WHAT’S ON GUIDE & WEATHER
THURSDAY, JUNE 28 CHESS FOR AUTISM
The six round Swiss ‘Chess for Autism’ competition takes place in the Friar Suite, Grand Hotel from 4 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. The entry fee is €10. The competiton is open to all aged 16 and over, beginners and improvers. All proceeds will go to ASD Social Club, Arklow, to help fund some trips and events for Teenagers and Young Adults with Autism. Entries and Enquiries to Séamus Duffy at seaduffy63@gmail.com.
MEET THE SAILORS PARTY
Ahead of the Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race, which begins on Sunday, a ‘Meet the Sailors’ party will be held in Wicklow Sailing Club, Wicklow town, from 7 p.m., featuring music by the Chosen Few.
PADDY CASEY FUNDRAISER
Paddy Casey, Declan O’Rourke and Lisa Loughrey will appear at a special concert at Temple Carrig Secondary School in aid of Tiglin. A food market and bar will be open on the school grounds from 6.30 p.m. with the show starting at 8 p.m. Tickets cost €25 and are available from eventbrite.ie.
MUSIC IN CALARY
Calary Church will host a performance from Seán Carpio (drums), Mikkel Ploug (guitar) Simon Jermyn (guitar), Jeppe Skovbakke (bass), and Joachim Badenhorst (clarinet) who will play a concert of original music that will speak about the places of its origin, including Calary, in order to present a complex yet nuanced concert experience transforming musical ele-ments of speech into music. The concert starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are €18 or €15 with a concession.
FRIDAY, JUNE 29 CEMETERY MASS
The annual cemetery Mass at Redford Cemetery in Greystones will be held at 8 p.m.
ROCK-A-ROUND IRELAND PARTY
With the Volvo Round Ireland Festival setting off on Saturday, Wicklow Sailing Club will be rocking from 8 p.m. with a barbecue and live music from Black Slade.
EXHIBITION ON SCREEN
Cézanne’s Portraits of a Life will be on at Mermaid Arts Centre on Friday, June 29, at 8 p.m. Tickets are €8.50 or €7 concession. Understanding the significance and genius of Paul Cézanne. Featuring interviews with curators and experts from the National Portrait Gallery London, MoMA New York, National Gallery of Art Washington, and Musée d’Orsay Paris, and correspondence from the artist himself, the film takes audiences beyond the exhibition to the places Cézanne lived and worked and sheds light on an artist who is perhaps the least known of all the impressionists – till now. Go to mermaidartscentre.ie for more information.
STEELY DAN TRIBUTE
The band recreates the sounds of one of rock’s most legendary and enigmatic bands with stunning precision and energy. The joint will be rockin’ to all the Dan classics from Reelin’ in the Years to Hey Nineteen and beyond. This eight-piece ensemble features former members of Pretzel Logic and includes some of Dublin’s finest jazz, rock and session musicians. Their live set opens with the entire classic album Aja, hence the name.
SUMMER CONCERT
The Inver Ladies’ Choir, with conductor Tony Norton and special guests, will perform a summer concert in Castlemacadam Church, Avoca, at 8 p.m. Tickets cost €10 and are available from any committee member.
NINETTE DE VALOIS FESTIVAL OF DANCE.
A gala tribute entitled ‘Invitation to the Dance’ takes place in the Tramway Theatre at 8 p.m. It will feature Irish National Youth Ballet, Degani Ensemble, guest dancers from Cork City Ballet, and the premier showing of Spectre de la Rose featuring Zoe Ashe-Browne and Dominic Harrison and filmed at Russborough House for the festival. A specially commissioned dramatization of De Valois’ poetry entitled the Contented Ghost will feature actor Deirdre Monaghan in the title role.
SATURDAY, JUNE 30 PEDAL FOR PIETA
After a hugely successful cycle last year, Enniskerry GAA is bring back its Pedal for Pieta cycle. Participants can chose from either an 80km route (departing at 10 a.m.) or a 40km route (leaving at 11.30 a.m.). Both routes will start and finish from Enniskerry village. Registration costs €20 and all sponsorship will be split 50/50 between the club and Pieta House. For more information, visit the club’s Facebook page.
ROSE SHOW
Delgany and District Horticultural Society will hold its next show, ‘The Rose Show’ on Saturday, June 30. The show will be held at St Patrick’s Primary School, Church Road, Greystones. This show will be open from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information go to delganydhs.com.
THE DUBLINERS
All For Me Grog: The songs and Story of the Dubliners will be on at Mermaid Arts Centre on Saturday, June 30, at 8 p.m. Tickets are €20 or €18 concession. Go to mermaidartscentre.ie for tickets.
NINETTE DE VALOIS FESTIVAL OF DANCE.
