THIS week at The Ardhowen, stand-up comedian, Neil Dougan presents his new show ‘Heretics and Head the Balls’ on Friday night in the Gallery Bar and, one of Ireland’s most popular singers, Louise Morrissey, returns on Saturday.

HERETICS AND HEAD THE BALLS

Stand-up comedian, Neil Dougan attempts to compress over 500 years of culture into his new one-man show, ‘Heretics and Head the Balls’.

A regular on BBC NI’s ‘The Blame Game’ and a familiar face in comedy clubs throughout the UK and Ireland, Neil’s subjects range from revolutionary reformists to bonfire builders, The Four Musketeers and a tribe of Native American Orangemen, even Rasputin gets a mention.

With his mix of incisive political satire and acute comical observations on everyday life, Neil Dougan is not to be missed on Friday at 9pm in the Gallery Bar.

Please note, this show contains adult references and is strictly for over 18s only.

LOUISE MORRISSEY IN CONCERT

Louise Morrissey and the Ryan Turner Band make a welcome return to The Ardhowen for a special concert in aid of Bawnboy Heritage Group on Saturday at 8pm.

Louise Morrissey has long been one of Ireland’s favourite female vocalists, with her easy style of country and folk, she is regarded by many as having one of the best singing voices this country has ever produced.

Accompanying Louise is the wonderful Ryan Turner Band featuring Ryan Turner on piano and accordion, Joe McNamee on pedal steel guitar and lead guitar and John Doherty on drums.

Support act for the evening are Éiru, a Celtic fusion of Irish traditional and folk with modern elements.

This promises to be a great evening, celebrating the very best of Irish country folk music.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

On Friday, September 2 and Saturday, September 3 at 8pm, the long established and successful amateur drama group, Holywood Players presents ‘First Things First’ by comedy playwright and actor Derek Benfield.

Pete and George are old friends. So much so that George has been Pete’s best man at both of his weddings.

Pete, now happily married to Sarah, is appalled when George arrives with the news that his first wife Jessica was not killed in a climbing accident as they had thought but is alive and well and keen to resume her life with Pete!

This unexpected revelation leads to a series of hilarious situations as they try to find a way out of this desperate plight without upsetting either of Pete’s wives or his second wife’s domineering mother.

MAKING IT HOME

‘Making It Home’ tells the story of 11 ex-soldiers from the Great War who came to live and farm on Cleenish Island in Upper Lough Erne.

Based on research carried out by Bellanaleck Local History Group with support from Fermanagh Trust, this evocative film looks at how these men, many bearing the physical and mental scars of war, attempted to create for themselves and their families a new beginning in this beautiful, but isolated, place.

Post WW1 practical schemes were needed to help demobilised soldiers settle into everyday life and integrate them back into society.

The housing scheme on Cleenish was one of many on the island of Ireland to cater for 80,000 returning soldiers, providing 12 houses, each with 30 to 40 acres of farming land. Of the 12 veterans selected, only one lived out his days there, his son and daughter now the sole inhabitants of the island.

Bellanaleck Local History Group is a cross-community group devoted to studying, recording and raising awareness of the heritage of the local community.

Join them at The Ardhowen on Friday, September 9 at 8pm for a chance to see this fascinating story.

THE INDIANS IN CONCERT

One of Ireland’s longest established bands, The Indians, make a return visit to The Ardhowen stage on Saturday, September 10 at 8pm. ‘Big Chief’ lead singer Raymond Kelly (Geronimo) is joined by Eamonn Keane (Sitting Bull) on keyboards and accordion, Kevin McKeown (Long Arrow) on drums, Brian Woodfull (Crazy Horse) on bass guitar and Tommy Hopkins (Dull Knife) on lead guitar. Performing on stage with the band will be special guest, ‘the original Big Chief’, Flaming Star - Noel Brady.

COMING SOON

William Caulfield presents a night of ‘Country and Comedy’ on Friday, September 16 and Borderline Players celebrate their 10-week summer programme of arts and drama activities in ‘Shooting For The Stars’ on Saturday, September 17. Also coming up this September are ‘The Legends Of American Country’, ‘Bjorn Identity’ and ‘Songs From The Heart – A Celebration of Women Singer-Songwriters’.