On this 2 hour walk you will discover the Irish connection to many of the historic buildings in the Hope Street and Rodney Street areas, and hear from some of the colourful characters who populated them.
Led by historian Greg Quiery, we advise you book early to avoid disappointment.
Anyone interested in this may also like the Scotland Road and Irish Heritage 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.
Meet at the Famine Memorial in St Luke’s Gardens, Leece St.
The Letters of John McGahern provides fresh insight into the life, and work, of one of Ireland’s greatest literary figures; John McGahern (1934-2006).
Best known for his banned second novel, The Dark (1965), and his Booker Prize shortlisted -state of the nation masterpiece- Amongst Women (1990), McGahern was the author of six novels and four short-story collections, plus a play and a memoir. Admired for the sparing grace of his prose, and the startling accuracy of his depictions of Irish life in the second half of the twentieth century, his work won plaudits and prizes in Britain, Ireland, the USA and France.
The Letters consists of over 1,200 communications sent by McGahern to friends, family and fellow writers, over 63 years. Beginning with a childhood thank you note, to his father, it closes with an email to Irish poet Paul Durcan, dictated from his death bed. Accompanying these remarkable documents is an introduction and explanatory notes from the editor, Professor Frank Shovlin, Professor of Irish Literature in English of the Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool.
The launch consists of a lecture from Professor Shovlin based on his research when editing McGahern’s correspondence. A native of the west of Ireland, Professor Shovlin was educated at University College Galway and University of Oxford. He is the author of three academic monographs and numerous essays on aspects of Irish writing.
University of Liverpool (final venue to be confirmed) and online.
Matt McGinn is a seasoned Irish musician with a number of albums under his belt (and more in production!).
He has collaborators the world over. Having grown up during The Troubles, music was a way for Matt to engage in expression and find peace. He wondered if he could create peace through music and, working with artists in war torn environments, created Lessons of War.
Having explored his beautiful documentary of the same name at #LIF2020, tonight we hear the music -live- along with stories of his experience making the album and the opportunities that can be found in sharing, collaborating and putting a little generosity out in the world.
The Line of Best Fit said Lessons of War was a “Plaintive and devastating reassessment of the futility of war, its horrors, effects and after-effects…”. Its lead single Bubblegum was penned with Mick Flannery. After playing it Tom Robinson of BBC 6 Music exclaimed”…now, wasn’t that just extraordinary?” Matt’s latest release Something became the most played song on BBC Radio Ulster (March 2021) and was playlisted on RTE Radio 1. His previous single Annie (Many Moons Ago) was described by Hotpress Magazine as “without doubt, one of the best singles you will hear this year…”.
Since lockdown began in March of 2020, Matt -with fellow performer Cormac Neeson of The Answer- have developed and run the online platform Cocoons (facebook.com/groups/cocoons). Now well past its 60th week, it is a gender balanced platform that has seen performances from over 140 established artists all around the word and raised over £12,000 for various charities.
NB: The Liverpool Philharmonic has entry requirements aligned with Covid-19 safety. If attending, please make sure you are aware of these and are able to pass their requirements. Information is at this link.
Over the last two centuries, the histories of Ireland and Merseyside have become inextricably linked through the port of Liverpool.
During the nineteenth century, millions of Irish emigrants passed through the port while hundreds of thousands made the city their home.
On Merseyside, Irish history has become interwoven with the histories of countries and communities across the globe who also settled in the city. In this podcast, recorded in front of a live Festival audience, Irish historian and creator of The Irish History Podcast (irishhistorypodcast.ie), Fin Dwyer, will talk to local people about their family histories, which embody these fascinating links between Liverpool, Ireland and the wider world.
The event is held in partnership with The Irish History Podcast. Look out for its broadcast later in the year.
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We are proud to state this event is linked with Black History Month and the Cuture Liverpool programme.
The Wife of Michael Cleary is the first piece of music theatre from composer and performer Maz O’Connor.
Inspired by traditional Irish music, her piece tells the true story of Bridget Cleary, who lived in Co. Tipperary over a century ago.
In 1895, at the age of 26, Bridget was burned to death by her husband and family. They claimed they had not killed Bridget, but a changeling left in her place by fairies. News of this shocking case spread through Ireland and across the sea to England, where it was used as fodder in the Home Rule debates.
This new work explores the folklore and superstitions that were rife in an Ireland on the verge of great change. It highlights how societies overlook and enable violence against women and asks ‘how much has really changed for women in the past century?’.
Join us for a stripped-back evening of music from the show, alongside the traditional music that inspired it. This is a unique chance to preview aspects of The Wife of Michael Cleary as Maz and her team develop it towards full production.
