THRIVING Region in Focus
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W E AT H E R , T H E S U N N Y S O U T H E A S T A L S O O F F E R S W O R L D - S TA N D A R D E D U C AT I O N A L I N S T I T U T E S , H I S TO R I C A N D A R C H E O L O G I C A L R I C H E S , A N D C U LT U R A L E V E N T S TO I N T R I G U E A N D D E L I G H T. TA K E O U R W H I S T L E - S TO P TO U R T H R O U G H C A R LO W , K I L K E N N Y, W AT E R F O R D , W E X F O R D A N D S O U T H T I P P E R A RY.
CULTURAL PURSUITS The National Opera House (wexfordopera.com) is Ireland’s first custom-built, multipurpose opera house, a state-of-the-art building with two auditoriums. It is also home to the Wexford Festival Opera, which was founded in 1951, and has since established an international reputation for ambitious and spectacular productions, drawing fans from all over the world. A new addition to Waterford’s emerging cultural quarter is the Waterford Gallery of Art (waterfordarts.com). Located in the former Waterford Savings Bank, the Thomas Jackson-designed building has been completely reimagined around the Municipal Collection and the gallery’s inaugural exhibition, Aspects: Highlights from the Waterford Art Collection, features the works of Paul and Grace Henry, three generations of the beloved Yeats family, and painter and stained glass artist, Evie Hone amongst many others. For ten days each August, Kilkenny’s historic churches, castle, courtyards, townhouses and gardens offer a magical setting for the city’s Arts Festival (kilkennyarts. ie). An electrifying and innovative mix of musicians, performers, writers and artists deliver intimate encounters and unique collaborations. Expect openair Shakespeare in neo-Gothic surrounds, contemporary music performed in medieval houses, pop-up concerts across secret gardens, and projection shows at the cathedral and castle. Those with a hankering for traditional Irish music should step lively to Carrick-on-Suir in south Tipperary on the June Bank holiday weekend when the Clancy Brothers Festival of Music and Art (clancybrothersfestival. com) takes to the streets. The festival honours the legacy of the Clancy Brothers, a music group popular since the 1960s, who are credited with highlighting Irish folk music around the world. With music, art, poetry and storytelling, there are singing and busking competitions, workshops and free open-air concerts. Budding musicians may like the sound of Music Generation, a programme that provides performance music education opportunities to over 4,500 children and young people in county Carlow. It has a schools programme providing vocal and instrumental tuition, a community music programme, and four county ensembles. The programme is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education and Skills, and Local Music Education Partnerships.
The National Opera House, Wexford Image by Ros Kavanagh
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