7 Things to t do this wweek...
1 BLACK TIE BALL: A black tie ball for The Helen Blake project, a voluntary steering committee tasked with building a 100-year-old replica boat lifeboat, is being held in the Brandon House Hotel, New Ross, this Saturday. The night begins with a prosecco reception at 7 p.m. There will be special guests, a live auction, a live band followed by a DJ. Chairperson of the committee Brendan Power said: ‘This is a very exciting time for us to be able to share with the public why we are all so passionate about this historic and exciting project. The courage the lifeboat crew showed that night when in 1914 the Norwegian schooner Mexico went aground on the Keeragh Islands off the coast of Wexford was simply extraordinary. The Helen Blake lifeboat, from Fethard on Sea, went to its aid, but was swamped by a freak wave and nine men lost their lives.’ Her Excellency, Ambassador of Norway to Ireland Else Berit Eikeland, who has taken huge personal interest in the project will be in attendance. To book visit thehelenblake.com/events or contact Brendan at 087 9861756. 2 KILRUSH DRAMA GROUP: Kilrush Drama Group proudly present ‘The Steward of Chrisendom’ by Irish playwright Sebastian Barry on Friday, February 15, and on Sunday, February 17, in St Brigid’s Hall, Carnew, at 8 p.m. The play focuses on Thomas Dunne – loosely based on Sebastian’ great grandfather – who is the former chief superintendent of the Dublin Metropolitan Police and is confined to a psychiatric facility. The play by Sebastian Barry recounts Thomas Dunne’s personal and public life throughout the 1910s and into early 1920s. ‘The Steward of Chrisendom’ is directed by Mick Byrne and the role of Thomas Dunne is being played by Michael Dunbar. 3 RABBIT HOLE: Wexford Drama Group is delighted to present the Pulitzer Prize winning play Rabbit Hole by David Lindsay-Abaire. The production hits the Wexford Arts Centre stage this Thursday, Friday and Saturday and again on February 21, 22 and 23 beginning at 8 p.m. nightly. It tells the story of a family navigating deep grief and learning how to live a fruitful life when things fall apart. Tickets are €14 from the venue. 4 TEN OUNCE MOUSE: Enniscorthy rock band Ten Ounce Mouse will perform a highly anticipated local gig in the Presentation Centre, in Enniscorthy, on Friday, February 15. The bill will also include special guests, The Elephant Room, Stupid Son and the Mistakes. Tickets for the gig, priced €10, are now available and they will also be available on the door. The gig gets under way at 7 p.m. and it promises to be a great night of high rock. 5 EDDI READER: Scottish songstress Eddi Reader makes a welcome return to Irish shores which includes a special show at The National Opera House on Friday night at 8 p.m. Having gained notoriety with acts such as Fairground Attraction, the Eurythmics and Gang of Four, she released nine critically acclaimed solo albums, scooped three Brit awards and was awarded an MBE before releasing a greatest hits album in 2016. Tickets for this special show are €20 from www.nationaloperahouse.ie or by calling the box office. 6 ROCK OF HELL 2019: Thee Rock of Hell will take place on Saturday, February 16, from 10 a.m., until 1 p.m. Spaces are filling up fast for this year’s 8km mud run and obstacle course. Participants will meet at the Bunker Bar, Gorey from 10 a.m. and will go in groups every 15 minutes. Entrants can register and book their start time on www.tararockgaa.ie Each group is limited to 80. Entry is €30 per person in a team of four or more. Individual entry is €35. The Rock of Hell will donate the proceeds from the event to Temple Street Children’s Hospital and St Aidan’s Day Care Services. 7 A STEADY RAIN: Like a Fox Theatre is delighted to present its production of ‘A Steady Rain’ kicking off this Wednesday and running until Saturday. Under the directorship of Eoghan Rua Finn, the show stars Fintan Kelly and Rónán P. Byrne as Chicago cops Joey and Denny. The pair are inseparable and are practically family. When a domestic disturbance call takes a turn for the worse, their friendship is put on the line and the result is a harrowing journey into a moral grey area where trust and loyalty struggle for survival against a backdrop of criminal low-lives. Tickets for the show are priced at €15 and are available from www. nationaloperahouse.ie.