Event type: Comedy

25-years ago, The Belfast Agreement was signed.

It had taken 25-years to get from the Sunngingdale Agreement to this peace settlement. The new accord was built on self-determinism and parity of esteem and would become known as The Good Friday Agreement. Signed between two governments and 8 political parties, how did this political behemoth affect those who had to live within its terms? What would the cultural memory and legacy of this defining document be?

Moya Cannon (Donegal poet), Stephen Sexton (poet, and lecturer (Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen’s University, Belfast)), Greg Quiery (Liverpool-based Belfastian poet and historian) and Melanie Lenehan (multidisciplinary artist, pusic producer, and singer-songwriter) share their experiences, through their art and recollections.
Location
Please note: this is a last minute change – Central Teaching Hub, University of Liverpool, Mount Pleasant Liverpool, L69 7ZP. For directions, incl information on parking on the University campus, please go to https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/maps/

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This is a partnership event with the University of Liverpool’s Institute of Irish Studies and supported by the Consul General, Manchester.

This panel forms part of The Institute’s contribution to this year’s Liverpool Irish Festival, together with hosting NightVisiting on 20 Oct and Brendan – Son of Dublin on 28 Oct. For a full listing of events of the Liverpool Irish Festival, click here.
Speaker biographies
Moya Cannon
Moya Cannon’s Collected Poems (Carcanet Press, 2021) brings together poems from six previous books, Oar (1990), The Parchment Boat (1997), Carrying the Songs (1907), Hands (2011), Keats Lives (2015) and Donegal Tarantella (2019), more than three decades’ work, a poetry of individual poems which compose a memorable, unpredictable sequence of discovery.
She was born and grew up in Co. Donegal, Ireland, spent most of her adult life in Galway and now lives in Dublin.

In her poems, history, archaeology, pre-historic art, geology and music figure as gateways to deeper understanding of our mysterious relationship with the natural world and with our past.

She has been a recipient of the Brendan Behan Award and the O’Shaughnessy Award and was Heimbold Professor of Irish Studies at the University of Villanova. She is a member of Aosdána.
Michelle Lenehan
Michelle Lenehan is a multidisciplinary artist, writer-poet, musician, and workshop facilitator whose passion lies in delivering creative writing workshops that adeptly introduce marginalised groups to the power of storytelling, creative writing, and performance poetry utilising language to empower and inspire.

In March this year, Michelle was awarded the BE FREE Liverpool Arts & Creativity Community Impact Award, which recognises individuals who have made a positive impact on their community through arts and creativity.
Stephen Sexton
Stephen Sexton’s first book, If All the World and Love Were Young was the winner of the Forward Prize for Best First Collection. He was awarded the E.M. Forster Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature in 2020. He was the winner of the National Poetry Competition in 2016 and the recipient of an Eric Gregory Award in 2018. Cheryl’s Destinies was published in 2021 and was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best Collection. Both collections will be published by Wake Forest University Press in 2023. In 2023, he was commissioned by the Northern Ireland Office to write a poem in acknowledgement of the 25th anniversary of The Good Friday Agreement. He teaches at the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen’s University, Belfast.
Greg Quiery
Greg Quiery -a native of County Down- was a community worker in Belfast during the early years of the troubles before coming to Liverpool in the 1970s. In Liverpool, he’s been a youth worker, secondary school teacher, and Head of Liverpool’s Virtual School, the education service for children in care. His book In Hardship and Hope is a history of Liverpool’s Irish community. He was chair of the committee which erected the Memorial to the Irish Great Hunger in St Luke’s Gardens in 1998. Greg was active in Irish Studies during the early days of the Institute, teaching in Irish Studies at Continuing Education and serving as a Fellow of the Institute for some years. He’s a former board member of the Liverpool Irish Festival; active campaigner on environmental issues and plays Irish traditional music. Greg’s produced an album of his own comic songs and ballads in the Irish tradition, alongside two poetry books. Stray Dog Following, reflects his experiences in both Ireland and Liverpool, whilst Oglet, celebrates the wild environment which still survives close to Liverpool Airport.
Lyrical Agreement
Five years ago, The Institute of Irish Studies commissioned a video to mark the 20th anniversary of The Good Friday Agreement. Lyrical Agreement features some of the most meaningful excerpts of the Agreement, read out by people of all ages living in Northern Ireland, and can be viewed below.

John Joe Kelly is a master bodhrán player, involved in world music and the folk music scene, especially as a member of Flook.

This is a rare opportunity to get tuition from the man himself, in a relatively intimate setting.

Participants will need to bring their own bodhrán and tipper to play.

Advice on purchasing bodhrán can be found here: https://mcneelamusic.com/irish-bodhran-for-sale/ Another vendor is Hobgoblins: https://hobgoblin.com/percussion/bodhran John Joe encourages people not to go for a very expensive bodhrán to begin, but to try one out and get a feel for playing before investing in something expensive. Bodhrán are available on eBay and Amazon from as little as £25.

