Event type: Comedy

Taking in Liverpool’s waterfront in the way many migrants will have over centuries, this tour tells much about the formation of Liverpool’s waterways and those who had a hand in the developments.

Due to scheduled works on the waterways, we are unable to take visitors to Clarence Dock, where many Irish migrants entered the city, this time. Instead, passengers start their tour in the Royal Albert Dock, sailing to Canning Dock, Salthouse Dock, Duke’s Dock, Wapping Dock, Queens Dock, Coburg Dock and Brunswick Dock before returning to the mooring. Lasting almost an hour, passengers will hear about the birth of the docks, their history and the people that made them, transforming a sleepy fishing village in to a City of Empire.

Children must be supervised by those that bring them.
Bookings and timings
Tickets are extremely limited (no more than 12 per journey) so booking is essential. Please be mindful of the limited ticket numbers available and to return unwanted tickets in advance so that other people can take advantage of this free offer.

Tours will leave The Pride of Sefton mooring at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm on Sat 30 Oct 2021 only.

Please be sure to book for the tour time you want and note the departure time. You are asked to be at the mooring site 10mins before expected departure.

The boat will have to leave on time in order to return and depart for its next tour. It will leave without ticket holders if they are not present.

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Presentation of short film Hold the Sausage and interview with its makers and IndieCork Director Mick Hannigan, presented on Liverpool Irish Festival’s YouTube channel.

We are no longer able to air Cal’s full film, for licencing reasons, but you can see it, alongside others from the programme, here on iPlayer.

In this short film, comedy meets chaos as Saoirse’s Nanny learns of her new lifestyle choices. Watch the drama unfold as Saoirse is interrogated by her Nanny after refusing her Sunday roast sausages. Saoirse is a contemporary Irish Catholic teenager, showcasing the progressive youth and nature of Northern Ireland – ‘wrecking’ her Nannie’s nerves in the process.

As well as screening this film, spectators will meet its director, Cal Freeman, and lead actor, Chloe Muldoon, who are interviewed -exclusively for the Festival- by Mick Hannigan (Director IndieCork). You will hear how Cal was commissioned by New Creatives North, a filmmaker program funded by BBC Arts & Arts Council England, providing real industry insights for new makers.

Interested in modern Irish and Queer identity, and ‘reclaiming space’ for the north (at the centenary of the formation of Northern Ireland), Cal and Chloe provide a vantage in to the world of millennial filmmakers, all whilst having a merry giggle along the way.

After the premiere, it will be available to watch below.

Image (c) Finn Harvey.

You know that Samhain (Hallowe’en) is a Pagan festival? A time when the veil between this world and ‘the Other’ is at its thinnest; a time we must honour the dead and protect ourselves from evil spirits?

Dressing up, feasting, lighting bonfires and carving pumpkins are traditions that echo our ancient roots. So, who were the people that first celebrated it and what did they believe? Who were the gods they worshipped, and where are they now?

The answer is: they are still with us! Although Christianity came and took hold of the country, Ireland never fully lost its Paganism. The gods of old remain with us to this day as ‘the fairy folk’ and superstition holds strong.

Come along to a session of Hallowe’en storytelling with a difference! Set amongst an exhibition illustrating the myths and legends of the first peoples in Ireland, the stories include explanations of the gods of old and their downfalls, as well as how they exist in today’s world!

This event is for children*, accompanied by their respective carers, and is set at the Mansion House to be close to the Calder Stones, which bear the marks of Celtic tribes who would have honoured these stories. The session will last about an hour.

* We recognise that children might cry, run off, dip in and out, etc. We have not set an age on this; it is for children who continue to want to be there and can engage in a storyteller’s voice. We anticipate carers making calls on whether their wards can stay or are creating issues for other children.

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This event is supported by Gael Linn and An tUltach and presented in partnership with The Reader.

Our Family Day has become a Festival-staple and must-see. Call down to the Museum of Liverpool (Pier Head), to witness all kinds of Irish culture, often with a spooky twist!

We will have the ever-spectacular mummers, the Armagh Rhymers as well as Gael Linn/An tUltach commissioned storyteller Nuala Monahan, telling children’s stories. The George Ferguson and Bolger-Cunningham Schools for Irish Dance will run exciting demonstrations. There’ll be something new to see, on the hour, every hour, with a last act at 4pm. Our Board members will run a stop-in session, throughout the day, for budding Board-wannabes, of any age. Alison Little (artist) will provide a fun, free children’s art activity, linked with Samhain/Hallowe’en (11am-1pm, 2pm-4pm).

The day puts the Irish of Liverpool at the heart of everything – the programme, the museum building and the city centre. Call in or stay all day. Link up with the Pride of Sefton dock tours; go on the self-guided Irish trail (around the Museum) or simply sit and watch as the fun unfolds in the atrium.

