Customs and Traditions of the Festival Days in the Irish folklore calendar, beginning with St. Brigid’s Day (1 Feb).

Bairbre Ní Fhloinn Lecturer in Irish Folklore. U.C.D.

Wed 25 Jan 2012 8pm

Governor’s House, Millmount, Drogheda

February 1st is St. Brigid’s Day (Lá ‘Le Bríde) and in Irish tradition is the first major festival day of the year; a day on which ancient customs and rituals, probably going back to the old Celtic Quarter DayImbolc (pron. “Ivvolg”), are still practiced in many parts of the country. Leading folklorist Bairbre Ní Fhloinn, lectures on this and on the other festival days throughout the year in the Irish calendar which were marked by special rituals or customs, and tells us of their origins and associations and their international connections.

Bairbre Ní Fhloinn lectures in Irish Folklore in University College Dublin. Her research interests include occupational lore, folk belief and associated narratives, and aspects of the work and history of the National Folkore Collection, including Travellers and their traditions. She has also been active in the field of vernacular architecture and had a particular involvement with the Heritage Council’s Mayglass Project in Co. Wexford. She has contibuted to many radio and television programmes over the years, and has also studied folklore abroad, in Helsinki and in Sardinia.

Have a go at making your own St. Brigid’s Cross on the night!

Old Drogheda Society bookstall on the night.

www.millmount.net 041 9833097

The song has been composed by local singer/song writer Jimmy Johnstone. There will be a programme for the launch that will include the display of Jewish religious items which have been discovered in Dundalk.

Stanley Millen will chair the proceedings, and will have his booklet ‘Jews, Germans and other refugees in Dundalk’ available for sale on the night.

Coinciding with the exhibition a conference highlighting the nature of Viking longphorts will be held the weekend of October 22nd and 23rd at the Town Hall Theatre. With speakers from Ireland and Britain the conference will highlight the importance of the discovery of the Linn Duachaill site at Annagassan, making comparisons with other sites located throughout the country, as well as several sites in Britain.
Amongst those scheduled to contribute include Dr. Donnchadh Ó Corráin (UCC); Dr. Eamonn Kelly ; Dr. Howard Clark, Dr. Cathy Swift (University of Limerick), Dr. John Sheehan (UCC), Dr. Mark Clinton, Dr. Gareth Williams (British Museum) and Linzi Simpson. The weekend will also feature a guided tour of the Annagassan site.
A conference fee of €45 will be charged, this includes conference lunch and banquet at the Crown Plaza (an alternative price of €20 will be charged for those who do not wish to attend the banquet). More information about the conference may be had by contacting Brian Walsh at 042 9327056.

Awakening the Celtic soul though Music

Dolores Whelan M.Sc. M.A

The wonderful recovery of the traditional music of Ireland and the blossoming and innovation that has occurred over the past 60 years, not only in Ireland but all over the world is truly amazing!

This music flowed out into the world in all kind of ways, positively affecting the many people who have come to love this music.

This poses a question for me   “What if this awakening of the music is but the first phase of the awakening of the ancient spiritual tradition and power of this country, which has until now, been hidden in the mist of time?”   This question begs another question.    What might be the consequences in Ireland and in the world if ,we as a people ,decided to search and recover other layers of the Celtic spiritual tradition with the same dedication and enthusiasm invested in recovering the tradition music of this country?

And what if this is the great challenge of our time?

This musically illustrated talk will explore

* The deep connection between Music and Spirituality

*Central aspects of the Celtic spiritual tradition

*Simple ways to recover the essence of this tradition within our daily lives

 
Celebrate Heritage Week 2011 with a summer’s evening of music in the unique setting of the Great Hall, Beaulieu House, Co. Louth on Friday 26th August at 7pm. Arrive early and enjoy a strole through the magnificant walled garden and explore the car museum, opened especially for your pleasure by Beaulieu House. Sit back and relax to Desmond Earley’s performance of two French harpsichord works. The Tredagh Singers will then entertain you with a selection of choral works. The evening will conclude with a delightful performance by Eoin Dillon, Graham Watson, Steve Larkin and Daire Bracken with a selection of modern and 18th century Irish traditional tunes.

Refreshments served at the interval kindly sponsored by The Wine Buff Drogheda.

