FEBRUARY

Ceólta CD launch of album “Dancing Fire”

Friday 28 February 8pm

Ceólta CD launch of album “Dancing Fire”; music and song from Scotland and Ireland

Ceólta are a three-piece group from Northern Ireland and Scotland.  They have released their first album titled “Dancing Fire” and are launching this CD at Cushendun Old Church on Friday 28th February 2020.

Ulster Orchestra – On your doorstep

Saturday 29 February 7.30pm

March

Fundraiser in aid of St Ciaran’s Primary School

Friday 6 March 7.30pm

St Ciaran’s Parent Support Group invites you to an interactive quiz.A night of competition and fun awaits you.

All proceeds towards St Ciaran’s Primary School.

Admission £5 per person with a maximum of 6 persons per team

Spaces limited so please book by calling the school on 028 2176 1304

PEG LOOM WEAVING WORKSHOP

Saturday 7 March 10.30am-3.30pm

Causeway Coast and Glens Heritage Trust invite you to have a go at the ancient art of peg loom weaving with sheep’s wool under the expert guidance of Brenda Fraser from Co Antrim. Brenda grew up surrounded by wool as her mother ran a wool shop in Whiteabbey Co Antrim for many years. A self confessed addict to the touch and feel of wool, immersed in crocheting and knitting, she knits her way around the world with her “day job as a BA flight attendant”. Fraser has in recent years turned to peg loom weaving and is a popular tutor at Belfast’s Folklore venue delivering peg loom and other wool related courses.

Students can expect to create a colourful wall hanging or small matt. Bring added embellishments, your own wools and fabrics if you like, but Brenda has simply lots of textures, colours and wool types.

Go on release you creative spirit

BRING YOUR OWN PACKED LUNCH WE SUPPLY THE TEA AND COFFEE.

GLENS RED SQUIRREL GROUP

PUBLIC TALK AND FEEDER WORKSHOP

Thursday 12 March 7pm

Come along and find out about the work that the group do within the Glens of Antrim, concentrating on the ongoing work in Glendun.

Admission Free – Everyone Welcome

PEATLANDS – TALKS AND EXHIBITION

Saturday 14 March 2pm

Through the prisms of art and science, Sharon Adams and Heart of the Glens Landscape Partnership explore the significance of peatlands for our environment

Exhibition open from 12 -4pm Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays 14 March to 19 April

TWO WARTIME TALES

PRESENTED BY THE GLENS STORYTELLING AND CULTURAL HERITAGE GROUP

Sunday 15 March 2-4pm

ALL FOR THE DEAD MAN’S PENNY

A story by Liz Weir with music by Ciaran Mulholland

Storyteller Liz Weir and fiddle player Ciaran Mulholland tell a tale that links past and present, a tale of lost youth and memories that span the generations.A teenage girl explores her family history a century after World War I. Whilst 200,000 Irish soldiers fought in the war, this is the story of one young Donegal man who responded to the call to arms.Like the youthful warrior Oisín, he left a world which would be totally transformed during his absence.

THE BELFAST BLITZ

A monologue by Sharon Dickson

Storyteller Sharon Dickson evokes memories of the past with a monologue based on her mother’s experience of the Belfast Blitz. In this thought-provoking piece of theatre she tells Minnie’s story, sharing her thoughts and fears as an eleven year old after hearing the news of the declaration of war in 1939.

ADMISSION FREE – DONATIONS TO THE ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY

This event is financially supported by the PHA and managed by Northern Area Community Network  

WHITE ROSE PRODUCTIONS PRESENTS

Saturday 21 March 8pm

ELEMENTS – TALKS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Tuesday 24 March 7pm

EARTH- Soil quality and land use

First in a series of four talks themed around the ancient elements and linking global questions with the way we live our lives

Speaker Patrick Casement, farmer, Chair of the Heart of the Glens Landscape Partnership and Member, DAERA’s Expert Working Group on Sustainable Land Management

Admission £4, free to students.

To reserve seats click https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cushendunbpt/t-xoxljq

MUSIC WITHOUT BORDERS

Friday 27 March 6pm

Explore the connection between Irish folk and Baroque music from Ireland and beyond with flute, mandolin, harp and violin on a journey around medieval and baroque Ireland!

Rathlin Island musicians Elisabeth Vogel, Sarah Barry and Kate Burns explore the connection of early Irish music with European music of the time, and its close link to folk music. Cheery dance tunes and hauntingly beautiful melodies – some popular, some rarely heard but all the more worth listening to. We include composers such as Turlough O’Carolan, Vivaldi and Johann Sebastian Bach and make our own fun arrangements.

Connecting cultures and overcoming borders, whether geographical or in our mind, is the mission of this ‘No Hard Borders’ concert.

Admission free (donations welcome). Doors open at 5.30pm

APRIL

GLENS OF ANTRIM COMHALTAS

Sunday 5 April 7pm

Admission £5

ELEMENTS – TALKS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Tuesday 7 April 7pm

WATER – its catchment, treatment and use, water pollution and water power

Second in a series of four talks themed around the ancient elements and linking global questions with the way we live our lives

Speaker Tony Traill, low-carbon consultant at Element Consultants Ltd

Admission £4, free to students.