For a full breakdown of the activities, check back closer to the Family Day. We will upload everything we have here.

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 31 Oct).

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Taking in Liverpool’s waterfront in the way many migrants will have over centuries, this tour tells much about the formation of Liverpool’s waterways and those who had a hand in the developments.

Due to scheduled works on the waterways, we are unable to take visitors to Clarence Dock, where many Irish migrants entered the city, this time. Instead, passengers start their tour in the Royal Albert Dock, sailing to Canning Dock, Salthouse Dock, Duke’s Dock, Wapping Dock, Queens Dock, Coburg Dock and Brunswick Dock before returning to the mooring. Lasting almost an hour, passengers will hear about the birth of the docks, their history and the people that made them, transforming a sleepy fishing village in to a City of Empire.

Children must be supervised by those that bring them.
Bookings and timings
Tickets are extremely limited (no more than 12 per journey) so booking is essential. Please be mindful of the limited ticket numbers available and to return unwanted tickets in advance so that other people can take advantage of this free offer.

Tours will leave The Pride of Sefton mooring at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm on Sat 30 Oct 2021 only.

Please be sure to book for the tour time you want and note the departure time. You are asked to be at the mooring site 10mins before expected departure.

The boat will have to leave on time in order to return and depart for its next tour. It will leave without ticket holders if they are not present.

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Familiar streets and buildings yield up their stories in this fascinating walking tour of the area around the Bluecoat and city centre, where there are links to not only Liverpool’s Irish community, but also to the Italian community, and aspects of Liverpool’s radical history.

Led by historian Greg Quiery, we advise you book early to avoid disappointment.

Anyone interested in this may also like the Scotland Road and South Liverpool walks.

This in an outdoor walk; please be weather prepared, comfortable and hydrated. We will observe Covid-19 regulations as at the date of the walk. Walkers should act responsibly, including having a mask available in the event streets or locations are busy. We will do all we can to maintain social distancing, but need your active co-operation in this.

This year’s walks are held in memory of Vin Finn, Festival volunteer and Irish community champion.

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Taking in Liverpool’s waterfront in the way many migrants will have over centuries, this tour tells much about the formation of Liverpool’s waterways and those who had a hand in the developments.

Due to scheduled works on the waterways, we are unable to take visitors to Clarence Dock, where many Irish migrants entered the city, this time. Instead, passengers start their tour in the Royal Albert Dock, sailing to Canning Dock, Salthouse Dock, Duke’s Dock, Wapping Dock, Queens Dock, Coburg Dock and Brunswick Dock before returning to the mooring. Lasting almost an hour, passengers will hear about the birth of the docks, their history and the people that made them, transforming a sleepy fishing village in to a City of Empire.

Children must be supervised by those that bring them.
Bookings and timings
Tickets are extremely limited (no more than 12 per journey) so booking is essential. Please be mindful of the limited ticket numbers available and to return unwanted tickets in advance so that other people can take advantage of this free offer.

Tours will leave The Pride of Sefton mooring at 11am, 12.30pm, 2pm and 3.30pm on Sat 30 Oct 2021 only.

Please be sure to book for the tour time you want and note the departure time. You are asked to be at the mooring site 10mins before expected departure.

The boat will have to leave on time in order to return and depart for its next tour. It will leave without ticket holders if they are not present.

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Following the success of her previous play Kitty (as performed at #LIF2018), Liverpool playwright and author Carol Maginn now presents the story of another Irish migrant who confronted and overcame the many hurdles of early 19th Century society.

This play tracks the journey of Dr Barry from poverty in Cork to family in London, study in Edinburgh, and then a tumultuous and prestigious career in the British army, bucking societal pressures at every turn. This is a modern retelling of the life of a powerful historic pioneer.

We’re delighted to perform this work in the atmospheric lecture theatre of the Liverpool Medical Institution, which opened in 1837, at the height of Barry’s surgical work and medical reformism. To think that Dr Rutter (LMI’s first president) and Dr Barry may have exchanged letters or learning in the same building is to live in the play, just a little!

With local director Zara Marie Brown, and the generous co-operation of the Liverpool Medical Institution staff, this will be a unique evening, and one to remember, and we urge you to book as soon as you can!

This play runs at 6pm and 8pm on Thurs 28 and Fri 29 Oct. The 8pm showing on Thurs 28 Oct will also have a Q&A with the writer and others.

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From Here To There is a one night collaborative effort, featuring musical acts from both sides of the Irish Sea.

During the Festival’s 2020 online incarnation, Cork City based company, Unemployable Promotions compiled an online showcase of their roster, entitled From Here, featuring live performances from the city’s iconic venue, Coughlans. We organised for the Cork company to team up with well-known Liverpool based promoters and label, Mellowtone. The two shared each other’s events, with a view to continuing to work together in 2021.