At noon the Tramway Theatre will host ‘Madame’ – a roundtable discourse on Ninette De Valois with invited guests including Paul Johnston of Dance Ireland and Joanna Banks one of the last dancers who worked with DeVaois.
FAMILY FUN DAY
It’s the day the Volvo Round Ireland Festival gets under way so what better way to celebrate than with a day of fun from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Black Castle in Wicklow town? Among the attractions will be a climbing wall, bouncy castle and obstacle course, food festival, abseiling over a cliff, drumming workshops, Volvo car display and emergency services display. There will be Pure Fitness Inter-club Challenge from 10 a.m. to noon while the main event, the start of the Volvo Round Ireland Yacht Race, will provide a great spectacle at 2 p.m.
RUSSBOROUGH CONCERT
At 2.30 p.m. Russborough House and the Beit Foundation will host an Afternoon Tea Dance at the Hippodrome as part of the Ninette de Valois International Dance Festival, where the award-winning Ballymore Eustace Concert Band will perform dance hits from the 1920s to the 1970s. Entrance is free and all are invited to dress in period costumes of their choice.
ROSE SHOW
Delgany and District Horticultural Society will hold its rose show from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at St Patrick’s Primary School in Greystones.
TASTE OF WICKLOW
A music festival featuring plenty of different acts takes place in the Abbey Grounds in Wicklow town from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. as part of the Taste of Wicklow festival.
MIDSUMMER BARN DANCE
The annual barbecue and barn dance in of Moneystown Community Centre will take place at 8 p.m. in the centre featuring Paul Molloy and the Whole Hog. This is an over – 18s event only. Tickets cost €20 and are available from 086 1504221.
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
Irish comedian Neil Delamere brings his latest show – which is still a work in progress, hence the lower ticket price – to the Courthouse Arts Centre in Tinahely at 8.30 p.m. Neil thinks he has the ‘illusion of control’ idea sussed. It’s doubtful. Tickets cost €15 and are available from the Courthouse.
SUNDAY, JULY 1 5K FUN RUN AND WALK
Tesco is Wicklow town is hosting this fundraising 5k in aid of Temple Street Hospital. Participants can register from 9 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. in the Assembly Hall (beside the garda station) and the cost of entry is €10 for adults, €5 for children or €20 for families of four. The race will begin at 10.30 a.m. from the Brass Fox. For more information on registration, call into Tesco Wicklow or text Alison at 087 9579264.
TASTE OF WICKLOW
Celebrity Chef’s Catherine Fulvio, Kevin Dundon and Paul Kelly in the Main Marquee plus local chefs will be situated in the Abbey Grounds, Wicklow town from midday to 7 p.m. Lots of family fun for all with entertainment, music and plenty of food stalls. Tickets costing €5 which are bought in advance will give the ticket buyer a great opportunity to win a great variety of prizes and will give free admittance on the day to the Abbey Grounds.
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD AND THE SILLY BILLY WOLF.
This Whale Theatre production for children in Greystones is a fun and gentle re-telling of the classic fairy-tale of Little Red Riding Hood. Little Red Riding Hood is adventuring through the woods to visit her Granny, but somewhere along the way the Silly Billy Wolf is waiting. Starts at 1 p.m. Go to whaletheatre.ie for tickets.
GARDA BAND
As part of ‘summer Sundays’ the Garda Band plays at the Victorian Bandstand, from 2.30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Ninette de Valois Festival of dance. At midday on Main Street Blessington a memorial to Ninette DeValois will be unveiled ceremonially to remind all who pass of her wonderful legacy and special place among her community. Following this ceremony there will be an afternoon of music and Dance Festivities in the Main Square with guest musicians and dancers.
SPCA DOG SHOW
Pet pooches around the county are lining up to take part in Wicklow SPCs annual dog show in Sharpeshill. There will be a broad range of classes – including the new ‘Best Junior Dog Handler’ – with kennels, trophies and feed up for grabs for the winners. Emmaline Duffy from Citizen Canine Ireland will be on hand to give a free class for younger dog
owners on teaching their pets the basic commands. Gates will be open from 1 p.m.
THE ULTIMATE LADIES’ DAY OUT
The Annacurra Community Playground committee are hosting this afternoon tea, ladies’ fashion and beauty event in the Woodenbridge Hotel. There will be pop-up beauty salon from midday to 2 p.m. before the main event, the fashion shows, take place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets cost €30 and are available from any committee member.
PARISH FAMILY FUN DAY
The Arklow Parish Family Fun Day takes place on Sunday, July 1, from 12.30 p.m. in the parish grounds. A barbecue, bouncy castle, face painting and lots of family fun will be on offer. There will be also dancing with Laura Gannon and the art competition awards.
