Hailed as the the ultimate gig for Pink Floyd fans, last Saturday evening saw Breathe, The Pink Floyd Experience arrive in Limerick.
Following a run of sold out shows in Cork The Pink Floyd Experience brought their new show ‘Dark Side of the Moon – Live’ to Dolan’s Warehouse.
A full house of Floyd fans were eager to experience the psychedelic light show and distinct sound synonymous with the legendary group.
Many of those who attended the gig said they felt like they were listening to the real thing, such was the perfection of the sound and talent of the musicians who make up the group. Breathe was formed back in 2015, borne out of their own love of the group’s music and this passion was evident throughout the evening.
The group of course are no stranger to working with top acts in Ireland with many of them working as session musicians with acts like Clannad, Sinead O’Connor and Gavin Friday amongst others before forming Breathe.
Last Saturday’s nod to Pink Floyd meanwhile featured a much awaited live performance of the iconic ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ as well as a variety of other fan favourites from the band.
The group entertained the crowd in Dolans who had travelled from all over Ireland for the gig with over two hours of music and as you can see from our photos, the fans loved it.
THE last time I visited a Bingo Hall I was eight years-old and spent the night being fawned over by kindly ladies and eating bag after bag of Taytos. Despite my protestations, I wasn’t allowed to play and instead had to content myself with watching the women, silently moving closer to those who’d just won.
But now, twenty-odd years later, a grown man, I can do whatever the hell I like – or at least, whatever my editor tells me to do.
So when I was informed that Stella Bingo was celebrating its fiftieth anniversary and that I was to visit this esteemed venue to mark the occasion, I saw it as an opportunity to rectify the past.
This time I wouldn’t be forced to watch from the sidelines, this time I would play, and this time I would bring my own Taytos, thank you very much.
Naively, I thought not much would have changed in the intervening years. I expected bingo boards, wooden chairs and misfiring pens; what I got was a hi-tech, modernised environment, one complete with comfy booths, touchscreen games, and video display units.
However, the essence remained, it was still a place of friendship and warmth, a place to socialise, have fun and, most importantly, win money. And what money there was. But more on that later.
My chaperones for the night were Yvonne O’Donoghue, her daughter Susan, and their friend, Louise Mulcahy. Coming from Killaloe, they visit the Stella at least one night a week, every week, although Yvonne admits that she would “go seven nights if it was on”.
Stella Bingo is the only bingo they go to, they’re loyal like that.
Given my lack of experience, a quick crash course in the finer arts of bingo was required, a showing of the ropes before the games began. To this end I was given a ‘dabber’. Now I, like you, thought dabbers were people who dabbed, and dabbing was a strange dance practised by flamboyant sports stars when they’re feeling particularly cheerful.
Not so. A ‘dabber’ is a thick marker with a flat, bulky end, it is used to tick off your numbers as they are called. It is an economical piece of kit and a vital part of any serious bingo players’ armoury.
Dabber in hand, I readied myself for the first game and, after a sluggish start, I quickly got into my stride, dabbing like a bingo veteran. Not that it was getting me anywhere. While all around me people ‘waited’ and ‘checked’, I was left scanning my book for ‘lines’ and ‘full houses’, wondering if perhaps I’d been given one with extra numbers on it.
Secretly though, I was relieved.
A bingo hall can be quite an intimidating place if you are in possession of a Y chromosome, and the thought of getting a ‘check’ and having to alert the relevant people quite frankly, terrified me. Already I was getting funny looks from the women in attendance, what would they do if I started crying ‘check’ in my big, manly voice?
Right on cue, as if to assuage my fears, one of the few men in attendance announced that he had a check, and with no little gusto. Seconds later a woman came to give him money, lots of money. From that point forth I decided my shyness would no longer be an issue.
Oh yeah, the money. Jesus, the money. Gone are the days when you earned a crusty oul’ fiver or tin of USA biscuits for a full house, now it’s all wads of fifties and four-figure sums. That’s right, four figures, at bingo! There’s even a wheel you can spin, a lá Winning Streak.
And in a further twist to mark Stella’s fiftieth anniversary, there were bonuses for lines and full houses containing the number fifty. Already lucrative rewards were doubled, multiplied and buffed up, the recipients themselves even unsure of how much they were getting until the money was placed in their hands.
With so much moolah on offer. I expected whoops and hollers of delight to resound around the hall. But it was all very low-key, each mini-fortune was quietly accepted and then stuffed away for safe-keeping – hubby would never know.
I suspected that part of the reason for this magnanimity was that each winner was practically stealing the money out of at least a dozen other players’ hands. How else could you explain the moans of derision which accompanied each and every check?
