Sliabh-Ardagh Rural Development will host a series of events in Kilcooley Church, Gortnahoe, Thurles, Co Tipperary, over the coming months. These events which will include a number of concerts ranging from Folk, Trad, Gospel and Blues, a play which is a modern take on the life of St Joseph as well as some Choral Workshops.
Kilcooley Church
The first event, a concert by the critically acclaimed folk singer Johnny Duhan kicks off Friday 15th of April at 8pm.
Johnny Duhan started his career as a fifteen year old front man with ‘Granny’s Intentions,’ the most popular beat group in Ireland in the 60’s. After rousing Dublin with their soul touch, they moved to London, were signed to the prestigious Deram label, enjoyed considerable success and disbanded before Johnny was twenty one. Johnny started writing folk songs, poetry and prose at this stage. In a career spanning 40 years, his greatest achievement is a quartet of epic albums – Just Another Town, To The Light, The Voyage and Flame – which correspond to the four chapters of his lyrical autobiography, ‘ TO THE LIGHT.’
Johnny’s songs are sung worldwide in a variety of languages, thanks to the focus put on them by Christy Moore, The Dubliners, Mary Black and hosts of other Irish and international singers.
His song The Voyage has become a modern classic. Christy Moore has termed Johnny “One of our greatest songwriters.” And the late Ronnie Drew described him as “one of my favourite songwriters.” A new album, The Burning Word, has just been released .
This will be followed up by a play titled ‘Redemption Song.‘ This is a new one-man play from Mend & Makedo Theatre Co, written and performed by the noted author and playwright John MacKenna. The play is a modern take on the life of St. Joseph. This event takes place on Friday May 6th at 8pm
Joseph is a small time builder whose son was executed for his leadership of a group of social and political activists. While inspecting a local church for repair work to the central heating system, Joseph tells his story – a story of love; emigration; success; the loss of a son and the hope that he might see him again, for there are rumours that the young man is not actually dead. As Joseph says: ” If a man has hope, he has something.” This is theatre at its most intimate and challenging – a story of love and hope from a company and a writer whose work has toured the country.
Tickets are on sale in The Rectory in Grange Tel: 056 8834147 and The Heritage Centre in Killenaule Tel: 052 9156165 at a cost of €10 each from Monday March 14th. Both events promise to be very entertaining and early booking is advised.
Due to seating capacity tickets will go on a first come first served basis.
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