WHAT’S ON!

INSIDE: DAY BY DAY LISTINGS

THURSDAY, JUNE 21 ‘WHITTLED AWAY’ TALK.

Delgany Tidy Towns welcome author Pádraic Fogarty to the Horse and Hound at 7 p.m. to talk about his book ‘Whittled Away – Ireland’s Vanishing Nature’. Admission is free so everyone is welcome to come along and join the discussion on whether it’s time to shout ‘stop’ and to do more to protect our natural environment.

SENSE AND SENSIBILITY

Chapterhouse Theatre Company present this open-air production of the Jane Austen classic, adapted by Laura Turner, at 7.30 p.m. on the lawns at Lisnavagh House in Rathvilly. Tickets cost €19 for adults, €14 for children or €56 for families (two adults and two children), available from seetickets.com or on the gate.

FRIDAY, JUNE 22 FRANCESCO TURRISI

Killruddery’s artist in resident, the jazz pianist Francesco Turrisi will present an amazing rework of ancient melodies and rhythms through a scintillating jazz improv, with a twist of Mediterranean modal melodies. Doors will open at 8 p.m. for a glass of wine and canapes before the concert at 8.30 p.m. Tickets cost €15 and are available from Killruddery.

1980S DISCO

The fundraising campaign for a new Blessington rescue boat ramps up with this fun, ‘80s disco in the Avon Rí. There will be a full bar and a raffle and events get under way from 9 p.m. Admission will be €15.

SATURDAY, JUNE 23 CLASH FEST

Events taking place in Ballinaclash will include an historical walk, memorial soccer matches, barbecue, teddy bears picnic, juggling performances, a children’s fancy dress competition, the show the Clash talent competition and live music by Billy Bracken and company.

FAMILY FUN RUN

Babylon Events will host a family fun run at 10 a.m. at Raheenleagh in south Wicklow. There will be a choice of a 1k, 2k, 5k route or, for the more competitive, a 10k timed run. Entry is free but spaces are limited and should be booked through eventbrite.ie.

COFFEE MORNING

Come raise a cuppa and enjoy a cake while lending support to the Tinahely Community First Responders. The tea will be brewing from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Courthouse Arts Centre in Tinahely.

MIDSUMMER CELEBRATION

All ages are welcome at this Midsummer Celebration taking place at An Tairseach Dominican Farm and Ecology Centre in Wicklow town from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day will include a celebration of the summer Solstice in the Cosmic Garden, a talk by Darina Allen on ‘Grow, Cook and Nourish’, family friendly cookery workshops by Wicklow’s very own ‘Sukhi’s India’ and a local artisan food and craft market. General entry is free but the talk by Darina Allen and Sukhi’s workshop must be booked in advance.

THE BIG DIG

Children aged five to 12 are welcome at this hands-on, fun event at Bray Head where they can participate in a simulated archaeological excavation, dig for Viking treasures and artefacts and learn more about their Viking ancestors with the team from the School of Irish Archaeology. There will be a Medieval Coin Striking Workshop and a Medieval Draw-String Pouch Workshop. This free event, which is being run as part of Cruinniú na nÓg, will have hourly slots available from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and places must be booked in advance on eventbrite.ie.

FAMILY FUN DAY

Greystones Rugby Club will be buzzing with laughter and excitement as the Triple A Alliance hosts its family fun day from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Featuring bouncy castles, a children’s entertainer and magic show, barbecue and obstacle courses, there will be plenty to keep all ages happy. Entry is €5 for children – adults go free.

FUN DAY AND FOOTBALL MATCH

Greystones Family Resource Centre is hosting its Burnaby Lawns annual family fun day featuring a bouncy castle and barbecue. The highlight of the day will be an epic showdown on the playing fields as the residents take on local gardaí in a football match. Any locals wishing to take part in the match, which begins at 2 p.m., should contact the centre.

SCHOOL FUN DAY

Gaelscoil Chill Mhantáin parents’ association will be hosting a family fun day from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for all the school’s pupils and new entrants. Among the attractions will be a giant slide, 40ft obstacle course, basketball bungee run, puppet show, magic show, disco, static fire truck display, giant Jenga and Connect four, face painting and much more. Grandparents are more than welcome to join in.

