“Cats the Musical” to be staged in the Courthouse Theatre, Lismore

Lismore Dramatic Society’s presentation of “Cats the Musical” takes to the stage this month at the Courthouse Theatre from Fri 18th May to Sun 27th May for seven performances.



This musical extravaganza, with a cast of over 40, is ready to bring cheer to all. Rehearsals have been going on in the Courthouse Theatre over the past 4 months and we are looking forward to showcasing the musical talent around Lismore and surrounding areas. The production is directed by Aislinn Celisse Morrissey . The musical numbers and singing this year are under the direction of Liz O'Hara .

Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats is based on Eliot's Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats (1939), which the composer recalled as having been a childhood favorite. The songs of the musical comprise Eliot's verse set to music by the composer, the principal exception being the most famous song from the musical, "Memory", for which the lyrics were written by Trevor Nunn after an Eliot poem entitled "Rhapsody on a Windy Night". The show is completely told through music with virtually no spoken dialogue in between the songs. Dance is also a key element in the musical especially during the 10 minute Jellicle Ball dance sequence which is by cheoragraphed by Vanessa Celisse. The set, consisting of an oversized junk yard, remains the same throughout the show without any scene changes. Lloyd Webber's eclecticism is very strong here; musical genres range from classical to pop, music hall, jazz, rock and electro-acoustic music as well as hymnal songs such as "The Addressing of Cats".Cats premiered in the West End at the New London Theatre on 11 May 1981. The musical was produced by Cameron Mackintosh and played a total of 8,949 performances in London. Its final performance in London's West End was on its 21st birthday, 11 May 2002, and broadcast on a large screen in Covent Garden to the delight of fans who could not acquire a ticket for the final performance. It held the record as London's longest running musical until 8 October 2006, when it was surpassed by Les Misérables.



Come and support the show; book tickets soon.

Admisson is €12.00 with concessions of €6.00. Booking opens on 4th May at Cahill’s, Lismore on 058 53992 daily and on 086-893 8373 from 6.00 - 9.00p.m.

Local artist’s work on display in Lismore Heritage Centre

Lismore Heritage Centre is delighted to welcome an exhibition of artist Andrea Jameson’s paintings at the centre.

Andrea’s works will be on permanent display as part of the centre’s Craft Shop initiative with local artists and craftspeople. With the assistance of Waterford Leader Partnership, showcase cabinets have been installed in the centre’s main corridor. The cabinets allow participating artists to display their work in a public place; Lismore Heritage Centre has a foot fall of approximately 20,000 visitors per year and these cabinets will introduce visitors to local artisan crafts and art. Items from the cabinets, including the paintings, are all for sale through The Craft Shop at competitive prices.

Among Andrea’s paintings presently on display the centre are ‘Lismore Castle, Reflection’, ‘Skyline’, ‘Camilla’, 'Cabin by the River Blackwater' and ‘Marsh Marigold by the River Blackwater.

As part of the Waterford Garden Festival, 1st-13th May, Andrea Jameson will give a tutored class ‘Painting the great outdoors’ in the gardens of Tourin House on Sunday 13th May from 10am-4pm. The class costs €30 and includes a light lunch. Places for the class are limited and booking is essential. To reserve your place please call Lismore Heritage Centre on 058-54975.

Waterford Garden Festival: Beekeeping for Beginners

On Saturday 5th May as part of the Waterford Garden Festival Susie Wingfield of Salterbridge House will lead a ‘Beekeeping for Beginners’ workshop.

This is an informal workshop that will give students an overview of the lifecycle of apis mellifera, the honeybee. After a powerpoint lecture there will be an opportunity to look at beekeeping equipment and to make a frame. After refreshments we will don beekeeping suits and go to the apiary to see a working hive and inspect frames. This will be followed by a walk around the garden to see bee friendly plants. You may like to bring your beesuit, a hammer and your camera. You are welcome to bring a picnic to eat in the garden after the workshop.

Cost €15 Bookings: Susie Wingfield 087 2030763/ The Lismore Heritage Centre 058 54975

Kids’ Cookie Baking Workshops

Let your little cookie monsters learn to make their own treats at a Cookie Baking Workshop this Saturday.




As part of the Waterford Festival of Food, two Cookie Baking Workshops will be held in Blackwater Community School this Saturday 14th April at 10 and 11am. The hour long workshops cost €5 per person and are suitable for primary school children. All ingredients are provided and each budding baker will have a bag of delicious treats to bring home to share!



The baking workshops are kindly facilitated by Catherine Toomey and students of BCS. Tickets are available now from Lismore Heritage Centre on 058-54975.

Follow up your morning’s baking with a trip to the market- Lismore Farmers Market will hold an extended market on the 14th with stallholders setting up shop from 9am. Sonas, the junior musicians from the acclaimed Booley House show, will provide musical accompaniment against the beautiful backdrop of Castle Avenue.

