The CRAIC in Galway, Edition 35

in GALWAY

Cover DELTA SECURITY YOUR PARTNER IN EXCELLENCE

From Friday October 31st To Thursday November 13th 2014

Welcome to TheCRAIC

The CRAIC addicts

Welcome to the 35th edition of the Craic in Galway magazine. Well, how

Director and Photography

Darius IVAN

was your Comedy Carnival? A group of us gals went along to see Tommy

info@divmedia.ie, (087) 635 29 33

Tiernan, the Dirty Circus, the Lads of Comedy and Singlehood, and that wasn’t even the tip of the comedy iceberg. And we had an opportunity

Editor

to see Des Bishop in conversation with Jarlath Regan in our one freebie of

Avril HORAN

the week - as they recorded for his award winning podcast - An Irishman

avrilhoran@divmedia.ie

Abroad. Yes our hearts are lighter with all of the banter and our wallets

Advertising Manager

too. While many are well versed with Des’ antics, it was a heartwarming

Pete DUFFY

interview that had us pondering the meaning of ‘expectation’ for many

peteduffy@divmedia.ie, (087) 355 46 33 Styling & Photography

days afterwards. Jarlath only broke the surface of the life and times of the young comedian before the live interview came to an end. Singlehood

Sunny JUDDY

at the Town Hall Theatre was another highlight, a more gentle comedy

sunnyjuddy@divmedia.ie Contributors

experience, compared to the rough and tumble of the stand-ups tongue!

Cara LYONS Dara KELLY Katelin BERNARD Spud MURPHY

Macnas brought their gentle giants to life with the ‘Symphony of the Restless’ and it was an amazing experience. Thousands watched as music, performance and theatrics wound its way through the medieval streets of the city, as darkness fell. And we have it here in the vibrant pages of

Distribution

our craicing magazine. Join us for your daily two-week diary, lots of good

Emil BUCKO

news, social events and out and about pics to warm the cockles of your

Guaranteed publication of your events photos with our media packages!

If you want to secure your place in one of the 5,000 copies of this creative and colourful CRAIC magazine, distributed across the city and county every second Friday, please contact: Email: info@divmedia.ie or Call us (087) 635 29 33

hearts. There’s lots to look forward to with drama festivals, a monster dash, restaurant week, visual arts entertainment - the craic just keeps on rolling.

Happy Reading, Sure it’s all a bit of craic!

Love, The CRAIC Squad

Featured in TheCRAIC 35

Hunky Heath p.4 Record Breakers p.8/10 The Galway Gamer p.16

now available on all buses

Good Morning America p.6 Hard Knocks Hostel p.18 Return of the Mac p.

LUNARES

at Typical Spanish Tapas Restaurant, WoodQuay, Galway

w i th t h is

Cra ic p a g e

The CRAIC at Barr An Chaladh Traditional Irish Music 7 nights a week PhotosBy Darius IVAN

The CRAIC on

Friday 31st October 2014

CRAICing News!!!

By Avril HORAN

• Boo! Happy Hallowe’en from all of us here at the Craic in Galway!

• 11am: An archaeology workshop, Gruesome Galway, takes place at the Galway City Museum. Learn about the gruesome side of Galway’s history and afterwards make a Halloween mask and play traditional games. Age 7-12.

• 5pm: Heroes Unmasked, a fundraiser for Grace Kenneally (6) who is suffering from neuroblastoma, takes place at the Clayton Hotel, Briarhill.

• 7pm: The Mr Tuke conference takes place this weekend at the Station House Hotel, Clifden. James Hack Tuke travelled extensively throughout the west of Ireland compiling reports of the Great Famine. He wasn’t afraid to put his hand in his own pocket and help out when the need arose.

• 8pm: Galway Abooo host a fancy dress party trail across venues in the Latin Quarter. Prizes galore for the most ghoulishly dressed.

• 8pm: One of Wales’ leading and award winning voice choirs, the Caernarfon Male Voice Choir will bring a varied programme from traditional to the West End at the Town Hall Theatre.

With harpist Dafydd Huw.

• 11pm: It’s time for The Last Friday Club at Monroes Live. For the best of music from the 70s til now for the over 30s and young at heart.

• 11pm: Carbon nightclub will host a ghoulish and ghostly Halloween night for the best of club music to thrill you.

• Midnight: Catch The Puzzles at Monroe’s Live - a band with their finger on the pulse of modern pop and chart music.

Hunky Heath on Farewell Tour

Home and Away fans are in for a treat as Dan Ewing, who plays hunky Heath Braxton on the Australian soap, will say goodbye to the show, and his fans, at Monroe’s Live on November 13th from 8pm. While he is best known as the bad boy gone good in the long running series, Dan also played Dillon, The Black Ranger, in the international Disney television series Power Rangers and was featured in the US feature

4

film, Superman Returns. As he waves goodbye to the character of Heath, he is making sure his Irish fans get the most of his, ah, acting talent. Now before you go too mad ladies and gents, he is married to the lovely Marni and has a baby boy. The event starts at 8pm for all ages and VIPs (€20) and at 9:30pm for over-18s (€15). For more check out www.monroes.ie.

in GALWAY

• 10pm: Following their appearance at the Cork Jazz Festival, Earthship will gig at the Cellar Bar on Eglinton Street with their Halloween Monster Mash.

All Day Breakfast Menu / Wraps / Bagels / Gourmet Sandwiches & Salads

FREE WiFi

STUDENTS’ SPECIAL Coffee / Tea Scone / Croissant Deep Fill Sandwich Bottle of Water

€7

DAILY SPECIAL

SOUP & SANDWICH

€6

Java Johns Coffee & Food Fare located on Francis Street , Galway are pleased to welcome Breast Feeding Mothers to our comfortable & relaxed premises.

Our relaxed atmosphere & ambience also encourages book reading or internet browsing (With FREE INTERNET) there are also charging points at most seated areas around the coffee shop for your convenience.

Java John’s use Real Skimmed Milk in their Skinny Cappuccino / Latte Range & also stock Soya Milk . Not forgetting our delicious Hot Chocolate that contains Real Chocolate Chips (no powder here ) & Marshmallows .

