Inside every Good Girl.. ..is a Bad Girl
Le Paradis Club GALWAY’S EXOTIC DANCING VENUE 7 Dominick Street Upper, Galway Tel: 091-860556 www.LeParadisClub.com
in GALWAY
Cover AMAZING APPLES ‘SLIPPING BY’ single launch 16th March 2014 in Roisin Dubh
From Friday March 7th To Thursday March 20th 2014
Welcome to TheCRAIC
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Welcome to the 18th edition of the Craic in Galway magazine. Are we all set for St Patrick’s weekend? Let’s get into the spirit without going too mad! As community groups come together to light up the streets of Galway, city and county, with mischief and mayhem, costumes and floats, its certain to be a theatrical spectacle. Theatre is a key theme over the coming fortnight, as NUIG celebrates with a dedicated theatre week and Claregalway are gearing up for their very own festival of drama. It’s best to leave the drama to the stage and have a safe and fun bank holiday weekend. We also had a sneaky peak at The Producers at the Town Hall Theatre and the photos are inside just for you. As always, we bring you your daily events diary for the next two weeks, the best of nightlife snaps across the city, news, views, health, fashion and free money. Ah no - that’s a lie - just wanted to see if you were still reading. While Tedfest migrates to London, Mrs Doyle might be hoping to join the Galway kettlebells, but would be disappointed to learn its not about making tea. We have the do’s and don’ts of Paddy’s Day attire, Dara Kelly realises she is an extremist, and local comedian Steve Bennett likes pens. If you are confused at all, read on to find out more inside our little but large magazine. Go on, go on, go wan!
The CRAIC addicts Photography & Design
Darius IVAN
info@divmedia.ie
Editor
Avril HORAN avrilhoran@divmedia.ie Styling & Photography
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sunnyjuddy@divmedia.ie Contributors
Dara KELLY Cara LYONS Rebecca CASSERLY Distribution
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Happy Reading, Sure it’s all a bit of craic!
Love, The CRAIC Squad
Featured in TheCRAIC 18
Operation Moderation p.20 Green GROUNDHOG Day p.14 Happy CÚIRTing! p.27
The GINGER Beard p.10 Paddy’s Day Fashion p.24 The PRODUCERS p.17
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Friday 7th March 2014 • 10am: The 10th anniversary Skipper Expo International Galway fisheries show begins today at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill. The Expo will feature about 100 exhibitor stands covering equipment and services for the fishing industry.
STAND UP!!! By Avril HORAN
Galway Youths Front National LGBT Campaign
• 7pm: A public round table discussion takes place at The King’s Head Ruby Room to address the role of universities in the development of citizens, run by NUIG. • 7:45pm: The Galway FC start their Airtricity League First Division campaign against Longford Town at Eamonn Deacy Park. • 8pm: The Galway Patrician Musical Society presents The Producers at the Town Hall Theatre – winner of 12 Tony awards. It will have you laughing and singing in the aisles. • 9pm: It’s Ferg’s Funky Friday at Kellys on Bridge Street, with Dj Ferg and Galway band, The Hardcore Priests of Yemen return with their Cardboard Circus tour. • 9pm: The King’s Head play host to The Big Easy, for a great night out at a rockin’ venue. • 10pm: The fantastic Baile an Salsa will be playing a free gig at Monroe’s Live on Dominick Street – with their unique blend of salsa and traditional Irish music. • Midnight: Covers band Lunar Playground will have you dancing til the wee hours at Monroe’s Live.
Seven young people from the Galway branches of Youth Work Ireland are the national faces of this year’s Stand Up! campaign. The LGBT awareness week runs from March 10th-14th and is aimed at creating a positive understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender young people and their issues. This is the first year that young people from outside Dublin have been the face of the campaign.
they know that there are others who are going through the same things that they are.
“We here at Youth Work Ireland, Galway are very proud of the seven for standing up for young LGBT people,” explains Anne Marie Hession.
“When you come out and can be proud, you have a better, more accepting view of yourself. Life’s better when one’s proud and free and able to love themselves. So, no matter your sexuality, your gender or anything else, be proud of yourself!”
Local Galway group shOUT! are planning a marathon outreach week, aiming to get to as many schools as possible. For teenager, Colm De Barra, Stand Up! week is “so important, as it gives people the courage to come out, because
“I know many people that have been ostracized by friends and family because of their sexuality and gender identity,” he says, “fortunately, I have had a very positive coming out experience. I was accepted by all my friends immediately and all my family came around. I was not met with any prejudice and that was great, but not everyone is and that’s not great.
If your school would like to run a workshop please contact Youth Work Galway on 091 561637.
The CRAIC in MONROE’S Live PhotosBy Darius IVAN
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Saturday 8th March 2014 • It’s International Day, celebrating achievements.
Women’s women’s
CRAICING NEWS!!! The Sons of Galway By Avril HORAN
• 10:30am: Ireland’s first ever National Student Radio Conference takes place at NUIG in Aras Na Mac Leinn. • 11am: Enjoy a Saturday morning coffee concert at St Nicholas Collegiate Church with Sam Sytsma. • 1pm: The Arts and Crafts Indoor Market takes place at the Roisin Dubh on Dominick Street.
