County Brighton Irish Society

Committee member nominated for Award

Bridget — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:24:23 +0000

Poet Bernadette Cremin ’s one woman show ALTERED EGOS has been nominated for best litrature Brighton Festival Fringe event

Poet Bernadette Cremin pictured during her book tour of Ireland

Way to go, Bernadette!!

Brighton gets a taste for “The Murphys.”

Bridget — Thu, 27 May 2010 15:06:56 +0000

The Harbour Theatre Company’s production of MURPHY’S LEGACY in collaboration with County Brighton Irish Society was a stunning success at The Brighton Fringe Theatre Festival

The play was performed at The Geese, Southover Street - one of the most popular pubs in Brighton

After the sell out success of “The M Boat” at last year’s festival, Irish playwright Eddie Alford has written another side-splitting gem. The audiences were engrossed yet completely entertained by Alford’s sharp, quick fire dialogue and story telling in the best Irish tradition. Boasting a fine quartet of professional actors, with Amy Noble as Nancy, a country auctioneer, Abi Hills as a city solicitor, Gearōid Ō Siochāin as Paddy the herd and the writer himself as Fr. Willie, the Harbour Theatre Co. treated to the crowd to a slick, polished performance. They delivered the comic lines with aplomb and the characterisation was flawless.

Alford explores the early days of “The Celtic Tiger” and the church’s attitude towards divorce and sex, particularly within same sex relationships, not to mention pig racing and E.E.C. grants. He uses comic dialogue and farcical situations to interrogate the issues, rather than preaching. Audience participation enabled the actors to interact with the audience. At the beginning, the priest admonishes a young couple for canoodling, and a mock auction of a big house and farm really warmed up the audience. The dynamic created set the tone for an evening of fun with a subtext of seriousness.

The characters were rich and vibrantly played: Amy Noble demonstrated her prodigious acting talents as Nancy, Gearōid Ō Siochāin was the classic Irish country boy who “would live in your ear and charge you for it!”, while Abi Hills’character was the epitome of a nouveau riche, sexually precocious Dublin solicitor, with

Eddie Alford once again relishing the role of the bumbling priest!

Alford cleverly sets the scene with changing images on the pub’s big screen instead of cumbersome set changes, which only adds to the slickness of the production. Sponsors AJ and Claire McGrory provided the venue in their very popular Brighton pub, “The Geese”. The warm, intimate pub setting paved the way for a unique experience, with the close proximity of the actors to the audience ensuring an electric atmosphere. Once again, Eddie Alford and co. get it right with a dynamic and inspired production, with the audience left dazzled by the quality of this exciting theatre company. Murphy’s Legacy has just been nominated for the hotly contested New Writer’s Award for the Fringe Festival.

Guinness barge docks in Brighton

Bridget — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:30:54 +0000

The Geese in Southover Street was transformed during Brighton festival to become the backdrop to a laugh out loud comic drama set in 1950s Ireland. ‘The M Boat’ told the story of a working motor barge transporting Guinness from Dublin to Shannon Harbour.

Playwright Eddie Alford created a vivid cast of characters that sang, told tall tales, drank part of the precious cargo, fell out with one another and fell in love.

The seven strong cast were recruited through the County Brighton newsletter and included Dubliner Darragh Brady, a professional musician who once played Paul McCartney in an Indian film, TV actor Ken Lawrence who has appeared in Eastenders, The Bill, Holby City and South of the Border, Katya Boirand who studied drama at the Sorbonne in Paris, and Maddie Herrington who performed last year with Niamh Cusack at The National Theatre in London and has appeared in Waking The Dead television series.

‘The M Boat’ played to a rapturous capacity audience during its short run

The Celtic Ti-ggrs at Bom Banes, Kemp Town

Bridget — Tue, 19 May 2009 23:16:09 +0000

The Celtic Ti-ggrs wowed the audience at Bom Banes Cafe in Kemp Town in March

Help Wanted for Crawley Irish Festival

Bridget — Tue, 12 May 2009 07:17:43 +0000

The Celtic & Irish Cultural Society (CICS) need extra volunteers to help make the 14th annual festival happen.

The August Festival is famous for showcasing some of the best musical talent from Britain and Ireland on two live entertainment stages – modern and traditional Irish music – plus an open dance competition stage. Other highlights include:

· special children’s entertainment marquee involving games, song and story .

· Ceili marquee,

· Tug-a-war

· funfair

· licensed beer tent with Gaelic sports shown on the big screen.

In the past sponsorship from commercial organisations meant the festival could pay for specialist stewarding but that is not going to be possible this year. That’s why Crawley are appealing for volunteers to come forward.

What do volunteers do?

A range of duties for a maximum of three hours — you won’t miss the festival by volunteering. In fact you’ll get even more out of it.

**car parking duties, crowd and traffic control, taking care of guests and performers**
** selling raffle tickets & helping at the stalls**

*Putting up marquees, erecting stages, laying dance floors, fencing and general helping out.**

The volunteers will be inducted and well managed, changing roles throughout the day to experience the full Festival atmosphere .

They will get well catered for plus FREE admission to the festival dance on the evening.

If you have any ideas or would like to help please come to the next meeting on Wednesday 13th May at 8pm at the Emerald Club, Southgate Ave, Crawley RH10 6 HG and see what’s involved.

Without this added help it will be difficult to continue with the festival — and the south east will be a lot poorer.

