7 Things to do this week...
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LUAN PARLE AND CLIVE BARNES: Two of Ireland’s finest songwriters and performers Luan Parle and Clive Barnes perform at the Wexford Arts Centre on Saturday, February 8 at 8.30 p.m. Luan and Clive have for many years been gaining an international reputation as solo performers and for the past number of years they have been performing together to sold out audiences across Ireland, US and Europe. Meteor & Tatler Award winner Luan has had numerous hits and accolades. Her top 10 hit single ‘Ghost’ spent three months in the charts and was the most played Irish single of that year. Parle signed her first record deal at just 12 years of age and has written and recorded with some of the worlds most successful songwriters and producers including Grammy award winning Bill Bottrell (Sheryl Crowe, Michael Jackson, Prince, Elton John) & Billy Steinberg (Roy Orbison, Cyndi Lauper, The Pretenders, Whitney Houston, The Bangles, Celine Dion). Parle signed with Elton Johns Management Company Twenty First Artists and opened for Elton three nights at the London Hammersmith Apollo. Tickets €10.
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FILM PREMIERE: The world première of a new short film titled ‘Besties’ will take place in the Presentation Centre, Enniscorthy, on Friday night, February 7, at 7.30 p.m. The film features members of Enniscorthy Drama Group among the cast including: Karen Franklin; Jennifer Boyd; Fintan Kelly; Summer VennKeane; Maeve Ennis and Jennifer Kelly. The film was directed by local filmmaker, Dick Donoghue and was produced by Jer Ennis. There will also be two other films screened on the night: ‘Dark Waters’ and ‘What Next Mother’. The première is being organised to raise money for Focus Ireland. For more information contact the Presentation Centre.
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SPLASHATON:
The third annual Splashaton takes place this weekend in the Ashdown Park Hotel leisure club in Gorey from 9 a.m. on Saturday, February 8, to 9 a.m. on Sunday, February 9. Hundreds have signed up for one hour slots, including Wexford hurling star Conor McDonald. All money raised from the cycle will go towards Cycle Against Suicide schools programme, and music will be provided by DJ Ciano.
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CYCLING SPORTIVE: Barrow Wheelers Cycling Club will be holding their annual 100km Sportive cycling event on Sunday starting from Good Counsel College in New Ross at 9.30 a.m. The scenic route travels from New Ross and on towards Waterford/ Mullinavat/ Stoneyford/Bennetsbridge/Thomastown/Inistioge and then back on to New Ross. You can sign up on the morning from 8.30 a.m. The entry fee is €20 for Cycling Ireland members.
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YEAR OF THE HIKER PLAY: Camross Drama Group has been rehearsing the full length play `The Year of the Hiker’ by John B Keane ahead of performing it on a tour of south Wexford including in Clonroche on Saturday and Sunday. `The Year of the Hiker’ is the group’s entry for the DLI festival this spring. The play concerns Hiker Lacey, who has left the family home to take to the roads some years back, returns on a special day in the life of the family he abandoned. Directed by Michael Stafford and Philip Howlin, the cast will also be performing in Wexford town.
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FINBARR WRIGHT: Finbar Wright, one of Ireland’s best-loved entertainers, returns to the National Opera House on Saturday, February 8 at for a glorious concert packed with great humour and passionate music. Celebrating his greatest hits and all of your favourite music, Finbar will be joined by an impressive line-up of fine musicians in sparkling performances to delight all music lovers. He began his solo career in 1990 with the release of his first best-selling album ‘Because’ and has since recorded six solo albums. He has also recorded six albums with the ‘Irish Tenors.Tickets €35.
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MUSIC CONCERT: Two of Ireland’s outstanding musicians, Patrick Rafter on violin and Michael McHale on piano will give a recital in St. Iberius Church on the Main Street in Wexford on Sunday, February 9 at 3.30 p.m. Both musicians have performed in Wexford before but this concert marks their first recital together in the town. The award-winning Rafter is regarded as one of Ireland’s most gifted musicians while McHale has also performed in some of the world’s foremost concert venues. The pair will perform works by Mozart, Debussy, Franck, Monti and Ysaye. This is the opening concert in the 2020 programme of Music for Wexford which promises a year of exciting classical music concerts.