Led by O’ Brien, who manages to be humble and princely at once, Villagers have enamored crowds pretty much everywhere with the clarity, lyrical intensity and emotional tug of their music. Becoming a Jackal was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize 2010 and Villagers have honed their live performances everywhere from Jools Holland to the Electric Picnic.

As part of the autumn:winter collection 2010, a series of intimate shows at the Daghdha Dance Space in St John of the Cross Church Limerick, Eightball.ie are delighted and excited to announce that Villagers will be playing their only Limerick date this year at Daghdha Space on Friday December 17.

An early Christmas treat you won’t want to miss, tickets for Villagers autumn:winter collection appearance at Daghdha Space are limited to 250 so book yours soon.

Eightball.ie proudly presents Declan O’Rourke, Bell X1 & Villagers as part of ‘the autumn:winter collection’, a series of shows at Daghdha Space, St John of the Cross Church, Limerick. Tickets for all shows are limited to 250 and are available in advance from Euro Empire, O’Connell Street, Limerick on 061-317211.

Stay tuned to eightball.ie for up-to-date details & more autumn:winter announcements.

Directions to Daghdha Dance Space, Limerick

The Irish Times’ Fintan O’Toole is one of our best journalists, and at this time of ultimate crisis, has been a rare voice of reason, intelligence and genuine concern for the future of this country and its people. On the release of ’Enough Is Enough’, his latest book proposing a solution to our considerable ills, he brings his debate tour to Daghdha Space hoping to start a vital conversation. Along with his invited panel guests, Fintan is hosting select debates around the country, inviting the audience to discuss where we should go from here. Just in time, we’ve a lot to talk about…….

‘Ship of Fools’, Fintan O’Toole’s controversial no.1 bestseller, was a brilliant account of why the Celtic Tiger died such a spectacular death. In ‘Enough is Enough’, O’Toole offers a way forward for this small and intensely creative country. He detonates the five myths that govern Irish life, from the notion that politicians properly represent their constituents and ‘get things done’, to the dangerous idea that Ireland in the early 21st century became one of the richest countries in the world. Each of these myths is held up to the light and shown to be false, and positive suggestions are offered as to how the existing institutions could be reformed. He proposes five fundamental ‘decencies’ that should guide this reform process and argues forcefully that Ireland’s future depends on such change.
At a time when the IMF have stepped into the country to take control of our economic policy, and, by default, our social, health, education and numerous other policies, Fintan O’Toole’s debate tour was added to the autumn:winter collection series in St. John’s Church. The series has been home to some of Ireland’s finest musicians, including Glen Hansard, Damien Dempsey, Bell X1 and Villagers, and now welcomes one of our finest writers.
Fintan O’Toole is one of Ireland’s most respected and controversial political and cultural commentators, and an acclaimed biographer and critic. Seamus Heaney said of him…. “Good journalists like Fintan O’Toole are the ones to look to if you want your lifelines to the contemporary reopened or the jump leads to your ethical sense connected up.” Take the opportunity to listen and talk.

Fintan O’Toole is at the autumn:winter collection at Daghdha Space, St. John’s Church, Limerick on Thursday, December 16, with doors at 8pm. Tickets  are available in advance from the University Concert Hall box office on 061-331549 or www.uch.ie. Check www.eightball.ie for full & further details.

Fans of Bell X1 who caught their last acoustic set in the L.I.T. Millennium Theatre a couple of years back know what to look forward to as the trio traverse a decade of inspiring tunes that comprise their back catalogue along with a few surprises to make this show something different.

Eightball.ie are delighted to bring Bell X, Declan O’ Rourke and Villagers to Limerick as part of our autumn:winter collection 2010, a series of shows at Daghdha Space, St John of the Cross Church, Limerick,  with more dates to be announced soon.

Tickets for all shows are limited to 250 and are available in advance from Euro Empire, O’Connell Street, Limerick on 061-317211.

Stay tuned to eightball.ie for up-to-date details & more autumn:winter announcements.

Visit Bell X1’s Website                |                        Directions to Daghdha Dance Space

The dates for these shows are:

Mary Black             Friday, September 24

Mick Flannery        Sunday, October 24

The Wolfe Tones    Monday, October 25

Check liveatthedome.com for full details and book your tickets through the tickemaster.ie

Declan O’ Rourke launches eightball.ie’s autumn:winter collection of intimate live shows at Daghdha Space on Saturday September 25th.

To win a pair of tickets to email dave@eightball.ie with the answer to the following question: Declan O’ Rourke is signed to which label?

