Louth Mouths from Drogheda 4 Star Review in the Irish Times.
SIOBHÁN LONG
Traditional Songs from County Louth Rossendale Records ****
When it comes to understanding the human stories that define our history, Frank Harte always championed the singer as the real source, and this trio cast their collective net wide in trawling the immense riches of their shared song heritage. The mix of charismatic voices and intriguing choices pulls into sharp focus the canny and wily songwriting of 18th-century balladeer John Shiel, as well as the rich bequests from 20th- century locals Mary Carolan and Pat Usher. A number of Child ballads also jostle for attention in this tapestry of picaresque tales. Benefiting greatly from the interweaving of three voices (Voice Squad member Gerry Cullen, song collector and Cran’s singer Seán Corcoran, and Drogheda emigré Dónal Maguire), this is a collection that reveals its glistening gems one by one, with an ear ever cocked towards the subtler side of a song, exemplified by the opener, a notably different reading of that ragged ballad The Wild Rover.
- Published in Irish traditional, Louth County Arts, Music, News
Public Meeting on the Gathering
- Published in Drogheda Borough Council, Dundalk Town Council, Louth County Arts, News
The Misadventures of a Good Citizen
An open call for “The Misadventures of a Good Citizen” produced by Eilish Tuite at Ormston House
“The Misadventures of a Good Citizen” is an art project that examines personal connections with the Irish Constitution using writing, theatre and performance. Following recent referenda in Ireland and discussion fora with members of the electorate, this project asks: “Is ‘Bunreacht na hEireann’ a work of fiction or merely an aspiration? What is its relevance to you?”
I am seeking members of the public of any age, background, profession or discipline to participate by responding to particular aspects or articles from the Constitution. The format of the participation is to write a 500-word play dealing with your ideas on the issues and challenges presented by this text as a cornerstone of Irish society. The style is entirely up to you!
The selected plays will be performed by a group of amateur and professional actors as a series of events at Ormston House Gallery on Patrick Street, Limerick city in October 2012. Each writer will be credited for their work as the solo author and owner of the play. The text will not be altered but I may request permission to use extracts of documentation for my own research practice (see biography below).
The works will be selected with the assistance of a panel of theatre and arts professionals and a director will be appointed in August.
The deadline for submissions is 17 August 2012 at 6pm to misadventurecitizen@gmail.com
The Irish Constitution is available to read here: http://www.constitution.ie/constitution-of-ireland/default.asp
For more information about the project, find me on Facebook at misadventurecitizen or you can email me at misadventurecitizen@gmail.com.
About me:
Eilish Tuite graduated from Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD) in 2011 and was the recipient of the inaugural Graduate Exhibition Award at Ormston House Gallery for the 2012 visual arts programme. She is currently undertaking a MA in Social Practice and the Creative Environment also at LSAD. Her work often includes collaborative and co-operative processes, and she founded The Make and Do Society in 2008. She has worked with SpiritStore (2009-2010) and Art in the Making Collective (2009-2010), and participated in ev+a (2010). Recent works, exhibitions and interventions have questioned the ethics of temporary public art practice. In 2010, she co-ordinated the large-scale project Urban Knit Limerick, addressing the failing urban environment, with over 5000 contributing participants worldwide. In 2011, she exhibited the live installation work Generation for Export as part of the Selected Stories project at The Joinery Gallery in Dublin.
www.ormstonhouse.com
- Published in Literature, Louth County Arts, Music, News, Tenders, Visual Arts
Tune In 2012 Summer Music Courses
TUNE IN to Music Generation over the summer holidays and sign up for some of our exciting music making events at a venue near you. There’s something for everyone, whether you already play or sing, or would like to get started.
Summer Music Making for children and young people brought to you by Music Generation Louth. Details of the programme are available by clicking this image:
- Published in Drogheda Borough Council, Dundalk Town Council, Education, Louth County Arts, Music, News
International Harp Festival Programme 2012
Annual International Festival for Irish Harp
An Chúirt Chruitireachta
‘Total immersion from dawn to dusk – harps at every turn and so many different styles’Fionnuala, Dublin
Harpers of all standards and styles should not miss out on one of the world’s top international harp festivals for the Irish harp which takes place from Sunday 1 July to Friday 6 July 2012. An Chúirt Chruitireachta is a week long programme of tuition, workshops, concerts and sessions which takes place in An Grianán, Termonfeckin, Co. Louth.
