The day will be marked by a whole host of African Irish cultural events as well as family fun, fashion, art, film, music, dance and food events.  There will be plenty to enjoy and experience for all ages, including live music and DJs, street food markets, Nore Valley Petting Farm, African craft markets, a pop-up Library, Playful Streets, facepainting, Wobbly Circus, Southeast Craft Workshop, and much more.

Africa Day is an international day that commemorates the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963. Africa Day is seen as an opportunity to promote the growing trade, political and cultural links between Ireland and countries across Africa.

All details of Africa Day events taking place throughout the country at www.AfricaDay.ie.

The post <strong>30 May marks Africa Day in Waterford</strong> appeared first on The Munster Express.

Russborough House, Blessington, Co. Wicklow

Kaleidoscope presented by Glenveagh today announces its new wave of Irish artists for summer 2026, expanding its three‑day lineup with an exciting mix of festival favourites, breakthrough performers and rising young stars. Building on the momentum of headliners  Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics, Natasha Bedingfield and The Saw Doctors, the festival continues to evolve as Ireland’s largest summer family festival, returning to Russborough House from Friday July 3rd to Sunday July 5th.

This year’s July festival welcomes a genre-spanning lineup of homegrown talent, from chart‑topping Irish dance icon Mark McCabe, whose generation‑defining anthem “Maniac 2000” remains a guaranteed festival highlight, to beloved singer‑songwriter Mundy, whose crowd‑singalong favourites have soundtracked Irish summers for over three decades. Adding to the Saturday night energy, Dustin the Turkey will take to the decks for a special ‘beck‑to‑beck’ DJ set, warming up the main arena in the lead‑up to Pete Tong’s headline performance. Joining them is Al Gibbs, the powerhouse DJ and long‑standing voice of Irish dance music, celebrated for sets that lift crowds of all ages, along with Zaska, whose explosive fusion of funk, soul and jazz has earned him a reputation for some of the most joyful live performances in Ireland. Also announced are Jerry Fish Electric Sideshow, Derek Warfield & The Young Wolfe Tones, Rebecca Creighton, Melina Malone, Zeztra, DELUSH, Negro Impacto, The Kilo 1977, Savage Hearts, Eimear & SUSO Choir, The Circus Ponies, DJ Graham Smyth, DJ Will Softly, and tribute favourites Oas1s, These Charming Men and The Year Grunge Broke.

A standout moment for this summer’s three day festival is the return of young festival stars DJ Calum and Hype Man Jack and Seanem, who made a remarkable impact last summer and now share the bill with global dance pioneer Pete Tong, a milestone moment in their emerging careers and a powerful reflection of the family festival’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of Irish talent. Pete Tong’s Ibiza Classics live show, performed with a full 65‑piece orchestra, is set to be one of the most unmissable and energetic performances of the summer. The festival has expanded its main stage, creating a larger arena space designed to heighten the Saturday night experience for all festival-goers. With weekend and day tickets now on sale, the festival is encouraging families to secure their Saturday tickets early, with demand already soaring for Tong’s headline performance.

Kaleidoscope presented by Glenveagh is also expanding its community impact for 2026, offering free festival tickets to support local schools, community groups and sports clubs with their fundraising raffles. The initiative is designed to help families and grassroots organisations raise money at a time when community resources are under pressure. The festival is also proud to announce Dublin Simon Community as an official festival charity partner for 2026, supporting vital homelessness services through on‑site fundraising and awareness across the weekend. Any school, club or community group interested in taking part in the festival’s free‑ticket support programme is welcome to get in touch at info@kaleidoscopefestival.ie.

Today’s announcement lands as recent domestic tourism insights show families continuing to reshape Ireland’s summer holiday landscape. Fáilte Ireland’s Domestic Tracker Summer Update 2025 highlights a clear shift in behaviour, with families booking earlier than ever and most planning their Irish summer breaks up to eight weeks in advance. Multi‑night domestic stays now dominate the season, and value‑driven decision‑making is on the rise as parents prioritise all‑in, activity‑rich experiences that offer convenience and predictable costs. These findings are reinforced by Fáilte Ireland’s previous Travel Motivations Framework, which shows families over‑indexing on outdoor attractions and pre‑booked experiences that help manage budgets and guarantee availability. A 2025 Tourism Ireland survey also found that 68% of Irish people planned at least one holiday in Ireland last year, with festivals, immersive activities and nature‑led escapes topping the list of preferred choices.

Perfectly positioned to meet this demand for Irish staycations, Kaleidoscope presented by Glenveagh continues to grow as Ireland’s largest summer family festival. Located just 30 minutes from Dublin, the festival transforms Russborough House into a world of music, adventure and discovery, offering families a full weekend of entertainment across 15 vibrant festival areas. Every ticket includes access to world‑class live music, more than one hundred workshops, circus and theatre shows, science experiences, arts and crafts, baby and toddler play zones, sports, wellness and surprise performances for all ages.

