Last Tango in Dublin! 09/11/11

Tonight Sadhbh Murphy is joined by Annick O’Brien, previously of Artbeat fame herself, who returns for this special show on…Tango! A longtime tango-ite herself, Annick speaks with Sadhbh about what makes the dance so special and just how popular it’s become in modern socialising culture, not just in Dublin but worldwide!

They will be joined by Anthony Cronin and Eddie Hawkins of DATS – Dublin Argentinian Tango Society. They are one of the organisations in Dublin which specialises in the teaching of tango to each and everyone, from pure beginners (Sadhbh was one  herself at a class last night!) to advanced. They will be speaking about the joys that DATS has to offer those interested in tango, their upcoming Tango Winter Ball later this month and a great deal for our listeners on their lessons. So check it out!

 

Artbeat – January 2011 – Moderns Exhibition, IMMA, Dublin

Sadhbh Murphy interviewed IMMA’s curatorial coordinator Brian Cass, about the fantastic Moderns exhibition that is still running there until February 13th. Brian not only gave a very interesting insight into the Moderns, but also gave a guided tour of some of the works. This is the most extensive exhibition of it’s kind here and is to be seen both for its sheer historical significance and for pure enjoyment. It spans the visual arts period of Ireland from 1900 to 1975 and exhibits works and vast information from art and early film, to architecture and music. Many names and pieces will be familiar, and even those that aren’t still played a very important roll in our early modern arts.

Artbeat will be replaying this interview and tour with Brian Cass very shortly on Dublin City FM, and you can also listen to the Podcast here.

We urge listeners to visit IMMA before this important exhibition ends after nearly 4 months.

Dr. Michael O’Malley’s book and the CMC Music in the History Quarter trail

On this week’s show we had a not a very arts related topic of military aviation history! Doctor Michael O’Malley, PhD, has just had his first book published, entitled ‘ Military Aviation in Ireland, 1921-45’ (by UCD Press). Dr. Malley was previously a Lientenant in the Irish Air Corps, then got his doctorate in history at Maynooth College. Dr. O’Malley spoke about the challenges and enjoyment of writing a historical factual book, and gave advice to those who may be interested in trying it. His best advice was to write something in which you are personally interested and that solid primary material research is the key. You can never have enough!

I also spoke with Karen Hennessy, Promotions Manager of the Contemporary Music Centre in Templebar about what is happening in this important place of Irish contemporary music these days. They are gearing up for their music trail later this month, Music in the History Quarter. This extensive programme lets people listen to works by a number of Irish composers playing in five outdoor locations. An inner trail made up of three locations will play music outdoors daily from 1pm to 4pm. The historic places include St Audoen’s Church, The Amphitheatre at Dublin City Council, Christ Church Cathedral, St Patrick’s Cathedral, The Back Loft, City Hall, The Coach House and the Smock Alley Theatre. It is launched on August 20th and continues until September 1st.

Artbeat 21/07/10

On Artbeat this week Sadhbh featured the 10th Festival of World Cultures, which is on this weekend in Dun Laoghaire (July 23rd – 25th).  Project Manager, Jane Davey spoke of what listeners can look forward to, especially all the fantastic world music in both free and ticketed events. There are also lots of great food stalls from around the world, crafts, family activities and relaxation.

James Byrne was also interviewed on the show – he is the drummer of Dublin band the Villagers. They have just been shortlisted for the prestigious Mercury Awards for their brilliant album Becoming a Jackal. James talked about the rise and success of the band, put together by his friend Conor O’Brien, who is the singer/songwriter. The Villagers are everywhere at the moment – their next big gig in Ireland is Electric Picnic in September.

Artbeat 30/06/10

The week’s show was all about the PhotoIreland Festival 2010 from its director, Angel Luis Gonzalez.
 
The festival features a number of exhibitions with contributions from over 100 Irish and international photographers at  30 venues across Dublin. Among the highlights – Fragments from a Broken World at the National Photographic Archive, The Gift by Italian photographer Giorgia Fiorio at the Gallery of Photography and Debbie Castro’s Scarred Landscapes at Mill Street Studiios which depicts communities divided by motorways.  The programme, which runs from 1 – 11 July  also includes a number of fascinating talks and workshops and the organisers are looking for volunteers- check it out at www.photoireland.org
 
Also on Artbeat theatre director Leslie Dowdall talked about One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest, based on the novel by Ken Kesey, which opens at the Helix this week and runs till July 11. Its part of a double bill with Ira Levin’s Deathtrap – the story of  the perfect murder, which opens on Wednesday 14 July.

Artbeat 23/06/10

Tune in for Artbeat on Dublin City FM tomorrow at 8pm, which will be all about summer festivals! First up Sadhbh will be speaking live in studio with Peter Keogh about the Knockan Stockan Music Festival – a fun independent music festival since 2007, which takes place in the the picturesque setting of the Blessington Lakes in Wicklow 23rd-25th July. http://www.myspace.com/knockanstockan

We also hope to play some music that one can look forward to at this year’s festival!

She will also be speaking with Siraj Zaidi of the first ever Indian Film Festival in Ireland, in cooperation with The Irish Film Board. This much anticipated event takes place in the Swan Centre, Rathmines this weekend (25-28th June)

For more information and bookings go to http://www.cfcp.ie/iffi/.