• 2pm: A talk and performance, The Uilleann Pipes, takes place at The Galway City Museum with Galway based piper, Tommy Keane. • 4:30pm: Dr Sketchy’s Galway Invasion takes place at Monroe’s Live. Taking life drawing to a new level with a vintage sci-fi theme. • 6:30pm: Anam Theatre presents their own fundraiser, Beuresday Theatre Tapas, at The Blue Note for a literary restaurant and theatrical tidbits. • 8pm: It’s the final night for The Producers at the Town Hall Theatre. • 9pm: Catch Naked Bear live at The King’s Head who will have you up and dancing, • 9:30pm: Enjoy a toe tapping trad session at The Crane Bar on Sea Road. • 10pm: Donegal band, Mojo Gogo will take to the stage at Monroe’s Live followed by The Lollygaggers on the main stage at midnight.
• Megan Smolenyak and President Barack Obama in Dublin, May 2011. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
Private Thomas D Costello To celebrate all things green this month, the American based publication, Irish Central are featuring inspiring Irish Americans from across the USA as part of their Unsung Heroes series. One such person is Megan Smolenyak, the genealogist who traced President Obama’s Irish roots, and her ability to sniff out historical connections like a bloodhound.
One tale told is that of Private Thomas D Costello, a Galway born WW1 soldier who lost his life on the fields of France. Born in Galway in May 1892, he emigrated to America with three of his siblings. On September 16, 1918, Costello encountered heavy enemy artillery barrage and machine gun fire near Jaulny, France, in a wooded area known as Bois de Bonvaux.
and his remains were buried with two other soldiers in a wooded area between Bois de Bonvaux and Bois de Grand Fontaine. Attempts to locate his remains at the time were unsuccessful. However in 2006, French nationals hunting for metal came across the burial site along with WW1 artifacts. Megan Smolenyak was able to track down Private Costello’s surviving relatives for his final burial at Arlington National Cemetery on July 10, 2010. She located his great grand nephew, who travelled from Maine to attend the funeral and the following year, she found more living relatives of Costello’s in Tuam, Co. Galway. By tracing his ancestry, she was able to bring closure to the family of the young 26-year-old, some 90 years later, who has a final resting place.
He was killed during the battle
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in GALWAY
• 2pm: The Coeliac Society are hosting a gluten free cookery demonstration and food fair at the Menlo Park Hotel.
The CRAIC in The KING’S HEAD PhotosBy Darius IVAN
The CRAIC on
Sunday 9th March 2014 • 12pm: The Galway Bay Jazz Band play live at Busker Brownes for some swingin’ Sunday tunes.
Apples Set for Amazing Launch! By Avril HORAN
‘Slipping By’ On Sunday March 16, 8pm Photo By AISLING EGAN in Boston
• 1pm: The Bubbly Baby Market takes place at the Clybaun Hotel where new and pre-loved baby and toddler items will be on sale. • 8pm: Comedian Des Bishop presents his Coming Home show, after spending a year in China, at the Roisin Dubh on Dominick Street.
• 8pm: The Galway Film Society presents Lucia at the Town Hall Theatre, winner of numerous awards, including the prestigious Un Certain Regard prize at the Cannes Film Festival. • 8pm: Frank McGuinness adaptation of Sophocles’ Electra takes place at The Cube Theatre, NUIG. • 9pm: It’s Open Mic Night at the Roisin Dubh on Dominick Street – raw talent at its best – where you can find Show Me The Funny winner – Steve Bennett. • 9pm: The Kings Head are set to entertain with live music from Pa and Ferg. • 11pm: The Sunday Sessions at Monroe’s Live will sooth you into a new week with the smoothest covers band – Fortune Cookie.
CRAICAD FROM €49
T
he Amazing Apples are ‘Go’ for the launch of their new single ‘Slipping By’ on Sunday, March 16th at the Roisin Dubh. The high energy Galway group are growing from strength to strength and are moving away from their covers beginnings into the world of original song. They began by gigging across the city and were regular headliners at Monroes’ Live over the last two years. The new single was written by band member, Eanna Fahy, and is a slower tempo than some of their more rousing tunes. And they are set to record a full album of unique tracks this summer with their own material. Their Irish
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Americana rhythms delight time after time and their performances have the crowd on their feet all night long. This time last year, they were on tour in Boston for the St. Patricks celebrations, with their then manager, Gary Monroe, and have film footage of the snow covered US trip, which they may use as part of their new video for Slipping By. At the time of going to print, it is currently being recorded at The Black Box in the city and the release date for the video is set for Paddy’s weekend – just in time for the single launch. All of the members, Darragh Crehan, Cian Crehan, Anthony Ryan, Brian Grace and Eanna Fahy are multi-instrumentalists, incorporating bouzouki, mandolin, keyboard and in GALWAY
• 11am: The Labane Sunday Market takes place at the Loughnane and Quinn Memorial Hall, near Gort, with local craft and food produce. There will also be a charity table every month and this month it’s the Gort Youth Café.
AMAZING APPLES in 2010
fiddle in their live shows. They have also toured in the UK, New York and Romania. “We are so excited about the launch,” says band member Darragh Crehan, “and we also have a lot of tour dates around the country afterwards. We are
recording an album at the end of the summer with all of our own material, and we would really like John Reynolds to produce it. He has worked with the likes of Sinead O’Connor and Damien Dempsey. We already have our demo and can’t wait to get into a proper studio,” he says.
The Apples ambition is to achieve commercial success with their new offerings and for Darragh, the band is a passion that he “really loves” and “it’s really great”. You can also catch them this year at the Sea Sessions in Bundoran in June and at the Indiependence festival in Cork in August.
Romantic Dinner at Da Roberta’s Ristorante 161 UPPER SALTHILL, Phone: 091-585808/091-581111
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Monday 10th March 2014 • It’s the start of Stand Up! week to help promote awareness about LGBT issues amongst young people.