Our Fine Food menu consists of All Day Breakfasts, Oatmeal Porridge with Peanut Butter & Blueberries, Pancakes, Club Sandwiches, Bagels & Salads including our Signature Strawberry Chicken Feta Salad & our exclusive Elvis PBB - a hot grilled sandwich loaded with Banana, Bacon, Peanut Butter & Jam , as well as much more. All dishes / items are available for take-away We also offer desserts & pastries, including for the kids Ginger Bread Men & Oreo Chocolate Treats .

Java Johns is open

8am-6pm daily

The CRAIC on

Saturday 1st November 2014

CRAICing News!!!

By Avril HORAN

• 9am: The 4th International Galway Masters basketball tournament takes place today and tomorrow at NUIG. • 11am: An art class, Responding To The Sea, takes place at the Galway City Museum with teacher Vicky Smith.

• 2pm: A protest march against the water charges takes place this afternoon starting from the fountain in Eyre Square.

• 3:30pm: It’s time for the 10K obstacle challenge of a lifetime with Turf Warrior at Killary Adventure Centre, Leenane.

• 4:30pm: A seminar about CoOps as a solution to the housing crisis takes place at the Galway Bay Hotel, Salthill by Radical Routes, a network of housing and workers co-ops all across the UK. • 6pm: A mini monster dash takes place along the city streets for the Galway Abooo Festival - 500 meters of fun for up to twelve year olds. Fancy dress encouraged.

• 6:30pm: A 5k monster dash takes place in aid of On The Road again for Galway Abooo – 2 laps around the streets of Galway in fancy dress.

• 8pm: The Kitchen Hero, Donal Skehan will bring his home cooked tour to the Town Hall Theatre as he cooks up a storm live on stage.

• 9:30pm: A traditional session takes place at Aras na nGael on Dominick Street.

• Midnight: Galway’s favourite covers band, Oddity, are set to entertain at Monroe’s Live. And you can catch Ed Deane, the finest exponent of blues guitar playing in Ireland today.

Good Morning America!

M

a k e - u p artist from Moycullen, S i o b h a n McDonnell, is gaining international recognition as she will be featured on the popular Good Morning America show on ABC news.

Producers contacted the Galway gal as they want to air a number of her Hallowe’en makeup clips to their American viewers from her Letzmakeup YouTube channel.

She created the channel over five years ago, featuring makeup, fashion and beauty tips, and it has been going from strength to strength. Her American TV debut will feature after her appearance on the RTE2 show,

Trending with Ireland’s most stylish man, Darren Kennedy.

“It’s so exciting,” says Siobhan, “it’s really cool. I was contacted by one of the producers of Good Morning America by email and I am delighted.

I have worked hard on my social media channels over the last five years and have built up a large American audience already. They are my main viewership. It’s great that you can check to see who are watching your video clips and where they come from. And it’s nice to get the recognition from ABC news.”

You can catch Siobhan’s fantastic make-up tips on Letzmakeup YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and at www.LetzMakeupBlog.com.

Carbon proudly presents:

Carbon Proudly Presents:

Thursday - 6 - November ROAR// See facebook for ticket info.

091 449204 Carbonnightclub.ie facebook.com/carbonnightclubgalway twittier.com/ThisIsCarbon

The CRAIC on

Sunday 2nd November 2014

Record Breakers...

By Avril HORAN

• 9am: The Galway Masters basketball tournament continues today at NUIG. • 12pm: Head to Busker Brownes on Cross Street for the best jazz brunch in town with the Galway Bay Jazz Band.

• 12pm: It’s the final day to catch the Halloween Festival at the Slieve Aughty Centre, Kylebrack, Co Galway with their new family experience. Walk the enchanted forest, take a pony trail, arts and crafts and lots more.

• 1pm: The Galway East Life Support (GELS) will be hosting a community commemorative memorial walk in aid of charity bereavement group, the Bethany Group. Registration takes place in Gullanes Hotel, Ballinasloe from 1pm onwards. At 2pm, a candle lighting ceremony takes place and at 2:20pm the 25 minute walk will begin. €5.

• 2pm: The Ardilaun wedding fair takes place today, located on Taylor’s Hill, for all of the newly engaged out there.

• 7:45pm: The Michael Commins Concert Shows returns to the Salthill hotel with Philomena Begley, Sean Keane, TR Dallas and many more.

• 8pm: The Galway Film Society presents Venus In Fur, the latest film from Roman Polanski follows Thomas, a theatre director • 10pm: Join Tom Tyrell as he be-bops, doo-wops, and yeehaws his way through folk and roots music at the Backstage Bar at Monroe’s Live followed by the rock and bluegrass fusion of the talented Four Men and a Bass.

...are On the Road Again

C

r a i c i n g congratulations to the 31 members of the Hughes family who ran the Dublin City Marathon in aid of Galway charity, On The Road Again. The family, who have strong Galway connections, not only smashed the Guinness World Record but also raised almost €47,000 for the charity.

On The Road Again works closely with homeless and mental health agencies by engaging them in walking and running as a means to build confidence, strength and self esteem.

It was set up by Paul Fallon from Annaghdown in 2011, and he has been “blown away” by the support from the Hughes family. Their success has gone a long way to promote the On The Road Again charity, which he established in order to share the positive benefits of running.

“They got in touch with me back in March, as one of their cousins had heard about us and they identified completely with our aim,” explains

Paul.

“I held a conference call with other family members, in New York and Boston, to explain what we are about and it went from there. It was their first time to raise money for the charity and it has been phenomenal.

When I first set up the charity, I was warned that it can take a minimum of 5-7 years to become established. Not only have they helped to fundraise, but also to create brand name awareness and really get our name out there.”

Many of the family members are based in Galway, one is the owner of Portwest while another has Richard Hughes opticians in Woodquay and Knocknacarra. The rest travelled from across Ireland, the UK, US, Spain and Germany to follow in the footsteps of their relatives. Thirty years ago, the eight male children of the Hughes family, who are originally from Westport, Co Mayo, set the Guinness World Record for the most siblings to complete the Dublin marathon - and three of them took part in this new challenge.

The CRAIC in Monroe’s Live with Rofi James

By Darius IVAN

The CRAIC on

... On The Road Again

Monday 3rd November 2014 • 7:30pm: Paul Moran, Centre for Astronomy, NUI Galway will give a public lecture at the Westwood Hotel, ‘Pulsars: Physics at its most Extreme’ for the Galway Astronomy Club. All welcome.

