Centre, Castlebar.

Adm.: free

PigNut - Ahhhh!!

ROOLABOOLA PUBLIC SHOW - FOR PRE-SCHOOLERS Thursday 22nd October @ 10.00am & 12.00noon Friday 23rd October @ 10.30am

Welcome to Jay’s world, where bubbles, a pet pig, mysterious plants, and more come together to create moments of ‘ahhhh!!’ A show full of magic and delight, Ahhhh!! is a gorgeous performance combining music, illusion and physical theatre, designed with loving care for very young children. Suitable for pre-school children aged 2-3years and their guardians.

PigNut Productions website

Adm.: €8

“Are you magic?” - (3 year-old audience member)

Teatergruppen Batida - Spaghetti

ROOLABOOLA PUBLIC SHOW - FOR VERY YOUNG PEOPLE & ADULTS Wednesday 21st October @ 8.00pm

“Spaghetti makes you tall”, say the two lanky fellows. And then they cook spaghetti right there on stage! But then their neighbour, who is short and round, wants to join in the feast. A charming, heart-warming story about irreconcilable opposites, a fun-packed mix of clowning, theatre and live music presented by Denmark’s Teatergruppen Batida. Suitable for ages 4 years+.

Teatergruppen Batida website

Adm.: €8

”We perform for the vivacious and the curious!” - Batida

Cahoots NI - The Musician

ROOLABOOLA PUBLIC SHOW - FOR YOUNG PEOPLE & ADULTS Monday 19th October @ 8.00pm

A spellbinding new opera for children that tells the story of the child that was to become the best known flautist of them all… the Pied Piper. Using magic, dance, narrative and an orchestra of instruments, The Musician is a totally original and darkly thrilling piece of musical theatre for children, inspired by classic children’s fairytales. Written and composed by Conor Mitchell. Suitable for ages 9 years+.

Cahoots NI website

Adm.: €8

“A story of broken dreams and broken music, which challenges the imagination of its young audience.” - Jane Coyle, The Irish Times

Independent Ballet Wales - A Midsummer Night’s Dream

BALLET Wednesday 14th October @ 8.00pm

Critics Circle Award-winning company Independent Ballet Wales makes a welcome return visit to the Linenhall with a dazzling version of Shakespeare's most magical play: Puck, Titania and Oberon, Bottom and his “rude mechanicals”, and two sets of lovers, all caught in a thrilling web of mistaken identity, confusion, comedy and magic in an Athenian forest over the course of one fateful night. Featuring Mendelssohn's haunting music, with expansive choreography by Artistic Director Darius James and critically acclaimed costumes by Yvonne Greenleaf, the result is a wonderfully colourful and entertaining classical ballet performance for all the family.

Independent Ballet Wales website

Adm.: €20 / €15 (concessions)

“This charming and gifted company.” - Daily Telegraph
“A delicate fusion of comic magic.” - The Irish Times
“A hugely enjoyable version of Shakespeare’s comedy.” - The Daily Express
“Colourful, exciting and a joy to see.” - Munster Express

Decadent Theatre - Country Music

DRAMA Wednesday 7th October @ 8.00pm

Country Music is a story of crime and redemption. Spanning more than twenty years, this is the life story of illiterate loser Jamie Carris, a troubled eighteen year old whose recklessness leaves him facing a tragic future after being sent to prison for murder. What made this young man a killer? How will he survive the harsh reality of prison life? Can he ever rebuild his life? Unsentimental yet not unsympathetic, episodic moments offer insight into Jamie’s inarticulate character and motivations, in an intricately woven play by Simon Stephens. A new production directed by acclaimed director Andrew Flynn, starring Andy Kellegher.
Presented in association with Galway Arts Centre.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"...spare but eloquent... the imaginative sympathy of Country Music really blew me away...almost unbearably moving." - The Daily Telegraph

Bruiser Theatre Company - The Government Inspector

THEATRE Thursday 1st October @ 8.00pm

“All last night I was dreaming about a rat…”
The very wonderful Bruiser Theatre Co. teams make a return visit to the Linenhall with this cracking version of Gogol’s classic comedy. In a small country town, a penniless traveller finds himself mistaken for a top-ranking government official. Totally unprincipled, he plays along with the confusion, demolishing the town’s facade of respectability and revealing greed and hypocrisy on a scale that even he finds hard to stomach. Witty, smart and wildly satirical, this timely and spirited All-Ireland premiere of Bill Scott’s brilliant adaptation is packed full of amazing characters, played with huge energy, slapstick and cracking comic timing by a six-strong cast, and guaranteed to surprise, amuse and delight. One of the most famous comedies in world theatre, Gogol's masterpiece has lost none of its bite!

Bruiser Theatre Company's website

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Bruiser - bursting with fun, energy and invention.” - Brendan Deeds, Culture Northern Ireland

Times and Winds (Bes Vakit)

FILM CLUB Tuesday 29th September @ 8.00pm

Turkey 2006 111mins
Turkish language with English subtitles

An intensely lyrical film by director Reha Erdem, set in a mountainous, austerely beautiful region of north-eastern Turkey, chronicling the lives of three children in their early teens as harsh realities of life come into focus: not only the realities of a life of subsistence farming within an isolated village community, but also those of status in the adult world. They begin to learn what it means to be second best, what it means to be a woman in a man's world, or to be the son who is not his father's favourite. A beautifully photographed and eloquent addition to the oeuvre of new Turkish cinema.

“A remarkable piece of work, conceived at the highest pitch of intelligence: a cinematic poem, replete with fear and rapture, and one of the best films of the year.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“Original… spectacular…marvellous.” - Wally Hammond, Time Out

Access Cinema website

Damien Dempsey (Solo)

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC Monday 28th September @ 8.00pm NOW SOLD OUT

Considered one of Ireland’s most outstanding contemporary singer/songwriters, Damien Dempsey has produced a series of critically acclaimed chart-topping albums, the most recent of which is The Rocky Road, featuring the cracking single reworking of The Rocky Road to Dublin. The Donaghmede troubadour is back to perform another electrifying acoustic set in the intimate setting of the Linenhall. If you’ve seen him before, you’ll know. Unmissable.
Support act to be confirmed.

Damien Dempsey's website

Adm.: €20 NB: Booking opens 2nd September.

CULTURE NIGHT: Open House @ the Linenhall

Friday 25th September @ 6.00pm-10.00pm

As part of the national Culture Night initiative, the Linenhall opens its doors for a whole bunch of fun, free, family-friendly, fifteen-minute workshops running through the course of the evening, including:

Sing For Your Supper - Give us a song and receive a free tea/coffee/hot chocolate or glass of wine!

Haiku 4 U - Write Haikus and have fun with Ken Armstrong!

Stage-Light Up Your Life - Have a go in our Stage Control Room with Buildings Manager Oisín Herraghty!

Fifteen Minutes of Fame - Drama Queen Donna Ruane shows you how to improvise!

Look Sea - A whirlwind guided tour of Angie Grimes’ exhibition of seascapes!

Speed Paint - Create a masterpiece in 15 minutes with artist Grainne O’Reilly!

The Arts and You - Showcasing local voluntary arts organisations!

We’ve Got You Covered - A live visual document of what’s going on over the evening!

Intrigued? Come and see what we’ve got in store, and feel free to join in! Numbers for individual workshops will be limited, booking available only on the night. Enjoy!

Adm.: free!

Open Mike Night

POETRY, PROSE & MORE Thursday 24th September @ 8.00pm

The latest in the ongoing Open Mike series at the Linenhall, here’s another informal and extremely enjoyable evening of poetry, prose, music “and maybe more”, when writers from all over Mayo are invited to read from their own work in front of an enthusiastic audience of peers, pundits and the public in general. The event takes place in the Linenhall Café, where refreshments will be available to enhance the general enjoyment and bonhomie. Come along to share your own work, or enjoy the work of others.

Adm.: free

Ó Euskadi go hÉirinn - The Basque Irish Connection

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Monday 21st September 8.00pm

Could this be the longest-awaited reunion tour in history? Recent studies have revealed a common ancestry between the Irish and Basques dating back some 8,000 years, both peoples fiercely proud of their musical heritage. Music Network brings together world-class musicians from the two traditions for this very special tour: All-Ireland Champion on both fiddle and concertina, Killarney-born Niamh Ni Charra; Ibon Koteron, one of the Basque country’s best-known musicians and exponent of the alboka (Basque hornpipe) and dultzaina (similar to a Breton bombarde); and Dublin-born Gavin Ralston, the guitarist of choice for such luminaries as Sharon Shannon, Donal Lunny, Steve Wickham and Anúna.

Niamh Ní Charra's website
Music Network website

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Niamh Ni Charra… quite simply, ground breaking. This is masterclass musicianship, and a legend in the making.” - Alex Gallacher, Folk Radio UK
“Ibon Koteron is alboka’s leading present-day player.” - Andrew Cronshaw, fRoots

Elaine Madden

MUSIC Thursday 17th September @ 8.00pm NOW SOLD OUT

Castlebar singer Elaine Madden headlines at the Linenhall accompanied by her friend and musical associate, pianist and harpist Marese O'Hora. Elaine has the ability and vocal maturity to portray emotions in songs which belie her young years, and her reputation as a talented vocalist has been steadily growing both in musical circles and among the general public. Elaine and Marese have performed together since their days in Secondary School, and their resulting musical rapport is clearly evident. For this performance, Elaine will draw on all her musical influences to ensure a concert of many genres of music including soul, country, Irish and songs from musicals, an eclectic mix not to be missed from a young talent in the ascendant.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

I’ve Loved You So Long (Il y a longtemps que je t aime)

FILM CLUB Tuesday 15th September @ 8.00pm

France 2008 115mins
French language with English subtitles

A subtle and insidiously watchable family drama about the corrosive effects of a past that won’t go away. Based around a tour de force performance by Kristin Scott Thomas, director Philippe Claudel tells the story of Juliette, a middle-aged woman returning into society after a long prison sentence. Her younger and estranged sister, Lea (Elsa Zylberstein) offers her family home for Juliette to stay as she puts her life together again. In the family setting, the elephant in the room that is the unspoken past begins to surface…

“Scott Thomas's performance, easily the best of her career… the centre of a deeply involving, beautifully acted and expertly constructed human drama by and for grown-ups.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian
“[An] exquisitely rendered story of reconciliation and redemption.” - Michael O’Sullivan, Washington Post

Access Cinema website.

