The Manchester Irish Festival: 4th - 19th March 2006
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Wednesday 8th March
Manchester Irish Festival Message Board
World
premiere of The Flags
by Bridget O’Connor
The Studio, Royal Exchange Theatre
Box Office 0161 833 9833 www.royalexchange.co.uk
JJ and Howie are lifeguards on the second worst beach in Ireland. They dream of Banna Strand, the perfect beach with ‘tits and ass as far as the eye can see’. The jobs at Banna are unexpectedly vacant, presenting and opportunity for the lads. But somking, losing the lifeguard manual, and the dead birds on the beach mean their chances are slim. Until a young woman comes to the beach with surprising intentions and Aonter is offered up to JJ as a way out. Bridget O’ Connor’s comedy about ambition, dreams and the taste of Pot Noodles answers the question: what is the real reason for The Flags. With Francis Magee and Kieran Cunningham
Gabriel Rosentock
Reading in Irish and in English from his work.
Irish
World Heritage Centre
at 8.00pm.
Admission is £5 payable at the door
or contact Niall Murphy on 07815 065067
or email ngwmurphy@gmail.com for
further details.
Gabriel makes his work accessible to all and is a wonderful reader of his own work. He was born in Kilfinane, Co Limerick in 1949 and writes primarily in Irish and is the author or translator of over one hundred books. His most recent collection is Krisnmurphy Ambaist'! (Baile Átha Cliath, Coiscéim, 2004). He lives in Dublin and is a member of Aosdána
Rogha Rosenstock (Connemara, Cló Iar-Chonnacta, 1994) is a selection from ten volumes of poetry: Susanne sa Seomra Folctha; OM; Nihil Obstat; Rún na gCaisleán; Portrait of the Artist as an Abominable Snowman; Oráistí; Ní Miain Léi an Fhilíocht Níos Mó. His most recent collection is Krisnmurphy Ambaist'! (Baile Átha Cliath, Coiscéim, 2004).
His children's poetry is selected as Dánta Duitse (Cló Iar-Chonnacta, 1998). A member of many literary societies and organisations, he has been widely published abroad.
Further information about Gabriel.
‘Soccer
v Gaelic Exhibition’
by Tony Hennigan & Ged the Camera
plus
Irish session with The Long Road
Union Inn
Stockport Road, Levenshulme,
0161 224 1271
7pm
Free
A unique photographic exhibition examining which sport is better and hopefully answering such age-old questions as “is David Beckham better looking than Mayo’s Ciaran McDonald?” ‘Tony Hennigan’ and ‘Ged the Camera’ will be exhibiting their work which features shots of local Gaelic football, ALL Ireland Qualifying matches between Mayo and Cavan and Premiership Derby matches between Manchester City and Manchester United. Plus traditional Irish Music til late with the hotly tipped traditional Irish Music group ‘The Long Road’ featuring award winning Banjo player ‘John Joyce’ and Fergal O’Neil. Guest musicians welcome.
Prints of photographs in the exhibition are available.
All profits donated to St Anne’s Hospice. Sponsored by Levenshulme
Pub Company with support from The Western People Sports Section
Slap ‘n’ Tickle
O’Shea’s Irish Bar
Princess St, City Centre
0161 236 3906 - www.osheasirishbar.co.uk
8pm – 1am
Fronted by Barry James, Slap ‘n’ Tickle offer a night of Celtic tunes from Christy Moore to rock numbers from his old friend and mentor Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy.
Shamrock Shufflers
English Martyrs Parish Centre
Alexandra Rd South, Whalley Range
0161 226 1107 - www.empc.org.uk
7.30 – 11pm
Line Dancing
All ages welcome
Burke School of Irish Dancing
St Annes Parish Centre
Stretford
6.30 – 8.30
Followed by Quiz night at 9.30
I, Keano
The Lowry
Salford Quays
7.30pm 0870 787 5790 - www.thlowry.com
The Manchester Irish Festival are proud to bring the UK premier of ‘I, Keano’ described as Up Pompeii meets Father Ted (with a hint of Spitting Image). “Unmercifully Funny” The Irish Times, “A masterfully executed musical comedy” The Times.
Whistle
in the Dark
by Tom Murphy
Royal Exchange Theatre
Box Office 0161 833 9833 www.royalexchange.co.uk
England, the early 1960s, somewhere in Coventry; into the home of Michael Carney and his English wife come his brawling family of brothers and their father, the fire-breathing Dada. Michael came to England for a better life but as the Carney brothers gear up to confront a rival gang for control of the area, Michael is forced to take a stand as age old resentments and tensions begin to explode. Written when he was 25, A Whistle in the Dark launched Tom Murphy onto the stage in London and Dublin to a storm of shock, controversy and applause. Now regarded as a classic of Irish drama it remains a devastating portrait of the pull of tribalism and violence in men and the desperate need to stand against it. The show features Gary Whelan as Dada, with Patrick O’Kane as Michael.
Kennedy Keegan School of Irish Dance
St Kentigerns
6pm