“We are delighted to welcome participants from France, Germany, Russia, Japan and the U.S. who will join the Irish harpers for a dynamic week of tuition and concerts featuring the most talented exponents of traditional music” says Festival Director Áine Ní Dhubhghaill. The festival, now in its 27th year, offers harpers an opportunity to gain a full appreciation of Irish harp music, song and dance while developing new skills and repertoire in a lively environment. It combines a dual element of a residency programme for harpers and a public element which showcases the talents of top harpers, both Irish and international through evening concerts, afternoon ‘Focus on Youth’ concerts, workshops and sessions.
The Evening Concert Series for this year’s festival runs from Sunday 1st July to Thursday 5th July. These concerts provide the public with an unrivalled opportunity to explore the cross cutting relationships between the Irish harp, its positioning within Irish traditional music and its place within the wider tradition of harping in Ireland and Scotland.
This year An Chúirt Chruitireachta is delighted to present the following series of evening concerts:
Where: An Grianán, Termonfechin, Co Louth.
When: 8pm
Tickets: €15, Concessions €12.
Booking: info@cairdenacruite.com
Website: www.cairdenacruite.com
Sunday 1 July
Fáilte Isteach featuring the acclaimed Scottish duo Catriona McKay, harp and Chris Stout, fiddle
Monday 2 July
A Marriage of Equals: Experience the magical combination of harper-composer Michael Rooney, and June McCormack, flute
Tuesday 3 July
A Night to Remember: Wire strung Harper Paul Dooley, dynamic duo Laoise Kelly, harp and Michelle O Brien, fiddle join singer Gerry Cullen of The Voice Squad
Wednesday 4 July
A Family Affair: Join Cormac, Éamonn and Fionán De Barra of Barco and harper, Anne-Marie O’Farrell with special guest artiste Moya Brennan.
Thursday 5 July
Ceolchoirm na Féile: Enjoy a feast of foot-tapping music when harper Máire Ní Chathasaigh, and Chris Newman, guitar join forces with special guest Gerry O’Connor (fiddle).
There will also be a series of daily concerts featuring festival mentors and workshop specialists giving participants an opportunity to experience world-class performers in a truly informal setting. “Over the years, An Chúirt Chruitireachta has built up a really loyal audience who look forward to hearing the best of Irish harping combined with other traditional musicians and singers showcasing the vibrant Oriel tradition, a bond we’re very keen to maintain” says Ní Dhubhghaill.
Festival mentors represent some of the most respected and experienced teachers in Ireland and include a number of internationally renowned performers including Cormac De Barra, Máire Ní Chathasaigh, Anne-Marie O’Farrell, Kim Fleming, Aisling Ennis, Oisín Morrison, Kathleen Loughnane and Dearbhail Finnegan. West Kerry seannós singer, Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich will be singer-in-residence for the duration of the Festival.
An Exhibition of Irish and Pedal Harps mounted by a number of premier Irish and international harp makers will be open to the public from 2pm on Sunday 1st July at An Grianán.
Reservations: info@cairdenacruite.com or Áine Ní Dhubhghaill 087 2629136
Note to Editors
Cairde na Cruite, since its establishment in 1960, has played a central role in the revival and development of interest in the Irish harp. While its original objectives espoused the provision of expert tuition and the publication of music for the Irish harp, its mission has evolved considerably over the last 52 years and the society has made a significant contribution to the development of a vibrant dynamic role for the Irish harp, and its positioning within Irish traditional music. Currently the society is actively involved in:
promoting interest in the Irish harp nationally and internationally, continuing to integrate the wire and gut strung harps with mainstream Irish music through the medium of the Irish language where appropriate, facilitating the provision of teachers of the Irish harp, introducing a wider audience base to the ancient courtly harping tradition through information giving, recording and performance of the music.
www.cairdenacruite.com
The International Harp Festival 2012 Programme is now available to download here.