Shell Holden, Director of Marketing at Kaleidoscope presented by Glenveagh, comments “Families are booking earlier, seeking value and choosing experiences that feel like a holiday without the stress. An Irish resort weekend can cost over €1,200 and a domestic hotel stay nearly €1,000 for the same weekend as our festival, and that’s before you add activities or children’s entertainment. Kaleidoscope presented by Glenveagh gives families three days of music, camping, hands-on activities and a lifetime of memories for under €450 for a family of four, with over 100 family activities and legendary music acts included in the ticket price. This year we’re also proud to support local schools, clubs and community groups by providing free tickets for their fundraising raffles, and to welcome Dublin Simon Community as an official festival charity partner for 2026.”

The festival has also undergone a significant upgrade for 2026 following months of investment and development across the site. Families will experience improved facilities, enhanced comfort and smoother movement throughout the weekend. The expanded main stage anchors a series of improvements that include easier access for day‑ticket holders thanks to a new bus stop location closer to the festival entrance, a dedicated quieter family‑focused camp area, increased toilet facilities with dedicated attendants, as well as new Camp Kitchens equipped with barbeque zones and wash‑up stations in every campsite. The Kaleido‑Club Lounge in the main arena has been refreshed with even more seating, increased ‘luxury loos’ and an expanded bar, offering an elevated experience for families seeking a little extra comfort.

Commenting on today’s music lineup reveal, Holden continues “We’re incredibly proud to unveil this new wave of Irish artists, from Irish festival favourites like Mark McCabe and Mundy to the incredible young talent of DJ Calum and Seanem who will now share a billing with their icon Pete Tong. His Ibiza Classics show is one of the most exciting performances we’ve ever brought to Wicklow, and we can’t wait to see families dancing together under the summer sky.”

Weekend and day tickets now available at Ticketmaster and kaleidoscopefestival.ie

The post Ireland’s Largest Summer Family Festival Drops Next Music Lineup appeared first on The Munster Express.

He started in the fledgling youth radio station Beat 102 103 when it first began broadcasting in 2003 and worked in current affairs for three years, before moving to presenting the early morning breakfast show on 13 February, 2006.

Fast forward 20 years later, and Niall Power is still going strong, getting up early (even though he admits to being a ‘night owl’) to entertain the south east with current co-host Shonagh ‘Sho’ Lyons.

Last Friday morning, 13 February, Niall and Sho were joined on Beat Breakfast with former original co-hosts, Vincent ‘Vinny’ Bradley and Mary O’Neill, for lots of chat, fun and a trip down memory lane, as they celebrated Niall’s two decades.

Recently, Niall sat down with The Munster Express to chat about his 20 years presenting Beat Breakfast.

Niall is quick to point out that he has worked with some really brilliant people in the studio over his 20 years in the breakfast show.

“Originally it was with Vinnie and Mary and then it was Vinnie and Trish [Trishauna Archer]. And then in the last couple of years, Sho has been my right hand woman. She's a ‘Wexican’, as we say [from Wexford], so we battle over everything,” said Niall, speaking to The Munster Express.

“It's really important in any workplace to be comfortable with people around you, and myself and Sho have such a great relationship. We've got record listenership figures at the moment. And the audience is really responding well.”

Latest JNLR figures shows that Beat 102 103 reaches a record weekly audience of 187,000 listeners, with Beat Breakfast reaching a record audience of 59,000 listeners daily (and increase of 26 percent compared with the previous year).

Early mornings

Getting up really early in the morning for the past 20 years hasn’t bothered Niall.

“In the mornings, I'm always tired, but I still don't mind getting up early. I just love breakfast so much – we've all got to get up at some stage, and if I have to get up before six, that’s grand. The funny thing is I am naturally a night owl. Because I worked late nights in Dublin for six years, and if I had two weeks off work, I'd be up until three or four in the morning and lying in, that's my natural body position,” he said.

“It's tough at this time of year in January, February, but in the summer, you're jumping out of bed because it's bright at 5.45 am.”

Always wanted to be a radio presenter

Niall, born and reared in Waterford City said he has always wanted to be a radio presenter “since I was about eight or nine years of age”.

“I started practising in my living room at home, being a radio presenter and wrecking my family's head.”

When Niall was older, he attended college in Dublin and later got a placement in 98FM working in the news team.

“It was really interesting because it was the summer of 1997, and a lot happened. Princess Diana died, and Bertie [Ahern] came to power, so I was out on a lot of stories. Then I started working on their night-time talk shows as the producer.”

At the time youth radio was just coming into fruition and the first ever regional radio licence was offered for the south east. Niall made his way back to Waterford and starting out in Beat in 2003, co-presented an afternoon current affairs show called ‘Beat Talk’ with Patrick Haughey.

