The Cultural Connectedness Exchange Network links Irish creatives with people who commission Irish work.
This practice day brings independent creatives and programmers together.
Day long agenda:
09:30 Registration opens
10:00 Networking and intros
11:00 Pam Sullivan – making resonant work in communities
12:00 Stu Harrison – Joy in development
12:45 Lunch
13:30 Curating programmes – themes, morals and missions – Mick Hannigan, IndieCork
14:30 Where are we with representation? #IAmIrish?
15:30 Put it all together
16:00 End.
Artist led activities and talks will be held in The Bluecoat’s Garden Room and participants will be provided with lunch.
?️ If you have any dietary requirements please email emma@liverpoolirishfestival.com ?️
Read more about the background and purpose of the Network.
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This event has received support from the Irish Government’s Department for Foreign Affairs Emigrant Support Programme.
In 2020 Gael Linn and An tUltach partnered with the Liverpool Irish Festival to create a one-off creative commission to celebrate Irish language and folklore.
Selected for this commission, was storyteller and artist Nuala Monaghan.
The resulting work tells five key stories from Irish myth and legend, each with an artwork to help communicate the power of the story. Shown first at The Reader in Calderstones Park, we used the exhibition to connect Liverpool with Ireland through thousands of years of use and symbolism, this exhibit helps to reveal the connections folklore continues to have on our modern world. Now on display with St Helens Libraries, we hope to spread the connection in to the region.
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Available during Library opening hours across the Festival and throughout Nov, St Helen’s Library at Heart of Glass. Free, just turn up.
This exhibition was co-commissioned with Gael Linn and An tUltach. Gael Linn is a non-profit and non-governmental organisation focused on the promotion of the Irish language and the arts. An tUltach is Ireland’s oldest Irish language literary magazine, established in 1924.
This event is held in partnership with St Helens Libraries, who have received funded support from Arts Council England.
Follow Brave Maeve as she adventures through enchanted places, encountering characters from Irish myth and legend.
The book was written and illustrated by Stuart Harrison, in Liverpool, featuring his friend’s daughter. Celebrating characters from thousands of years of Irish and Liverpudlian folklore, Brave Maeve is an energetic romp through time and tale.
Stu will be on hand to chat about his book and give kids a chance to pose with an illustrated Brave Maeve, sword, Tir Na nÓg book and/or púca at
the Liverpool Irish Festival launch (Liverpool Irish Centre, 19 Oct)
the Family Day at Museum of Liverpool (21 Oct)
a writer’s reading of Brave Maeve at The Williamson Art Gallery and Museum
and our Samhain Céilí at the Liverpool Irish Centre (29 Oct).
We’ll be giving away copies of the book at the Family Day and Samhain Céilí with a few available at the Irish Centre across the Festival (19-29 Oct 2023). Afterwards, any remaining copies will be available to buy for £4.99 + P&P from our online shop liverpoolirishfestival.com/shop or on Kindle.
This children’s story was commissioned by Liverpool Irish Festival, in partnership with Gael Linn and An tUltach.
Collect your copy -during opening hours- across the Festival from Liverpool Irish Centre.
It’s a 100-years since Irish playwright Brendan Behan was born.
From humble Dublin origins, Behan became one of the great twentieth century writers. His work includes Borstal Boy, The Quare Fellow and The Hostage.
Behan’s story transcends his bohemian reputation as a hard-drinking, hard-living Irishman who died -prematurely- aged 41. The universal themes he wrote about remain relevant today. Justice and reform; the power of “outsiders” to catalyse societal change and relationships.
Maintaining the ground-breaking grit, realism and dark humour that features in his writing, Brendan: Son of Dublin is presented by Fat Dan Productions. This freshly told new musical-drama is semi-staged with live music. Premiering in the north as part of #LIF2023, the production is supported by the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Irish Studies.
Writers: John Merrigan and Danielle Merrigan. Director/visual artist: Pamela Howard. Musical Director: Brian Hughes.
Over the last couple of years, Liverpool Irish Festival has been working on revitalising the Liverpool Irish Famine Trail, which includes the Irish Famine Memorial.
Today, the Liverpool Great Hunger Commemoration Committee, Conradh Na Gaeilge Learpholl and Liverpool Irish Centre, in partnership with the Festival, lead a Famine Memorial Service to mark 175-years since the start of the seven-years of Famine in Ireland, lasting 1847-1852. There will be speeches, readings and music at the memorial ground. Úna Quinn and Neil Campbell will perform a specially commissioned song.
Everyone is welcome. However, we would note that this is an outside event and we may have difficulties with sound if it is rainy or windy. We recommend dressing for the weather and bringing seats or walking aids as required. This is a standing service of roughly 30-minutes. People may gather in advance of the service.
These activities have been made possible with funds from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Following the event, release their song Those Roads, which can be found on Bandcamp, here. Please show them your support by purchasing the song.
Additionally, for those interested in the Johnny McEvoy poem, read by Tomás Ryan (Conradh Na Gaeilge), you can read it below in English and Gaeilge. You can also hear the original song version, below the poem.
