• CASHEL ARTS FEST 2008 FEATURED ENTERTAINMENT
• 2ND FÉILE FIDELMA FOR CASHEL
• FÉILE FIDELMA 2008!
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CASHEL ARTS FEST 2008 FEATURED ENTERTAINMENT

THE UGLY DUCKLING RE-MIX - KALEIDOSCOPE THEATRE COMPANY

31st October 2008

Halla na Féile

Cashel Arts Fest



‘Blacklight Theatre’, which as its name suggests, relies on the use of a blackout stage, is an extremely popular theatrical technique in Eastern Europe and has variously been described as ‘magical’, ‘entertaining’ and ‘different’. The Kaleidoscope Theatre Company from Cork has embraced this form of story-telling as it allows for such creative and unique expression.

In The Ugly Duckling Re-Mix, the audience will journey with the Ugly Duckling as he searches for acceptance and seeks out love and a sense of his own self-worth while never really understanding who or what he is ! The story deals with the heartbreak of rejection, and of how being made to feel ‘different’ leads the Ugly Duckling through a process of self-discovery. With funky music, both nasty and endearing characters and brilliant dance routines, this is a show that will hold its audience spellbound. Amazing puppets and magical effects make this performance unlike anything audiences will have experienced before.

The Kaleidoscope Theatre Company currently boasts a cast of 23 people with and without intellectual disability. It is unique to Ireland in that it is the first inclusive theatre company to stage regular performances throughout its 8 year life-span

 

Review

Inside, you are a swan

Twenty five actors make up the cast of Mallow’s Kaleidoscope Theatre Company. They came to perform "The Ugly Duckling Remix" at a packed Friary at 12.30 on Sunday. As an extra treat, they also gave us "Jungle Fever", a short piece they had recently put together, as a taster for the main event.

I had never seen Black Light theatre before. This is a visually stunning medium, using glow-in-the-dark puppets, hooded black puppeteers and UV lighting to enhance the effect. Eight masked characters took the stage with glowing staffs, and performed a ritualistic dance, hiding and reappearing at will. Kaleidoscope had us. "Jungle Fever", particularly with the gorgeous elephant in parts, dancing its way into life, gave us an idea of what was to come. It was slightly scary, yet funny and magical too, and all these qualities could be attributed to "The Ugly Duckling Remix".

Hans Christian Anderson meets The Brothers Grimm in an unexpected twist to this tale of endurance against the odds. Puppets denote the characters (the mother duck, the ducklings, the ugly one, the cool frogs, the fortune teller, the witch, Hansel and Gretel, the eco-friendly bunny with the guitar, and the swans) as well as the scenery (flowers, the sun, fish in the pond, etc).

Kaleidoscope has changed the story enough to make it interesting and fresh, but essentially have kept the tone and the moral the same. If the world rejects you, frightens you, adopts you and then leaves you on your own again, chases you, ignores you, deprives you, never give up. Inside, you are a swan. Your journey through the ups and downs will make that clear to you in the end. Never let the judgements of others form your self-image entirely. And watch out for witches tossing lightning bolts about the place.

The bunny with the guitar put it all in song, introducing environmental ethics into the equation. But the frogs ("Well, if you can’t groove, and you can’t hop, then you can’t hang with us") spoke volumes to the Ugly Duckling about playground parameters. After all, here is a character with a difference popping up in Trasna, a festival with a difference. The Fortune teller offered up her services for nothing, while Hansel and Gretel did their best to shield our protagonist from the Witch. Would that the corporate croaking fat bellies had got behind Trasna in this manner, instead of slinking off into their murky economic pond! But let’s not get sidetracked. After all, as our duckling discovers, help is always at hand.

I enjoyed this show very much. So did my children. My four-year-old needed a big anti-witch cuddle afterwards, but it is precisely in this creative way that young ones can learn that the world is composed of light and darkness. Again, a programme would have been a nice memento, and the question of how to get more people into the Friary raised its head. But, well done, Kaleidoscope. It was great that they stuck around for the farewell party, so that we got to know the faces behind the black light. It was no small feat to put this show together. Hats off to Joy, Marie and all the swans down there in Mallow!

Robert Little

Equinox

KCAT

 

SIOBHÁN ARMSTRONG

Appearing at the Rock of Cashel as part of Cashel Arts Fest 2008

Saturday 15th November

Admission €12



Siobhán Armstrong is one of a small number of harpists worldwide who play harps from earlier centuries and who research historical playing techniques and repertoire appropriate to these instruments. She has an extensive collection of copies of instruments from the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Baroque eras, including chromatic multi-row harps: an Italian arpa doppia and a Spanish arpa de dos ordenes.

Being Irish, Siobhán is particularly interested in encouraging the revival of Ireland’s early harp, which was strung in brass and sometimes silver and perhaps even gold wires. Played in Ireland from at least 1000 and made famous by harpers such as Ó Catháin and Carolan, it died out in the early 19th century. To this end, she founded and chairs the Historical Harp Society of Ireland (www.irishharp.org) and is the director of the Society’s annual Scoil na gCláirseach–Summer School of Early Irish Harp which is held annually in Kilkenny. Her own Irish harp is a copy of the medieval Trinity College harp–the national emblem of Ireland–strung in brass and 18-carat gold. Her solo recording on this instrument: Cláirseach na hÉireann: The Harp of Ireland was released in 2004.

Alongside her solo work, Siobhán Armstrong performs with some of the most prestigious soloists, ensembles and conductors in the field of early music such as William Christie and Les Arts Florissants; Jeffrey Skidmore and Ex Cathedra; and Paul McCreesh and The Gabrieli Consort. With these ensembles, she records with Deutsche Grammophon, Sony, Teldec, Virgin Classics, Erato and Dorian.