• 7:45pm: Crystal Swing are one of the headline acts at the Michael Commins concert show continuing this evening at the Salthill Hotel.

• 8:15pm: Join the Lazy Café Trio live at Tigh Neachtains on Cross Street.

• 9pm: Enjoy trad music, singing and dancing at Barr an Chaladh, Woodquay.

• 9pm: The Cellar bar is host to Play, where musicians can jam with support from a backing band in this open night with a difference. It’s a place where musicians can meet, collaborate and hear some great music. It’s time to stop practicing and start playing! All welcome.

• 9:30pm: Catch the best of swingin’ tunes by the Black Magic Big Band at Busker Brownes on Cross Street.

• 9:30pm: A traditional Irish music session takes place at the Crane bar on Sea Road with Freda Hatton and Kevin Whelan.

The Hughes family 30 years ago... >>>> “They came together from all sides,” says Paul, “and they broke the world record with 30 completing the challenging event. Some of them were first time runners and they toughed it out together. I am just so overwhelmed,” he concluded.

You may not want to run a marathon, but you can still take part in fundraising

for On The Road Again. The next event is their 5K Monster Dash through the city streets on Saturday, November 1st, with music, celebrities and prizes! This year’s event will include a mini Monster Dash for kids at 6pm and the main event will follow at 6:30pm. For more information check out www.otra.ie.

A Foodie Festival Starting Today!

Galway’s first Restaurant Week takes place from November 3rd9th celebrating our own culinary landscape; from the restaurants, chefs, cafe’s and wine bars, to the farmers, bakers, and artisan producers. Restaurant Week is brimming with exciting offers from some of Galway’s top restaurants designed to give you a treat and a ‘thank you’ for your support all year round.

It will be hard to choose where to go with all the exciting restaurants participating; some food fanatics may

10

even treat this like sport, squeezing in as many meals as possible during the seven days. Others might want to try the hot spots or go back to their old favourite for something comfortingly familiar.

Whatever your approach, Galway Restaurant Week gives an exciting opportunity to try someplace you’ve never been, a culinary discovery of sorts.

With incentives like complimentary wine, exclusive menus and free treats the choice won’t be to eat out or not, but where to go. For more see galwayrestaurantweek.com. in GALWAY

• 8pm: Bad Girls and Emmerdale Actress, Nicole Faraday, stars in Over the Rainbow, the Eva Cassidy Story at the Town Hall Theatre.

Murder Mystery Parties!

• Birthdays • Anniversaries • Hen Parties • Corporate/Sports & Social Nights & More!

Florence meal deals

Show your friends how much you love them... by killing them off one at a time!

€9.95 from 1-5pm €15.95 from 5-11pm

Choose from one of our hilarious themes: • 1920’s Great Gatsby • 1980’s Prom Party • Agatha Christie • Oscar Night After Party

Any starter & main course

10% discount for student Bring your own drink! www.florencegalway.com

** SPECIAL OFFER ** Save €5pp on all packages until Nov. 30th!

For more info or to make a booking go to www.murderonthemenu.ie

gstattoos.com | 087 667 34 75

Photographers Available for Your Christmas Party Call: 087 635 29 33 or visit www.thecraic.ie

The CRAIC on

Tuesday 4th November 2014

• 1:10pm: Enjoy some lunchtime classics with a free lunchtime @ the library with the Con Tempo Quartet, taking place in Galway City Library, Augustine Street.

• 7:30pm: If you are an expectant parent and it’s more than one, then the Galway Multiple Births will hold an information evening in the Parent Craft Department of UHG. • 7:30pm: The Galway Community Circus will host a new adult aerials class beginning this evening for six weeks at St Joseph’s Community Centre in Shantalla, Ashe road.

• 9pm: An open mic night takes place at The Western hotel on Prospect Hill.

• 8pm: Enjoy live jazz at Rouge restaurant on Dominick Street with Mike Corbett on piano and Keith McDonald on trumpet.

• 9:30pm: Catch Sean Galvin with friends and dancers for a great night of trad and dancing at Barr an Chaladh, Woodquay, all musicians welcome.

• 9:30pm: A trad session takes place at the Crane bar on Sea Road with John O’Halloran and Mick Crehan.

Straight talking from the trailor trash mouth of Southern Belle, Candy, and the more refined Cara from Connemara. www.lovefromcara.com

Dear Candy:

By Cara LYONS

I’m a vampire. I know it’s hard to believe but I may as well just say it. Halloween is usually my favourite time of year. I can just be myself and no one takes any notice because they see my fangs and assume I am in costume. I just feel so angry this year and can’t enjoy it. I feel like all everyone thinks about when it comes to vampires is these sparkly, pretty boy ‘Edward Cullens’. But let me tell you we don’t sparkle! Do you know his abs were painted on? I don’t like the way we are being portrayed. It’s laughable!

Yes, a lot of it is true, like the super strength; we each have special talents but unlike the movies, I don’t plan on falling in love with a

girl who only has one facial expression for every emotion! We have kept ourselves secret all these years and only kill what we need to survive but we are all becoming increasingly frustrated with these TV shows and movies.

The old movies were good, probably because it was a vampire who created them, but now it’s just embarrassing. We are considering taking action on the world. Do you see any other option? I thought maybe you might be the best one to contact considering you get such strange letters.

Wow! A blood sucker! I think we used to have one of you in the family. I haven’t seen him in a long time, I don’t know where he went to. He used to spend a lot of time in doors away from everyone else, cus’ he didn’t tan well, poor guy. Maybe he sailed across the sea in a blood vessel. Anyway, I don’t think you should take revenge on the world just cus’ you don’t like the stupid shows nowadays. Don’t worry they will get bored and switch to werewolf shows any time now and

then run their way through a whole load of ghost shows and whatever other creatures they can think of until they come back to vampires again. Just don’t watch them and don’t take what they say to heart, that is, if you can take anything to your heart, I don’t know how that works with you. If you get over your hatred for people imitating your kind, maybe you would like to hang out sometime. My friends would think you’re so cool!

