There will be a live link-up between World Fiddle Day celebrations in Bath in the UK and Scartaglin in the heart of Sliabh Luachra on Saturday.
The link-up has been set up by PJ Teahan at this end and by fiddle player and band leader, Forbes Robertson on the Bath side.
The two men, with World Fiddle Day co-founder, Mick Culloty, have played in sessions in Castleisland during the annual Patrick O’Keeffe Traditional Music Festival.
Programme of Events
A huge programme of events has been drawn up and down and perfected over the last few weeks.
This year the Friday night welcome session also moves to Scart. That’s at 9-30pm with a ‘farewell for honourable survivors’ tunes at Kearney’s Bar in Castleisland on Sunday morning from 11:30am.
The programme is as follows:
Friday, May 19th. 9:30pm in Scartaglin Village. Bring your fiddle and join in the Welcoming Session with visiting musicians, Gerry Harrington, Charlie Piggott and others.
Saturday May 20th. – at 12noon
Lyons’ Bar, Opening Ceremony by Matt Cranitch of the Seamus Creagh photo exhibition by Marie-Annick Desplanques followed by a session with Matt Cranitch, Geraldine O’Callaghan, Gerry Harrington, Andrea Palandri, Paddy Tutty, Noreen O’Shea Aidan Coffey, Paul de Grae, Mick Culloty and friends.
1:30pm at O’Connor’s Bar: Fiddlers Welcome: Tomas MacUileagóid, Kevin Finucane, John Daly, Sean Abeyta, Donal O’Leary with guests: Benny McCarthy, Denis O’Connor, Mike Rice and Carmel O’Leary.
1:30pm. Flemings Bar: Fiddlers Welcome. Maura O’Connor, Emer Twomey, Conor Daly, Cian O’Sullivan, Donal Cullinane and Mary Donegan.
2pm – Scartaglin Heritage Centre: There is a full, free day of activities planned for visitors to World Fiddle Day in the Heritage Centre with a full Cafe serving dinners and snacks, teas and coffees etc.
The Sliabh Luachra Exhibition at 2pm at The Heritage Centre: To be launched by Nicholas McAuliffe. View a fantastic exhibition of old photos, newspaper clippings and more and enjoy the literary and music events while you do so.
2:10pm. From Newmarket to Scartaglin: Eoin Stan O’Sullivan and friends will give a showcase of the famous Monday night session in Scully’s which is going since 1974.
2:40pm: An As Gaeilge presentation of the origins of the song An Spailpin Fanach and other local tales le Eamonn O Braoin.
3pm.: A Crow’s Jagged Flight. Three contemporary poets Eileen Sheehan, John W. Sexton and Breda Joy explore how Sliabh Luachra has impacted on their works
‘A Crow’s Jagged Flight: Spoken Music’ the featured poets will be part of the events at the Heritage Centre on World Fiddle Day.
This will be the first time that poetry has been featured as part of the festival programme, and during this event the three poets will explore the influence that Sliabh Luachra has exerted on their writing through its landscape, people and folklore.
With three dynamic readers this promises to be an engaging and enjoyable event.
Photos and Tunes at the Monument
3:45pm. Photo and tune at the O’Keeffe monument. All fiddle players requested to attend this remembrance of the departed fiddle players of Sliabh Luachra.
Live Link with World Fiddle Day in Bath UK
There will be a live link up with the World Fiddle Day celebrations in Bath U.K led by frequent visitor to Sliabh Luachra, Forbes Robertson.
4pm. Scartaglin Heritage Centre
A Song Workshop by Christy Cronin and guests and open to all singers.
4pm. Lyons’ Bar: The annual World Fiddle Day Recital.
The Seamus Creagh and Jackie Daly LP from 1977 repertoire will be hosted by Joe Thoma of Kenmare and joined by guest of honour .Jackie Daly.
Jackie will be interviewed about the late Seamus Creagh and the recording, the tunes and other aspects of their musical friendship.
All fiddle players in the village are invited. There will be rare photos from as early as 1971 of Seamus which have never been seen in public before.
4:30pm. O’Connor’s Bar: All Ireland Fiddle Champion, Darragh Curtin will be joined by Derek Hickey, Deirdre Winrow, Maura O’Connor and friends in session.
5pm. Flemings Bar: The Sounds of Sliabh Luachra. A session with: Bryan O’Leary, Jimmy Doyle, Colm Guilfoyle, Emma O’Leary, Joe O’Sullivan, Mike Gorman, Eibhlin de Paor, Ciaran O’Sullivan, Roisin Cronin, Noeleen O’Donnell and Michael O’Connor.
8pm- World Fiddle Day Concert at Scartaglin Heritage Centre
A very special celebration of the fiddle playing and styles of the Sliabh Luachra area hosted by Tomas MacUileagóid which will see a selection of young musicians from the Handed Down series joining some our finest established fiddle players.
The line-up includes: Matt Cranitch, John Daly, Gerry Harrington, Connie O’Connell, Nicholas McAuliffe, Emma O’Leary, Caoimhe Flannery, Leah Murphy, Meabh Ni Chonaill, Anna Buckley and Bronagh Browne.
10pm: Open sessions in all the pubs in Scartaglin Village
Sunday morning: 11:30am: A Farewell Session in Kearney’s Bar, Castleisland with Con Moynihan and Cormac O’Mahony and friends. All survivors welcome.
Here’s a piece to get your elbow working. It’s from another culture altogether but from deep within the family of the fiddle. So, in the context of World Fiddle Day, there’s no cultural misappropriation here. Have a listen to the Balfa brothers with Tit Galop Pour Mamou. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDPrB1Hk8pQ
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