“We were told at the time, young people don't want to listen to talk and current affairs. They wanted music and entertainment. So we kind of came up with a really original format for the show. It was called Beat Talk, and what we did was we built it like a music playlist with a four or five-minute topic and we would move on, so even if you weren't interested in the current topic and your attention span was short, you'd have something different coming very soon. Which put a lot of pressure on us, because it was just two guys working on the show, and we might go through 15 topics in two hours – we’d have a politician first, and then a celebrity and then an expert next. But we had a lot of fun, and when the first JNLR figures came in, we were the biggest show on the station. So we kind of disproved the theory that young people don't want to hear talk, and news and current affairs. So I did that for about two and a half years, and it was a huge success.”

Moving to breakfast

Niall was approached to do the morning breakfast show on Beat.

He explained that in radio, breakfast is everything. “You get your audience first thing in the morning, and hopefully they'll stay with you for the day, because if you don't get the audience in the morning, it’s a task trying to win them later in the day.”

“I said I'd give it a bash,” Niall said. “Initially, we still had more of an interview and current affairs tone to it, but as time went on, we realised what the audience wanted and over the years we've became more light-hearted conversation that could still kind of have a current affairs feel to it, but it's not politics, it's more lifestyle relationships, which is really perfect for the target audience being 15 to 34-year-olds.”

The nature of the breakfast show is caller-driven, meaning Niall and Sho come into the studio in the morning not knowing what to expect.

“We start a conversation, but then the callers come in, and they do their bits. So, there's always kind of the unexpected, and we thrive on that,” said Niall.

“Myself and Sho really love the fact that there is a little bit of the ‘seat-of-the-pants’ stuff with the show, that it's not as regimental as an interview-driven show, where you know what you're doing every 15 minutes.”

One of the most successful segments of the breakfast show is the Daily Dilemma.

“That would be where those kind of big moments come out of, where you just didn't expect it,” said Niall.

“People have told some really shocking stories on air, because we're obviously famous for the Daily Dilemma. And some of the stories they've told – people love to come up to me in the pub afterwards when I'm out and sit down and just start talking about it.

“But, there's another side to that, too. Sometimes you have some really sad stuff that happens on air, where somebody breaks down over a story, and you weren't expecting it. And that's difficult, because you've got to coax them through to the other side of the interview. You still want them to be able to tell the story that they're telling, but they're very upset. So, we've had those moments, too.”

Looking back, is there anything Niall would change?

“I'm never a big fan of trying to rewrite the past, because everything shapes what comes next. I'm a big believer in all that kind of ‘sliding doors’ stuff. I suppose because I'm so happy with how things turned out, I'd say no.

That there isn't anything that necessarily I would have changed. Small things about people I worked with at times and could have got more out of that relationship or whatever. But nothing major over the years, I have to say.

Most memorable moment

“We've done some really crazy things because of the nature of the kind of station we are,” said Niall.

But, one particular defining moment was in 2009 (long before the big TV shows) was ‘Two Strangers and a Wedding’.

People might remember the wedding experiment where a guy and girl tied the knot live on air – just minutes after setting eyes on each other.

“And the interesting thing about that, myself and my co-presenters, Vinnie and Mary at the time, we didn't see the couple either,” reveals Niall.

“They were behind screens, so we didn't see them until the moment they walked down the aisle. We had that genuine listener reaction to it. To do a wedding and commentate on it at 8.00 am on a Monday morning just seemed quite surreal.”

While it was a bizarre and unusual radio experiment, Niall said they did receive some flak for it.

“A lot of people thought we were making a mockery of marriage. And I remember there was a 500-word opinion piece in the Sunday Independent about why our boss should be fired.

“I walked to my local shop the Sunday after they got married and I looked at the newspaper stand, and three of the tabloids had the bride on the front page. So, it was wild. It was tough, but, it was absolutely memorable. It was the six weeks where this wedding just took over the show. So, that's probably one of the big ones for me.”

Connecting with the audience

“We worked with a very wise international radio consultant, Phil Dowse, when I started on The Breakfast Show and he said to me, ‘every hand that you shake is a loyal listener’, because they've met you and they feel they know you, rather than just a voice on air, so, that's where we get out as much as we can,” said Niall.

Niall said that Beat is very much an “out-and-about” type station and one of the things on Breakfast they’ve been developing is their live show ‘Daily Dilemma Uncensored Live’.

The first live show they held this year was last Friday, 13 February at the Set Theatre in Kilkenny.

The next Daily Dilemma Uncensored Live show will be held at Bank Lane, Waterford, on 28 February, 2026.

“So it's kind of the rude show for over-18s with some sex talk,” explained Niall.

Beat also have podcasts of the Daily Dilemma Uncensored, “to talk about things that we couldn't talk about on a family breakfast show”.

“They're very popular and that developed a whole audience of its own. It was really bizarre where people used to come up to me and talk about the show and now they want to talk about the podcast. It was our most successful ever podcast.

