Arts

A local treat for opera fans

Irish National Opera presents Donizetti's Maria Stuarda Sunday, 19 June, 8pm National Opera House, Wexford Tickets: €15 - €80

Two Queens. One Catholic and Scottish, one Protestant and English. One in prison at the other’s behest. A man between them balancing loyalty and love. Donizetti’s magnificent lyrical opera, Maria Stuarda stars internationally renowned mezzo soprano Tara Erraught in the title role, with soprano Anna Devin as Elisabetta. More familiar as the Tudor dynasty’s Queen Elizabeth 1 and Mary Queen of Scots, we join the action when Maria is fighting for survival, held captive and in fear of her life. Elisabetta, threatened by her very existence, identifies Maria as a clear political threat and a romantic rival. But just how far will Elisabetta go to hold onto her throne and to the affections of Leicester?

INO’s artistic director Fergus Sheil conducts Donizetti’s momentous score, replete with lyrical arias, dramatic duets and rousing choruses. Director Tom Creed’s new staging of Maria Stuarda keeps the audience on the edge of their seat as the deadly power struggle builds vividly to a climax. Tenor Arthur Espiritu is Leicester, in love with Maria and advisor to Elisabetta, Irish mezzo soprano Gemma Ní Bhriain is Maria’s companion Anna, baritone Giorgio Caoduro is Cecil and bass Callum Thorpe is Talbot. Set and costume design is by Katie Davenport and lighting design is by Sinéad McKenna.

WEXFORD STUDENT WINS A TOP PRIZE IN TEXACO CHILDREN’S ART COMPETITION

Thirteen-year-old student artist, Isabel Rossiter, from St. Mary's Secondary School, New Ross, has won a top prize in this year’s 68th Texaco Children’s Art Competition. Isabel won a Special Merit Award for her artwork entitled ‘My Grandmother’, which Final Adjudicator Professor Gary Granville said “displayed high levels of skill and creativity.” The Texaco Children’s Art Competition is popularly regarded as the longest-running sponsorship in the history of arts sponsoring in Ireland, with an unbroken history that dates back to the very first competition held in 1955. This year, as has been the case throughout its life, it has been a platform on which young artists from Wexford and counties throughout Ireland have had their talents recognised and their creativity commended. From 31st May to 30th June, Belfast’s Royal Ulster Academy of Arts is hosting an exhibition of the top 126 winning paintings in this year’s competition. Admission is free and the Academy is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9am-5pm. n Maria Stuarda is sung in Italian with English surtitles. Tickets: https://www.nationaloperahouse.ie/whats-on/show/irish-national-opera-presents1 n

At Enniscorthy Library...

On the third Thursday of every month the Adult Book Club meets in Enniscorthy Library at 7pm. New members welcome. If you are interested in going along please contact Enniscorthy library on 053 9236055. n

On the last Thursday of every month the Slaney Writers Group meets in Enniscorthy Library at 7pm. New members welcome. If you are interested in going along please contact Enniscorthy library on 053 9236055. n

‘The Cliffhangers’ Junior Book Club is back in the Enniscorthy branch for its monthly meetings – usually the last Thursday of the month. Currently the children are reading ‘Scavengers’ by Darren Simpson. It’s a great way to try new authors and genres and there is no pressure to read aloud. New members are always welcome. If you would like your child to join, please contact 053 9236055 for more information. Suitable for ages 8–12. n

Hazel Gaynor BOOKING ESSENTIAL: https://wexfordcoco.libcal.com/event/3892516

BOOKING ESSENTIAL: https://wexfordcoco.libcal.com/event/3892873

The Wexford Bohemian Issue No.3

Wexford’s own journal of literature and culture

All are welcome to attend a casual night of readings and speeches from contributors on the 10th of June 2022 at 7pm in St. Peter’s Square (just outside Red Books).

L-R: Brian Walsh, cameraman, RTÉ, David Mahon, artist/illustrator, Noel and Mairéad O’Gorman at their home at Caroreigh, Taghmon, and on right Helen McInerney, presenter of the RTÉ ‘Nationwide’ programme.

Mairéad’s book features on RTÉ

The children’s bedtime book, Mr and Mrs Blue Tit, by Mairéad O’Gorman, featured on the RTÉ One Nationwide programme, presented by Helen McInerney (a native of Ferns) and produced by Eoin Ryan, on 20th May 2022.

Some years ago, Mairéad O’Gorman was looking out of her kitchen window into her back garden at Caroreigh, Taghmon, when she saw the love-antics of two blue tits. She studied them as they flitted from tree to tree trying to find a place to build a nest.

She bought a birdhouse for them and helped by her grandchildren, Emer and Charlotte, and guided by her niece Laura Cullen, she placed it in a tree. Generations of blue tits thereafter adopted the birdhouse as their forever home which led to Mairead’s inspiration to write her book Mr and Mrs Blue Tit.

Her book is illustrated by David Mahon of Newbay, Wexford.

Mairéad is a native of Duncormack who worked as an air hostess with British Airways and was also a Miss Ireland. She is known throughout Ireland for her talks on embroidery, quiltwork and patchwork with ICA groups and in evening classes. She has been featured on radio and television programmes including the Late Late Show on RTÉ television and recently on the I Remember programme presented by Michael Doyle on South East Radio.

Mairead’s husband Noel, a well-known farmer and GAA official, along with David Mahon and Michael Freeman, editor at Three Sisters Press, publishers, also featured on the Nationwide programme.

The book Mr and Mrs Blue Tit - A Bedtime Read by Parents to Young Children was edited by Helen Ashdown and advised by John Gibney. It is available at all good bookshops and at www.Books.ie n

The Silvertones in full voice at their concert last month in Enniscorthy Cathedral

Celebrating Joyce in Wexford

Bloomsday is the international annual event celebrating James Joyce's seminal novel, Ulysses, and its 'everyman' protagonist Leopold Bloom as he goes about his day in his home town of Dublin on June 16th, 1904. Wildsong Ensemble, in association with Wexford Arts Centre, present Wexford town's first ever Bloomsday event at 8pm on 16th June in Greenacres, Wexford, with doors opening at 7.30pm. The event opens with “Conversations on Joyce” – an introduction to James Joyce by Frank Hyland. Joyce enthusiasts, scholars and novices are warmly invited to come and share their thoughts and questions on the author and his works. Singer-songwriter Carol Keogh and musician Katherine Atkinson take a fresh interpretation of some of the many songs referenced in Ulysses, and arrange them for voices, violin, electronics, ukelele and xylophone. Dublin-born poet and playwright Stephen James Smith presents a selection of his own works which are in some way inspired by, or resonant with Joyce and Ulysses. Wildsong Ensemble will perform a new choral soundscape by Laura Hyland. Choir member Jeni Roddy brought along an excerpt from Ulysses which the choir used as the basis for vocal explorations for several months thereafter. Laura eventually set the words to music, taking the choir's improvisations as a starting point. Tickets €10 from: https://wexfordartscentre.ticketsolve.com/sho ws/873627492 n