Ballyhaunis Blog

BALLYHAUNIS – The National Chamber Choir, The Friary, Ballyhaunis Friday July 23rd at 8pm

As part of Mayo County Council Arts office Summer Music Series on Friday July 23rd
, The National Chamber Choir play the Friary Ballyhaunis @ 8pm. This is a free event but booking is essential.
Contact the Arts Office on 094 9024444, exts 7558 & 7560, or e-mail: mayoarts@mayococo.ie.

The National Chamber Choir of Ireland is widely regarded as Ireland’s most distinguished choral ensemble, and is celebrated both nationally and internationally for its fresh and innovative sound. The choir was founded in 1991 by the composer and conductor, Colin Mawby and was developed under the direction of the Brazilian conductor Celso Antunes until early 2007. In 2008, the internationally celebrated conductor Paul Hillier joined the group as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor.

www.nationalchamberchoir.com

Gracenotes - the choir based in Ballyhaunis - will be on RTE1 Nationwide at 7pm tonight May 5th 2010 .

If you miss it - you can watch it online until May 26th here at RTE

Leonard Cohen is to perform in Ireland in July 2010 - at Lissadell House in Co Sligo .

Cohen’s website says he will play at the venue, the ancestral home of Countess Constance Markievicz, on July 31st at 7pm.

It is the only Irish date listed in Leonard Cohen’s European tour, which commences in Croatian capital Zagreb on July 25th and is scheduled to end in Bratislava, Slovakia on October 13th 2010

For tonight’s second semi-final of the All Ireland Talent Show five acts are battling for a place in the final next week. Only 3 acts go through tonight. From Ballyhaunis - Olwyn Murray should get through tonight -she is up against the talented David Lofts, Tuam All Star Gymnastics Club ,Ben Escorcio and Chloe Coyle .
According to Paddy Power - Olwyn Murray is the favourite of tonights acts to win - but overall the act with the shortest odds are Emma O’Sullivan and John O’Halloran - at 7 to 4 to win outright. Olwyn is at 4 to 1 to win it - with Na Fianna and Tuam Gymnastics Club both on 5 to 1.
It is all down to phone votes - so the act with the most fans wins it. Large group acts will have the advantage because of the larger number of friends and family that will vote.

Congratulations to Ballyhaunis schoolgirl Olwyn Murray - who won last night’s All Ireland Talent Show heat - and is now through to the semi final.
The judges put her in joint third place but the public vote was enough to give her the the win. A good performance - but she will probably have to do even better to win the contest.
See Olwyn singing live on the show here (22 minutes in) (only viewable until Feb 14th)

See more about Olwyn Murray here

Ballyhaunis Leaving Cert student - 16 year old Olwyn Murray is through to the semi finals of the RTE All Ireland Talent Show on March 7th 2010.
Join the Facebook Group here

It is probably too late - but anyone can apply for free audience tickets by calling 01 4480500 or email audience@tyrone-productions.ie

Olwyn is one of 8 contestants left in from the West - and the only one from Co Mayo. She doesn’t seem to have got the online publicity going - not like some of the other contestants. The Leaving Cert is probably taking priority. Hopefully the publicity in the local papers and radio stations will work just as well for Olwyn.

Find details here of how to vote ()

Olwyn has a Youtube channel - but there is just one video there at the moment

Olwyn started singing at an early age and her first performance was in in The Sound of Music when she played Gretl, the youngest of the Von Trapp children, when she was just 6 years old.
Olywn had some recent success in the Mayo Feis 2009 where she came first in 3 categories - classical vocalist (14 to 16 age category), senior soprano, senior musical . Olwyn was also awarded first place for the overall best classical vocalist in the competition.
Olywyn’s father - Adrian Murray is from Balla where Olwyn she can sometimes be found playing Gaelic football for St Mary’s GAA Club .
Olwyn’s mother Breda comes from Roscommon town, has three brothers who played football for the county in former years, Padraig, Sean and Liam McNeill.

Olwyn also won five gold medals in the individual section of the 2009 World Performing Arts Championship in Los Angeles.
She is also a member of a Ballina group called Realta which consists of 12 singers ranging in age from 13-26. They won the World Championship title in the group section this year in Los Angles.

This Bank Holiday weekend there is a great night of music in the Coogue area of Aughamore near Ballyhaunis on Sunday 2nd August in the form of a Barn Dance!

It is at Burkes Farm, Coogue, Aughamore and is in aid of Mayo Roscommon Hospice.
Sean Keane and his band are the s the main entertainment for the night. Keane (brother of Dolores Keane) is best known for songs “The Man from Connemara”, “Home Away from Home” and “Galway to Graceland”.
Other performers on the night include Kinch an Indie Rock Band from Leeds , (Kinch on Myspace) They will be playing at the Leeds and Reading Festival a fe days later. See them now before they get big. Influences are The Kooks, Madness, Vampire Weekend, The Jam, Arctic Monkeys, The Smiths, Dexys Midnight Runners
“Indie-pop, laced with a trace of Motown, served with a dash of ska, in a chilled glass of early 80’s”

Also on the bill the Balla Pipe Band and D.J. Michael Adams along with world champion set dancers and Irish dancers.

Tickets cost €20 each and are available from the Hospice office Knock on 094 9388666, they can be purchased online at or contact Donal on 0868775571. Alternatively, you can pay on admission on the night. This event is strictly over 18’s and a full bar and food will also be available.

Gracenotes — the Ballyhaunis based women’s choir did very well at the recent 55th annual Cork International Choral Festival.

Under musical director Laura Brogan, the choir took first place in the national competition for church music - beating 8 other choirs from all over Ireland.

The choir also came second in the national open competition. (Their 89% mark was just beaten by another Mayo Choir - Cór Mhaigh Eo from Newport who got 90%)

These results for Gracenotes followed their recent second place in the Limerick Church Music Festival .

On Friday 31st July 2009 - Mayo County Council present - as part of the Summer Music Series - Matt Molloy, John Carty and Arty McGlynn in concert. The venue is St. Mary’s Abbey, Ballyhaunis Co. Mayo.
There is no charge for the public to attend the Summer Music Series. To reserve a seat you must book - this can be done by telephoning the Arts Office on 094 9024444, exts 7558 & 7560, or e-mail: mayoarts@mayococo.ie.

Matt Molloy is well known for his flute playing as part of the Chieftans and the Bothy Band as well as his solo recordings.
John Carty plays the fiddle and is one of Ireland’s finest traditional musicians having been awarded TG4’s Traditional Musician of the Year in 2003. Born in London and now living in Co. Roscommon he has established himself among the elite in Irish traditional music . Carty developed his love for fiddle, banjo, and flute, all of which he has mastered, through his multi-instrumentalist father who was a member of the Glenside Ceili Band in London in the 1960’s.

Buy the new Album from Matt Molloy, John Carty and Arty McGlynn - here Pathway to the Well

See what to expect on this RTE TV program (No Arty McGlynn on this )

See more Free events from Mayo County Council 2009

CHORAL SERVICE:
In conjunction with World Mental Health Day on Friday Oct. 10th, Ballyhaunis Social Housing is hosting a choral service with Gracenotes at 8pm. in the communal house at Clare Court. All welcome. Enquiries to Elma, 9630311.