“So the natural step then with podcasts was let's do a live show. That's a great opportunity to get a couple of hundred listeners in a room and we'll spend time with them and shake hands and build a personal connection. Because a lot of listeners like to know that you are the person they hear on air, that you're not putting on any kind of front or exaggeration. So, anytime we can meet them and spend time with them, we will do so,” said Niall.

Niall points out that many of the Daily Dilemmas are bizarre and ‘out there’, “because there's only so many times you can do cheating or those kind of heavy ones”.

“We are always looking for the ‘out there’ ones because they're the ones that we get entertainment out of. We can have a good laugh at. So we always say the wilder the better or the smallest little thing that you're fighting with your partner over, tell us and we'll have a debate about it,” he said.

“At the end of the day, it's 8.30 am, it's raining, people are stuck in traffic out there. They just want to smile. It gets people talking and they go into work and they have a bit of crack about it.”

Niall reveals that one particular company which holds its staff meeting at 9.30 am every morning has the Daily Dilemma as the first item on the agenda.

Advice to budding young presenters

“It's probably my most passionate work – working with younger people getting into radio and starting out. And we just kicked off our ‘Introduction to Broadcast’ course with SETU,” said Niall.

“There’s Learning Waves and loads of other opportunities. Simple advice I always say, get experience wherever you can – volunteer at a community station, there are a couple around the place, college radio, hospital radio, even making the tea at WLR or Beat or whatever. Just get in the door, and learn. That's essentially what I did on that first work placement. I just soaked up everything around me. Get in and get as much experience as you can. If you can do a course, do, but they're not the be all and end all. A lot of the demos I get from people who've done four year courses, they're actually further behind the people who didn't because they're trained in a certain way that doesn't suit all radio stations. So it's really about experience, contacts and put yourself out there.”

Changes in radio over the years

Niall agreed there have been huge changes in radio since he began working in the industry in the late ’90s.

“When I was getting into radio, you were very much a voice and maybe a name, so, you could live a completely anonymous life as a radio star, but obviously, the world of social and digital took over,” he said.

“And while we are a radio station, we are also a multi-platform organisation. What we do on social and digital is equally as important as what we do on air, even though radio is our bread and butter. We do find now we're producing as much content for video and for online as we are for on air.”

How people communicate with the radio station has also changed over the years.

Niall explained: “Originally you'd have to ring a radio station if you wanted to get a comment on air or a request, and then texts came in. Now we're solely reliant on WhatsApp”.

“We don't have a phone number or text any more. You can either text us on WhatsApp or a voice note, and we do all our calls through WhatsApp. That whole kind of technology has changed. But also, people can interact with us on all the different social channels. We have the biggest TikTok following for a radio station in Ireland. People can message us, DM us on Instagram and Snapchat. So, there's so many ways that people can actually interact with the radio station now. That's been a big change. That makes them feel part of it and part of the conversation and the presenters. It makes them feel just a bit more personal and a bit closer to the radio show and the radio station.”

The news at ten minutes to the hour

Broadcasting the news at ‘ten minutes to the hour’ was another thing that Beat was notable for when it first started out in 2003, but it later changed to the regular news ‘at the top of the hour’ like other radio stations.

“The original idea was that we would be into music by the time every other radio station was doing the news, so if you didn't like the news and you'd flick around, we were the one place that gave you the music,” said Niall.

“But it was mostly for commercial reasons to move to the top of the hour, in terms of standardising it across our network, where they could place ad breaks and that kind of thing. And there are times where we will take network news. We have a full-time news team, but early on weekend mornings or sometimes on bank holidays, we'll take the network feed from News Talk, so we need to do that at the top of the hour to take that in live. So it's just a few practical reasons why we did it. But, it was fun while it lasted.”

Tuning in

Getting younger people to tune into radio is much harder these days, with other formats competing for the attention of young ears.

“When I was growing up, you had two choices for entertainment at home – you can either sit in the living room and watch what your mum and dad were watching on telly or you can go to your room and listen to the radio. And we didn't have streaming,” Niall said.

“So, you didn't have the world of music at your fingertips. You might have had a few tapes or albums. So, the radio really was important to younger people. But now, people have so many options for their time and the phone provides so many options.”

Traditionally in radio, competition would have been the other radio stations, but now, they face competition from the likes of TikTok, Spotify, Snapchat and YouTube.

“Anything that takes their time on the phone, that's taking them away from radio, is the competition. So, there is no denying that it's tougher and we have to work harder,” said Niall.

“But, in terms of why everybody comes back to radio, I think there's an old line that radio was the original social network, where you could get a bit of everything. You could find out what's happening in your locality, you can get a bit of entertainment, you get a bit of news, chance to win some prizes, some good music, and just a sense of community.

Demograph

While Beat’s target audience is 15-34 year olds, they retain their listeners even after they turn 35 and older.

