Literary event at the Dunamaise on International Women’s Day

On Thursday March 8^th (International Women's Day) two award winning Irish writers of considerable reputation will read from their work in the Dunamaise Arts Centre, Portlaoise. This event promises to be a wonderful evening of reading by two of Ireland’s most gifted women writers.

Novelist Belinda McKeon's debut novel Solace (Picador) won the Irish Book of the Year (2011) at the Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards. Belinda grew up in Co Longford, lives between Brooklyn and Ireland and has written on the arts for The Irish Times since 2000. She also contributes to publications including The Paris Review, The Guardian and The Millions. As a playwright, she has had work produced in New York and Dublin, and is currently under commission to the Abbey Theatre. She curates literary events in Ireland and the U.S.

Rita Ann Higgins has published nine collections of poetry. Five with Salmon publishing and four with Bloodaxe including ‘Throw in the Vowels’ New and Selected Poems 2005, reissued in 2010 with audio CD.  In 2010 Salmon  published ‘Hurting God’(part essay, part rhyme). Bloodaxe recently published her new collection of poetry called ‘Ireland is Changing Mother’. She is a member of Aosdána.

The women will be joined on stage by the Portlaoise based vocal trio Georgina Ireland, Nuala Kelly and Vivienne Graham They are all soloists in their own right, in various guises over the years, and their common link is the Portlaoise Contemporary Church Choir, of which they are all members. The trio has chosen pieces relevant to the theme of the evening and will bring a unique sound to the celebrations for International Women's Day. 

Georgina Ireland, Nuala Kelly and Vivienne Graham have formed a Vocal Trio for tonight's performance. They are all soloists in their own right, in various guises over the years, and their common link is the Portlaoise Contemporary Church Choir, of which they are all members. The Choir recorded a 12-track CD of Contemporary Church Music in April 2011 and one of the highlights is a piece by composer Liam Lawton, 'So Longs My Soul', which features the 3 voices a capella style. It was during this recording that they realised the blend of the voices was worth developing further, diversifying into folk/classical/popular music, which is what you will hear tonight. 

The trio have chosen pieces relevant to the theme of the evening and will bring a unique sound to the celebrations for International Women's Day.

The event begins at 8pm. To book your tickets, click here

Please note the new Opening Hours of the Dunamaise Arts Centre:

Monday: Box Office Closed / offices remain open

Tuesday: 10am - 5.30pm

Wednesday: 0am - 5.30pm

Thursday: 0am - 5.30pm

Friday: 0am - 5.30pm

Saturday: 10am - 1pm / 2pm - 5pm

On the evening of a performance or film screening, the box office re-opens at 7pm. Caffe Latte is open every morning from 8.30am

Tickets can be purchased for any event 24/7 at www.dunamaise.ie

2012 SPECIAL OFFER

February

Book 4 tickets for any movie (evening screenings only) online for only €20.12.

That's a saving of almost €8. Simply enter the code 2012feb to avail of offer in the box provided within movie information window.

Terms & conditions:

*Subject to availability

*Applies to all evening screenings only

*Applies to online bookings only

*Offer ends midnight 29 Februy 2012

*Discount of €7.88 applied to full priced tickets only.

*Offer excludes Salome & Barry Norman's Favourite films

To see our selection of movies click here