SEABREEZE PRINCESS SELECTION
Contestants for this year’s Seabreeze Princess competition are now sought ahead of the selection night on Sunday, July 1. This year’s festival takes place from Friday, July 20, to Sunday, July 22, and the 2018 Seabreeze Princess will be the guest of honour throughout. Entries are currently being accepted by the committee and all participants must be over 18 years of age by July 1 to be eligible. A €1,000 prize fund sponsored by the Bridgewater Centre will be up for grabs, including a specially commissioned tiara hand made by John Swan Jewellers. Entry forms available from festival chairperson Tina O’Sullivan at 087 9093848 or secretary Mary Burke at 087 9259504 or committee members.
ARDEEN GARDEN FÊTE
The popular Ardeen Garden Fête is this year making a return to Ardeen Cheshire Home, Shillelagh. The event, which was a popular local fixture for many years, is being organised by Ardeen Cheshire Home and Shillelagh People’s Property Co Ltd and takes place from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be something for all the family, young and old and for those who want to get involved in competitions and events as well as those who prefer to take it easy with a cuppa and some sweet treats. Tea and cakes, strawberries and cream, ice cream and chips will be available throughout the afternoon and there will be a bouncy castle, penalty shoot-out, face painting, duck race, children’s arts and crafts competition will keep the younger guests entertained. Traditional fête attractions will include a bottle stall, bric-à-brac, fortune teller, plant stall, market stalls and guess the weight of sweets while Crab Lane Vintage will host a car and tractor run. There will also be a monster raffle and dancing with Declan followed by DJ Pat Fleming. Admission for cars is €5 and €2 for pedestrians. An entry prize is up for grabs on the day.
SONGS OF PRAISE AT CONARY CHURCH
St Bartholomew’s Church, Conary, is holding a special songs of Praise service at 7.30 p.m.
MONDAY, JULY 2 PHOTO EXHIBITION AS PART OF THE ROUND IRELAND
As part of the Volvo Round Ireland Festival, a photo and art exhibition will be held at Wicklow Sailing Club from 7 p.m.
ZAMA: CINEMA AT MERMAID
Don Diego de Zama is a magistrate in a remote Spanish colony in South America. He dutifully does his job, hoping to persuade his superiors to approve a transfer to Bue Numbers Aires. As the months pass, and he grows increasingly desperate, the unhinged Zama hopes that a dangerous mission to capture a notorious outlaw will finally guarantee his long-awaited relocation. Tickets to Zama are €8.50 or €7 concession and available at mermaidartscentre.ie.
TUESDAY, JULY 3 HISTORY EVENING
From 8 p.m., Wicklow Historical Society will present an evening of fascinating information at Wicklow Sailing Club as part of the Volvo Round Ireland Festival.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 4 INDEPENDENCE DAY PARTY
Wicklow Sailing Club will be marking America’s Independence Day with a party and barbecue from 8 p.m., as part of the Volvo Round Ireland Festival.
SATURDAY, JULY 7 GROOVE FESTIVAL
Groove Festival returns to Killruddery Estate in Bray for two days this summer, with headliners Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Heather Small. Also food, comedy, and activities for children. For tickets go to groovefestival.ie.
RHSI RUSSBOROUGH FLOWER SHOW
Stunning flower arrangements will be displayed in the opulent surroundings of Russborough House’s Principal Rooms from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets for adults are €5 while children go free.
DRY RAIN PRESENT TO SHORTEN THE ROAD.
Dry Rain Theatre Company presents ‘To Shorten the Road’ at Whale Theatre on Saturday, July 7, at 8 p.m. This will be a candlelit evening of traditional Seancha storytelling, songs, dance, music and poetery, performed by Lorraine O’Brien – storyetller and lilter, singer and actress Emma O’Brien, and singer-musician Mick Heffernan. Tickets are €15 at whaletheatre.ie.
SUNDAY, JULY 8 GROOVE FESTIVAL
Groove Festival returns to Killruddery Estate in Bray for two days this summer, with headliners Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Heather Small. Also food, comedy, and activities for children. For tickets go to groovefestival.ie.
RHSI RUSSBOROUGH FLOWER SHOW
Stunning flower arrangements will be displayed in the opulent surroundings of Russborough House’s Principal Rooms from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets for adults are €5 while children go free.
CASTLETOWN BLESSING OF THE GRAVES.
The annual blessing of the graves will take place at Castletown graveyard. Time to be confirmed next week.
KILAVENEY BLESSING OF THE GRAVES.
The blessing of the graves takes place at Kilaveney Cemetery at 2.30 p.m.
HOLLYWOOD ANNUAL SPORTS DAY
The 49th annual Sports Day will be held at the GAA Field. The event will feature the wheel of fortune, Hamper and White Elephant Stall as well as raffle.
FRIDAY, JULY 13 APRÉS MATCH
The Aprés Match trio have been taking the Michael out of the great world of football commentary for 20 years now. They pay a visit to Greystones’s Whale Theatre on the eve of the World Cup Final at eight p. m. The gig takes place on Friday, July 13, with tickets €20 or €18 concession. Tickets from whaletheatre.ie or 01 2010550.
