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Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | SUMMER 2012Áras an Mhuilinn,Comhaltas Ceoltoiri EireannMidlands Regional Centre open to allBusy summer ahead as public invited to join in the musicand the fun at Aras an Mhuilinn.Pictured enjoying traditional music in the bar of Áras an Mhuilinn areBer Seery, Paddy and Moira O Brien and Seamas Seery Chairman ofWestmeath CCÉÁras an Mhuilinn is the Regional ResourceCentre for the counties of Westmeath,Longford, Offaly, and Laois. The centre,recently established by Comhaltas CeoltóiriÉireann and Meitheal Lártíre, is a state-ofthe-artcultural facility in which traditionalmusic, song, dance and Irish languageclasses are run on a weekly basis.Seisiún take place in the bar on the thirdWednesday of every month. Seisiúnsummer shows will take place eachWednesday on a weekly basis from July 4until end of August.Facilities at Áras an Mhuilinn include threeclassrooms, meeting room, performancehall, bar and reception area.A variety of events have been hosted in theperformance hall and bar includingconcerts, ceilí, seminars, table quizzes,meetings, set dance and sean nós danceclasses. The Performance Hall seatsapproximately 90 people. The facilities arealso available to all community groups andto the public in general. Music classes arehosted by Mullingar CCÉ.In the archive section there is a wonderfulresource centre of Irish traditional music,song, dance and folklore relating toMeitheal region of Westmeath, Longford,Laois and Offaly. The archive materialexists in the form of sound recordings andprinted material and people are welcometo browse through the collection.Áras an Mhuilinn also incorporates adisplay area for the sale of CDs oftraditional music, books and other itemsrepresenting traditional culture andeveryone is invited to come along and havea cupán tae, read a magazine or listen tosome traditional music.A little bit of history: Mullingar - where itall began!It happened, that in January 1951,representatives of the Thomas Street(Dublin) Pipers’ Club went to Mullingar fora meeting with traditional musicenthusiasts from County Westmeath (CáitUí Mhuimhneacháin, Willie Reynolds andJim Seery, among others)Two ideas already muted amongsttraditional musicians were discussed atthis meeting - the first was the founding ofan organisation to promote Irish traditionalmusic while the second was the organisingof an annual festival of Irish traditionalmusic, song and dance.The very first Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireannA further meeting was held in February1951, and at this meeting it was decidedthat, in conjunction withFeis Lár na hÉireann (aGaelic League Feiswhich had been held inMullingar for manyyears), a Fleadh Cheoilwould be organised inMullingar in May overthe Whit weekend. Theaim of the Fleadh wasto promote traditionalmusic and to arrest the decline in itspopularity and the cream of traditionalIrish musicians attending the Fleadhplayed a major role in furthering its aim.Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is foundedOn October 14, 1951, at Árus Ceannt,Thomas Street, Dublin, the first standingCommittee of Cumann Ceoltóirí nahÉireann was elected. At a meeting in StMary’s Hall, Mullingar on January 6, 1952,the title of the organisation was changedfrom Cumann Ceoltóirí na hÉireann toComhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.From this point on Fleadh Cheoil nahÉireann grew from strength to strength tobecome a great annual national festivalattended by traditional musicians, singers,and dancers from all parts of Ireland andoverseas.Andy Flood, Enda Seery, Ciaráin Seery and Leona Kelly play a monthlyseisiún which takes place on the third Wednesday of the month at Árasan MhuilinnDates for your Diary:● Seisiun at Áras an Mhuilinn: the thirdWednesday of every month at 9pm● Longford & Offaly Joint County Fleadh:Friday, May 11, Saturday, May 12 andSunday, May 13 in Ballinalee● Laois County Fleadh: Saturday, May 19and Sunday May 20 in Clonaslee● Westmeath County Fleadh: Saturday,June 2 and Sunday, June 3 in Ballymore● Weekly Summer seisiún, Áras anMhuilinn: starts July 4 until end ofAugust● Leinster Fleadh: Friday, July 13,Saturday, July 14, Sunday, July 15,EnniscorthyFor information on traditional Irish music,song, dance and language classes andspecial events contact Áras an Mhuilinn,Jail Hill, Mullingar, County Westmeath byphone on 044 9344673/9330644 or atemail eolas@arasanmhuilinn.ie M10SUMMER ARTSPROGRAMME 2012The Arts Office, Laois County Council will run a series of art workshops forchildren and young people as part of the 2012 Summer Arts Programme.Projects are selected from proposals designed and submitted by a panel ofartists. The aim of the programme is to inspire imagination and self-expressionwith a world of hands-on art activities. Through painting, sculpture, dance, music,drawing, pottery, dramatic play, creative writing, songwriting, performance andmuch