Stories, Songs, Harps for 10 Days

Sorry, very last minute with this stuff


but a lot of wonderful things going on this weekend
and during the next 10 days


In this news ........


-  2nd Farmleigh International Festival of Story and Song
-  2009 Yeats Festival Season
-  Healers & Bards Gathering : Lunasa
-  2009 Boyle Arts Festival
-  O'Carolan Keadue
-  Keash Garland Sunday


2nd Farmleigh International Festival of Story and Song


Already kicked of yesterday but I'm on my way there
right after I write up and send this to you.


Irish Storytelling has its roots in the Celtic Bardic Tradition,
where legends, poetry and history were recited to the
accompaniment of the harp.


During this festival there are three storyteller songster harpers
of note, Robin Williamson, Helen Davies, and Fionnuala Gill,
will accompany storytellers and singers from
Iceland, Wales, Germany, Scotland and Ireland.


Of course the highlight for me, and many, is bard,
Robin Williamson, present an evening of Celtic Tales in
the Farmleigh House Ballroom tonight, Saturday, from 8:00 pm. 


Robin is providing a children's session outside by the Fountain at
2:30 pm on Sunday.


Forecast today is amazing, but for Sunday not so good
so I imagine this session will move indoors.


Ireland and Iceland have strong cultural connections both in history
and in our shared stories of the otherworld. Sigursbjiorg Karlsdottir
travels here to share these oral stories of the far-north with us for the first time.
German born Suse Weisse retells with honesty and passion the great tales
of the European Folk tradition. This is a rare occasion to hear Mary Medlicott,
a warm and engaging teller of the myths and legends of her native Wales.


Máirín Mhiclochlainn, from Connemara, will tell stories in Irish,
many of which she learned from her father, Beartla Ó Maoileoin of Ros an Mhil.  


From mid-day and throughout Saturday and Sunday, there will be
stories and songs in selected spots in the beautiful gardens and estate
of Farmleigh. Singers sessions will take place on Saturday and Sunday
afternoon in the Old Kitchen.


The Courtyard will be the setting of a mini-marathon of tales from the
Storyhouses and Yarnspinning clubs throughout Ireland,
reflecting the vibrancy of the local art of storytelling.
The folklore of Lúghnasa will be explored by Miceál Ross and, once more,
the period rooms in Farmleigh House will be the setting for a reading of
a Dublin ghost story by the Gothic storyteller Sheridan Le Fanu (late of nearby Chapelizod.)


All events are free. 


To get your copy of the program
http://www.celticways.com/pdf/farmleigh2009.pdf


To read more about the event from the web site
http://bit.ly/Farmleigh


2009 Yeats Festival Season


The 2009 Yeats Festival is now in in Sligo
Claire Roche performs on Wednesday, July 29th,
at 8:30 pm with poet Eavan Boland
at the Sligo Methodist Church


You can book tickets, 10 euros, for this event online here
http://www.meetup.com/harpsandbards/calendar/10806625/


Of course there are a lot of wonderful events to enjoy
at this festival which started yesterday, Friday, July 24th
and is running until August 15th


Other names of note are
Seamus Heaney
Greg Delanty
Dennis O'Driscoll
Julie O'Callaghan
Joan McBreen
Sinead Morrissey
Moya Cannon
Declan Foley
Peter MacDonald
Justin Quinn
Leontia Flynn
Maurice Harmon
Micahel Longley
Peter Fallon
Vona Groake
Allan Gillis


Jack B. Yeats exhibition of Sligo Paintings
Cat And The Moon play by W.B. Yeats
each afternoon at The Factory


A full programme can be browsed from here ...
http://www.yeatsfest.com/week1.html


Healers & Bards Gathering : Lunasa


I'll provide more news of this nearer the event
but we are having a special Lunasa Gathering
at our Two Worlds Labyrinth and our cottage in Co. Sligo
on Sunday


If you are within distance of sharing with us on this Sunday afternoon
please have a look at what we are doing here ......


http://www.meetup.com/twoworlds/calendar/10806668/


Some people have also just asked if we can do this on
Sunday August 2nd  and others on Monday August 3rd.
Claire with songs and harp will be at the cottage both days to share this


So also check out this link
http://www.meetup.com/twoworlds/
to sign up for news of future Get Togethers
such as the short notice of August 2nd and 3rd above.


So the Lunasa theme and celebrations will run through
August 2nd, 3rd and 9th.


We are heading up Carrowkeel Cairns on Aug 4th
and Shannon Pot and Cavan's Burren on Aug 5th too.


2009 Boyle Arts Festival


Our local Boyle Arts Festival kicked off on Thursday
with a bang on Thursday evening with over 1000 people
turning up for the Saw Doctors in ceili.


Still to come between today, July 25th and July 31st are


Emer Kenny - singer harpist
The Mullkerrin Brothers - songs and dance
Junior Davey - bodhran workshop
Nual ni Chonchuir - writer
Gerard Butler - sean nos singing workshop
Sploar Drama Group - At The Black Pig's Dyke play
At The Racket - Irish music group
Dermot Layden - writer
Dublin Shakespeare Co. - The Raven Lunatic play
Derek Molloney - tenor in concert
Ross Scanlon - tenor in concert
Puppet Theatre - The Gingerbread Man
Lunfardia - music
Rough Deal String Band - music
Helene Hutchinson - soprano in concert
Ican Ilic - piano concert
Ploughboys - music
Mary O' Malley - poet
The Irish Sopranos - in concert
Bill Stewart Quintet - in concert
John F. Deane - poet
Cafe Orchestra - music with food
Eleanor Tierman - comedy


.... and many more not mentioned


More about 2009 Boyle Arts Festival can be found here ....
http://www.boylearts.com/programme.htm


2009 O'Carolan Harp Festival Keadue


This Festival honours the famous Harper and composer
Turlough O'Carolan and includes Concerts, Set Dancing Céilís,
Harp Recitals, Lectures and Music sessions.


Harpers and traditional musicians world wide arrive in Keadue
for this annual festival which this year is from
Friday July 31st until  Monday August 3rd


In this festival ...


Matt Molloy, John Carty, Arty McGlynn in Concert
Eleanor Shanley in Concert with Frankie Lane & Paul Kelly
Concert of Harp and Song with Eamon & Orla Daly, Liam Purcell & Friends 
Céili with Matt Cunningham
Ceili Dancing Classes with Tutor Mary Conboy. 
Traditional Music and song with Shaskeen
Music Session - featuring Liam Purcell & Friends
Traditional Music and Song with Best Foot Forward
Harp Display - by Harp Maker Colm O'Meachair


More about 2009 O'Carolan Harp Festival can be found here ....
http://www.harp.net/Keadue/KeadueIndex.htm


2009 Garland Sunday Festival, Keash, Co. Sligo


our local village festival,
and, alas, I will not be able to make it this year
due to being at Farmleigh


However, this is so worth popping into.


Its only on during the afternoon and evening of
Sunday July 26th


This comes from the ancient Lunasa tradition.


lots of sports and games
dog show
vintage cars and tractors
local crafts
lots of local traditional music and dancing


Close to Carrowkeel Cairns and Morrigan's Céis Coarran mountain
that the village is names after


This is also the same day as the barefoot pilgrimage of
Croagh Patrick in Co. Mayo, which is also connected to the
old Lunasa first harves celebration when Croagh Patrick
was called Croagh Lougadh


So if you are in Co. Sligo
do visit Keash and pop into their very colourful and fun packed
Garland Sunday Festival this Sunday afternoon and evening,
July 26th 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How Irish Peat Bogs Created Mythology

May news, our performances this month, book and cd latest

April News