Another of her primary interests is the art of continuo playing i.e. the art of improvising vocal or instrumental accompaniment from a bass line; a style of playing found in baroque music. She regularly does this in period instrument productions of 17th century operas by Monteverdi, Rossi and Cavalli among others in the main opera houses in Europe and the U.S.A.

Siobhán was born in Dublin and, from an early age, studied modern harps, piano and voice, singing with choral groups and cathedral choirs. While reading Music at Trinity College Dublin, she directed Trinity College Singers, the university’s chamber choir. In 1987–her year of graduation–Siobhán was invited to Germany to establish a harp class at the Schule für Musik, Theater und Tanz in Stuttgart-Sindelfingen.

Siobhán now works as a freelance performer, lecturer and teacher, mainly in Europe, and lives in Co. Waterford. She has served on the faculty, taught, lectured or led workshops at Amherst College, USA; the Akademie für Alte Musik, Bremen; Trinity College Dublin and Dublin Institute of Technology as well as early music events and festivals internationally including The World Harp Congress, Edinburgh International Harp Festival, the Süddeutsches Harfentreffen, Germany and the Panceltic Festival, Ireland.

Siobhán Armstrong has performed and broadcast throughout Europe, North America and Japan and has appeared as a soloist or ensemble player at venues including the Konzerthaus in Vienna, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Opéra Comique in Paris, the Zankel Hall at Carnegie, NY, and Izumi Hall in Osaka. She has also been a participant at the main early music festivals including Boston, Utrecht, Chaise-Dieu and Vienna and at traditional music festivals such as the Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Brittany.

Her web page can be visited at www.siobhanarmstrong.com

 



THE NATIONAL CONCERT HALL

AN CEOLÁRAS NÁISIÚNTA

 

The National Concert Hall is Ireland's most prestigious music venue. The magnificent building was designed in the classical style for the Great Exhibition of 1865. It subsequently became the centre-piece of the emerging University College Dublin before its inauguration as Ireland's National Concert hall on the 9th September 1981. As well as weekly performances by the NSOI, the National Concert Hall promotes a programme of visiting international artists and orchestras, as well as concerts of jazz, contemporary and traditional Irish music.

In addition to this, its popular Education and Outreach Programme presents concerts and events for families and children throughout the year. This year’s fest will see workshops for parents/guardians and children up to 7 years of age.

 

Parent & Toddler Workshops

The Parent & Toddler Workshops provide a fun environment for parents and guardians to interact with their children through music. Specifically catering for children of 6 months to 3 years, these workshops are led by Nico Brown who, with his group of Learn and Explore musicians, provides fun and interaction through a variety of games and activities for both parent/guardian and child.

 

Music Making for Families

The Music Making for Families Workshops allow children aged between ages 3 to 5 and ages 6-8 to explore and discover music in a fun and interactive way. They are ideal for parents/guardians and child to enjoy together.

 

More information can be obtained from www.nch.ie

 

 

CORK CIRCUS

 

Cork Circus is a collective of innovative, experienced and highly charged performers continually working to increase their skills and your enjoyment of street and circus spectacle. Whether the event is a festival, concert, nightclub, or corporate celebration they can make the event special. They have performed at numerous festivals both in Ireland and on the continent, as well as appearing at corporate events of all types. More information can be obtained from www.corkcircus.net.



 

 

NATIONAL GALLERY OF IRELAND

GAILEARAÍ NÁISIÚNTA NA HÉIREANN

 

Lecture for Adults

The National Gallery of Ireland houses over 13000 works of art, comprising of the national collection of Irish art and European master paintings. The collection spans from the 14th to the 20th centuries and includes all the major Continental Schools. The Gallery's Outreach service aims to communicate this collection to everyone in the community and the Outreach Lectures are a great way to enhance your knowledge and interest in the visual arts. This year's lecture will focus on the Impressionists. The lecture will be slide illustrated and last about 45 minutes with time for questions.

 

School Outreach Programme

The National Gallery of Ireland will facilitate the Outreach Programme in local Primary Schools this year. The events in the classroom will include a fun mixture of questioning, creating and exploring the different elements of artworks. The events are provided by a team of artists and art historians experienced in working with children with diverse interests and needs. The events will focus on Impressionist era.

 

More information available on the National Gallery from www.nationalgallery.ie

12 January 2008

Second Féile Fidelma for Cashel

from the Tipperary Star and The Nationalist

The Second Feile Fidelma will be held in Cashel next September. Already an impressive array of speakers has been lined up for the weekend. As well as the author of the Fidelma Mysteries, Peter Tremayne, who will give the opening talk, the speakers over the three-day event will include the best-selling Irish historical novelist, Morgan Llewelyn, the top expert on Fidelma's period in Irish history, Professor Daibhí Ó Crónín, another expert on Irish missionaries to Europe at this time.

The impressive lineup of speakers is an indication of the respect which the author holds in the international community. French readers voted him the best mystery series author of 2007. French translations of the Sister Fidelma Mysteries have proved so popular in France that Editions 10-18 are now publishing two titles a year in their mass paperback editions. Translations of his stories have also appeared in Breton and the author hopes to set a future Fidelma novel in Celtic Brittany.

The Fidelma mysteries have really caught on around Europe and to date have been translated into fourteen languages. Based in Cashel in Seventh Century Ireland, they tell the stories of arch-sleuth, Sister Fidelma's efforts to solve murder mysteries. The nineteenth title and the seventeenth novel in the series, Council of the Cursed, will be published in September, just in time for Feile Fidelma at Cashel. The novels are not only mystery stories but also credible pictures of life in Ireland in the Seventh Century. Most of them have as their starting points, historical events taken from the Annals of the Four Masters.

It is because of the authentic historical backgrounds of the novels that they have appealed to Europeans, especially the Germans. Not only have all the books been transpated into German, that country has also raced ahead with its production of Sister Fidelma audio books.