SATURDAY, JULY 14 RUNLAVIN 5K AND 10K
This 5km and 10km run around the roads of Dunlavin is in aid of development and upkeep at the local GAA club. The runs begin at 10 a.m. from Dunlavin Green. Refreshments will be served in the clubhouse afterwards, where changing and showering facilities will be available. Entry is open now at popupraces.ie or from 8.30 a.m. on the day. Call 085 1274139 for more information.
SUNDAY, JULY 15 SUNDAY, JULY 15, SANDCASTLE BUILDING COMPETITION.
A family sandcastle building competition will take place at South Beach, Arklow. Come along and show off your sandcastle talents at this family event. Register at Árus Lorcáin.
MOTORCYCLE RUN
A 100km motorcycle run will begin at 12.30 p.m. at Coolmoney Camp in the scenic Glen of Imaal. The event is in aid of Davidstown Church Roof Restoration Fund and will be followed by a barbecue and refreshments. Cost of entry is €20 per person. For more information, call 087 9082781 or 087 2588097.
RIDE AGAINST SUICIDE
The Warg Riders Motorcycle Club will depart on its third Bikers Ride Against Suicide at 1 p.m. from the Bridgewater Shopping Centre in Arklow. Entry is €10 for a bike and rider and €5 for pillion.
ALICE’S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND.
Take a trip down the rabbit hole with Chapterhouse Theatre Company’s outdoor theatre presentation of this classic tale of Alice’s trip to the magical world of Wonderland. Featuring beautiful Victorian costumes and set in the walled gardens at Powerscourt, this is an event for all the family. The show begins at 2.30 p.m. Tickets, which are non-refundable, are available from Powerscourt and cost €19 for adults, €16 for students, children and seniors or €56 for families (two adults and two children). Children under five go free.
SATURDAY, JULY 21 CARNEW SHOW
Carnew and District Agricultural Show society will be hosting the annual show at Umrigar, with a full programme of classes for horses, ponies, sheep, poultry as well as a dog show, baking, crafts and flowers. For more information, call 087 1429325.
SUNDAY, JULY 22 MUSIC IN CALARY
Calary Church will host a performance from. Lorna Breen (soprano), Andrew Gavin (tenor) and Mairéad Hurley (accompanist) who will perform opera arias, Irish airs and pieces by Gilbert and Sullivan. The concert will follow an optional supper in aid of Sister Mary Killeen’s work in Mukuru slums in Nairobi. The concert starts at 8 p.m. and tickets are €18 or €15 with a concession.
THURSDAY, JULY 26 6KM TRAIL RACE
Rathdrum Community First Responders will host this 6k fundraising trail race from Clara Vale Church, near Rathdrum. Registration starts at 6 p.m. and entry is €5 for juniors, €10 for adults and €20 for families of four. For more information, contact Billy at 087 2928660.
SATURDAY, JULY 28 KILMACANOGUE AND DISTRICT HORSE SHOW.
The Kilmacanogue and District Horse Show will take place on Saturday, July 28, at Monastery Cross from 10 a.m. Besides the ponies, horses and sheep there is plenty to keep everyone busy including the very popular dog show, pony rides, ‘guess the weight of the lamb’ and art competitions. There are delicious locally grown raspberries to enjoy with ice-cream, craft stalls to browse and find bargains at, food and trade stands including demonstrations on health and safety and a farrier at work.
BRAY AIR DISPLAY
A spectacular line-up has been announced for this year’s Bray Air Display with the Irish Aviation Authority. Over two days, actis will include the Red Arrows, Wildcat Aerobatics, Tranchant jet team and many more.
SUNDAY, JULY 29 RHSI RUSSBOROUGH GARDEN SHOW
The second annual RHSI Russborough Garden Show will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and feature stall holders, talks, exhibits and tours of the original 18th century walled garden. Admission is €10 for adults while children go free.
WOODLAND FAERIE DAY
A day of spellbinding stories at Killruddery in Bray from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be activities and faerie lore to enchant the whole family. Admission €7.50 for adults. Free for members, See elsewhere on this page for more details.
BRAY AIR DISPLAY
A spectacular line-up has been announced for this year’s Bray Air Display with the Irish Aviation Authority. Over two days, actis will include the Red Arrows, Wildcat Aerobatics, Tranchant jet team and many more.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1 CHILDREN’S ICON WORKSHOP IN ARKLOW
A children’s icon workshop featuring art, games and prayer will takes place on Wednesday, August 1, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Árus Lorcáin. Participants can register through the parish office before Friday, July 13. Entry costs €3 and places are limited. This is open to all primary school children who are welcome to attend with a parent or guardian.