The well-known New Ross band “the Nomads” will perform for the visiting guests. The Nomads have been playing together since primary school, when their teacher Jackie Stacey inspired a love of music in a number of his pupils. They won many prizes in Slogadh and have been playing together for nearly five decades now. Current members are Sean Connick, Tomas Kavanagh, Dermot Kehoe and David O’Brien.

Special guests will be the Shanbogh Folk, a New Ross group who rose to national prominence in the early 1970’s, when they won the highly prestigious Kilkenny Beer Festival Ballad completion. The Shanbogh Folk revival coincides with their recording of four songs recently and this will be the official launch of their EP. Mary Gorry, Jack Stacey, Tom Walsh and Larry Kirwan have not performed together for many years and their appearance on the stage in St Michael’s will be eagerly anticipated.

‘A Better Sort of Life’ tells the story of James O’Neill from Tinneranny near New Ross, father of Eugene O’Neill. James was a famous actor in his day and the model for the character Tyrone in Eugene O’Neill’s play Long Day’s Journey into Night.

Following the one act play, soprano Clodagh Kinsella will perform a concert featuring her debut single ‘If You Love Me’ and a program that will span genres from folk to country to ballad. Clodagh will be accompanied by Martin Murray on mandala and violin and Gay Brazil on guitar and dobro guitar.

Presenting the return of Wexford folk band, Green Road, from their recent successful US and Irish Tours. Green Road continue to attract packed audiences and on this occasion they are joined by the Niall Toner Band in a concert entitled From the Blackstairs to the Appalachians, a special celebration of Irish American music connections which will explore the unique cross fertilisation of Irish folk music and the bluegrass and country music of the Appalachians.

Eugene O’Neill Foundation Artistic Director and play director Eric Fraisher Hayes along with lead actor Adrian Deane return to New Ross with a cast of five American actors for ‘Anna Christie.’ “We are excited to return to the St. Michael’s Theatre to make great theatre and visit with our Irish friends,” says Hayes. “We are very proud of our Irish and American theatre connections.”

Anna Christie is O’Neills 1922 Pulitzer Prize-winning play about one of his most spirited and memorable female protagonists. The play portrays a woman who fights for self-determination against the expectations of society and the men in her life.