Rain, Rocks and Reeks - Eden

DRAMA Monday 14th September @ 8.00pm

Eden depicts a dysfunctional marriage, a couple living the archetypal Irish lives of quiet desperation is a small pre-Celtic Tiger provincial town. Billy clings to booze, and fantasies about a younger woman, while Breda clings onto an inkling of optimism, believing that their big night out will rekindle the spark that once was there. But will it? Eden is an award-winning play by Eugene O Brien (writer of RTÉ’S Pure Mule, now enjoying its second season), a two-hander first produced at The Peacock and The Abbey, and more recently turned into an award-winning film. This production by Mayo’s newest professional theatre company features actors Hazel McLynn and Paul Mekatarian, and enjoyed a sell-out pilot tour Spring 2009.
Not suitable for under 15s.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Eden is wonderful… enthralling and disconcertingly realistic.” - Eoin Brady, RTÉ Entertainment
“Eden… A rueful, touching comedy of lost hopes, failed expectations, shattered illusions and occasional serendipity.” - Neal Weaver, LA Weekly

Impressions of Bofin

BOOK LAUNCH Friday 11th September @ 7.30pm

The launch of Impressions of Bofin, a collection of writings resulting from four week-long writing workshops that have taken place on Inishbofin with writer and teacher Jean Tuomey since 2002 through the Linenhall. Edited by Geraldine Mitchell, Impressions of Bofin features prose and poetry by 15 participants, some of whom will be reading at the launch. Copies of Impressions of Bofin are available for €10, and all profits from sales go towards community projects taking place on Inishbofin.
Impressions of Bofin will be launched by Helen Falconer, author of Primrose Hill and Sky High, two novels that have been published in both the UK and US.
The book will also be launched at the Doonmore Hotel on Inishbofin by Marie Farrell on Saturday 19th September at 6.00pm.

Adm.: Free. All welcome.

Gerald Peregrine & Cathal Breslin

CLASSICAL MUSIC Thursday 10th September @ 8.00pm

Critically acclaimed Irish cellist Gerald Peregrine and pianist Cathal Breslin are both laureates of the Royal College of Music in London, former Fulbright scholars and recipients of National Concert Hall Rising Star debut recitals. This special tour features a programme of much-loved cello works. Programme comprises:
Beethoven: 7 Variations on Mozart’s Magic Flute in E flat major; Mendelssohn: Cello Sonata No.1 in B flat major, Op.45; Debussy: Cello Sonata; Eibhlis Farrell: Stillsong; Shostakovich: Cello Sonata in D minor, Op.40; Chopin: Polonaise Brillante in C major, Op 3. This is a chance to catch two of Ireland's finest young performers and rising stars live in concert.
Concert grant-assisted by a Music Network Performace and Touring Award, and presented in association with RTÉ Lyric fm.

Gerald Peregrine's website
Cathal Breslin's website

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Gerald Peregrine plays the cello as if born to it.” - Irish Times
“Cathal Breslin…playing with assurance and sparkle.” - Irish Times

Jack L

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC Wednesday 30th & Thursday 31st January 2013

Iconic singer and performer par excellence Jack L presents his new smash hit show “The 27 Club”. Celebrating a remarkable group of artists who passed away at the age of 27, the show features the work of icons such as Janis Joplin, The Doors, Robert Johnson, The Rolling Stones’ Brian Jones, Amy Winehouse, The Bunnymen, Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana, they are all interpreted by the Irish multi-platinum Jack L through his own spellbinding performance. As he explores this mysterious number, Jack interweaves their legacy not through a vale of tears but in a rip-roaring musical celebration of life itself in a dramatic and unforgettable new show that has received rave reviews from the international press following his week of shows at Edinburgh Arts Festival.
Jack is just concluding another whirlwind year, which has seen him perform knock-out concerts around Europe, Britain and USA, including a performance at the prestigious Lincoln Centre for the Performing Arts with the legendry Nelson Riddle Orchestra.

Adm. €20

“Jack is one of the greatest interpreters of song lyrics I have heard in recent years.” - Christopher Riddle
“As with all great shows, it feels over too soon.” - Edinburgh Evening News
“A gorgeous, versatile Baritone.” - The Washington Post
“Jack L’s voice is an irresistible force of nature.” - Paris-Match
"Perhaps most singular talent to have emerged from Ireland in the past decade." - The Irish Independent

Jack L's website.

Mayo Emigrant Liaison Committee

LECTURE Wednesday 9th September @ 8.15pm

The Mayo Emigrant Liaison Committee (1999-2009) Mr John Kennedy CBE, KSG, KMCO, DL (Manchester) Lecture, by Dr Kevin McNamara KSG, former MP and Labour Party Spokesperson on Northern Ireland, on the topic: Irish America Strikes Back - Aspects of the McBride Principles Campaign for fair employment in Northern Ireland.

NB: Admission by invitation only.

Other Voices Theatre Co. - We Are for the Dark

DRAMA Thursday 27th August @ 8.00pm

We Are for the Dark is an exciting new triple-bill of one-act plays by Westport’s own Other Voices theatre company and Gerald and Rebecca Wilson. Based in Westport, Gerald and Rebecca have been mainstays of drama in Mayo for many years, presenting top quality contemporary theatre that is ambitious, thoughtful and compelling. The three plays on this occasion are:
The Bright Day is Done, a new play by Gerald Wilson, in which a young man comes to interview an aging actress and inveigles her into recreating some of her most acclaimed roles - but all is not what it seems. Featuring Rebecca Wilson and Wez Locke, directed by Gerald Wilson.
The Baglady by Frank McGuinness, in which a baglady confronts - and is confronted by - the abused child she once was. Featuring Mary Ryan and Eithne McGreal, directed by Rebecca Wilson.
The Jewish Wife by Bertolt Brecht; set in 1935 in Germany, a Jewish wife packs her bags in a universal motif of tragedy: every day someone, somewhere, is packing a bag or making a bundle… Featuring Saskia Eland and Wez Locke, directed by Gerald Wilson.
Don’t miss Westport’s finest in action.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Dennis Wyers’ Rhombus Quartet

CONTEMPORARY JAZZ Thursday 20th August @ 8.00pm

Rhombus jazz quartet features some of the finest established and emerging jazz musicians on the Irish scene. Led by Castlebar-born composer/saxophonist Dennis Wyers, the group is quickly developing a name for itself as a hotbed for spontaneous, exciting music. The ensemble draws on influences from Norwegian and British jazz, contemporary classical, the blues and South-Indian music, moving between many different styles and textures to create colouristic compositions and intensely rhythmical jazz explorations, with influences from Charlie Parker to Frank Zappa and from the Beatles to Pat Metheny. The debut album, part-funded by the Mayo County Council Arts Office, is currently in production. The full quartet lineup is: Dennis Wyers (alto saxophone); Bill Blackmore (trumpet); Cormac O Brien (double-bass); and Shane O Donovan (drums). Catch them now!
Dennis Wyers website

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Beezneez Theatre Co. - A Wake In The West

COMEDY THEATRE Tuesday 11th August @ 8.00pm

Not content with drinking himself to death, Tom Healy makes a last request to be buried ‘in the drink’ - at sea! His wish creates havoc in his house and in his local community, with some believing he is not entitled to ‘take it all with him’. In this riot of a comedy, his neighbours vie with each other to secure a piece of Tom before his exit. The work of Mulranny playwright Michael Joe Ginnelly, A Wake In The West is described by Leitrim-based theatre favourites Beezneez as the funniest comedy the company has ever worked on, “an absolute madcap evening of fun and frolics that will leave you sore from laughter”. Directed by John McDwyer.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Crooked Still

BLUEGRASS/FOLK Monday 3rd August @ 8.00pm

On the road since 2002, bluegrass sensation Crooked Still has established itself as "the most important folk group to emerge from Boston since the early 60s"(- Boston Globe). Originally a four-piece that is now a quintet, Crooked Still continues to perform one of the most compelling and exciting forms of alternative bluegrass and string band music today, with both modern and traditional influences, bringing together improvised old time music, bluegrass, folk and original songs in a genre-bending sound that is the result of the combined alchemy of five distinctive talents: Aoife O'Donovan (vocals), Greg Liszt (banjo) Corey DiMario (bass), Brittany Haas (fiddle), Tristan Clarridge (cello). Amazing, unique, and totally intoxicating!
Part of The World Fleadh: The World Fleadh website
Crooked Still website

Adm.: €20

“Superbly crafted musical styles veering off into exciting and exhilarating directions.” - All Music Guide
“Highly skilled… with an ingenious flair for steering traditional music in unexpected directions.” - The Boston Globe

Dave Munnelly Band

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Sunday 2nd August @ 8.00pm

On the road since 2000, the Dave Munnelly Band is one of the hottest bands on the traditional Celtic music scene. Headed by Belmullet button accordion wizard David Munnelly, who's toured and recorded with The Chieftains and with DeDanann and has a string of acclaimed CDs to his credit, the band (David Munnelly, Kieran Munnelly, Philippe Barnes, Paul Kelly) combines accordion, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, banjo, piano, bodhrán and flute for a high-spirited instrumental sound coloured with a bit of jazz, ragtime and percussive dancing, topped with the singing of All-Ireland champion Shauna Mullin. A night of Trad at its most exciting.
Part of The World Fleadh: The World Fleadh website
Dave Munnelly Band website

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"The Irish band to see." - The Irish Voice

Carmina

TRAD/FOLK/JAZZ Saturday 1st August @ 8.00pm

Founded by songwriters Rob King and Pippa Marland in the late 80s, Carmina’s music is an uplifting blend of traditional and contemporary Celtic sounds with jazz improvisation in powerful original songs, led by Pippa’s voice (“wondrous, emoting and enchanting” according to Time Out). Original, soulful and sophisticated, Carmina’s music has been compared with Moving Hearts, Joni Mitchell and Van Morrison, yet Carmina’s highly accessible music is uniquely their own. Carmina has attracted a world-wide devoted following, with four albums to date and countless tours in Ireland, the UK and worldwide. The band has just finished recording its latest album, My Crescent City, produced by the legendary Dónal Lunny.
Part of The World Fleadh: The World Fleadh website
Carmina's website

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Glorious...gorgeously haunting." - Time Out
"Powerful and spiritually uplifting." - The Guardian

Heidi Talbot & John McCusker

CONTEMPORARY/FOLK Friday 31st July @ 8.00pm

With the release of her new album In Love and Light, Heidi Talbot is set to establish her place in the firmament of great Irish singers. After five years as lead singer with the Irish-American super group Cherish the Ladies, and high praise for her previous solo outing Distant Future, Heidi now extends her talents over a broader, bolder musical canvas. John McCusker is a multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer who from his early days with legendary Scottish folk outfit Battlefield Band has over the years worked with artists as diverse as Paul Weller and Patti Smith, Teenage Fanclub and Mark Knopfler. Known mainly for his virtuoso fiddle playing, John was presented with the Spirit of Scotland Award for Music in 2000.
Part of The World Fleadh, The World Fleadh website
John McCusker's website
Heidi Talbot's website

Adm.: €20

“Heidi Talbot sings in a voice that’s both awestruck and tender.” - New York Times
“Talbot is exquisite.” - The Village Voice
“John McCusker… a musician’s musician.” - Phil Cunningham

David Munnelly Band - CANCELLED

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Wednesday 24th June @ 8.00pm

CANCELLED

Kim Rosen - Saved by a Poem: an evening of Poetry, Music and Inspiration

POETRY PERFORMANCE Thursday 18th June @ 8.00pm

Kim Rosen is a poet performance artist and teacher of self inquiry who explores poetry's power to awaken, inspire and heal. In this evening, she interweaves the poetry of Mary Oliver, Rumi, W.B. Yeats and many others with music, insight and audience interaction to create a magical presentation inviting people to discover the true power of poetry “as an affirmation or prayer... which can bring every level of being into alignment with what matters most to you.”