“When I was a teenager, my parents felt like such a different generation. We wouldn't have the same shared interests or whatever. Let's be honest, all of us in our 40s and 50s are not growing up. We still kind of have a youthful attitude and we like that. So, what we're finding is actually the people who came to us in 2003, maybe in their late teens, 20s, they don't feel when they get to 35 they have to leave Beat. They still feel part of the beat experience and they're bringing their kids in now. So, our audience is growing even though our hyper-focus is on the 15 to 34-year-olds,” he said.

Radio during crisis

“Where radio came back into its own in a really strong way was during Covid, because there were so many people on their own and wanted to feel a sense of just being part of something,” continued Niall.

“So, a live radio meant even if it was just getting a request in or sending a comment in that they were part of something. I think, in some ways, that was a positive thing for radio.”

Just days before this interview, Waterford and the south east experienced flooding issues with the inclement weather.

“Even this week with flooding, we had a reporter on the scene, so just getting that message out quickly during a crisis. Obviously, a lot of it can be done online nowadays, but radio is still really important. And, in fact, during Covid, the government very much relied on radio to get the message out.”

How has radio shaped you as a person?

“I'm probably too consumed with radio, to be honest. Over the years, at the expense of other hobbies and pastimes and friendships even, I just have such a passion for radio. I think it's such an exciting medium,” said Niall.

“I think what's really nice about radio is it's a social network and it's a community. But it's also very personal because most people listen to radio on their own, in the car or in the kitchen, outside of a workplace, people don't sit in a group listening to radio. When we're doing radio, we're always thinking about one listener rather than 59,000 listeners on The Breakfast Show. We're having a conversation with one person, because that's often what it is – they're driving their car and you're talking to them. That is how I approach radio and how I see radio and I see the people who listen to us as friends rather than listeners, that they've chosen to come into our company or invite us into their kitchen or their car.

How does Niall balance being a public voice and a private individual?

“It's something I will never get used to; being known when you walk into Geoff’s [bar] or whatever and heads turning and stuff like that, because to me it's only ever been a job that I love. I never wanted to be famous or do TV or anything like that. I just love radio.”

Niall said he would also be conscious about how he comes across, “because I'm representing myself, but I'm also representing Beat at all times”.

“And people have a great allegiance and loyalty and faith in Beat as a brand. So I want to represent Beat as best I can,” he said.

Will Niall stay in radio?

“I never really had the big grá for television. I love the immediacy of radio. You have a great idea … let's get it on air now. I can't see myself doing anything else after 33 years full-time in radio. And I've been very lucky in just how things have developed.”

Niall was Head of Station Sound at Beat since 2010, overseeing music and content. Last year in March, he took over as Managing Editor of Beat.

Beat are also now part of Bauer Media family – a huge European network of radio, which is actually a bigger network of radio in Ireland than RTÉ.

“So there's opportunities now to work with other big brands like Today FM and Newstalk and having some input with other brands as well. I'm excited for whatever else is to come.

The future for radio

There are indications that car manufacturers could remove FM radios from vehicles in the future – something that is causing major concerns in the radio industry.

“That is a big issue,” agrees Niall. “That's another challenge facing us, if the car manufacturers decide that the FM is going to disappear and not make it as easy for people to tune in.

“Some of the radio executives met with some of the MEPs in the last couple of weeks about it. There's a big campaign, not just in Ireland, but across Europe to keep radio on the dashboard. I hope we're successful in that,” said Niall.

“If not, then it'll be up to us to push the message of the alternatives – if you're in your car, you'll get us on either DAB or internet radio. We'll have to educate the listeners as to how to get to us.

“Internet radio is great, but there's a lot of pre-rolls [advertising] and stuff which puts people off. That's why the FM is still the choice, because you just get radio immediately. It’s one of the big things we have to work on in the coming years, I think,” added Niall.

PAUL MOONEY

The post <strong>Niall Power celebrates 20 years at Beat Breakfast</strong> appeared first on The Munster Express.

Molly lived in Ardmore, Co. Waterford until she died in 1996. She started writing at a young age to ‘supplement her dress allowance’.

Her first ten novels and four plays were published under the pseudonym M.J. Farrell.

She married into the Keane family of West Waterford but sadly her husband died at the age of 36. Molly ceased writing until 1981 when ‘Good Behaviour’ was published under her real name.

It became a publishing sensation and was well received as a masterpiece of black comedy for which she was short-listed for the prestigious Booker Prize in 1981.

The Arts Office, Waterford City & County Council by kind permission of the Keane family is now inviting entries for a previously unpublished short story for this years’ award.

The closing date for receipt of entries is Friday 1st May 2026 at 2pm.

There is a cash prize of €500 and there is no entry fee.

Full guidelines and the online submission details are now live on the Waterford Submit platform see: https://submit.link/4Fn or the QR code below:

The post <strong>Molly Keane Creative Writing Award 2026</strong> appeared first on The Munster Express.

