This tour will visit sites around the city where the Irish community have left their mark, including the Great Hunger memorial, St Patrick’s Church, Clarence Dock and a good deal more. Kitty Wilkinson, James Nugent, Agnes Jones, T.P.O’Connor, and many will feature. Magical and a little mysterious, the coach will return you to the Liverpool Irish Centre ready for the Family Céilí.
As with the walking tours, this coach tour has been prepared and presented by historian Greg Quiery.
We strongly recommend advance booking as places are strictly limited. Remaining coach seats will be sold on the day on a first-come-first-served basis.
Please note: this tour leaves the Liverpool Irish Centre at midday and not 10am as printed in the Liverpool Irish Festival brochure. This was a misprint and we are communicating this error wherever possible.
Traditionally, Irish céilís provided an opportunity for families and friends to unwind, share time together and celebrate.
So, how better can the Liverpool Irish Festival help families to wrap up #LIF2019, ahead of the working week, but to provide you with a brilliant céilí? This is the perfect time to (re)connect with loved ones, your (or another) culture and plan your trip to Ireland. Bring family, friends and your dancing feet to join the fun, learn some Irish céilí dances and witness live music and dance. No previous experience is necessary as full instructions will be given by an exceptional caller.
Not only will there be fun with music and dance, but The Armagh Rhymers will be in attendance, bringing with them folk stories, mumming and children’s books, galore. A truly spectacular outfit, they are replete with giant woven head pieces, costumes and drama, as presented by the true rhyming traditions of Ireland. For more details on their work visit armaghrhymers.com
Irish stew and other lunch offers will available from the Liverpool Irish Centre’s shop, along with a range of Irish produce sold all year ‘round. Do stop and take a look.
The Family Céilí forms part of our wider Family Days programme, including the Family Day at the Museum of Liverpool on Sat 26 Oct (see listing). It is organised by Liverpool Irish Festival in partnership with the Liverpool Irish Centre.
The Armagh Rhymers at Navan Fort (c) Charles Freger – detail only.
100 years ago Constance Markievicz was the first woman elected to the British parliament.
She was in prison. She had been a leader of the Dublin Easter Rising, but her pacifist sister, Eva Gore-Booth, was campaigning for her release. Wealthy young women from Sligo, they had turned their backs on convention. This “stunning and evocative” play tells the remarkable story of these Irish sisters through theatre, poetry, songs, music, dance and over 600 archival images.
Constance married a Polish count, was an artist and ran a soup kitchen in the Dublin lock-out. Eva was a poet who campaigned for the rights of barmaids and other working women in northwest England with her lifelong partner, Esther Roper.
This new production by Lynx Theatre and Poetry of Jacqueline Mulhallen’s play is directed by William Alderson and choreographed by Siân Williams (of the Globe Theatre and the BBC’s Wolf Hall). It is supported by Arts Council England, the Irish Government’s Emigrant Support Programme and Unite the Union.
Saturday’s showing will be followed by a Q&A for those who wish to stay on and discuss the production, story or archive.
100 years ago Constance Markievicz was the first woman elected to the British parliament.
She was in prison. She had been a leader of the Dublin Easter Rising, but her pacifist sister, Eva Gore-Booth, was campaigning for her release. Wealthy young women from Sligo, they had turned their backs on convention. This “stunning and evocative” play tells the remarkable story of these Irish sisters through theatre, poetry, songs, music, dance and over 600 archival images.
Constance married a Polish count, was an artist and ran a soup kitchen in the Dublin lock-out. Eva was a poet who campaigned for the rights of barmaids and other working women in northwest England with her lifelong partner, Esther Roper.
This new production by Lynx Theatre and Poetry of Jacqueline Mulhallen’s play is directed by William Alderson and choreographed by Siân Williams (of the Globe Theatre and the BBC’s Wolf Hall). It is supported by Arts Council England, the Irish Government’s Emigrant Support Programme and Unite the Union.
Saturday’s showing will be followed by a Q&A for those who wish to stay on and discuss the production, story or archive.
Liverpool Irish Festival and TG4 bring you three exceptional masterclasses with (recent) past Gradam Ceoil winners and experts in the fields of accordion, fiddle and concertina.
These classes are for existing musicians to sharpen their skills with the assistance a leading musician. Places are limited to allow for close tuition within small groups.
To apply, you will need to send your name, contact details, level of musical training/professional equivalent, masterclass choice and reason for wanting to attend to info@liverpoolirishfestival.com with the subject: TG4Masterclass.
It is important we collect this information so that the artists can come prepared with ideas for the session and an understanding of the skill set in the room. Places operate on a first-come, first-served basis. This is a rare opportunity to meet a remarkable artist, gain from their experience and hone your skills.
Session times run as follows:
12pm – Conor Connolly (Gradam Ceoil Young Traditional Musician of the Year, 2019) on accordion
1.30 pm – Clare Friel (Gradam Ceoil Young Traditional Musician of the Year, 2018) on fiddle
3pm – Liam O’Brien (Gradam Ceoil Young Traditional Musician of the Year, 2017) on concertina.