Adm.: €10 / €8 (concessions)

“Kim’s gift of speaking poems by heart is a gorgeous incantation, an irresistible call to break open. For those who are afraid of poetry this is a door opening. For those who love poetry this is a sure deepening.” - Eve Ensler (author of The Vagina Monologues)

Castlebar Gospel Choir - Songs of Freedom

GOSPEL MUSIC Wednesday 17th June @ 8.00pm

Making a welcome return to the Linenhall for a wonderful evening of uplifting music, Castlebar Gospel Choir presents its inspirational new show. Songs of Freedom celebrates the spirit of freedom that has evolved in the USA from slavery, through the Civil Rights movement, to the inauguration of President Barack Obama. This history has produced some of the most enduring songs ever written, and on its 10th anniversary Castlebar Gospel Choir celebrates this powerful legacy together with some very special guests, under the musical direction of Kathy Fahey.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Whistleblast Quartet

MUSIC: FAMILY RECITAL Thursday 11th June @ 6.00pm

The Whistleblast Quartet (Mary Curran, French horn; Kenneth Edge, saxophone; Síle Daly, oboe, cor anglais; Andrew Synnott, piano) presents a relaxed and accessible family concert featuring a wide selection of music including Fauré, Britten, Stravinsky and the theme from The Simpsons. This concert will also feature the premiere of Irish composer John Buckley’s piece As Far as the Eye can See which was especially commissioned for the Quartet by the Arts Council. Pupils from Derrywash National School will also perform a short piece with the Quartet which they will have composed during school workshops. Come and enjoy!

The WhistleBlast Quartet is sponsored by Mayo County Council, The Arts Council and the National Concert Hall Learn & Explore Programme.

Adm.: FREE

Des Keogh - Confessions of an Irish Publican

COMEDY THEATRE Monday 8th & Tuesday 9th June @ 8.00pm

The inimitable Des Keogh returns with a new comedy based on the work of one of Ireland’s best known storytellers, John B. Keane’s Confessions of an Irish Publican, in which the lives of the inhabitants of Knockanee are brilliantly evoked by Kerry publican, Martin MacMeer - proprietor of the Journey’s End pub. Having premiered off-Broadway at New York’s Irish Rep Theatre, this hilarious one-man show sees the inimitable Des Keogh switch from character to character as he brings the Confessions to life. Come to Journey’s End to meet MacMeer, the parish priest, the Reverend Mother, feisty Dublin woman Grace and many more…

Adm.: €20 / €18 (concessions)

“A brilliant turn (or six) by Des Keogh……a journey well worth taking.” - The Epoch Times, New York

Julie Fowlis & Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Wednesday 3rd June @ 8.00pm

Julie Fowlis and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh are two Gaelic singers and instrumentalists from islands off a West coast: Julie a native of Uist, Scotland and Muireann from Inisheer off West Kerry. While both talented musicians have careers in their own rights (Muireann is a member of award-winning traditional group Danú and is a regular contributor to television and radio programmes at home and abroad, including the BBC’s recent Highland Sessions; Julie is BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year 2008, recorded the award-winning album Cuilidh and featured on the BBC’s Later...with Jools Holland and the Transatlantic Sessions series), in 2004 they joined forces in a collaboration that has come to glorious fruition in the acclaimed CD Dual. Performing with the two singers on the night, as on the album, are Éamon Doorley (bouzouki, fiddle) and Ross Martin (guitar). A night of Gaelic song and music at its best is on the cards.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"Julie Fowlis… traditional music at its most seductive." - The Daily Telegraph
“Nic Amhlaoibh… a precious talent.” - Gerry Quinn, The Irish Examiner

Emma’s Bliss (Emmas Glück)

FILM CLUB Tuesday 2nd June @ 8.00pm Germany 2006 99 minutes

Emma is a passionate but lonely young woman who eschews human company in favour of her beloved pigs and her late grandfather's isolated farm. Then Max, a terminally ill car-dealer and recent thief, crashes into her life - quite literally - in a stolen car. Max survives and Emma takes him in and tends his injuries. When she finds his stash of money, she sees a way of clearing her debts and saving the farm, but then she finds herself falling for Max… A quirky charmer of a movie from director Sven Taddicken, stolen by a superb central performance by Jördis Triebel as the eponymous Emma.

“Eccentric romanticism impossible to resist… Triebel's Emma is remarkable, an oestrogen-packed explosion of unapologetic femininity.” - Paul Whitington, Irish Independent

Active Retirement Group Variety Concert

BEALTAINE VARIETY CONCERT Wednesday 27th May @ 8.00pm

Castlebar Active Retired Group will stage their very own concert with music, songs, dancing, poems and recitations at the Linenhall Arts Centre. The concert, for all ages, is part of Bealtaine, the national festival celebrating creativity in older age. So prepare to be entertained by some of Castlebar’s youngest at heart! Part of the Linenhall Arts Centre’s Bealtaine programme of events.

Adm.: FREE

Please note: A complimentary tea and coffee reception will take place from 7.30pm prior to the concert.

(Castlebar Active Retirement Group was established in 2000. The members meet once a week, on Wednesdays between 3.00pm and 4.30pm at the Welcome Inn on New Antrim Street in Castlebar. Newcomers are always welcome.)

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day

BEALTAINE FILM MATINEE Tuesday 26th May @ 3.00pm USA 2008 92 minutes Cert: PG

Based on Winifred Watson’s best-selling novel set in 1939 London, this delightful screwball comedy introduces Miss Guinevere Pettigrew, a middle-aged governess who finds herself out of work. Intercepting an employment assignment for a ‘social secretary’ she is catapulted into the glamorous world and dizzying social whirl of American actress and singer Delysia Lafosse. There she finds every dream she had given up on become reality - reminding us all that everyone has a second chance to blossom in this world. Directed by Bharat Nalluri, starring Francis McDormand, Ciaran Hinds, Amy Adams.

Adm: FREE

”A delightfully frivolous screwball comedy.” - Anna Smith, Time Out
“Frothy and exuberantly entertaining… the best romantic comedy so far this year.” - Ruthe Stein, San Francisco Chronicle

Cora Smyth Band

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Monday 25th May @ 8.00pm

A featured soloist in many of Michael Flatley’s shows (Lord of the Dance, Feet of Flames, Gold, Celtic Tiger), dazzling Mayo-born fiddler Cora Smyth has also guested on The Chieftains’ Grammy-nominated album Water from the Well before releasing her acclaimed debut solo album Are We There Yet? Joined by a hugely talented band including Seán Og Graham (box), Andy Kingslow (keys) Martin Brunsden (bass) Seán Horsman (guitar), this show mixes up traditional and original tunes with modern arrangements in a compelling and engaging mix of musical styles that promises an exhilarating evening of music.

“…a serious fiddler… polished, gutsy, engaging and uplifting.” - Alex Monaghan, Irish Music Magazine
“…Cora Smyth(‘s)… music can plumb the depths of emotion on slower pieces and pack a lot of brio into up tempo melodies.” - Earle Hitchner, Irish Echo

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Five Lamps Theatre Company - The Mariettas

COMEDY DRAMA Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd May @ 8.00pm

Following the success of The Telephone Exchange, Five Lamps Theatre Company is back with The Mariettas, an exciting and warm-hearted new comedy by Niamh Gleeson. The Marietta Showband is dreamed up while Bernie Brady works on the biscuit factory line in 1968. She drums up four other young ones and together they attempt to burst onto the Dublin showband scene. Will the unreliable musicians turn up? Will Assumpta's gippy tummy get the better of her? Can The Mariettas get the crowds on the dance floor? Charming and quirky, The Mariettas is a trip down memory lane and Hucklebuck shoes are compulsory! Starring Stephanie Behan, Andrea Cleary, Margaret O'Doherty, Jennifer Meade and Emma Reinhardt.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Donal Buckley - Remembrance and Reconciliation in Ireland

TALK Wednesday 20th May @ 8.00pm

Captain Donal Buckley talks on reconciliation in Ireland and how it can be helped through the process of remembrance. “Because of our difficult history and our sometimes traumatic relations with Britain, Northern Ireland and indeed each other, we traditionally have had a difficulty in remembering those who fell for us in the World Wars. Hardly a family in Ireland was untouched by the Great War and yet grieving and remembering their fallen has been more painful than in other countries as the political landscape changed beyond recognition and public grief and memory was suppressed.” An apposite and relevant talk in prospect.

Adm.: €5

XXY

FILM CLUB Tuesday 19th May @ 8.00pm Argentina 2007 90mins

Alex is, as all teenagers, struggling with mood swings, parental constraints and teenage crushes. However, born an intersex brings an extra level of difficulty. Having relocated from Buenos Aires to a remote costal area of Uruguay, the parents’ protective intentions are thwarted by Alex’s blossoming sexuality. Things come to a head when a plastic surgeon skilled in sex-change operations is invited to spend the weekend, along with his wife and their 15-year-old son. Director Lucia Puenzo avoids salacious prurience in favour of sensitive and compelling human drama, ably assisted by some of Argentina's finest actors.

“Tenderly observed, quietly understated and deeply moving.” - Philip French, The Observer

The Long Note: Music from the West of Ireland and the Scottish Highlands

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Monday 18th May @ 8.00pm

The Long Note heads back into the mists of time to explore the musical traditions of Gaelic Scotland and Ireland. Master button accordion player and broadcaster Tony MacMahon has performed and worked with most of the great Irish trad players of the past half-century. On this tour he performs with virtuoso banjo player Angelina Carberry, who has wowed critics and fellow musicians alike with a series of acclaimed albums. Completing the top trio is expert piper Allan MacDonald, who hails from the Western Scottish Highlands, bringing to life the lyrical sounds of the rarely-heard pibroch (piobaireachd). A fine celebration of Gaelic music tradition in prospect. Part of a Music Network tour.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Tony MacMahon is one of the great Irish traditional musicians of our time.” - Don Meade, The Irish Voice
“Allan MacDonald's music has an awesome rugged finesse unsurpassed in contemporary piping.” - The Living Tradition
“Carberry… spellbinding.” - Earl Hitchner, The Irish Echo

The Foghorn Trio

OLD-TIME AMERICAN MUSIC Thursday 14th May @ 8.00pm

Caleb Klauder and Stephen Sammy Lind began playing music together in 2000 in Portland, Oregon. Switching between guitar, mandolin, fiddle, banjo and vocals, they have performed traditional American old-time music all over the globe with their critically acclaimed band The Foghorn Stringband, and other projects with the likes of Riley Baugus, Dirk Powell and Kevin Burke. Their style encompasses early country music, the fiddle repertoire of the Southern Appalachians and the Midwest, and the stringband sounds of the Piedmont region. Their vocals are simple and honest, with intertwining harmonies similar to the Carter Family and the Stanley Brothers. Although their repertoire is mainly traditional, Caleb's stellar original songs and tunes fit right in next to any classic. Special guest Nadine Landry of Canadian Bluegrass outfit Hungry Hill will be joining the lads on upright bass for this tour. A night of great music with great heart: prepare to be enchanted.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Genuine passion for their music.” - The Glasgow Herald

