- Columba O'Hare
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Zhenia Mahdi-Nau the artist, photographer and filmmaker based in Belfast is screening her latest film entitled Tapestry of Colours at the Sean Hollywood Arts Centre, Newry on 24 May 2013 at 7pm.
This feature length documentary explores the perception of identity in Northern Ireland as it becomes progressively diverse.
The film includes some thought provoking accounts by local musicians Fergal O’Brien and William Dundun, an Irish traveller from Dundalk.
Zhenia was born in Iran but having lived in Northern Ireland for over 20 years, she has drawn on all of her creative and artistic skills to direct and produce an important, memorable and ground breaking piece of work which has been receiving increasing praise and interest from the public, local government, public organisation and the media.
Tapestry of Colours looks at the fusion of cultures in Northern Ireland and features personal and moving accounts of individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures set against colourful and unusual festivals with a strong emphasis on music. It reveals what is behind modern immigration in Northern Ireland and the impact on a society that has undergone radical demographic changes in the recent years.
The film brings to the surface the fact that, despite different beliefs and practices of cultures, essentially, there are human stories that bypass geography, race, belief or culture and are commonly experienced by all.
Asked why she brought the screening to Newry, Zhenia explained, “I really put my heart and soul into the making of this documentary and I’ve been totally overwhelmed by the amazing responses from the general public and government and public bodies. I think the film appeals to people of all ages and backgrounds. So I was delighted when the Newry and Mourne District Council invited me to screen it here, particularly as it includes inspiring accounts by people in these parts.”
Admission is Free. To reserve a place, contact the Councils Good Relations section Tel: 02830313065/02830313174
- Columba O'Hare
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There's no shortage of things to do around Newry this May Bank Holiday Weekend.
If you want to kick of the weekend early no better place than Burren GAC where their Festival Weekend begins with Nathan Carter entertaining tonight Thursday.
On Friday night an extra special night of Sacred Songs is on offer at Newry Cathedral from 7.30pm. Performing pieces ranging from the beautiful choral works of Giovanni Palestrina and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart through to the sublime luscious harmonies of John Tavener the concert promises to be a spectacular display of fine music performed at the highest standard.
Also on Friday night Colum Sands from the legendary Sands Family brings along some friends of his to entertain his audience at the Mourne Country Hotel for an epic night of humour and songs penned from Colum's observations on the idiosyncrasies and oddities of ordinary life, and try saying that with a few pints of porter in you!
Lastly if you like the live music rocking visit Amplified where they have a charity gig with The Shout Headlining from 9pm.
Take the children along to a Family Fun day at Saval GAC on Saturday from noon or if you are into your extreme sports Rostrevor is the place to be from Saturday to Monday with Kilbroney Forest Park hosting the 2013 Rostrevor MTB Festival. Plenty of biking action and competitive competitions throughout the weekend.
On Saturday night The classic laugh a minute History of the Troubles (Accordin to my da!) is at Newry Town Hall from 8pm. Also Saturday night Passion Disco is on in the Bellagio Suite in Bellinis from 9.30pm for the local gay community and friends.
Sunday night sees The Nooks play at the Saval GAC Festival or if you are in to your dance music there's an Energy 106 Reunion at BED Nightclub.
Check our Events Page for details of these events and more or go to the Events Newry App on your Mobile
- Columba O'Hare
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Billed as "The New Sound of Newry" the upcoming Newphonic Concert which will be held on Saturday the 29th of June at McClelland Park was launched today in the Boardroom at Newry and Mourne District Council.
The promoter Mama Concert Entertainment spelt out their hope of this being a signature music festival for Newry, to compete equally on the stage occupied at present by Oxegen, Belsonic, Tennants Vital etc and while the June concert is being held at McClelland Park, they hope to build on this years success with future concerts being located at the Albert Basin.