Completely informal opportunity to come a long for a tune.
Bring an instrument and a will to play along. No doubt there’ll be a few Festival friends there to help bring the gang together, whilst a fully stocked bar -in one of the most historic and quirkiest pubs in Liverpool- can ease you towards the dawn.
The play will be broadcast on YouTube (search for the Liverpool Irish Festival channel), which requires no tickets. If you would like to be part of the live Zoom transmission, and take part in the online Q&A, you will need to book. Ticket numbers are limited. Once you have booked, Eventbrite (the booking system) will send you all the necessary links to gain access to the event on the evening.
We are proud to state this event is linked with Black History Month and the Cuture Liverpool programme.
Liverpool is famous for the birds on the magnificent Liver Building (the first ever skyscraper in the UK), but there are over 100 Liver Birds in the City. Join ArtsGroupie for a lively, fun two-hour walking tour ‘safari’ around the City Centre. The walk starts at Bluecoat, talking participants on a Liver Bird-spotting mission, learning about the history of Liverpool along the way. The tour finishes near the waterfront.
Bookers are asked to wear comfortable shoes, ensuring you visited restrooms before the tour commences. You are also advised to bring an umbrella or a waterproof, if rain is forecast (sun cream in the unlikely event of glorious weather in Oct!). Binoculars are a bonus (to see the birds up close and in intricate detail)!
This tour is suitable for any one with a good enough attention span -and mobility (or mobility support) to stay on the move for 2 hours.
Liverpool is famous for the birds on the magnificent Liver Building (the first ever skyscraper in the UK), but there are over 100 Liver Birds in the City. Join ArtsGroupie for a lively, fun two-hour walking tour ‘safari’ around the City Centre. The walk starts at Bluecoat, talking participants on a Liver Bird-spotting mission, learning about the history of Liverpool along the way. The tour finishes near the waterfront.
Bookers are asked to wear comfortable shoes, ensuring you visited restrooms before the tour commences. You are also advised to bring an umbrella or a waterproof, if rain is forecast (sun cream in the unlikely event of glorious weather in Oct!). Binoculars are a bonus (to see the birds up close and in intricate detail)!
This tour is suitable for any one with a good enough attention span -and mobility (or mobility support) to stay on the move for 2 hours.
Launch follow up: Adam Oronowicz kindly recorded some of the Festival launch, which can be viewed below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPqhjq791Pg
Original listing
With opening speeches, music and a live preview of our newly adopted Festival theme song, our launch brings Festival friends together.
The Centre, our natural home, provides a convivial space in which to toast ‘Sláinte’ (health) to all those who join us, have helped us and will be with us for Festivals ahead. Book ahead to ensure you have the best seats!
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Attendance at the launch does not give you automatic attendance to The Old Time Sailors. You will need to book tickets seperately for this event.
We are proud to state this event is linked with Black History Month and the Cuture Liverpool programme.
Commuity invitation
Here at the Liverpool Irish Festival, we are very aware that representation has become a major part of our everyday work. We have had to find a voice to support our Irish communities against ignorance arising through Brexit; against general and systemic misunderstandings caused by assumptions about who the Irish in Britain are and the need to challenge the widely asserted by incorrect view that Irishness is white.
We know these things are wrong and that, often times, they echo what is happening to and in other communities.
We want to make our Festival open to Liverpool’s often overlooked communities and remind everyone that the Liverpool Irish Festival is for those with an Irish background -of any heritage- as well as those with no connection to Ireland at all! Arts and culture are for sharing; internally between those whom identify the culture as theirs and externally, so others can see why and how unique customs, creative exchanges and histories draw communities closer, drive them apart and/or help people with their identify.
This year’s Festival theme is exchange. Every event contains an exchange within it and we hope we can create exchanges with you. We welcome you -and the community you support- to our events and hope that you will share our specific invite to you widely. Parts of our programme this year involve individuals of Chinese Irish, Irish Caribbean and other Irish dual-heritages in a bid to start showing that Ireland’s people -it’s diaspora and communities abroad are a myriad of people, dreams and ambitions. We hope you will join us to celebrate some exceptional stories, art and history.
You can find everything you need to know about our events programme -and our Liverpool Irish Famine Trail project- at liverpoolirishfestival.com and you can follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram on @LivIrishFest. before signing off, I would encourage anyone that wanted to connect with our programme and the notifications coming out ahead of the Festival to sign up for our enewsletter – you can do that here: https://www.liverpoolirishfestival.com/sign-up/ This allows us to speak directly with you about the programme and community news updates.
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