I Miss Communism

THEATRE Wednesday 13th May @ 8.00pm

East goes West; communism goes capitalism; atheism goes God. From Croatia to America and back, this intense dramatic comedy is a story about freedom of the spirit, not about political systems. It’s about a woman coming of age. It’s about war, religion and God. It’s about Oliver Twist... I Miss Communism is a solo show written and developed by actress and writer Ines Wurth with writing partner and director, Mark Soper: a true personal account of Ms. Wurth’s life growing up in Communist Croatia, through the war which ripped Yugoslavia apart, her escape to Los Angeles, and her return to her homeland to face the family and the world which has shaped her life. Voted Best Touring Show in the UK 2006 (Best Of The Best, Fringe Report), nominated for the Amnesty International Award 2005 and Writer’s Guild Award. Through music, tears and great comic timing, this is a story that won’t leave you untouched.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Spellbinding… a very powerful theatrical experience.” - Struan MacKenzie, The Evening News, UK
“A one performer show with the stamina of a full cast.” - Iain S., edfringe
“…an emotionally charged performance… a compelling story…” - Thom Dibdin, The Stage

Mayo Concert Orchestra

CLASSICAL CONCERT Monday 11th & Tuesday 12th May @ 8.00pm

Mayo Concert Orchestra presents an evening of music, fusing classical compositions with contemporary arrangements. The orchestra has been in existence for over 11 years and, under the baton of George Lee, plays with a delightful energy and enthusiasm. This year’s repertoire brings the audience on a journey through time, including European folk dances, a selection of musical medleys and a nod to 20th century North America. Special guests include enchanting Soprano Francie McNicholas, and acclaimed Claremorris harpist Grainne Hambly, renowned for her sensitive and dynamic performances and three critically acclaimed solo CDs. A night of great music with a big feelgood factor and a great opportunity to enjoy Mayo’s musical talent.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Gare St Lazare Players - Moby Dick

DRAMA Thursday 7th May @ 8.00pm

One of Ireland's best known touring theatre companies presents a one-man show based on Herman Melville’s classic novel of revenge and obsession, the epic story of Captain Ahab and the great white whale Moby Dick. Performed by acclaimed actor Conor Lovett, directed by Judy Hegarty Lovett.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)
Please Note: Show not suitable for under 14s

A Secret (Un Secret)

FILM CLUB Tuesday 5th May @ 8.00pm France 2007 106mins

A Secret traces the life of a Jewish family in Paris during and after the Second World War. An exploration of dark secrets and passion, the film focuses on François, who is trying to come to terms with conflicting memories from his childhood. Now an adult, he embarks on a search for answers. What he uncovers is a painful history of a family struggling to survive during the Occupation, forced to decide between declaring and concealing their Jewish identity. Using a complex, seamless structure of flashbacks, director Claude Miller creates a fresh and moving exploration of a troubling period of modern French history.

“Claude Miller's superb drama… beautifully acted and exquisitely photographed.” - Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

Rastrelli Cello Quartet

CELLO RECITAL Tuesday 28th April @ 8.00pm

The cello has been described as the instrument that sounds closest to the human voice and it is this with unique attribute that the Rastrelli Cello Quartet weaves its magic as audiences are treated to a heady mix of classical, jazz and Latin-American music in a concert by this astonishing and hugely entertaining quartet. Since meeting up in 2002, the quartet has released three CDs, and between them the four cellists - Kira Kraftzoff, Kirill Timofeev, Misha Degtiareff and Sergio Drabkine - have garnered an impressive collection of prizes and worked with such luminaries as Gidon Kremer, James Galway and Yuri Bashmet. While remaining true to the great Russian tradition of big-toned, soulful cello playing, the ensemble takes the instrument into unknown and surprising waters. With pieces by Piazzolla, Sulchan Zinzadze, Billy Strayhorn, Alfred Schnittke, Jimmy Forrest and Modest Mussorgsky amongst others, the result has to be heard to be believed.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“They are men on a mission. The Rastrelli Cello Quartet, four Russians living in Germany, is out to cross all genres. The Rastrelli runs the gamut from classical to polkas, tangos to rags.’’ - Strings magazine

Splódar Theatre Company - The Home Place

DRAMA Wednesday 22nd April @ 8.00pm

Brian Friel’s award-winning drama probes the dilemma of a benevolent landlord as social and political forces close in around him. The author sets his play in 1878, the year of the assassination of Lord Leitrim, an event which marked the beginning of the end of landlordism. Central to the plot is a beautiful love story which rivals that in Friel’s other masterpiece, Translations. Directed by Prin Duignan. Acknowledgement is made to the author for his assistance in securing performance rights of The Home Place for Splódar. (NB: while Splódar is generally known for Irish language productions, this is an English-language version of The Home Place.)

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

The Pope’s Toilet (El Baño del Papa)

FILM CLUB Tuesday 21st April Brazil/Uruguay/France 2007 90mins

It’s 1988, and the inhabitants of Melo, a small Uruguayan town bordering Brazil, make their living as best they can, but business is not booming and the customs police exact a high price for turning a blind eye to illegal border traffic. Then news comes through that Pope John Paul II will be visiting and many seize the opportunity to capitalise on this once in a lifetime opportunity. For small-time smuggler Beto and his bicycle, this involves investing the family’s meagre savings in the construction of a toilet that will service the anticipated 50,000 tourists during their time in the town…
“An emotionally rich and tender film, beautifully played, with heart and head in massive abundance.” - David Jenkins, Time Out
“One of the best films in town.” - Derek Malcolm, This Is London

Duck Baker

GUITAR MUSIC Monday 20h April @ 8.00pm

Duck Baker is one of the most highly regarded fingerstyle guitarists of his generation. Born Richard R. Baker IV in Richmond, Virginia, he is unique among jazz guitarists in that his repertoire spans the entire history of the music from ragtime through swing to modern masters like Thelonious Monk and Herbie Nichols and into to free improvisation. Baker’s devotion to American music also encompasses more traditional forms like blues, gospel, Appalachian music and its Scots-Irish ancestry. Duck’s extensive discography reflects the diversity and quality of his musical talent, as do collaborations with the likes of bluesmen Charlie Musselwhite and Jerry Ricks, bluegrassers Tim O'Brien and Dan Crary, traditionalists Ali Anderson and Brian MacNeil, new music icon John Zorn, rock legend J. J. Cale, Irish fiddler Kieran Fahy, and guitarists Jamie Findlay, Woody Mann and Ken Emerson. A chance to see a true original in the flesh.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“One of the best guitar records ever recorded - by anybody.” - Acoustic Guitar magazine (of Baker’s 1997 recording Spinning Song)

Coisa Feita - CANCELLED

WORLD MUSIC - BRAZIL Wednesday 15th April @ 8.00pm - CANCELLED

Malachi Cush & Deirdre Bonner - CANCELLED

TRAD/FOLK MUSIC Wednesday 8th April @ 8.00pm - CANCELLED

Still Life (Sanxia haoren)

FILM CLUB Tuesday 7th April @ 8.00pm China 2006 108mins

Set in the real-life city of Fengjie, half-submerged and due for demolition as part of the Three Gorges Dam project, the inhabitants given final notice to quit, director Zhang Ke Jia spellbindingly captures the human cost of rapid industrialization in modern China through the story of two visitors, both desperate to recover something of the past before it disappears into the water. Still Life is a meditation on mortality, a contemporary drama-documentary about an entire city preparing to be drowned in the service of China's progress, and a portrait of a vast nation preparing for capitalist superpower status while retaining the autocratic habits of communism.

“Exhilarating, expertly choreographed and a movie to change one's view of both cinema and life.” - John Anderson, Newsday

Special Moments at the Linenhall

READING + VISUAL ART Tuesday 7th April 6.00pm

Throughout March, regular attendees at the Linenhall Arts Centre are taking part in creative writing and mixed media visual art workshops on the theme ‘Special Moments at the Linenhall’. Join us for an informal celebratory evening of readings and exhibits resulting from these workshops. The event will take place in the Linenhall Café, where refreshments will be available to enhance the general enjoyment and bonhomie. Come along and celebrate the creativity in your community. Part of a Per-Cent-for-Art Scheme.

Adm.: Free

Bruiser Theatre Company - Oh What A Lovely War!

MUSICAL THEATRE Monday 6th April @ 8.00pm

On foot of last year’s dazzling production of Candide, Bruiser Theatre Company is back with Joan Littlewood’s brilliant, satirical musical that is one of the great landmarks of post-war British theatre. It’s 1914 and Europe is on the brink of war. Your king and country need you, so enlist today! But the propaganda promise of valour and victory evaporate as the donkeys in command send the lions on the front line to die. But they keep on singing! Armed with sketches, songs and stories, a cast of Pierrot clowns mix their sombre buffoonery with the bawdy, tough humour of the lads on the front line. Along the way the story is marked by a fantastic collection of songs from the Great War - Pack Up Your Troubles, Keep The Home Fires Burning and It’s A Long Way To Tipperary. Oh What A Lovely War! is a groundbreaking, moving, funny, lyrical evocation of the tragedy and pathos of the First World War. A night of top musical theatre on the cards.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“A work of genius.” - The Guardian

The Open Mike

POETRY, PROSE & MORE Thursday 2nd April @ 8.00pm

Following on from the success of the last Open Mike, here’s another informal and extremely enjoyable evening of poetry, prose, music and maybe more, when writers from all over Mayo are invited to read from their own work in front of an enthusiastic audience of peers, pundits and the public in general. The event takes place in the Linenhall Café, where refreshments will be available to enhance the general enjoyment and bonhomie. Come along to share your own work, or enjoy the work of others.

Adm.: free

Mayo Male Voice Choir

CHORAL CONCERT Thursday 26th & Friday 27th March @ 8.00pm

Mayo Male Voice Choir makes a return visit to the Linenhall for two concerts of choral music with special guests Donna Malone and David Durham. Since the choir was established in 2000 it has grown from strength to strength and now has a total of 48 men who travel from all parts of Mayo to rehearse and perform together, under the accomplished musical direction of Deirdre Lee. Ballina native Donna has been described as having one of the most astonishing and mature soprano voices of her generation, and has performed internationally with the Celtic Tenors. The concerts also feature our regular guest baritone and international star David Durham, who recently played the lead role in The English Chamber Opera Co. production of Don Giovanni. Come along and enjoy an evening of mellifluous choral music, Mayo style.

Adm.: €20 (price includes Souvenir Programme and Wine Reception from 7.30pm)

La Zona

FILM CLUB Tuesday 24th March @ 8.00pm Mexico 2007 97mins

When three teenagers from the other side of the tracks enter the wealthy residential estate of Mexico City’s ‘The Zone’, they’re ill-prepared for what awaits them: a world unto itself, protected by high gates and private security guards. As their break-in goes badly wrong, the boys panic and the true colours of the inhabitants are revealed when they resist a police investigation in favour of vigilantism. Rodrigo Plá's short sharp shock of a thriller is a Ballardian moral fable about fear, paranoia, exclusion and the uncomfortable relationship that exists between rich and poor.

“Gripping thriller with strong performances and a script that is both chilling and scarily prescient.” - Matthew Turner, ViewLondon

Prime Cut Productions - Woman and Scarecrow

DRAMA Monday 23rd March @ 8.00pm

A remarkable and critically acclaimed play by Marina Carr, one of Ireland’s leading playwrights. A woman, mother of eight and wife of an unfaithful husband lies on her deathbed, surveying her life and imagining what could have been: “Happiness! Everyone thinks they have a god-given right to it. Sure it’s only a recent invention of the Sunday papers.” Full of black humour and brutal honesty Woman and Scarecrow is a passionate and moving lament for a life half-lived. A fresh new production by Prime Cut, a company at the forefront of contemporary international theatre in Ireland, directed by Emma Jordan. Don’t miss it.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“This is a play that seeps into your very bones.” - The Guardian
“Tremendous... perhaps the most interesting new Irish play of the past few years.” - Sunday Tribune
“A wild, beautiful, fierce and funny creation.” - Irish Examiner

Johnny Duhan

CONTEMPORARY FOLK Wednesday 18th March @ 8.00pm - Please Note Rescheduled Date!

