With only 24 hoursto go until the opening weekend of the 40th Kilkenny Arts Festival there are some really impressive acts taking place from this Friday August 9th. Take a look here and book your tickets today online or by phone on 056 77 521 75 or in person at the box office on 76 John Street, Kilkenny.

Kilkenny Rugby Football Club are hosting the Marble City Sevens Rugby Festival which will take place on the 28th, 29th, 30th June 2013.

This fun filled weekend will see teams from all over Europe and Ireland compete for the coveted title of Marble City 7’s Rugby Champion.

Included in the festivities is a Ladies 7’s competition and a Golden Oldies competition. It is also hoped to host a representative game on the final day against a Kilkenny selection.

We’re delighted to present the world premiere of series two of  Sky 1 HD’s award-winning comedy, Moone Boy, in the company of its co-writers Chris O’Dowd and Kilkenny native Nick Vincent Murphy as well as some of its stars including David Rawle who plays Martin Moone. Scottish prodigy Kevin Bridges will perform some of his only live shows this year at the festival and for the first time there’s a programme for kids and families in the atmospheric Rothe House. Comedy mastermind Dylan Moran returns to Kilkenny for the first time in eight years; we have the European debut of 30 Rock star Judah Friedlander; a one-off performance by Irish comedy pioneer, Kevin McAleer, entirely in the Irish language; and the
Masters series sees living legends Jimmy Cricket and Sil Fox show the young guns how it’s done. Festival veteran Dom Irrera interviews fellow comedians in Uncle Dom’s Fireside Chats in
the medieval Hole in the Wall tavern, which will also play host to the Wildcats emerging talent showcase and Simon Munnery’s satire on modern gastronomy: La Concepta.
There are familiar favourites, prodigal returns and completely new experiences all to be soaked up at The Sky Cat Laughs 2013 in wonderful Kilkenny City.
Drink deep, eat well and laugh out loud responsibly.

http://www.thecatlaughs.com/

If you want to participate, download the application form here
and return the completed version to fergus.horgan@cklp.ie

Kilkenny Musical Society is celebrating the success of their 40th anniversary production of Gilbert & Sullivans Pirates of Penzance.  The show, which is playing in the  Watergate theatre untol Saturday the 13th has been very well received, with local media singing its praises.  You can read the Kilkenny People’s full review here, and tickets can be booked through the Watergate Theatre

The Marble City Pulls Out All the Stops As Kilkenny Launches its Gathering Brochure for 2013

Today, Wednesday, 27^th February, 2013, Kilkenny enthusiastically launched its Gathering Programme for 2013 with a celebratory launch event in The Pembroke Hotel, Kilkenny. Kilkenny Ambassadors Bobby Kerr, Evanne Ni Chuilinn and Darren Holden were on hand to join in the celebrations as the Kilkenny Gathering Steering Committee unveiled its official calendar of events for the Gathering Ireland 2013.

Key highlights from the programme of events include; Tradfest, a feast of traditional music, song and dance full of free events and activities, which takes place on St. Patricks Weekend, 16^th & 17^th March in Kilkenny city and the Castlecomer Dig Deep festival which runs over July and August and will explore the rich mining heritage of Castlecomer and the surrounding areas, and the Crafts Council of Ireland’s celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the pioneering Kilkenny Design Workshops featuring their flagship exhibition in November.

A number of clan gatherings are also planned to take place over the year and will feature family names including Wall, Harper and Coogan.  Other events of note are the Savour Kilkenny Festival of Food, where you can experience 50 shades of flavour from October 24^th-28th, and the Coons This is Who We Are, a week long celebratory event in Coon and Croghtenclogh, featuring a host of events including an operatic recital Ms. Rachel Somers, and a series of plays by local drama group Kilquan Players.  Some communities from around the county are also planning smaller local events like the school reunion in Kilmacoliver.

Sporting associations and clubs will also play their part in The Gathering, with Kilkenny Rugby Football Club hosting the first annual Marble City Sevens tournament on 28^th-30^th of June, Kilkenny G.A.A. welcoming a team from the Indianapolis GAA in July and Castlecomer Golf Club hosting a week of special events for former members in July and August.

Charitable organisations will also benefit from the year of events, with a law enforcement torch run in aid of the Special Olympics, featuring members of the 2013 Special Olympic team.  The event will see international police officers descend on Kilkenny to celebrate the ten year anniversary of the Special Olympics World Summer Games held in 2003.Langtons Hotel will also get into spirit of The Gathering when they host the Hennessy Cup at Mount Juliet to raise much needed funds for the Carlow Kilkenny Home Care Team.  And if that’s not enough, other 2013 Kilkenny Gathering highlights include Kilkenny Arts Festival’s Gathering Voices Choir, the Iverk Show homecoming in August and the Emmigration through the Centuries hosted by Rothe House & Garden in April.

Speaking about the launch; Darren Holden of The High Kings said; “The Gathering is a fantastic initiative, and has the potential to provide a real legacy for tourism in Ireland and Kilkenny. Kilkenny is already very attractive to tourists, with the medieval heritage of the town drawing thousands of visitors to the Castle and St. Canice’s and all of the festivals around the county every year, but it’s wonderful to see so many grassroots organisations getting involved in the gathering and expanding on the all great work that has already been done in the county”.

Also commenting on the launch Kilkenny Ambassador Bobby Kerr said; “People from all around the world feel a great affinity for Ireland, not just recent emigrants but third or fourth generation, who still feel a connection to their Irish heritage. It’s all about getting people together, bringing people back to your own parish and town for that sense of welcome for which Ireland is known around the world.”

For further information, either on attending or participating in The Gathering Ireland 2013, please contact aisling.hayes@kilkennycoco.ie,  thegatheringkilkenny@gmail.com or call 087 6264333 or visit www.thegathering.kilkenny.ie

Download a copy of the Kilkenny Gathering Brochure

Kilkenny Gathering Brochure