This concert has been generously supported by Louth County Council and An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland.

Tickets (must be prebooked) €25 from www.antaisce.org and 086 2746153.

For more information go to www.musicroomreflections.com
 

Monday February 28th  2011 at 8pm

Droichead Arts Centre, Stockwell St, Drogheda.

Admission  15/12 euro.  Proceeds  in aid of  Drogheda Cares at Christmas

A multimedia event commemorating ‘Nearest the South Pole’, an illustrated lecture  by Sir Ernest Shackleton based on the Nimrod South Pole Expedition given in the Rotunda Buildings, Dublin on February 21st 1911.

During the evening various aspects of both the Antarctic and Arctic regions will be explored and also a spotlight will be cast on the lives of the great Irish explorers Ernest Shackleton and Francis Leopold McClintock (The Lord Franklin Expedition) along with music – theatre, illustrated talks, poetry, song and contemporary newspaper readings. ‘Where a single footprint lasts a thousand years’ , a piece of music-theatre, composed by Michael Holohan and performed by Donal O’Kelly,

Simon O’Dwyer and Michael Holohan will round off the evening’s proceedings.

A unique group of participants will include

Jonathan Shackleton  …………….      relative, biologist, explorer.
Neale Webb  ……………                    relative, actor.
Dermot Somers …………………….   explorer, writer, broadcaster.
Donal O’Kelly………………………  playwright, actor.
Joseph Woods ………………………  poet.
Gerry Cullen  ………………………   singer, ex. Voice Squad.
Breifne Holohan…………………..     guitarist.
Simon O’Dwyer………………….      musician, Prehistoric Music Ireland
Michael Holohan…………………      composer, musician

Supported by  The Friends of the Rotunda, Dublin City Council, Dublin Unesco City of Literature,  The Shackleton International Autumn School, Droichead Arts Centre,Louth County Council.

Contacts: Droichead Arts Centre 041-9875140,  041 -9833946
info@droichead.com       www.droicheadartscentre.com
marketing@droichead.com
gabrielleholohan@yahoo.com
Michael Holohan    041-9839798    087-2139109

May bank holiday weekend – Friday 30th April to 3rd May 2010.

The Drogheda Arts Festival has announced another exciting and varied programme for the 2010 Festival kicking off on Friday 30th April.   The festival, which runs over the May bank holiday weekend, will host an exciting lineup of local, national, and international artists including the first visit to Ireland by acclaimed Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina, a world premiere of a work by Conall Quinn from Upstate Live, music, visual art, family fun and outdoor celebration, and lots more.  There is only one place to be this bank holiday weekend – Drogheda!

Friday 30th April will see the official opening of the Festival in the Highlanes Gallery.  The Marienbad Palace, a visual art exhibition curated by Jacqui McIntosh is divided between two venues in the town, the Droichead Arts Centre and the Highlanes Municipal Art Gallery.  ’The Marienbad Palace’ brings together works by Laura Buckley, Diana Copperwhite, Jorge De La Garza, Alicja Kwade, Haroon Mirza and Ian Monroe. The exhibition, which includes collage, painting, sculpture, installation and video, takes its title from JG Ballard’s 1989 short story ‘The Enormous Space’ and Alain Resnais’ seminal 1961 film ‘Last Year in Marienbad’.  The exhibition explores ideas of reality in a world where virtual reality is always competing with accepted notions of time and space.  ‘The Marienbad Palace’ has been commissioned exclusively for Drogheda Arts Festival.

Over the past few years, Louth Contemporary Music Society has brought world renowned composers to Louth, including Arvo Pärt, Philip Glass, Terry Riley and Valentyn Silvestrov.  This year they are delighted to welcome Russian composer Sofia Gubaidulina to the town as part of the Drogheda Arts Festival. One of the world’s greatest composers, Sofia Gubaidulina will visit Ireland for the first time to attend a concert celebrating her work. Entitled The Fire and the Rose: the Music of Sofia Gubaidulina, the concert which will take place in St Peter’s Church, Drogheda on May 1st, and will be preceded earlier in the day by the showing of a film on her life and work in the Droichead Arts Centre

Also Saturday 1st May West Street running through the heart of the town will become ‘West Street Wonderland’ for one day only!  The Festival aims to revitalize for this day some of the empty spaces on the street, transforming Drogheda’s main artery with music, outdoor performances, and workshops.  The emphasis will be on participation and fun, with opportunities for all ages to engage with artists and theatre practitioners.