Johnny Duhan's songs have been brought to worldwide audience by Christy Moore, The Dubliners, The Irish Tenors, Tommy Fleming and many other Irish and international singers. After the success of his Just Another Town tour in 2008, Johnny's new show charts his years on the road with seminal 60s Irish band Granny's Intentions, “tilting for fame and the girl”. Many of these songs have already been popularised by the likes of Mary Black, Mary Coughlan, Dolores Keane, Eleanor Shanley and Ronnie Drew. Johnny is a songwriter’s songwriter and a sensitive and passionate performer highly respected by fans and peers alike for the depth and maturity of his music. Experience the reality for yourselves.

Adm.: €20 / €15 (concessions)

“Genius” - Irish Music Magazine
“Duhan’s lyrics are quite superb.” - Tony Clayton-Lea, Irish Times

Don Baker

BLUES Thursday 12th March @ 8.00pm

Don Baker is one of Ireland's most revered musicians - a singer, songwriter and guitarist and harmonica player of stunning individuality. He has been feted by audiences, the media, the music industry and fellow musicians all over Europe and the US, in a career spanning over 30 years that has also included acting roles (In the Name of the Father, Mia, On the Nose, Mystics) and a recent appearance on RTÉ’s Fáilte Towers. Don has produced a string of acclaimed albums including Miss You, Just Don Baker, No Regrets, Almost Illegal and Rain on the Wind, and his extraordinary life has been chronicled in his bestselling biography The Winner in Me by Jackie Hayden. For this concert Don will be accompanied by veteran guitarist Gerry Hendrick. Don’t miss the real deal.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

"The greatest harmonica player in the world." - Bono, U2

My Brother is an Only Child (Mio fratello è figlio unico)

FILM CLUB Tuesday 10th March @ 8.00pm Italy 2007 108 mins

Director Daniele Luchetti presents a lively, witty, funny and intelligent meditation on Italy's Fascist inheritance. The film follows the experiences of two politically-divided brothers from a working-class town outside Rome, who come of age in the 1960s and drift apart in the paranoid, violent, sour political atmosphere of Italy in the 70s. While handsome, charismatic Manrico gets involved with the revolutionary left, sharp-tongued contrarian Accio falls under the influence of a dogmatic father-figure and his band of thuggish Fascist 'aristocrats', and the battling brothers' mutual loyalty is stretched towards breaking point.

”Luchetti's fluent, heartfelt picture shows the tremendous energy of which contemporary Italian movies are capable.” - Peter Bradshaw, The Guardian

Armed Eye Film & Theatre Co. - The Scriptwriter

YOUTH DRAMA Monday 9th March @ 11.00am

Poor Marty has only one day to come up with a pitch for a new movie. Follow Marty’s hilarious efforts to create five teenage characters and take them camping… in the woods…near the old graveyard… A fun-filled and imaginative play to introduce teenagers to the theory and practice of storytelling. Ger Carey’s new play once again proves that a one-man show can have many funny faces. Aimed at Transition Year students, suitable for 15 years and up.

Adm.: €10
NB: Booking through Armed Eye. Tel: 059 9141333

Castlebar Concert Band + Mayo Youth Orchestra

LIGHT CLASSICAL CONCERT Thursday 5th March @ 8.00pm

Since the ‘Roaring 20s’ there has always been a town band in Castlebar. Now with over 20 enthusiastic players, it continues to delight audiences with all kinds of music from military marches to jazz, rock’n’roll and light classical. The band’s new show, Big Band Boogies, features rousing marches such as Blaze Away, American Patrol and Elvis, plus other favourites such as The Lion Sleeps Tonight, and the moving Amazing Grace and You Raise Me Up sung by the young soloist Deirdre Filan with Band accompaniment. Special guests on the night, The Mayo Youth Orchestra under musical director Debbie Clarke will also present their delightful programme of recitals such as Vivaldi's Spring Largo, Pomp & Circumstance and Star Wars. All in all, a great night of popular musical favourites in prospect, with something for everyone and entertainment assured to the very last note.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

The Banshee of Crokey Hill

DRAMA Wednesday 4th March @ 8.30pm

An exciting new Irish play by Midwest Radio’s Tommy Marren, set in rural Ireland in the 1970s, that has received rave reviews in Ireland, England and the US. Steeped in Irish comedy and hilarious Irish one-liners, the play also has a serious undertone as the soured relationship between a father and son is uncovered. Mickey McMahon returns home to visit his aging parents after 13-years living in Manchester to announce his forthcoming marriage, but a dark secret that has been kept from him begins to unfold. With a plot that twists and turns, the play also contains a ‘hooley’ scene that includes an exuberant display of brush-dancing and traditional music. Starring Tommy Marren, John Duggan, Eileen Slevin and Mary Mannion.
The play is presented in aid of Mayo Women Support Services, and there will be a cheese and wine reception from 7.30pm.

Adm.: €40
Please Note: Booking through Mayo Women Support Services. Tel: 094 9025409

“Emotionally fearless… has all the ingredients from comedy to suspense and a sensational plot… emotionally powerful.” - Frank West, Irish American News

Walk the Line

FILM MATINEE Tuesday 3rd March @ 2.30pm USA 2005 130mins Cert: 12A Dir: James Mangold

James Mangold's compelling biopic tells the story of the first half of the life of the legendary Man in Black, Johnny Cash: his early years in Mississippi county and the death of his brother Jack, a first marriage destroyed by drugs and a gruelling touring schedule, his growing success coupled with his self destructive antics, his fateful meeting with June Carter and his abiding love for her. Then there's the music, here in abundance and driving the story, with nods too to other notables of the time, including Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis. Joaquin Phoenix delivers a remarkably convincing performance as Cash, while Reese Witherspoon is a revelation as June, the pair of them burning up the screen in the many scenes of them performing together.
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon, Ginnifer Goodwin, Shelby Lynne, Robert Patrick

Adm.: €5

“Walk the Line pulls it off - as musical biography, as love story and as all round unmitigated treat. Let the music play...” - Sandra Hebron, London Film Festival Programme

Gyan Riley Trio (USA)

CONTEMPORARY JAZZ Monday 2nd March @ 8.00pm

Prepare to be swept away by the energy and sheer musicality of a phenomenal Stateside trio. Gyan Riley is a true original, a one-man melting pot effortlessly fusing classical and jazz traditions with Indian ragas, Flamenco, and complex Balkan harmonies. He also plays a mean guitar. Like his father Terry Riley, the ‘godfather of minimalism’ who influenced everyone from Philip Glass and Brian Eno to The Who - Gyan is also a composer constantly pushing the boundaries. On this tour Riley is joined by electrifying violinist/violist Timb Harris (of Middle Eastern rock band Secret Chiefs 3) and percussionist Ches Smith, a stalwart of the New York cutting edge music scene. For this tour the trio will be playing mainly original compositions from Gyan’s recent album Melismantra with room made for improvisational solos, allowing for plenty of unexpected twists and turns. Part of a Music Network tour.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Riley's music draws elements from Indian and African modes and rhythms, Western classical music, jazz, and flamenco, without ever sounding cliché. Riley demonstrates that he’s an effortless distiller of prevailing influences.” - The Wire

Sharon Murphy & John Hoban

FOLK/TRAD NIGHT Thursday 26th February @ 8.00pm

A double bill by two singer/songwriters with strong local connections.
Sharon Murphy grew up in Clifden, Co. Galway but spent many holidays in Westport. Sharon describes her music as folk-soul, with a blend of Irish and Carribean influences. Her songs deal with growing up in an institution as a black Irish woman. A popular performer of many years’ standing, Sharon sings songs about who she is, and where she comes from, finding it easier to express herself through music and song, her stories carried by the eloquence of her music.
Castlebar native John Hoban is a teacher, singer, composer and musician of many years standing. A consummate multi-instrumentalist (fiddle, guitar, mandocello, mandolin, harmonica…) John also writes and composes his own songs and music. It has been said that “he could make music from a sheaf of oats”. His music is from the heart: honest, open, warm, sad, funny... a true original.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“John Hoban's music brings us back to the source. He searched out music from old masters, showing deep respect for the social contexts in which music was played for generations." - Tom Clancy, Music Critic, San Francisco

Private Property (Nue propriété)

FILM CLUB Tuesday 24th February @ 8.00pm Belgium 2007 92mins

When fiftysomething divorcee Pascale decides to sell her ramshackle farmhouse to open a B&B, her sons François and Thierry are more than a little put out. As tensions rise, it seems no property is truly private - least of all a mother's personal life. With a superb central performance by Isabelle Huppert as Pascale, director Joachim Lafosse presents a psychological drama that ruthlessly ratchets up tension as all kinds of lines are overstepped and a family feud quietly spirals out of control.

“Superb, barb-filled Belgian chamber drama… beautifully textured performances.” - David Jenkins, Time Out London

Garrymore Drama Group - The Country Boy

DRAMA Wednesday 18th February @ 8.00pm

The Country Boy is a comedy-drama written by Charlestown native John Murphy in the early 60s depicting West-of-Ireland rural experience of the time, and over the years has become a firm favourite with drama groups and audiences throughout Ireland and beyond. Set in a small Mayo farmhouse, 25-year-old Curly still lives at home with his parents, but dreams of following his older brother Eddie to the U.S. in pursuit of success, even if it means leaving his sweetheart behind. Only upon Eddie's return home on vacation are truths revealed of hardship, alcoholism, homesickness, and regrets. Performed by Award-winning Garrymore Drama Group, directed by Ger Lynskey, and starring Sean Browne, Ciara Dixon, Rosemary Dixon, Sabina Bell, Enda Conway and Padraic Hegarty.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

The Halloran Brothers

SOUL/BLUES Thursday 12th February @ 8.00pm

Newly formed 3-piece band The Halloran Brothers from Westport presents an evening of original music and song, “soul/blues with a jazz influence”. Featuring Liam Halloran (guitar, vocals), Joseph Halloran (Keyboard, drums) and Michael Halloran (electric bass).

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

London Classic Theatre - Humble Boy

THEATRE Wednesday 11th February @ 8.00pm

An award-winning comedy with a delightful sting in the tail. Following the sudden death of his father, thirty-five-year-old Felix Humble, a Cambridge academic, returns to his Middle England home and his difficult and demanding mother. After a chaotic funeral, and the disappearance of his father’s prized bees, it becomes clear to Felix that life at the Humble home will never be the same again. Past and present collide with love and uncertainty in this original and captivating play by Charlotte Jones, directed by Michael Cabot.
NB. Contains strong language. Recommended for 14yrs+

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“… intelligent, funny and touching… I can’t recommend this lovely play too highly…” - The Daily Telegraph

Happy-Go-Lucky

FILM CLUB Tuesday 10th February @ 8.00pm UK 2008 118mins

Not as lightweight as it may first appear, director Mike Leigh’s latest film is a fascinating character study that tests the bounds of optimism. The film is underpinned by a dazzling central performance by Sally Hawkins as the bubbly and garrulous Poppy, a character who at first appears to have little complexity, but in the course of events reveals a character of formidable inner strength: compassionate, perceptive and harbouring her own sadness like the rest of us.