Tá fáilte roimh chách. Más tosaitheoir thú nó más cruitire oilte thú, bí linn agus bain taitneamh as sármhúineadh agus sárcheol ó chruitirí den scoth.
- Published in Irish traditional, Louth County Arts, Music, News
Co. Louth VECs PEACE of Art Project’s Invitation to Apply for a Resource Allocation
Attached is Co. Louth VECs PEACE of Art Project’s Invitation to Apply for a Resource Allocation Document.
Co. Louth VEC’s Peace of Art Project proposes using the talents, skills and resources of the professional and community based arts community in Co. Louth to extend their current working practices, activities and dissemination of work to include the minority communities as a method of negating racism and sectarianism in the county.
The primary focus of the Peace of Art Project is to encourage the artistic communities of Co. Louth to include designated target groups of the PEACE III Programme in local festivals, exhibitions and celebrations. In doing so, the project will allow for increased understanding of diversity, identity and conflict resolution and raise these issues within the wider community. The arts offer a unique set of tools for transforming conflict in a manner, which is innovative, inclusive and safe. The Peace of Art Project aims to increase awareness, understanding and appreciation of other communities and cultures through the medium of art.
There are two strands to the PEACE of Art Project:
1. An Integration Programme.
2. Group Project.
Groups Proposals
Louth VEC’s Peace of Art Project 2012 invites proposals from the professional and community based arts community in Co. Louth to apply for a resource allocation on how they would use their talents, skills and resources to extend their working practices, activities and dissemination of work to include the minority communities as a method of negating racism and sectarianism in the county. The Project welcomes proposal from groups that have not been able to avail of PEACE funding to date. It should be noted that resource allocations can only be accessed through participation in the Integration programme. The funded is limited to a maximum of €5000 per proposal.
Further details are in the attached document.
If you have any queries, please email me on cormac.long(at)louthvec.ie or call me at 042 9334047.
Cormac Long
Project Co-ordinator
PEACE of Art
- Published in Louth County Arts, News
VEC announces expanded summer activity school programme
Co. Louth VEC Youth Officer, Ian Walker, has this week announced details of the VECs expanded week-long budget busting summer activity schools for 2012. The extremely positive feedback from parents, and from participants of previous activity schools, has prompted the youth service to expand its activity programme which this year will run all through the month of August.
Some firm favourites are to remain on the ticket including Hip-Hop Dance, Creative Writing and Cookery. However, a whole new range of schools are also being added including Hair and Beauty, Archaeology, Arts and Crafts, Soccer and Outdoor Adventure. The Youth Officer said, “there’s something for everybody this year and places are expected to fill up quite quickly”.
Drogheda Institute of Further Education (DIFE) will host a make-up, skincare and hair school for 12-16 year olds which will be based in their dedicated beauty rooms at the college. The archaeology school is being aimed at 8 -13 year olds and will utilise facilities in the County Museum in Dundalk, and will incorporate a fact finding trip to Newgrange on its final day. The arts and crafts school plans to provide participants with a variety of experiences including puppet-making and 3-D wire and clay modelling, whilst plans are afoot to utilise the facilities of the Neptune Outdoor Education Centre in Clogherhead to run an outdoor adventure school which will take in activities such as raft building, kayaking, surf boarding, hill walking and mountain/wall-climbing. All schools will run for one week.
Ian Walker said, “most of the courses this August will run in both Dundalk and Drogheda and will take place in a number of the VECs schools in the towns. Our schools are kitted out to the highest of standards which make ideal bases for our summer schools”.
Application forms and programme details are now available on the Co. Louth VEC website at www.louthvec.ie. Places will be allocated on a ‘first come first served’ basis. The VEC has indicated that it is open to suggestions for other innovative summer schools from members of the public.
For further information regarding the above please contact:
Mr. Ian Walker
Youth Officer
Co. Louth VEC
Chapel St.
Dundalk
Co. Louth
Email: ian.walker@louthvec.ie
Tel.: 042 9334047
- Published in Crafts, Dance, Drama, Drogheda Borough Council, Dundalk Town Council, Louth County Arts, News, Visual Arts, Youth Drama
Contempo play Louth composers’ work in the NCH
- Published in Classical, Contemporary, Louth County Arts, Music, News