This year the two promoters will work together, IRL (‘in real life’!), here in Liverpool’s District. Featuring performances from two great Cork City based acts, Sara Ryan and Míde Houlihan (along with their bands), as well as from local favourites, Karen Turley and Seafoam Green from the Mellowtone roster.

The event is the second in what promises to create an ongoing relationship between Unemployable Promotions and Liverpool Irish Festival, bringing a taste of Cork City’s thriving original music scene, and showcasing its acts alongside some of the best local artists, in a way that compliments both.

“There’s a great connection between Cork and Liverpool, and actually a lot similarities that you’ll find in the people” says Unemployable co-owner, Michael Grace. “We started coming to Liverpool years ago, originally following our football loyalties, and ended up making some friends, and falling in love with the city. A huge part of that was the music. We’re delighted to have the chance to showcase some of our acts at the Festival and we’re really looking forward to collaborating with Mellowtone again, who have been so great since we were first introduced”.

This event is held in partnership with Unemployable Promotions, Mellowtone and District.

Additional info:

Míde Houlihan (pictured left) is a West Cork bred singer-songwriter, whose folk-pop compositions have received national notice and acclaim over the last number of years. In 2015 Míde won the IMRO Songwriting Award, and released her debut album: Coloured In. Having put herself on the map with extensive touring, Míde followed up with her next EP: Shifting Gears (2019). Songs from both releases played regularly on Ireland’s national radio earning Míde support slots with John Spillane, Bill Shanley and Mick Flannery, who she would go on to co-write with, releasing their collaboration, Idle Words (2020). On performing live, Míde is a regular on the festival scene, appearing at Clonakilty International Guitar Festival, Quiet Lights (Cork), Glór (Ennis), Ireland Music Week (Dublin), Women’s Work (Belfast) and many more. Míde and her band recently recorded her forthcoming EP Trampoline, set for release in October.

Sara Ryan (lead image) is a Kildare-born Cork-based singer-songwriter, who has been a regular stand out act in the Irish scene since winning Best New Artist Award at the Irish Folk Awards (2017). Her debut album, Breathe featured a number of singles included in RTE’s Recommended List. Sara’s distinctive voice and blend of folk, pop and soul results in a signature sound that is at the heart of her well-deserved success. After regular touring in Ireland and Germany, Sara signed a publishing deal with Atlantic Songs (London/Cork) and is currently writing and recording new music. Appearances at Doolin Folk Festival, Women’s Work, The Last Broadcast and others have established Sara as a powerhouse in the live music world, where she continues to make waves.

Karen Turley (pictured left) is a Singer-Songwriter from Ireland based in Liverpool. In the past she has performed in The Bluebird Cafe in Nashville and is influenced by the likes of Dolly Parton and Brandi Carlile. She is currently gearing up to release her first full length studio album with her Country, Folk-Rock trio, ‘Motel Sundown’.

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Seafoam Green (image below) are Irish songwriting duo Dave O’Grady and Muireann McDermott Long. The pair specialise in what we now call Americana. If you want blues, gospel, and folk, they’ve got it, but what they’ve actually perfected across two albums and countless live shows is the sound of a glorious rock n’ soul revival.  Seafoam Greeneven find room for a dash of Dublinese, just to remind people where they’re coming from. Heavy hitters like Rich Robinson, Derek Trucks, and Tyler Greenwell have all chipped in, and it’s not hard to hear why, for this is thrilling, vital, and – that word again – soulful music.” Pat Carty, HotPress Magazine.

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Following the success of her previous play Kitty (as performed at #LIF2018), Liverpool playwright and author Carol Maginn now presents the story of another Irish migrant who confronted and overcame the many hurdles of early 19th Century society.

This play tracks the journey of Dr Barry from poverty in Cork to family in London, study in Edinburgh, and then a tumultuous and prestigious career in the British army, bucking societal pressures at every turn. This is a modern retelling of the life of a powerful historic pioneer.

We’re delighted to perform this work in the atmospheric lecture theatre of the Liverpool Medical Institution, which opened in 1837, at the height of Barry’s surgical work and medical reformism. To think that Dr Rutter (LMI’s first president) and Dr Barry may have exchanged letters or learning in the same building is to live in the play, just a little!

With local director Zara Marie Brown, and the generous co-operation of the Liverpool Medical Institution staff, this will be a unique evening, and one to remember, and we urge you to book as soon as you can!

This play runs at 6pm and 8pm on Thurs 28 and Fri 29 Oct. The 8pm showing on Thurs 28 Oct will also have a Q&A with the writer and others.

♀️??