With a roadmap to reopening now in place, people are starting to make more concrete plans for the year ahead. From click and collect services for non-essential retailers set to resume on Monday and hairdressing and beauty salon doors opening, these small steps towards “normality” are helping us to see that brighter days are coming. With restrictions easing, we’ve gathered together a list of top things to do this weekend from planning a night out at a live (!) gig, to touring around the Irish coastline.
Treat yourself to a “HamsandwicH”
One of Ireland’s most enthralling live acts in recent times, HamsandwicH have just announced a nationwide tour which is set to take place across Ireland from November 2021 to January 2022.. HamsandwicH’s tour kicks of in Kilkenny’s Set Theatre on 12 November 2021, before embarking on a slew of dates to include Galway’s Monroes on 3 December 2021. They are preparing to release their much anticipated fourth album their third album “Stories From The Surface” debuting straight into the Number 1 spot on Ireland’s official album chart, the first time an independent and unsigned Irish act accomplished this feat. Tickets go on sale this Friday 7 May 2021 via www.tegmjr-eire.ie, Ticketmaster.ie and individual venues.
Love Your Coast
Clean Coasts’ 12th annual Love Your Coast photography competition is now open for entries, aiming to celebrate Ireland’s diverse waters by capturing its stunning coastline, beautiful beaches, epic cliff faces, and raging rivers. With a prize fund of €5,000 across five categories: Coastal Heritage, Coastal Landscape, People & the Coast, Wildlife & the Coast and Creativity and the Coast, the competition is open to Ireland’s amateur photographers and coastal enthusiasts until 30th August 2021. Visit Clean Coasts to find out more about the competition and how to enter.
Rock up to Rúibín
Rúibín on the Docks in Galway City Centre is temporarily popping back as a Deli and Wine Shop. Since opening their doors in 2019, Rúibín has quickly joined the illustrious Galway ‘Must eat’ locations and throughout 2020 they kept their customers fed through their local market boxes which champions the best of what is on offer with Irish produce. The Deli will be stocked with homemade filled bagels, Cold and Hot Healthy Bowls filled with fresh veggies, salads, fresh fish, meats and of course all plant-based options. To hit the sweet spot Rúibín bakes will include homemade Sourdoughs, Focaccia, Dulce de Leche Brownies and Cookies. Rúibín are introducing their home line too with house made Marinades, sauces, vinegars and date ketchups. Rúibín is open from Tuesday to Friday from 12noon to 6pm, on Saturday from 11am to 7pm and lunch is available from 12noon to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday. For more information check out www.ruibin.ie/
Watch the Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture Handover
Galway 2020’s title as European Capital of Culture has now drawn to a close with the title passing to Rijeka in Croatia, to Esch in Luxembourg, Kaunas in Lithuania and Novi Sad in Serbia in a special televised handover airing on TG4 and TG4.ie on Friday 7th of May at 7.30pm. This 12 minute programme celebrates just some of the theatre, music, dance, circus and visual arts highlights which happened online and offline. Featuring the work of 600 artists and organisations who participated in the programme since 2020 began, you can expect a breath-taking illumination of the Connemara landscape, colourful performers, fire tours, acrobatics, high wire walking and clips of powerful events specially commissioned by Galway 2020.
Main feature image courtesy of Dreamcatcher Productions