Yours sincerely, Count Conan O’Brien

Candy:

Cara:

Well, if there is even a tiny possibility you’re a real vampire I would have to actually agree with Candy. I can’t believe I said that but, yes, you should definitely not take your anger out on the world. Maybe get another hobby other than watching shows you

dislike or reading celebrity gossip or whatever the source of your irritation is. Maybe play some board games this Halloween or bob for apples…I bet you would be great at that, with the teeth and all.

Have a fangtastic Halloween!

Find Cara’s Good Karma TV on YouTube.com

12

in GALWAY

• 9am: Pricing Healthcare, a conference on the role of health economics evaluation in allocating healthcare resources in Ireland takes place at the Aula Maxima, NUIG today.

Welcome to Newest Regular CRAICing venue

The CRAIC at CARBON Nightclub ,

By Darius IVAN

The CRAIC on

Wednesday 5th November 2014

CRAICing NEWS!!!

By Avril HORAN

• 1:30pm and 3:30pm: Direct from the West End, The Gruffalo comes to the Black Box Theatre.

Meet a wheeler-dealer fox, an eccentric old owl and a maracashaking, party mad snake from the acclaimed picture book. Age 3+.

• 8pm: It’s the return of the best-selling comedy, 51 Shades of Maggie, a send up of 50 shades of grey at the Town Hall Theatre.

• 8:30pm: The Hourglass Theatre company presents Leda, Come Home at the Town Hall Studio. When a once prosperous family finds itself facing a future of debt and disgrace, a scheming matriarch makes a bid to wrest control of its destiny from her eldest daughter.

• 9:30pm: Kevin Rohan, Monica Naughton and dancers are set to entertain at Barr an Chaladh, Woodquay with their trad and folk stylings.

• 9:30pm: Catch the trad session with Ailbhe O Monachain and John O’Halloran at the Crane bar on Sea Road.

• 10:30pm: Don’t miss the ‘Screamin’ Bluecats’ at Garvey’s in Eyre Square for a night of rockabilly magic. You ‘aint nothin’ but a hound dog!

To The Manor Born Ashford Castle has once again come out tops with readers of the Condé Nast traveller magazine and has been selected as one of their Top 10 European resorts.

Ashford Castle was just pipped at the post to the number two spot

by Sheen Falls Lodge in Co. Kerry.

Connemara’s Ballynahinch Castle also features, ranking 23rd of 25 top hotels in Europe.

“The setting is something out of a fairy-tale book - lush greenery, lake, silence,” readers report about Ballynahinch Castle. “It’s just gorgeous, like a rich uncle’s country estate.”

The top ten places are Sheen Falls Lodge, Co. Kerry; Ashford Castle, Co. Mayo; Blue Palace Resort, Crete; Kildare Hotel at the K Club, Co. Kildare; The Gleneagles hotel, Scotland; Badrutt’s Palace, Switzerland; Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, Switzerland; Villa d’Este, Lake Como, Italy; Old Course Hotel, Scotland and Adare Manor, Co. Limerick.

Condé Nast Traveller’s Readers’ Choice Awards are published annually, and this year featured over one million votes from almost 77,000 readers.

Over The Moone Fresh from his appearance at Nun’s Island Theatre in the city, Hollywood and Broadway actor and patron of Galway’s Little Cinema, Chris O’Dowd was bestowed with the

14

Freedom of Roscommon. The actor, who is from Boyle, is the fourth person to receive the honorary title from the county of his birth.

in GALWAY

• 4pm: A unique Language Careers Fair takes place at the Atrium, Orbsen Building, NUI Galway, bringing together students, graduates and employers to explore the wide range of career opportunities available for multi-linguists.

T

CRAIC ad

he first outdoor C h r i s t m a s continental market of its kind will take place in Tuam on the weekend of December 6th and 7th, 2014. With over 25 traders, the Tuam Christmas Market will have a warm and lively ambiance with music, mulled wine and lots more.

Wind your way through the pagoda style marquees filled with artisan foods and crafts and relax to the beat of live entertainment in their outdoor beer garden. The market will take place in the famous Shambles car park from 12 noon to 10pm on Saturday, December 6th and Sunday, December 7th. A local school choir will open the festivities,

CRAICing NEWS!!! while Santa and the elves will be on hand at the grotto for the complete Santa experience.

Amongst the artisan food, fare and craft beer, there will also be a community stall, where transition year students and other local organisations will sell their wares.

Everyone will be able to have a role in the high end market, which promises to attract huge crowds of shoppers and families alike. Traders from all over Ireland will take part and it is the perfect place to find

your presents, Christmas trees, decorations and jumpers! It will be a winter wonderland right in the heart of Tuam.

AMBER

18 Mary st, Galway

091-567810

1 Year Anniversarr y20!14 8th Novembe

Spirit Drumming with Eamon

Carrick

Angel Readings with Margaret

Fun & Games!

Curran

20% OFF ONE DAY ONLY!

Refreshments Available Goody Bags for our first 20 customers

The CRAIC on

The Galway Gamer- November’s Little Treats

Thursday 6th November 2014

By SPUD MURPHY

• 10:30am: A free public lecture and workshop on Community Mapping takes place at the Moore Institute, NUIG. • 10:30am and 1:30pm: It’s the last chance to catch The Gruffalo at the Black Box Theatre. Age 3+.

• 7:30pm: Retired medical doctor, Dr John McKenna, will give a talk at the Meyrick hotel, Eyre Square on ‘Antibiotics: Are They Curing us or Killing us?’ He has been practicing natural medicine for 25 years.

• 8pm: Enjoy a musical evening of nostalgia with Johnny McEvoy at the Town Hall Theatre.

• 8:30pm: The Hourglass Theatre company presents Leda, Come Home at the Town Hall Studio.

• 9pm: Keith James brings a special evening to the Backstage Bar at Monroe’s Live with the songs of Leonard Cohen.

• 9:30pm: Catch the swingin’ style of Benny and the Goodmen at McSwiggans bar in Woodquay.

• 9:30pm: An open traditional Irish music jam takes place every Thursday at the Western Hotel on Prospect Hill.

• 9:30pm: Enjoy a traditional session with Liam Naughton and Marie Treasa at Barr an Chaladh, Woodquay. All musicians welcome.

I

t’s hard to think of a more hectic time in the world of video games than November.