“Singing in a velvet-tinged bartitone with a killer falsetto….it’s a rare gift that his music can bear comparison with so many classic era troubadours, Fred Neil, Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen while still sounding so completely original” Nigel Williamson, Uncut
Declan O’Rourke used to be one of Ireland’s best kept secrets, but rave reviews for his debut album ‘Since Kyabram’, a growing international fanbase and an enviable collection of eminent devotees, including Paul Weller, Snow Patrol and Kate Rusby, have quickly changed that.

On its release in Ireland, ‘Since Kyabram’ reached double platinum status and garnered Hot Press magazine’s ‘Best Debut Album’ award. A major record deal with V2 and a publishing deal with BMG followed, as did patronage from his peers – invitations to support Snow Patrol at Marlay Park in Dublin, Teddy Thompson on his UK tour, The Divine Comedy for dates in Germany and the U.K., and to perform at the legendary 100 Club at the request of Paul Weller.
The buzz is growing, based on the simplicity of great songs and a unique voice. Declan’s lyrics touch on all aspects of the individual, his songs focus on the centre of everyday emotions and his voice irresistibly draws the listener in. He has an understated charm, a quick-wittedness that make him highly endearing live and equally at home playing to one person as he is to thousands.
From the opening melody of ‘No Place To Hide’, the first song on ‘Since Kyabram’, to the final key of ‘Marrying The Sea’, Declan’s ability to tell a story unfolds. Each track on the album gives a feeling of being part of a collection of short films; the connecting thread being Declan’s flowing and dreamy lyrics. The album embodies the roots of his Irish heritage, but also has a distinct rock edge, reflecting, in part, his time spent in Australia from age fourteen to his return to Ireland four years ago.

Eightball.ie proudly presents Declan O’Rourke, Bell X1 & Villagers as part of ‘the autumn:winter collection’, a series of shows at Daghdha Space, St. John of the Cross Church, Limerick.

Tickets for all shows are limited to 250 and are available in advance from Euro Empire, O’Connell Street, Limerick on 061-317211.

Stay tuned to eightball.ie for up-to-date details & more autumn:winter announcements.

Declan’s Website

Directions to Daghdha Space

Eightball.ie proudly presents ‘the autumn:winter collection’ a series of intimate shows at Daghdha Space, St. John of the Cross Church, John’s Square Limerick. The first three shows to be announced as part of the series are Declan O’Rourke on Saturday September 25, Bell X1 on Friday, November 19 as part of their national acoustic tour, & a very special date with Villagers on Friday, December 17.

Taking advantage of a perfect room for live music, eightball.ie have announced Declan O’Rourke, Bell X1 & Villagers as the latest to join the list of artists eager to experience both the special atmosphere of the room enjoyed by an audience of no more than 250 people. With more dates to be announced in the coming weeks, this trio of performances follows an impressive list of shows to date which has seen The Swell Season, Lisa Hannigan, Damien Dempsey, Tommy Tiernan, Donal Dineen and Andrew Maxwell all step onto the John’s Church altar.

Declan O’Rourke used to be one of Ireland’s best kept secrets, but rave reviews for his debut album ‘Since Kyabram’, a growing international fanbase and an enviable collection of eminent devotees, including Paul Weller, Snow Patrol and Kate Rusby, have steadily changed that.

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the release of their debut album, ‘Neither Am I’, Bell X1 are undertaking a special acoustic tour of Ireland this November which will see them return after a long hiatus to some of the venues they played on that first album tour.

Villagers have already had a huge year with the release of their debut album, Becoming A Jackal in May which went straight to Number 1 in Ireland and was nominated for this year’s Mercury Music Prize.

Eightball.ie proudly presents Declan O’Rourke, Bell X1 & Villagers as part of ‘the autumn:winter collection’, a series of shows at Daghdha Space, St. John of the Cross Church, Limerick.    | Directions to Daghdha Space

Tickets for all shows are limited to 250 and are available in advance from Euro Empire, O’Connell Street, Limerick on 061-317211.

Stay tuned to eightball.ie for up-to-date details & more autumn:winter announcements.

