WHAT’S ON AROUND COUNTY WEXFORD
TUESDAY, JULY 31 SOUTH EAST PLEIN AIR – ART IN THE OPEN
Wexford’s Art In the Open brings artists from all over to the county for Europe’s largest annual plein air painting festival. Demonstrations, workshops, master classes, paint-outs will take place all around the county.
SUMMER SEISIÚN AT THE SKY AND THE GROUND.
Comhaltas’s latest summer session starts at 9.30 p.m. The weekly sessions have been drawing great audiences and the feedback has been hugely positive. The focus is on showcasing the very best of local talent, be it traditional music/singing, storytelling or Irish dancing. Each week a number of special guests join the house band. Admission is €5.
DANESCASTLE MUSIC GROUP
Danescastle Music Group/Bannow Comhaltas hosts a seisiún every Tuesday during July and August in the Horse and Hound, Ballinaboola, at 8.30 p.m.
This is a show full of music, singing and dancing and promises to be a great night for all the family.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1 GREEN ROAD
Join Green Road at Wexford Arts Centre at 8 p.m. for a night of foot-tapping Irish Folk and trad music. This is the first of a seven-night series that will welcome a guest musician each night. The first guest will be Donal Clancy. Green Road features musicians who have played with Riverdance, on TV shows in Ireland, on radio shows in the UK and US, and for presidents and prime ministers. Wexford Arts Centre at 8 p.m.
SOUTH EAST PLEIN AIR – ART IN THE OPEN
Art in the Open. Seen July 31.
THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS
Wexford Drama Group are delighted to present their summer 2018 production, the wonderful ‘The Plough and the Stars’ by Seán O’Casey, directed by Thomas O’Leary. This wonderful piece of Irish drama will be performed in the Jerome Hynes Theatre, National Opera House nightly at 8 p.m. till Sunday, August 5. Set amid the tumult of the Easter Rising, ‘The Plough and the Stars’ is the story of ordinary lives ripped apart by the idealism of the time. The residents of a Dublin tenement shelter from the violence that sweeps through the city’s streets. A revolution that will shape the country’s future rages around them. What kind of Ireland awaits them?
MUSIC FOR WEXFORD LUNCHTIME CONCERTS.
The final concert in the summer lunchtime series will feature the Allegro String Quartet playing works by Haydn, Philip Glass and Ravel and tenor Peter O’Reilly accompanied by Aoife O’Sullivan on piano for songs by Beethoven, Duparc, Rachmaninoff and Poulenc. The Allegro String Quartet was formed recently and comprises Áine Gallagher and Éibhlín Ní Chathasaigh, violin, Suzanne Anglim, viola, and Lioba Petrie, cello. All four have attended the chamber music course in Termonfeckin.
FOULKSMILLS DUCK RACE
Foulksmills Tidy Towns Duck Race is taking place on the banks of the River Corach starting at 6 p.m. in the Village Park. This year’s attractions include everything from milking Daisy the Cow, to river boat rides, a bouncy castle, giant soccer darts, Hook a Duck and more.
SONGS OF THE SEA
A night of music, songs and stories from New Ross characters Jack Stacey, Séamus Kiely and guests is set to entertain in the Captain’s Table Restaurant at the Dunbrody Visitor Centre at 7.30 p.m. Tickets cost €15 and include finger food. Contact the centre at 051 425239 to book.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 2 SOUTH EAST PLEIN AIR – ART IN THE OPEN
Art in the Open. Seen July 31.
THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS
Jerome Hynes Theatre. See August 1.
GOREY MARKET HOUSE FESTIVAL
Opening of the festival at 7 p.m. at Gorey Civic Square with a céilí and craic. Art exhibitions run all weekend including: Peripheries at Periphery Space, Gorey School of Art; Process Art at Gorey School of Art; Gorey Art Circle summer exhibit at Gorey Market House; Gorey Photographic Club exhibit at Gorey Library; and Gorey Art Collective exhibit at Gorey Library and Gorey Civic Offices.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 3 ENNISCORTHY ROCKIN’ FOOD FESTIVAL.
Rightly regarded as one of the best festivals in the South East, the streets of Enniscorthy will once again come to life as the Rockin’ Food Festival takes over the town with mouth watering food and hip-swivelling rock’n’ roll from August 3 to August 6. With all manner of artisan food and drinks producers exhibiting in the town, there will be something for everyone with workshops and tastings a-plenty. To add to this, there will be a wonderful lineup of free gigs with some of the finest roots and rockabilly acts that Europe has to offer arriving to perform in the Market Square and at venues around town. For more details on the festival, see rockinfoodfestival.ie.
