Panto is back; two years is a long time for Rathdowney to go without its annual staple event. The first was in 1986, which for many is nearly a lifetime ago. It’s been a while since I “treaded the boards” of the Community Centre but while I was there, I managed to amass some 13…
The Finn’s Electric Picnic Diary
Hugh’s Diary: 9.00am: Whoop, whoop!! The day has finally come. The Lecky Picnic, or better known as the Electric Picnic. We’ve known about this for months now but we were sworn to secrecy so we only announced it last week, this is a big-ass deal. Now, what T-shirt am I gonna wear? I need a…
Finn-ishing off the Summer in Style!
There’s no stopping The Finns of late. The summer has been good to the Laois duo as they have appeared in festivals and gigs galore and are fast becoming global sensations in the Irish Folk genre. This summer alone has seen the Conoboro Combo play gigs in Massachusettes, the Vantasival Festival, Cullohill’s The Folly, The…
Council still shunning the Sionann Saga
The saga around the statue to be installed atop the newly enhanced Church Street is gathering momentum with each passing day. The initiative is being driven by a broad diversity of people from across Athlone’s community and beyond who are lobbying the Council to reconsider the current design on the basis that it misrepresents Athlone’s…
Lismore says”No! to the hatred!”
A welcoming event that was set to be hugely positive was disrupted by what can only be described as a small right-wing faction. While their vapid dull diatribe is not worth repeating, we can all take unequivocal solace in the words of the chair who closed the event. You can listen by clicking HERE ❤
What is Labradorite
💚💙✨Labradorite 💚💙✨ (Third Eye Chakra – hold to forehead & tell it your thoughts) This Crystal is best for bringing past experiences that may be causing emotional problems up to the surface Balances & Protects your Aura Repairs Broken Hearts 💖 ✨💫 Considered by mystics to be a Crystal of 🎆 Transformation & Magic ✨💫…
And the beat goes on….
First published in the Rathdowney Review 2017. This is an annual book created by a number of people in the local community of Rathdowney Co. Laois that celebrates the achievements and news from the previous year. The following is an article on two of Rathdowney’s favorite sons, The Finns. By John Madden Back in 1992,…
‘On the Couch’ with John Tynan, Jnr
It’s funny when you pass people several times a week that we never really get to know the person. I met John several times over the last few months as our paths crossed, mostly down to the fact that we both operate out of the same building some days. We always greet each other with a…
‘On the Couch’ with Sandra Hewitt
Many of us will have heard of Tourette’s, and while we have heard of it, there is still a lack of understanding of what exactly it is and what it means for the person living with the condition. We’ve all seen the TV programmes and movies that have characters with Tourette’s and more often than…
“On the Couch” with Councillor Michael O’Brien
Join us and listen to this thoroughly enjoyable interview. For those of you outside of the Longford/Westmeath Constituency who do not know the name, Michael is an Independent County Councillor from Moate, Co. Westmeath. In the interview, we delve into the world of localised politics, how he became involved with politics and his vision for the…
‘On the Couch” with Michael McDonnell
Anybody who has been in Athlone over the past 25 years will have seen the amazing and unique piece of the tourist industry here in Westmeath, that is the Viking Tour boat. Michael McDonnell, a Tralee man originally gives us a fascinating insight into the history of this boat and how a Kerryman came to be…
A pint (or two) with Ciarán and Hugh A.K.A. The Finns
A musician’s life certainly isn’t all beer and skittles. Yeah, of course, at times it looks uber glamorous and many’s an audience member will pedestalise the profession but the job is not without its’ challenges. The old adage goes, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your…
John's Miscellany Hub 