The mysteries have been translated into Greek and Russian as well as better known European languages. Last September the first book in the series in Swedish was published in Stockholm. A month later the first title in the series was translated into Polish when Absolution by Murder appeared as Cien Kruczego Skrzydea. The books have also appeared in Cornish and Manx.

It was only fitting then that a weekend seminar on the mysteries and their context should be have organised. And, what more fitting place for this to happen that Fidelma's 'hometown', Cashel. The first Féile was organised in September 2006 and was a great success, bringing over fifty participants to the town for the weekend. Most of these came from abroad revealing the extent of the Fidelma interest. Many of these were from the U.S. where the Fidelma mysteries are very popular and where the International Fidelma Society is based. The Director of the Society, David Wooten, is a total enthusiast for Sr. Fidelma and also runs 'The Brehon', the official publication of the Society. The Society can be contacted at www.sisterfidelma.com.

Last September the American Library Association's 104-year-old magazine, Booklist, hailed the Sister Fidelma mysteries as 'the most authentically detailed medieval mystery series currently being published.’

Registration for the Second Feile Fidelma weekend is already underway. Information can be found on the International Fidelma Society website - www.sisterfidelma.com or the Cashel Arts Fest website www.cashelartsfest.com.

FÉILE FIDELMA 2008!

September 5-7, 2008

There's really good news for all Sister Fidelma fans with the announcement that the second Féile Fidelma Weekend under the auspices of Cashel Arts Fest will be be held at Cashel from September 5-7, 2008.

This is really outstanding news but should come as no surprise to anyone who attended the first weekend in September 2006. It was a huge success and all the participants were unanimously of the opinion that a second weekend should be planned as soon as possible.

The format of the first weekend will be very closely followed in September 2008. There will be a reception, a formal opening by the Mayor of Cashel and the first talk of the weekend by the very distinguished author of the Fidelma Mysteries, Peter Tremayne.

On Saturday there will be three further talks up to 1 pm, followed by a tour of the Rock of Cashel and the town. On Saturday evening there will be the formal dinner. This was a wonderful social occasion on the first weekend and an opportunity for the participants, the speakers and the organisers to meet and mix afterwards.

Sunday will have three more talks before the participants disperse in the afternoon or decide to stay on for another day or two and relax in the historic town of Cashel.

While the opening talk will be given by the author himself, the organisers have brought together an impressive list of speakers for the second weekend.

• Professor Dáibhí Ó Cróinín of the National University of Ireland, Galway is a leading expert on the Sister Fidelma period and one of the outstanding academics in his field in Ireland. His talk will be '664 - a look at what was happening during the year that Sister Fidelma met Brother Eadulf and when the first novel Absolution By Murder was set'.
• Morgan Llywelyn, Ireland's bestselling contemporary historical novelist, will talk on 'Novelising Ireland: The Importance of the Irish Historical Novel'.
• Simon O'Dwyer and Maria Cullen O'Dwyer, who set up the first institution dedicated to the study of ancient Irish music, will present 'The Music of Early Medieval Ireland'.
• Karola Hagemann is a leading German historical crime writer and an instructor for the advance training of the police force of Lower Saxony in Hanover. A member of the International Sister Fidelma Society, she acted as translator for Peter Tremayne during a German promotion tour in 2006. She will speak on 'The Impact of Sister Fidelma in Germany'.
• Dr. Dagmar Raedel O'Riain of the Department of History, University College, Cork, is an expert on early Irish Christian missionaries in Europe. She will talk on the Irish religious on their journeys through Europe from the 7th century.
• David Robert Wooten, Director of the International Sister Fidelma Society and editor of its magazine, The Brehon. He will conclude the proceedings of the weekend with a summary of the work of The International Sister Fidelma Society and its hopes for the future.

The actual program of events is posted on the Sister Fidelma website.

All these archive articles are from the Tipperary Star and The Nationalist

30 November 2006

Arts Fest brought colour and variety to town during November

By the time this page appears Cashel Arts Fest will have come to an end for 2006.

It lasted from November 3-26 and brought a wide variety of entertainment and pleasure to the people of the town and surrounding districts for the period.

There were many high points during the month. The official opening on November 3 was a huge success with over one hundred people in attendance. The two exhibitions on view, the sculpture of Mona Croome-Carroll and the Tower Houses paintings of Petronelle Clifton-Brown, proved to be attractive draws.

Two drama productions were major attractions. The Hot Mikado production in the Community School was a major success and entertained sizable numbers. At the other end of the month the Cashel Choral and Dramatic Society's production of Say Cheese was a sure winner, attracting impressive crowds to Brú Ború.

One thing that was learned from the experience was that venues are no deterrents. The Vicar's Choral on the Rock of Cashel is a beautiful venue in every way bar its access. Patrons have to climb a steep hill and can't park at the door. As well it is usually breezy on the Rock and, in the month of November, invariably wet as well. Yet, Billy Bob attracted a substantial crowd for his concert and Tom Wood and Joe Irwin filled the place for their slide/film presentation.

Another very successful occasion was Cecile Mulcahy's talk on Tower Houses at Ardmayle. Again this was very well supported, but then the people of Boherlahan-Dualla are great supporters, as witnessed by the full house that turned up for the launch of their historical journal.

The library is an excellent venue, central and intimate. The County Tipperary Libraries are to be complimented for their support of the festival, and their co-operation with the Cashel Arts Fest Committee. They can be highly commended for sponsoring the Vanbrugh String Quartet, which provided an enjoyable evening's listening. They also hosted a number of exhibitions.

