7 Things to t do this week...
1
COUNTRY MUSIC WEEKEND: It’s time to polish up those dancing shoes, as the Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey, presents a country music weekend from Friday, January 5, to Sunday, January 7, with some top country stars on the bill. First on stage on Friday evening are the ever popular Theresa and the Stars, and they will be followed by Mike Denver. Mike won the Entertainer of the Year award, and the award for Album of the Year for ‘Cut Loose’ at the Country Music Awards in 2016. Doors open at 9 p.m. and entry is €15. Saturday’s entertainment features two rising stars of the country music dancing scene, Jim Devine and Liam Mannering, who will be sure to keep the floor full all night. Again, doors are open from 9 p.m. and tickets are €15. To round off the weekend, music for dancing on Sunday is provided by local legends, the Moynihan Brothers. Tickets are €10 and doors open at 2 p.m. The hotel has special rates for those who want to stay for the weekend and go to each of the shows. For more information, contact the hotel on 053 9480500 or visit www.ashdownparkhotel.com
2
SHARON SHANNON GIG: One of Ireland’s best known performers Sharon Shannon is performing in St Michael’s Theatre, New Ross, on Saturday at 8 p.m., with talented Irish musician Alan Connor. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the price per ticket is €22.50. Tickets are available from the theatre box office at 051 421255. Shannon is one of Ireland’s most popular musicians. An electic musician, she has won over fans the world over with her amazing musical talents. She returns with her brandnew studio album ‘Sacred Earth’ on St Patrick’s Day 2018 with her first new studio album in three years and her tenth studio album to date. Tickets are selling fast for this gig.
3
BRENDAN GRACE: One of the country’s favourite funny-men returns to Enniscorthy this Saturday night for a special show in The Riverside Park Hotel. Brendan Grace is celebrating his 46th year in showbiz with a tour and invites you to come along. The show features a mix of new and classic material and support on the night will be by Showband Nostalgia. Tickets are €30 from the hotel reception or Ticketmaster.
4
IMAGES OF THREE WEXFORD WOMEN: Lady Jane Wilde; ‘Min’ Ryan and Una Brennan will be projected from Wexford Library, from dusk on January 6, 2018, Nollaig na mBan, as part of the ‘Illuminate HerStory global light festival. Dr Mary McAuliffe, assistant professor in gender studies at UCD, will give a lecture on the political activism of Wexford women, prior to the illumination. The lecture takes place at 3.30 p.m. Call 053 9196760 to book your place.
5
THE FUREYS: The Irish folk music legends return to the National Opera House for a night of songs and stories on Saturday, January 6 at 8pm. Still going strong, the band are renowned for hit songs including ‘I Will Love You’, ‘When You Were Sweet 16’, ‘The Green Fields of France’, ‘From Clare to Here’ and ‘Her Father Didn’t Like Me Anyway’. The group have been entertaining audiences worldwide for 39 years having been formed in 1978 by five Furey brothers and after many changes over the years including the death of Paul Furey in 2002, George and Eddie are continuing to delight audiences on tour. A new CD is due to be released.
7
ARACHAS FERRYCARRIG 5. This year’s Ferrycarrig 5 takes place on Sunday, January 7, at 12 noon. Hosted by St Killian’s Athletics Club and the Crossabeg/Ballymurn Community Centre the race will take place along a reasonably flat and looped route from Ferrycarrig Park. Participants will follow an anti-clockwise route through Newcastle, out and up the hard shoulder of the N11 from Kitestown Cross to Kyle Cross returning back to Wexford Youths’ complex for the finish. The race is chip timed and a fundraiser for Crossabeg/Ballymurn Community Centre. To register log onto www.popupraces.ie.