7 Things to do this week...
1 DES BISHOP: Des Bishop brings his new tours to the Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely on Saturday, February 22 at 8.30 p.m. ‘Mia Mamma’ is about love and loss, his mother, the sacrifices of motherhood, anxiety and grief, the mistakes made as mother and son and the hard road to forgiveness. It’s also about loss, grief and the chaos that surrounds life and death. One of Ireland’s best loved comedians, Des first came to prominence in 2004 with his TV seres ‘The Des Bishop Work Experience’. In 2013, he moved to Beijing, China to learn Mandarin, becoming fluent in the language. His RTE show ‘Breaking China’ was also a major success. He is a regular on TV screens and the comedy circuit with sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Festival and in international venues in countries including Australia and the United States. During his career, Des has developed a reputation for unique, insightful and provocative comedy that engages with audiences. Tickets cost €25. Doors open at 8 p.m. For more details, visit www. courthousearts.ie.
2 PLOUGHING MATCH: Roundwood Ploughing Society is holding its annual ploughing match on Saturday, February 22, at midday in Glasnamullen. Sincere thanks are offered to Richard Turner for providing the site. Conventional, vintage, Classic Tractor and Horse Classes will be catered for on both Lea and stubble. Could all competitors please have their names registered before 6 p.m. today with Brendan Power at 087 2420204. Spectators young and old, are very welcome and a chip van will be on site for the day. The society sends thanks to the landowner; to the judges; to all the sponsors and to everyone who helps make the day such a success.
3 SMILEY PANCAKE DAY: Wicklow Mental Health Association is organising a Smiley Pancake Day for Monday, February 24 at the De La Salle Pastoral Centre within the grounds of St. Patrick’s Church, Wicklow town from 1.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. There will be pancakes for everyone and refreshments for the family. This is always a very popular event. Parents and grandparents are welcome on the day.
4 HISTORY LECTURE: West Wicklow Historical Society will host its first lecture of the year this Wednesday. The lecture is by Dr Conchubhar Ó Crualaoich, who works with the Placenames Branch within the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The title of this lecture is ‘Some Aspects of Surnames and Personal Names in Wicklow as found in sixteenth century Fiants.’. It takes place on February 19, at 8 p.m. in the Lalor Centre. Admission is €5.
5 24 HOUR CPR: ‘160,000 Pushes for Lakers’ will take place at the Old Schoolhouse, Eglinton Road, from 8 a.m. on Saturday, February 22 until 8 a.m. on Sunday, February 23. Corporate teams of five are invite to enter for €200. Each team will carry out compressions on a mannequin for 30 minutes at a time. Teams will receive one hour of CPR training before they begin. An app will also be used to record the quality of compressions, giving each team a score of how well they are completed. To sign up, go to poseidon. ie.
6 FILM: Audiences have a chance to catch the critically acclaimed ‘Parasite’ at the Omniplex Cinema, Arklow on Wednesday, February 19 at 9 p.m. Winner of Oscars for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best International Film, Best Production Design, Best Editing and Best Director, ‘Parasite’ is a satirical thriller directed by Bong Joon-ho (‘Snowpiercer’, ‘Okja’). A poor family, the Kims, con their way into becoming the servants of a rich family, the Parks. But their easy life becomes complicated when their secret is threatened with exposure. For details, www.omniplex.ie.
7 DANNY O’BRIEN: Comedian Danny O’Brien will perform at Whale Theatre on Friday, February 21 at 8 p.m. What happens when a touring stand-up comedian can no longer stand up? After a near career-ending knee injury O’Brien is too young for pilates and too unbalanced for yoga. This award-winning performer brings you his hilarious new hour of stand-up where selfdestruction and self-discovery meet! ‘Reformer’ completely sold out its month-long run of shows at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Galway International Arts Festival, as well as a European and US tour, and now he’s back touring the show nationwide and beyond. Tickets are €18 or €15 concession at whaletheatre.ie.