The Ginger Beard Rules!!! By Avril HORAN
Steve Bennett is Show Me The Funny Star
• 10am: Playwright Frank McGuinness will attend this morning’s performance of Electra at The Cube Theatre, NUIG. Shows again at 8pm. • 11am: A contemporary dance workshop takes place at the Galway Rowing Club for advanced and professional dancers with Elena Giannotti.
• 8pm: For a bit of a chat, head to Kellys for their weekly Galway language exchange, bringing together the international and expat community at a warm and friendly venue. • 8pm: Galway Archaeological and Historical Society presents Roger Casement and the Irish Language by Professor Nollaig MacCongáil at the Harbour Hotel, Dock Road. • 8:30pm: NUIG Dramsoc presents a new adaptation of George Orwell’s famous 1984 at the Bank of Ireland Theatre – running nightly until Friday 14th. • 9pm: For some Monday music, head to The Kings Head for the live sound of Fred and James. • 9:30pm: Enjoy a free trad session at The Crane Bar, Sea Road, with Freda Hatton and Kevin Whelan. • 10pm: Busker Brownes oozes with class and culture as the fantastic 18 piece Black Magic Big Band take you back to an era when jazz and swing roamed.
G
alway based comedian, Steve Bennett, likes pens. This is just one of the quirky aspects of his personality that led him to be crowned champion of the comedians at The Kings Head. Steve (23) won the rounds of the prestigious competition, Show Me The Funny, to win a gig at Electric Picnic. Originally from Laois, Steve discovered his love of stand up at NUIG, and has gone on to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. He has a mane of hair on his chin, which he uses to disguise his young age, and it has inspired him to set up his own performance group –Gingerbeard House – with well known Galway entertainer, Stephen Sharpe. While he hopes to keep his youth under wraps, in reality it makes him look like “a homeless baby”. Comedy for Steve Bennett is “a job I will do ‘til I die”. He
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believes you have to be either “a psychopath or sociopath” to enter into the world of stand-up and it is comedy that “keeps me sane”. He was surprised to win the Show Me The Funny title, as the competition was tough, and felt it was anybody’s game on the night. Along with pens, he also likes hecklers, and says that the best comedy comes from the immediacy of Improv. At home in the city, he has a memory board where he keeps his handwritten notes stuck safely to the wall in a giant collage. “I like pens a lot,” he says. “I am a huge fan of the written word and there is a huge connection between thinking and writing. I always have to write my ideas on a piece of paper and my wall looks like the scene from ‘A Beautiful Mind’. I brought a girl home once, she saw it, went away and I never saw her again. My flatmate pointed out that it looks as though I am a serial killer in the making, with red string tying all the bits and pieces together!” in GALWAY
• 8pm: Comedian Des Bishop presents his Coming Home show, after spending a year in China, at the Roisin Dubh on Dominick Street.
Steve hasn’t yet realised that it’s too late to audition for Fr. Ted Some of his funniest moments have come from the gravity of heartache, and while the love of his life has changed since, the message is still the same. Comedy hasn’t given him the key to success in the pulling stakes as he has “a weird fetish for sober women”. “It’s my own fault,” he says, “A lot of my material is about heartache and woe. Any woman thinks I am trouble as I might end up writing a song about them. Some hammered lad who takes his shirt off in Carbon gets a lady faster than I can!” Steve hopes to carve out a future in comedy and says that the worst situation can provide the best inspiration. The scene in Ireland is one of community and rivalry, and he would like to see it develop into a place where friendly advice can be exchanged amongst the up and coming crowd. “I have a terrible fear of retirement,” says the man who is still in his early twenties. “I
would like to try different styles of things, writing sketches, sitcom writing and I enjoy the collaborative effort. I do musical comedy and regularly play music. To continue to write comedy and music is the ultimate dream. Comedy keeps me sane. I don’t know what I would do without it. I need to write and make something, otherwise I would emotionally keel over,” he says. He is looking forward to his Electric Picnic slot and knows he will have to “work my ass off getting gig after gig after gig in the hope that someone hands me a business card to get me even more gigs.” He has a thick skin for the tough world of entertainment and will “keep at it for the foreseeable future.” Find out more at www. stevebennettcomedy.com.
The CRAIC on
Tuesday 11th March 2014
• 7pm: A fundraising table quiz in aid of Young Africa takes place at Fibber Magees in Eyre Square. • 7:30pm: Have a game of scrabble in Irish for Seachtain na Gaeilge at the Loughrea Hotel and Spa. • 8pm: Catch Pat McCabe’s The Bridge Below The Town at the Town Hall Theatre – set in the 1950s small town Ireland. • 8pm: Comedian Des Bishop presents his Coming Home show, after spending a year in China, at the Roisin Dubh on Dominick Street. • 8:30pm: The film, Caesar Must Die, will be screened in the AV theatre at the Connemara National Park, Letterfrack. • 8pm: Music for Galway presents Elizabeth Cooney, Marc Coppey and Finghin Collins at the Aula Maxima, NUIG. • 8:30pm: Zeroline Productions presents Momento Morte at the Town Hall Studio – a tragic comedy set in Victorian London. • 9pm: Galway’s Little Cinema will be hosting their first Irish language week special – Seachtain na Gaeilge Spesialta at Kellys on Bridge Street. • 9:30pm: Enjoy a toe tapping trad session upstairs at The Crane Bar on Sea Road with Mick Crehan and John O’Halloran. • 11pm: Headphones at the ready, it’s time for the Silent Disco, also at the Roisin Dubh.