Among those also confirmed for upcoming Live at The Dome shows are Mary Black, Mick Flannery and The Wolfe Tones, with more to be announced in the coming weeks. All show details and full information about Live at The Dome is available at www.liveatthedome.com, along with regular updates through the venue’s facebook page and mailing lists. David Morgan, Stadium Director at Semple Stadium spoke following the Live at The Dome launch. “We’re delighted with both the show that Rodrigo y Gabriela put on and the reaction we got to them and the venue as a whole. People really seemed to enjoy it, and the comments after the show were all about how it was great to have events like this on the doorstep in Thurles. Personally, I’m a big Sharon Shannon fan, and really looking forward to her show. I wouldn’t be as familiar with Declan O’Rourke, but we’re working to cater for all audiences in The Dome, and I know he has a very big following around the country, so I’m looking forward to that show as well. We hope people enjoy these shows as much as the launch, and look forward to welcoming back the people of Thurles and all over Tipperary again and again.”

Sharon Shannon has music at her fingertips….literally! The accordionist has achieved legendary status throughout the world and has succeeded in making the accordion ‘cool’. Renowned for her collaborations, not just in Irish traditional music, but through all musical genres including Hip-Hop, Cajun, Country and Classical, Sharon has recorded and toured with a who’s who of the Irish and Global Music Industry, including Bono, Adam Clayton, Sinead O’Connor, Jackson Browne, John Prine, Steve Earle, Mark Knopfler, The RTE Concert Orchestra, The Chieftains, The Waterboys, Willie Nelson, Nigel Kennedy, Alison Krauss and Shane MacGowan - a list that is testament to Sharon’s versatility as well as talent. She has entertained US President Bill Clinton and Irish Presidents Robinson and MacAleese and more recently The Sultan of Brunei in Australia. Sharon records and produces her albums at her own studios, ‘Poets Corner’, outside Galway, along with owning her own record label, The Daisy Label.

The genre-defying star has had multi-platinum album sales and has had several number one albums, singles and DVDs here at home. A prolific composer, Sharon is currently writing an album of traditional tunes for full Concert Orchestra arrangement and scored the music for the recent Neil Jordan film ‘Odine’, which starred Colin Farrell. 

Sharon’s last album ‘The Galway Girl’ has gone 4 times Platinum in Ireland and the title track has won the Meteor Award for most downloaded song for the last two years. The 2009 Meteor Awards honoured Sharon as the youngest ever winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Declan O’Rourke used to be one of Ireland’s best kept secrets, but rave reviews for his debut album ‘Since Kyabram’, a growing international fanbase and an enviable collection of eminent devotees, including Paul Weller, Snow Patrol and Kate Rusby, are rapidly changing that. On its release in Ireland, ‘Since Kyabram’ reached double platinum status and garnered Hot Press magazine’s ‘Best Debut Album’ award. A major record deal with V2 and a publishing deal with BMG followed, as did patronage from his peers and invitations to support Snow Patrol at Marlay Park in Dublin, Teddy Thompson on his UK tour, The Divine Comedy for dates in Germany and the U.K., and to perform at the legendary 100 Club at the request of Paul Weller. The buzz about Declan O’Rourke is growing, based on the simplicity of great songs and a unique voice. Declan’s lyrics touch on all aspects of the individual, his songs focus on the centre of everyday emotions and his voice irresistibly draws the listener in. He has an understated charm, a quick-wittedness that make him highly endearing live and equally at home playing to one person as he is to thousands. From the opening melody of ‘No Place To Hide’, the first song on ‘Since Kyabram’, to the final key of ‘Marrying The Sea’, Declan’s ability to tell a story unfolds. Each track on the album gives a feeling of being part of a collection of short films; the connecting thread being Declan’s flowing and dreamy lyrics. The album embodies the roots of his Irish heritage, but also has a distinct rock edge, reflecting, in part, his time spent in Australia from age fourteen to his return to Ireland in recent years.

The Sharon Shannon Big Band and Declan O’Rourke play ‘Live at The Dome’ at Semple Stadium, Thurles on Friday, August 20th and Saturday, August 21st respectively in association with Tipp FM, The Tipperary Star, The Anner Hotel and eightball.ie. Tickets are available from ticketmaster.ie and from Lar Na Pairce (0504-22702). Check www.liveatthedome.com and all local press for full details.

Taking advantage of a perfect room for live music, eightball.ie have announced Declan O’Rourke and Bell X1 as the latest to join the list of artists eager to experience both the room and an audience of no more than 250 people. With more dates to be announced in the coming weeks, these two shows follow an impressive list of shows to date which has seen The Swell Season, Lisa Hannigan, Damien Dempsey, Tommy Tiernan, Donal Dineen and Andrew Maxwell all step onto the John’s Church altar in the last 18 months.