more, our classes encourage confidence and support artistic potential.This quality arts programme will run in the month of July for two hours fromMonday to Friday. Weekly courses cost €25 with a reduction for familymembers. Age ranges from 7 to 15 years and can cater for up to 20, accordingto the type of arts activity.Locations in 2012 will include Portlaoise, Mountmellick, Durrow, Stradbally,Emo, and Luggacurren.For more information on the programme or to receive a booking for/ brochureplease contact: The Arts Office, Laois County Council, Áras an Chontae,Portlaoise, Co. Laois Tel: 057 8674342/41 Fax 057 8674382Email: artsoff@laoiscoco.ieAward-winning Laoisauthor examinesreactive nationalismSlouching towards Jerusalem is aunique contribution to comparativeliterature - Irish, Israeli, andPalestinian - that deals with the underresearchedphenomenon of reactivenationalism - emotional rather thanideological nationalism.In fact, it is the only comparative studyof its kind involving the threeliteratures reflecting its author’s longterm engagement with two arenas ofconflict: the Israeli-Palestinian conflictand Northern Irish conflict.The book surveys these through theeyes of contemporary novelists fromboth arenas.Slouching towards Jerusalem’sselection is wide and varied andincludes both lesser known andemergent novelists.Author John Maher is a prizewinningnovelist himself who uses variousprisms - of language, land, religion,love, war, and the changing image ofthe enemy - in his quest for insight intothe realities behind the novelists’portrayals of their situations. Hisconclusions are iconoclastic andchallenging as befits such a uniquejourney into the three contrastingcontemporary literatures.John, an award-winning writer based inLaois, has won the Francis McManusAward and the PJ O’Connor Award withRTE. His novel,The Luck Penny,was shortlistedfor debut novelon BBC Radio 5and he iscurrentlycompleting anew novel withan ArtsCouncilBursary inLiterature.MSlouching TowardsJerusalemReactive Nationalism in the Irish,Israeli and Palestinian NovelJohn Maher
Moviefilmedin Offalymakeshistory inCannesA sleepwalker. A body.A family. A smallcommunity. Arlene islike a ghost in her life.She lives in a small town in themidlands – surrounded by field afterfield, woodlands and lane ways todisappear down and never come back…One morning Arlene wakes in the woodsbeside the body of a young woman.Someone watches from the trees. Thebody is soon discovered and suspicionspreads through the community.Increasingly drawn to the girl’s family –her grieving sister and accusedboyfriend, Arlene barricades herself inat night, afraid to sleep. Haunted bygrief, Arlene’s sleeping and wakingrealities soon blur. And all this timesomeone is watching her...The Other Side of Sleep, which wasfilmed over four weeks in Offaly in AprilMullingART bringssplash of colour totown for third yearNow in its third year, The MullingART Project will again be subtlyadorning the shop windows of Mullingar Town bringing a welcomesplash of colour for a few weeks over the summer.“The real joy of MullingART for me,” said Project Co-ordinator, DonMortell “is that it isn’t in your face. It’s a gentle celebration of theincredible wealth of talent in Mullingar that largely goes unrecognised.”He explained: “The principle of the project is a simple but incrediblysuccessful one. We ask local creative talents to provide a piece or twoof their work from whichever discipline they choose. Photography, oils,watercolour, sculpture, the only limit is that of the artists imagination.“The pieces, once assembled together, are then distributed tobusiness premises throughout the town to be displayed in shopwindows, pub and business walls, anywhere that the public, be theylocals or visitors to our town can see and enjoy them for the duration ofthe project. Ultimately it is, in effect a 24/7 people’s art gallery.“To my knowledge, our project is unique in Ireland and by definition,‘uniquely Mullingar’.”At the end of the project the submitted pieces are collected togetherand displayed in one static exhibition. Last year the gallery wassituated in Danny Byrnes’ old nightclub space.“It was through the generosity of Mark and the staff of Danny Byrnespub that we acquired this perfect space for our gallery last year. Otherthan a generous grant from Westmeath County Council ArtsDepartment, our greatest asset, as a project, is goodwill.