The festival offered plenty of variety. Among the many art exhibitions was that of the Attenbury family. It was great to welcome back Cashel native, Joan Anne Attenbury. The family includes Bob, Joan Anne and daughter, Claire. Joan Anne, nee O'Byrne, is the eldest child of the late Joe and Anne of 6 Rock Villas, Cashel. Like so many of her generation Joan Anne emigrated to England in the early sixties, where she qualified and worked as a nursing sister at Manchester. It was here she met her future husband, Bob Attenbury, a teacher, and already an artist of rich promise. In 1996 they decided to return to Ireland so that Bob could pursue one of his keenest interests, landscape painting in the West. They settled in Castlecoote, Co. Roscomon, where Joan Anne soon discovered that she also had a talent for art, particularly in relief painting. Her work stems from an interest in Celtic mythology, a source of inspiration channeled through stories from the past and from her childhood in Cashel. Joan Anne's and Bob's daughter, Claire, moved to Ireland following the completion of a B.A. in fine arts. Since leaving university she has developed a passion for glass painting, which incorporates her love of translucent colour, which is also characterized in her prints. It was with great pride that Joan Anne returned to her native Cashel to have her work, and her family's, exhibited. This exhibition was on show in Cashel Heritage Centre.

One of the very successful highlights of the Cashel Arts Fest, which didn't take place during November, was Féile Fidelma in early September. It attracted about fifty people to the town, most of them from abroad, to discuss the novels and times of the seventh century sleuth, Sr. Fidelma, the fictional creation of Peter Tremayne. It was a major success as a literary weekend, but also as a tourist attraction and the organizing committee have now to decide how best to build on the Fidelma theme.

One of the big disappointments was the Frank Patterson tribute concert. It did not make any impact, in spite of the strong Cashel connection with the family, and it didn't attract an audience, even though it was hosted in the very fine venue of St. John's Cathedral.

Some criticism can also be levelled at the changes, which were made in the programme during the month. Some changes are inevitable but there seemed to be a number in venues and dates, which led to some confusion. Also, the Swing Band was unable to turn up and, while its replacement band went down well, its absence was noted.

Overall these are few reservations in an overall successful festival. There is no disputing that Cashel was a livelier place for the month of November than it would have been without the festival. It brought colour, variety, entertainment and a bit of excitement to a dull month.

The Cashel Arts Fest committee are a voluntary body and are deserving of our praise. What happened during the month did not spring full blown but had to be conceived, gestated and brought to fruition over many hours, during many meetings. Already the committee are reviewing what has happened and planning for next year. They are always looking for volunteers, for people to help them out on a whole or part-time basis, and for new ideas to make the Cashel Arts Fest an even greater experience, that will bring satisfaction to a greater number of people.

27 January 2006

Cashel Arts Fest has been a major success

The existence of Cashel Arts Fest has definitely changed the lives of the people of Cashel in November,' according to John Murray at the recent annual general meeting of the group.

'We have completed the organisation of three very successful festivals,' according to the chairman.

He was very upbeat about the success to date. According to him the brief of the committee was to run a festival that would involve a lot of groups, that would be inclusive of the local community, and that would enlarge people's appreciation of the arts. He believed that everything that had been tried by the committee had been successful.

He remarked on the public appreciation of their efforts. This was reflected in the numbers turning up to the organised events. He believed that local businesses were quite happy with the way the events had brought people into the town. Cashel Town Council, to whom the committee owe a lot for continued support, were happy and expressed that happiness by increasing their funding of the festival over the three years.

The chairman was very thankful to all those who had provided venues for their events. He mentioned in particular the Town Council, the Heritage Centre, the Board of Works, the Church of Ireland, the Library, the Credit Union, Halla na Feile and the schools. The availability of so many venues facilitated the committee greatly.

The committee had just completed a three-year plan and had now to decide on the way forward. They had to agree among themselves whether to go for a one year at a time plan or to set targets for another three years. This decision would have to be taken in the very near future.

If he had a negative note he believed that more publicity was required to increase their audiences. He didn't know how this might be done but he believed that they weren't getting the message to as many people as they might.

He concluded by stating that their immediate task was to focus on 2006 in order to see what could be achieved. 'We have set high standards to date and we should be proud of what we have achieved.'

The following officers were elected for 2006: patron, Dean Philip Knowles; chairman, John Murray; secretary, Emily Kirwan; treasurer, Eleanor Dwyer; P.R.O. Seamus King; assistant P.R.O. Desrae Mullen. The other members of the committee are as follows: Petronelle Clifton-Brown, Maureen O'Donoghue, Darby Mullen, Gillian Clifton-Brown, Eddie Dalton, Anne Devitt, Helen Ryan, Noreen Devane, Sean Murphy.

The directors of Cashel Arts Fest are as follows: John Murray, Emily Kirwan, Seamus King, Labhrás " Murchú, Jane Grubb, Pat Murphy, Cyril Cullen, Brian Moloney, Eddie Dalton.

Cashel Arts Fest is available on the web www.cashelartsfest.com and can be contacted by e-mail at cashelartsfest@eircom.net

11 November 2005

Arts festival needs public support to succeed

'This festival cannot continue without support' was the message of Cashel Arts Fest committee chairman, John Murray, at the official launch of the month-long event in the Civic Offices, Friar Street last Thursday night.

'We have a hard-working committee, and we can organise top class events, but if they are not supported by the public of Cashel and district, we are at nothing.'

Our task was to bring art to the community and to publicise the arts. This we have done for three years now and, if we are to continue, we have to get the support of the public.'

The festival launch revealed a packed programme of events all very well packaged and presented in a handsome booklet, which has been distributed widely in the town.

The actual launch of the program was done by Isabel Cambie of Tipperary Leader Group, who welcomed the opportunity to congratulate Cashel Arts Fest Committee on their wonderful work, the variety of the programme offered, and the support it has garnered to date. She concluded by saying: 'This is the third year of Cashel Arts Fest. I know it will go from strength to strength and will become as much a national event as the Cork Jazz festival or the Kilkenny Cat's laugh Festival.'