Each year the eleventh month sees a huge influx of big brand games, all trying to grab your attention before the Christmas season takes over. Of course, this year is no different as gaming’s heavy hitters line the store shelves.

Call of Duty will kick things off by launching its latest game, Advanced Warfare. This one is set to take the series away from its usual feeling of military realism and replace it with more of a comic style look. Each Call of Duty game attempts something new to keep the franchise fresh, and this year it’s doing so by featuring futuristic robots, super suits and well known Hollywood star; Kevin Spacey. Galway’s video game distributors always see a long line of Call of Duty fans queuing up in anticipation at the midnight releases. For many, this has become an annual get together.

One game that saw bigger crowds

16

than any other in Galway City was last year’s release of Grand Theft Auto V. This all but brought the city to a standstill.

Huge crowds lined up outside various shops on Headford Road to purchase copies of the game. One shop in Eyre Square shopping centre even saw a steady queue of gamers reaching back beyond the shop’s shutters for the day. It seemed like it was never ending. The game sold so well that it has become the biggest selling piece of entertainment media in history.

This year, Grand Theft Auto V will be re-released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, and will undoubtedly warrant another massive crowd flocking to Galway’s stores to secure their copies of this new and improved version of the game.

November may seem like a very hectic and almost stressful month, but it gives local businesses a boost and gives Galway’s video game fans a fantastic selection of games that will last them until this time next year.

in GALWAY

• 7pm: The Dunmore One Act Drama Festival kicks off in An Taibhdhearc with the Shannonside Drama Group County Clare presenting ‘Laundry and Bourbon’; 8pm Compantas Lír Claregalway present ‘Nine’ by Jane Shepherd; 9pm Athlone Little Theatre present ‘The Commission’ by Steven Dick; 10pm Dunmore Amateur Drama Society present ‘A Private Affair’ by Charles Emery.

PC, LAPTOPS, TABLETS AND PHONES REPAIR

Phone: 091 726288

34 Prospect Hill, Galway

STUDENT FREE DIAGNOSIS DISCOUNT

Custom PC Build System Installation

Virus, Malware Removal Data Rescue and Recovery Mon. - Fri.: 10am - 7pm

Sat-Sun: 11am - 6pm

The CRAIC on

Friday 7th November 2014

CRAICing Q&A!!!

By Katelin BERNARD

• 1:35pm: Dr Piers Gooding will discuss The Mental Capacity Act, 2013 at the Health Management Institute of Ireland Regional meeting, taking place at Room 1, Education Centre, Merlin Park Hospital, Galway.

• 7pm: A screening of Good Will Hunting takes place at the Knocknacarra Community Centre in aid of Pieta House. Tickets are €10.00 each.

• 7:30pm: The NUIG MBA Class of 2004 will have their 10th Anniversary Reunion at the Radisson hotel.

• 8pm Gorey Little Theatre present ‘Being Norwegian’ by David Greig at An Taibhearc as part of the Dunmore One Act Drama Festival.

• 8pm: One of Ireland’s foremost songwriters, Jimmy MacCarthy returns to performing with his ‘Prophecy/Conspiracy?’ tour at the Town Hall Theatre.

• 8:30pm: The Hourglass Theatre company presents Leda, Come Home at the Town Hall Studio.

• 9pm Dalkey Players present ‘Tick My Box’ by Iseult Golden, David Horan and Carmel Stephens at An Taibhearc.

• 10pm Bradan Players Leixlip present ‘Unveiling’ by Vaclav Havel at An Taibhearc.

• 10pm: Mitch, B2B and Rudy Trixx will take to the decks at Kellys on Bridge Street for a mix of groove, shake, disco, house and techno!

Budget filmmaking is the new trend at the moment, especially in Galway. Hard Knocks Hostel is a new 5-part comedy web series produced by Aaron Woods and filmed on Inishmore. Set in a badly run hostel, the series follows the lives of two receptionists and is due to be completed at the end of November on a budget of just €1,000, thanks to funding through the FundIt website. In order to cope with the monotony of the jobs, and the people they seem to meet again and again, they get creative in their dealings with guests. Their eccentric boss has an unusual attitude - the customer is not always right - and the girls embrace the philosophy, often leading to disastrous results.

We sit down with Aaron and creator Karen Murphy to find out about film making on a budget.

So how did you come up with the idea?

Karen – I’ve been working in a hostel for over 3 years. I was doing a Masters in film direction in NUIG and was trying to write what I know. In a hostel, you get so

18

many crazy characters, it was like a perfect formula. I had this wealth of characters and that’s how it really came about.

What’s it all about?

It’s set in the middle of nowhere and the two receptionists that run the place are disillusioned by the job. They have grown weary of the whole customer service thing. It’s set in such a rural place they get away with having the craic and pressing their buttons.

With the budget restraints do you find you become more creative?

Yes definitely to quote Orson Wells he said ‘absence of limitations is the enemy of art’.

That’s definitely something we are living by at the moment. I always seem to meet artists and musicians, I just do - and they are the people that are coming on board now. Everyone is coming with a common interest to start on a platform to get some exposure.

Aaron – The key is you don’t need big budgets for this to work. As a filmmaker, I know how tough it is to realise your ambition. With Galway’s amazing in GALWAY

• 7:30pm: The Tulca Festival of Visual Arts starts today and the launch takes place this at The Festival Gallery, 15 Market Street.

Tulca 2014 will be officially opened by writer and documentary-maker Manchán Magan, followed by dancing at Electric at 9:30pm.

Win a Harley Davidson with membership at 4Aces

The CRAIC at 4 ACES CASINO, Dominick St.

By Darius IVAN

The CRAIC on

Saturday 8th November 2014 • 11am: The Galway Indian Cultural Society presents Vellimoonga, the funny story of a rural politician and his ideologies.

• 2pm: Brendan McGowan presents a workshop, ‘If Things Could Talk’ at the Galway City Museum, investigating a wide range of quirky objects. Age 8-12.

• 3:30pm: Tulca Festival of Visual Arts will officially open the Stir project at the Galway Arts Centre on Dominick Street.

• 8pm Bualadh Bos Oranmore present ‘The Furies’ by Neil LaBout at An Taibhearc.

• 8pm: Conal Gallen returns with his hit comedy play A Bit On The Side for one final performance at the Town Hall Theatre.

