With the Rock of Cashel towering over it on one side and its low elevation in relation to the car park on the other side, only that there is ample signage, you would be forgiven for passing Brú Ború without notice.
But, to do that, you would miss out on an amazingly varied cultural community experience. An arts centre with many different roles, Brú Ború was originally built as a Comhaltas regional centre and this is still part of its portfolio to this day. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of the music, song, dance and language of Ireland.
However, there are many other strings to Brú Ború’s bow, not least a 250-seat theatre, a gift shop, a bar and an interactive exhibition, among other rooms used for community meetings and classes.
Administrator Ronan O’Brien shows Irish Country Living around the building. It is spacious with all the necessary mod cons, but there is still a very traditional feel around the place.
The theatre, Ronan explains, has two functions: community and commercial. In its community capacity the theatre is used by various local groups to showcase talent and hold events. Commercially, the theatre hosts touring productions. This latter function creates the necessary funds for the theatre to be financially viable and its programme is packed year-round.
“We do need the commercial side of course to stay open, but where possible we try to be as user-friendly to community organisations as possible,” says Ronan.
“If we can get 250 people through the door, there are going to be a fair percentage of them that have never been here before. They’re not here to see traditional music, it might be The Crooners here tonight, but we are delighted that they are here to see something.
“They become aware then and tell someone else. The theatre acoustically is just phenomenal. If anyone with any type of a voice at all stood on that stage, you would project it out to that theatre.”
Sounds of history
Brú Ború also boasts an all-encompassing exhibition on Irish history. Sounds of History is located underneath the ground floor of the arts centre, seven metres all-in-all below the Rock. Ireland’s cultural heritage across 3,000 years is explored and there is also a 12-minute movie on the history of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. This is open primarily during the summer months and can be booked for groups at any time. Sounds of History costs €5 for an adult and €3 for a child.
For more information on Brú Ború and to see a list of upcoming shows, visit www.bruboru.ie.
Read more
Local theatre series: An Grianán Theatre
Local theatre series: St Mary’s Theatre, Rossmore
With the Rock of Cashel towering over it on one side and its low elevation in relation to the car park on the other side, only that there is ample signage, you would be forgiven for passing Brú Ború without notice.
But, to do that, you would miss out on an amazingly varied cultural community experience. An arts centre with many different roles, Brú Ború was originally built as a Comhaltas regional centre and this is still part of its portfolio to this day. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann is an organisation dedicated to the promotion of the music, song, dance and language of Ireland.
However, there are many other strings to Brú Ború’s bow, not least a 250-seat theatre, a gift shop, a bar and an interactive exhibition, among other rooms used for community meetings and classes.
Administrator Ronan O’Brien shows Irish Country Living around the building. It is spacious with all the necessary mod cons, but there is still a very traditional feel around the place.
The theatre, Ronan explains, has two functions: community and commercial. In its community capacity the theatre is used by various local groups to showcase talent and hold events. Commercially, the theatre hosts touring productions. This latter function creates the necessary funds for the theatre to be financially viable and its programme is packed year-round.
“We do need the commercial side of course to stay open, but where possible we try to be as user-friendly to community organisations as possible,” says Ronan.
“If we can get 250 people through the door, there are going to be a fair percentage of them that have never been here before. They’re not here to see traditional music, it might be The Crooners here tonight, but we are delighted that they are here to see something.
“They become aware then and tell someone else. The theatre acoustically is just phenomenal. If anyone with any type of a voice at all stood on that stage, you would project it out to that theatre.”
Sounds of history
Brú Ború also boasts an all-encompassing exhibition on Irish history. Sounds of History is located underneath the ground floor of the arts centre, seven metres all-in-all below the Rock. Ireland’s cultural heritage across 3,000 years is explored and there is also a 12-minute movie on the history of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. This is open primarily during the summer months and can be booked for groups at any time. Sounds of History costs €5 for an adult and €3 for a child.
For more information on Brú Ború and to see a list of upcoming shows, visit www.bruboru.ie.
Read more
Local theatre series: An Grianán Theatre
Local theatre series: St Mary’s Theatre, Rossmore
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