There was additional praise for the committee from Deputy Mayor, Paddy Downey, who stood in for Dan Dillon, who was unavoidably absent. Councillor Downey spoke of November as the dark month with the clocks going back, and the nights becoming long and dreary. What Cashel Arts Fest was offering was a program of events to lighten and brighten the month.  He added that we were spoiled for choice and he expressed the thanks of Cashel Town Council to the committee, who had done so much voluntary work to get the events up and running.

There was an apology from Derry Foley, chairman of South Tipperary County Council, who was unable to attend.

The first event on the calendar was Teach a Bloc, which was received with enthusiasm by an audience in Halla na Féile.

Concert in St. John's Cathedral

There was a very appreciative audience in St. John's Cathedral on Saturday night for Cashel Arts Fest 'Evening with the Garda Choir, the Willcolane Singers and Emma English'. The Garda Choir opened proceedings with 'Get Me To The Church On Time', 'Aint Misbehaving' and 'Every Time I Feel The Spirit'. This was followed by Emma Engl;ish singing 'Vilia', 'Voi Che Sapete' and 'Waltz Of My Heart'. The Willcolane Singers responded with 'I'm Gonna Sit Right Down . . .', a really beautiful rendition of 'Danny Boy', and 'Alexanders Ragtime Band'. In the second half of the programme Emma English sang ''Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine', 'Mr. Snow' and 'Art Is Calling For Me'. The Garda Choir and the Willcolane Singers then joined up to sing 'Embraceable You', 'Hymn To Freedom' and 'Amigos Para Siempres'.

Big interest in art expo

Petronelle Clifton-Brown opened the professional artists' exhibition in the Civic Offices on Saturday night. Wearing a Winnie Looby ensemble, she informed her listeners of the function of artists in our society. They heighten our awareness of the world around us by seeing things in a different light to the rest of us, and telling us what they see through their work. They seek to share their insights into everyday objects.

She introduced the four female artists on display. She informed her audience that they were chosen from about fifty-five, who had expressed interest in the exhibition. Their work, which is all for sale, will be displayed for the month of November, daily from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. One of the artists is local girl, Olive Barrett. The others are Alyn Fenn from Schull, Jennifer Phelan from Malahide and Diana Caramaschi from Venice.

At the end of her remarks she thanked Town Clerk, Seamus Maher, and all his staff for their help and co-operation in mounting the exhibition.

Art exhibition

As part of Cashel Arts Fest, Cashel Art Group will hold an art exhibition at the Heritage Centre, Main Street from November 10 to 25 inclusive. The opening times are 10 am to 5 pm and admission is free. There will be a coffee morning in the centre this Thursday at 11 pm, after which Councillor Tom Wood will perform the official opening of the exhibition. All donations will go to South Tipperary Hospice.

Wood presents slide show

A slide show entitled Out and About Cashel will be held in the Vicars Choral Hall, Rock of Cashel on Monday, November 14 at 8 pm. It will be presented by Tom Wood and will include many slides of interest from the early 1970s through the 1980s. It is an event that should be of great interest featuring many well known faces and local events, including St. Patrick Day parades and youth club concerts at the old City Hall. Tom advises people to bring tissues along.

Jazz at the Palace

The sumptuous setting of the drawing room in the Cashel Palace Hotel was the venue for a jazz session on Sunday afternoon. The artists were David Mackensie from Dublin and Josh Johnston from Dun Laoghaire, and they provided great entertainment for the jazz aficionados who attended.

06 November 2003

Cashel Arts Festival reaches out to community

With the theme 'Art in the Community,' Cashel Arts Fest, which began this week and will run until Nov 30th, aims to involve as many people as possible, John Murray, chairman of the organising committee said at the launch of the festival brochure on Saturday evening.

Officially the Arts Fest runs from 13th Thursday November to Saturday 15th November and has an extensive programme of events for those days but from Saturday last to 13th November workshops in creative arts are being conducted by local artist, Alan Devitt, in a number of national schools in the parish.

According to the organisers, the focus of the festival is to provide a series of platforms and opportunities for all sections of the community to engage with the arts in a meaningful and enjoyable way. This programme will be a series of residencies in various educational and health institutions by artists from a variety of different disciplines.

At the conclusion, there will be a number of formal and informal performing opportunities which will showcase the results of the creative process. The ultimate aim of the festival is to provide a platform for as many people as possible in the community to be creative. 'We are hoping to create an important link between the artist and the community,' the organisers say.

Said John Murray — There ill be nothing highbrow about the event. The theme is about us — having all of us do something artistic.

He added that the event is part of a three year plan to transform Cashel into a community which is aware of as many art forms as possible and that is prepared to embrace them.

Councillor Paddy Downey, Acting Mayor of Cashel, congratulated the organsiers on coming together to provide the people of the Cashel area with the opportunity to explore their hidden talents, and he encourage all who can to get involved.

'This is the start of a big venture involving all cultural groups in the community and I hope everybody will be pleased with the outcome,' he concluded.

Chairman of South Tipperary Co. Council, Dr Sean McCarthy, said the festival created an outstanding opportunity for the people of Cashel.

'I know it will be multi-focal and multi-disciplinary, involving people of all ages and backgrounds. As a heritage town, Cashel has enormous hidden talent which this festival will encourage and develope. It is a unique and very special opportunity for everyone,' he said.

He added that the involvement of people with special needs was particularly appropriate this year and was a wonderful idea.

The Arts Fest is being supported by Cashel Heritage and Development Trust; Cashel Town Council; The Arts Council; Ballysheehan Stud; The Irish Writrers Centre; The Cashel Palace Hotel; Bru Boru and Cashel Community School.

02 August 2007

Cashel Arts Fest Exhibitions

Four Tipperary artists have been invited by the Cashel Arts Fest to create a large exhibition which interprets the natural materials of wood and clay.

