7 Things to do this week...
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PADDY CASEY: Singer songwriter Paddy Casey will perform in the Courthouse Arts Centre, Tinahely on Saturday, January 26. He has been at the forefront of the Irish music scene his debut album Amen (So Be It) in 1999, while his second release Living became the biggest seller in Ireland out-selling U2. He has shared the stage with U2 on their Vertigo Tour and had week long residencies in Dublin’s prestigious Olympia Theatre and RDS. After a five year hiatus, Casey returned with The Secret Life Of in 2012. It was recorded, produced and mixed at home in Paddy’s kitchen by Paddy and Pat Donne. Pat worked on the first album Amen (So Be It) along with the demos for all his other albums. In 2017 he released the single Turn This Ship Around along with other songs from an untitled double album. A rare appearance in this intimate south Wicklow venue is not to be missed. Influenced by the likes of Duke Ellington, John Martyn, The Waterboys, Prince, Sly & The Family Stone, this concert is bound to be a great start to 2019. Doors open at 8.30 p.m. and tickets cost €22/€20.
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COUNTRY MUSIC NIGHT: Rathdrum woman Sandra O’Shaughnessy is organising a Country Music night taking place in The Meetings, Avoca on Friday, January 25. The doors open at 8.30 p.m. and there will be live music by the band ‘Break Free’. There will also be a raffle on the night with plenty of great prizes. All proceeds will go towards Team Kerr and their trip to the Manchester Marathon in April. Sandra, David and their son Aaron Kerr formed the charity Aaron’s Army after he underwent a kidney transplant and help raise money to purchases three-wheeled joggers for people with disabilities. The family have completed nearly every Irish marathon.
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BLESSINGTON GAAAWARDS NIGHT: Blessington GAA Club will be hosting its annual Social and Awards Night at the Avon Ri on Friday, January 25. This is an opportunity for club members and supporters to come together socially to celebrate all the great work going on in the club. The night begins at 8 p.m. with the awards starting at 9 p.m. ‘Two Guys’ will perform live and there will also be finger foods and a raffle with some great prizes.
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HISTORICAL LECTURE: Wicklow Historical Society secretary Stan J O’Reilly will deliver a talk on early pre-Christian Brittas Bay. Stan will explore the early pre-Christian people of Brittas Bay, their lives, beliefs and customs. He will also explore why Kilmacurragh is of such early Christian importance. The lecture is part of the winter series and takes place in the De La Salle Pastoral Centre, Wicklow town at 8 p.m. on January 28. Admission is free.
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POETRY BOOK CLUB: A new poetry book club is starting up on Blessington Library. The monthly literary event will be hosted in the community room, starting on Thursday, January 24 at 7 p.m. The club is open to anyone who is enthusiastic about poetry. The first book up for discussion is Wicklow poet, Jane Clarke’s collection ‘The River’, of which there are some copies in the library for anyone planning to attend. Interested parties can sign up in the library itself or by email blessingtonlib@wicklowcoco.ie or by phone (045) 891 740.
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BANJO & BOVRIL FESTIVAL: Cathy Davey will headline the last night of the Banjo & Bovril Festival at the Harbour Bar on Sunday night. She will be in the Live Lounge at 7.30 p.m. on Sunday, January 27. This is the last of five days and nights of folk music, poetry and spoken word at the Harbour. Cathy’s most recent album ‘Live at Dublin Unitarian Church’ shows the magic of her music with stripped down versions of hit favourites ‘Little Red’ and ‘Sing For Your Supper’. The festival starts on Wednesday, January 23, and admission to all gigs is free, as are mugs of Bovril for the duration of the festival.
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GREYSTONES ORCHESTRA: Greystones Orchestra presents ‘An Evening of Mendelssohn, Mozart and More’ at SOBE South Beach Pavilion in Bray on Saturday, January 26 at 8 p.m. The highlight of the evening will be the performances by two local soloists, Colm Ó Braoin and Michelle Le May. Colm is from Greystones and one of Ireland’s foremost up-andcoming violinists. He will play the formidable Mendelssohn violin concerto. Michelle comes from Minnesota but is a Charlesland resident. She will perform Mozart’s Andante in C for flute and orchestra. Michelle is a teacher in a number of schools and conducts Major Minors Junior Orchestra. Tickets at eventbrite.ie.