• 8:30pm: The Hourglass Theatre company presents Leda, Come Home at the Town Hall Studio.

• 9pm Clann Machua Kiltimagh present ‘Conception Pregnancy and Bert’ by Ken Armstrong at An Taibhearc.

• 9:30pm: ThunderMother will bring their rock n’roll beats to Monroe’s Live with support from Raising Jupiter. Dakota will get you on the dance floor from midnight.

• 10pm Model Box Productions Wicklow present ‘Stay Carol Stay’ by Peter Tolan at An Taibhearc.

• 10:30pm: Outwest, a social and support group for the LGB community, will have an event at the Menlo Park Hotel with DJ Barry O’Sullivan.

>>>>

Hard Knocks Hostel

low-budget film community, creating a film or short or web series doesn’t need to cost a fortune.

Where are you filming it?

Inishmore. There will be a group of us in a hostel, so it’s going to be very intense. The actors don’t get paid; they want stuff for their show reel. It’s like a mutually beneficial experience.

How is the Little Cinema helping young filmmakers in Galway?

It is one of the only platforms that we have. Anyone can go out with their cameras and you can shoot whatever you want. They are very encouraging. They see it as a learning curve.

What are your plans for 2015?

What filmmakers inspire your work?

We are moving to Canada and there is a possibility of having season two in Canada.

That’s a tough one. This is my first comedy that I’ve done. Its kind of new ground for me.

For anyone out there interested in seeing the series where can they find it?

How much work goes into a production like this?

Like us on our facebook page Hard Knocks Hostel. It will be ready to view at the end of November.

Every spare moment goes into this because I love it. I genuinely love it.

It doesn’t feel like work.

Our website will also go live then too.

CRAICing Nights out in Blue Note with Dj Mitch

20

in GALWAY

• 10am: WEEE Ireland have arranged a free recycling day – for any household item with a plug, battery or cables, large or small, and AA, AAA, torch and watch batteries - at Toft Park, Salthill, beside the Galway Atlantaquarium and also at the Greyhound Carpark, College Road.

The CRAIC at Tonerys Bar, Bohemore

By Darius IVAN

The CRAIC on

Sunday 9th November 2014 • 11am: It’s Sunday Funday at the Galway Atlantaquaria, Salthill, as part of Science Week 2014 with special discounted admission prices today.

The highlight of the day will be the interactive Bjorn the Polar Bear, who will share the story of the fascinating world of the Arctic; story-telling with RTE’s Dale Treadwell, Magic Science Shows, cartoon drawing classes with Captain ‘Black John’, interactive exhibitions and lots more!

CRAICing Theatre!!!

Avril HORAN

One Act Drama Festival Returns

• 12pm: Head to Busker Brownes on Cross Street for the best jazz brunch in town with the Galway Bay Jazz Band.

• 1pm: The Bubbly Baby Market takes place at the Clybaun Hotel for anyone who wants to buy or sell baby and toddler items. Santa will be there too!

• 7pm: Enjoy live jazz entertainment every Sunday at the Black Cat restaurant, Salthill.

• 7pm: Join Bruce Grobbelaar, the goalkeeper, at Monroes Live. As a player, Grobbelaar represented Zimbabwe at international level and a number of clubs, most prominently Liverpool, during a professional career spanning more than 20 years.He is remembered for his gymnastic-like athletic ability, unflappable confidence and eccentric and flamboyant style of play.

• 8pm: The Galway Film Society presents IIo IIo at the Town Hall Theatre, winner of the prestigious Camera d’Or prize for best first film at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

• 10pm: Phoebe Hunt and Dominick Leslie bring their original music from jazz to country, from swing to bluegrass at the backstage bar at Monroe’s Live.

D

rama lovers will be spoilt for choice when the annual Dunmore One Act Drama Festival kicks off in An Taibhdhearc from Thursday, November 6th to Saturday, November 8th.

The organisers have moved the festival into the city for 2014 to access a much wider theatre audience and to give competing groups the chance to perform on the world famous Taibhdhearc stage.

A total of ten groups from all over

the country will each perform a different One Act play, with four plays on the opening night and three on subsequent nights. The competition is fierce as groups look to impress drama adjudicator Paula Dempsey and win one of the coveted places at this years All Ireland One Act Drama finals in Ballyshannon. Each play must not exceed 55 minutes in duration, with the focus very much on quality acting, small casts and minimal use of props. Tickets for the festival are on sale from the Taibhdhearc Box Office.

CRAICing 10 Years with Twirley Chassie

22 20

GALWAY in in GALWAY

• 2pm: The Q Club Variety Group presents Bring It On at the Town Hall Theatre. 90 minutes of singing, dancing and comedy sketches.

MACNAS The Symphony For The Restless

By Darius IVAN

The CRAIC on

Monday 10th November 2014

CRAICing Tulca!!!

By Avril HORAN

• 6:30pm: It is hoped to have a talk on ‘Suicide Alertness For Everyone’ this evening at the Redemptorist Community Esker, Athenry - to raise awareness of the signs of distress in people that may lead to suicide. 30 people minimum required.

• 7pm: Moycullen Basketball will have their season launch at The Forge, Moycullen this evening.

• 7pm; A six week cookery course on Understanding Food begins this evening at Aniar Restaurant on Dominick Street.

• 8pm: The Galway Archaeological and Historical Society will host a lecture by Prof.

Louis Cullen on Captain George O’Malley, 1786-1860, known in folklore for several poems attributed to him. His manuscript narrative and smuggling career will be analysed. For more see www.gahs.info.

• 8:15pm: Join You, Me, and Clementine live at Tigh Neachtains on Cross Street.

• 9pm: Enjoy trad music, singing and dancing at Barr an Chaladh, Woodquay.

• 9pm: The Cellar bar is host to Play, where musicians can jam with support from a backing band in this open night with a difference. It’s a place where musicians can meet, collaborate and hear some great music. It’s time to stop practicing and start playing! All welcome.

• 9:30pm: Catch the best of swingin’ tunes by the Black Magic Big Band at Busker Brownes on Cross Street.

• 9:30pm: A traditional Irish music session takes place at the Crane bar on Sea Road with Freda Hatton and Kevin Whelan.