This exhibition will take place during the Arts Fest in November later this year and will be displayed in the beautiful natural light of the foyer of the Cashel Civic Offices on Friar Street.

The artists involved are Richard J. Gough, from Nenagh, who creates sculptures from unusual and randomly shaped pieces of wood. If you remember his remarkable exhibition from last year, you won't want to miss seeing this one.

Joining the sculptures of Richard are the creations of Doirin Saurus, from Fethard, a ceramic artist who has explored everything from bowls and vases to figurative sculpture and screen printing onto clay. These gifted local artist are joining together to make something very unique for the Cashel Arts Fest in November.

A textile artist living and working in Cashel, Winnie Looby creates the most original, individually designed garments. She has even adorned the famous Riverdance performers with her beautifully fashioned cloaks. She is now working on a special exhibition of garments and wall hangings for this year.

Included with Winnie's work will be a retrospective exhibition of some of the clay work of an exceptionally talented scu!ptor, the late Sarah Ryan. She took her inspiration from delicate, natural forms such as thistle heads, sea urchins and shells. She also created robust interpretations of carved faces and figures from the Rock of Cashel. This is an exhibition not to be missed.

26 October 2006

Cashel Arts Fest 2006 opens next week

Cashel Arts Fest 2006 has arrived. After months of preparation the committee have unveiled the program for this year's fest which will run from November 3 - 26.

A beautiful booklet, designed and put together by committee member, Desrae Mullan, is already available in shops and other outlets. It outlines in great detail the variety of entertainments on offer

One of the early highlights of the fest will be the Van Brugh String Quartet, which can be heard at Cashel Library on Monday, November 6 at 8 pm. Haydn, Mozart and Borodin are the three composers whose works will be heard on the night. Each piece was written as a String Quartet, thus being perfect for the playing of a Quartet like the Van Brugh.

The full programme is as follows: Haydn String Quartet in C major, Opus 74. No. 1

Mozart String Quartet in D major, k 575, 'Prussian'. Borodin String Quartet, No.2 in D major.

This unique event is being brought to your doorstep in Cashel, jointly by Cashel Arts Festival and Tipperary Joint Libraries Committee. Tickets cost ?10 and are available only through the Library, tel:062-63856/63825. There will be wine available at the interval and this is inclusive in the entry price.

Another interesting event from the program is a photography competition for primary and secondary schools, as well as for adults. The theme is 'Faces and Places' and a wide interpretations of the theme will be allowed. There can be a maximum of four entries per person, with a maximum size per entry of ten by eight inches. All entries must be mounted and titled. Entries should be left into O'Dwyer's Pharmacy with full details of the entries included with the submission. The closing date for the receipt of entries is November 4

Anyone looking for further information should ring Gillian at 087-9474580. Prizes will be presented in the Civic Offices, Friar Street on Wednesday, November 15.

16 November 2006

Cashel Arts Fest

The festival is into its third week and there continues to be plenty for everyone. This Thursday night at 8 pm there will be a talk on Tower Houses by Cecile Mulcahy in Ardmayle Church. The paintings of Tower Houses by Petronelle Clifton-Brown will be on display during the lecture.

There's a film night at the Rock of Cashel, 'One Day in Europe', at 8pm on November 18. On the same day at Cashel Community School there is a workshop for DJs. On Sunday the Premier Swing Band will entertain all and sundry in the Brian Boru Pub. To get one into form for the weekend it will be possible to attend a cheese tasting at the Cashel Palace Hotel on Friday evening. It will be an opportunity to learn something about the art of cheese.

There's an unusual show at Brú Ború on Tuesday, November 21, when Richard Lynch presents his one-man show, 'From the Shoulders Down'. The show is based on the character of P. J. Mulpeter, sixty-five years of age, who, on his last day at work, casts a backward glance at his ignominious 'career' on the pick and shovel, combining humour, pathos, love, loss, rejection and regret, but never without hope.

Commencing on Thursday, November 23 will be 'Say Cheese', the much looked forward to production of Cashel Choral and Dramatic Society.

Double bill at the Rock

Wednesday, November 22 sees an exciting presentation in the Vicar's Choral on the Rock of Cashel when Tom Wood will present a slide show and Joe Irwin will introduce a film which was made in the town in the early sixties. The presentation will be part of Cashel Arts Fest.

Tom Wood's presentation went down very well last year and he has unearthed more slides of Cashel faces and places that go back over forty years. The film will introduce us also to faces and places from decades ago. Both presentations will give people an opportunity to indulge in a bit of nostalgia of Cashel long ago.

Admission is free but by ticket only because of health and safety regulations. Tickets can be got at the Heritage Centre, City Hall.

02 November 2006

Three Friday expo openings set Arts Fest on its way

The official opening of Cashel Arts Fest will take place at the Civic Offices this Friday evening at 8 pm.

The honours will be performed by Jane Grubb, one of the festival board of directors. The opening will mark the commencement of a month of artistic activity, with something for everybody. The brief of the Cashel Arts Fest committee is to make the arts accessible, to allow people to see them as part of their lives.

The festival gets under way with an exhibition of tower house paintings by Cashel's own artist, Petronelle Clifton-Brown. This exhibition of picturesque paintings will run from November 3-14 and will tie in with an historical talk on tower houses by Cecile Mulcahy later in the month.

Also opening on Friday night and running through to November 26 is a unique sculpture collection by Mona Croom-Carroll. Mona has been passionate about animals all her life. As a child her home was like a wildlife sanctuary. Sharing her life with the natural world gave her a keen eye for detail and inspired her to sculpt living forms out of clay. It will be possible to see her creations in the Town Council chamber.

