As dramatised in ‘The Dubliners Dilemma’, James Joyce’s first prose work, ‘Dubliners’ was finally published in 1914 after an eight year struggle with several publishers. To mark the 100th anniversary of this auspicious day in world letters, Declan Gorman’s one-man show will embark on a tour of Ireland and select overseas festivals later this year. Watch this space for details. If you manage a venue or local festival and would like to contact us, just click here.
One for the Road:
Declan Gorman as Mr Farrington in ‘Counterparts’
Marking the centenary of the publication of James Joyce’s ‘Dubliners’, Bachelors Walk Productions is proud to announce its “2014 West to East European Tour” of ‘The Dubliners Dilemma’ adapted and performed by Declan Gorman, based on stories by James Joyce. The tour commences on April 2nd in Galway, home town of Joye’s partner, Nora Barnacle and ends just south of Moscow, at the estate home of Leo Tolstoy, in early July – taking in Belfast, Birr, Belmullet, Ballymun, Blanchardstown, Bray, Bloomsday in Dublin, Ennis, Monaghan, Limerick and Navan… and also Trieste, Italy, where most of the book was written.
All Irish regional dates (except the Limerick and Navan matinees) will also feature a specially designed Audio Visual presentation ‘The Life of Joyce’, live-narrated by Bern Deegan
Below is the list of confirmed dates:
APRIL
Wed 2nd Town Hall…
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Patrick Kavanagh, Patrick McCabe, Mary O’Donnell, Evelyn Conlon… yes. But James Joyce and Monaghan? In advance of the performance of ‘The Dubliners Dilemma’ at the Garage Theatre on April 25th, blogger, publicist and himself a native of Monaghan, Alph Traynor interviewed Declan Gorman and discovered some hitherto hidden connections between James Joyce and a county he never visited nor mentioned in his work!
Patrick Kavanagh and Anthony Cronin led the first ‘official’ Bloomsday celebration in 1954. Pictured here outside Davy Byrne’s pub.
Monaghan playwright Declan Gorman returns to the Garage Theatre next Friday, April 25th with his acclaimed one-man show, “The Dubliners Dilemma”, after a long absence.
While Gorman has returned to work on a number of community theatre projects, his last professional showing in his hometown was with his adaptation of Patrick Kavanagh’s ‘The Green Fool’ which proved very popular with local audiences on its national tours in 2004 and…
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The legacy of Ian Paisley: ‘Most read’ in Dublin, Belfast and London
Posted: October 20, 2014 in Uncategorized
‘Most Read’ stories in (from top to bottom) the Irish Times, the Belfast Telegraph and The Times (London) on the evening of Ian Paisley’s death, 12 September 2014. Jon Ronson’s reflections on Paisley as preacher, ‘Time to work up a good pulpit sweat’, mean that the ‘Big Man’ accounts for four of the five most-read stories in the Irish Times this evening. No surprise that he should attract more attention in Dublin than in London (just one in five) but the apparent disparity in levels of interest between readers of the Irish Times and the Belfast Telegraph (one in five as well) is a little more curious. Maybe it reflects Ian Paisley’s late-in-life role as champion of a compromise peace settlement which is now the focus of simmering discontent on the unionist right. The fact that ‘Cameron and Blair’ are referenced in the Telegraph‘s headline about Ian Paisley provides…
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Lucy great piece
NUI Galway Launch the Arts in Action Programme for 2014/2015
Posted: September 21, 2014 in Uncategorized
NUI Galway has launched the 2014/2015 Arts in Action Programme, which invites students to engage with the creative arts during their studies. Aimed at students across the campus, Arts in Action offers access to a variety of international-standard arts events throughout the academic year.
The Arts in Action programme is packed with rich and diverse performances focusing on emerging artists from the Western sea board of Ireland, focusing on counties Clare, Limerick, Cork and Kerry and also on performances by international names from the world of theatre, literature and traditional music.
Among the legendary performers showcasing in this year’s series are: Olwen Fouéré, Mick Moloney, Peadar O’Ríada, the Mulcahy Family and Dolores Keane. This year also sees a commemoration of Maud Gonne, the 150th anniversary of the birth of WB Yeats and two new collaborations with NUI Galway’s Moore Institute and the James Hardiman Library.
The Dean of the College of Arts Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, Dr Edward Herring said: “The performers in this year’s series come from Ireland’s entire Atlantic coast, from Donegal to Kerry. Just like the ocean constantly shapes and reinvigorates the coastline, so the indigenous tradition sustains and inspires the creative artists and communities of the West of Ireland.”
Launching the new programme, Vincent Woods, poet, RTÉ Arts broadcaster and journalist, said: “The Arts in Action programme at NUI Galway is a rare and very impressive example of a university incorporating creative performance into its academic calendar, a blueprint for all third-level colleges in Ireland. I commend it for its vitality, diversity, relevance and richness.”
