Irish events- get enjoying: art & craft, monks, high kings, & the Scratcher!

 There are loads of interesting events are happening in the Kilkenny area in the next few weeks- here's a sampler of some of them:

 Devious Theatre present 'Scratcher,' at 76 John St, Kilkenny City.

22-27 Feb, at 8pm.

''They have demands, they have plans and they have guns. They are making the sentence fit the crime. Scratcher is a farce about a farce that gets even more farcical by the day. On a rainy Tuesday morning in a non descript social welfare office, six twenty somethings step out from behind the statistics and bring the live registrar to life'' 
We've got our tickets!

If you would like to get crafty by making something, why not try the Ceramic Jewellery course on Sunday, 27 Feb at the Castlecomer Design Yard? You can bring a packed lunch, or go to the very tasty Jarrow Cafe- yummm- try the chocolate biscuit cake/slice, definitely! (You can walk it off after by having a stroll in their lovely woodland park!)

As part of The Year of Craft 2011, on Thurs March 3rd 1-2pm 

 ''the Butler Gallery in partnership with the Crafts Council of Ireland hosts an ‘in conversation’ event with exhibiting artist Alan Counihan and ceramicist Cormac Boydell.''

Before you go, or after, do call in to the Craft Gallery, to see this exhibit as well as Alan Counihan's exhibit 'Elemental' at the Butler Gallery, where the talk will be held. Click here for more information on the talk. (sorry about the font & colour change here- I've not written my words in caps, but I can't fix it so will just go with it! What I've written after this section is fine. Mystery to me!) 

On the weekend of 4-6 March, just over the Kilkenny border in Borris, county Carlow, there wil be traditional and classical music, performance art, poetry, and art exhibits on at 

 the Barrow River Arts Festival You can book individual event tickets, day tickets, or a weekend pass. While you are there, you should consider having a bite at Ruben's restaurant at the Stephouse Hotel- I've heard really good things about it. For another place to stay over, perhaps Borris House, home to ancient Irish High kings will suffice? It is a pity we only live down the road in Graignamanagh, & I can't find someone to sponsor us in an over night there in the name of research. 

Ahh, well. Paddy's day will be here on the 17th of March, & we'll be having our fabulous parade in Graig, as will many other places. Kilkenny City's parade is going to be lead by Christen Mooney, 'Aisling',

 from the movie The Secret Of Kells, & some of the characters will be showing up, too. Here's a clip of Aisling's lovely song in the movie. If you've not seen The Secret of Kells (made by Kilkenny based Cartoon Saloon) -DO! It is wonderful. And I'm not just saying that because we are partial to monks here in Graignamanagh (Irish for villiage of the monks.) It is a enchanting film. And by the way, the 1st 2 of our monk sculptures will be turning up in/around Graig this summer-keep you eyes peeled for them!