Declan O’Rourke used to be one of Ireland’s best kept secrets, but rave reviews for his debut album ‘Since Kyabram’, a growing international fanbase and an enviable collection of eminent devotees, including Paul Weller, Snow Patrol and Kate Rusby, are rapidly changing that.

  On its release in Ireland, ‘Since Kyabram’ reached double platinum status and garnered Hot Press magazine’s ‘Best Debut Album’ award. A major record deal with V2 and a publishing deal with BMG followed, as did patronage from his peers – invitations to support Snow Patrol at Marlay Park in Dublin, Teddy Thompson on his UK tour, The Divine Comedy for dates in Germany and the U.K., and to perform at the legendary 100 Club at the request of Paul Weller.

 The excitement around him grew, based on the simplicity of great songs and a unique voice. Declan’s lyrics touch on all aspects of the individual, his songs focus on everyday emotions and his voice irresistibly draws the listener in. He has an understated charm, a quick-wittedness that make him highly endearing live and equally at home playing to one person as he is to thousands.

Celebrating the 10th Anniversary of the release of their debut album, ‘Neither Am I’, Bell X1 are undertaking a special acoustic tour of Ireland this November which will see them return after a long hiatus to some of the venues they played on that first album tour.

Having just played a key slot on the Main Stage at Oxegen 2010, the band are looking forward to stripping things back and performing songs from the entire catalogue as well as debuting some new ones. News of a similar tour in North America were released earlier this week. Bell X1 have spent most of the year writing songs for their 5th Studio Album — due for release in Spring 2011.

Tickets for the eightball.ie’s autumn:winter collection at Daghdha are limited to 250 and are available in advance from Euro Empire, O’Connell Street, Limerick on 061-317211.

Semple Stadium celebrates the ‘Live at The Dome’ launch with special guests Rodrigo Y Gabriela, the million album-selling acoustic guitar supremos who arrive in Thurles fresh from both Glastonbury and a very special appearance for Barack Obama at The White House. Support on the night comes from Wallis Bird, recent winner of the Meteor Awards ‘Best Irish Female’. These two acts are the first of a host of Irish musicians and comedians making their way to Thurles in the coming months.

Among those also confirmed for upcoming ‘Live at The Dome’ shows are Declan O’Rourke, Sharon Shannon, Mick Flannery and The Wolfe Tones, with more to be announced in the coming weeks. All show details and full information about ‘Live at The Dome’ is available at www.liveatthedome.com, along with regular updates through the venue’s facebook page and mailing lists.

David Morgan, Stadium Director at Semple Stadium spoke of his excitement about the ‘Live at The Dome’ launch. “Semple Stadium has a great and well known history of staging live music, and we’re looking forward to all the acts that will be visiting Thurles over the next few months. It’s great for the stadium, the town and the county to have acts like this playing on our doorstep. We’re looking forward to welcoming audiences from all over the county to Thurles for some great nights and great gigs.”
David is also delighted that ‘Live at The Dome’ have secured Rodrigo Y Gabriela for the venue’s first show, one of only two gigs that the band will play in smaller Irish venues this year. The Mexican acoustic rockers are back in Europe for a series of high profile festival appearances, including Glastonbury, T In The Park & Latitude in the UK. In between the mega-stages and wristband world of the big tents and even bigger fields, Rod & Gab have made some space to let their fans get up close and personal. Their busy schedule in Europe and America sees them playing to audiences of thousands every night, making this a rare opportunity for the native Mexican duo to play such shows in their adopted country.

With over a million albums sold to date, Rodrigo y Gabriela will be showcasing material from their current album ‘11:11’, which has gained them fans as diverse at Metallica to President Obama. Rodrigo y Gabriela were invited to play The White House in Washington DC in June for the President and Mrs. Obama, only the second state dinner the Obama’s have hosted at The White House, and one which saw them share the stage on this occasion with Obama favourite Beyonce.

The intimate black tie gathering of around 200 guests was a dramatic contrast with Rod & Gab’s recent Radio City Music Hall show in New York, where they played to a sold-out audience of 6,000. 

Support on the night comes from Rod Gab’s Rubyworks label mate Wallis Bird, who was named best Irish Female at the Meteor Irish Music Awards in February 2010, winning the category ahead of other artists such as Laura Izibor, Julie Feeney, Valerie Francis and Dolores O’Riordan.

Rodrigo Y Gabriela launch ‘Live at The Dome’ on Tuesday, July 13th, in association with Tipp FM, The Tipp Star and eightball.ie. Tickets are available from ticketmaster.ie and from Lar Na Pairce (0504-22702). Check www.liveatthedome.com and all local press for full details.