Escape Is Impossible

T

he brooding character of Connemara collides with the lively, social character of Galway city at this year’s Tulca Festival of Visual Arts, taking place from November 8th-23rd at the festival gallery on Market Street, Galway Arts Centre, 126 artists run gallery and various locations across the city centre.

Entitled ‘Neutral’, the festival features works by over 30 Irish and international artists. Over 550 proposals were submitted from 10 countries in a host of mediums including film and video, sculpture, painting and installation.

Curated by Aisling Prior, the festival aims “to draw attention to the lure of stillness and of silence in this increasingly digital age where all of us, even those who chose to live in the most remote parts of a country, are known, traceable and expected to be readily reachable. Escape is impossible”.

“Each year Tulca Festival of Visual Art aims to engage with the people of Galway and the cultural landscape in both county and city,” says Producer Kate Howard.

“We are lucky that Galway has a

wealth of artists and arts audience that support the festival each November.

The festival has now grown to be a highlight on Ireland’s cultural calendar, and has exhibited work from artists from Canada to Carraroe and from South Korea to the Spanish Arch since its beginnings in 2002.”

During this year’s festival, exhibitions will take place in both gallery and non-gallery spaces, featuring projects and events across urban and regional contexts. This year the main gallery space will be located in the former Connacht Tribune Printing Works in Market Street. For more see www.tulcafestival.com

The CRAIC on

Tuesday 11th November 2014

CRAICing Delta Security!

CRAIC Ad

• 9:30am: The Galway Chamber of Commerce hosts a seminar on grant and state agency funding for your business at Commerce House, Merchants Road, Galway.

• 8pm: Ballet Ireland presents Swan Lake at the Town Hall Theatre, one of the great love stories of classical ballet.

• 8pm: Music for Galway presents Hunka, Johnston and the Tinney Trio at the Aula Maxima, NUIG.

• 9pm: An open mic night takes place at The Western hotel on Prospect Hill.

• 8pm: Enjoy live jazz at Rouge restaurant on Dominick Street with Mike Corbett on piano and Keith McDonald on trumpet.

• 9:30pm: Catch Sean Galvin with friends and dancers for a great night of trad and dancing at Barr an Chaladh, Woodquay, all musicians welcome.

• 9:30pm: A trad session takes place at the Crane bar on Sea Road with John O’Halloran and Mick Crehan.

G

alway based security firm, Delta Security, have become the largest home grown security providers in the country. The team were given the Presidential seal of approval when they protected Michael D Higgins at the Fleadh Ceoil recently, and they also count 37 Dawson Street and Lillies Bordello in Dublin among their client list. The team at Delta are also community aware and are now one of the main sponsors of the Oranmore Maree GAA club.

In some situations, the power of a physical presence from the Delta Security Group can never be underestimated. To meet and greet, to inform or to protect, whatever the task, the Delta Security Group guards are always reliable and professional. As the leading provider of security solutions in

26

Ireland, their guards are trusted to perform a wide variety of roles.

Each member receives intensive training following rigorous vetting, recruitment and selection procedures. Like all good service providers, they take great care to gain a full understanding of a clients business requirements and ways of working before deploying any equipment or staff. Delta Security designs and implements a bespoke security solution for each client. The Delta Security Group are trained to work in a wide variety of roles. They are a one-stop-shop for all of your security needs. You can find them at Unit 1, Deerpark Business Centre, Oranmore; online at www.deltasecurity.ie, email: info@deltasecurity.ie or low call 1850 840 999. They also have an Eastern regional support office at Distillers Building, Smithfield, Dublin 7 and a new Cork office will open in January 2015. in GALWAY

• 8:30pm: A Room With No View, the story of two patients in a mental health facility, Sascha and Jimmy, takes place at the Town Hall Studio.

The CRAIC at Murder On The Menu in The Pillo Hotel

By Darius IVAN

Murder Mystery Parties!

• Birthdays • Anniversaries • Hen Parties • Corporate/Sports & Social Nights & More!

Show your friends how much you love them... by killing them off one at a time!

Choose from one of our hilarious themes: • 1920’s Great Gatsby • 1980’s Prom Party • Agatha Christie • Oscar Night After Party ** SPECIAL OFFER ** Save €5pp on all packages until Nov. 30th!

For more info or to make a booking go to www.murderonthemenu.ie

The CRAIC on

Wednesday 12th November 2014 • 10:30am:

CRAICing NEWS!!!

By Avril HORAN

Populaire will be

screened at the Town Hall Theatre as part of the Junior Film Fleadh followed by a future filmmakers short showcase at 12:45pm and Gearrscannain at 2pm.

• 8pm: Ballet Ireland presents Swan Lake at the Town Hall Theatre, one of the great love stories of classical ballet.

• 8:30pm: A Room With No View, the story of two patients in a mental health facility, Sascha and Jimmy, takes place at the Town Hall Studio.

• 9:30pm: Kevin Rohan, Monica Naughton and dancers are set to entertain at Barr an Chaladh, Woodquay with their trad and folk stylings.

• 9:30pm:

Catch the trad

session with Ailbhe O Monachain and John O’Halloran at the Crane bar on Sea Road.

• 10:30pm:

Don’t miss the

‘Screamin’ Bluecats’ at Garvey’s in Eyre Square for a night of rockabilly magic. You ‘aint nothin’ but a hound dog!

Junior is Growing Up!

This year the Junior Galway Film Fleadh is celebrating 20 years of educating and entertaining young people through the power of film. The JGFF is a festival for discovering new talent and the future filmmakers shorts showcases will screen the very best in student and young people’s short films from all around Ireland. - from November 12th-15th. There will also be exciting new films from around the world and professional filmmaking workshops.

The 20th JGFF aims to foster discussion on the films’ themes, which include: Women in the Workplace, European

History, Coming of Age, Society and Cultural Politics and many more.

Alongside world cinema, the Irish language programme includes Torthai na Daoirse, about the Dunnes Stores apartheid strikers and won the best documentary award at the 26th Galway Film Fleadh.

There will also be a mental health awareness screening of I Used to Live Here - winner of Best First Feature, 26th Galway Film Fleadh - followed by a group discussion chaired by Jigsaw Galway.

