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HERE’S OUR TOP TEN THINGS TO DO IN CORK THIS WEEK
CLEAR THOSE CHRISTMAS COBWEBS IN DONERAILE
THE public have been invited to welcome in the New Year with a gentle stroll around the grounds of arguably one of Cork’s most majestic and scenic parks.
The free guided tour of Doneraile Park will commence at 2.30pm on Sunday from the playground car par and will take approximately 90 minutes.
Hosted by trained volunteers, the walk will offer people the chance to stroll across some of the parks 500 acres from the Deer Park to the Court Yard and finish with a refreshing cuppa in the tea rooms.
Along the way people will walk through four-centuries of gardening history, hear the story of the St Leger’s and learn how they shaped the park that we see today.
TALK ON THE LIFE OF MARY KENT IN FERMOY
THE life and times of Mary Kent, the mother of executed 1916 hero Thomas Kent, will be discussed at a fascinating talk taking place in Fermoy next Thursday night.
Organised by the Fermoy 1916 Commemoration Committee, the talk will take place in Fermoy library at 7.30pm – the 100th anniversary of Mary Kent’s death.
Guest speaker for the talk, entitled ‘Remembering Mary Kent’, will be noted local historian Christy Roche.
The event will offer a fascinating insight into Mary (nee Rice) and her family and all are welcome to attend.
KILA LIVE AT DE BARRA’S FOLK CLUB IN CLON
Cork audiences will have another welcome opportunity to catch Kíla live when they play De Barra’s Folk Club in Clonakilty tonight (Thursday).
With their blend of Gaelic poetry, folk instruments and dance-floor beats, Kíla have transcended the boundaries of traditional Irish music to create an inspirational freewheeling fusion that has propelled them to the forefront of the international world music scene.
Their street origins, combined with the their capacity to absorb other musical influences has given the band a raw edge that, in spite of various line up changes over two decades, they have managed to develop into a unique sound quite unlike any other Irish music group.
Tickets cost €20 from www.tickets.ie.
NEW YEAR’S EVE WITH MICK AT THE OPERA HSE
GRAVEL voiced Cork singer/songwriter Mick Flannery will ring in 2017 with an eagerly awaited gig back on home turf at the Cork Opera House.
The award winning Blarney singer, a former music student at Colaiste Stiofan Naofa, first came to national prominence in 2007 with his debut album ‘Evening Train’.
His next three albums ‘While Lies’ (2008) and ‘Red to Blue’ (2012) and ‘By The Rule’ (2014) further enhanced his reputation as one of Ireland’s finest contemporary artists.
His 2016 album ‘I Own You’, is widely regarded by fans as his finest work to date enhancing his reputation even further.
Tickets for his New Year’s Eve gig at the Opera House from the venue on 021 427 0022 priced at €22.50.
NIGHT OF COUNTRY WITH DENVER IN KILLARNEY
ONE of the darlings of the Irish county music circuit, Mike Denver, will bring his live show the stage Gleneagle Ballroom Killarney on Saturday night.
Widely regarded as one of the brightest young stars of the genre, Denver is a relative newcomer to the Irish music scene, only performing his first professional live performance back in 2003.
Since them he has gone onto achieve huge recognition, recording more than a dozen albums, various DVD’s and selling out venues across the country.
Denver’s love shows are always an eclectic mix of self-penned hits, country classic and middle of the road favourite’s that appeal to all ages. Admission, priced at €20 on the door only.
TWO CHANCES TO CATCH LOUDEST WHISPER LIVE
VETERAN Irish icons Loudest Whisper will bring distinctive their distinctive sound to the stage of the Ballymaloe Grainstore on Friday night.
Led by the inimitable O’Reilly brothers (Brian and Paud) the band has been a seminal influence on the Irish music scene since the debut of their ground-breaking Celtic musical ‘ The Children of Lir’ in 1970.
Almost five decades later Loudest Whisper is still enchanting audiences with a unique mix of folk, rock and blues that has captured the imaginations of music lovers across the world.
Tickets for their Grainstore gig from www. eventbrite.ie priced at €20.
The band will be back on home soil on New Year’s Eve when they play a concert at Fermoy Golf Club. Tickets for this concert from the club on 025 31472 priced at €10.
MERCURIAL MIX WITH STRANGE ATTRACTOR
FUNK 10-piece outfit Strange Attractor will set pulses racing and toes tapping when they take to the stage of the Crane Lane Theatre on Friday for a free late night gig.
Formed as a three-piece in Dingle, the band has expanded over the past two-years, playing more than 150 concerts including Electric Picnic, The Guinness Jazz Festival and a German tour.
Noted for their high-energy live performances, the band blend elements of pop, funk and reggae to create a vibrant blend of soul jazz and old style R&B with the support of a booming brass section.
SURREAL NIGHT AT THE INEC WITH KEITH BARRY
THE INEC in Killarney will kick off its 2017 offering on New Year’s Day with an evening in the company of illusionist and comedian Keith Barry.
His new ‘Hypno Magick’ show features never before seen mind-boggling feats of mind-reading, mentalism and magic, coupled with hilarious demonstrations of mass hypnosis.
During the show Barry will invite people onto the stage where he will hypnotise them into doing outlandish feats – you have been warned.
Under-12’s going to the show must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets from the INEC box office on 064 667 1555 priced at €30.