The third exhibition to open on Friday is by the Attenbury family. Each artist has a distinct personality that comes through in his/her work. These vary from the abstract mysterious and natural elements of Claire Attenbury's paintings, to the intricately detailed beauty of Joan Attenbury's creations that depict religion and celtic mythology, and the contrasting style of Robert Attenbury work, which is bright and full of romance, focusing on architecture and peaceful landscapes. This exhibition will run from Friday to November 25, excluding Sundays, at the Cashel Heritage Centre, Main Street.

On of the highlights of the festival has to be on Saturday in St. John's Cathedral at 8.15 pm when patrons will be entertained to a night of the music of Ireland's Golden Tenor, Frank Patterson. People are invited along to enjoy the lilting melodies and bittersweet ballads of one of Ireland's greatest singers. The guest artists Breffni Horgan, a tenor, Jean Kelly, harp, and Fiona Kelly, flute Admission is €20 and includes a wine reception.

Also on Saturday, and running through the day is Feis Chaiseal Mumhan at Brú Ború. This inaugural competition will see a multitude of talented youth from all over the Munster area gather here to compete. It is open to all competitors under the age of twenty.

There is a book launch at St. John's Cathedral at 3 pm on Saturday. People are invited to join Damian Bracken and Dagmar O'Riain-Raedal as they launch their book celebrating the Synod of Cashel, which includes exciting new discussions of Cormac's Chapel. The book should be of special interest to readers aware of the importance of Cashel in the Middle Ages and now. Copies of the book will be discounted at the launch and signed by the authors.

There will be a short break from activity on Sunday before two offerings on Monday. The two events will take place at Cashel Library at 8 pm. Two exhibitions on the theme of trees will be launched. One of these is a unique photography/art exhibit of what looks like tattooed trees. Actually the trees have been covered in graffiti by the artist, Catherine Sankey. Covering the trees are various designs from the primitive to the elaborate.

Dick Gough's bog oak sculptures are different. The artist has taken the oak, which has lain in Irish bogs for five thousand years, and crafted it into something as rare as the material itself.

The other event at the library is an evening of music with the Vanburg String Quartet. This group is one of Europe's most successful quartets, widely recognized for its beauty of sound, clarity of texture and integrity of interpretation. Admission to this rare experience will cost €10.

Tuesday will be a rest day of sorts before 'The Hot Mikado' hits the boards on Wednesday at 8 pm at Cashel Community School and runs through to the 11th. The original 'Mikado' by Gilbert and Sullivan, set in Japan, depicts an outrageous farce, set around confusing love affairs and the need for Ko-Ko, the Lord High Executioner, to cut off a head or lose his own. 'The Hot Mikado' keeps the basic premise and setting of Japan but throws in street hustlers and chorus girls of the forties with no apologies. This musical is a memorable blend of Gilbert and Sullivan's melodies containing stinging social satire fused with jazz, swing and gospel. If the production is on a par with previous ones at the Community School patrons will be in for a night of rich entertainment.

All of this great variety of entertainment is coming on our doorsteps at the right time when the darkness of old time and the cold winds of November herald winter and rain. What better way to enliven a dark and dreary month with memorable nights providing laughter, music, art, dance and theatre.

The Cashel Arts Fest committee have produced a splendid booklet containing details of all that is available for the month. It was distributed to many of the houses in the town during the week and is available in some shops as well as the Heritage Centre, where it is possible to book for many of the events by calling 062-62511.

09 November 2006

Exhibitions gets Arts Fest underway

The farming community were very much to the fore at the opening of Cashel Arts Fest at the Civic Offices on Friday night.

Jane Grubb, who did the honours of officially opening the festival, described herself as a blow-in married to a local farmer and expressed her delight at opening two exhibitions, in which the artists were also local farmers, Mona Croome-Carroll and Petronelle Clifton-Brown.

The venue was packed for the occasion, a tribute no doubt to the popularity and standing of the two artists, but also an important vote of confidence in the Cashel Arts Fest committee, that spent many hours getting the month-long program of events together and ensuring that everything was in place.

Mayor Paddy Downey paid tribute to the committee in his words of welcome to the festival. He praised them for their efforts, emphasising that they were volunteers and that they often didn't get the recognition they deserved. The festival was not possible without their dedicated efforts.

Chairman of South Tipperary County Council, Joe Donovan, also spoke, recognising the amount of work the artists had to do to realise their ideas and praising their skilful hands.

Patron of Cashel Arts Fest, Dean Philip Knowles, focused on how the town and the festival are enhanced by the art and sculpture. The themes given expression by the artists, horses, animals and towerhouses, touch our area and were pleasant, varied and perfect. He congratulated people so gifted for sharing their work with us.

Chairman of the festival committee, John Murray, was delighted with the attendance, which made all their work worthwhile. They had a difficult year with funding problems and he was very grateful to Cashel Town Council, their main sponsor, for its generous help. He also thanked the County Council, and many others, for their important help. He encouraged everyone to embrace the festival and hoped that it lived up to the expectations of the townspeople.

The two exhibitions will run in the Civic Offices until the end of the festival. The paintings will be re-located to Ardmayle Church for one evening, November 16, in conjunction with the talk on Tower Houses by Cecile Mulcahy.

14 October 2005

Full programme for Cashel Arts Festival

Cashel Arts Fest is fast approaching. This month-long festival of the arts will commence on November 3 and continue right through the month until its close on the 27th. It's the third year to take place, and it promises an even wider appeal than before.

The Fest opens on a lively note with 'Teach a Bloc' in Halla na Feile on November 3. This is a show of light-hearted fun, telling the story of the craic and devilment that goes on at a country house traditional session. It has a cast of life-sized puppets and real traditional musicians.

The Garda Choir and the Willcolane Singers will perform in the Church of Ireland Cathedral on Saturday, November 5. In case you haven't been warmed by the performance there will be a mulled wine reception afterwards.

