Féilte | Festivals

HEINRICH BÖLL  MEMORIAL WEEKEND

Achill Island Ireland May 2nd   –   May   4th   2014.

The 11th annual Heinrich Böll Memorial Weekend, talks place on Achill Island Friday May 2nd to Sunday May 4th 2014. This year’s event continues a series of lectures and talks as well as guided walks in the landscape of Achill Island.    Registration for weekend talks place on Friday May 2nd at 7.00pm at the Cyril Gray Memorial Hall, in Dugort. Details and postal registration available at http://www.heinrichboellcottage.com/               

The 2014 weekend will be formally opened by Berlin based Irish Times journalist Derek Scally. 

The weekend will focus on travel writing and includes a talk by is focusing on travel writing – and includes a talk  by  Dea Birkett,  WOMEN TRAVELLERS THROUGH THE AGES –   DIFFICULT JOURNEYS BY EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN, which will look at the works of  travel writer and  novelist  Honor Tracy, who lived for many years in Achill.  Dea Birkett is an award-winning writer and journalist, author of seven books including Serpent in Paradise (about her time on Pitcairn Island in the South Pacific), Spinsters Abroad (‘subtle, acute, and fascinating’ Sunday Times), Jella. A Woman At Sea (winner of the Somerset Maugham Award) and Off the Beaten Track. Three Centuries of Women Travellers (with the National Portrait Gallery).

Also reading at the weekend event is Hugo Hamilton, reading from his new novel ‘Every Single Minute’ and in discussion with Derek Scally.  Mary Russell well known travel writer, German novelist Birgit Vanderbeke, is one of Germany's most successful literary authors.  Mary Russell will also deliver a creative writing seminar.

Dr.  Gisela Holfter from U.L. will give a lecture on German writers travelling in Ireland in the 20th century; not only Böll – 20th century travel literature on Ireland from a German perspective.  She will also formally open  an exhibition archival photograph material  HEINRICH BÖLL AND FAMILY  from the Böll family collection, and  landscape painting;  'PAINTINGS OF ACHILL ISLAND’   by Alex McKenna at  Western Light Art Gallery,  Keel.

Rene Böll will give an illustrated talk "Heinrich Böll and his family’s fight for humanity".  Heinrich Böll and his family were independent in their thinking; they didn't belong to the right or the left. Because of this, Heinrich Böll could speak about liberty for persecuted people, in Russia and in Chile at the same time.

Guided walks in the landscape will be led by Eoin Halpin, with a talk by Rev Patrick Comeford, focusing on The Achill missionary buildings at Mweelin – history, origins and people. Guided walks on Saturday and Sunday include lunch each day. 

Further details; 

www.heinrichboellcottage.com               

http://www.achilltourism..com/artsweekend.html        

087 772 0192 or 086 232 5516   

Email;    hbollachill@anu.ie

This weekend event is organized with support of the Goethe-Institut Irland. The  Achill Heinrich Böll Association is funded by Mayo County Council, The Arts Council of Ireland,   and  receives donations from members of the public.

Féile Chois Cuain programme

Programme of Events 2014

Friday 2nd May/ Dé hAoine 2 Bealtaine

• 7.30pm - Venue: Parochial Hall. Mol an Óige. Ceolchoirm le sárcheoltóirí óga. Youth concert featuring local and visiting artists.  
• 9.30pm: Reception / Fáiltiú: Cheese and Wine reception in 'An Bhun Abhainn'. Fáilte roimh cách! All Welcome.
• Music and Singing Sessions in Local Pubs.

Saturday 3rd May/ Dé Sathairn 3 Bealtaine

• 10.30am - 4.00pm: Set Dance Workshop / Ceardlann Seiteanna. Venue: Parochial Hall.
• 10.30am - 4.00pm: Masterclasses - Máistir-ranganna Venue: Sancta Maria College
  Tutors/Teagascóirí
  • Ballads: Colm O'Donnell / Sean-nós: Maire Ní Choilm
  • Accordion: John Regan/ Carmel Commins
  • Banjo: Muireann Banks
  • Concertina: Ciarán O'Grady
  • Fiddle: Tara Breen / John Burke
  • Flute: Patsy Moloney / John Blake
  • Harp: Laoise Kelly - NB Harp class replaces Uilleann Pipes class
  • Tin Whistle: Angela Deane / Jillian O'Malley
  • Set Dance: Edwina Guckian