Produced and directed by Irish filmmaker Mary Sue Connolly, Sale of the Sea examines Ireland’s rapid expansion of offshore wind energy and asks important questions about how large-scale renewable projects are planned and sited along our coasts. Through interviews, on-the-ground footage, and investigative storytelling, the film explores how ambitious climate and energy targets can be achieved while also considering the needs of local communities, coastal environments and marine ecosystems.

Ireland has some of the strongest offshore wind resources in the world, and the development of offshore renewable energy is a major national priority as the country transitions to cleaner energy sources. However, Sale of the Sea focuses on ensuring that this transition is done with careful planning, meaningful engagement, and respect for coastal landscapes and livelihoods.

After the screening, a panel discussion and audience Q&A will encourage open, respectful community conversation around offshore energy, environmental stewardship, and future coastal development.

For free tickets and more information, visit: https://saleofthesea.eventbrite.ie/.

The post <strong>Screening of ‘<em>Sale of the Sea’</em></strong> appeared first on The Munster Express.

“New Shoots” is the culmination of a four year creative programme supported by HSE Dublin and South East, in partnership with the Arts Office of Waterford City and County Council and also supported by Mental Health Ireland, the Europe Direct information service and Waterford City and County Council.

The “New Shoots” programme has been led by visual artist Rosaleen Heavin, working with Eileen Byrne (Senior Occupational Therapist, HSE Waterford Mental Health Services).

The exhibition, showing in its ‘Index Gallery’ was officially launched at an event in the Central Library this week by the Mayor of Waterford City and County Cllr. Séamus Ryan.

In addition to the Mayor Cllr. Ryan and Rosaleen Heavin, others to address the launch of “New Shoots” were Gina Delaney (Development Officer/South East, Mental Health Ireland, funders of the first “New Shoots” programme in 2021), Margaret Organ (Arts Officer, Waterford City and County Council, funders of the three 2022-25 programmes) and Sandra, one of the programme’s participants.

The post <strong>New Shoots’ creative programme features in Waterford’s ‘Well’ Festival</strong> appeared first on The Munster Express.

2025 saw our sold out and exceptionally well received production of Big Maggie in April launching our 90th birthday year.

We celebrated in November with a very enjoyable party at Downes’ Bar to end 2025.

Denise Quinn and Luke Corcoran (from the Big Maggie cast) collaborated in a new play in December in Downes’ written and directed by Luke.

We also offer congratulations to cast members Steven Walsh who won the Ted and Mary O’Regan Bursary to develop his work; also to Kassie O’Mahony, who has won a place on University of Galway’s MA Drama and Theatre Studies programme when she completes her primary degree in SETU.

To round off our successful production year we are thrilled to present a short season of two one-act plays in St. Patrick’s Gateway Centre, Waterford, in late March; Wednesday 25, Friday 27 and Saturday 28.

* NB No performance on Thursday 26 March

We have a new play written and directed by our own Catherine Bradley, ‘Views From A Lamp Post’ and a new director Martina Kavanagh with Liz O’Hanlon’s ‘Smile Handsome’.

Catherine has cast Denise Quinn and Paul Barry.

 ‘Views from a Lamp Post’

 “We’ve solved many a conundrum sittin’ on this bench”

Since they met in secondary school, Mary has been Kevin’s best friend and confidante for his entire life. As we eavesdrop on a particular moment in time, this witty and touching snapshot, reveals an unconventional relationship that highlights themes of eternal friendship and how love can prevail.

‘Smile Handsome’, by Baileborough playwright, Liz O’Hanlon

 The play tells the story of three women brought together in the confines of a women’s prison. Though each has her own distinctive background and unique story to tell, all three are bound together through common threads of motherhood, grief and loss. Experience moments of menace, heart- warming friendship and the threat of tragedy, which hangs constantly in the air.

Martina has cast Vivienne Coughlan, Lindsey Kirby and Clare O’Sullivan.

This play contains strong language

Booking Options: Luca Records, 23 Michael Street. In person. (€10 cash only) / Online on Luca Records website gig booking page: Scan the QR code on the poster (a booking fee applies). On the door €10 cash only. Limited availability on door.

The post Spring production at St. Patrick’s Gateway appeared first on The Munster Express.

The concert will be followed by a post-concert Q&A with the artist.

Dave Frank is a highly respected figure in jazz education. A former faculty member at Berklee College of Music, he studied with Lennie Tristano and has spent decades developing a distinctive approach to jazz improvisation, harmony, and rhythm.

His work has influenced generations of musicians worldwide through workshops, publications — including The Joy of Improv — and online courses.

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The Well Festival of Arts and Wellbeing is in full swing and continues until, Saturday, 21 February with music, art, poetry, theatre, film, talks, workshops and exhibitions every day.