See the trailer for the festival here! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_ZP0vLEHYc

Also!! Check out Des Fitzgerald’s Twitter feed (to the right of our blog) live from the USA over the summer – he’s getting up to all things cultural State side with baby in tow! He is currently in New York. Lucky him!

Artbeat 31/03/10

On this week’s Artbeat, Sadhbh Murphy presents a special show on the famous Titanic Artefact Exhibition which is in City West Hotel until June 19th 2010. She visited the exhibition and spoke with one of the knowledgable tour guides, Declan Carney, about this fascinating experience for the public. Poignant music from Ian Whitcomb’s White Star Orchestra band, is also featured throughout. This exhibition should be viewed by everyone even remotely interested in this event in history.

Sadhbh’s interview is now online. Click here to listen

For more information visit http://www.titanicdublin.com/ or http://www.citywesthotel.com/titanic-exhibit.html to book tickets.

Artbeat 11/11/09

On this week’s show, Sadhbh spoke to Alan Stanford, director of A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen, which is in the Helix Theatre until November 27th. Alan told her about his new version of this famous play, bringing it out of the 19th century and setting it in the 1930′s. He spoke about the deep controversy the play caused in Norway upon its opening in 1880, due to its “feminist” nature. Interestingly, many themes in this play are still not far from the truth today. The play is produced by Second Age Theatre and has an excellent Irish cast.

For more information on A Doll’s House and booking a ticket, visit http://www.thehelix.ie/2009_Q4/SecondAge.htm

There was more theatre this week when Annick spoke with Jim Culleton, director of the brand new play ’Strandline’ in the Project Arts Centre in Temple Bar. The production company, Fishamble, is the same company behind the hugely popular recent Dublin play Pride of Parnell Street. This is another great production being staged in the Project until December 5th. It is both a comedy and a drama and it was written by Abbie Spallen, recent winner of the Steward Parker Trust Award.

For more information on the play, go to: http://www.projectartscentre.ie/programme/whats-on/752-strandline

Artbeat 17/06/09

On this week’s show Annick spoke with James Kelly, the artistic director of the IFI’s 8th Stranger than Fiction Film Festival, which commences today until June 21st (Sunday). The IFI is on Eustace Street in Temple Bar. This documentary film festival is a must see for every film fan, even if they are not usual documentary viewers. Check out the impressive and diverse range of films this year at http://www.irishfilm.ie/stf2009/

Leading the Irish delegation this year is The Liberties, a beautifully crafted short film collection. Each short documentary focuses on an individual as a microcosm of Dublin’s Liberties; from a stone sculptor, an evangelist Christian, to an Oscar-winning actor who wouldn’t live anywhere else. Irish Communities on Film is a two-pronged curated programme that takes a fascinating snapshot of Irish life in the past and present. The first programme, Irish Communities Abroad, is made of Irish Film Archive material and is a timely exploration of the ups and downs of emigrant communities in Newfoundland, 1980s London and the Irish suburbs of New York in the late sixties. The second collection Alternative Communities in Ireland features life in the Hideaway House, a silent order of monks in Roscrea to the eccentric group known as ‘The Screamers’ who settled in the 1970s off Donegal.

Sadhbh spoke with Mark Duckenfield, the co-producer of the 2009 Street Performance World Championship, enjoying its 4th year in Merrion Square in Dublin.  See http://www.spwc.ie/ for the wonderful line up. This fun event started today and continues until Sunday, 21st. It features knife jugglers, contorsionists, comedians, musicians, break dancers and even a man who makes a sandwich with his feet!

Artbeat 13/05/09

Annick interviewed Fionnuala Croke, Head of Collections at the National Gallery of Ireland,on their recent purchase of the John McCormack painting by William Orpen from Christies auction house in London at a recession busting price of €400,000. The painting, of the man dubbed the Irish Pavarotti by one of Ireland’s most successful painters, will be on display from June

Annick also spoke with Caroline Hancock from the Exhibitions Department of the Irish Museum of Modern Art about the Calder Jewellery- an exhibition of the  remarkable jewellery created by the American artist Alexander Calder (1898-1976). The exhibition explores the lifelong output of wearable art pieces made for family and friends by one of the most innovative and influential figures in 20th-century art, best known for his iconic sculptures and mobiles. IMMA is the only venue in Europe where Calder Jewellery is being shown.

Event: Sunday 17 May, 3.00pm New Galleries, IMMA
Deborah Fraser presents a talk in the form of a gallery walk through of the exhibition of Calder jewellery. There is no fee to attend this talk but visitors are advised to register their interest in advance as only certain numbers can be accommodated. You can book online at www.imma.ie

Annick spoke with Charlotte Strantzen Producer / Press Manager of the production company Three to a Room on the remarkable play “I love you Bro” which is running as part of the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival. This amazing play charts the self destructive course of a young boy struggling with his sexuality and identity. Based on true events, this boy was the only person (in Australia) convicted of conspiring to murder himself. Amazing play, amazing plot, phenomenal acting – catch it if you can. The festival runs until 17th May and further details can be found at www.gaytheatre.ie