Note: Lunch break 1pm to 2pm

• 11 am - 12.30pm: Club na Féile: Spraoi do Pháistí ó 4 go 8 mbliana daois
• 4.15pm - 6.00pm: Seisiún Amhránaíochta Sean-Nóis le scoth na n-amhránaithe ar an sean-nós - Aíonna: Johnny Mháirtín Learaí Mac Donnchadha, Traolach Ó Conghaile, Mairéad Ní Cheallaigh, Paddy Mac Giolla Phádraig, Caitlín Ní Mhéalóid, Meaití Jó Shéamuis Ó Fátharta, Éamon Ó Donnchadha, Antaine Ó Faracháin, Nollaig Ní Laoire, Aodan Ó Ceallaigh, Síle Uí Mhongáin
  Bean a'Tí Máire Ní Choilm       Venue Parochial Hall
• 8.45pm: Grand Concert / Ceolchoirm Na Féile - Parochial Hall - Music, Song and Dance, featuring Laoise Kelly, Colm O'Donnell, Maire N’ Choilm, John Regan, Angela Deane, Tara Breen, Jillian O'Malley, Muireann Banks, Edwina Guckian and a host of other artists.  

Sunday 4th May/ Dé Domhnaigh 4 Bealtaine

• 4.00pm: "Macallaí thar Farraige" / "Echoes from Abroad" A special concert of artists who were born or are living abroad. Beidh míle fáilte rompu agus iad ag teacht inár measc. A thousand welcomes home. Among those taking part will be: Patsy Moloney, John Blake, Ciarán O'Grady, Theresa O'Grady, Joe O'Connor, Frank and Paul Baynes, John Burke, Carmel Commins, Coventry Comhaltas and many many more. 
  Venue Parochial Hall
• 9.00pm - 12.00am: Set Dance Social / Oíche Sheiteanna - Venue Parochial Hall
  Music by 'Heather Breeze' Céilí Band.

Monday 5th May / Dé Luain 5 Bealtaine

• 12.30pm: 'Slán Abhaile' Sessions

Beidh seisiúin cheoil agus amhránaíochta sna tithe tábhairne i rith na deireadh seachtaine - Music and singing sessions in all pubs over the weekend.

Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival - 10th anniversary

The electric cave production, a leading production company in the west of ireland and the team behind the world famous westport folk and bluegrass festival, will celebrate their 10th anniversary in business.  Since the humble start of producing small tribute nights in Westport, the company now staging gigs on a regular basis for artists from all over the world.

In the last 10 years the company brought to westport hundreds of artists from all over ireland and different part of the world such as the usa, uk, australia and europe.

The company formed and run by uri kohen and made its name by staging high quality production with great emphasis in looking after each performer to the highest level and providing top quality music to the people of Westport and beyond.  The 10th anniversary celebration event will take place on Saturday may 3rd in McGing's pub, Westport at 8:00pm.  Music on the night will be provided by some of the artist most connected to the company such as david hope, a band called wanda and billy clarke - more artist to be revealed on the night

Admission is free and all are welcome

For more details please contact uri at 0877570958 or uriecp@yahoo.ie

Fleadh Cheoil Mhaigh Eo  Swinford  8th - 11th May

One of the highlights of the fringe events during the Fleadh Cheoil will be a very interesting lecture @ 8 p.m. in Melletts on Thursday 8 th  May. Dr. Deirdre Ní Chonghaile will talk about an extensive collection of rare and well known Irish songs which had been stored away in the archives in N.U.I.G. since 1936. This unique collection had been gathered and put together by Fr.Daniel Murphy (1858-1935)a scholar,who spent his lifetime promoting Irish Literature and ardently preserving the Irish language in the U.S.A.

He was a native of  Culdalee in Kilmactigue; a gaeltacht area at the foot of the Ox Mountains in Co. Sligo.He emigrated to America , settled in Philadelphia and was ordained to the Priesthood in 1879.

His work took him to the cities and mining towns of Pennsylvania where he recorded in writing the words and songs of emigration and famine which passionately illustrate  the range and spectrum  of the human spirit in all its hopes and aspirations.Writing down the words and stories of the songs was vital to their survival.At that time,it is widely held,while the Irish emigrant could speak or sing fluently in his own language, very few were capable of writing or reading in the idiom.He also collaborated with a Galwayman, Sean O'Laighin and together they amassed a treasure trove of over eleven hundred songs.