The 10am class is for complete beginners. Those with a little more skill should consider the intermediate to advanced class later in the day.

Please note: our leaflet labelled this session as an ‘intermediate’, rather than a ‘complete beginners’ session. It will be run as a complete beginners session. Anyone with more advanced skills should book on the 12.30pm event. We apologise for any confusion caused.

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John Joe Kelly is a master bodhrán player, involved in world music and the folk music scene, especially as a member of Flook. This is a rare opportunity to get tuition from the man himself, in a relatively intimate setting.

Participants will need to bring their own bodhrán and tipper to play.

Advice on purchasing bodhrán can be found here: https://mcneelamusic.com/irish-bodhran-for-sale/ Another vendor is Hobgoblins: https://hobgoblin.com/percussion/bodhran John Joe encourages people not to go for a very expensive bodhrán to begin, but to try one out and get a feel for playing before investing in something expensive. Bodhrán are available on eBay and Amazon from as little as £25.

The 12.30pm class is for intermediate to advanced players. Those just starting out, should consider the complete beginners’ class earlier in the day.

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The award-winning Green & Blue explores the painful and humorous realities faced by the individuals who patrolled the border during the height of the conflict.

An officer from the Royal Ulster Constabulary (in his green uniform) and Eddie from An Garda Síochána (resplendent in blue), communicate via crackly radios until an explosive incident forces them to meet across a field only farmers know the location of.

Focusing on what it’s like to be hunted, when you’re protecting a man-made line on the ground, the play looks at the societal and human cost of borders.

Green & Blue is based on real-life interviews with former serving officers.

Two showings:

4pm and 8pm, Wed 25 Oct, St Helens Library at Chester Lane Library (NOT World of Glass as originally stated).

4pm is a free community showing (including Q&A), by invitation + 20 community tickets. There is also a paid showing at 8pm: £8 general admission/£7 library card holders/£5 conc, book online.

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Critical praise
Winner of The Lustrum Award for Best Theatrical Moment at the 2019 Edinburgh Fringe.

“ **** – profound and politically charged’, The Stage

Paula McFetridge’s bold yet delicate production teases out the humanity behind the uniforms, the trust and distrust.  The terror and brutalities are palpable, but there are many moments of humour, and many more of understanding and empathy. Higgins and Doran, in strong, well-judged performances, communicate initially on crackly radios across the invisible Border in a field.  Deirdre Falvey – Irish Times

This accounting of the reality of people’s experience has depth and intelligence, as well as a stark dramatic impact.  Its understanding and insight provides a certain balm for this troubled subject. Katy Hayes – Irish Independent.

Read Kabosh Theatre director Paula McFetridge’s Festival article about theatre for social change, here.

Marking 130 years since the publication of feminist writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper, Sue Rynhart’s melodrama takes to the stage.

Sue returns to the Festival having been awarded the BAN BAM Composition award and a residency at Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris. Known for her unique voice and extraordinary blend of folk and contemporary jazz Sue is an award-winning musician who is not to be missed. Unique, quirky and emotive, viewers can’t help leaving wanting more.
Background
Marking 130 years since the publication of feminist writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper, Sue Rynhart’s melodrama takes the stage.

The Yellow Wallpaper (which can be read at this link) was a short, seminal Feminist work. Written in 1890s America, a convalescing woman takes readers on a journey to insanity. The insanity is caused -in part- by society’s need for her to rest rather than ‘do’ to treat her malaise (actually, most likely, undiagnosed post-natal depression). Stick with us…
Format
Sue’s melodrama responds to this in song, using personal experiences to outline how creativity enhanced her enjoyment of motherhood. Full of hope, promise and wonder, this first part of the evening will be beguiling, witty and tender.

After the interval, visitors  will enjoy a Q&A with Sue and some informal, creative voice play (participation is not compulsory!)
Expectations
All About Jazz reviewed Sue’s work in 2017, noting “She’s only two albums in, but already Rynhart sounds like one of the most original emerging voices in the hazy world where folk, improvisation and contemporary song entwine.”

Unique, quirky and emotive – you can be assured of a night to remember. This will be an enchanting night and the setting will only serve to highlight Sue’s absolute skill as a performer, writer and musician.

Musicians featured: Sue Rynhart voice, Mike Nielsen guitar and Lina Andonovska on flute.

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St Brigid’s programme
This event has been moved from Oct 2023 to 1 Feb 2024 (and from the Palm House to the Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room). It will now feature as part of our St Brigid’s Day programme.
Booking information
The Festival has a limited number of tickets available via Eventbrite. Once these tickets are sold, you can buy your tickets from the Philharmonic’s box office, here.

Sue has worked with us previously, writing a song for the Festival’s partnership with the River Festival and performing. You can listen to her song, La Malouine, here.

suerynhart.com Listen to a short interview piece with Sue, here.

More on Sue’s piece, here.

125-years of art, culture and progress.
In this talk, Dr Deaglán Ó Donghaile (Liverpool John Moores University) will discuss Oscar Wilde’s 1898 poem; The Ballad of Reading Gaol.