“It’s a funny film and, crucially, it aches with truth.” - David Calhoun, Time Out London

The 39 Steps

FILM MATINEE Tuesday 10th February @ 2.30pm Dir: Alfred Hitchcock

Richard Hannay, a Canadian visitor to London, attends a music hall show by ‘Mr Memory’. During the performance shots ring out, and he flees the theatre. Outside, a terrified woman begs Hannay to help her, telling him that she's a British spy whose life has been threatened by international agents. He is initially disbelieving until he finds her near death with a knife in her back, a map in her hand, whispering something about “39 Steps”. Now mistakenly wanted for murder, Hannay sets off to follow the map, and to find a way to clear his name. This classic British thriller, adapted from the novel by John Buchan, was one of Alfred Hitchcock's first major international successes, and is still as engaging as ever. A real classic.
Starring: Robert Donat, Madeleine Carroll, Lucie Mannheim, Peggy Ashcroft

“For sheer entertainment value (this) still stands in the forefront of his work.” - Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
“Dazzling mixture of spycraft, banter and manic chases.” - Joshua Rothkopf , Time Out New York

Adm.: €5

Yew Tree Theatre - The Magic Boy

THEATRE Thursday 5th February @ 8.00pm

The Magic Boy is a coming-of-age story about a Magician, a bittersweet tale about a man who is forced to realise that he is never going to make it as a Magician himself, but that his young son (whom he has only recently discovered) has the gift: his son is the Mozart to his Salieri. The Magic Boy is “a small sweet story suitable for family viewing” written and directed by John Breen, author of that contemporary classic of Irish theatre, Alone It Stands. The show features live magic as part of the action.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

The Sullane Session featuring Fiona Kelleher

TRADITIONAL Wednesday 4th February @ 8.00pm

Cork musicians Fiona Kelleher (vocals), Jim Murray (guitar), Richard Lucey (accordion) and Ciaran Coughlan (piano) present an evening of exciting new arrangements of traditional songs from Fiona's debut album My Love Lies together with fresh energetic arrangements of well known tunes. All four musicians are well known and highly regarded, having worked with the likes of North Cregg, Altan and Sharon Shannon, to name but a few. The dynamic combination of Ciaran's jazz-influenced piano and Jim's sublime guitar with Richard's accordion mastery give exciting and inventive new interpretations of the traditional tunes, and provide a perfect backdrop to Fiona's pure crystal like vocals. A breath of fresh traditional air is on the cards. The concert is grant-aided through a Music Network Performance & Touring Award.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

The Open Mike

POETRY, PROSE & MORE Thursday 29th January @ 8.00pm.

“The Open Mike”, is an informal evening of poetry, prose, music and sometimes ‘even a step or two of dancing’. “The Open Mike” is an occasion when writers from all over Mayo are invited to read from their own work in front of an enthusiastic audience of peers, pundits and the public in general. This is the fifth evening of its kind, and takes place in the Linenhall Café, where refreshments will be available to enhance the general enjoyment and bonhomie. The evening will be MC’d by Westport poet Ger Reidy. Come along to share your own work, or enjoy the work of others.

Adm.: Free

Couscous (La Graine et le Mulet)

FILM CLUB Tuesday 27th January @ 8.00pm France 2007 151mins Language: French / Arabic with English subtitles

Director Abdel Kechiche’s film is an expansive ensemble comedy-drama centring on a North African dockside community. In his sixties, Slimane is tired of a life of toil in a shipyard, and wants to realise his long-cherished dream, opening a floating restaurant specialising in fish-and-couscous dishes. But the ship is still to be renovated, and local dignitaries to be persuaded that the venture has a future. And then there are Beiji's friends and family - including the new woman in his life, his ex-wife and a host of neighbours - who have their own parts to play in the success or failure of his dream.

“A remarkable and thought-provoking work.” - Wally Hammond, Time Out
“Funny, tragic and totally unforgettable.” - Time Out New York

Film title subject to confirmation by the distributor.

Donal Sarsfield

MUSIC NIGHT Monday 26th January @ 8.00pm

Join Donal Sarsfield in the first in a series of events at the Linenhall each celebrating a different theme through music and song. In the company of invited musicians, Donal will present an eclectic evening’s entertainment on the theme of Longing, encompassing chamber music by way of jazz, folk, pop and poetry. Best known locally for his role as Director of the Castlebar Gospel Choir, Donal's work as a composer has been recognised both at home and internationally. From Renaissance music to Rufus Wainwright, and Schubert to Brad Mehldau, the evening is a unique showcase of music to distract from a cold winter’s night.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Meridian Theatre Co. - Love, Peace & Robbery / Thailand: What’s Love Got To Do With It?

THEATRE Thursday 22nd January @ 8.00pm

A double bill of fresh, vibrant theatre by Cork-based Meridian, the company that brought last year’s sell-out Raccoon and The Exit Wound.
Liam Heylin’s Love, Peace & Robbery is a new comedy inspired by interviews with a group of men struggling to break the cycle of petty crime and imprisonment. A funny, touching, portrait of the human face of the underworld, his characters are shrewd, witty survivors of a lifetime of self-abuse, still trying to go straight - sort of. Directed by Brian Desmond, starring Shane Casey, John Desmond and Aidan O’Hare. Thailand: What’s Love Got To Do With It? is a darkly comic, highly entertaining evening’s storytelling, featuring a stunning performance from internationally celebrated actor Máirtín de Cógáin. A unique take on modern Ireland and its contribution to the East Asian tourist economy, we follow Declan as he heads off to Thailand for the holiday of a lifetime with the lads, to embark on a bizarre journey of self-discovery and cheap thrills… Directed by Brian Desmond.
NB: Contains strong sexual references, not suitable for children.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Heylin delivers a finely observed, funny, and utterly convincing portrait of crime and its environs…The cast turn in perfectly pitched performances, under astute direction by Brian Desmond.” - The Irish Times

The Gypsy Jazz Quartet - The Django Story

TRADITIONAL MUSIC Thursday 15th January @ 8.00pm

The Django Story is a multimedia performance presented by the Gypsy Jazz Quartet that celebrates the colourful life and music of genius Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt and his band, from its roots in the clubs of 1930s Paris. The Gypsy Jazz Quartet is led by Castlebar native Frank Kilkelly, a highly regarded guitarist who has toured extensively with a string of well-respected acoustic groups and artists including Sharon Shannon, Mairtín O'Connor, Finbar Furey and the Café Orchestra. Completing the impressive Quartet line-up is Paul O'Driscoll (double bass) well known for his work with Deiseal and Josephine Marsh, Bertrand Huve (saxes and clarinet), and Damian Gilligan (rhythm guitar) from The Hot Club of Dublin. People say jazz is cool. But remember, some like it hot.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

My Gentle Harp: Moore’s Irish Melodies 1808-2008

THOMAS MOORE COMMEMORATIVE CONCERT Thursday 11th December @ 8.00pm

In celebration of 200 years of Moore's world-famous Irish Melodies, the Thomas Moore Commemorative Festival presents a concert featuring one of Ireland’s leading pianists Dr Úna Hunt, with young sopranos Roisin Walsh, Anna-Louise Costello and Katy Kelly, with a programme of Moore’s songs including The Last Rose of Summer, The Minstrel Boy and The Meeting of the Waters.
Supported by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Arts Council, the Office of Public Works, the National Library of Ireland and DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Western Care Multicultural Concert

MULTICULTURAL CONCERT Wednesday 10th December @ 8.00pm

An evening of music, song and dance with a multicultural flavour, with a line-up that includes traditional Indian dancer Jayashree Naveen, John Hoban and friends, the Karen Group from Burma, Westport Salsa Dancers and other special guests. The concert is support of Western Care Association Autism Services. Further information from The Fundraising Department, Western Care at 094 9029136

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

The Bothersome Man (Den Brysomme Mannen)

FILM CLUB Tuesday 9th December @ 8.00pm Norway 2006 95mins

A man arrives in a strange town to a new job, clothes, an apartment - even a wife. But something isn’t quite right in this sterile city: the food is tasteless, the booze doesn’t get you drunk, the conversation bland and stilted, and there are glimpses of a dark undercurrent to this world of clinical office buildings and soulless designer homes. Jens Lien’s beautifully filmed directorial debut is a surreal, blackly comedic meditation, with nods towards sources as diverse as Jacques Tati, David Lynch, Franz Kafka and the IKEA catalogue….

“A stylish, subtle, and funny satire on the dehumanising effects of our consumer society.” - David Mattin, bbc.co.uk

Splódar Productions - Antigone

DRÁMAÍOCHT AS GAEILGE Thursday 4th December @ 8.00pm

Seo scéal an chailín a thug dúshlán an stáit agus a chuir fáilte roimh an mbás mar nár fhéad sí glacadh leis an measarthacht nó leis an modhúlacht. Tá an bhua is an díomua, an chaimiléireacht is an chneastacht, an grá is an ghráin fite fuaite ina chéile sa scoth-shaothar seo. Ceann de mhór-dhrámaí ár linne, aistrithe go Gaeilge don chéad uair agus arna léiriú ag an gcompántas nua-bhunaithe Splódar. Stiúrthóir/Aistritheoir: Proinn Ó Duigneáin. Urraithe ag Foras na Gaeilge.
Jean Anouilh’s Antigone is based on the enduring Greek classic of Sophocles, a tale of individual versus state and duty versus conscience. Splódar Productions (formerly The Glens Players) present a play not only of deep passion and emotion but also of ideas and deep insights into the human condition. Directed by Prin Duignan.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Antti Siirala

PIANO RECITAL Monday 1st December @ 8.00pm

Recognised as one of the outstanding pianists of his generation, Helsinki-born Antti Siirala made his debut with an orchestra at the age of seven, and by 24 the multi-award winning pianist had won the prestigious Leeds International and AXA Dublin International Piano competitions. Praised by critics for his breathtaking technique, instinctive musicality and “wonderfully sustained intensity”, Siirala has performed solo recitals at most of Europe’s finest concert halls with many top conductors. Concert Programme: Bach’s Partita No.1 in B flat major BWV 825; Brahms’ Rhapsody in B minor Op. 79/1; Brahms’ Variations on an Original Theme in D major Op. 21/1; Deirdre McKay’s Time, Shining; Chopin’s Sonata No. 3 in B minor Op. 58. Part of a Music Network tour.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“A full-blooded musician with a fascinating sense for the quality of the sound... he makes one listen and discover.” - Seen & Heard

Damien Dempsey

CONTEMPORARY MUSIC Wednesday 26th November @ 8.00pm

The Donaghmede troubadour in concert. SOLD OUT.

Adm.: €20 / €15 (concessions)

TheViolin (El Violín)

FILM CLUB Tuesday 25th November @ 8.00pm Mexico 2006 99mins Spanish with English subtitles

Francisco Vargas Quevedo's debut feature, The Violin, is a tender and exceptionally poignant drama set in a small Mexican village during the uprisings of the 1970s. Beautifully filmed in black and white, while the film depicts the tensions between the peasants and the brutal federales in the Guerrero region, it transcends traditional social commentary to present a compelling and beautiful story about a father's love for his family..

