
The top ten things to do in Sligo this week, May 14-20: Love Is A Stranger, Ralph McTell & more
There's plenty to keep you busy this week in Sligo if you're on the lookout for a local event to attend.
Below is this week's top pick.
Love Is A Stranger
Another Love Story once again present Love Is A Stranger in Juniper Barn, Ballymote, Co. Sligo on Saturday May 17. Enjoy a carefully chosen selection of contemporary Irish artists & international guests performing across intimate and atmospheric settings throughout the day and into the early summer night. Tickets via eventbrite.
RALPH MCTELL
Legendary British singer-songwriter Ralph McTell will embark on his most extensive tour of Ireland to date in 2025. As a stalwart of the folk scene for over five decades, McTell's music continues to resonate with fans of all generations as he comes to Hawk's Well Theatre on Sunday, May 18.
AOIFE SCOTT
Aoife Scott is a Dublin-born folk singer-songwriter from the renowned Black Family, steadily making her mark in the traditional and folk music scene. Known for her dynamic and emotive vocals, she effortlessly blends traditional and contemporary styles, captivating audiences worldwide. She plays Murphy's in Tubbercurry on Monday, May 19. Tickets via eventbrite.
SUMMERHILL SOUNDS
As part of their annual 'Realising Our Potential' Alumni Series, Summerhill College have announced an exciting upcoming concert that will celebrate the rich musical talent of the school - past and present. This highly anticipated 'Summerhill Sounds' concert will take place on Thursday May 15 in the school gym. Enjoy performances by Manus Maguire, Seamie & Stephen O'Dowd, Tabby, Bacon & Cabbage and more.
GENTICORUM
Music Network presents the acclaimed Québécois folk ensemble Genticorum at Hawk's Well Theatre on Wednesday, May 14. Winners of the 2024 Canadian Folk Music Award for Ensemble of the Year, Genticorum is renowned for their dynamic performances and mastery of traditional Québécois music.
GALA CONCERT
The Rotary Club of Sligo presents a gala concert in the Sligo Park Hotel this Thursday, May 15. The Combined Bands of the Defence Forces will be performing live, accompanied by the stunning vocals of Guest Soprano Rachel Croash. Tickets available from the Sligo Park, The Record Room and The North West Hospice, with funds raised going to the hospice.
LOLA MONTEZ & LADY MORGAN
Join Hawks's Well for a free lunchtime event as part of Bealtaine, in collaboration with County Sligo Arts Service. Lola Montez & Lady Morgan, aka Sydney Owenson, were Wild Irish Girls of The North West, They were singular women who followed their dreams, against the odds, in the early 1800s. Let's eavesdrop on a brief imagined 'Tete a Tete' between these two women in An excerpt from a new work, of the same title. Show takes place at Hawk's Well on Saturday, May 17.
THE CEDARTONES
Lunchtime at the Well series continues with The Cedartones, a talented Sligo-based duo, who will be performing at the Hawk's Well on Wednesday 14th May at 1:10pm. While the event remains 'pay what you can', advance booking is now essential to guarantee a seat due to its overwhelming success.
BUDDY MONDLOCK
Come along and experience a very special evening of music, song and stories with Nashville singer-songwriter, Buddy Mondlock at Coleman Music Centre on Thursday, May 15. Buddy has written songs for many well known artists like Gareth Brooks, Guys Clark, Naci Griffith, Joan Baez, Art Garfunkel and Janis Ian.