In 1982 a   grandnephew of Fr. Murphy who was resarching family history learned of their existence in N.U.I.G.The family of Fr. Murphy were not aware of the collection before this remarkable forgotten store of papers was found.

 Dr. Deirdre Ní Chonghaile, of Aran will continue this fascinating story and reveal the context and inspiration which motivated this important undertaking during the latter half of the nineteenth century and the early decades of the twentieth century.

Musician, broadcaster and scholar Dr.Chonghaile whose chosen subject is Song of Aran came across the bulky collection and it took her fancy. Dr.Ní Chonghaile,a Post Doctoral Fellow in N.U.I.G. will explore the background to the songs and the signifigance of the discovery of this historical account of Irish emigrants who forged new lives yet succeeded in continuing their links with their homeland.

The Lecture will be followed by Singing Club.

Fri. 9th  May @ 8.p.m.  Official Opening of Fleadh Cheoil Mhaigh Eo

2014 by Katie Sweeney, Co.Ordinator for the Arts in Education in Gateway Hotel.

9 p.m. Ceilidh Mór. Music by Swallows Tail.Ceol agus Craic. Tea will be served.

Sat. 10 th May Fleadh junior competitions (u-12, 12-15) commence @ 10 a.m. in Scoil Muire agus Padraig.(secondary school). (u-10) competitions will take place in Scoil Muire agus Treasa (primary school).

Aifreann na Fleidhe in Our Lady Help of Christians Church Swinford @ 6.30 p.m.

Seisiún Ceoil - invitation to all musicians - in Gateway Hotel @ 7.30 p.m.

Sun. 11th  May senior competitions commence (15-18,  o-18) in Scoil Muire agus Padraig.

Ceilidh dancing and Set dancing competitions commence @ 10 a.m. in Gateway Hotel.

Midfield Pipe Band give a Marching Band Exhibition @ 12 45 p.m. through town.

Music sessions in local hostelries all weekend.

Failte romhat go léir agus go neirí go geal libh sna comortaisi eagsúla.

Competitors can download entry forms and Mayo Fleadh information from our website: mayocomhaltas.weebly.com.

An Béal Binn – Erris Festival of Words June 6-8^th 2014

ÁRAS INIS GLUAIRE

Áisleann Bhéal an Mhuirthead, Belmullet, Mayo

T: 097 81079

Áras Inis Gluaire, the Arts Centre for Erris, is initiating an exciting new festival of literature in 2014. Whither a new literary festival you say? Well this will follow the great tradition of Force 12, which had a national reputation as being informal and friendly, whilst being challenging and relevant and the setting is in Belmullet in the beautiful barony of Erris, North West Mayo, an area rich in history and oral tradition.

Honing in on the zeitgeist of remembrance, reflection & reconciliation, we are taking a theme of Culture & Commemoration, as we present lectures, readings, workshops and debate from the esteemed likes of John Banville, Donal Ryan, Eimear O’Connor, Míceál Ó Conaola, Michael Harding, Tommy Tiernan, John Waters, Rosita Boland, Carol Hunt of the Sunday Independentand twice recipient of Foreign Reporter of the Year, Ed Vulliamy of the Guardian.

Music & song will be to the fore also as we present ballads of some literary giants, like Yeats & Kavanagh, as well as commemorating the anniversaries of Brendan Behan and of the publication of James Joyce’s Dubliners with a production of the highly acclaimed Dubliners Dilemma by Declan Gorman.

We are also giving voice to the cream of Mayo talent, with Mike McCormack, Colette NicAodh, Martin Dyar and Terry McDonagh participating. Set as it is in the Mayo Gaeltacht, we are also delighted to welcome Ailbhe Ní Ghearbhuigh, Seán Ó Coisdealbha  and Aifric MacAodha. Meanwhile Creative Writing groups from Mayo, Galway and Dublin will offer a selection of their work.

Writing development is an important aspect of An Béal Binn with workshops throughout the weekend on poetry, biography and literary criticism amongst others. There will also be outreach programmes for local schools.

Full programme will be available soon on www.arasinisgluaire.ie

Enquiries to Brendan Murray on 097 81079 or b.murray@arasinisgluaire.ie

Call for people to get involved in Claremorris Community Midsummer Festival

Fun loving creative people needed for Claremorris Community Midsummer festival, June 21st in the Square: trad & folk music, Drum and Dance plus staged performance/reading of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream": Anyone interested in participating onstage or backstage is invited. For more info visit our website at nonprophetorganisation.eu or contact john@nonprophetfestival.eu