The other side of the river on Saturday and Sunday will see the Drogheda Spring Food Festival, located on the Waterfront, Scotch Hall.  Experience this two-day mini-festival of food offering the tastes and delights of the local food connoisseurs, a farmers market, craft butchers, restaurant tastings, ‘grow your own’ demonstrations and wine seminars.

Theatre and performance also feature strongly in this year’s programme.

-          UPSTATE LIVE presents the world premiere of  THE ONES WHO KILL SHOOTING STARS A new play by Conall Quinn (winner of the Stewart Parker award), directed by Paul Hayes.    This is a highly original entertaining and surreal tale of love and death set on a County Louth beach during World War II.   Absurd, bleak and hilarious in equal measure, THE ONES WHO KILL SHOOTING STARS is commissioned by Drogheda Arts Festival, and will undertake a short national tour after its festival performances.

-          A double bill from award-winning dancer/choreographer Claire Cunningham showcasing her exceptional dance technique and impressive power. ME (Mobile/Evolution) is a show woven from humorous stories; about doctors and dancing, bikes and ballet; all threaded together and balanced upon, hanging from, spinning on and swinging on crutches.   ***** The Herald

-          Cirque de Légume will bring their award winning new show The Cirque de Légume to Drogheda. Marvel at the Veget- animal! Enthrall at the Leek of Power! Fantasize over the Onion Strip Tease! WINNER Bewley’s Theatre Award – Dublin Fringe Festival 2009 and NOMINATED Best Male Performer – Dublin Fringe Festival 2009.

-          Community involvement is a key element of the Festival and this year Droichead Youth Theatre will bring the audience on a special journey through Secondary School in a site specific theatre piece in St Mary’s Diocesan School.

The Festival once again offers a very strong music element. As well as the much anticipated visit by Sofia Gubaidulina, the other music elements will include:

-          Acclaimed South Korean born pianist YOUNG-CHOON PARK performing on the magnificent grand piano in St Peter’s Church Drogheda.  Young- Choon Park will be introduced by sports commentator and Lyric fm presenter, George Hamilton. “…individually refreshing, while demonstrating real passion and style as well as outstanding technical proficiency…”   Sunday Times

-          Music Changes Lives – the young musicians from the acclaimed RTE factual series come to Drogheda to perform at the Barbican Centre.  Accompanies by other young music ensembles, this concert promises to be an opportunity to hear great music, and act as an inspiration for all children to explore their musical talents

-          Dervish, who will perform for one night only on Monday 3rd May as part of their 21st anniversary celebrations.

-          Grammy Award-nominated musical duo, Zero 7 (also nominated for Best British newcomer at the 2002 Brit Awards) with support by Andrew K (External Sounds) & Rob Mullen (External Sounds).

-          DJ Ashley Beedle with support by Keith Kelly (External Sounds).

Other events will include a poetry reading and conversation with Poet Eiléan Ní Chuilleanáin and the much loved traditional day at Millmount which will this year be held on Sunday 2nd May, with music, craft, Celtic warriors, the firing of cannons, boat-building, and the rapidly-developing Drogheda Fringe Festival.

Full programme details can be found at:  www.droghedaartsfestival.ie

The Drogheda Arts Festival is supported by: Louth Local Authorities, The Arts Council, and Fáilte Ireland.

The Fire and the Rose: the Music of Sofia Gubaidulina is presented by Louth Contemporary Music Society (LCMS) in association with Drogheda Arts Festival. The Fire and the Rose: the Music of Sofia Gubaidulina is funded by The Arts Council / An Chomhairle Ealaíon and financially supported by the Drogheda Arts Festival with supported by Louth County Council .

Press information:

Gerry Lundberg Public Relations    Tel:  01 679 8476 / 086 259 1070 / 087 259 1070    glundpr@iol.ie

View the Programme here.

The event will last approx. 90 mins and will include refreshments. Time: 8 pm Adm €8. All welcome. Poster attached………..

Boyne Books
56/57 West St
Drogheda
041 987 3835