“MullingART exists only because of the belief placed in us by CatherineKelly (Arts Officer of Westmeath County Council) and the kindness andpositive of the town’s artists and business owners and operators.Without any of these vital components, Mullingart would not be thesuccess it is becoming and indeed, may not exist at all.”Don went on to say: “MullingART is not about generating money. Its2010 and included many local cast andcrew in the making of the film and withthe help and support of FilmOffaly, hasreceived some rave reviews.The Other Side of Sleep has gone on tobe lauded as the acclaimed debutfeature by Irish filmmaker Rebecca Dalythat features a powerful and compellingperformance from Antonia Campbell-Hughes, one of this year’s BerlinInternational Film Festival’s ShootingStars award recipients.This hotly-anticipated suspense dramamade history at its World Premiere atthe Cannes Film Festival in 2011 as itwas the first film directed by an Irishwoman to be selected for inclusion inthe Festival.The film, produced by Fastnet Films,also screened in competition at theToronto International Film Festival andwas nominated for Best Director andBest Actress at the Irish Film andTelevision Awards.The film took only six weeks to shoot,(in Geashill, Clara, Tullamore andPortarlington) but results in anexceptionally still and haunting film,choosing locations that offer Offaly in anew light and, in particular, the tunnellikedriveway of trees in Geashill.Leading a fantastic ensemble cast inThe Other Side of Sleep, as well asbeing named one of Berlin InternationalFilm Festival’s Shooting Stars, AntoniaCampbell-Hughes’ career is at a highpoint. Other key cast members includetwo veteran Irish actresses of stage andscreen, Olwen Fouere and Cathy Beltonas well as hot newcomer and Tullamorenative Sam Keeley who has gone on tostar in RAW and What Richard Did.sole purpose is to bring a touch of pleasure and enjoyment to the townand its visitors while promoting the incredible amount of talent thatexists in Mullingar which perhaps otherwise would never get theexposure, recognition or adulation it so richly deserves.“With each year that passes, I am consistently impressed at the qualityand variety of pieces submitted. The pleasure for me is that while anumber of MullingART artists are professionally trained and are sellingtheir work outside of the project, the vast majority of contributors areenthusiastic hobby artists and nothing gives me greater pleasure thanhearing that one of our artists is surprised and delighted at selling apiece or pieces as a result of the project.“All pieces are displayed with an individual “exhibit card” which carriesthe artists contact details. Any potential sales negotiations orcommissions are discussed directly with the artist. MullingART merelyacts as a conduit to make this possible”.Last year’s MullingART saw nearly 150 pieces submitted and wants tosee more in 2012, not only from Irish artists but from othercommunities who live in Mullingar.“I would love to see more submissions from other Mullingarcommunities and groups. This project is totally inclusive. I want to hearfrom the African, Eastern European, Traveller, Asian and Britishcommunities or any other groups who would like to display their work.The project is not about work being judged. It is about makingsomething special happen as a town. I would love to see the differentstyles and perceptions of art that these groups can bring to ourproject,” added Don.MullingART 2012 will take place over July and August. It will besupported by an extensive local media campaign, a website andFacebook page.For more information, please contact Don on 087 611 6883 or emaildonmortell@gmail.com MBriefsMAY/JUNE LINE-UPAT THE DUNAMAISEARTS CENTREAs ever, there is a very eclectic mix ofperformances at the Dunamaise ArtsCentre throughout May and June withtheatre and music to the fore.Two very well known faces lead thecharge: Gay Byrne comes to thetheatre on Thursday, May 17 for whatis certain to be a unique event andDes Keogh returns with the hilariousshow based on JB Keane stories TheLove Hungry Farmer.In June, there is a new theatre showentitled Love All, which tells theamazing true story of the only Irishperson to feature in the Wimbledontennis final.Other performances include aRiverdance style musical/danceextravaganza Celtic Dream on May31 and a much-anticipatedperformance by local tenor AmbroseDunne on June 23.The Dunamaise film programme isalways worth a look and this seasonis no exception.Films lined up for screening includethe big Oscar winner The Artist; theacclaimed My Week with Marilyn,featuring an Oscar nominatedperformance by Michelle Williams;the much anticipated Irish mademovie featuring Martin Sheen, StellaDays and This Must Be the Place, afilm partly filmed in Dublin featuringSean Penn, Frances McDormand andEve Hewson.Also one to look forward to is anadaption of the great Yasmina Rezaplay God of Carnage featuring an allstarcast of Jodie Foster, KateWinslet, Christoph Waltz and John CReilly and directed by RomanPolanski. God of Carnage is set in aNew York apartment and observesthe increasingly childish and chaoticbehaviour of two couples that meet tosort out a playground row betweentheir sons. Also not to be missed isMadonna’s debut as a film directorwith the story of Wallis Simpson andEdward VIII in W/E.Full details on all the performancesand screenings are available onwww.dunamaise.ie MDirector of Dunamise ArtsCentre praised for contributionSEE PAGE 2911
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