Straight talking from the trailor trash mouth of Southern Belle, Candy, and the more refined Cara from Connemara. By Cara LYONS
Dear Candy:
I recently went on holiday with my boyfriend and we went to the zoo for the first time. We have been together for two years now, and he is usually such a gentle and loving person. But when we were at the zoo, something weird happened. We walked up to the lion enclosure and my boyfriend wanted to fight them. At first I thought he was joking, but he freaked out, pacing up and down yelling at them like a lunatic saying his junk was bigger than theirs. The children nearby got scared and ran to their parents. He was cursing at them and banging on the glass saying things like “you think you’re so big” and “bring it on lion face I’ll take ya”. When I finally pulled him away and calmed him down he apologised and insisted we continue our tour. But when we reached the baboons it happened again. This time, he ripped off his shirt and tried to get in to them yelling and jumping up and down, banging his chest. The zoo keepers had to call the guards. It was so embarrassing. When we finally got back to the hotel, he seemed normal again, but I just don’t know what to say to him about what happened. Please help.
Candy:
What kind of freak man is that! Why didn’t you run away and jump on the next plane home, change your name and your address and your DNA? Cus you don’t wanna be near that. He is clearly possessed by some sorta’ crazy demon. If you really want to stay with him, you need to travel to India during a full moon
and gather some rare spices and a blessing from a magic witchdoctor. Then capture the breath of a yawn from a tigress in a bottle, bring it home, blow the spices into his eyes and let him drink the yawn. Then say the blessing and he should be much better behaved from then on.
Your boyfriend clearly has some issues that could be related to some past experience where someone belittled his manhood or made him feel insecure. There could also have
been other traumatic incidents he hasn’t told you about yet. You need to talk about what happened with him, explain how you feel, and that you care and want him - so seek help.
Cara:
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in GALWAY
• 7pm: The Galway Arts Centre presents a Poetry Slam in The Ruby Room at The King’s Head and you can also catch live music from Jack and Dec on the main stage.
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Wednesday 12th March 2014 • 12:50pm: Tommy Tiernan is back at The King’s Head for some lunchtime comedy with his Improv ‘Open Mouth’ gigs.
Green Groundhog Day By Avril HORAN
In Boston for Paddy’s Weekend
• 8pm: The play Glengarry Glen Ross will be staged at the O’Flaherty Theatre on the NUIG concourse. • 8pm: Catch Pat McCabe’s The Bridge Below The Town at the Town Hall Theatre – set in 1950s small town Ireland.
• 8pm: The Rafferty lecture, as part of Seachtain na Gaeilge, takes place at the Loughrea hotel and spa. • 8pm: The Clifden and Connemara heritage society presents ‘James Hack Tuke and the west of Ireland’ at the Station House Hotel, Clifden, by lecturer Dr Gerard Moran. • 8:30pm: Zeroline Productions presents Momento Morte at the Town Hall Studio – a tragic comedy set in Victorian London. • 9pm: Trad at the Head is back at The King’s Head, with live traditional music, Irish dancers, and no cover charge to boot! A toe tapping night awaits. • 9pm: Catch Spiderbaby and The Converse All Stars live at The Roisin Dubh. • 9:30pm: Citóg presents up and coming bands Me and My Dog, The Sandy Rats and Bite the Killer Cat at The Cellar Bar. • 10:30pm: Don’t miss the fantastic ‘Screamin’ Bluecats’ at Garvey’s in Eyre Square for a night of rockabilly magic. Put on those Blue Suede Shoes.
W
ell we have all heard about it, rivers dyed a bright shade of green, big parades, green milkshakes, shamrock for breakfast – the Americans know how to celebrate St Patricks Day. With the scent of greener pastures, I ventured off for a Paddy’s weekend to Boston two years ago to discover if, indeed, they do it better. It turned out to be a green groundhog day – three days of nothing but songs and festivities dedicated to the Emerald Isle. Everyone was dressed in top to toe ‘kiss me I’m Irish’ type clothing, with added beads just for good measure. The excursion was an international reunion with my Australian friend Teegan, who was missing her adopted Galway homeland, after returning to Sydney. We met at a global half way point, Boston, for a non-stop
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marathon of everything Oirish. The craziest point was trying to get onto the subway for the parade – it was a chaotic surge of green hair, green clothing, green people. We were squished in like green sardines in the travelling tin. One sticky journey later, we were almost ‘oirished’ out as we reached our destination and in desperate need of water. We felt a little let down by the parade; we couldn’t tell where it started, where it ended, there were long gaps in between the floats and many, many, politicians. In my mind, I had painted a picture of cheerleaders and fireworks. Instead, there was a more sombre, respectful tone to the proceedings. Having been reared on the excitement of the Dublin parade on the telly, I just had very high expectations. We left early, having checked the ‘been there done that’ box, and rejoined the masses across the city streets of Boston. It was good but, as they always say, there’s no place like home. in GALWAY
• 8pm: A Shave or Dye event in aid of the Irish Cancer Society takes place at The Quays bar.
The CRAIC in HALO Nightclub PhotosBy Darius IVAN
The CRAIC on
Thursday 13th March 2014 • 1pm: Anam Theatre presents Granuaile as part of the Arts in Action Programme at the Bank of Ireland Theatre, NUIG.
CRAICING NEWS!!! By Avril HORAN
Small, or Far Away?Tedfest London Announced
• 3pm: The Holi Festival of Colours takes place at NUIG beside the IT building. Organised by the India Society, Holi commemorates the victory of good over evil. • 7:30pm: A talk on the impact of cyber bullying and how to tackle it takes place at The Clayton hotel, organised by Derek Nolan TD and Senator Lorraine Higgins.