Galway Start Up Weekend Galway is home to Ireland’s first start-up weekend from November 14th-16th at the Cairnes Building in NUIG. Developers, designers and business development folks will come together to pitch an idea and launch a business, all in one weekend. It is a great opportunity to test startup ideas, meet potential co-founders, build

the community in Galway and launch your next startup. 54 hours of activity will culminate in a round of presentations to the assembled judges, mentors, and other teams, leaving attendees with valuable feedback on their ideas, new skills, great contacts, and hopefully, a viable startup business.

The CRAIC on

Thursday13th November 2014

An Chraic sa Láib!

By Dara KELLY

Faoi dheireadh - deis agam leas a bhaint as

sacair Phort Omna. Craic iontach a bhí ann

na céadta clár teilifíse atá feicthe agam ina

cinnte, ach tá ceachtanna don saol le foghlaim

mbíonn iar-shaighdiúr i mbun eachtraíochta

freisin, is tú i mbun dúshláin mar é. Ar dtús, lean

in áit fhiáin. Níor ghá dom foscadán a thógáil

na comharthaí agus cloígh leis an gcosán. Pé

as craobhóga, ná m’fhual féin a ól, ach léim mé

rud atá amach romhat, bhí duine éigin ann

isteach in uisce fuar seascainn agus chaith mé

romhat. Lean a lorg. Bí cróga. Tabhair faoi go

mé féin faoi eangacha, thar chlaíocha agus síos

fuinniúil agus bíodh a fhios agat go mbeidh

tulláin dhorcha ar nós Bear Grylls féin.Tharraing

tú ceart go leor. Tá daoine thart le cabhrú leat,

• 1:30pm: Our Nations Sons and I Used To Live Here will be screened at the Town Hall Theatre as part of mental health awareness for the Junior Film Fleadh.

mé na cosa trí láib dhomhan a rinne iarracht

ach cabhair a iarraidh. Coinnigh ort. Tá daoine

na bróga a bhaint díom, chrom mé le dul trí

do leanúint freisin, mar sin tabhair misneach

ghréasáin téada agus rith mé isteach is amach

dóibh. Tarraing anáil. Ná héirigh as go deo.

trí lúbra crann ard. Rith mé tríd an fhoraois go

Titfidh tú, beidh cuma an amadáin ort seans,

beo, gan smaoineamh ar na gasúir dhá bhliain

nó gortófar tú fiú. Ach tiocfaidh tú tríd. Éireoidh

• 5pm: A Dance Soc showcase takes place at Aras na Macleinn, NUIG.

déag d’aois a bhí ag mótaráil tharam, is mé

leat ar deireadh agus beidh tú chomh sásta

ag déanamh mo bhealaí suas cnoc amháin

gur thug tú faoi.

• 10:30am: Mission: Sputnik will be screened at the Town Hall Theatre as part of the Junior Film Fleadh, followed by a future filmmakers shorts showcase 2 at 12:15pm and the finals of the story pitching competition at 12:30pm.

eile i dtreo na líne críche. D’ardaigh mé na lámha le teann bróid - bhí sé déanta agam:

• 8pm: Flann’s Your Only Man, a play based on the life and work of Flann O’Brien, takes place at the Town Hall Theatre this evening.

Cúrsa Bacainní Láibe 5K na Mucky Runners,

• 8pm: Meet Heath from Home and Away, Dan Ewing as he bids farewell to Ireland at Monroes Live on Dominick Street.

Gaillimheach isteach sa phuiteach sa bhforaois

• 8:30pm: A Room With No View, the story of two patients in a mental health facility, Sascha and Jimmy, takes place at the Town Hall Studio.

i bPáirc Foraoise Phort Omna. An lá céanna ar thug na mílte faoi shráideanna Bhaile Átha Cliath chun maratón a rith, chuaigh na céadta álainn, ag tabhairt faoi bhacainní de chuile chineál thar chúrsa 5K, eagraithe ag cumann

For The Craic!

capital, Galwegians of all ages embraced their

come in handy one day. Although I didn’t need to

inner bogman and mucked themselves up over

build a shelter out of twigs or drink my own urine,

5K of strategically placed obstacles in the beautiful

I leapt fearlessly into waist-deep, freezing swamp

forest, courtesy of Portumna FC. Apart from being

water and flung myself under nets, over logs

seriously good craic, there are life lessons to be

and into pitch-black tunnels with all the urgency

learned from taking part in such a challenge. First,

• 9:30pm: Catch the swingin’ style of Benny and the Goodmen at McSwiggans bar in Woodquay.

of a former army reservist. I squelched through

follow the signs and stick to the path. No matter

shoe-sucking mud and bounded over countless

what lies ahead, someone has done it before you.

tree stumps, piled-up branches and muddy

Follow their footsteps. Be fearless. Jump right in

• 9:30pm: An open traditional Irish music jam takes place every Thursday at the Western Hotel on Prospect Hill.

walls. I ducked and dived through spiderwebs

and trust that you will be OK. There are people

of twine and zigzagged through tall trees. I

around you to help, if you just stretch out your

pounded relentlessly down uneven forest paths,

hand. Keep moving forward. People are following

fearlessly ignoring the twelve-year olds rushing

your lead too, so warn them of the pitfalls while

• 9:30pm: Enjoy a traditional session with Liam Naughton and Marie Treasa at Barr an Chaladh, Woodquay.

All musicians welcome.

past me as I scrambled up the final hill towards

showing them how to overcome them. Breathe.

the finish line. I punched the air in victory - I had

Push yourself. Never give up.You’ll fall, look stupid,

completed the Mucky Runners 5K Fun Obstacle

maybe even hurt yourself, but you’ll make it.

Course in Portumna Forest Park. On the same

When you cross that finish line, you’ll be so glad

day as the Dublin City Marathon runners tested

you tried.

• Midnight: Catch Matthew Fox and Dan Phelps at Monroe’s Live along with five piece pop folk band Ruggedwood.

themselves for up to 3 hours on the roads of the

• 9pm: The Byrne Brothers will play live at An Pucan tonight.

30

in GALWAY

I knew all those Bear Grylls documentaries would

Inside every Good Girl.. ..is a Bad Girl

Le Paradis Club GALWAY’S EXOTIC DANCING VENUE 7 Dominick Street Upper, Galway Tel: 091-860556 www.LeParadisClub.com