Want to volunteer or need more information? Contact John Nolan on 01293 513189 or E-mail john.nolan@celtic-irish.co.uk

TWO NIGHTS ONLY May 12 & 13…. The ‘M’ Boat by Eddie Alford

Bridget — Tue, 12 May 2009 07:13:37 +0000

A popular Irish pub will be transformed during Brighton festival to become the backdrop to a drama set in the 1950s. ‘The M Boat’ is the story of a working motor barge transporting Guinness from Dublin to Shannon Harbour.

With the minimum of props, the actors will use mime and other techniques to convert the handsome dark wood interior of The Geese in Southover Street into the Grand Canal half a century ago.

Playwright Dubliner Eddie Alford has created a vivid cast of characters that sing, tell tales, drink part of the precious cargo, fall out with one another and fall in love.

The seven strong cast were recruited through this newsletter and include Dubliner Darragh Brady a professional musician who once played Paul McCartney in an Indian film, TV actor Ken Lawrence who has appeared in Eastenders, The Bill, Holby City and South of the Border, Katya Boirand who studied drama at the Sorbonne in Paris, and Maddie Herrington who performed last year with Niamh Cusack at The National Theatre in London and has appeared in Waking The Dead television series.

Described as a “classic piece of comedy” by the Tribune in Shannon when it first performed, ‘The M Boat’ will take over The Geese in Southover Street BN2 9UA at 8pm on Tuesday 12^th May and Wed 13^th May. Tickets are £5 and are likely to sell out before the first night. An authentically Irish two course supper is also available before the show at 7.15 pm for an additional £8.50

To book contact The Geese telephone 01273 607755

Swansea Cork Ferry – no sailing until 2010

Bridget — Tue, 05 May 2009 23:01:59 +0000

After careful consideration, the Board of the Co-op has yesterday (May 5 2009) decided that the Cork-Swansea ferry service should not run this year but will instead return on 1st March 2010.

The Board took this decision in the light of the large part of the booking season already lost to the service (due to the unexpectedly long negotiations), and the fact that many potential passengers have already made their bookings for the crucial July, August and September sailings.

Co-op Chairman Conor Buckley said, “We would have liked to have the service resumed for this summer but, despite the enormous amount of work we have already put into the formation of the co-op, we feel that there is an overpowering economic case to not proceed this summer.
For more information www.bringbacktheswanseacorkferry.com

TY GLAVIN on BBC Radio

Bridget — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:39:06 +0000

Monday April 27 from about 12.30

Ty – the Chair of COUNTY BRIGHTON – will be talking about growing up in Ireland, living in Brighton and anything else that occurs to him. If you miss it you can listen again on:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio/bbc_southern_counties_radio/

The Book of Kells: the cartoon version

Bridget — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 21:07:59 +0000

The Book of Kells has been turned into a cartoon film by Tom Moore, a young Kilkenny animator and it is now showing in Irish cinemas.
The film follows Brendan, a brave 12-year-old, as he fights magical serpents and Vikings while searching for an enchanted crystal.
Find out more in this Irish Times feature story. http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2009/0307/1224242421758.html

Selection of Brighton Festival Events

Bridget — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 20:52:59 +0000

MUSICBANK HOLIDAY MONDAY May 4
Time 7:30 PM – 11:00 PM
The Thrill of Irish Music

Latest Music Bar (formerly Joogleberry Playhouse)
An evening of Irish and American folk performed by Harmony Glen, four talented Dutch musicians
www.harmonyglen.com. Plus Support band Cargo www.terrylees.com
entrance FEE: £6.00, (£5.00 Concessions)
MONDAY May 11
Time 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Celtic Cadences Spring Ceilidh
An evening of easy Scottish Ceilidh dance, Celtic harp & flute

The Brunswick
Brunswick (The), 3 Holland Road,

Entrance FEE: £8.00
Website: www.celticcadences.wordpress.com

FRIDAY MAY 15 & SATURDAY MAY 16
Time 11:00 PM – 12:40 AM
Cuckoo Savante Live

Marlborough Little Theatre
Marlborough Little Theatre, 4 Princes St (opposite Royal Pavillion),
Entrance FEE: £5.00
Website: www.myspace.com/cuckoosavante
Irish “Debonair deviants” bring their brand of lounge punk to Brighton

SUNDAY MAY 17 2009
Time 8:00 PM – Midnight
Ben Paley, Tab Hunter, Mandy Murray

The Foundry
13-14 Foundry Street, North Laines BRIGHTON
Entrance FEE: Free

‘Playing energetic and beautiful Swedish, Irish, Klezmer and American traditional music, Ben Paley (fiddle) and Tab Hunter (guitar) are ‘a truly class act’. They are joined by All-Ireland concertina champion Mandy Murray

COMEDY
MONDAY MAY 18 – THURSDAY MAY 21
Time 5:15 PM – 6:15 PM
Eleanor Tiernan – Trouble

Laughing Horse @ The Quadrant, The Quadrant, 12 North Street

Entrance FEE: Free
Exciting new Irish comic tell stories about the times she got away with it and the times she didn’t.
“Jokes – she’s good at it” The Scotsman

DRAMA
TUESDAY MAY 12 TO SATURDAY MAY
Time: Matinees Thursday and Saturday.
Evening performances start 7.30 pm
THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD
Theatre Royal Brighton