• 8pm: It’s the start of the Claregalway Festival of Drama and it kicks off with a Compantas Lir showing of Eclipsed at the Claregalway Centre. • 8:30pm: Zeroline Productions presents Momento Morte at the Town Hall Studio – a tragic comedy set in Victorian London. • 9pm: Enjoy a comedy night, Filibusters, at the Dew Drop Inn, with a host of local comedians lined up to entertain you. • 10:30pm: Stomp rock band, Sal Vito will take to the stage at Monroe’s Live with support from the fantastic My Fellow Sponges. • Late night: Catch live music with The Reserved at The Kings Head for a craicin’Thursday night out!
Small, or far away? As the island if Inis Mór waved goodbye to this year’s Tedfest, organisers have announced plans to stage the event for all you Craggy Island lovers in London this summer. Tedfest London, described as a OneDay Pop Tart, will take place in The London Irish Centre on Saturday July 12th. The event will feature the Holy Trinity of Tedfest favourites – Ted’s Got Talent, The Craggy Cup, which will be played in nearby Camden Square and
The Lovely Girls Contest. Other events on the programme will include Matchmaking with Nellie, DJ Sister Scratchy and Rob Morgan hosting a Q&A session about his Father called An Audience Without Dermot. Tedfest Organiser, Peter Phillips, says ‘After eight years of staging Tedfest out on Galway Bay in February the Northern Line holds no fear for us.’ Tickets for Tedfest London go on sale via the Tedfest website www.tedfest.org
Theatre Week at NUIG Six new plays will battle it out for the coveted Jerome Hynes one act play award as part of NUIG Theatre week, which runs from March 10th- 14th. The event showcases theatre, literature and film, and features the popular Jerome Hynes OneAct Play series. The playwrights have been mentored through the process and an award ceremony will take place on
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Friday, March 14th in the Cube Theatre at 6pm. Since the inauguration of the series, many of the playwrights have gone on to win national and international awards and acclaim. Other highlights of the week include a talk by playwright, Frank McGuinness, as one of the 40 individual performances taking place over 5 days. in GALWAY
• 8pm: The New Theatre, Dublin, presents Portrait of An Artist as a Young Man at the Town Hall Theatre.
PRODUCERS at The TOWN HALL By Darius IVAN
The PRODUCERS: A craicing time was had at the Town Hall Theatre for the Galway Patrician Musical Society’s presentation of The Producers. The fantastic show, by Mel Brooks, was made famous by
the film starring Mathew Broderick and Nathan Lane. This is the west of Ireland premiere of the most successful musical in broadway history and they brought it to life with a spectacle of colour, music and song. Directed and choreographed
by Peter Kennedy, he also plays the lead role of Max in the show. With John Roe as musical director and chorus mistress, Martha O’Toole. Runs until Saturday, March 8th.
(AHO)
The CRAIC on
Friday 14th March 2014 • The Connemara Four Seasons Walking Festival kicks off today, walking on Inishbofin, Errisbeg and Innisnee. • 7:30pm: ABIGHEARTfightnightinaid oftheIrishHeart Foundation takes place at the Radisson Blu, Lough Atalia. • 8pm: The Over the Edge March Writers’ Gathering takes place at The Kitchen at The Museum, Spanish Arch, with Christopher Locke, Enda Coyle Greene, Alan Jude Moore, Bernie Crawford, Kevin O’Shea & Marie Cadden. • 8pm: The New Theatre, Dublin, presents Portrait of An Artist as a Young Man at the Town Hall Theatre. • 8pm: No Romance will show as part of the Claregalway Drama Festival at the Claregalway Centre.
Galway Kettle Belles!
N
o – it’s not about making tea. Kettlebells is a competitive sport that has been growing across the city. It is a gruelling and tough sport, from Russia, involving strength, endurance, flexibility and stamina. The Galway Kettlebell club, located at the Hibs Soccer Club in Bohermore took home three medals at the National Championships in Cork in February. Club
Coach, Sarah Smith, took gold in the professional division and is one of a few women in Ireland and Europe competing at this level. She lifted a 24kg kettlebell for 10 minutes, with a one hand switch, achieving 52 repetitions. This is the highest volume Sarah has ever completed. Other winners from the club included Galway women, Michelle Sweeney and Maggie Duff, as they competed against over 100 competitors. Congrats to all.
• 8pm: Celebrity Sean Nós takes place at the Clifden Station House Hotel. • 8pm: Come and support the Galway Sub Aqua Table Quiz at Monroes on Dominick Street. • 8:30pm: Zeroline Productions presents Momento Morte at the Town Hall Studio – a tragic comedy set in Victorian London. • 10:30pm: Dublin band Storyfold will bring their unique sound to the backstage at Monroe’s Live with support from Echotape. • 11pm: Lunar Playground will take to the stage at The King’s Head for a late night of great music and craic. • Midnight: Local covers band Project 97 are set to entertain at Monroe’s Live.
CRAICing Days Out with Lorraine Higgins, Labour’s No1 for Europe
The CRAIC in CREOLE RESTAURANT
PhotosBy Darius IVAN
COMPLETE 10 SPORTING CHALLENGES
INDOORS, IRISH DESIGNED, FIRST OF IT’S KIND
CRAICing Nights Out in Cregg Castle PhotosBy Sunny JUDDY
The CRAIC on
Saturday 15th March 2014 • 10:30am: The Galway Head of the River takes place today and hundreds of rowers will be involved.