“A message this political has rarely been delivered in so poetic a form.” - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
“Shot in stunning black and white and unfolding with a dreamlike languor.” - Diana Sanchez, Toronto International Film Festival 2006

Flook

CONTEMPORARY TRAD Monday 24th November @ 8.00pm

The flutes of Brian Finnegan and Sarah Allen, the guitar of Ed Boyd and the bodhran of John Joe Kelly weave and spin traditionally rooted tunes into the breathtaking sound of the groundbreaking band Flook. Comprising four exceptional musical talents, Flook possesses a rare blend of fiery technical brilliance, delicate ensemble interaction and a bold, adventurous musical imagination, as witnessed on a string of acclaimed CDs. Exuberant and exhilarating, and with a justifiable reputation for brilliant live performances, be prepared to be blown away.

Adm: €15 / €12 (concession)

“Four brilliant musicians. Four times as much brilliant music.” - Time Out
“A sensational live act.... in the front rank of the innovators.” - The Rough Guide to Irish Music
"Never have I seen so many people so completely and utterly spellbound...the most magical of experiences." - The Irish Post
“Multi-layered, rhythmically sophisticated and meltingly beautiful.” - Glasgow Sunday Herald

Emilie Conway - No Regrets

JAZZ/BLUES Thursday 20th November @ 8.00pm

Dazzling young chanteuse and rising star Emilie Conway presents No Regrets, a captivating evening of music which celebrates great female vocalists from across the decades and continents, showcasing the legendary talents of Billie Holiday, Joni Mitchell, Abbey Lincoln, Elis Regina and Edith Piaf. Over the past five years Emilie’s distinctive voice and inimitable style has earned her much acclaim on the Dublin jazz scene, as well as further afield in Europe and the States. A fine and versatile vocalist of extraordinary sensitivity, Conway possesses the ability to distill the very essence of song and lyric and express it in a beautifully natural and minimalist way. Emilie is accompanied for this concert by Francesco Turrisi (piano), Claus Kaarsgaard (bass) and Conor Murray (drums). If you saw Emilie on her last visit to the Linenhall, you won’t need convincing. Come and celebrate the wonderful melodic heritage of a host of vocal legends, in the company of a young star in the ascendant.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Emilie Conway is a heart stealer. She possesses a voice like an angel smooth, mellow, sincere and deeply connected to both music and lyrics… and truly beautiful to boot!”” - Fionna Duncan, jazz vocalist
"A wonderful talent. Emilie sings her songs from her heart." - Sheila Jordan, jazz vocalist

Sean Tyrrell - The Midnight Court

CONTEMPORARY BLUES/TRAD/FOLK: MUSICAL THEATRE Monday 17th November @ 8.00pm

A poet dreams he has been put on trial by the women of Ireland for his sexual inadequacy. The Midnight Court is a potent musical adaptation presenting Brian Merryman’s 18th century classic poem Cúirt an Mhean Oiche in a contemporary setting by veteran folk/trad singer/songwriter Sean Tyrrell. The result is a heady mix of Celtic blues that is melodious, hilarious, boisterous, risqué and irreverent, with a litany of sexual scenarios sung in styles veering from traditional to calypso. Tyrrell’s musical adaptation has achieved something of a legendary status since its premiere in 1992 at the Galway Arts Festival. This latest incarnation of Tyrrell’s “musical narrative” features the man himself together with fellow musician Johnny Mullins. Brace yourselves for a night of bawdy fun and great music.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Anyone and everyone who has been to this show has left the theatre glowing - and rightly so.” - City Tribune
“Merriman’s classic bristles with bawdy wit and Sean Tyrell's rich musical settings (are) a continuing delight.” -The Irish Times

Fluid Performance Group - Amarty’s Journey

SHADOW PUPPET THEATRE Saturday 15th November @ 12.00noon

A poetic and magical shadow puppet show for the young and the young at heart about displacement, adventure and the hope of new beginnings, Amarty’s Journey is the story of a boy in a boat travelling to an unknown destination. On the way he encounters a nasty mermaid, learns to play the trumpet, and encounters some exotic and not-so-exotic creatures. Amarty’s Journey is devised by a Mayo-based group of women of different nationalities, written by Noeline Kavanagh and performed by Castlebar-based Fluid Performance Group directed by Carmel Balfe. Performers include Eriko Uehara-Hopkinson, Sharon Downey-Holland, Suzette Ruane and Breda Murphy. The production is supported by Mayo Artsquad, Mayo County Council Arts Office, Mayo Intercultural Action, Department of Justice, and Department of Family Affairs.

Adm.: €4

The Three Tenors

LIGHT OPERA Thursday 13th November @ 8.00pm

Ireland’s very own and hugely successful The Three Tenors make a welcome return to the Linenhall having released their exciting new single Il Mondo. Hailed as “Ireland’s greatest voices”, the winning trio of magnificent mature singers are John Scott (a regular soloist at the National Concert Hall, and one of the most powerful singers in Ireland); David Martin (Ireland’s “Golden Voice”, who has performed at major venues in Ireland and abroad) and Declan Kelly (who has performed and toured extensively in the UK and Europe). With their own brand of humour, and star guests, the evening features the world’s most popular songs from Elvis, Sinatra, Bocelli, Pavarotti, Lloyd Webber and more greats. Joined by special guests, The Three Tenors are guaranteed to delight and thrill.

Adm.: €30

“A great night out, wonderful Arias sung with flair and gusto.” - Michael D. Higgins

Contemporary Guitar

Preston Reed Wednesday 12th November @ 8.00pm

Acknowledged by an ever-growing string of superlatives, guitarist extraordinaire Preston Reed has single-handily reinvented acoustic guitar playing. Drawing on blues, rock, funk and jazz influences among others Preston Reed’s vast range of explosively original music will forever change your expectations of a guitarist. The phrase ‘has to be seen to be believed’ has never been more true!

“Widely thought of as the world’s most gifted guitarist.” - Total Guitar “Remarkable…. Mesmerising…” - UNCUT
“In a class of his own.” - London Evening Standard
“Heart stopping tour de force.” - Billboard
“Will drop your jaw.” - Playboy

The Orphanage (El Orfanato)

FILM CLUB Tuesday 11th November @ 8.00pm Spain 2007 105mins Spanish with English subtitles

Juan Antonio Bayona’s chilling first feature is an extremely accomplished supernatural thriller that applies a sinuous modern twist to the classic ghost story form. A woman, together with her husband and adopted son, returns to live in the large former orphanage where she was raised as a child, driven by a need for closure on her past experiences. But from the moment she returns, the past begins to haunt her... Bayona brings a complex script to life with the help of haunting imagery and an atmospheric score, exploring themes of memory, loss, and grief. A film produced, appropriately, by Pan’s Labyrinth director Guillermo Del Toro.

“An effective mixture of horror and fantasy, with the supernatural bleeding into dreams that teeter on the brink of reality.” - James Berardinelli, ReelViews

Arsenic and Old Lace

FILM MATINEE Tuesday 11th November @ 3.00pm USA 1944 118 mins 15 PG

Mortimer Brewster: “Insanity runs in my family... It practically gallops!”
Drama critic and ex-confirmed bachelor Mortimer Brewster (Cary Grant) is finally marrying his sweetheart Elaine Harper (Priscilla Lane). However their honeymoon plans begin to unwind as a visit to Brewster’s spinster aunts yield the discovery that they are, in acts of misguided kindness, killing people in their pleasant little house and burying the bodies in the cellar…Welcome to Frank Capra’s outrageous screwball black comedy: what better way to spend a grey Tuesday afternoon?

“Good macabre fun.” - New York Times

Adm.: €5

Folk / Traditional Music

John Faulkner & Jackie Daly Tuesday 4th November @ 8.00pm

Two of the great stalwarts of Traditional music for over thirty years come together in an exciting musical partnership. Accordionist Jackie Daly is best known for his work with De Danann, Buttons & Bows and Patrick Street, while multi-instrumentalist (guitar, mandolin, fiddle) and singer/songwriter John Faulkner is well known for his collaborations with Dolores Keane and the Reel Union. As major musical figures with some of the highest profile Irish traditional acts over the past three decades, John and Jackie exhibit their vast musical experiences, complementing each other in a uniquely intuitive way while also showcasing their inimitable individual talents. An unmissable gig in prospect and a rare treat for all Irish and folk music-lovers.

“Jackie Daly is one of Ireland's top accordion players.” - Steve Winick, All Music Guide
“John Faulkner…one of the most experienced folk singers and musicians in these islands.” - Irish Times

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Theatre for Families / RoolaBoola

Lyngo Theatre - Hansel and Gretel Wednesday 22nd October @ 8.00pm

A poor woodsman’s empty stomach goes to his head - he gives in to his bony wife and Hansel and Gretel are left in the forest, not just once but twice - and the second time there won’t be any moonstones to follow back home. Instead they follow their noses to the sugary heart of darkness… a journey that takes them from a house with empty cupboards and a mother who doesn’t like children to a house made of sweets and someone who just loves children - on toast! Lyngo serve up a musical theatrical treat with their own special recipe of, captivating songs and haunting imagery.
Suitable for ages 4 years and up. Duration: 60 minutes

“Charming … an unforgettable adventure.” - Leinster Express

Adm.: €8.00

Theatre for Families / RoolaBoola

NIE - The End of Everything Ever Monday 20th October @ 8.00pm

Agata is 6 years old, and she is going to the railway station with her father. Everyone is smiling and happy, but she has the strange feeling that she will never see him again. On the train she absent-mindedly chews on the paper name-tag tied around her neck, and slowly her name and address disappear, along with any chance of finding her family again. Based on true stories and accounts of the Kindertransport - a time when Jewish families sent their children out of Nazi-occupied Europe - award-winning internationally-based company NIE presents a an unforgettable story of survival, love and hope.
Suitable for ages 10 years and up. Duration: 65 minutes

“Brave… uplifting… full of humour… brilliantly performed.” - The Sunday Herald
“Beautiful, touching and very, very funny.” - The Jerusalem Post

Adm.: €8.00

Film Club

Tony Takitani Japan 2004 75mins Tuesday 14th October @ 8.00pm

Tony Takitani is an eloquent, deftly told tale based on a short story by bestselling Japanese author Haruki Murakami. The eponymous ‘hero’ is an undemanding mechanical draftsman who lives a comfortable but lonely existence. But when Tony meets the young and beautiful Eiko, he falls for her instantly, despite their 15-year age difference. Life hovers on the brink of fulfilment - except that Eiko buys an alarming number of designer clothes. When tragedy strikes, Tony is forced to look at his life in a whole different way. Written and directed by Jun Ichikawa, this understated but lyrical film is told in long scenes with little or no dialogue, and the intelligent script is accompanied by composer Ryuichi Sakamoto's gorgeous, spare score and Hirokawa Taishi's stark, captivating cinematography. All in all, a quiet, beguiling gem of a movie.

