…limited tickets still available for LEITRIM ARTS AWARDS this Friday at The Dock…

The Leitrim Arts Awards will be topped off with a wonderful concert featuring Eleanor Shanley joined by John McCartin on guitar, Padraig McGovern on pipes and Sabina McGovern on harp. The awards will take place at a gala event in The Dock, Carrick on Shannon on Friday  the 3^rd May at 8.00pm.

The quantity and calibre of the nominations received was a clear endorsement of the widely held view that County Leitrim is home to numerous individuals and organisations that have attained great achievement locally, nationally and internationally across the whole spectrum of the arts. Five awards in total were made with one award dedicated to achievement in the arts by a young person, and one for lifetime achievement. The recipients are -

· Jackie McKenna, a native of north Leitrim, is known throughout Ireland for her many public sculpture commissions. At home she is also recognised for her work with numerous groups and in particular for her pioneering work over a long number of years towards establishing the Leitrim Sculpture Centre as a nationally important facility for artists to make work.

· A native of Dublin, architect and tutor Dominic Stevens chose Leitrim as the place in which he wanted to live and continue his professional practice. He has won numerous awards for his architectural work and his publications on design and sustainable living, particularly in a rural context, have been equally groundbreaking and recognised internationally.

· One of Ireland’s foremost traditional singers, Eleanor Shanley is renowned for her unique interpretation of Irish songs.  She has recorded with everyone from De Danann and Sharon Shannon, to The Dubliners and Tommy Fleming. She has recorded many solo albums and has featured on numerous others. Over the years, Eleanor has been a constant support to musicians and music projects in her home county.

· David Rawle has been attending drama classes from 4 years old and a member of the Leitrim Youth Theatre Company Carrigallen since 2011. He shot to fame in “Moone Boy” alongside Chris O’Dowd which will begin shooting its 3^rd series later this year. In a very short amount of time, David has proven himself to be an actor of considerable talent with delightfully natural comic timing.

· The Lifetime achievement award goes to Angus Dunne for a lifetime of commitment to local and national amateur drama. Angus has been the driving force behind the Breffini Players for many years. A talented director, Aengus has contributed greatly the quality and reputation of the Breffni Players, encouraging members in all roles, the results of which were abundantly apparent this year when they won the All-Ireland One Act Drama Finals in Ballyduff, Co. Waterford.

Leitrim County Council initiated the Awards to acknowledge the vibrant and growing arts scene in the county and to acknowledge the importance of the arts to County Leitrim.  The event itself is a great platform to celebrate what Leitrim artists have achieved over the years on a local, national and international level.

The recipients will receive their awards as part of full night of entertainment at the Dock. The evening commences with a reception before author and broadcaster Vincent Woods, as compère, introduces the first of the awards with film introductions produced by Johnny Gogan and Screen Northwest. Among the performances during the evening, author Brian Leyden will read alongside Jo Holmwood, whose new book Under the one roof, which she wrote during her Spark residency at The Bush Hotel, was published last week. Also on the night singer Gavin Sweeney and Leitrim Village’s Mick Blake will be there. After the final award, Eleanor Shanley will be joined John McCartin, Padraig McGovern and Sabina McGovern to raise the tempo and finish the night on a typically perfectly pitched high note.

Limited tickets are available at €10 and can be obtained through The Dock, Carrick on Shannon on 071 9650828 or online at www.thedock

Fun Night ahead of us! Your D B

Shouty capitals, I know, but tonight is a night not to be missed, EVENTIDE are playing at The Dock, so all you trad fans come out to play ... 8.30 the usual time and place.

... and don't forget to check up on our very own Beezneez on Radio One, Arena Full Show Broadcast from Tue 29th, ... about 35mins into the show if you don't have the patience...mind you it's a great one the first 35 minutes at that too!

http://www.rte.ie/radio/radioplayer/rteradioweb.html#!rii=9%3A10104929%3A1526%3A29-01-2013%3A

Laters, Your Dock Blogger

So. The Jerry Fish gig is over, done and dusted, in the past already.

But what a night. What a band. What a gig. What a man.

Jerry Fish made us dance, wanna dance, made us laugh and let loose, the old message of living the now and finding happiness in oneself did not for a second sound patronizing from his lips. He himself was breathing pure jokes, the joy of living, a certain humbleness, grace, love. I know that sounds like me waffling, and I stop immediately, but I know for sure that anybody in the audience felt the very same, the absolute and utter delight of being right there and then, watching this man sing and dance as if nobody was watching, letting all hell break free when the band got going, getting roped in singing and clapping, knowing there will be a quiet time to ponder on life and the changes that need to be made.

Nothing like a Jerry Fish gig I dare saying, and I am sure so much has been written about him I won’t add more than my pure joy of having been part of that night, a thank you to my reliable baby sitter to make this possible and have my babies tucked in safely, and a note to Jerry Fish that we went home after, had a spontaneous house party with his Spiegeltent DVD projected on to the wall, talking about life and love and music till the small hours. Of course we are paying for the late night today, but it is all about smelling the flowers while you can, isn’t it?

Bouncing and floating

Your Dock Blogger