7 Things to do this week...
1 AIMS CHORAL FESTIVAL: The Aims choral festival takes place in New Ross from Friday to Sunday when the town will be abuzz with music courtesy of some of the region’s top musical societies. On Saturday night, May 17, St Michael’s Theatre will host a gala concert at 8 p.m. featuring musical societies from across the south east region including St Michael’s Theatre Musical Society, New Ross Musical Society, Oyster Lane Theatre Group and many more in what promises to be a great night’s entertainment featuring many of your favourite songs from your favourite musicals from down through the years. The Aims adult competition takes place on Sunday. Tickets for this show are available from St Michael’s Theatre on www. stmichaelsnewross.com or phone 051 421255. 2 SHAYMA KAMAR: A WOMAN AT WAR: This new play by Wexford writer Natasha O’Brien focuses on the timely topic of the refugee crisis, following the journeys of three people, from Aleppo to Rosslare and many other places in between, as they examine what it means to be a refugee in today’s society. Directed by Michael Way, it stars Finbarr Delaney, Lekan Akinyemi and Natasha O’Brien in the title role. The playwright has always been keen to explore social issues in her writing as she wanted to give a voice to people who were victims of social injustice. The play runs from May 17 to 19. Tickets are €15 and are available from www. nationaloperahouse.ie. 3 SNOW PATROL: Following a lengthy absence, indie rock royalty Snow Patrol are getting back to basics as they take their Irish tour to the National Opera House tomorrow (Wednesday) night. The five piece are looking to ease themselves back into touring by hitting venues right across the country. It’s not too long ago that Snow Patrol were headlining huge shows in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, so the Wexford show provides a wonderful opportunity to see them in a somewhat intimate setting as they blitz through over two decades of hits such as the huge ‘Chasing Cars’ along with material from their newest offering ‘Wildness’. Unfortunately the show is completely sold-out, but it promises to be a great night for lucky ticket-holders. 4 THE NATIONAL Opera House will reverberate to the sound of Simon & Garfunkel this week when it plays host to a tribute show to the two iconic music legends. The show will be staged on Thursday, May 17, at 7.30 p.m. and comes direct from sell-out performances at London’s West End and a sold out tour of the UK where standing ovations were common. Tickets for this show are now available at the box-office on 0539122144 or log onto www.nationaloperahouse.ie 5 BILLY ROCHE RED GUITAR TOUR: Billy Roche will return to the stage of the Arts Centre on Friday night to launch his new album ‘Dead Man’s Shoes’. The album is the result of the Red Guitar Tour which has been running in various locations over the past year, following a chance encounter. Last year, Billy was reunited with the red guitar he had sold 35 years ago. Since then, the songs have spilled out of Billy and, teaming up with Mike Odlum on bass and keyboards, and Pete McCamley on drums and percussion, the Red Guitar Tour was born. Entry to this very special gig is €20 and includes a copy of the album. 6 MOUNT LEINSTER CHALLENGE: Cyclists from all over the South East are expected at Bellefield GAA Club on Saturday as the Mount Leinster Challenge gets underway. This year’s event consists of three routes (145km, 105km and 65km) and takes in some challenging climbs and spectacular views of Mount Leinster. The cost of entry this year is €30 for the longer routes, €35 for non CI licence holders, and €20 for the shorter route, €25 for non CI licence holders. The route has become a real favourite over the years and a big crowd is expected. For more details and routes, see www.slaneycyclingclub.com.
7 VINTAGE DAY: Tullogher/Rosbercon Vintage Club will hold their 10th Anniversary Vintage Rally and Field Day on Sunday at Rosbercon Parish Centre at 1 p.m. This year’s theme is Ferguson and Massey Ferguson tractors. Some of the events taking place on the day are: horseshoe throwing, rugby skills, hurling skills, dog show, fun fair, bottle stall, butter making, bouncy castle, children’s races, Wheel of Fortune, penalty shootout, steam engine, working thrashing mill, cake stall, toss the sheaf, raffle, quad bike rides, kids’ fancy dress, line dancing and much, much more. All enquiries to Jamie on 087 6869137 or David on 087 7382301.