7 Things to do this week...
1CELEBRATION DAY IN WELLS HOUSE AND GARDENS: Preparations are under way for Celebration Day in Wells House and Gardens, which will take place on Sunday, May 27, from 1 p.m. The special day is geared towards celebrating children with disabilities. This is the third year Wells House and Gardens are hosting the event. The day is completely free for all charities, which includes entry and barbecue vouchers. The kids will enjoy a fun-filled day, and can take part in the numerous activities. There will be a clown, great musical entertainment, face-painting, a puppet show and guided tours of the animal farm. The event is funded by Wells House and Gardens and their Wishing Well, which receives a lot of donations throughout the year. For more information, contact call 053 91 86737.
2VINEGAR HILL ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONFERENCE: Enniscorthy’s vibrant and bloody history will be recalled over the weekend as a special three day conference gets underway. The event will look at the findings of a major archaeological survey which took place on Vinegar Hill last year and will feature expert speakers from all over throughout the day on Saturday. The weekend will also include a field trip to the hill on the Sunday. The event will be opened by Cllr Keith Doyle with a drinks reception at The Presentation Centre on Friday night. Tickets for the weekend are €25 and are available from www. enniscorthycastle.ie.
3SEAN KEANE: On Friday night, at 8 p.m. Irish musician and singer Sean Keane will delight the audience at the Stella Maris Centre in Kilmore Quay. Showcasing a truly unique, sean-nós style voice and talent, the County Galway singer has been referred to as the ‘greatest musical find of the 1990s’. Born into a musical family - his sister is the renowned Dolores Keane - he has released 11 solo albums and collaborated on five others. He tours regularly with his band in Ireland, Austria, Germany, the US and Canada, as well as appearing at festivals worldwide. Traditional Irish, folk and even country and blues songs all lend themselves to his unique style. Tickets are €25. For information, email: manager@ stellamariscentre.com or phone 053 91 29922.
4AFRICA DAY: This year Africa Day comes to Wexford for the very first time with a special event at Enniscorthy’s Presentation Centre. Getting under way at midday on Friday, it will feature special speakers, photography, music, food and much, much more. Spearheaded by Irish Aid, Africa Day offers the chance to take stock of the unique cultural and economic links between this small country and a diverse continent. For more details call 053 9233540.
5REDMOND TALK A talk entitled The Life and Death of Major Willie Redmond (1861 – 1917) – on the famous Wexford parliamentarian – takes place this Tuesday at 7 p.m. in New Ross Library. The lecture has been prepared by librarian and local historian Jarlath Glynn who has researched the history of the Redmond family over a long number of years. To book your place at what promises to be a fascinating lecture phone 051 421877. Should you require any supports to fully participate in this event, please contact the librarian at New Ross Library.
6COUNTY WEXFORD YOUTH THEATRE: Members of CWYT return to Wexford Arts Centre on May 24, 25 and 26 to present ‘12 Angry Pigs’ and ‘The Liontamer’. The first play is based on the Reginald Rose classic ‘12 Angry Men’. It depicts a jury of pigs forced to consider whether the wolf is a terrorist who has blown up two houses. ‘The Liontamer’, by Ed Malone, is a cross between ‘Father Ted’ and ‘Doctor Doolittle’. It focuses on Stephanie who has a pet lion called James. Following an episode with the clergy, she becomes a fugitive and flees to New York. Tickets are available now from www.wexfordartscentre.ie.
7THE NATIONAL Opera House will play host to a stage adaptation of Maeve Binchy’s, ‘Minding Frankie’, on Friday, May 25, at 8 pm. The story has been adapted by Shay Linehan and is being staged by Breda Cashe Productions. The story focusses on Noel Lynch who gets a call from Stella, with whom he shared a drunken weekend. She has terminal cancer but is also pregnant with Noel’s child, Frankie. He is left to raise her alone and must prove he can fill a woman’s shoes. Noel learns lot about life, love, parenthood and the importance of community. Tickets for the show, priced €22 and €20, are now available from the box-office on 053-9122144 or though www.nationaloperahouse.ie