Arts in Action has been building over three years to support specific undergraduate and post-graduate modules as well as having a significant input into the programmes for International Students. The content of the programme is designed in such a way that it is now aligned to a teaching theory component within a two-hour seminar and is a credit bearing module for both Irish and International students.
Mary Mc Partlan, Traditional Artist-in-Residence at the Centre for Theatre and Performance and Artistic Director of Arts in Action at NUI Galway, said: “This year’s programme marks the ultimate goal and objective of embedding the creative arts into academic modules, creating a full programme in such a sustained and significant way that fulfils all the aims and outcomes for credit bearing modules, available to all students across the campus, with structured, bespoke space opportunities for visiting students to immerse in Irish Traditional Culture.”
All events are free to attend and will take place mostly at The Cube and Bailey Allen Hall in Áras Na Mac Léinn, NUI Galway. The programme will commence on Thursday, 25 September and run until the end of March 2015.
For programme details please see http://www.nuigalway.ie/arts/artsinaction.html, or visit the Arts in Action Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ArtsinActionNUIGalway
Galway Chess Congress 2014 Late October 2014
Posted: September 6, 2014 in UncategorizedTags: Chess, Menlo Park Hotel
Galway Chess Congress
Friday 17th to Sunday 19th October 2014
Venue: Menlo Park Hotel, Galway
Prize fund: €3300
We are grateful for financial support from Blackthorne International,
Menlo Park Hotel, and the Irish Chess Union.
Sections and Prizes
| Masters | Major | Minor | |
|
Rating Band |
1800+ | 1200-1799 | U-1200 |
|
1st |
€700 |
€450 |
€250 |
|
2nd |
€350 |
€250 |
€150 |
|
3rd |
€200 |
€100 |
€100 |
|
Grading |
€250 |
€250 |
€250 |
Which Section can I play in?
Current ICU ratings apply, as shown in the ICU ratings list published in September 2014. (If you do not have an ICU rating, but have another national rating, then the last such rating published on or before 1 October 2014 is the one we will use.)
We allow some flexibility on these rating bands, as shown below.
(a) FIDE ratings, as published in the October 2014 rating list, may be used for eligibility for the Masters section, at the player’s discretion.
(b) Players with an ICU rating within 100 points of each rating band floor will be allowed to float up to the immediately higher section if they wish.
(c) Players who have had a published ICU rating in the past 2 years which is on or above the floors specified in the table above (i.e., 1800 and 1200), may use that rating to float up if they wish. The same applies to a live ICU rating obtained in the last 6 months (i.e., since 1 April 2104).
Entrants without a current rating will be allocated at the organizers’ discretion. The organizers reserve the right to refuse entry.
Prizes
No Player may win more than one prize; if you are eligible for two prizes, you will receive the larger one. [For instance, if you have a rating of 1200 and win the Major, you will receive the €450 first prize, but you won’t get a grading prize as well. But if you end up in a five-way tie for third in the Major, which would give you a prize of €20, and are also eligible for a grading prize of €50, you will get the grading prize.]
A player who cannot provide evidence of playing strength may only be awarded 50% of any prize money (except for first, second, or third prize in the Masters), at the organizers’ discretion.
The amount awarded in grading prizes may be slightly altered (up or down) depending on the number of entries.
Playing Schedule
|
Round No. |
Time | Day |
Date |
|
Round 1 |
8 pm | Friday | Oct 17 |
|
Round 2 |
10 am | Saturday | Oct 18 |
|
Round 3 |
2.30 pm | Saturday | Oct 18 |
|
Round 4 |
7 pm | Saturday | Oct 18 |
|
Round 5 |
10 am | Sunday | Oct 19 |
|
Round 6 |
2.15 pm | Sunday | Oct 19 |
Players who arrive at the board an hour or more late will forfeit the game. If you are travelling and realise that you will arrive late, it would be a great help if you could contact the organizers at 087 2369387 before the start of the round.
Time limit: 90 minutes for the game, plus an increment of 10 seconds from move 1. (Note: this depends on us being able to source enough clocks. We will keep you informed here about any changes in the time limit.)
We hope to be able to provide both sets and clocks, but it would be a help if you could bring a set and clock, in case we are overwhelmed by late entries.
Other Tournament Rules
Mobile phones
The new FIDE rules on mobile phones, introduced on 1 July 2014, will not apply. However, you are strongly urged not to bring mobile phones or other electronic devices to the event. If you do bring a mobile phone, or any device containing a chess programme, it must be completely switched off for the entire duration of your game, and must always be completely switched off in the playing area. If any player’s mobile phone makes any noise during their game, that player automatically loses the game. If you are found using or consulting such a device (or having any communication from anyone else who is using or consulting such a device) whilst your game is in progress, you will immediately lose your game and be expelled from the tournament; a report will be prepared for the ICU, which might impose further disciplinary action
If you feel that you have to be in contact with the outside world during your game – perhaps because you expect an urgent and important message – you should consult an arbiter, who will do what he can to help you by looking after your phone for you. In no circumstances will you be allowed to use any communication device yourself during your game.