SLANEY SEARCH AND RESCUE TABLE QUIZ.
Slaney Search and Rescue are inviting members of the public to test their general knowledge with a special fundraising table quiz at the Bailey on Friday, August 3, at 8.30 p.m. The evening promises to be plenty of fun with finger food and spot prizes up for grabs. The cost of entry is €10 for a team of two and €20 for a team of four.
WEXFORD FILM FESTIVAL
Wexford Film Festival’s third year is bringing the best of international independent film to Wexford Arts Centre. Films from all over Ireland, the US, Canada, Australia and Europe will play over the three-night event in Wexford. Tickets for the full weekend are just €10.
THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS
Jerome Hynes Theatre. See August 1.
SOUTH EAST PLEIN AIR – ART IN THE OPEN
Art in the Open. Seen July 31.
GOREY MARKET HOUSE FESTIVAL
Beat FM Beat on the Street from 7.30 p.m. with DJ Mark McCabe, Wild Youth, Chris Ward, Seán and Conor Price and Tuesday at Six.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 4 LEO CARTHY WEEKEND
A great weekend of music and entertainment in memory of former local councillor Leo Carthy. The events take place in and around Our Lady’s Island Community Hall. All proceeds go to the Irish Heart Foundation, the RNLI and various local voluntary groups.
WEXFORD FILM FESTIVAL
Wexford Arts Centre. See August 3.
SOUTH EAST PLEIN AIR – ART IN THE OPEN
Art in the Open. See July 31.
ENNISCORTHY ROCKIN’ FOOD FESTIVAL.
Enniscorthy. See August 3.
THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS
Jerome Hynes Theatre. See August 1.
WEXFORD SKA FESTIVAL
The Halfway House, Ballycogley, will play host to this year’s Ska Festival which will feature Gangsters, Boss Sound Manifesto and the Skallions with ska dj sets by Nigel Quaid. Tickets through South East Records, Joe the Barber and from the venue.
GOREY MARKET HOUSE FESTIVAL
Making Music busking competition on Main Street, with judging between midday and 2 p.m. Play Day at Gorey Town Park from 12.30 p.m. to 5 p.m. sponsored by Altura Credit Union. Music on the Main Street stage from 7.30 p.m. with Jake Carter and Fusion.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 WEXFORD FILM FESTIVAL
Wexford Arts Centre. See August 3.
SOUTH EAST PLEIN AIR – ART IN THE OPEN
Art in the Open. Seen July 31.
THE PLOUGH AND THE STARS
Jerome Hynes Theatre. See August 1.
LEO CARTHY WEEKEND
Our Lady’s Island. See Saturday, August 4.
BLUE LIGHT FIGHT NIGHT TWO
The Fire Service and An Garda Síochána will do battle in the boxing ring a the Riverside Park Hotel in Enniscorthy on August 5 as they take part in the Blue Light Fight Night for friends of St Patrick’s Special School. This is the second year that the event has taken place and last year it was the firefighters that emerged with bragging rights. With the gardaí keen for revenge, it promises to be a great night of entertainment for a great cause. Tickets are for sale from Enniscorthy Fire Station on Tuesday nights from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. and are priced at €20.
FERNS FITTEST FAMILY
Families from around the Ferns area will once again battle their way through a series of gruelling challenges to compete for the title of Ferns Fittest Family on August 5. The event, organised by Ferns United, will get under way from 11 a.m. with registration at 10 a.m. The presentation of prizes will take place in the Thatch Pub later that evening with a disco afterwards. For more information, contact Kerrie at 087 3592959 or Paul at 086 0811642.
ENNISCORTHY ROCKIN’ FOOD FESTIVAL.
Enniscorthy. See August 3.
GOREY MARKET HOUSE FESTIVAL
Street market on Main Street from 1.30 p.m. with music from the Dawn Chorus Choir, Tommy Carroll, Sam Ali and Remedy Club. Superhero Fun Run on Main Street at 2.30 p.m. Register from 12.30 p.m. at Gorey Market House. Music on the Main Street stage from 7.30 p.m. with Hothouse Flowers, Johnny the Fox and Dave Clark.
MONDAY, AUGUST 6 SOUTH EAST PLEIN AIR – ART IN THE OPEN
Art in the Open. Seen July 31.
FETHARD DRAG RACE
The second annual Fethard Drag Race looks set to be an even bigger success than last year’s inaugural event with entries already exceeding last year’s number. This fun event is more of a parade than a race, covering a distance of just four kilometres and features a ‘secret shortcut’ for those who want to take it, cutting the distance in half. It is a fundraiser for the Helen Blake Lifeboat Project. There is no entry fee – register by emailing: dragracefethard@outlookcom. The event starts at 11 a.m. from the monument in the village.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 7 DANESCASTLE MUSIC GROUP
Danescastle Music Group/Bannow Comhaltas hosts a Seisiún every Tuesday during August in the Horse and Hound, Ballinaboola, at 8.30 p.m.
This is a show full of music, singing and dancing and promises to be a great night for all the family.
SUMMER SEISIÚN AT THE SKY AND THE GROUND.
Presented by Loch Garman Comhaltas, Seisiún features a lively mix of traditional music and singing. The focus is on showcasing the very best of local talent, be it traditional music/ singing, storytelling or Irish dancing. Each week a number of special guests join the house band. The show starts at 9 p.m. and likely duration is 70 minutes. Admission is €5.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8 CLANG SAYNE
Folk quartet Clang Sayne return to Wexford Arts Centre this summer. Led by local composer, Laura Hyland, the group will present a new collection of work, forged during a week-long jam session on the shores of Bannow earlier this summer, and beating a wayward path between song and sound improvisation. The concert starts at 8.30 p.m.
THE CHILD IS THE FATHER OF THE MAN.
This new two-act play by Eamonn Colfer is set against the backdrop of small-town gang culture and features James Freeney, Ben Mac Caoilte and Martin Brennan. The play will be be performed in the Jerome Hynes Theatre at 8 p.m.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 9 SUMMER TALKS AT HOOK LIGHTHOUSE.
Brian Matthews will deliver the third of the 2018 Hook summer Talks with a discussion on the Mills of New Ross and the Hook. Brian is a proud native of New Ross and remembers the last working mill outside the town. He has had a lifelong interest in history and is a past chairman and president of the Wexford Historical Society. The talk takes place at the Hook Lighthouse starting at 8 p.m, with refreshments at 7 p.m. Further details from 051 397055.
THE CHILD IS THE FATHER OF THE MAN.
Theatre at National Opera House. See Wednesday, August 8.
TOM FUNGE MEMORIAL CUPS
€10 with light lunch and mineral included. Tee reserved from 8 a.m. till 2.30 p.m. Time sheets are available at Courtown Golf Club office at 053 9425166. The age limit is under 18 years old on January 1. Handicap limit: boys 10 to 28 and girls 36.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 10 THE CHILD IS THE FATHER OF THE MAN.
Theatre at National Opera House. See Wednesday, August 8.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11 LIVE AT THE CASTLE MARQUEE WEXFORD.
Three of Ireland’s best-known bands, Something Happens,
The 4 Of Us and Corner Boy will perform at a new music event which
will be held at St Martin’s GAA Grounds in Piercestown. Doors open at 7 p.m. A free bus will travel from Redmond Square at 7 p.m. and return at 12.30 a.m. Tickets available from lantern.ie. SADHANA YOGA OPEN DAY
To celebrate their first anniversary, Sadhana Yoga will host an open day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with classes and talks during the day. Log onto sadhanayoga.ie to book a class for a reduced cost of €5. THE CHILD IS THE FATHER OF THE MAN. Theatre at National Opera House. See Wednesday, August 8. POP-UP TRAD GIG
The Wexford town branch of Comhaltas take to the Bullring from 1.30 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. for a one-off pop-up gig. The branch is blessed with an array of talent with some of the younger musicians, in particular, impressing in recent shows. The organiser of the event is traditional singing maestro Paddy Berry. He is particularly looking forward to the duelling banjos, the face-off between bag pipes and uilleann pipes and a percussive call to arms from the massed ranks of bodhráns. Paddy says that the show is all part of the effort to successfully secure Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2020 for Wexford.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 12
78TH CASTLEBRIDGE SHOW. This is a fun-filled family day out in Castlebridge Community Centre starts at 1.45 p.m. With the current spell of gorgeous weather, those with green fingers are being encouraged to head to their gardens and start preparing their entries. Whether your interest lies in baking, arts and crafts, growing vegetables or flowers, photography or flower arranging, there is something to suit everyone. There will be a children’s section and a dog show. There will be a Pet’s Corner, sponsored by Blackwater Open Farm. Check the event schedule at castlebridgeshow.com.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15
GREEN ROAD Wexford Arts Centre at 8 p.m. See Wednesday, August 1.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 16
MILLINERY WORKSHOP
A special workshop in Millinery, or hat-making, with Alice J Kelly will take place at Enniscorthy Library on Thursday, August 16, at 7 p.m. Having worked in millinery for the past six years from Blackwater, Alice produces superb bespoke hats and fascinators for all occasions. Admission to the workshop is free of charge and all are welcome to attend. For further details, contact the library. SUMMER TALKS AT HOOK LIGHTHOUSE.
The final talk in the 2018 Hook summer Talks series will see Kevin Mac Cormick of the Irish Whale and Dolphin Society explain what an important part of Irish wildlife those two mammals are. Kevin, from Rosslare Harbour, is an avid nature lover and conservationist. He is also a keen wildlife enthusiast and sometime rehabilitator of whatever species that comes his way. The talk starts at 8 p.m. with refreshments beforehand at 7 p.m. Further details from 051 397055.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 17
CACA MILIS CABARET
Wexford’s favourite arts cabaret returns with host Helena Mulkerns presenting a splendid summer evening of new original music, spoken word, jazz, cutting edge film, comedy, dance and classic cabaret. Featuring local and national talent, early booking is advised. SATURDAY, AUGUST 18 WEXWORLDS SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY FESTIVAL.
Discover an uncharted world of science fiction and fantasy events during a thrilling weekend at the National Opera House. Ireland’s newest convention will have plenty for fans of comic books, video games, art, film, entertainment and discovery. KARMA YOGA IN REDMOND PARK
Sadhana Yoga will hold two free classes in Redmond Park from 11 a.m. to midday (Hatha Vintasa Yoga) and from 12.20 p.m. to 1 p.m. (Mindful Meditation). No experience necessary, you can bring friends and family. Bring a mat, towel or blanket also. SUNDAY, AUGUST 19 WEXWORLDS SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY FESTIVAL. Convention at National Opera House. See Saturday, August 18. HERITAGE WEEK LECTURE AND EXHIBITION.
Monksgrange in Rathnure will host a fascinating exhibition and lecture on ‘The Normans in art and photographs from Monksgrange Archives’ for Heritage week. The recent digitisation of more than 1000 glass plate and 200 acetate negatives dating from the 1890s reveals another dimension to historian and author Goddard Orpen. Jeremy Hill’s lecture on the topic will get under way at Monksgrange, Rathnure, on August 19 at 3 p.m. and entry will be free of charge. THE WOLFE TONES
The legendary Wolfe Tones will take to the stage in the Amber Springs Hotel, Gorey. The band are celebrating 55 years on the road. Doors will open at 8 p.m. Tickets are €30, and are on sale at Amber Springs Hotel reception or from eventbrite.com. SUGARLOAF MOUNTAIN
The Cleveland Baroque Orchestra presents Sugarloaf Mountain, which traces the journey of Irish immigrants in the early 19th century across the Atlantic to America through music, song and dance. The show runs at the National Opera House at 7.30 p.m. SAND SCULPTURE FESTIVAL
Seal Rescue Ireland and Love Gorey present summer Sand Sculpture Festival. The event will take place from 1 p.m., till 6 p.m., on Ballymoney Beach. There will be build your own sand sculpture interactive workshops, featuring professional sand sculptor Daniel Doyle. These will take place at 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., and 5 p.m. It is €10 per group. Reserve a spot by visiting sealrescueireland.org or call 053 9424980. Other activities include beach games, talks, beach clean, bake sale, face painting and music. Proceeds to Seal Rescue Ireland.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22
GREEN ROAD Wexford Arts Centre at 8 p.m. See Wednesday, August 1. CHARITY SOCCER MATCH
Staff at two Wexford nursing homes – Wygram and Kerlogue – will partake in a charity football tournament at North End United’s pitch from 5 p.m. There will be two matches – one men’s and one women’s game and all proceeds raised will go to the Alzheimer’s Society.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 25
STONE BLIND STATE
Wexford’s rock band Stone Blind State are coming to the Wexford Arts Centre for a stripped back, unplugged show. Having had success with gigs in Dublin City and gaining radio play on Irish radio as well as airplay in the UK, USA and Canada, the band is bringing their music back to Wexford where they started. Starts at 8.30 p.m. MARK MCCABE DJ SET
Legendary Irish DJ Mark McCabe, the man behind dance anthem ‘Maniac 2000’, is to perform a special DJ set at Benedicts, Templeshannon, Enniscorthy on Saturday, August 25.