Gradam Ceoil Masterclasses run at 12pm (Conor Connolly, accordion), 1.30pm (Clare Friel, fiddle) and 3pm (Liam O’Brien, concertina) on Wed 23 Oct, not at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm as printed in the #LIF2019 brochure.
Liverpool Irish Festival and TG4 bring you three exceptional masterclasses with (recent) past Gradam Ceoil winners and experts in the fields of accordion, fiddle and concertina.
These classes are for existing musicians to sharpen their skills with the assistance a leading musician. Places are limited to allow for close tuition within small groups.
To apply, you will need to send your name, contact details, level of musical training/professional equivalent, masterclass choice and reason for wanting to attend to info@liverpoolirishfestival.com with the subject: TG4Masterclass.
It is important we collect this information so that the artists can come prepared with ideas for the session and an understanding of the skill set in the room. Places operate on a first-come, first-served basis. This is a rare opportunity to meet a remarkable artist, gain from their experience and hone your skills.
Session times run as follows:
12pm – Conor Connolly (Gradam Ceoil Young Traditional Musician of the Year, 2019) on accordion
1.30 pm – Clare Friel* (Gradam Ceoil Young Traditional Musician of the Year, 2018) on fiddle
3pm – Liam O’Brien (Gradam Ceoil Young Traditional Musician of the Year, 2017) on concertina.
Gradam Ceoil Masterclasses run at 12pm (Conor Connolly, accordion), 1.30pm (Clare Friel, fiddle) and 3pm (Liam O’Brien, concertina) on Wed 23 Oct, not at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm as printed in the #LIF2019 brochure.
* Not Doireann Ní Ghlacáin (TG4 presenter) as cited in very early listings. We apologise for any disappointment.
Liverpool Irish Festival and TG4 bring you three exceptional masterclasses with (recent) past Gradam Ceoil winners and experts in the fields of accordion, fiddle and concertina.
These classes are for existing musicians to sharpen their skills with the assistance a leading musician. Places are limited to allow for close tuition within small groups.
To apply, you will need to send your name, contact details, level of musical training/professional equivalent, masterclass choice and reason for wanting to attend to info@liverpoolirishfestival.com with the subject: TG4Masterclass.
It is important we collect this information so that the artists can come prepared with ideas for the session and an understanding of the skill set in the room. Places operate on a first-come, first-served basis. This is a rare opportunity to meet a remarkable artist, gain from their experience and hone your skills.
Session times run as follows:
12pm – Conor Connolly (Gradam Ceoil Young Traditional Musician of the Year, 2019) on accordion
1.30 pm – Clare Friel (Gradam Ceoil Young Traditional Musician of the Year, 2018) on fiddle
3pm – Liam O’Brien (Gradam Ceoil Young Traditional Musician of the Year, 2017) on concertina.
Gradam Ceoil Masterclasses run at 12pm (Conor Connolly, accordion), 1.30pm (Clare Friel, fiddle) and 3pm (Liam O’Brien, concertina) on Wed 23 Oct, not at 12pm, 2pm and 4pm as printed in the #LIF2019 brochure.
It’s 2021. Happy 100th birthday Northern Ireland.
Stormont has been down for years.
The UK and Ireland have long disengaged. When an unexpected oil bonanza in Mary’s garden suddenly changes the fortunes of Ulster and its people, is the world ready for the emergence of Northern Ireland as a global superpower?
Inspired by The Nolan show, a daily radio phone in show, The Biggest Show in The Country is a timely anecdote to ‘The Troubles’ narrative. A dark new musical comedy. Swapping guns, bombs and bullets for glitter, banter and ballads. Directed By Adam McGuigan and presented by Wake The Beast.
These performances are supported by Liverpool John Moores University.
It’s 2021. Happy 100th birthday Northern Ireland.
Stormont has been down for years.
The UK and Ireland have long disengaged. When an unexpected oil bonanza in Mary’s garden suddenly changes the fortunes of Ulster and its people, is the world ready for the emergence of Northern Ireland as a global superpower?
Inspired by The Nolan show, a daily radio phone in show, The Biggest Show in The Country is a timely anecdote to ‘The Troubles’ narrative. A dark new musical comedy. Swapping guns, bombs and bullets for glitter, banter and ballads. Directed By Adam McGuigan and presented by Wake The Beast.
These performances are supported by Liverpool John Moores University.
Peggy Peakin was a Liverpool music ‘influencer’ for over 50 years.
She’d collected tunes, made them her own, played and shared them. She and her sister played in Liverpool, notably with the Brian Boru Band and, most famously in the Liverpool Céilí Band, with Sean McNamara, Eamon and Terry Coyne and others. As a teacher she was greatly revered and as a peer, much loved. This night remembers her joy of music, revisiting many of the tunes she played, recognising her skill, friendships and legacy to music in Liverpool. Pupils, fellow players of traditional music and friends, honour her by playing and passing on stories in an evening of celebration.
We’re welcoming anyone who was taught by Peggy or who played with her during her long career. It would be good to hear more stories on the night, if you’ve something to share. Remember to bring any instruments, as there’ll be a chance to join in a few well-known tunes and perhaps learn an old tune in the way Peggy taught it.
