GIG OF THE WEEK
SoFFT Nighs Presents: Cormac Begley with Bunoscionn & Lemoncello
Dunderry Park, Co Meath, July 16th & 17th, 1pm, €67 sofftproductions.com
Spend a magical afternoon and evening in the scenic Boyne Valley in Co Meath with this one-day festival experience designed to soothe the spirit and renew the soul. Anyone with fond memories of the Spirit of Folk Festival with ran in Dunderry Park from 2011 to 2016 will be tempted to make a return pilgrimage to this gorgeous setting to experience a day of music, food, drink, storytelling, holistic workshops and a sense of reconnection with nature – all in a safe, caring and Covid-compliant environment. Visitors will be able to explore the lovers lake walk, megalithic cairn and forest trails, and also sample some of the fine food and produce on offer, and spend the evening enjoying a special concert in a social-distancing friendly big tent featuring some of Ireland's finest acts.
Luke McMullan: A Constant State of Motion
Kenny Gallery, Galway until August 4th thekennygallery.ie
Kenny's gallery in Galway usually has an exhibition on at least every month, but Covid put a halt to all that. The second solo exhibition by Luke McMullan was meant to open this time last year, but finally the gallery is ready to present his "edgy and imaginative" works. And there's a bonus: the artist has had time during lockdown create some new pieces, and these will be incorporated into the exhibition to create an even more fascinating collection of contemporary paintings that have much to say about the modern world. The theme of motion should resonate with an art world that has been forced into a static state over the past 15 months.
Cinemagic Dublin Film Festival
Throughout July cinemagic.org.uk
Fancy becoming a film critic and giving Donald Clarke and Tara Brady a run for their money? The Cinemagic Dublin Film Festival is inviting budding young film reviewers a chance to develop their critical faculties by watching specially selected movies and giving them the thumbs-up or thumbs-down. The festival is aimed at young cineastes, and aims to inspire them with the power of cinema, via a series of virtual screenings, talks and masterclasses. Anyone from age eight to 18 can take part in these online juries, which are divided into four age categories, 8+, 10+, 12+ and 15+. Just email juries@cinemagic.ie and if you're selected as a jury member, you'll be sent a film review pack and get to watch some exciting movies on the Cinemagic Festival Player. The films will be available to view online between July 16th and August 30th
Departures by Dublin Book Festival
Tuesday July 13th, free (booking required) dublinbookfestival.com
The Dublin Book Festival continues its Departures strand, celebrating the power of the landscape, with a virtual visit to Westport in Co Mayo, where presenter Manchán Magan will meet Solar Bones author Mike McCormack and poet Alice Kinsella to talk about how the Irish landscape and scenery affects and inspires their work. Actor Paul O'Brien will read excerpts from the writers' works, and there will be musical interludes by Cormaic McDiarmuid of Lankum and Ruth Clinton of Landless, filmed at the Town Hall Theatre in Westport.
Festival in a Van presents Words Move
Imma, Dublin, Tuesday 13th & Dunamaise Arts Centre, Co Laois, Saturday 17th festivalinavan.com
A van drives around delivering culture to all four corners of Ireland – what better way to entertain in a pandemic? Just park up, pitch up and start the fun. Festival in a Van is a unique way of making sure culture finds its way to the people, and the festival has teamed up with Poetry Ireland to create Words Move, a travelling poetry and music revue that is due to stop off at various locations around the country, starting at Imma on Tuesday, and continuing on to Co Laois on Saturday and then further afield. Participating poets include Victoria Kennefick, Beau Williams, Jane Clarke and Samuel Yakura, with music from Landless, Farah Elle, Finn Furey and David Hope. There'll be a mix of exclusive shows at care homes and community centres, along with public performances in each county. "I think many of us rediscovered poetry during lockdown, so it feels very special to be putting it centre stage," said Festival in a Van's Gemma Tipton.
Walkabout Theatre: The Cyclone Kid
Wednesday July 14th-17th & 21st-24th, 1pm & 3pm, Merrion Square, Dublin, €15 bewleyscafetheatre.com
Bewleys Cafe Theatre presents the fourth in its walkabout series of outdoor plays in historic Dublin locations, and this time we're in Dublin's Merrion Square to immerse ourselves in the cautionary tale of Gabriel, once the third-greatest tour guide in all of Dublin – that is, until "the incident", which saw him tumble from the top of the TripAdvisor ratings, and forced to switch career to cycle courier. Sam Ford writes and stars in this funny, poignant and anything-but-pedestrian one-man show that brings the audience on an entertaining mini-tour of Merrion Square. Meet at the large entrance at Merrion Square East, observe all Covid protocols, and keep an eye on the weather.