Taking place in Waterford, the Well Festival features fun, FREE, inventive and sociable arts events for all ages, including a programme of Wellies, festival events for younger audiences.

Presented by Waterford Libraries, Réalta and Garter Lane Arts Centre, the Well Festival is funded by the Arts Council, the HSE and Waterford City and County Council.

See www.wellwaterford.com and @wellwaterford on social media.

Highlights worth checking out for the rest of the week include:

• Cór Chroí, the Waterford HSE Staff Choir performs in the UHW foyer this (Tuesday) evening at 5.30pm. All welcome.
• Paint with Joy, with artist Kiki Roosli, at Tramore Library, this (Tuesday) afternoon at 4pm.
• Arts + Health Mixer, a networking social for artists, arts practitioners and healthcare professionals working in arts + health, Wednesday 3pm at the Réalta Centre for Arts + Health, on the grounds of UHW.
• Thank you for hearing me, a moving short film by Embrace Music, on Wednesday at 5.30pm at the Réalta Centre for Arts + Health, UHW.
• New Shoots: A beautiful exhibition of images, relating to wellbeing, personal growth and positive change, created by budding local photographers, continues at Central Library, Lady Lane, Waterford.  The official launch takes place on Wednesday at 6pm. All welcome.
• Other Worlds, an immersive theatrical experience by Jess Rowell Dance, for adults attending day services in Waterford, on Thursday at 10.30am and 2.30pm at Garter Lane Arts Centre.
• Stone Soup, a community workshop, with soup, with Réalta Artist in Residence Siobhan Clancy, on Friday at 1pm at the Réalta Centre for Arts + Health, UHW.
• Sunshine: sharing writings to brighten our souls… an uplifting evening of poetry and music, on Friday at 6pm, at The Book Centre, Waterford.

Younger audiences and their families can take part in:

• Make Some Noise, a fun music workshop with creative arts therapist Catherine Sweeney, on Thursday at 10am at Ardkeen Library.
• Doodle Your Monster Mood – A creative invitation to children to add their colour to giant monster doodles at Brown’s Road Library, Lisduggan on Friday from 10am and 2pm, and at Central Library on Saturday from 10am and 2pm.
• Mini Wellbeing Float-Making and Parade, for children aged 5 years+ to make their own parade float and then join the procession of miniature floats from the Réalta Centre of Arts + Health across to the main hospital, Saturday from 9.30am.
• Re-fashion Revolution, with Blast Store: Young people (13-15 years) can learn to creatively upcycle and repair their clothes in this hands-on workshop, Saturday 2.30pm at Central Library.

Many exhibitions, music performances and arts initiatives are continuing all week, for FREE:

• For anyone who might Fancy a Lift? The daily Poetry Postcards curated by Waterford poet Joanne McCarthy for patients at UHW are also available in all Waterford Libraries, and online at www.wellwaterford.com and Well Festival social media.
• The Gruagach’s Lair: A stunning exhibition of intricate stained-glass works, inspired by the landscapes and coastline of County Waterford, by An Rinn-based artist Rayleen Clancy, ongoing at UHW.
• The daily Sounds Good coffee concerts at 11am in the main foyer at UHW continue with singer, musician and composer Damien Kehoe on Wednesday, singer Alan Browne with Liam Kavanagh on viola on Thursday, and classical guitarist Andrew Ryan on Friday.
• The Embrace the Arts at Your Library resources specially curated by library staff for the Well Festival are available all week at all 12 branches of Waterford Libraries and online at www.waterfordlibraries.ie.
• Healing Sounds live music sessions, Mini Wellbeing Float Making art workshops with artist Eilis O’Toole and Wandering Tales storytelling sessions with Joe Brennan continue in various wards at UHW;

All events (except Other Worlds) are free, but must be booked as places are filling up. The full festival programme, with booking details, is available from www.wellwaterford.com.

The Well Festival of Arts and Wellbeing is funded by the Arts Council, the HSE and Waterford City and County Council.  The festival is presented by Waterford Libraries, Réalta (Waterford Healing Arts) and Garter Lane Arts Centre).  Detailed listings from www.wellwaterford.com and @WellWaterford on Instagram and Facebook.

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All Together Now returns to the lush grounds of Curraghmore Estate for its seventh chapter this August Bank Holiday Weekend, 30 July – 02 August 2026. After record demand for ATN25 and a standout sixth year, the lineup is stacked with legendary icons, breakout names, and a strong Irish contingent; close to 50% of the lineup is Irish, from main stage headliners to debuting talent, showcasing the level of homegrown talent we have. 

