7 Things to do this week...
1BLACKSTAIRS BLUES FESTIVAL: Beautiful blues licks will be heard all over Enniscorthy this weekend as the annual Blackstairs Blues Festival takes over venues across the town. Now in its 24th year, the festival has gained a massive reputation all over the country for being at the pinnacle of blues music and this year’s line-up, once again, looks incredibly impressive with a real international feel. There are over 30 free gigs taking place at venues across town from Friday to Saturday, including shows from Austrian trio Shuffle Truffle, Poland’s Slidin’ PK, Argentinian blues maestro Daniel De Vita, Van Morrison’s original guitarist Jackie McCauley, along with Mik Pyro of Republic of Loose’s new project, the Dublin Blues Cartel and many more! A full programme of events, along with further information, is available to download from blackstairsblues.ie. Festival brochures are available at participating venues across town. There are also a number of fringe events, jams and talks planned over the course of the weekend with big crowds expected.
2COOLGREANY VINTAGE DAY: The very first Coolgreany Vintage Day will be held on Sunday, September 9, from 12 noon. There will be vintage cars, tractors and various machinery of all years on exhibit. The Vintage Day will have jumble stalls that will include a variety of items for sale and vintage dress. Entertainment in the field will be provided by Ferns musician Stacey Breen with her lovely versions of old country and western music. All exhibits and trade stands must be in the field by midday, and all vehicles must have their own insurance. For further information on the Vintage Day, call Seán at 087 207 6335, Geraldine at 087 203 8213 or Alan at 085 7299468.
3MICHAEL CURRAN MEMORIAL TRACTOR RUN: TullogherRosbercon Vintage Club will hold its annual tractor and car road run in memory of the late Michael (Mickey) Curran on Sunday. The event, which always draws a big crowd of motoring enthusiasts, is open to vintage vehicles only. Everyone is asked to assemble at Rosbercon Parish Centre at 12 noon. Any enquiries can be directed to Jamie on 087 6869137.
4GER DEVEREUX MEMORIAL RUN: A big crowd of red t-shirts are expected on the streets around Enniscorthy on Sunday, September 9, as the annual Ger Devereux Memorial Run takes off from Bellefield GAA Complex. Ger passed away in 2015 and since then his family and friends have raising funds and awareness in his memory. Registration will take place on the morning at 10 a.m. and the walk/run will commence at 11 a.m. For more details call 0872927138.
5WEXFORD IMPROV GROUP: The group will return to the National Opera House on Saturday, September 8, for a performance that will have the audience laughing, crying, feeling ashamed and possibly even a little frightened. The show will get under way at 8 p.m. and tickets, priced €10, are currently available from the venue’s box-office. Wexford Improv Group is composed of ever-changing professional performers and artists from all disciplines including jugglers, actors, and drama teachers who pool their talent to produce very funny shows.
6KENNEDY SUMMER SCHOOL: New Ross is the town to visit this week as the biggest think-in about Brexit, US President Donald Trump, the education system and Irish politics gets under way in the Kennedy Summer School from Thursday to Saturday. Kerry Kennedy - human rights activist and daughter of Robert F Kennedy - will lead a stellar line-up including RTE’s Miriam O’Callaghan, Republican campaign strategist John Weaver, EU Commissioner Phil Hogan and former Taoiseach Brian Cowen. For further details and tickets see kennedysummerschool.ie or call St Michael’s Theatre at 051 421255.
7MUSIC NETWORK PRESENTS: Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill, Máirtín O’Connor and Séamie O’Dowd at the National Opera House on Tuesday, September 11 for what will be a very special tour. Máirtin and Séamie has dazzled audiences in the past and now, combined with the shimmering vocals of Maighread, promise a wonderful night of entertainment. Maighread Ní Dhomnaill is the winner of TG4’s Traditional Singer of the Year award, Máirtín O’Connor’s versatility on the accordion have seen him perform with a veritable who’s who of trad legends. Séamie O’Dowd is a renowned multi-instrumentalist most associated with his performances as a member of trad powerhouse Dervish. The show starts at 8 p.m.