MICHAEL
'Michael' an exhibition by potters and artists all of whom worked and learned their craft from the late potter, artist and mentor Michael Kennedy is now open at The Hyde Bridge Gallery, Sligo. The late Michael Kennedy was one of Ireland's leading potters.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Irish Sun
31 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Love Island fans can't believe the age gap between Shakira and Harry as they can't keep their hands off each other
LOVE Island fans are stunned after realising the age gap between Shakira Khan and Harry Cooksley. In tonight's episode of Love Island, things continued to heat up between model 2 Shakira and Harry got close in tonight's episode Credit: Eroteme 2 But fans had a strong reaction after realising the age gap between them Credit: Eroteme But as they explored their potential romance, viewers took to social media to share their thoughts on the fact Shakira is 22 while Harry is 30. One wrote: 'Shakira is 22??? Get her away from Harry and his 30 year old ass immediately!!' Someone else said: 'I just deeped the age gap with Shakira and Harry…' And another commented: 'Harry and Shakira look good together but he is 30.' More on Harry Cooksley But the age gap doesn't seem to be an issue for Harry and Shakira, who made their attraction to each other very clear. Last night Harry found himself caught up in During the first recoupling, Shakira picked Harry - meaning Sophie Lee was left single and immediately sent packing. But fans are convinced that Shakira isn't into Harry and actually has her eye on Blu Chegini. Most read in Love Island Many insisted that One fan wrote: 'Shakira well wanted to pick Conor but didn't wanna send Helena home and for that I kinda respect it. First person dumped from Love Island revealed 'But also she'd suit Conor well better.' Another viewer added: 'No way she picked Harry for any reason other than she wanted the other women to stay… I simply don't believe it.' Love Island 2025 full lineup : A 29-year-old footballer with charm to spare. : A model and motivational speaker who has overcome adversity after suffering life-changing burns in an accident. : A 22-year-old Manchester-based model, ready to turn heads. : A boxer with striking model looks, seeking love in the villa. : A payroll specialist from Southampton, looking for someone tall and stylish. : International business graduate with brains and ambition. : A gym enthusiast with a big heart. : A Londoner with celebrity connections, aiming to find someone funny or Northern. Ben Hullbra : A model ready to make waves. : An Irish actress already drawing comparisons to Maura Higgins. : A personal trainer and semi-pro footballer, following in his footballer father's footsteps. : A towering 6'5' personal trainer. : A 25-year-old Irish rugby pro : Love Island's first bombshell revealed as sexy Las Vegas pool party waitress. : Beauty salon owner from Devon who runs 12 aesthetics clinics, boasting a famous clientele including former Love Islanders Departures : : Axed after an arrest over a machete attack emerged. He was released with no further action taken and denies any wrongdoing.


Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Tom Dunne: Rory Gallagher still rocking Cork 30 years after his passing
You will be hard pressed to avoid Rory Gallagher's presence in Cork this weekend. Thirty years gone but never forgotten. The main road in Cork airport is to be named after him, exhibitions at City Hall and the Library, a city-wide walking trail… it is as it should be. The consensus at this point is that he is Cork's finest cultural export and I wouldn't question that. Time spent in Rory's world is time well spent. It does the heart good. Rory rocked Cork and Cork rocks Rory. I met him twice. The first, when my band Something Happens made its first ever UK appearance in the late 1980s. As part of that magic trip, a very early days Ryan Air flight, a gig at Vince Power's Mean Fiddler, a night in the Columbia Hotel, we were invited onto the BBC. It was impossible to have seen any BBC output in those days without having also seen Broadcasting House, the BBC London headquarters. Situated between Oxford Street and Regent's Park, bombed twice in World War II, it seemed as iconic as the queen herself. It was the last place you expected to hear a Cork accent. But as we approached the doors that was what we heard. 