Spectators (including parents) must not have a mobile phone, or device capable of containing a chess programme, switched on in the playing venue.
If you suspect a player is using a mobile phone or device containing a chess programme, you should immediately inform an arbiter; you should not attempt to intervene yourself.
Connaught Chess Championship
The Galway congress will incorporate the Connaught Chess Championship; the title of Champion will be awarded to the highest placed player in the Masters who was either born in Connaught, or who has lived in Connaught for the past 12 months. (Proof of qualification may be required.) The Connaught Champion will receive the Connaught Chess Champion trophy, and will be nominated by the Irish Chess Union for entry to the 2015 British Chess Championship, with some financial assistance also provided by the ICU. [This title does not count as a ‘prize’, and so the Connaught Champion may also retain any prize money won.]
Enquiries
Enquiries are welcomed to GalwayChess@gmail.com (preferably),
or to Fiona Cormican on 087 2369387
Accommodation
Tournament Venue: Menlo Park Hotel, Galway
menloparkhotel.com 091-761122
Menlo Park Hotel is a modern 4-star hotel providing good accommodation, bars, restaurant, and has ample free parking.
The hotel is located just off the Galway ring road, so it is very easy to get to. It is within walking distance of Galway city centre.
We have secured the following B&B rates for the congress weekend
€85.00 for Friday night and €95 for Saturday night for a Double / Twin Room
€65.00 for Friday night and €75 for Saturday night for a Single Room
We have pre-reserved rooms in the hotel. To book at this reduced rate phone (+353) (0)91 761122 (ask for Room Reservations) or email reservations@menloparkhotel.com, mentioning the Chess Congress. Rooms are being held for us only until 3 October, so please book by then.
The Menlo Park Hotel has also offered us the following special deals:
You can upgrade to a Superior King room including robes, slippers, fruit and water for €20 per night
The charge for staying on for the Sunday night will be an extra €79 for double / twin or €59 for a single room
If you stay for three nights, the hotel will include a complementary four course dinner on one night
Entry Fees
All Competitions: €45
Student, retired: €40
Under 16, unemployed: €35
A discount of €10 applies if entry fee received on or before 12 October 2014.
A surcharge of €15 applies to entries received on the day of the tournament.
If you wish to enter by POST, you can download the entry form here and send it to
Pete Morriss, Glann, Oughterard, Co. Galway
Please make all cheques payable to “Galway Chess Club” and do not send cash in the post!
To enter ONLINE, provide your details in the payment form below and then wait a few seconds and you will be redirected to an entry form which you must fill in.
Once both of those are submitted, you should receive an email confirming your entry.
It is possible to enter multiple entrants at once – simply add up the entry fees (carefully!) and put the total in the Payment Amount section. Then you can add the extra details as necessary on the entry form which you will be redirected to.
GALWAY CONGRESS REGISTRATION
Card Holder’s Name
Email Address
Payment Amount
Card Number
Card Expiry Date
/
Card CVV
All entrants resident in Ireland must be a member of the Irish Chess Union;
to join, see here.
Enquires to: GalwayChess@gmail.com (preferably)
or: Fiona Cormican on 087 2369387
The Wimbledon men’s final always makes me cry. I’m sure I’m not the only one. I am always inspired by the velocity of these athletes, their strength and application and by their powerful will to win. A career in film is a bit like being a tennis pro – years of hitting a ball against a wall for maybe one or two shots at success. So it pays to work like a Wimbledon Champion:
O– LOVE the work you do. Honour each day of training – practice your art whenever you can and relish the chance to write/direct/act on a regular basis. Honing your skills is never wasted and builds consistency – it keeps you match fit.
15 – FIFTEEN reasons to give up are always knocking on your door. So choose to forget you lost the last game and play each moment fresh as it unfolds. My mum used to say ‘Quitters…
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When is a film not a film? When it’s a play on words. I’ve just seen a beautifully written film – and yet it could have been a play – as it revels in language in a way we usually identify with radio or theatre. Locke is an intense, poetic and visual movie that relies on words for its main impact.
In Locke, written and directed by Steven Knight , our anti-hero (played by Tom Hardy) is trapped behind the wheel of a car for 90 minutes. The drama occurs not through action but through a series of dialogues – not even face to face but on the phone. The only physical action he takes is driving.
Tom Hardy is the draw here but it was not his face – expressive though that is – that stayed with me. It was his voice, his thoughts that moved me – that and the gap between what he…
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The View from The DJ booth 