In fact there is a range of musical offerings during the month. The highlight has to be the Tipperary Millennium Orchestra on November 19. It's their third visit to Cashel and this year the organising committee are very excited as they have commissioned local composer, Fergal Carroll, to compose an original piece of music for the occasion. Those who attend will be the first to hear this original work.

The following Wednesday, November 23, it will be possible to hear a music recital at Cashel Library. Patrons are invited to come along for an evening of beautiful music with flautist, William Dowdall, and guitarist, John Feeley.

For lovers of the theatre there are two shows. 'Guys and Dolls', a production from Cashel Community School, will run from November 9-12 inclusive. This production tells the story of a group of small-time gamblers and the ladies in their lives. This is a singin' and swingin' show that will have patrons jumping out of their seats.

Cashel Choral and Dramatic Society put on 'Buds of Ballybunnion' in Brú Boru from November from November 24-27. An earlier effort by John B. Keane, it is a frivolous and hilarious play about a boarding house in Ballybunnion, where the same group of lodgers come every September. It is made for laughs.

There is a different kind of dramatic offering at Cashel Library on November 15 when Tim Joe McGrath and Philip Ryan will regale their listeners with a spirited night of ghost stories and the spinning of aulde yarns. This evening will be enjoyed by young and old alike.

Geared more to the young will be a double bill of puppeteering at Halla na Feile on November 9. Julie-Rose McCormick, a professional puppeteer, has created fascinating puppets for her plays and will be performaing a double bill of 'Sinbad the Sailor' and 'Oisin in Tír na n"g'.

There will be a group exhibition of professional artists at the Council Chamber, Friar Street, which will be officially opened on November 4. Among the artists exhibiting will be Olive Barrett, a painter and native of Cashel, whose work deals with different emotions and feelings through colour, shape and line, which results in abstract images.

'Natural Art' with Ciara Foster will open in the Community School on November 7. Foster is a textile artist from Clondalkin, who has developed a sculptural technique that uses natural 'found' materials from the outdoors. Come along and see her life-sized pigs and great bird.

Also in the visual arts there will be an exhibition of watercolour paintings by local artists in the Heritage Centre, and there will be an exhibition, entitled 'Faces of Cashel', an exhibition of amateur photographers, who have captured Cashel through their photography.

A fascinating night should be experienced in Ardmayle Church on November 17. Emmet Mordaunt, a thirty-four year old Dubliner, will give a lecture entitled 'The search for Life on Mars'. The talk will refer to the importance of Mars in fiction and why this barren desert world is such an alluring locale to the scientist and artist alike.

There's even a night for wine buffs in the Long Room of the Cashel Palace Hotel. Sarah and Sergio Furno will explain the many facets of this 'Drink of the Gods'. Their aim will be to remove the mystique and intimidation factor behind wine and increase the enjoyment element.

There are numerous other events that will take place during the month. An extensive brochure outlining all the events will be available shortly, and it sums up the month ahead in the following introduction: 'When the cold winds of November bring darkness and rain, we unconsciously seek refuge from these forces of nature. Oftentimes we find a safe haven in light and warmth if we wrap up in our winter woollies, light a fire or cook up a big pot of soup. Centuries ago, our ancestors did very similar things. They also told stories or played a little music and danced by the firelight. Their stories and music would inspire and enlighten them whilst drowning out the howling winds and dark nights. What better way to celebrate light with all its different facets but with the arts? We'll gaze at the moon and stars, and light a great fire and listen to ghost stories. We'll go dancing and sip on succulent wine, listen to the soothing voices of choir and all the while we'll see Cashel in a different light with laughter, music, art, dance and drama. So come along and celebrate the arts with us.'

25 November 2005

Music premiere a highlight of Arts Fest week

The Cashel Arts Fest is proving a success. The number of people turning out for events is very satisfactory.

Following the success of Tom Woods slide show on the Rock on Monday night, there was a satisfactory turnout for the storytelling by Tim Joe McGrath and Philip Ryan in the Library on Tuesday night. Then it was out to Ardmayle Church on Thursday night where a full house heard an enthralling lecture from Emmet Mordaunt on 'The Search for Life on Mars'. The illustrated talk attracted young and old alike, and so many questions afterwards that chairman, Pat Maher, had to call a halt because 'the tea was getting cold!' On Thursday the Dance Theatre of Ireland held a workshop attended by the Transition Year students in the Community School, who enjoyed a most unusual experience. An exhibition of the works of amateur and semi-professional artists from all over South Tipperary opened in the Credit Union on Friday evening at 6 o'clock. This will run until this coming Friday. All the paintings are for sale.

It may not have been the finale but it was definitely one of the major highlights of the three-week fest. The Tipperary Millennium Orchestra played to a packed hall in the Community School on Saturday night. The highly appreciative audience gave a warm welcome to the premiere of Fergal Carroll's specially commissioned piece, Hymn to Peace. A spectacular and very hopeful composition, it was presented by the over sixty-piece orchestra backed by a choir of over one-hundred and twenty schoolchildren from neighbouring schools. The schools involved were Gaile, St, Joseph's, Tipperary Town, Knockavilla, St. John the Baptist Girls' Primary School, Cashel, Ballagh, and Cashel Community School. The teachers involved were Deirdre Dunne, Helen Colbert, Aisling Moynihan, Mary Andrews and Mary Glasheen. Hymn to Peace was specially commissioned by Cashel Arts Fest. The words, which are concerned with peace, come from both the old and new testaments. Included is 'They shall beat their swords into ploughshares . . .', which is the motto of the United Nations, which will be sixty years in existence this month.

The main event of the coming week, and the final one of the Arts Fest is the Cashel Choral and Dramatic Society's production of John B. Keane's 'The buds of Ballybunnion'. There is a music recital in the library with William Dowdall and John Feeley on Wednesday night, and this Thursday night Sally O'Dwyer's second book of poems is to be launched, also in the library.