Fit for a king: Lismore’s line up for the Waterford Festival of Food

Learn to prepare a meal fit for a king- or at least a lord- in the kitchens of Lismore Castle as part of the extended Lismore Festival of Food programme for 2012. A select group of participants will enjoy a private tour of Lismore Castle’s kitchen garden followed by a demonstration by the castle chef on Saturday 14th April. To take advantage of this exclusive opportunity call 058-54061 or email rsvp@lismorecastlearts.ie . Places cost €60 and include tastings, recipes and a goody bag!




Depart the castle in time to catch a talk on food foraging at O’Brien Chop House at 4.30pm. Renowned local forager Andrew Malcolm will share his secrets over a lunch of gathered delights and a glass of wine. Tickets, €25, are available from the Chop House on 058-53810.



Lismore Farmers Market will hold an extended Saturday market on the 14th with stallholders setting up shop from 9am. Sonas, the junior musicians from the acclaimed Booley House show, will provide musical accompaniment against the beautiful backdrop of Castle Avenue.



One of the most popular events of Lismore’s Festival of Food- the Children’s Cookie Baking Workshop- makes a welcome return on Saturday morning (14th April). Catherine Toomey, ably assisted by the students of Blackwater Community School, will gather her troupe of junior master chefs for an hour of mixing, making and baking with delicious results! For tickets (€5) and further information contact Lismore Heritage Centre on 058-54975.



The Waterford Festival of Food, Lismore committee thank Lismore Mochuda Development Company, Lismore Farmers Market, Lord and Lady Burlington, Lismore Estates and Lismore Heritage Company for their assistance and support in preparing this April’s events.

Easter Frolics at Lismore Heritage Centre

Bounce into the Easter holidays with 4 fun filled days of camp at Lismore Heritage Centre. Craft your very own piñata to bring home, make and race a Smarties car, build a bird that can tell the weather and enjoy lots more art-y, science-y games and activities.


Easter Camp will be held Monday 2nd-Thusday 5th April 2012. Camp starts at 10am each morning and ends at 2pm. Children can come along for 1 day, 4 days or anything in between! Each day at camp costs €15 and a 4 day week is available at a very special price of €50.

Campers need to bring a healthy packed lunch and drink to keep their energy up. We ask everyone to come along in old clothes because we will be far too busy having fun to keep clean!
Easter Camp usually fills up fast so early booking is advised; call Arlene on 058-54975 or email Akenny@lismoreheritage.ie

Lismore features on TG4’s G Team this Sunday

The West Waterford town of Lismore will feature on next Sunday nights one hour programme of the Irish Language competition AN GTEAM on TG4. Lismore are going head to head with 12 towns across the country in a challenge to win the title of Ireland’s top Irish speaking town in this brand new competition being hosted and filmed by TG4.

Beidh Baile na Leasa Mhóir leirithe ar chlár teilfis AN GTEAM ar TG4 oíche Dé Domhnaigh seo chugainn . Tá Lios Mór ag dul ceann ar ceann le 12 bailte ar fud na tíre i dúshlán chun bhuaigh an teideal”An bhaile labhartha Gaeilge is fearr in Éireann taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht”


Lismore qualified for ‘AN GTEAM’ TG4’s new 10 part series where non-Gaeltacht communities are competing against each other for the opportunity to call themselves GTEAM champions 2011 and win a €40,000 Foras na Gaeilge prize to use to promote their local area.

In their bid for victory, Lismore hosted G -Day (Gaeilge Day) on Wednesday, September 7th last when the TG4 cameras rolled into town to capture a cúpla focal being spoken on the streets of Lios Mór.

I dtairiscint le haghaidh bua, dhein Lios Mór óstáil ar Lá Gaeilge ar an Chéadaoin, 7 lá Meán Fómhair seo caite nuair a thainig ceamaraí TG4 go dtí an bhaile a ghabháil le cúpla focal Gaeilge a chloisint ar shráideanna na Lios Mór.

A carnival atmosphere greeted the camera crew with a host of free entertainment on offer throughout the day. Following the Official Launch on the Castle Avenue, the judges set out to visit the day’s events which included theLismore Farmers Market, an ecumenical service in the Church of Ireland Cathedral, Iománaíocht agus Peil le “Dan”,in Bunscoil Bóthar na Naomh and Fun in the Millennium Park. The afternoon events included Comhrá, spraoi agus amhránaíocht leis na daltaí I bPobal Scoil na hAbhann Móire, a Historical Walking Trail from the Workhouse to the Forge, Amhráníocht i dTeach Charthach Naofa, a recital by the Lismore Choir in St, Carthage’s Home. Lismore’s G-Day concluded with a Gala Evening that included a performance of ballroom dancing in the Main Street and a fashion show. The competition is all about communities making an effort to improve their language skills.

Following on from the G-Day, the judges which included former Minister Mary Hanafin and Glór na Gael’s Lorcan Mac Gabhann retired to the boardroom where our spokesperson James Lenane went head to head with his counterpart from Milford Co. Donegal in the interview stage of the competition.

Will Lismore make it to the next stage of the competition? Tune in on Sunday night at 8.00pm when the result will be announced.

Bigí Linn