photo opportunityMake a point of checking out new work by 15 young photographers at The Back Loft, part of the La Cathedral Studios on Augustine Street, just off Thomas Street, in Dublin next Wednesday to Sunday.
All but one of the photographers are Irish and many present their work in unusual ways. There will be an installation by Daniel Graham, and Niamh Grimes will use models and constructed sets (left). Darran Murray will exhibit a short video documentary - a silent film about his family who are all, with the exception of himself and his brother, deaf or have impaired hearing. Daniel Holfeld's work is of Barbour Campbell Threads in Belfast, the largest linen factory in the world, before the building was converted to apartments. Prints start at €350. The point of the show is to promote photography as art and give these artists a platform. See www.galleryofphotography.ie/events/factory112.html. Eoin Lyons
daytrotterKeeping up with the world of indie music websites can be tiring. From Pitchfork (www.pitchforkmedia.com), to Stylus (www.stylusmagazine.com) and on to Stereogum (www.stereogum.com), it's ever-expanding. Stepping into this breach also is US site Daytrotter (www.daytrotter.com). Adding their own twist on the usual diet of MP3 downloads, insider news and very serious music criticism of bands you often haven't heard of, all artists featured on Daytrotter pay a visit to a recording studio in the appropriately named town of Rock Island, Illinois. Here they record some exclusive music - brand new tracks, alternative takes and cover versions - all then available to download for free from Daytrotter. Not only that, but they have dispensed with the standard-issue band photo; instead a crack team of illustrators lovingly renders all your favourite obscure indie bands. See www.daytrotter.com. Larry Ryan
campaigning celebsWhat do Cillian Murphy, Gráinne Seóige, Neil Hannon and Katy French have in common? Duh! Rockthevote, like! As the election finally draws nigh, the US-born campaign - featuring Leonardo DiCaprio and Justin Timberlake - to drive young people to the ballot box has been launched in Ireland with a gaggle of our own home-grown celebrities drafted in to get the youf out on election day. Mundy, Dara O'Briain, Rick O'Shea, Neil Hannon, Jenny Huston and even Dan and Becs have already been edited into neat little youtube-friendly packages to get the youngsters voting. There are more to come, promising to feature the likes of Colin Farrell and, eh, Bosco. Justin Timberlake eat your heart out. For more information, see www.rockthevote.ie. Fiona McCann
a thing of splendourProject Arts Centre is taking bookings for the Irish premiere of Splendour, an intriguing, critically acclaimed play set in a totalitarian regime on the verge of collapse. The story centres on four women - the dictator's wife, her friend, a photojournalist and her translator - as they wait in the dictator's palace for his return and as the revolution gathers pace outside. Written by award-winning young Welsh playwright Abi Morgan and directed by up-and-coming Irish director Rachel West, it also has an impressive all-female cast, Ingrid Craigie (right), Jane Brennan, Amanda Douge and Mary Murray. Raw theatre company's Splendour runs from Thursday, May 24th to June 9th at Project Upstairs, 39 East Essex Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2, with a low-priced preview on Wednesday, May 23rd. Tickets cost €20/€14 or €10 for the preview. Book on 01-8819613/4 or see www.project.ie. Eimear McKeith
opera on tourOpera Ireland is staging both its spring shows at the RDS Concert Hall in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, this season (due to the ongoing Gaiety renovations) and will be touring outside Dublin for the first time in 20 years, with both productions visiting University Concert Hall in Limerick.
The first opera, directed by resident artistic director Dieter Kaegi, is Donizetti's Don Pasquale, a classic comic opera, featuring (below) Silvia Colombini as Norina and Marcel Vanaud in the title role. The second opera is Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte, which sees the debut direction of Pan Pan Theatre Company's Gavin Quinn who recently directed the Chinese language version of Playboy of the Western World in Beijing.
