January 2015 NUI Galway Launches 15th Múscailt Festival Programme

NUI Galway’s 15th annual NUI Galway Arts Festival programme, Múscailt, was launched today by Dr Anne Byrne, Head of School, Political Science and Sociology. The Festival, which runs from 9-13 February, will contain a superb programme of art, music, performance, song, talks and workshops, with many free events to which the public are welcome.

This year’s theme ‘Float Away’ will transform the campus with ‘Creatures from the River’, floating willow sculptures on either side of O’Shaughnessy pedestrian bridge, made by Colours Street Theatre. ‘A Wonderful Watery World’, balloon sculptures by Ana Bella of Fiesta House will also feature inside and outside Áras na Mac Léinn.

Art and music feature highly in the programme and often at the same time. This year’s flagship exhibition will be ‘Dreaming Vessels’ by the Galway Chapter of the Irish Woodturners’ Guild, in the Hardiman Research Building. This is a giant installation presenting the form of a Claddagh Hooker, overlaid with individual turned bowls or vessels, raising questions on the nature and value of handmade objects today. The opening of ‘Dreaming Vessels’ will take place at 7.30pm on Monday, 9 February and will be heralded by two pieces from Galway-Ensemble-in-Residence ConTempo Quartet and a reception to mark the launch of the festival.

Events throughout the week include:

• Galway University Musical Society (GUMS) will perform the musical, ‘Cabaret’, at the Black Box Theatre from 10-14 February at 8pm. Set in a Kit-Kat Klub in Berlin during the rise of Nazi Germany, it is exciting, witty and provocative, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Tickets for the show are €12/10 and €8 for groups of four or more.
• An exhibition by Photosoc, 'Focus 15' will open on Monday, 9 February at 7pm. The exhibition will take place in the Atrium of Áras na Mac Léinn with a receptions and live music.
• On Monday, 9 February, RETREAT by Conor McGrady, will open at 5pm in the University’s Art Gallery with ConTempo featuring at the opening. The exhibition includes a series of drawings examining architecture as a means of containment and control that operates to affect a sense of social order.
• On Tuesday, 10 February, Athenry Guitar Orchestra will play in the Atrium of Áras na Mac Léinn at 6pm for the joint opening reception of ‘Catching Dreams’, by Kathy Ross, and ‘Flow’, a group exhibition on the balcony by the painting and drawing classes of NUI Galway, coordinated by Marina Wild, who also created the artwork for this year’s festival.
• Learn to sing lenten liturgy in Gregorian chant with Batsheva Battu on Tuesday at 1pm in the View in Áras na Mac Léinn.
• The Witless Band Competition final takes place in the Students’ Union Bar on Tuesday, 10 February at 8pm with judges and the public vote to decide the winning act.
• A Victorian Fun Fair will be held in the Bailey Allen Hall on Wednesday, 11 February from 12-5pm, complete with tea, games, art, science, literature, song, pies and cakes, run by the Victorian Society.
• NUI Galway’s international students will also present a mini-festival of food, music and dance on Thursday, 12 February evening at the Bailey Allen Hall.
• Arts in Actions presents ‘Around the House’, a concert by students and staff of Cork School of Music, CIT, at 1pm on Thursday, 12 February.
• Fleadh na Gaillimhe Fundraiser will take place on Friday, 13 February at 8pm, featuring a stellar line-up including Máirtín O’Connor, Mary McPartlan, Maigh Cuilinn Comhaltas and NUI Galway’s own TradSoc. Ticket for the event for the concert will cost €15.
• The SOLO SHOW will showcase seven original ‘five-minute monologues’ from staff and students at 1pm on Friday in The Cube.
• Talks throughout the week include: “Megalithic Art and the Irish Passage Tomb Tradition” by Lynda McCormack; “Historical Background to Contemporary Woodturning” by Ambrose O’Halloran; and “From Workhorse to Racehorse, a slide show presentation tracing the evolution of the Galway Hooker” by Cóilín Ó hIarnáin.

Commenting on this year’s line up, Fionnuala Gallagher, NUI Galway Arts Officer, said: “Our theme this year, ‘Float Away’, reminds us that a brush with the creative arts can be a sweet release from the routine and pressures of everyday life and may be the dawning of a new adventure. Everyone is welcome to participate.”

