Live Night Tues 6th May

Al O'Donnell

Al, singer/songwriter/musician is ‘One of the great voices in our singing tradition’ (Derek Copley Irish Independent) He released his album: AL O’Donnell RAMBLE AWAY, a 2 CD collection of live and studio recordings on Celtic Airs label CACD 130 in 2008. He has also performed with the likes of The Dubliners. For those who remember him in the 60’s and for the younger generation who missed out on that golden era, Al O’Donnell’s gigs are a wonderful chance to experience the raw passion he puts into his songs. Always a pleasure to hear him perform at the Space Inside.

John Goodman

John is a life long student of military history but began to specialise in WWI over a decade ago. In the course of compiling his family genealogy he came across several relatives that were killed serving with the Irish regiments. It was then that his obsession took hold and he began to actively research the histories of his own relatives regiments along with regularly visiting the Western Front. This then spread to conducting research for others until it became almost a full time job. One of the people he carried research out for was Gay Byrne. He heard Gay mentioning on Lyric Fm his father's time serving in the cavalry in WWI and how he'd wished he asked his father when he was still alive what had happened during the war. John decided to do some of his own research and it eventually lead to the RTÉ documentary 'My Father's War' which John features in. At our live night, John will give a presentation on life in Wicklow during World War I (to commemorate the centenary of the conflict this year). This will be followed by a short Q & A session.

Jimi Cullen

Jimi Cullen is a musician from Wexford, Ireland. He is a songwriter, singer, storyteller and much more, a blender of Folk, Pop, Rock and Country, a poet of a thousand words and a performer of pure energy. An uplifting experience. Allow Jimi to take you on a journey from protest songs through love songs to those that squeeze every drop of emotion out of you. You’ll laugh and cry as he sings about everything from hangovers to homelessness, always with a catchy hook and a positive message. He does not preach from a high horse, instead he shows us, sometimes not too gently, what is really going on and then leaves it up to us. He was nominated for Best Male, Best Acoustic/alt and Best Unsigned artist in the Music Review Unsigned awards 2012. In 2013 Jimi had his first chart success when his cover of The Cranberries song Zombie reached No.2 in the Irish itunes charts. The song was released as a charity single in aid of Amnesty International. Jimi has just finished work on his highly anticipated third album "Life" which was released on the 4th April 2014 and from which he will no doubt play some of his songs from on the night.

Live Night Tuesday 1st April

Ciaran Doyle

Ciaran Doyle has been an active volunteer crew member at Wicklow Lifeboat station for over 30 years and currently holds the position of 2nd Coxswain. During this long lifeboat career he has been involved in many successful rescues and operations, often in dangerous situation. He therefore has firsthand knowledge and experience of marine rescue environment and its challenges. Ciaran also researched and published the history of the Wicklow Lifeboat Station in the book 'From Dauntless to Annie' in 1989. This publication traces the history of Wicklow Lifeboat from its inception in 1857 to the present day. On the night Ciaran will give us a presentation about this history with a Q&A session after.

Zoryanna Tribal Dancers

The Zoryanna are a Tribal and Fusion Bellydance troupe based in Dublin. They come from all corners of the world and bring together a wealth of experience and variety of backgrounds. They love sharing their dance with the world.
The Zoryanna is directed by former member of Rashani World Fusion - Ronelle Tibaldi. They teach and perform throughout Ireland spreading their passion for bellydance. Keep clear on the night as there may be swords involved! www.thezoryanna.com

Pat Brennan

Pat Brennan is a poet and songwriter from Wicklow Town. His work is very much centred around his beloved hometown. Three songs in particular ('No King Has More', 'Irish Coleen', 'With Love From Wicklow') have gained particular successs after the videos, which feature prominent local landmarks, were aired on Sky 201 Showcase on the 'Ireland West Music TV' show. We look forward to this musical celebration of our town.

Live Night Tuesday 4th March - Paddy's Session

Wicklow Trad

WicklowTrad will feature local musicians, many of whom are All-Ireland champions, all of whom combine to provide an evening of lively music, song and dance. They're young, energetic, and playtrad music in a way that has an appeal way beyond the trad music scene. Check out details of WicklowTrad and their regular sessions in Wicklow Town at www.WicklowTrad.com and Facebook.com/WicklowTrad.

Paul Sillery

Paul Sillery is a an experienced saxophonist from Wicklow Town, and a resident saxophonist with the National Conservatoire of Ireland's Big Band (DIT Conservatory of Music and Drama).The band played the National Concert Hall twice with Paul as the Baritone Saxophonist in the last year. Paul is currently the lead alto saxophonist in the Big Band, and upcoming gigs include the Backstage Theatre in Longford, and a live session for RTÉ Lyric FM. He is currently studying Bachelors of Music (BMus) (Performance) in the National Conservatoire. He teaches saxophone, guitar and clarinet lessons in Wicklow town. 

Wicklow Pipe Band

A big part of the fabric of Wicklow's history, we look forward to hearing the pipe band again especially in the lead up to the Patrick's Day Parade.