This years concert is headlined by MTV Award Winner Alexandra Stan with support from Charlie Brown, Starboy Nathan, DJ Mix, Ryan Dolan with Zenemy DJ's and others.
Tickets are already on sale and can be purchased at Carlin Records or online at eventbrite.co.uk
Find out more on the Newphonic Website
- Columba O'Hare
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Josephine Keegan from Armagh, John Daly from Leitrim, the Mulligan family from Dublin and Dundalk, Daithí Kearney from Kerry and Crubeen are just some of the musicians joining the regulars at the Railway Bar for a mammoth fund raising Irish traditional music session for CRY this Thursday night the 16th of June.
The session will be held in the main bar, to accommodate the growing number of musicians who have indicated their support. Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) raises awareness of Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) in young people, and provides free counselling services and screening to family and friends of those affected by SADS. One young person per week dies in Ireland of SADS, and CRY is also involved in urgent research into the mysterious causes of these deaths.
The session will help raise much-needed funds for the charity’s efforts, as well as providing one of the best nights of Irish traditional music in the area for years. Session gets on the way at 9:30 PM, but those anxious to get near the action should turn up early.
Anyone who cannot attend, but would like to make a contribution, can leave it in with proprietor Kieran McDonnell in the bar, or make a donation directly to CRY as follows;
AIB Bank, 40/42 Ranelagh, Dublin 6.
Account Name; Cardiac Risk in the Young in Ireland Limited.
Sort Code 93 12 92, Account No. 08688056
For further details, contact. tommyfegan@mail.com
- Columba O'Hare
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MTV's Geordie Shore star Scott Timlin is on his way to Newry this weekend for an appearance at The Bank Nightclub.
The guest appearance this Saturday night the 18th of May is sure to get some pulses racing and guarantee a full house.
24 year old Scott is from Newcastle in England and is a relative newcomer to the show and will jet over to Newry from Sydney where filming for the series has been taking place this week.
It's a bumper night at the Bank with DJ Ryan A from Cool FM in the Main Room, DJ Richie Moran in the Upper Room and live music from King Sized Jacks in the Beer Garden.
Maybe someone from Newry should warn him to dress up a bit for Saturday night or he could get a bit of a chill with the current weather!
- Columba O'Hare
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The weather may not seem like it but Balmoral Show starts a completly new phase of it's existence this week when it opens on Wednesday the 15th of May for three days at it's new home at the Maze Long Kesh Complex.
What's On
The impressive new Arena takes pride of place at the entrance to Balmoral Park. The Arena will host a packed programme of national and international show jumping and old favourites including the pony club games; falconry and the exhilarating Inter-hunt chase. New attractions for 2013 include Sheep Dog trials; Australian-based horse trainer Carlos Tabernaberri and headline act Kangaroo Kid.
The Kid aka Matt Coulter will perform in the Arena all three days of the Show. The Australian born entertainer and highly skilled motorcyclist will carry out a range of breath taking stunts on five specially adapted quad bikes. Audience participation is a key part of the act as the Kangaroo Kid will take four willing volunteers for a wheelie, before finishing his act with a jump over anything that is put in his path, be it cars, trucks or tractors
Other key attractions will be positioned around the Showgrounds, including the Young Farmers Club of Ulster Tug of War, vintage farm machinery, sheep shearing and introducing to the Balmoral Show, Shortt’s Racing Pigs. They’re pink, they’re perky and they’re hot to trotter! The runners and riders will be under starter’s orders on the Cattle Lawn on Wednesday and Friday.
With so many attractions and performances areas across the site, there are copious chances for patrons to become participants in the entertainment, including the opportunity to outsmart a mentalist! In two astonishing live shows on Wednesday David Meade threatens to reveal private PIN numbers, detect lies, reveal secret thoughts, and influence audience members with inexplicable results!
Keith Mathews 'The Dog Guru' will be in residence everyday on the Tesco Show Stage. Ireland’s most famous dog trainer and behaviourist, star of his own hit dog training TV show 'Good Dog Bad Dog', Keith has bred and trained Field Trial Champion Labradors and regularly judges and competes in field trials and working tests. He will be available for gundog lectures and general advice sessions.