Pulp headline Friday night, their first headline festival in 15 years, bringing Britpop classics and Jarvis’ unmistakable stage presence. Disclosure plug straight into party mode with a DJ set packed with their signature house and garage anthems. Electronic pioneers Underworld return, making it a hat trick of ATN appearances, with their last being in 2022, carrying decades of rave-defining energy. Kneecap will perform their first-ever ATN show and their only Irish festival in 2026. Guaranteed folk-punk chaos from The Mary Wallopers, while Christy Moore marks a landmark moment with his first Irish festival performance in 14 years. Maribou State float through lush electronica, Self Esteem cuts in with sharp, infectious pop, and the Mercury-winning Ezra Collective go all in with their jazz-hip-hop fusion. Floating Points dives into deep, textured electronics, followed by post-rock power from Mogwai, and Kae Tempest brings spoken-word intensity like no one else. Annie Mac sets the pace with a Thursday-night takeover, The Avalanches roll in to make their ATN debut, and Chet Faker (Nick Murphy) rounds it out with gravelly vocals and his minimalist, soulful electronica. 

With over 60 acts now announced and countless discoveries waiting across 18 stages of music, art, food & wellness, ATN26 is already shaping up to be a standout moment in the festival calendar. Don’t miss out! 

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Dr Morgan McMonagle has been announced as Grand Marshall of Waterford’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Originally from Cavan, Dr McMonagle is a vascular surgeon at University Hospital Waterford (UHW).

Dr McMonagle is the 2025 recipient of the RCSI Humanitarian and Community Award for his commitment and service to protecting the lives of others and the welfare of humanity.

While a consultant of trauma surgery at St Mary’s Hospital, London, and through lecturing in Imperial College London, Dr. McMonagle met Professor David Nott, a general and vascular surgeon who had experience volunteering in disaster and conflict zones and subsequently established the David Nott Foundation.

Dr McMonagle joined the David Nott Foundation, which trains doctors in countries impacted by conflict and catastrophes. His first mission with the Foundation was in the West Bank in Palestine, he has since been to Ukraine on two occasions, once to Lebanon and more recently on two missions to Gaza.

Upon receiving the RCSI Humanitarian and Community Award, Dr McMonagle recounted, “In my most recent mission to Gaza, the hospital that I was operating and living in was bombed. I was in the Intensive Care Unit of Nasser hospital when the building was struck. At the time of the strike, I was working on two patients with an American colleague. Some Palestinian staff members ran into the ICU to confirm the building had been hit and I could also see fire and smoke from the window.

“I immediately went into survival mode, thinking through the layout of the floor to remember where the fire escapes were… it was very visceral, very instinctive.”

He added, “Traditionally, the fundamental pillars of humanitarianism are humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. In recent times I have been very vocal about what I have experienced and witnessed on various missions. Some might call my impartiality into question, but the reality is that the traditional ‘rule book’ for conflict is changing.

“I don’t believe that me or any of my colleagues are purposely trying to change the role of humanitarian actors. However, we are kind of being forced to speak out – to advocate on behalf of the people, on behalf of the truth, and on behalf of humanity because others are being deliberately blocked from doing so. If something is repugnant, it behoves all right minded and reasonably thinking people to call it out.”

Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr. Seamus Ryan said, “Waterford is honoured to have Dr McMonagle leading the St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

“He is the epitome of all that is good in the world. While his day job as a vascular and trauma consultant at UHW is undoubtedly as demanding as it is rewarding, Dr. McMonagle continues to go far beyond the call of duty. Time and again, he gives selflessly of his expertise, compassion and personal time, choosing to place himself in harm’s way to deliver life-saving care to those who need it most, often in some of the world’s most perilous conflict zones.

“His experiences providing medical aid in Palestine, Ukraine and Gaza can only be described as harrowing, exposing him to the very worst of human suffering and devastation. Yet, guided by an unshakeable sense of humanitarian responsibility, he continues to offer his invaluable skills to communities in war-torn and disaster-stricken regions, embodying extraordinary courage, resilience and humanity.”

The 2026 St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival celebrations takes place over five days from March 13th to March 17th.

If your business, group or club would like to take part in Waterford’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2026 please visit https://stpatricksfestivalwaterford.com and register your interest.

Photo caption: Mayor of Waterford City and County, Cllr Seamus Ryan with Dr Morgan McMonagle, Grand Marshall of Waterford’s St Patrick’s Day Parade and St Patrick. Photo: Noel Browne

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Omega Three Orchestra are an eight-piece band led by legendary vocalist Francie White. Francie is joined by Gerry Madden on mandolin, Gerry Power on guitar Mickey Dower on bass, Alan Coonagh on sax and clarinet, Dylan Bible on guitars, accordionist Suzanne Rowe and Mick Kinsella on harmonica and percussion.

The group have received rave reviews over the past few years; they’ve dazzled audiences in high profile venue’s such as Garter Lane and the Theatre Royal.

You can expect an electric night of music––from swing to jazz to blues and lots more with tunes from Cuba, Brazil, Eastern Europe, and of course, Ireland.

Omega Three Orchestra take to the stage in the Seantí on Sunday, December 28th at 7pm. Tickets are available now at www.eventbrite.ie.

– ADAM DOHENY

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