A new arts centre is to open in Carlow later this month, providing a place for music, theatre, exhibitions and more for the midlands town.

VISUAL Centre for Contemporary Art and The George Bernard Shaw Theatre will opens its doors on Saturday, September 26th with a celebration involving music, food, fun and festivities from noon until 11.30pm. The Hothouse Flowers, Tumble Circus, Aspiro Choir and the Irish Modern Dance Theatre will all perform on the day, as will Limerick band Size2Shoes, who described the venue as “a piece of Manhattan in the midlands” and “Ireland’s Tate Modern”.

Theatre manager Róisín McGarr was similarly excited about the centre’s opening, and particularly about the programme of events planned for the day. “This is a landmark building that deserves a bumper opening celebration,” she said. “The day should be an eclectic mix that will appeal to people of all ages.”

Go see for yourself.