'You an Irish band lads?' asked the voice. We turned and there he was, Rory Gallagher. Bold as brass and twice as good-looking. He asked how we were getting on, seemed genuinely excited that we had signed a record deal, enquired about Virgin, sang the praises of the Mean Fiddler, and wished us the best in our interview. We were gobsmacked, speechless, in awe. I hear his voice still. A few years later we got to play with him at the Lark by the Lee in Cork. We stood side stage to watch that most inspiring of all sights: Rory Gallagher, his 1961 Fender Strat and his Vox AC30 amp. The holy trinity of rock. A spinning dervish, the guitar speaking for him, saying what he couldn't. I still think of it. It comes with a whiff of imposter syndrome for us to have been on that same stage as him, but for him to have made time to talk to us that night at the BBC, the sheer generosity of it, is something I will never forget. I hope in the exhibitions, one of which Rory's Early Impact focuses on his early years in the Fontana Show Band (later The Impact) a light is shone, tangentially at least, on his mum, Monica. If a proper biopic is ever made, hers will be a key role. It was Monica who took Rory and his younger brother Donal to live in Cork when the children were very young. Rory already has his sights set on music and Monica promised to buy him a guitar if he settled in his new school. It was she who accompanied him to Crowley's music shop, then on Merchant's Quay when in 1963 he had his heart set on a Fender guitar. He'd hoped that when faced with Mick Crowley she'd weaken and buy him the guitar despite the exorbitant price of £129. But she stood firm. Jim recalled that once outside the shop there was a conflab and after it, Monica returned to ask if they ever got in any second-hand Strats. Mick told her it was unlikely. He'd only sold two or three such guitars and most people would keep them forever. What happened next is a fantastic reflection on the vagaries of the Irish showband scene at the time. When a member of the Royal Showband found that his new guitar clashed with the band's new suits it was the guitar got hocked and not the suits. Crowley's suddenly had a second-hand Strat. Mick made his way to the Gallagher's and left a message. Rory slipped out of school to examine the guitar and conclude 'Yep, that's the one!' He was back with Monica at 5.30pm to pay a deposit and negotiate a hire purchase. In his showband days, still a young teen and playing gigs while still going to the North Mon school, Rory fell foul of the teachers and was beaten for his long hair. Monica pulled him out of the school and deposited him at Saint Kieran's college, a co-ed on Camden Quay. Monica warned the new principle: 'My son is a musician…some mornings he will be late coming in.' It wasn't off the stones he licked it, as they say.


The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Michelle Keegan lands six-figure deal to become new face of Sky in her first job since having baby Palma
FORMER Corrie star Michelle Keegan has signed a six-figure advertising deal to become the new face of Sky. She is set to film a series of promo clips — which will be shown around the globe — with fellow British actor, Luther star 3 Michelle Keegan has signed a six-figure advertising deal to become the new face of Sky Credit: Getty 3 Michelle's comedy-drama Brassic one of the most popular series to air on the platform Credit: Getty The deal is Michelle's first major job since she gave birth to her She landed the deal after becoming a major player for Sky, with her comedy-drama A source said: 'Michelle has really been enjoying maternity leave with 'She has signed a six-figure deal for the job and is thrilled to have been chosen to appear alongside Idris, who has been their 'face'. READ MORE ON MICHELLE KEEGAN ' 'Landing this ad is huge for Michelle, as she's fast becoming a brand in her own right. "Everything she touches seems to turn to gold.' The actress, 38, found fame as Tina McIntyre on Coronation Street after joining the ITV soap in 2007. Most read in News TV But it was after she left in 2014 her career really took off, with hits such as BBC military drama Last year, she had the starring role as Maya Stern in Netflix's Harlan Coben thriller Fool Me Once — which racked up more than Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan take newborn baby Palma to another luxury hotel as they stay in £21k a night suite The show became the streaming service's most watched series of 2024, beating Bridgerton and Baby Reindeer. Michelle also stars in the BBC's Australian drama The Sun revealed last year that the Manchester-born actress, who is married to Heart radio DJ and former The Only Way is Essex star Mark Wright, 38, was sitting on a Michelle admitted leaving Coronation Street after six years had pushed her onwards to succeed with her career. She said: 'For me, it was a massive learning platform. "I took a long, long time to decide to leave. It was very hard. 'And then, when they told me they were killing off my character and there was no going back, I thought I would never work again. 'My security was ripped away, which made me push forward and work harder.' 3 Idris Elba will join Michelle in leading the Sky brand Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.