He’ll consider its relevance as a work of literary genius and immense cultural importance. The poem is a powerful expression of protest and dissent, contradicting the widely-held belief Wilde emerged from prison in 1897 as a broken man.

Shortly after his release, Wilde wrote to the press condemning the treatment of child prisoners, simultaneously composing this poem, which stands as one of the greatest condemnations of capital punishment ever written.  Deaglán will explain how Wilde emerged from prison, deeply committed to human rights, determined to apply his literary writing to the cause of progress. Additionally, he’ll explore the enduring relevance of Wilde’s ideas on the need for a humane culture and society.

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You can read The Ballad of Reading Gaol, here.

 

 

 

 

This event was recorded on 23 Oct 2023. It can be seen below.

Deaglán has also been kind enough to share his PowerPoint show, which can be seen here.

Those in power write the history. Those who struggle write the songs.

A multiple award-winning documentary musical travelling the length of Dublin’s fabled North Circular Road, where local characters share their powerful and emotive stories, accompanied by traditional ballads and folk music that add to the narrative. North Circular conjures the ghosts of the past, while engaging with the conflicts and celebrations of today, with a little bit of Dublin humour thrown in.
Context and scene
Travelling from Phoenix Park to Dublin Port, North Circular explores the history, music and streetscapes of a street that links some of the country’s most beloved and infamous places. Told in black and white, 4:3 Academy ratio, the film evokes narratives from city and national history; from colonialism, to mental health, to the struggle for women’s liberation. Simultaneously, it engages in urgent issues of today, including the battle to save the legendary Cobblestone Pub -the centre of Dublin’s recent folk revival- from destruction at the hands of cynical property developers. The Liverpool Irish Festival screening marks the second anniversary of the ‘Cobblestone Uprising’ (AKA the ‘Dublin is Dying’) campaign.

The film includes musical performances from artists local to the North Circular, including John Francis Flynn, Séan Ó Túama, Eoghan O’Ceannabháin, Ian Lynch & Gemma Dunleavy.

This special event includes discussion and Q&A with the film’s director Luke McManus, in conversation with Dr Nessa Johnston, University of Liverpool. The event is supported by The Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool.

The Institue of Irish Studies logo

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Director’s Biography
Luke McManus is a filmmaker based in Grangegorman, just off the North Circular Road. Luke’s produced and directed award-winning documentary projects for NBC, Netflix, RTÉ, Virgin Media Television, TG4, NDR/ARD, Al Jazeera and Channel 4, winning four IFTAs, one Celtic Media Award and the Radharc Award. His debut feature, as producer, was The Lonely Battle of Thomas Reid, which premiered in the Main Competition at IDFA in 2018, winning the George Morrison Award for Best Feature Documentary at the Irish Film & Television Awards and the Best Irish Film Award at the Dublin International Film Festival. North Circular is his debut feature documentary as a director.

We have a brilliant theatre pairing for you, here. Two plays: A Bolt from d’Blue and For the Love of Mary are both single-hander pieces, of roughly an hour, performed by their writers. Guests can pay for a single ticket to cover both pieces or book to see the individual shows. Please bear this in mind when selecting your tickets.
A Bolt From d’Blue
7pm

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In this powerful one-man show, A Bolt From d’Blue, David Gilna (writer, actor) recounts his early dreams of being a performer; his family history; his first arrival to the USA and, of course, the moment that changed his life forever: being struck by lightning.

25-years after it happened, Gilna deftly guides us through the humour and horror of this near-death experience. He weaves the trauma of this life-changing event into a poignant and unforgettable show. For anyone seeking hope -or a teary-eyed laugh- A Bolt From d’Blue is not to be missed.
For the Love of Mary
8.30 pm

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For The Love of Mary tells the story of Irish womanhood, and all its challenges. Viewed through the lens of a woman from a Protestant/Unionist background -displaced by The Troubles into a Nationalist community- she embarks upon a journey to uncover what lies beneath one of the world’s most iconic mothers.

For the Love of Mary

For the Love of Mary has received support from Arts Council Northern Ireland, Culture Ireland, Derry City and Strabane, Irish Writers Centre and University of Atypical.

A rare opportunity to see Joseph Strick’s 1967 film adaptation of James Joyce’s book.

After the screening, viewers have the chance to discuss the film’s merits and/or failings with Irish poet and writer, Pascal O’Loughlin, and National Poetry Librarian, Chris McCabe.

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Sparkling voices, bright melodies and WB Yeats’s greatest poems; they all come together in Yeats to Music.

Our performers are a bunch of charming Belgians (not kidding), who love Irish poetry. So much so, they released an album of 10 original folk songs, based on poems by Yeats.

Rise and go. Celebrate the centenary of Yeats being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature with Brandies Band and the wonderful voices of Factor 7.  Sing along with the chorus of Words; be touched by Never Give all the Heart and clap along with The Song of Wandering Aengus. No better way to round off the weekend than attending this joyful concert.

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RTÉ piece on Yeats to Music.