Operation Moderation! By Dara KELLY
Motivation & Moderation Photo by DARACHPHOTOGRAPHY
• The Inis ‘Iron’ Meáin 2014 takes place today on Inis Meáin, with a choice of a 5k and 10k walk/run in aid of much needed funds for the islands local school Coláiste Naomh Eoin. • 7pm: The Black Magic Big Band are set to entertain at the Swing Ball 2014 in aid of Voluntary Services Abroad and organised by the NUIG Medical Society. • 8pm: Bridge Drama Group presents Big Maggie at the Claregalway Centre as part of the Claregalway Festival of Drama.
• 8pm: Comedian Andrew Maxwell brings his Banana Kingdom tour to the Roisin Dubh. • 8:30pm: Zeroline Productions presents Momento Morte at the Town Hall Studio – a tragic comedy set in Victorian London. • 9:30pm: Rock on with Moonchild at Sally Longs on Abbeygate Street, Galway’s very own dedicated rock bar. • 11pm: Check out the band Stonecoldsober as they are set to entertain til the wee hours at The Kings’ Head. • Midnight: Catch covers band Oddity and Foxglove at Monroe’s Live after listening to the songs of David Burke on his Galway leg of his tour.
I
’m an extremist. With me, it’s all or nothing. It’s full on or it’s not on. When I embark on a project it’s with 100% effort. I read all about it, sign myself up and get myself fully kitted out. I’m one of those people who turn up for beginners’ ballet in leotard, legwarmers, tutu and tiara. OK, maybe not tiara, but I sure as hell dream of wearing it onstage one day. I throw myself into my new thing with huge enthusiasm and gay abandon. Call it learning by immersion, call it dedication, call it obsession. I call it passion. I also link it to an innate impatience. Why take years to learn something if it can be condensed into a shorter time? My thinking is: give me more, let me at it, I can do it! This approach works well with some things but
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not others. It’s perfect for language acquisition for example: learning by immersion is the reason people travel to learn their chosen language in another country (or county, if we’re talking about learning Irish in the Gaeltacht). Full-day or weekend workshops are a great way of increasing technique and physical skills by immersion, repetition and building muscle memory. I have improved my kizomba dancing immeasurably by attending weekend festivals in Paris and Madrid. In these environments, there are dance lessons all day and social dancing all night. You only take breaks to eat (a lot, for energy) and sleep (the bare minimum, for recovery). You can’t help but learn when you are immersed in the music, in GALWAY
• 8pm: Enjoy A Bit On The Side as it makes a welcome return to The Town Hall Theatre.
with
Derek Nolan TD Proud to Represent Galway in Dáil Éireann Constituency Office: Bóthar na Long, New Docks, Galway Tel: 091 561 006 Email: derek.nolan@oir.ie Web: labour.ie/dereknolan
Derek Nolan TD @DerekNolanTD
If there is ever anything you would like to discuss, please feel free to get in touch.
exposed to fantastic and passionate teachers, and surrounded by dancers who are much better than you. This capacity for short-term focus is also useful for cramming for exams, meeting deadlines, coming up with the goods under pressure. Nothing like a ticking clock for focusing the mind! However, some things cannot be rushed, no matter how impatient we are for results. Some things need time to settle, to become not just learned, but (literally) part of us. When I embarked on bodybuilding last year, I was forced to learn patience. Yes, I noticed
a big improvement in the first two weeks of training three times per week and cutting all rubbish from my diet. Big changes had a big effect. But then progress dropped, inevitably, to a slower pace. The challenge here was to see it as slow and steady progress, not diminishing results. Transforming your body takes time. It’s a sophisticated machine. You can’t cheat your way to your desired shape. Someone like me, who tends to be over-enthusiastic in the beginning, risks overtraining.
Part 2 in next edition
call: 087 984 25 92 email: enquiries@djcorky.com
The CRAIC on
Sunday 16th March 2014 • 11am: A 100k and 50k charity cycle takes place in aid of Pieta house, Tuam, starting from O’Malleys Bar, Cross. • 12pm: The Galway Bay Jazz Band play live at Busker Brownes for some swingin’ Sunday tunes. • 1:30pm: The St Patricks Day parade takes place in Roundstone, Connemara. • 3pm: The official launch of Gannons traditional Irish music shop takes place in Spiddal. • 5pm: An art auction fundraiser takes place at the Glenlo Abbey hotel, Bushypark, in aid of Domestic Violence Response. • 8pm: The Amazing Apples will launch their new EP Live at the Roisin Dubh.
AHappyPaddy’sDay! By Avril HORAN
This year is the 111th anniversary of the Galway St Patrick’s Day Parade. It will start at 11.30am from Dominick Street, and will wind its way across Bridge Street, through Shop Street to finish at Prospect Hill around 1pm. This year’s theme is ‘The Sea’, and it will be brought to life throughout the city’s medieval streets. Our local organisations will be joined by the Jersey City Police Department Emerald Society, an organisation of Irish American Police Officers, founded in 1968 to promote and preserve their Irish heritage and culture. Following the parade at 1:30pm a dance festival will take place in Woodquay Square, with free workshops in everything from
Tai Chi to Bachata until 3:30pm. This will be an alcohol free zone to celebrate the vibrant dance community in the city. A Teddy Bears picnic will also take place, in association with Enable Ireland, along with a disco with DJ Will Softly, and performances by the Galway Community Circus. Kamil Krolak is set to do it all over again as he will record another version of ‘Galway Is Also Happy’ at the parade to the song made famous by Pharrell Williams. And to top it all off, St Nicholas’s Collegiate Church will host a concert with Laramie and Kelly Walsh on Saturday, March 15th and the University of Wisconsin Women’s Concert Chorale on March 17th in aid of the Simon Community.