In stark contrast to Keith’s practical guidance, the Show Stage also hosts Bruce Airhead - the metamorphosis of a man and 6 foot balloon - in what is billed by organisers as a spectacular and slightly surreal performance!
The Showgrounds will also be echoing with an eclectic music mix. A ceremonious brass band (Army No. 1 Band) shares the billing with swing, samba and folk. Founded in 1923, the Army No. 1 Band has performed throughout Ireland, Europe and beyond. They take to the Arena on Wednesday. Decked out in the striking McBeth tartan the Ravara Pipe Band, who hail from farming townland of ‘Ravara’ on the outskirts of Ballygowan in Co. Down, will perform in the Arena at 5.45pm on Friday. One of Northern Ireland’s best Dixieland bands, The Bourbon Swing Jazz Band can be found playing every day from 11am in the Garden Village.
For younger patrons, there is an opportunity to hold, stroke and feed the baby animals within the Children’s Farm, as well as the appeal of the dedicated Kids Zone featuring a bouncy castle, bungee trampoline, kids’ rides and face painters. Not only that, but for the first time ever visitors can enjoy a spin on one of the many rides in the Balmoral Show Funfair.
Make sure to take a spin on the Land Train Express. The purpose built vehicle will enable passengers to sit back and relax as it takes them, not only on a journey around the Showgrounds, but also down memory lane. The train travels along a route with a respectful nod to the past – setting off from Nugent Way, the land express will turn right into Park Central East, right on to Balmoral Avenue before completing the circuit back on to Nugent Way.
Food is an integral component of Balmoral Show. ‘Grown here, not Flown’ here is the theme of this year’s NI Food Pavilion. Over 60 local food and drink companies will be tantalising visitors’ taste buds with the best of local produce. With a greater area allocated to this key attraction than ever before, the Pavilion promises a larger NI Signature Kitchen with cookery demonstrations from top chefs, a kids’ area, interactive competitions and traditional bread making demos, all designed to demonstrate that ‘Our Food is So Good’.
The Show Stage is an area like no other at the Balmoral Show. Where else would David Meade, the Dog Guru and a Michael Jackson tribute act all entertain audiences in the same place?
The show stage hosts a variety of demonstrations, dance acts, seminars and interactive activities to suit the diverse audience that the Show attracts.
Other acts that will wow the crowds include singer Aishlene Scullion on Wednesday evening, Northern Irish band, Castlestreet on Thursday evening and Bruce Airhead who will put on a spectacular and surreal performance every day that really is something that needs to be seen to be believed.
There is also lots to keep the little ones engaged and entertained such as Scientific Sue and Professor Parky’s Punch & Judy show.
Colin McDonald, RUAS Chief Executive, concluded, “We look forward to welcoming regular and new visitors to this year’s Show. We guarantee that there is plenty on offer for all ages and tastes, and we have taken great care to ensure that while we use our new facility to maximum effect and introduce many new sights and sounds, we also maintain many of the Show’s most popular regular features. I think we’ve managed to combine the best of old and new and create the Show that everyone already knows and loves, just bigger and better.”
Getting to the Show
Balmoral Show organisers are advising people planning to attend this year’s Balmoral Show to consider how they will travel to Balmoral Park. In a bid to make the journey as convenient as possible, organisers have put the following measures in place.
Organisers would firstly encourage visitors to travel by public transport. A courtesy shuttle service will run from to Lisburn Train Station to Balmoral Park from 8.30am - 9pm daily. Shuttle passengers who purchase early bird tickets for the Balmoral Show website will be able to enjoy priority entry to the Show. Translink are also offering special coach day tours available to purchase online offering return journeys to Balmoral Park and Show admission.