Live Night February 4th 2014

Swallow Clan Goes To Mongolia

Last year Suzie Cahn, her husband Mike, and their children embarked on one of their biggest adventures so far when they decided to go on a  GoHelp charity rally for over land to Mongolia. They fundraised for months to buy a van, which was to be their transport from Europe to Asia!   When the family finally reached Mongolia (with a few cross border delays to deal with) they presented a van full of donated gifts for children's projects there. They also did some volunteering for various projects. At the Space Inside Suzie will present a series of short film clips and slideshows showcasing the best parts of their exciting journey. This will be followed by a short Q & A session.

Wicklow Writers
We welcome back The Wicklow Writers for something a little different from their normal output - an original theatrical adaptation of the famous Walter de la Mer poem The Listeners. As well as this, some of their members will recite some of their own poetry pieces. If you like what you see from these wordly writers and are a writer or poet in the making, the group meet every Monday evening in Kilmantin Arts Gallery, Bridge Street, from 7.30 to 9.00 to write, read and workshop. 

Una Breslin and Ted Higgins

Una and Ted first realised that they harmonised very well with each other at a party for the Wicklow Drama Group production 'The Shaughran' several years ago. Since then they have been playing together on and off, in particular at the popular Thursday night 'Secret Sessions' in Ernie's. For this gathering they will entertain us with songs from some musical greats such as Pete Seeger, The Everly Brothers, John Denver, Luke Kelly and Christy Moore.

Live Night January 7th 2014

Tambourine and Roses
With two of their four members having Mediterranean roots, Tambourine and Roses' music is an eclectic mix of old and new, drawing on the rhythms of the traditional dance music of southern Italy. They try to stay faithful to the old dance forms of Pizzica and Tammurriata, as well as striving to be inventive and progressive with them – to give them new vitality as it were. Their repertoire ranges from Villanellas of the sixteenth century to contemporary pieces. You can find out more about them on their website tambourineandroses.com . We really can't wait to see these guys, their music really is a treat! 

Linsey Dempsey
Linsey is an up and coming soprano opera singer. She has already sang both nationally (Opera Ireland, The National Concert Hall) and internationally (performing with the Trinity College Choir in Venice) and has worked with some well-known Irish musicians including David Brophy, David Adams and David Agnew. She sings many different types of music from modern works to sacred music, very early classical to contemporary popular music. Some of our audience already know her from performing at the Wicklow Arts Festival and Church of Ireland Christmas concerts. As she sometimes enjoys just having 'light-hearted fun' with her voice, the Space Inside is the perfect place for her to entertain with some popular modern music that includes the likes of Eva Cassidy and Bette Midler.

Conor O’Donnell
A well-known and popular act with Space Inside audiences, Conor comes from a musical family. He’s toured the states several times with various acts and plays a lot of shows now with his current band, The Big Muddy.He also is the visionary founder of one of Ireland’s hottest music festivals, the Americana Roots Weekend in Greystones which is going into its fifth year and just keeps getting bigger and better.Conor will give us his lively version of songs from the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Gillian Welch and Townes Van Zandt.

Live Night 3rd December 2013

Beating Time 

This talented group are delighted to be invited back again to sing at Space Inside. The current  National Female Barbershop champions,under the direction of Hazel Evans and Reenie Polemis, are looking forward to sharing an evening of festive christmas songs and carols, sung in accapella style, alongside other well known fun and heartwarming favourites. Based in Co Wicklow, Beating Time have been together since 1996 and have been enthralling audiences both at home and abroad with their vibrant sound. (For more information or bookings, please see their website www.beatingtime.org) 

Paul Sharkey

Paul Sharkey trained at the Brendan Smith Theatre Academy (1975 - 1977) then worked with a number of Dublin based drama groups, including the Dublin Shakespeare Society, playing the title role of Hamlet in 1980. Moving to Wicklow, Paul continued to study speech and drama and, in 1981, he co-founded Harlequin Players with his wife Liz. For ten years Harlequin Players provided corporate entertainment (Ghost Night & Murder Mystery) for Tinakilly House Hotel and also Dinner Theatre, including shows based on the works of Oscar Wilde, Charles Dickens, W.B. Yeats and James Joyce. During the same period Paul compiled and performed shows for the Synge Summer School. For upcoming festive live night, Paul will perform excerpts from arguably Dickens' most famous work, A Christmas Carol. www.paulsharkey.com

Avoca 

We welcome Sean and Simon back to the Space Inside for another lively evening of memorable folk songs. Sean Olohan from Wicklow Town and Simon Keogh from Dublin have been together for longer than they’d care to remember! They have played at home and abroad as a two piece band, but extend to a three or four piece as The CANTONS. Avoca have toured in Switzerland, Portugal, Germany and Austria, as well as throughout Ireland. They have a new single out the first week of December and a new album to be released early in the new year. The proceeds from these sales will be going to Wicklow Hospice and Wicklow Cancer Support, two very worthy causes.

Space Inside Magazine Autumn 2013

Chock full of features and reviews including a chat with Wicklow soprano Linsey Dempsey, a trip to Sicily to discover its artistic treasures, and how to create characters for stories. Well worth a peek (or two)!