• 8pm: The Galway Film Society presents Aisling Gheal at the Town Hall Theatre, a team of women who are keeping Sean Nós alive. • 8pm: The Corn Mill Theatre group presents The Devil’s Ceili at the Claregalway Centre. • 8pm: Enjoy some Sunday swing at Kellys bar on Bridge Street with the fantastic I Saw Stars. • 11pm: John Daly of One Track Records is set to entertain at The Vic at the Victoria Hotel.
• Midnight: Based in Minnesota, The Hounds of Finn will take to the stage at Monroe’s Live with their pop, rock and folk stylings.
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in GALWAY
• Late night: Catch Milhouse playing live at The King’s Head.
The CRAIC on
Monday 17th March 2014 • Happy St Patrick’s Day! • 11:30am: The Galway city parade kicks off from Dominick Street and will wind its way through Bridge Street, Mainguard Street, Shop Street, Eyre Square and finish at Prospect Hill around 1pm.
CRAICING STYLE !!! By Rebecca CASSERLY
STREET STYLER: Laura Nelly Carroll
OCCUPATION:
Fashion Blogger/Art Student
BLOG: http://blogfromnellydoll.blogspot.ie/ This look was shot in the National Museum grounds in Dublin. It can be hard to stay away from the blacks and monochrome looks during the winter season, especially with the weather
• 1pm: There will be lots of dancing, workshops and a Teddy Bears picnic at Woodquay as part of the St Patricks Day festival. • 1:30pm: A free trad session takes place all day in The Crane Bar on Sea Road. • There’s lots happening at The Kings Head – with the GAA Club Championships on the Big Screen.
recently! So I picked up this yellow coat about a month ago to try to brighten things up a little! I kept the rest of the outfit neutral and teamed it with this simple black leather skirt (a real wardrobe staple at this time of the year) black tights and black lace up boots. I like to keep a mix of high street and vintage pieces throughout my wardrobe, as well as customizing and making my own pieces, a good way to keep your look new and fresh! See your style featured here! Tweet us @CRAICinGalway or use #CRAICStyle on Twitter or Instagram and you could be the next Street Styler!
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Style!!! It can be all too easy to reach for a ‘Kiss me I’m Irish’ t-shirt or a leprechaun costume on March 17th! This year why not incorporate our native colours of green, white and gold into your wardrobe in a stylish manner. You can be patriotic without having to dress from head to toe in green. Simply add some stylish statement jewellery with hints of gold and green or go all out in a tailored jade suit. Wear a green blazer with your outfit for a simple but effective look or if you are going to a fancy dress party why not stand out in a green dress and killer gold sparkly heels! Another alternative is to finish your look off with a green hat and a pinch of shamrocks. Embrace the St. Patricks day fashion trends this year and make a style statement in your own unique way. We hope you enjoy these St. Patricks Day style tips and party your shamrocks off over the holiday
• 4pm: A St Patrick’s Day fundraiser takes place at The Victoria Hotel for Amnesty International and Sonke community circus with music by An Anu, Sonke and guests. • 5pm: Band Donegal Catch will play live at The King’s Head followed by DJ Cillian at 7pm and Unstable at 11pm to keep you going til the festivities end. • 8pm: The Corofin Drama Society presents The New Electric Ballroom at the Claregalway Centre as part of the Claregalway Drama Festival. • Late Night: Enjoy the Hounds of Finn in their second gig at Monroe’s Live along with the fantastic Lewd Tunes.
Model – Stephanie Casserly wearing green blazer & jeans from River Island; green hat from Cotton Face Vintage; gold heels & gold top from Penneys.
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in GALWAY
• 12:30pm: The Clifden St Patrick’s Day parade gets underway in Connemara.
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The CRAIC on
Tuesday 18th March 2014
CRAICING NEWS!!! By Darius IVAN
• 6:30pm: The Galway Education Centre starts a course this evening on Dealing With Bullying in the Primary Classroom. • 7pm: If you fancy taking up a new hobby, a beginners sowing class starts this evening with Sew Easy, Galway, run by Sinead Treacher. For more see seweasysewingclasses. com. • 8pm: A towering figure in reggae, Lee Scratch Perry, is set to entertain at The Roisin Dubh
ALL SMILES AT The DEW DROP INN
followed by the ever popular Silent Disco on Tuesdays. • 8pm: The Glenamaddy Players bring Agnes of God to the
EW
A
IR
Claregalway Festival of Drama.
E
N
Claregalway Centre as part of the
FO R Ó CO E I T N
• 8:30pm: The film Like Father, Like Son will be screened at the AV Theatre at the Connemara National Park, Letterfrack. • 9:30pm: Enjoy a toe tapping trad session at The Crane Bar on Sea Road with Mick Crehan and John O’ Halloran. • Late night: Catch Jack and Dee live at The Kings Head for some great music on a Tuesday evening.
T
h e iconic statue of Galway writer, Pádraic Ó Conaire, was smartened up with a new tie by the 24th Galway Sea Scouts. They were joined by
Cllr Neil McNeilis, who arranged the donation of the Loveen boat, as scouts across Ireland engaged in ‘guerrilla neckerchiefing’ of public statues to highlight the importance of scouts in society.