Alternatively free parking is available at the King’s Hall Complex. Visitors who avail of this option can take the train from Balmoral Halt to Lisburn Train Station and avail of the onward shuttle service to Balmoral Park.
Finally visitors can avail of the extensive parking facilities at Balmoral Park.
One advantage for Newry drivers is that it's even easier to get to now being just a few miles from Hillsborough. Just follow the directional signs from the A1!
Colin McDonald, RUAS Chief Executive said, “We are looking forward to welcoming large crowds of people to the first Balmoral Show at the new venue. There is ample provision for car parking at a cost of £5.00 per day per car and £10 per day per coach. There will also be a dedicated coach park for bus excursions. A detailed route map has been published to allow visitors to plan their journey to the event. Please leave plenty of time for your journey to the event.
Details of arrangements for travelling to the Show can be found at: www.balmoralshow.co.uk and www.translink.co.uk/balmoralshow2013
The Balmoral Show in partnership with Ulster Bank runs from Wednesday 15th May – Friday 17th May 2013. The event is open from 9.30am daily.
- Columba O'Hare
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There's no shortage of Entertainment available in Newry this Bank Holiday Weekend.
While the emphasis may be on physical activity events, with the Newry City Marathon being centre stage on Sunday there are still plenty of other possibilities by day and night.
Tonight in Newry Town Hall, Guys and Dolls finishes it's run and what a first class show it was. A really interesting night is also taking place across the road at the Sean Holywood Arts Centre tonight at 7pm when the Film A Tapestry of Colour will be shown. The film looks at the fusion of Cultures in Northern Ireland with personal accounts from local people. Admission is Free.
Ground Control to Major Tom will surely make an appearance at Amplified tonight as well at a David Bowie Tribute Night.
Tomorrow Saturday if you're looking for a knock down bargain go along to Stephen Fitzpatrick Auctioneers in Castle Street for 11am for their monthly auction and get bidding.
A different kind of a knock down will take place on Saturday night in Newry Sports Centre when Cage Contender XVII bursts into town with action starting from 6pm. Just don't end up in the cage!
Dee Reilly and the Jason McGilligan Band are in the Mourne Country Hotel on Saturday night for all the country music fans out there or maybe you just want to sing yourself? In that case get along to the Karaoke at the Windmill Bar!
On Sunday Newry City Marathon will take over the streets from 8.30am with the event ending outside Newry Credit Union this year for the first time ever to mark the Credit Union's 50th Anniversary Year.
As part of the Marathon there are fringe events for anyone that isn't taking part or even anyone that has finished the 'stroll'. In Nan Rices there's an all day fundraiser or should that be called funraiser and after that at St John Bosco Club there's live music from Barry McGeown from 7.30pm.
If the Marathon is too easy for you you could also take part in the WEast Chernobyl Three Counties Challenge on Sunday starting from Daveys Pub in Omeath from 11am.
On Monday Newry U3A have their Tea Dance in the Canal Court at 2pm or why not head down to Warrenpoint for their Blues on the Bay Festival which takes place all weekend.
- Columba O'Hare
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Irish Comedian Neil Delamere brings his highly anticipated brand new show ‘DelamereMortal’ to Newry on the 14th of June for his Sean Hollywood Art Centre’s appearance.
Catch the home-grown comedy mastermind and star of RTE’s The Panel, BBC’s The Blame Game, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and Channel 4’s Stand Up for the Week as he effortlessly mixes his distinct style of off-the-cuff audience banter with a selection of side-splitting tales.
With several platinum selling DVDs under his belt, Neil Delamere’s profile has risen considerably over recent years, making him one of the best loved comedians across both Irish television and radio.
2012 was a very busy year for Neil with a sell-out tour, receiving an IFTA award for his documentary The Only Viking in the Village, the first installment of Neil’s satirical comedy series The 2nd Republic on RTE Radio One and performances at both the prestigious Cat Laughs Comedy Festival and The Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Renowned for his astute observational anecdotes and trademark razor sharp quips, don’t miss the comedy powerhouse that is Neil Delamere in action. Tickets for Neil’s show are selling well but there are a few still available from Sean Hollywood Arts Centre and www.jfpromotions.co.uk get them soon though!