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In bingo, as in life, there must always be losers, and boy there were losers.
No sooner had the groans and moans died down when the hard luck stories began. The woman in the table opposite had been waiting on the number forty for ages, the sympathy appeared sincere, that number forty could be a bastard at the best of times.
It occurred to me that the majority of the winners were coming from elsewhere in the hall, in fact everywhere in the hall, apart from where I was sitting. Was I a bad luck charm? Had my frequent, inane questions distracted my chaperones? They assured me that neither of these were true, that they “never won” anyway, and by never, they meant never.
Right on cue, the table’s luck changed.
Susan, who had been ‘waiting’ in every single game to date, got a full house, and one with a fifty in it. She was unsure of how much she’d won; barely had she calculated it in her head when the girl arrived with the money – in the interests of confidentiality I will not disclose the amount in question, although in truth, so quickly was it transferred to a handbag that I didn’t get the chance to see it, never mind count it.
It was however, richly deserved, Susan comes here regularly, remember, although not as regularly as her mam, Yvonne, who once ignored all kinds of weather warnings and drove through blizzard-like conditions for her game.
She also had her car stolen on another night, found burnt out the next morning. Yvonne had lots of entertaining stories, so many that the bingo was in danger of becoming an unwelcome distraction.
Such was the level of entertainment that a night which I’d been lukewarm about had flown by. I hadn’t even opened my Taytos! Sustenance was incoming however, in the form of free sweets. A lady circled the room dishing out a variety of confectionary treats, brands I’d forgotten even existed; milky moos, Foxes glaciers, emeralds. So this is where they kept them.
By the second-to-last game, coats were being put on, swift departures required lest someone stiff the winners for a spare twenty. And, as the final check was called and verified, the exodus began. With it came the renewed discontent; if I’d thought the moaning and groaning was bad earlier I’d heard nothing yet.
I stopped for a quick chat with the proprietor, and observed first hand the kind of heckling he was habitually exposed to: “Wasting my time,” whinged one, “never coming back again,” railed another. He just smiled deferentially, well used to it by now. Because, despite their protestations, they would be back, they can’t keep away.
And besides, Friday is Lucky 5’s night, nobody misses that.
SHANNON Rowing Club celebrated its 150 year anniversary with a special 1906 themed Gala Dinner.
The club has held a range of events throughout this year to mark this significant anniversary, culminating in the gala dinner last Saturday evening at The Savoy Hotel. This occasion celebrated the achievements of the club and past members over the last 150 years and was attended by past presidents and captains.
Presentations to the club on the evening from members were World Gold Medals from winners such as Brian Collins, Ken McDonald and Feargal O’Callaghan. Shannon Rowing Club’s newest Irish oarswomen Megan Tully and Megan Carmody presented their Irish home international jersey to club president Dorothy Quinn. Special guests include the club’s oldest active member, past president Noel Clancy.
Meanwhile guests enjoyed a taste of history as they dined on the same menu that featured at the gala dinner back in 1906. There were speeches from Mayor of Metropolitan District Michael Hourigan, president Con Cronin from Rowing Ireland, captain Noel Cunneen. The history of Shannon Rowing Club was given by the club’s trustee, Tony Wallace.
Speaking at the dinner, Dorothy Quinn said: “I’m honoured to be club president on such an important year for the club. We’ve had a great year promoting the club and we’re delighted with the growth in membership. Shannon Rowing Club is such an important part of Limerick’s history and it is great to see that rowing remains popular amongst the younger generations. We are looking forwards to the building of our clubhouse in Annacotty in 2016/ 17 and welcoming in new members.”
Other highlights included music from Limerick City Big Band and later many club members went back to Shannon Rowing Club to finish the evening in style!
LAST Thursday invited guests enjoyed an evening of Italian pizza and prosecco in the relaxed surroundings of Da Vincenzo’s Italian Food and Wine Hall at George Boutique Hotel.
The host with the most, Vincenzo Del Santo was there to greet everyone and was as charming and welcoming as ever.
As everyone mingled with a drink, Vincenzo and his staff were on hand to show us the art of pizza making with his usual great knowledge and pride in all things Italian evident throughout the demonstration.
It was a very entertaining night with audience members invited to join in the fun and create their own masterpieces. However the best bit was when we got to taste Vincenzo’s creations, with delicious fresh pizza for everyone.
As this restaurateur will tell you himself, he was brought up on the tiny streets of Naples where he learned to perfect the art of great pizza and pasta making from his grandmother.
His passion for Italian food is impressive, as is his knowledge of fine wines which he is happy to share with guests who get to savour the flavours and tastes of Italy in an evening at Da Vincenzo’s authentic Italian Food and Wine Hall.