The Famine [Song] Story
In the year of ‘47
I saw an end to what had been
Saw my neighbours, friends and
family
Fade before me like a dream
Now the land is cold and blighted
Now the crop has failed again
There’s no food upon the table
Fear lives in the hearts of men
There’s a cloud upon the mountain
And the rain is falling free
There’s a shadow in the valley
Where my cabin used to be
All my comrades they have fallen
By the roadside they have died
In the fields and in the hedgerows
Their hungry bones lie side by side
On this ship I cross the ocean
Sailing on the raging foam
To the land of my tomorrow
Far from my native home
Scéal an Gorta Mór
Sa bhliain ocht déag seacht is a daichead
Chonaic mé deireadh lena raibh
Chonaic mé mo chomharsana, cairde ‘s mo
theaghlach
Ag fail bás romham mar tromluí
Tá an talamh fuar agus scriosta
Teip ar an barr arís
Níl aon bia ar an dtábla
Maireann faitíos I gcroí na bhfear
Tá scamall ar an sliabh
Agus an báisteach ag titim go trom
Tá scáth I lár an ghleanna
Áit a mbíodh mo chábhán
Ar slí na fírinne tá mo ghaolta
Ar thaobh an bhóthair, fuair said bás
Sna páirceanna ‘s na sceacha
Luíonn a gcnámha ocrach taobh le taobh
Ar an long seo trasnaím an t-aigéan
Ag seóltóireacht thar an cúr feargach
Go dtí tír de mo amárach
I bhfad ó mo theaghlach
We’d like to thank Tomás for his translation and reading, which was moving, poigniant and well delivered, in the gardens of St Luke’s Chirch, beside the Liverpool Irish Famine Memorial stones.
Comhaltas and ArtsGroupie CIC take it in turns playing (spooky) fun games and music, to dance and play along with, whilst the veil between our world and ‘the Other’ is at its thinnest.
Dance The Monster Mash, fly like a Liver Bird and learn the unique Grasshopper Jig. We invite you to bring along the kids -in their best creepy dress-up (or not)- and hope adults will play along.
With gift bags for the children -and scarily silly prizes for best Samhain costumes- we encourage eye patches and false teeth, skull masks and props (store bought or otherwise). Grab the face paint, some plastic spiders and last year’s glitter slime; practice your deepest, scariest ‘Wohooo’ and strap your neck-bolts on ready for the silliest Monster’s Ball of the season!
Activities are mainly geared for kids between 4-12 years old, with adult supervision. Kids aged 3-103+ years old are welcome, but require child-supervision! Only pretend broken hips on this dance floor, please!
This event is held in partnership with Liverpool Irish Centre with support from Comhaltas’s musicians.
Join singer and composer Maz O’Connor online for an accessible, creative workshop. During the workshop, Maz will explore how to turn stories from your family history into original songs.
Maz is the composer of a new folk musical, The Wife of Michael Cleary, which recently won the Stiles + Drewe Prize. With over ten-years of experience in songwriting, she’ll guide you through creating your own song.
No prior experience or instruments needed. We recommend bringing photographs or an object that relates to your family history to use as stimuli. This workshop is supported by Arts Council England.
This 2-hour walk through the former heartland of Liverpool’s Irish community considers schools, statues and graveyards.
It explores what remains of the area’s rich heritage, rousing some old ghosts along the way.
Led by historian Greg Quiery, this walk explores the dense history of a world-famous district. Featuring stories of heroic men and women; footballers and rock stars; two hidden statues; a graveyard and the legends of ‘Dandy Pat’ and James Carling. The walk ends at St Anthony’s Church, a short bus ride from town.
Those interested in this walk, may also be interested in the in-person South Liverpool walk (see event listing and book early to avoid disappointment) or the self-guided Liverpool Irish Famine Trail liverpoolirishfaminetrail.com, accompanied by the Festival’s book Liverpool Irish Famine Trail: Revive, available online at liverpoolirishfestival.com/shop.
This in an outdoor walk in October; please be weather prepared, comfortable and hydrated. We will observe Covid-19 regulations, as at the date of the walk, and ask all walkers to comply with prevailing guidance.
Ticket holders should join Greg outside Liverpool Central Library ready for the walk start time.
Open to all age groups, whether you’re a keen Gaelic Football player or have never heard of the game!
Come along to our ‘give it a go’ Festival session.
Our John Mitchel’s GAA coaches will be there to welcome everyone, providing a great opportunity to find out a bit more about the game and our club; with a chance to meet our members and play a bit of Gaelic Football. There’ll be ‘blitz’ sessions for young ones, from fully qualified and checked coaches (guardians to stay throughout). From 2pm-4pm, people can participate in or watch the Lancashire Underage Gaelic Football Blitz.
For more details on the club follow Facebook @johnmitchelsliverpool and Twitter @JohnMitchelsGAA
On this 2-hour walk you’ll discover Irish connections to many of the historic Hope Street and Rodney Street buildings, hearing from some of the colourful characters who populated them.
Led by historian Greg Quiery, early booking is advised to avoid disappointment.
Anyone interested in this may also like the in-person Scotland Road walk (see event listing) or the self-guided Liverpool Irish Famine Trail liverpoolirishfaminetrail.com , accompanied by the Festival’s book Liverpool Irish Famine Trail: Revive, available online at liverpoolirishfestival.com/shop.
This in an outdoor walk in October; please be weather prepared, comfortable and hydrated. We will observe Covid-19 regulations, as at the date of the walk, and ask all walkers to comply with prevailing guidance.
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On this page, in our original listing, the price was cited as £12/£8, which was incorrect. The price has been matched with the companion walks and the price listed on our Eventbrite page. We are sorry for any confusion.
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