HERITAGE EXHIBITION

The heritage exhibition, The Stonecutter’s Story, opens this evening at 7.30 p.m. in Valleymount Hall. Held as part of the Valleymount and Ballyknockan Heritage Weekend, the exhibition will celebrate the local stonemasons who carved local granite to create some of the finest buildings in the country. There will be a talk from local stonemasons, young and old, followed by traditional music and refreshments.

AN EVENING WITH WAYNE WOODMAN AND FRIENDS.

Tenor Wayne Woodman will perform a special concert in aid of Purple House Cancer Support at

7.30 p.m. in the Cornerstone Church (opposite the Royal Hotel) in Bray. Tickets cost €15 and are available from Purple House.

SOCIAL NIGHT

St Joseph’s National School in Valleymount will be hosting a social night fundraiser from 9.30 p.m. in O’Connor’s Pub. Music will be by Black Knight and there will be a spin the wheel raffle. Admission will be €5.

SUNDAY, JUNE 24 CLASH FEST IN BALLINACLASH

A family sports day takes place at 2 p.m. with stalls, games, bouncy castles, waterslides, refreshments and entertainment for the whole family. There will be live music and a barbecue at Phelans. A family sports day takes place at 2 p.m. with stalls, games, bouncy castles, waterslides, refreshments and entertainment for the whole family. There will be live music and a barbecue at Phelans. Street etertainment and street games will include glamorous granny and funky granddad competitions followed by dancing at the crossroads.

5K FAMILY WALK/RUN

AIB in Arklow is hosting this fundraising event at 10 a.m. in the hope of raising €5,000 for Arklow Cancer Support group. Register online now at popupraces.ie for €15 for an adult or €5 for a child. Participants can also register from 8 a.m. on the day at the cancer support centre at eight St Mary’s Road, Arklow.

There will be free car parking both the Castlepark and Riverwalk car parks, which are a short walking distance from the race start.

OSTKUSTE

This old school and retro VW show will take place at the Farrier’s In in Avoca from 10 a.m. The ‘show n shine’ takes place at midday (entry €10) with the prize-giving at 4 p.m. All VAG models manufactured up to and during 1996 are eligible for the show n shine. Camping will be available from 5 p.m. on Saturday evening at a cost of €10. Entry for spectators to the show is €5.

HERITAGE EXHIBITION

The heritage exhibition, The Stonecutter’s Story, continues in Valleymount Hall from 11 a.m., as part of the Valleymount and Ballyknockan Heritage Weekend. The exhibition will celebrate local stonemasons who carved local granite to create some of the finest buildings in the country.

FAMILY FUN DAY

St Anthony’s FC in Kilcoole will be swapping goalposts for all sorts of fun and games as it hosts a family fun day at Finn Park from midday till 4 p.m.

COLOUR RUSH

A 5k colour rush, suitable for all ages, will be held at Ballywaltrim playing pitches in Bray in aid of Ard- more Rovers. All those taking part will be doused in a range of bright colours as they tackle the 2.5km course. A family friendly run, which is suitable for ages five and over, will take place from midday to 2 p.m., while a second run for those aged 13 up to adult will be run from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information and tickets, visit thecolourrush.ie.

FAMILY FUN DAY

Coolfancy NS parents’ association will be hosting an end of year family fun day with family races, games, bouncy castle, barbecue, face painting and lots more. Events kick off at 1 p.m. at Coolfancy Community Field.

CLASH FEST FUN DAY

The community field in Ballinaclash will be positively buzzing from 2 p.m. as the annual Clash Fest fun day gets under way. There will be inflatables, stalls, water slide, races, refreshments, games and much more.

ANNUAL WALK UP CROGHAN

The annual walk up Croghan in aid of NANDRI, Fr Michael Murtagh’s chosen charity in India, and Our Lady’s Grotto at Arklow Rock, takes place at 2 p.m. Walkers can meet at the foot of Croghan and car parking is available.

BOAT AND DUCK RACE

The tension will run high as little yellow duckies racing to the finish on the river by Ballyhubbock Bridge in Donoughmore. Ducks are €2 each or three for €5 from local shops or the national school.

THURSDAY, JUNE 28 CHESS TOURNAMENT

A chess tournament due to take place in the Grad Hotel will raise funds for Autism.

The six -round Swiss Chess for Autism competition takes place in the Friar Suite, Grand Hotel on Thursday, June 28, 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 email seaduffy63@gmail.com.

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.

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 con-