Arts Week with Judy Murphy

Excitement is building in Portumna ahead of this year’s Shorelines Arts Festival, which runs from September 12-15.  The range of events on offer will “entertain the local community and entice visitors to attend and try something new”, according to co-chairperson, Breeda O’Connor, who praised the committee for their hard work throughout the year to ensure the success of the annual festival.

Workshops include learning about mosaic art with Alison MacCormaic and creative writing with Geraldine Mills, while there will be a pre-festival set dancing workshop with Maureen Culleton in preparation for the opening night’s Céilí Mór with the famous Tulla Céilí Band.

People can earn a recitation for the annual Lines Learned by Heart; dip into the deep waters with open-water swimmer and author of Limitless, Nuala Moore; watch as guest artist Heidi Wickham reveals the magic of charcoal, and drum their heart out in a Ghanian drumming workshop led by Marie Edmonds.

Liz Powell, meanwhile, will deliver a fun singing workshop and there will be a 5 Rhythms Dance event with Jenny Fahy in one of the festival’s new venues, Portumna’s Dowager House.

A new event for 2024 will be the Shorelines Books & Buns hour, a quiz presented by co-chairperson, Anna Geelan, and Dolores O’Shea.

There will be food for the mind when well-known psychotherapist Richard Hogan speaks on his book, Home is Where the Heart is, in Portumna Town Hall.

Belfast songwriter and performer Duke Special will  bring his unique music to the stage at Christ Church on Friday, September 13. The following night, Eurovision winner and regular Newstalk guest, Paul Harrington will perform his live version of The Lyric’s the Thing, along with musician Graham Murphy.

There will be classical music on Sunday afternoon, with  the Esposito String Quartet, comprising Mia Cooper (violin), Anna Cashell (violin), Joachim Roewer (viola) and William Butt (cello).

East Galway Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and SambaWave will provide lively street entertainment over the weekend, while Shorelines will showcase upcoming singer-songwriter Sarah Szucs in The Café at Portumna Castle on Thursday, September 12, and will feature Quarter Jazz at the Boathouse Bar on Sunday afternoon, September 15.

Pictured: Mikel Murphy will perform his one-man show, I Hear You and Rejoice in Portumna.