07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Drama at Anaverna, new EP from Finnian and art exhibitions
This year's offering is a swashbuckling adaptation of Treasure Island which reimagines the classic tale with an Irish twist, featuring the legendary Pirate Queen, Grace O'Malley. Audiences will follow young Jim Hawkins on a quest to save their family-run B&B, discovering hidden treasure, dodging mutiny, and belting out catchy sea shanties along the way. But when gold is on the line, the biggest question remains—who can you really trust?
The cast features Mark Anthony O'Reilly as Jim Hawkins, Sane McCabe as Doctor Livesey, Ceara Carney as Gráinne Mhaol/Grace O'Malley, Anthony Kinahan as Double Crossing Dan and Fiona Keenan O'Brien as Granny, Baby Face O'Brian and Polly the Parrot.
Packed with music, laughter, and heart, this high-energy production is perfect for all ages. The show runs from Wednesday August 6 to Sunday August 10, with shows at 1pm, 3pm and 5pm plus an extra show on Saturday at 7pm.
Tickets will not be available in Anaverna House and must be pre-booked online or at Box Office.
Tickets are €15 / €10 / €40 Family pass (2 adult + 2 child tickets OR 1 adult + 3 child tickets) (plus €1.50 booking fee per ticket per person) and can be purchased from our box office on Crowe St., over the phone on 042 9332332 or online at
New EP from Dundalk's Finnian
Dundalk singer-songwriter Finnian has released a new EP entitled Travelling, which was recorded live to tape at Blackmountain Studio in the Cooley Mountains.
This a six-track collection of songs blending folk, alt-country, and cinematic storytelling
Travelling captures a raw, atmospheric sound rooted in authenticity and emotional honesty.
The songs span upbeat foot-stompers to sparse, haunting ballads—balancing light and dark, joy and sorrow. Lyrically, the EP explores themes of longing, loss, accountability, and reflection, delivered through vivid, character-based storytelling and soulful vocal performances.
Two tracks were co-written with Finnian's close friends and former Ceithre Cinn bandmates: award-winning songwriter Ciaran Lavery and acclaimed writer/producer Matt McGinn—adding a layer of creative chemistry and trust to the project.
Anchored in analog warmth and lyrical depth, the EP is Finnian's most personal and mature work to date.
Finnian is already known for his rich blend of folk, alt-country, and Americana influences. With a focus on honest storytelling and soulful delivery, his music captures both the intimacy of lived experience and the scale of universal emotion. To date, he has released one critically acclaimed studio album Under The Influence along with several singles as a solo artist and as a member of the group Ceithre Cinn
The EP is available on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp.
Landmarks: A Louth Journey
Landmarks: A Louth Journey, is a a new solo exhibition by Dundalk artist Tracy Fry, which opens on Wednesday, August 7 at Creative Spark's Downtown Hub, Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk.
Tracy studied Fine Art Printmaking at the National College of Art and Design and is known for her diverse work in printmaking, painting, and art made from salvaged slate.
Her collagraph prints are often inspired by landscapes and science, exploring the invisible nano world and intricate patterns found in nature.
In this exhibition, her work offers a compelling visual exploration of County Louth's rich landscape and cultural heritage, inviting audiences to rediscover the county through an artist's eyes.
Combining her signature collagraph printmaking techniques with abstract map elements and expressive landscape imagery, Tracy examines themes of place, memory, and belonging. Drawing from historical maps, field sketches, photographs, and personal experience, she constructs a layered narrative that is at once mythological, historical, and deeply contemporary.
"I've always been fascinated at maps and how they can show the impact which mankind has on nature,' she told The Argus previously. 'When you look at maps you can see evidence of where we are and how we have transformed the landscape.'
"I grew up down by the Quay and my grandfather was the station master of the old railway station at Quay Street. I remember looking at the old maps that he had."
Each artwork in the exhibition becomes a tactile meditation on Louth's quiet beauty and layered past. As borders blur and landscapes unfold, the exhibition reveals a county alive with story, spirit, and subtle transformation.
Tracy also creates commission landscape and portrait paintings, as well as unique jewellery pieces and gifts from slate. Her portfolio includes statement resin maps, symbolic copper art, and Ogham jewellery, with themes of nature and Irish heritage frequently woven into her designs. Her work merges topography with texture, creating modern pieces with timeless appeal.
Each artwork becomes a tactile meditation on Louth's quiet beauty and layered past. As borders blur and landscapes unfold, the exhibition reveals a county alive with story, spirit, and subtle transformation.
Tracy's work can also be seen in the travelling Louth Craftmark Designers Network exhibition Reveal/Conceal currently on display at The Cowshed Gallery, Farmleigh, Dublin until August 15.
Louth Plein Air Art Exhibition
Earlier this summer, artists from around the country travelled to take part in the Louth Plein Air festival organised by Louth artist Leonors Reilly.
The locations for this year's event were Anaverna House in Ravensdale, in north Louth and Baltray village and beach in the south of the county. Both locations offered the artists stunning picturesque scenes to paint and capture the essence of the day.
Now, 40 paintings by 31 artists that took part in the festival have been selected by Paul Hayes, director An Tain Arts Centre, for exhibition in The Basement Gallery.
The exhibition features works by Joanna Cartwright, Orla Barry, Shauna Swords, Marie Kelly, Karina Guseva, Shauneen McKenna, Natalia Yakymets, Olga Byrne, Lynsey McKernan, Marta Feeley, Daria Ivanishchenko, Seamus Collins, Dana Sorokino, Charlotte Reid, Noella Manley, Marian Witcher, Des Downes, Joan Moroney. Terry Fitzgerald, Caroline Yeates, Rita Boyle, Irina McAuley, Jamie Johston, Eoin Flanagan, Cora Buckley, Kevin O'Brien, Donna McGee, Paul Boyle, Stephen Andrews and Yvonne Pettitt.
The exhibition is open to the public from Thursday August 7 to Saturday August 23 .