CRAICing Nights Out BENEFIT for Flood Relief
CÚIRT FESTIVAL 2014 LAUNCH PhotosBy Darius IVAN
HAPPY CÚIRTING!!!:
Inspiring writers and enthusiastic book lovers will return to Galway for 6 days of literary magic as the Cúirt International Festival of Literature returns from April 8th -13th. The launch took place in
The House Hotel and we are set for an event packed with literary works at venues across the city. With theatre, poetry, fiction, workshops and showcases, there is something for everyone as the feast of writing celebrates
the final year of its twenties. According to festival director Dani Gill, we can expect “some whimsical diversions, early year throwbacks and hopefully signs of impressive maturity”. For more see www.cuirt.ie.
The CRAIC on
Wednesday 19th March 2014 • 10am: Head to the Galway Arts Centre on Dominick Street to catch the latest exhibition ‘Magnetic North’ by Galway based visual artist, Selma Makela.
CRAICING NEWS!!! By Avril HORAN
The Last Distress Call March Deadline for Historic Aran Ferry
• 9:30pm: A free trad session takes place at The Crane Bar, Sea Road with Ailbhe O’Monachin and John O’Halloran. • 7pm: A life drawing class takes place at The Bridge Mills and classes are held on a ‘pay-asyou-go’ basis. • 10pm: Put on those blue suede shoes for the best rockabilly in town with the Screamin’ Bluecats live at Garveys. • 11:45pm: The Converse Allstars play live at the Roisin Dubh for a night of great music. • Late night: The Reserved will take to the stage at The King’s Head for your mid week fix of live music.
Marine heritage restoration specialists have been given until the end of March to save one of the last riveted ships built in the world. The old Aran Islands Ferry, the Naomh Éanna, is set to be scrapped unless a plan is put into place for her preservation. Following a campaign, Minister Jimmy Deenihan has extended the deadline to March 31 “to see whether any concrete business plan emerges, including the source of funding, to restore the vessel and to keep it.” Built in 1956, the ship is a key part of Galway’s maritime heritage, and retains its orig-
inal fittings and machinery. The Irish Nautical Trust want to dismantle the ship, which has been in situ in the Grand Canal Dock for over 25 years. It will cost around €6 million to turn the ship into a popular tourist attraction. Time is needed to create a business plan and a six month stay on her destruction had been requested. The one month reprieve is an urgent lifeline for the distressed ship, as contractors have begun to strip its parts, according to the Naomh Éanna Trust. An online petition has been set up at change.org.
CRAICing Exhibition by Aled Owen-Thomas at The Galleon
The CRAIC on
Thursday 20th March 2014 • 5pm: NUIG students union are set to Rock The Prom at Leisureland for the biggest music line up of the year. • 8pm: Martin McCabes acclaimed play, A Skull In Connemara, takes place at the Town Hall Theatre. • 9pm: A night of jazzy blues and rock n’ roll takes place at The Cellar Bar, Eglington Street in aid of the Marie Keating Foundation. Midnight Roots will entertain along with DJ Riggs, organised by GMIT accountancy students. • 10pm: Enjoy live jazz and blues with the fantastic Benny and the Goodmen at McSwiggins Bar in Woodquay. • Late night: Catch Unstable live at The King’s Head as they take you into the start of another weekend!
CRAICING HEALTH!!! By Dara KELLY dara.n.kelly@gmail.com
Bailithe Craiceáilte… Is furasta dearmad a dhéanamh ar ár meabhairshláinte fad a bhímid ag díriú ar ghné eile den tsláinte, mar shampla aiste bia, aclaíocht nó feidhmíocht spóirt. Ach tá suaimhneas intinne mar chuid thábhachtach den fholláine foriomlán. Rud normálta é mothú thíos leis agus imníoch ó am go chéile, ach is é nádúr an duine é a bheith réasúnta sona. Má tá tú ag mothú faoi strus, imníoch, uaigneach nó brónach níos mínice ná mar is iondúil, tabhair aird air agus déan rud éigin faoi sula mbeidh tú go hiomlán gan fuinneamh, gan fonn meascadh le daoine nó faoi dhúlagar fiú. Bí cineálta leat féin.
Déan gach rud a chuirfidh giúmar níos fearr ort: éist le ceol, tóg folcadán, bí ag damhsa, téigh chuig do rogha café, buail an piliúr – pé rud a oibríonn duit. Seachain alcól, drugaí agus an iomarca beatha. Faigh do dhóthain codlata. Ith bia fholláin. Thar aon rud eile, labhair le duine éigin agus iarr cúnamh – seans maith go bhfaighidh tú tacaíocht mar is beag duine nár mhothaigh mar tusa, tráth. Labhair faoi d’ábhair imní le cara nó leis na Samaritans más fearr leat éisteoir anaithnid (091 561 222).
Craicing Up
CHRISTY MOORE
EXTRA GALWAY GIG ON THURS 15TH MAY in LEISURELAND. TICKETS ON SALE WEDS 19TH MAR FROM ZHIVAGO, SHOP ST. AND TICKETMASTER.IE
It’s normal to feel blue from time to time and to have occasional worries, but feeling reasonably happy is the natural human state. If you find yourself feeling stressed, anxious, worried, lonely or sad more often than not, take note and take action before you slip into lethargy, social isolation or even depression. Be kind to yourself; do every little thing you know will make you feel better: listen to uplifting music, walk in nature, take a
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bubble bath, dance, go to your favourite café, scream into a pillow – whatever works, works. Avoid medicating with alcohol, drugs or too much comfort food. Sleep. Eat well. Most importantly, tell people you are feeling down and ask for support – you may be surprised at people’s reactions; they have probably felt this way too. Talk about your worries with a friend, or phone Samaritans anonymously (091 561 222).
in GALWAY
It’s easy to forget about our mental state while focusing on other aspects of health such as fitness, diet or sports performance. But peace of mind is vital to our overall wellbeing.
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