- Columba O'Hare
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The first sign of a summer day does strange things to us Newry folk. Shirts come off - whether they should or not, Barbecues come out, faces get redder and of course we all look forward to festival time!
Luckily enough you won't have long to wait as Tanglewood Music and Arts Festival is back this year for a two day extravaganza on Sauturday the Third and Sunday the Fourth of August and yes there is camping available!
For those not able to go to Glastonbury or Oxegen here is the perfect home away from home for a weekend of sun and fun and hopefully no mud - oh ok just a little bit!
The festival takes place as usual in the beautiful setting of Narrow Water Castle, Warrenpoint and the lineup is easily the best yet with Headliners this year including And So I watch You From Afar (ASIWYFA), Duke Special, Japanese Popstars, Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy) , Mundy, Rams Pocket Radio and Grainne Duffy.
The festival will be jam packed with a range of acts to suit all tastes across four stages as well as the best in comedy, theatre and cabaret from the local area and further afield.
For the first time, Tanglewood Music & Arts Festival will take place within the actual forest at Narrow Water Castle. Already plans are underway to create a feast for the senses with many local arts and crafts institutes working away on some weird and the wonderful designs for this year’s extravaganza.
Festival Organiser Nicola McEvoy is confident that Tanglewood 2013 will surpass previous festivals:
“We’re excited about this year. This is definitely our strongest ever line-up and we’re developing the site so that we can deliver a really memorable festival experience amidst the incredible grounds at Narrow Water. One of things that makes Tanglewood special is that there are so many talented local people who get involved and contribute to the programme and the running of the festival – the people of Newry and Mourne have really got behind us.”
It’s great news too that the Narrow Water Bridge project has been given the green light and we look forward to many more years of Tanglewood Music with all roads now leading to Ireland’s most unique boutique festival.”
Tanglewood would like to thank all our sponsors and especially Peace 3 for sponsoring our main stage, Erdinger Weiss Bier and Kelly & Co Drinks and of course Marcus Hall for providing such a beautiful setting at Narrow Water.
The full line-up for the 2013 festival so far includes: And So I Watch You From Afar, Duke Special, Japanese Popstars, Eric Bell (Thin Lizzy), Mundy, Rams Pocket Radio, The Pocket Billiards, Grainne Duffy, Gamma Bomb, The Barley Mob, Pyscatron, Isodisco, David Lyttle and The Beat Carnival, Young Aviators, More Than Conquerors, The Trampz, Curtain Thieves, NI Soul Troop, Miss Paula Flynn and Greg McAteer, The Burlesque Belles, White Mansions, Freedom 35s, Silversgot strings, Kaz Hawkins, Suzy Coyle, Rastachaun DJs, Rigsy, Daft as Punk, DJ Woody, Homecut, Miniminds, Gerard LR, In Progress, Nitemode, JBR, Almost DJs, Cold Porter, Mickey Murphy, Gentry Morris, Pete Keighry, The Shout, The Split Lips, Donal Scullion, Claire McKay, Feargal Murphy, Brendan Monaghan, Proudfoot. More acts still to be announced.
Ticket Details
Tickets are on sale from the Whistledown Hotel, Warrenpoint, Spirit Store, Dundalk, Carlins Newry and from www.tanglewoodmusic.co.uk and are priced as follows:
Two Day Weekend Ticket with Camping (Sat night): £35 + booking fee
Saturday Only: £25 + booking fee
Sunday Only: £10 + booking fee.
Over 18s Only. Subject to Licence.
For more information call Nicola McEvoy on 07784442812 or email tanglewoodmusic@hotmail.co.uk or follow us on facebook (Tanglewood Music Fest)
