The second annual Ballaghaderreen Arts Festival is set to make a welcome return next weekend, kicking off on Saturday, August 3rd, and wrapping up just over a week later on Sunday, August 11th – and with a myriad of exciting musical, cultural, and artistic events set to take place over the course of the festival’s run, this year’s schedule seems guaranteed to live up to the high standard set by last year’s inaugural festival.
The outstanding 10-piece Pipers Cross Céilí Band will dwell among attendees in Ballaghaderreen from 9 pm on opening night, when the ‘Céilí Mór’ takes place at The Castlemore. Last year, at the All-Fleadh in Mullingar, they were selected Ireland’s number one céilí band – come and see why!
Or, if drama is more your thing, go along to see Ballaghaderreen Players perform that blackest of black comedies, ‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’, directed by the inimitable Julie Sharkey. This performance will take place at 7.30 pm opening evening (Saturday, August 3rd), continuing for two more days (Sunday and Monday) at the same time.
Julie has also directed the very special ‘Park Life’ event, which will see three performances – each comprising three short plays, also written by Julie – take place in the Community Garden on Thursday, August 10th. Be advised that audience numbers are limited to 20 per performance.
You’d prefer opera? Well okay, then that same Saturday afternoon at 3 pm, there’s the children’s opera ‘Finn McCumhaill’ (free for children) taking place at the Phoenix Centre with guest sopranos and local school children. It will also be performed on Sunday, August 4th, at 3 pm.
A puppet show instead? Okay, be at the Phoenix Centre from 3 pm on Monday, August 5th. Again, children are free.
But don’t forget the ‘Classical in the Cathedral’ event being held from 7.30 pm on Wednesday, August 7th, which will see a 12-piece orchestra, led by Ireland’s best-known conductor David Brophy, performing Vivaldi’s ‘Four Seasons’ at St Nathy’s Cathedral. That evening will also include a world premiere (no less!) of ‘An Irish Four Seasons’, composed and performed by leading Irish cellist Alibhe McDonagh.
‘Blues and Trad at the Cathedral’ the following night includes Ireland’s queen of jazz and blues, Mary Coughlan, as she embarks on the beginning of her 40th anniversary tour. Performing then too will be ‘the hottest Irish acoustic band on the planet’ according to the New York Times – Lúnasa. In addition, Cora and Seán Smyth will perform on the fiddle and tin whistle.
A highlight for football fans will be ‘GAA Night’, taking place at St Nathy’s College on Friday, August 9th. Jim Gavin, who led Dublin to five All-Ireland senior titles in a row, will be interviewed by broadcaster Seán O’Rourke about making Gaelic great again. It will be followed by ‘Happy Birthday Percy French’, a tribute to Roscommon man and one of Ireland’s best-known troubadours, born 170 years ago on May 1st. This tribute will be held again on Sunday, August 11th, at 5.30 pm.
‘Film Night at St Nathy’s’ (Tuesday, August 6th) will see Ireland’s longest serving film censor Ballaghaderreen man Sheamus Smith interviewed about his fascinating career in movies – having been the man who ‘freed’ the Irish people to see ‘The Life of Brian’. The interview will be preceded by award-winning singer Christine Tobin, performing Leonard Cohen, Carole King, Yeats’s poems (to music), and her own songs.
The second festival weekend will see witty and versatile London Pilgrim Players present Shakespeare’s comedy ‘As You Like It’ outdoors at Edmondstown House from 7 pm on Friday, August 9th, and Saturday, August 10th, with matinees at 3 pm on the 10th and 11th.
And there will also be ‘Stand-Up at Edmondstown House’ on Sunday evening (August 11th) from 8.30 pm, headlined by the outrageous satirist/comedian, David McSavage.
Other festival events include an art exhibition at Mulligan’s on Main Street with works by leading west of Ireland painters, Malachy Costello, Siobhán Cox, Michael Wann, Conor O’Connell. Each will conduct workshops during the festival, free to participants.
In parallel, there will be an exhibition of original works by local painters at the Phoenix Centre, and Geraldine Finn will conduct another writing workshop. There will also be a film workshop on Monday August 5th. It’s exhausting!
For full details on the events taking place, visit ballaghaderreenartsfestival.com.