“A refined, delicately poetic reverie on loss and memory.” - Derek Elley, Variety
“Tony Takitani is an exquisite film, as elegant and precise as an impeccably cut diamond.” - Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
“Exquisite… something approaching perfection.” - Philip French, The Guardian

Film Matinee

Gosford Park Director: Robert Altman UK 2002 137 mins 15 PG Tuesday 14th October @ 3.00pm

Legendary director Robert Altman explores the English class system and master-servant relations via intertwining storylines in this Oscar-winning film. Set in 1932, a phalanx of moneyed guests arrives for a weekend shooting party at the estate of Sir William and Lady Sylvia. Mary, a fresh-faced and naïve maid is shown the ropes by the house's worldly head housemaid, Elsie. While the masters engage in various financial and sexual intrigues upstairs, the world downstairs has its own curiosities including the predatory valet to a Hollywood producer and the mysterious, cagey servant, Robert. Altman delivers a fascinating, blackly comic look at the treacherous yet poignant gamesmanship between the classes. A stellar British ensemble cast includes Michael Gambon, Kristin Scott Thomas, Maggie Smith, Emily Watson and Eileen Atkins.

“Altman takes you from one delicious subplot to another, serving up mirth and misery in equal measure and exploring the gulf between the lives of those above and below stairs.” - Harry Guerin, RTE Interactive

Adm.: €5

Jazz

The Elio Villafranca Jazz Quartet Monday 13th October @ 8.00pm

Featuring some of the finest players on the American Latin jazz scene, The Elio Villafranca Jazz Quartet delivers a hefty dollop of Afro-Cuban jazz with a dash of Thelonious Monk, Claude Debussy and Errol Garner thrown into the mix. The group features Cuban pianist Elio Villafranca, one of the rising stars of the US and Latin jazz scenes. Noted for his razor-sharp technique, harmonic vision and rhythmic panache, Villafranca effortlessly fuses classical, bebop and African influences with the musical traditions of his native Cuba, while remaining a true individualist. On this tour Villafranca is joined by Juno Award winner and Grammy-nominee Jane Bunnett (flute/saxophone), who has spent the last twenty five years touring her own brand of Cuban jazz around the world. The stellar line-up is completed by bassist Yunior Terry and drummer Ludwig Afonso, both with impeccable Latin jazz credentials on the world stage. The Elio Villafranca Jazz Quartet performs here as part of a Music Network tour. Why not put some Latin sunshine into the Irish autumn?

“Elio Villafranca’s playing… is like a quiet volcano, starting slowly, gradually building in intensity, until the music erupts in a cascade of sound, rhythm and color.” - Philadelphia Tribune

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Lunchtime Art Talk

Deirdre Walsh Wednesday 8th October @ 1.00pm

A talk by artist Deirdre Walsh about her own work, presented in the context of the current exhibition in the Linenhall Gallery, Discovered Moments. Deirdre’s work is based on direct observation informed by Impressionism’s concerns with light. This promises to be a fascinating insight into the Mayo artist’s work.

All are welcome. The talk takes place in the Linenhall Arts Centre Gallery, duration approximately 50 minutes.

Adm.: free

Theatre

Beezneez Theatre Co. - You’ll Never Walk Alone - Tuesday 7th October @ 8.00pm

Rovers have reached the cup final for the first time in ten years. Tonto and Dusty are overjoyed with this success while their partners, Trish and Mags look on in bemusement. Holding a watching brief are friends Luke and Numbers, both with their own regrets and sorrows. When Dusty's brother Tony, who left town under mysterious circumstances after the last cup final appearance, arrives back for the final, the cosy world is turned upside down by a series of life changing events. Typical McDwyer humour is used to mask a savage tale of life and love in a Beezneez production which will both delight and disturb. Come along and see what promises to be the company’s latest success.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Film club

The Edge of Heaven (Auf der anderen Seite) - Tuesday 30th September @ 8.00pm

Germany / Turkey 2007 122mins

Retired widower Ali sees a solution to his loneliness when he meets prostitute Yeter, and he proposes that his fellow Turkish native live with him in exchange for a low rent. At first Ali’s German Professor son Nejat seems disapproving about his father’s choice, but the young man quickly grows fond of kind Yeter, especially upon discovering most of her hard-earned money is sent home to Turkey for her daughter’s university studies. After Yeter’s accidental death, an event that drives father and son further apart, Nejat decides to travel to Istanbul to begin an organized search for Yeter’s daughter Ayten. What Nejat doesn’t know is that 20-something political activist Ayten who, having fled the Turkish police, is already in Germany and has befriended German student Lotte, a young woman who’s willing to go to any lengths to help her…

“An exquisitely mysterious feature by the German-born Turkish filmmaker Fatih Akin.” - Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal

“Wonderfully acted, deeply moving and curiously illuminating... an extraordinary, moving tale.” - Philip French, The Observer

Adm.: see Film Club information at end of the programme

Cajun/Zydeco

Pine Leaf Boys - Monday 29th September @ 8.00pm

Louisiana'a finest Grammy-nominated Pine Leaf Boys have made a name for presenting their own inimitable brand of Cajun music with youthful exuberance. Hailing from the southwest Louisiana and known for their wild shows and thoughtful arrangements, the Pine Leaf Boys have breathed new life into Cajun music, reviving ancient songs and bringing them to the bandstand. The Boys play the old fashion dance hall standards while also including many lesser-known songs of past masters into their repertoire. The variety and energy they release evolves through their shows, bringing multi-faceted angles to Cajun, Creole, and Zydeco. Their mission is to present the awesome music of their ancestors and celebrate the real pure joys of authentic Cajun music at its finest. And do they succeed!

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Fabulous… a youthful vitality that gives an extra kick to that already vibrant music.” - Rick Mason, Minneapolis News

"A revelation of anarchy and reverence and manic exuberance funneled through traditional musical forms.” - Josh Caffery, Louisiana

Drama as Gaeilge

Aisteoirí Chorr na Móna - As Béal a Chéile - Friday 26th September @ 8.00pm

Ábhar nua ar fad a bheidh ar stáitse sa taispeántas seo le drámaí grinn cliste agus agallaimh rithimiúla. Bainfear sásamh ar leith as saibhreas na cainte agus as an véarsaíocht bhríomhar. Casadh nua ar shean-scéalta atá sa dá dhráma. Sa dráma Sínte eagraítear tórramh bréige chun bob a bhualadh ar na comharsain. Agus tá an sprionlóir ag iarraidh a chuid airgid a cheilt sa dráma Craiceann is a Luach.

Two newly written comedies in verse and traditional verse-dialogues on topical issues by Mícheál Ó Tuairisg. The emphasis is on the skilful use of witty rhymes and rhythms. Both plays present a new 'twist' on classic themes - 'the man who pretends to be dead' and the story of the miser - based on a play written by Plautus in 200BC.

Presented by An Comhlachas Náisiúnta Drámaíochta.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Classical guitar

Darragh O’Neill - Thursday 25th September @ 8.00pm

Award-winning guitarist/composer Darragh O'Neill presents an evening of wonderful music for guitar spanning centuries and cultures. Darragh's wonderful musicianship spellbinds with music of Bach and the Baroque classics along with some of Darragh's own compositions and the programme also includes music from Japan, Latin America and Ireland. Dublin born Darragh O'Neill has collaborated in the past with such international artists as Michael Ball, Russell Watson and Vanessa Amorossi with appearances on The Late Late Show and at Dublin's Point Depot. Darragh’s 2009 concert calendar for 2009 includes performances at the National Concert Hall, Dublin and at Carnegie Hall, New York. Catch him while you can.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

Lunchtime Art Talk

Ann O’Mahony - Reading Women’s Art: A Web of Multiple Meanings - Wednesday 24th September @ 1.00pm

A fascinating talk by artist Ann O’Mahony on art created by women artists, presented in the context of the current exhibition in the Linenhall Gallery, Female Artists of the Twentieth Century from the Niland Collection.

Adm.: free

Theatre - BOOKED OUT

Waiting for Godot (The Gate Theatre) - Tuesday 23rd September @ 8.00pm

A production of Beckett’s seminal work, part of a national tour by the Gate Theatre celebrating the theatre’s 80th anniversary, starring Stephen Brennan, Barry McGovern, Johnny Murphy and Alan Stanford.

Adm.: €25 - BOOKED OUT

PLEASE NOTE: All those who have BOOKED TICKETS are reminded to have them PAID FOR by 6th September, OR THEY WILL BE SOLD ON!

Contemporary music

The Guggenheim Grotto - Thursday 18th September @ 8.00pm

Promoting their eagerly awaited second album Happy The Man, Dublin-based Guggenheim Grotto plays one of its last Irish dates before returning to the States. GG’s critically acclaimed debut album Waltzing Alone kept them busy touring the US for most of 2006-2007, with songs from the album featuring on many top-rating US TV Dramas. GG’s Irish radio hit Told You So featured on the Starbucks Compilation CD Across the Pond, a handpicked compilation that also featuring the likes of Amy Winehouse, Damien Rice, KT Tunstall and Lilly Allen, while Philosophia made iTunes Single of the Week, and No.1 on the iTunes Folk Chart. Still fresh from their phenomenal success in America and with a new album of songs in their set, The Guggenheim Grotto pairs hauntingly beautiful vocal harmonies with classical and contemporary instruments, creating a mix of Pop, Rock and Folk which keep audiences coming back again and again. Catch them while you can.

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“A spine tingling effect that I haven’t experienced since I heard Simon & Garfunkel’s Bookends for the first time.” - The Irish Voice

“Modern, intelligent, lyrically potent pop.” - Boston Herald

“First-rate acoustic pop.” - Paste Magazine

Film club

You, the Living (Du Levande) - Tuesday 16th September @ 8.00pm

Sweden 2007 95mins

A highly subjective and darkly witty series of fifty mini-portraits of the human race at our present moment in Western history by a truly original filmmaker. Director Roy Andersson described the film as a “mosaic of human destinies” on the theme of “how to behave around others”, using farce of the darkest hue cut through at times with unexpected affection to address existential strife in an oblique and surreal fashion. Ultimately, his tableaux vivants are haunting compositions of humorous despair and depravity that brand themselves indelibly on one’s brain.

“Rare and covetable genius.” - Sukhdev Sandhu, Daily Telegraph

“You, the Living is a very funny film - though in the darkest possible way. It is a silent comedy, but with words. Profoundly different…this is the work of a real original - I might almost say a genius.” - Philip French, The Guardian

World Music

Yurodny - Thursday 28th August @ 8.00pm

Prepare for a heady stew of Klezmer, Russian gypsy, Bulgarian, Serbian, Macedonian, Arabic, Greek, Turkish and Hungarian music, full of wedding dances, party stoppers and sheer joie de vivre from the dazzling 7-piece Yurodny. Expect original compositions from the doyen of the gypsy fiddlers, Oleg Ponomarev (ex-Loyko), dizzying reworkings of legendary tunes by Romanian giants Taraf De Haïdouks and new arrangements of time-honoured traditional tunes, as Yurodny flit between jazz, European folk traditions and classical music, uniting disparate influences and fans in one breathless and breathtaking swoop. Enjoy!

Adm.: €15 / €12 (concessions)

“Triumphant…vibrant and irresistible.” - The Irish Times

“Their warm and dragging melodies vie against the brisk rhythms of gypsy dances in ways that absorb you into their hearts” - The Event Guide

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