All exhibitions are open Monday to Saturday. For a copy of the programme or further information contact the Arts Office at or 091 495098, or visit www.muscailt.nuigalway.ie.

Tickets and information for society events will be available from the Socsbox at 091 492852 or socsbox@socs.nuigalway.ie. Cabaret tickets are also available from the Town Hall Theatre (091-569777 or www.tht.ie). Tickets for the Fleadh Fundraiser are available at OPUS II, High Street, Galway; Salthill Post Office; the Town Hall Theatre; and The Forge, Moycullen. More information on Fleadh Fundraiser is available at www.galwayfleadh.ie or 085 8408746.

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Seolann OÉ Gaillimh Clár an 15^ú Féile Múscailt

Inniu sheol an Dr Anne Byrne, Ceann na Scoile Eolaíochta Polaitiúla agus na Socheolaíochta clár an 15ú Féile Múscailt, féile ealaíon OÉ Gaillimh. Beidh an Fhéile ar siúl ón 9-13 Feabhra agus cuimseofar clár iontach ealaíne, ceoil, taibhléirithe, amhránaíochta, cainteanna agus ceardlanna agus beidh go leor imeachtaí saor in aisce ar fáil don phobal.

Is é ‘Ar Foluain’ téama na bliana seo agus athrófar an campas le ‘Creatures from the River’, dealbha sailí ar foluain ar gach taobh de dhroichead coisithe Uí Sheachnasaigh, curtha le chéile ag Colours Street Theatre. Beidh ‘A Wonderful Watery World’, dealbha balúin le Ana Bella as Fiesta House le feiceáil laistigh agus lasmuigh d'Áras na Mac Léinn. 

Beidh ealaín agus ceol go láidir ar an gclár agus iad ar siúl go minic ag an am céanna. I mbliana is é ‘Soithigh na Samhlaíochta’ le Craobh na Gaillimhe de Chuallacht Deilte Adhmaid na hÉireann an príomhthaispeántas, agus beidh sé le feiceáil in Áras Taighde Uí Argadáin. Saothar mór millteach é seo i bhfoirm Húicéir an Chladaigh, le babhlaí nó soithigh dheilte, ag tarraingt aird ar cheisteanna a bhaineann le nádúr agus leis an luach atá ar rudaí lámhdhéanta sa lá atá inniu ann. Osclófar ‘Soithigh na Samhlaíochta’ ag 7.30pm Dé Luain, an 9 Feabhra agus seinnfidh an ConTempo Quartet, Ensemble Cónaithe na Gaillimhe, dhá phíosa ceoil agus beidh fáiltiú ar siúl chun ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar sheoladh na féile.

I measc imeachtaí na seachtaine beidh siad seo a leanas:

• Cuirfidh Cumann Ceoldrámaíochta Ollscoil na Gaillimhe (GUMS) an ceoldráma, ‘Cabaret’, ar stáitse sa Dubhlann idir an 10-14 Feabhra ag 8pm. Tá an ceoldráma seo suite in Kit-Kat Klub i mBeirlín le linn theacht chun cinn Ghearmáin na Naitsithe; tá sé spreagúil, tráthúil agus gríosaitheach, agus tá ceol ann le John Kander agus liricí le Fred Ebb. Cosnóidh ticéid don seó €12/10 agus €8 do ghrúpaí de cheathrar nó níos mó.
• Casfaidh Ceolfhoireann Ghiotáir Bhaile Átha an Rí san Fhorhalla in Áras na Mac Léinn ag 6pm Dé Luain, an 9 Feabhra don chomhoscailt ar ‘Catching Dreams’, le Kathy Ross, agus ‘Flow’, taispeántas grúpa ar an mbalcóin de ranganna péintéireachta agus líníochta OÉ Gaillimh, comhordaithe ag Marina Wild, a rinne an obair ealaíne d'fhéile na bliana seo chomh maith.
• Osclófar dhá thaispeántas chomh maith Dé Luain, an 9 Feabhra - seó bliantúil líníochta, péintéireachta agus dealbhóireachta Artsoc ag 6pm agus ina dhiaidh sin ‘Focus 15’, taispeántas an Photosoc ag 7pm. Beidh an dá thaispeántas ar siúl san Fhorhalla in Áras na Mac Léinn, agus beidh fáiltiú agus ceol beo ann ar an oíche.
• Ag 5pm Dé Luain, an 9 Feabhra, osclófar RETREAT le Conor McGrady, i nDánlann na hOllscoile agus seinnfidh ConTempo ceol ag an ócáid. Sraith líníochtaí atá sa taispeántas a bhreathnaíonn ar ailtireacht mar bhealach srianta agus smachta a fheidhmíonn chun dul i gcion ar an ord sóisialta.
• Eagróidh an Cumann Victeoiriach Aonach Siamsaíochta Victeoiriach i Halla Bailey Allen Dé Máirt, an 10 Feabhra ó 12-5pm, áit a mbeidh tae, cluichí, ealaín, eolaíocht, litríocht, amhránaíocht, pióga agus cácaí.
• Foghlaim le liotúirge a chasadh i gcantaireacht Ghreagórach le Batsheva Battu ag 1pm Dé Máirt sa View in Áras na Mac Léinn.
• Beidh craobhchomórtas na mBannaí Witless ar siúl i mBeár Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn Dé Máirt, an 10 Feabhra ag 8pm agus beidh an buaiteoir á roghnú ag moltóirí agus ag an bpobal.
• Cuirfidh mic léinn idirnáisiúnta OÉ Gaillimh mionfhéile bhia, cheoil agus dhamhsa i láthair tráthnóna Déardaoin, an 12 Feabhra i Halla Bailey Allen.
• Cuirfidh Arts in Action ‘Around the House’ i láthair, ceolchoirm le mic léinn agus le foireann Scoil Cheoil Chorcaí, CIT, ag 1pm Déardaoin, an 12 Feabhra.
• Beidh ócáid bailithe airgid Fhleadh na Gaillimhe ar siúl Dé hAoine, an 13 Feabhra ag 8pm, áit a mbeidh scoth na n-aíonna cosúil le Máirtín O’Connor, Mary McPartlan, Comhaltas Mhaigh Cuilinn agus TradSoc OÉ Gaillimh. Cosnóidh ticéid don cheolchoirm €15.
• Taispeánfaidh an SOLO SHOW seacht ‘monalóg nua cúig nóiméad’ ó chomhaltaí foirne agus ó mhic léinn ag 1pm Dé hAoine sa Cube.
• I measc na gcainteanna a bheidh ar siúl le linn na seachtaine beidh siad seo a leanas: “Megalithic Art and the Irish Passage Tomb Tradition” le Lynda McCormack; “Historical Background to Contemporary Woodturning” le Ambrose O’Halloran; agus “From Workhorse to Racehorse, a slide show presentation tracing the evolution of the Galway Hooker” le Cóilín Ó hIarnáin.

Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Fionnuala Gallagher, Oifigeach Ealaíon OÉ Gaillimh, faoi chlár na bliana seo: “Is é ‘Ar Foluain’ téama na bliana seo agus cuireann sé i gcuimhne dúinn gur féidir linn éalú ó ghnáthnósanna agus strus an tsaoil trí bhlaiseadh a fháil de na healaíona cruthaitheacha agus go bhféadfadh sé gur tús le haistear nua a bheadh ann chomh maith.Tá fáilte roimh chách a bheith páirteach.”

Beidh na taispeántais ar fad oscailte ó Luan go Satharn. Tá cóip den chlár nó eolas breise le fáil ón Oifig Ealaíon ar 091 495098, nó téigh chuig www.muscailt.nuigalway.ie.

Beidh ticéid do na himeachtaí ar fáil ón Socsbox ag 091 492852 nó socsbox@socs.nuigalway.ie. Beidh ticéid don cheoldráma ‘Cabaret’ ar fáil ó Amharclann na Cathrach chomh maith (091-569777 nó www.tht.ie). Beidh ticéid ar fáil d'Ócáid Bailithe Airgid Fhleadh na Gaillimhe in OPUS II, an tSráid Ard, Gaillimh; Oifig Poist Bhóthar na Trá; Amharclann na Cathrach; agus an Forge, Maigh Cuilinn. Tá tuilleadh eolais faoin Ócáid Bailithe Airgid sin ar fáil ar www.galwayfleadh.ie nó 085 8408746.

-Críoch-