In addition to a great night of fine wine and dining, guests went home with a taste of Italy, courtesy of gift bags with pasta and sauces from the Foodhall’s retail range of take-home goods.
ACTION from Patrickswell’s 19th County Senior hurling title win, secured following a 1-26 to 1-7 win over Ballybrown yesterday afternoon at the Gaelic Grounds. The win means that Patrickswell are now joint top of the club roll of honour with Ahane and will face Glen Rovers of Cork in the Munster Club championship.
SCORERS: Patrickswell: Aaron Gillane 0-7 (5frees), Diarmaid Byrnes 0-6 (5frees), Cian Lynch 0-3, Kevin O’Brien 1-0, Jack Kelleher, Lar Considine and Seanie O’Brien 0-2 each, Mark Carmody and Barry Foley 0-1 each. Ballybrown: Alan O’Connor 0-4 (3frees), Stephen Foster 1-1, Kyle Loftus and Lee Doolan 0-2 each.
PATRICKSWELL: Brian Murray; Thomas Nolan, James Mann, Neil Carmody; Mark Carmody, Diarmaid Byrnes, Nigel Foley; Jack Kelleher, Barry Foley; Aaron Gillane, Seanie O’Brien, Cian Lynch; Lar Considine, Kevin O’Brien, Thomas O’Brien. Subs: John Flynn for Thomas Nolan (55mins), Andrew Carroll for Seanie O’Brien (55mins), Peter Harty for Lar Considine (55mins), Keith Dundon for Neil Carmody (57mins), David Woulfe for Kevin O’Brien (57mins).
BALLYBROWN: Cian Hedderman; Luke Doran, Mikey Kiely, Stephen O’Reilly; Josh Adams, Richie Kenny, Des Kenny; Shane Kenny, Stephen Foster; Bryan Griffin, Lee Doolan, Ross Griffin; David Hall, Kyle Loftus, Alan O’Connor. Subs: Mark Sheehan for David Hall (40mins), Andrew Cliffe for Lee Doolan (40mins), James Hall for Ross Griffin (48mins), David Hartnett for Josh Adams (54mins).
The Golden Age of Hollywood lit up the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum as the fashion and style of Hollywood star Maureen O’Hara was revealed to the public for the first time in a spectacular gala event.
The event, the first in a line of fundraisers to construct the new Maureen O’Hara Blair wing of the museum, was officially opened by the Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Patrick O’Donovan.
Minister O’Donovan gave his commitment to supporting the project that is expected to significantly increase the 60,000 visitor numbers to the poplar west Limerick tourist attraction.
Owing to the generosity of Ms O’Hara’s grandson Conor Fitzsimons, the world’s largest collection of Ms O’Hara’s memorabilia will go on display in Foynes on completion of the new phase of the museums structure.
Hybrid; Limerick Lace Liminal Identity’ reflects the fact Limerick lace is a hybrid lace, it is both a handmade and a machine made lace as the lace is embroidered on a machine made net. This coming together of old and new technology to make something beautiful has been the defining aspect of Limerick Lace. Picture: Alan Place
ONE of Limerick’s hardest working and best known charities reached a special milestone recently.
Limerick Marine Search and Rescue has been serving Limerick for 30 years now providing crucial river based support to the gardaí, fire service and the coastguard.
Back in 1986, sports divers Jimmy Connors and Tony Cusack founded Limerick Marine Search and Rescue after they were asked to help locate a young man who had tragically lost his life in the waters at Parteen. Since then they have inspired hundreds of volunteers to do the same and helped hundreds of families in Limerick in the process.
To mark this very special milestone there was a black tie ball held in their honour at Limerick Strand Hotel last Friday evening.
Chairman Joe Morgan organised the ball which brought together those who have volunteered for the charity, those who work closely with them or have been helped by them, and a mix of business people and members of the local community.
ILoveLimerick’s Richard Lynch hosted the fundraiser and funds raised from the event will go back into the charity which relies solely on donations to carry out its crucial work year in, year out.
Highlights of the evening included a drinks reception on arrival, a delicious three course meal, a charity auction and lots of great music and entertainment.
THIS YEAR’S SuperValu TidyTowns awards for the Midwest and South West region were presented this week at a prize-giving ceremony in the Woodstock Hotel, Ennis, Co Clare. SuperValu TidyTowns winners were presented with their awards by Mr. Michael Ring, Minister for Regional Economic Development, and Niall O’Callaghan, SuperValu Sponsorship & Community Brand Manager, proud sponsors of the competition. Also joining the Minister on stage was Siobhan King of Fáilte Ireland.
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