Sligo designers Ashleigh Smith and Rebecca Marsden have been chosen to feature in Fresh Talent, an exhibition of work by Irish designers.
Fresh Talent showcases the work of emerging Irish designers since 2011. Fresh Talent is a government-backed project exploring, promoting and celebrating Irish design nationally and internationally.
The exhibition has been commissioned to form part of the programme of exhibitions for Irish Design 2015. Their work will be on display at the National Craft Gallery in Kilkenny and will run until March 18.
Ashleigh Smith founded the Atlantic Equipment (AE) Project. The Project is an “outdoor brand that designs and makes carry equipment inspired by Atlantic adventure”.
The aim of AE is to become a globally recognised, Sligo-made brand. Smith has graduated with an MA in Intergrated Design at Technical University of Delft, Netherlands and completed a BSc in Product Design from the University of Limerick.
Rebecca Marsden’s work is in the “processes and fabric manipulation, exploring the extent to which a concept can be realised and made tangible”.
She draws inspiration from her surroundings, and constantly searches for new ways to manipulate materials and the re-interpretation of traditional techniques.
Marsden has received a first class BA (Hons) in Fashion Design from Limerick School of Art & Design in 2012. Her work is retailed in Brown Thomas as part if their Create Project.
Markus Feehily has revealed his ambition to play a solo gig in Sligo.
CONCERT: Markus Feehily would like to play gig in Sligo.
Speaking on RTE 2fm’s Breakfast Republic last week, the former Westlife member has said it would be a dream to perform on front of fans in his hometown.
“I would love to play a gig in Sligo, it is a fantastic place. I am taking things one step at a time and there are a few things I would like to do but it would be a dream to do a solo gig there.”
Feehily was also in studio to discuss his first single as a solo artist, entitled “Love is a Drug” which later premiered on the show.
Feehily is the third member of the boyband to embark on a solo career since their split in 2012, following in the footsteps of Shane Filan and Kian Egan.
In addition to his re-emergence on the music front, the 34-year-old has also recently set-up a catering business which sells crepes and coffee at music festivals and other events.
“Love is a Drug” is currently available for pre-order on iTunes and will be officially released on Sunday, April 19.
The cast of Castleconnor Drama Group are busy rehearsing this year’s play “When Your Number’s Up” a two act comedy set in the village of Carrowansheen in rural Ireland in 1990s.
PLAY: “I’m telling you Mammy, this is the winning ticket!” Mickie Higgins (Ciaran Connor) shares his good news with his mother Mary Kate (Breege Cahill)
The show is directed by Seamus O’Dowd and takes place in The Community Centre, Castleconnor on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 6-8 at 8.30pm sharp. Admission is €10 and doors open at 7.30pm.
This fast moving production is full of twists and turns with a wide range of characters and personalities, typical of rural Ireland. The story line evolves around Thomasheen Hare and his wife Bessy and their distressed cash flow.
Frank Barrett plays Thomasheen while Greta Harrison plays Bessy, his long-suffering wife. Bessy’s life is thrown off course somewhat when the local postman, Jack Long, played by John Ruane, delivers a registered letter demanding full repayment of an outstanding debt to the Hare residence.
Bessy has to think quickly on a plan to deal with the situation and she comes up with a scheme that has hilarious consequences.
Pauline Boland plays Thomasheen’s sister, Laurie-Ann, home from America and she is accompanied by her husband, Albert, played by Mick Egan. This pair is intent on making their presence felt with their side-splitting antics.
John Judge is back on stage this year playing the part of Dickie Browne, who is a rogue and always in search of a bit of a bargain!
Bill Dooher, played by Michael Barrett, is the ever-caring neighbour of Thomasheen and Bessy but as this play unfolds, Bill sees a side of Thomasheen that he had not been expecting.
Mary Kate Higgins, the village gossip, played by Breege Cahill, who is intent on trying to keep her son Mickie, played by Ciaran Connor, out of bother. However, Mickie discovers that there is a “trade lost in him” as the plot unfolds.
Andy and Packie, the Conway twins, played by Larry Jones and Donal Mulkeen, are local bovine reproduction engineers (with a difference) and bring their own humour to the show.
Padraig Connor, played by Tom Tuffy, is the local Publican, County Councillor and Undertaker, who is in for a shock when a removal does not go exactly to plan.
Grainne McLaughlin plays Geraldine the bar maid in Padraig Connor’s pub and she has her hands full when Dickie Browne and the Conway twins drop in for their customary mid morning break. The group is delighted to welcome Grainne on her first appearance with the group.
Rita Dooher, played by Rachel Naughton, is a young daughter of Bill Dooher who has come to give Bessy a hand with entertaining her visitors.
Rachel has already appeared in a number of pantomimes with the group and this is her first appearance as a cast member of the group’s main production. The group is also delighted to have her on board for this show.
The Hares’ young neighbour, Jamie, played by Owen Gillard, has some searching questions for Thomasheen in the final scene. Owen is no stranger to the stage in Castleconnor having already appeared in numerous pantomimes and also in a previous production with the Drama Group.
Husband and wife Damien Brennan and Paula Gilvarry will host a Yeats Dinner on Saturday, March 14 to raise funds for the “Rory Wishes To Walk” campaign.
The campaign was set up to help youngster Rory Gallagher to realise his dream to walk.
His family have until end of June 2015 to raise €120,000 to cover costs for an operation in US to enable him to walk. The dinner will take place in Damien and Paula’s home on the outskirts of Sligo town overlooking Lough Gill.
“We are doing our usual delicious dinner, nibbles, starter, soup, main course, dessert, tea/coffee and petit four,” said culinary master Paula.
“And Damien will give an entertaining and informative evening on Yeats and Sligo with many poems. After dinner Damien will give a song and then call on a guest to follow.
We usually have a great session. All this costs €60-a-head and you are invited to bring your own wine (no corkage fee). Every penny raised goes to Rory. If you would like to attend you need to book in advance.’’
TRYING to decipher a form guide in Division Three of the Allianz Football League is often a brilliant exercise in futility. Usually there appears to be a pattern when there actually is none. Dots join up and then they don’t.
SLIGO Rovers boss Owen Heary admits that he will be facing a selection headache for the start of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division on Saturday week, March 7, when Rovers host Cork City at The Showgrounds.
Sligo Sinn Fein councillor Thomas Healy has said he hasn’t yet made a decision on whether or not to seek his party’s nomination for the next General Election.
Sligo is home to an exceptional diversity of musical talent across all musical genres and the Model are staging a series of free events to say ‘Thank you Sligo’.
