Time to rock at Townhall Arts Centre this January

A number of exciting productions are on the schedule for the Townhall Arts Centre this month.

‘I Can’t Believe It’s Not Ireland!’ is on the bill for Saturday, January 25, with curtain up at 8pm. Join Paddy on a hilariously insightful journey through the history of partition and the Ireland of the future... Imagine this. It’s 2032.

The people have spoken on both sides of the Border and Ireland is a brand new 32-county country. There’s a new flag. A new anthem. There’s even a new capital!

As Unionists holiday in the south, discovering the imperial joys of ‘Royal’ Dublin - southerners discover the ancient landscape of Ulster beyond the retail outlets of Newry and Titanic Belfast.

Magical things happen when you create a new country - where EVERYTHING is on the table - and it’s exciting. Leave all your preconceptions at the door. It’s not a United Ireland. It’s not an ‘agreed’ Ireland. It’s not ‘shared’ - nor is it ‘new’.

It’s simply- ‘I can’t believe it’s not Ireland’! But first...we have to get there!

When Ireland Rocked

Another exciting production will grace the stage on Friday, January 31, again at 8pm.

When Ireland Rocked is set from 1973 to 1987 during a period of great musical discovery in Ireland. With the emergence and dominance of the electric guitar, a revolution and fusion of musical styles occurred creating a signature Irish Rock sound. The music resonated far and wide, energising the youth of Ireland and inspiring future generations of musicians to follow. Focusing on this golden era, we celebrate the bands, musicians and their songs from a time ‘‘When Ireland Rocked’’ the world!

It features the virtuoso guitar skills of Pat McManus of Mama’s Boys, outstanding vocals of Cormac Neeson of ‘The Answer’ fame and a supporting cast drawn from some of Ireland’s finest musicians.