The high camp staging of Cosi Fan Tutte, originally set in 18th-century Naples, is likely to raise the temperature at both venues, with sexy costumes, scantily clad footballers and female doctors stripping off to reveal French maid costumes. Both productions are designed by Bruno Schwengl. RDS Concert Hall Dublin, May 25th-June 2nd; University Concert Hall Limerick, June 7th and 8th. Opera Ireland Box Office, 01-8721122. Tickets €35-€75. www.operaireland.com. Michael Kelly
jazz meets trad Diddly eye meets doo bop? Hardly a match made in heaven. But what if the traditional musicians involved are Irish fiddler Martin Hayes and long-time collaborator guitarist Dennis Cahill, and they are teaming up with Grammy-winning jazz legend Bill Frisell (right)? Find out at Vicar Street in Dublin tonight when the three musical talents come together for one of three Ireland-only performances. The trio kicked off their jazz-meets-trad shows in Glór, Ennis last night and finish the run at the Cork Opera House tomorrow. Fiona McCann
male order Choosing a face to represent a cosmetics company is a tricky business at the best of times. But when you are trying to attract the male market, the choice is even more difficult. He must be suave and sophisticated enough to appeal to the women, but also oozing male charisma to get the men of Ireland to think that applying an anti-ageing cream to their face is a good idea. Enter actor Clive Owen (left), who ticks all the right boxes, and is anything but a sissy. Resolutely masculine, he is starring at a Lancôme counter near you. The new fragrance is called Hypnôse Homme and the Lancôme Men skincare even includes an anti-ageing eye cream. Sons of Ireland, you've come a long way. Phyl Clarke
designed to please Next weekend's Interior Design Show at the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, is the third time the event has been staged. It has grown proportionally and this year's show is three times bigger with almost every good interior retailer in the country taking a stand to show off their wares. The best thing about this show is that it's selective. Designer Helen Mason - the guiding force behind the show - has pulled together the best of what's out there. That doesn't mean everything is wildly expensive - far from it. There's a mix of products from Irish companies and designs from international brands: some are practical, others inspirational. It's not an exaggeration to say that you'll find whatever you've been searching for for your home, whether custom-made or off-the-shelf. This year the show is also presenting awards for retail, living, hotel and public spaces. Judges include Amanda Cochrane, editor of Image Interiors, and architect Arthur Duff. The show runs from Friday to Sunday. Admission is €10. See www.interiordesign2007.ie. Eoin Lyons
mad for mozzarellaIt's made in Italy on Monday, shipped on Tuesday and arrives at my front door, packed in dry ice, on Wednesday, but I've got to wait until Friday to eat it - what could it be? Buffalo mozzarella, handmade in Campania by Antica Casearia Serra within two hours of the milking process, is unlike any other mozzarella I've had outside of Italy, and it's available to order online from Esperya (last orders by Sunday for delivery the following Wednesday/Thursday). As well as large (500g) and small (250g) balls of mozzarella, there are also mini-cheeses and a very swish braided variety, all of which cost around €9 per 500g. Air freight to your door costs an additional €30, but for that you can ship up to 10kg of product. My most recent order included four large and two small cheeses, six bottles of wine, three types of risotto rice, three boxes of artisan pasta and a chianti wine vinegar, and it still came in under 10kg (the total price including shipping was €152.49). The wine, by the way, was a Sicilian white, La Segreta bianco by Planeta, first recommended to me by a sommelier in Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant in London where, needless to say, it cost a lot more than the €8.90 Esperya is selling it for. You can also order fresh and cured meats, sauces, preserves, sweets, coffee, olive oil and beer. www.esperya.com Marie-Claire Digby
new leaf Artist Dave West was born and raised on the Welsh coast, but is now living in north Co Dublin. His exhibition at the Blue Leaf Gallery in Marino, Dublin 3, has an emphasis on coastal images. Born in a town built on a declining shellfish industry, West says that he is "drawn in particular to the coastal towns of north Co Dublin and their working harbours, with their ebb and flow of human activity, all besieged by the overpowering forces of the sea and weather". The result explores the impact of light and colour on the scenes to eerily beautiful effect. The exhibition runs at the Blue Leaf Gallery until May 24th. www.davewest.ie. Shane Hegarty