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.
❤️??
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.
She’s taken on an amazing adventure, through Irish folklore, when something is stolen from her Grandad Mac by a pesky púca.
A richly illustrated book, it will be voiced by author and artist Stu Harrison. Witty, energetic and designed for kids aged 7-11, this is a fun afternoon event to spend with your child or grandchild. We’ll also have colouring sheets available.
Stu will bring some of his illustrated cut outs, so kids can pose with a sword, Brave Maeve and púca. Bring your cameras! Book copies will be available to buy (£4.99) and have signed.
Completely informal opportunity to come a long for a tune at PK’s.
The second seisiún of two in the Festival, the other takes place here the Fri prior (20 Oct 2023).
Bring an instrument, your voice and a will to play along. There’ll be Festival friends to help bring the gang together, whilst a fully stocked bar -in one of the most historic and quirkiest pubs in Liverpool- eases you towards the dawn. This event gets busy quickly and sometimes it is ‘standing room only’, so be prepared to ‘hotch up’ and swap places so everyone can get a piece of the action.
From the Irish State’s foundation (1922), until 1998, Mother and Baby and County Homes existed across Ireland.
Background
Institutions -designed to accommodate single mothers, pregnant women or those risking destitution- became places of neglect, degradation, suffering and loneliness. Significantly, rates of infant mortality outstripped those of the wider population.
Following the discovery of the remains of 796 children, illegally buried on the site of the Bonn Secours Home in Tuam (County Galway) -and campaigns from former residents of the homes- a Commission of Investigation was established by the Irish Government. This was followed by the enactment of several pieces of legislation, aimed at responding to former residents’ experiences.
Redress
It’s believed 38,000 people will be eligible to access these schemes. Additionally, it’s estimated 40% of these live in Britain.
With today’s legislation in place, what effects are the systems having?
What were the experiences of former residents and how are they being addressed?
Where can people access the schemes or gain help to access them?
During our online event, Fréa will explore former resident experiences and share the Government’s response. The event will help people understand how they access these systems and ways they can advocate for former residents.
The transcripts of the testimonials read at this event can be downloaded here.
Shirley
Castlepollard.
The event can be watched below:
Support service details provided in the chat:
Fréa (North of England)
Patrick Rodgers
Mob: 07432 138682
Email: patrick.rodgers@frea.org.uk
Ciarán Connolly
Mob: 07732901782
Email: ciaran.connolly@frea.org.uk
Natalie Hughes-Crean
Mob: 07849835841
Email: natalie.hughes-crean@frea.org.uk
For help and support if you live in different regions of Britain contact:
Survivor Service
London Irish Centre
Katie Doyle 07947111493
Séan Kaluarachchi
0800 519 5519
Coventry Irish Society Midlands
Irish Survivors Service
Rachel Nally
0247 625 6629
ICAP
ICAP is the only specialist British-based counselling and psychotherapy service supporting people from the Irish community facing a range of emotional issues,
including depression, anxiety and stress. Helpline: +44 (0) 207 272 7906. icap.org.uk
Connect Counselling
An anonymous professional telephone counselling service for survivors of
physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Freephone in the UK and Northern Ireland +44 (0) 800 477 477 77. connectcounselling.ie
The Samaritans
The Samaritans offer a non-judgmental listening service, whatever you are going through. Call free, 24/7 in the UK, on 116 123. samaritains.org
Sexual Violence Support (North West)
A service to help locate the relevant support services for those who have suffered sexual violence across the North West. 0800500222 sexualviolencesupport.co.uk
The Survivors Trust
The Survivors Trust has 120 member organisations based in the UK and Ireland which provide specialist support for women, men & children who have survived rape, sexual violence or childhood sexual abuse
08088 010818 thesurvivorstrust.org
Tuam Home Survivors Network
Survivors helping survivors. tuamhomesurvivors.com
info@tuamhomesurvivors.com
We Are Survivors
Welcome to We Are Survivors, a survivor focused voluntary sector organisation that aims to create and facilitate safe spaces for male (including trans and non-binary individuals) survivors of sexual abuse, rape and sexual exploitation across Greater Manchester
0808 500 2222
Further information
Final report on the commission
Click here to visit the report pages.
Embassy notice
On 4 Sept 2023, Liverpool Irish Festival received a notification from the Embassy of Ireland about a consultation concerning the National Centre for Research and Remembrance. Consultation opened earlier in the year and will last until 15 Sept 2023. More information on the Centre, the steering committee and consultation can be found here.
Tuam Oral History project
In 2021, we held an In:Visible Women day, focussed on the Tuam Oral Hsitory Project. Recordings of the sessions can be seen, here.
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