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.
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.
Come along to the Liverpool Irish Centre for a very special coffee morning. 2024 marks 25-years in our current location. We’re preparing to celebrate by reminiscing about the important role the Centre has played within the Liverpool Irish community.
We invite you to share your memories of the old Irish Centre (the Wellington Rooms) at Mount Pleasant and the current Irish Centre. There will be mini exhibitions of memorabilia, photographs and videos. If you have anything to contribute, you’re welcome to bring it along. Sandwiches and cakes will be provided by Homebaked (Anfield).
The event is completely free, but please contact us if you wish to attend with any dietary requirements so we can cater for all: Email louise@liverpoolirishcentre.org or call +44(0)151 263 1808.
In 2021, Liverpool Irish Festival began our custodianship of the Liverpool Irish Famine Trail.
We formed a volunteer History Research Group (who’ve since undertaken 1,300+ hours of research) and released a book: Liverpool Irish Famine Trail: Revive (available in the Museum’s gift shop or online).
Having trained the group in tour creation and management -and thoroughly researching the objects on display- the History Research Group will lead tours of the Museum of Liverpool’s Irish objects.
Visitors who book for these in-person tour will additionally take in the Pilotage Building, just outside the Museum. Tours are anticipated to take approximately 45-60mins, depending on audience questions. These activities have been made possible with funds from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Visitors can undertake the Irish objects tour as a self-guided trail, which requires no booking (see guide map). Paper maps can be collected (for free) from leaflet holders at the Museum.
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Two tours will leave at 10.30am, 12pm and 2.30pm, Sat 21 Oct, Museum of Liverpool. Meet under the Atrium’s big screen.
Made possible with funds from The National Lottery Heritage Fund logo.
On 21 Oct 2021, Liverpool (and Ireland) lost a great Irish Language supporter; Tony Birtill. His invaluable contribution to the conservation, promotion and teaching of the Irish Language on Merseyside will be remembered for many years to come.
A Gaeilgeoir (fluent Irish speaker) and walking enthusiast, Tony was also a keen historian, linguist and educator. Marking two years since he passed, this lecture celebrates a life cruelly cut short. Tony’s library (maintained at the Liverpool Irish Centre) was created by Conradh Na Gaeilge Learpholl in May 2022. It’s open for use by all those with an interest in the Irish language.
Conradh na Gaeilge Liverpool and the Liverpool Irish Festival have jointly organised this event. It will fall on Tony’s anniversary, to celebrate his life and his legacy. Enter to music from Tony’s friends; before hearing from those who knew Tony best, in a space he knew all too well. This year’s memorial lecture: Comrádaí agus Deartháir (Comrade and Brother) will be, fittingly, delivered by his sister Angela Birtill.
Irish poet and author, Pascal O’Loughlin, and National Poetry Librarian, Chis McCabe, lead an informal writing and reading workshop inspired by James Joyce’s Ulysses.
2023 marks over a century since its first publication in Paris and 90-years since the United States District Court ruled Ulysses not to be obscene. The latter judgement opened the doors for its first mass market editions.
In this workshop, participants will look at Irish experimental writing from the 20th and 21st centuries. Through close reading and loose, informal exploration we’ll investigate how modes of writing outside the mainstream can add to our reading and writing practices, enriching our art and having fun on the way.
By the end of the day attendees will have:
investigated new and exciting ways to describe the world around them and their very particular and peculiar place in it
explored the limits of language where the unsayable and the indescribable somehow are said, somehow are described
pondered how failure and success in writing are opposite sides of the same coin
developed new practices to carry into their writing and reading lives.
The workshop is suitable for writers aged 16+, with some experience of creative writing, who are serious about their craft. It’s not necessary to be previously published.
It would be advantageous for participants to have an understanding of the importance of Ulysses to contemporary literature (but a close read of the Ulysses Wikipedia entry would suffice). The workshop leaders suggest RTÉ’s 1982 radio version as an additional starting point, available here. Highly recommended (though with a note of caution about explicit content) for its style and expression, is Episode 18, which works as a standalone piece.
A Festival-staple and must-see; we invite you to pop-by -or indeed, spend the day with us- at the Museum of Liverpool (Pier Head). There, we’ve a veritable array of activity to entertain kids (and adults) of all ages.
The Armagh Rhymers return with their (exclusive to the Festival) Liver Bird story. We’ll introduce visitors to Little Globy, a carbon boffin-extraordinaire and a global ambassador for green action. The Bolger-Cunningham Dance School will give it their all in the morning, before the George Ferguson School for Irish Dance team up with Melody Makers, to produce junior and senior dance sets.
There’ll be craft workshops in education spaces and Irish Trails through the Museum’s collections, led by volunteers from the Liverpool Irish Famine Trail (bookable separately). Visitors should also watch our for photo opportunities with Brave Maeve and creator Stu Harrison.
The day puts the Irish of Liverpool at the heart of everything; the programme, the Museum and the city.
Atrium schedule (subject to change):
11:00 Bolger Cunningham Dance School
12:00 The Armagh Rhymers
13:00-13:15 Little Globy poetry
13:20 The Armagh Rhymers
14:20 Melody Makers and the George Ferguson School for Irish Dance junior set
15:05 Break/Little Globy poetry
15:15 Melody Makers and the George Ferguson School for Irish Dance adult set
16:00 The Armagh Rhymers.
The Family Day is sponsored by Tourism Ireland and held in partnership with National Museums Liverpool. As part of the Family programme, you might also like the Samhain Céilí (Sun 29 Oct).
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