Féile Patrick Byrne
The féile commences on Tuesday 15th March in Cunningham’s Loft with a Singing Session which was a huge success as it made its appearance at last years’ festival for the first time. The session will begin at 8pm and admission is free.
This years’ main concert headline are three of Ireland’s most influential musicians. From Planxty and Dé Dannan to the Bothy Band and Riverdance, Lunny, O’Connor and Conway have been centrally involved in nearly every major development in Irish traditional music over the last half century. Their concert promises to be a real treat for music fans.
The concert will take place on Saturday 19th March at 8pm in St. Louis Secondary School Hall, in Carrickmacross. Admission is €10.
The féile commences on Tuesday 15th March in Cunningham’s Loft with a Singing Session which was a huge success as it made its appearance at last years’ festival for the first time. The session will begin at 8pm and admission is free.
The Comhaltas President Ann Finnegan will officially launch the Féile Wednesday 16th in St. Finbarr’s Church at 8pm where TG4 Gradam Ceoil winner Dr. Seán McElwain will speak about the piping tradition of the area. Drawing on his PhD research ‘Our Dear Dark Mountain with the Sky Over it’ will include pipers Philip Goodman and Dan Markey. Martin McCormack, an Uilleann piper, will perform as part of the evening’s entertainment. The lecture will be followed by a session in Markey’s Bar from 10pm
On St. Patrick’s Day the branch will be performing on the viewing stand before the parade in Carrickmacross, then at 8pm there will be a music session in St. Peter’s Tin Church, Laragh in association with The Tin Sessions and Aughnamullen CCÉ.
On Friday the 18th for all those students who need to brush up on their Oral Irish skills can avail of an Irish language workshop in the Workhouse at 10am. Registration will be at 9.30am and the class will start at 10am and will cost €5. The Carrickmacross CCÉ branch concert will take place at 8pm in the Corduff/Referagh Community Centre at 8pm with admission €5. The concert will be followed by 2 sessions at 10pm one will be held in the Mountain Dew in Corduff and the other one will be held in town in McNally’s Bar in Carrickmacross.
The music workshops will take place in the Workhouse with registration at 9.30am, however, there is a limit of 15 per class so please email patrickbyrnefestival@gmail.com to book you place. The workshops are €10 per person. In addition there will be a special Fun Trad workshop for younger musicians, cost €5.
The instruments and tutors are as follows :
- Fiddle – Zoë Conway
- Button Accordion – Máirtín O’Connor
- Banjo – George McAdam;
- Harp – Dearbhail Finnegan
- Bodhrán – Éamonn Rooney
Historian Charles Barker will provide a guided tour around the historic town of Carrickmacross. Please meet at the Courthouse and comfortable shoes, clothes and umbrella essential.