To reserve seats click https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cushendunbpt/t-emvdye

AD HOC THEATRE GROUP perform BLACKBIRD by DAVID HARROWER

Friday 17 April 8pm

Blackbird is a hard-hitting exploration of a forbidden relationship. When Una, a twenty-seven year old woman, seeks out Ray, now in his fifties, she is looking for answers to what happened between them fifteen years earlier. David Harrower’s award-winning play was first commissioned by the Edinburgh International Festival, premiering in 2005.

This play deals with sensitive social and moral subject matter which may offend and/or challenge  preconceptions.

STRICTLY OVER 18’S (adult subject matter and language)

ELEMENTS – TALKS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Tuesday 21 April 7pm

AIR- What flying creatures are telling us about the effects of climate change and light pollution

Third in a series of four talks themed around the ancient elements and linking global questions with the way we live our lives

Speaker Cliff Henry, North Coast Area Ranger, National Trust, and entomologist

Admission £4, free to students.

To reserve seats click https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cushendunbpt/t-zqdmmj

AMANDA ST JOHN AND BAND (Album Launch Tour)

Saturday 25 April 8pm

Local singer Amanda St John will celebrate the full digital and Vinyl launch of her new album ‘The Muscle Shoals Sessions’ with a hometown gig.

“If Dusty Springfield were alive she’d say ‘that’s my girl’!”

(Grammy winning US producer Jon Tiven)

Amanda St John is a powerhouse singer and songwriter who is heavily inspired by soul, R&B and gospel music. Following in the footsteps of her idols Aretha Franklin and Etta James, Amanda (along with co-writer/guitarist Paul Tierney & co-writer/drummer/producer Michael Mormecha) travelled to the USA in May 2018 and made history by becoming the first independent Irish artist to record in the legendary FAME Studios, Muscle Shoals. Speaking of the experience she says:

“We wanted the live room sound of this era of recordings and it was a dream come true being given the opportunity to record them in the legendary FAME Studios along with ‘swampers’ bass player David Hood (whose credits include Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Percy Sledge, Paul Simon, Alicia Keys etc) and piano/keys/Hammond player Clayton Ivey (Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Joss Stone, The Supremes etc).”

She has worked with artists like Brian Kennedy, Eddi Reader, Mary Coughlan, Gareth Dunlop, Ciaran Gribbin (of INXS) and Jon Tiven (Grammy winning Nashville writer/producer whose CV has included BB King, Van Morrison and The Rolling Stones etc…).

Gaining substantial media interest in Ireland and the UK including extensive airplay on the BBC and RTE Radio 1 as well as reviews in Hotpress Magazine & The Irish Times, Amanda is known for her passionate and powerful live performances and is fast establishing herself as one of Ireland’s leading vocalists.  With live sessions with ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris and Gaby Roslin on BBC Radio London, various other live performances/interviews across BBC regionals, U105, Downtown/Cool FM, UTV Live Television etc, as well as many festival slots and headline tours of UK, Ireland and USA (which included Folk Alliance Festival in Kansas and a performance for the US President) under her belt, the future is looking very bright indeed for this talented musician who is becoming renowned for her engaging live performances and vibrant stage presence.

This gig is part of a tour to celebrate the full digital and vinyl launch of the album ‘The Muscle Shoals Sessions’ which has been receiving excellent press reviews:

“What a voice! Powerful!” RTE Radio 1

“Amanda’s the real deal….a hugely engaging performer” Daily Mirror

“What a voice! What a vibe!” BBC Radio Ulster

“Feisty and fresh soul infused vocals…a must listen!” Hot Press Magazine

“Sheer class…one of the best white soul/blues voices I’ve heard in ages” Music News

“On the verge of stardom….(her) outstanding voice stretches across octaves…it’s glorious!” Folk & Tumble

May

ELEMENTS – TALKS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Tuesday 5 May 7pm

FIRE – Our use of fuels, in the past, now and in future, and the impact of our choices

Last in a series of four talks themed around the ancient elements and linking global questions with the way we live our lives

Speaker John Barry, Professor of Green Political Economy at Queen’s University Belfast

Admission £4, free to students.

To reserve seats click https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/cushendunbpt/t-vdqaar

CUSHENDUN’S BIG ARTS WEEKEND

Friday 8 to Sunday 10 May

SAVE THE DATES: FULL PROGRAMME WILL BE AVAILABLE VERY SOON

June

BBC RADIO 3 RECITALS

Friday 19 to Sunday 21 June

Having performed in some of the world’s most prestigious venues such as the Lincoln Centre, Wigmore Hall and Carnagie Hall, Old Church Cushendun are delighted to welcome celebrated classical musicians Martin James Bartlett (piano), Victor Julien-Laferrière (cello) and the Castalian String Quartet who are performing in a series of chamber recitals for broadcast on BBC Radio 3.

Lineup and dates subject to change please watch website and press for further details.

Tickets, when available, will be allocated by the BBC. Keep an eye on the shows and tours website: www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours