Event type: Comedy

Further to a day of illustrated talks, installations and debate, we present an evening of exceptional female talent, from Liverpool and Ireland.

Including four acts, this evening celebrates contemporary music and the women making it. With modern takes on traditional songs, self-penned tracks and exceptional instrumental talent, the night is hosted by Gerry Ffrench, a popular local radio star and touring musical artist in her own right.

The line-up includes sets increasing in length from Emma Lusby (Limavady, Co Londonderry), Mamatung (Liverpool) and Sue Rynhart with Ailbhe Reddy (both from Dublin) headlining.

Ailbhe Reddy (Headline)

Described by The Irish Times and Hotpress as ‘euphotic’ and ‘ethereal’, Ailbhe’s work has received excellent reviews and extensive radio play in Ireland, the UK and Germany; receiving streams of over 2million on Spotify! Having first attracted attention in 2014 after the release of her first single ‘Flesh and Blood’, Reddy has gone on to perform at every major music festival in the UK and Ireland. A worldwide publishing deal with boutique, London-based publishing house BDI music is sure to see Ailbhe soar!
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Sue Rynhart

Sue’s debut album ‘Crossings (Songs for Voice & Double Bass)’ with Dan Bodwell, an American based in Dublin, has reached international critical acclaim from RTÉ Lyric fm, The Irish Times, the respected American website allaboutjazz.com, The Independent and The Sunday Times UK. She has premiered works by many of the Composers from the Irish Composers Collective and the Contemporary Music Centre and and has performed on BBC Radio with the Choir of Christchurch Cathedral Dublin. Sue’s new album ‘Signals’ was released on Fri 28 April 2017 presented by Note Productions.
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Mamatung

Three pronged freak folk outfit Mamatung bring a sprinkling of scouse ceremony with a journey to the centre of the heart. A set entwined with spirited melodies, chants, serendipitous harmonies and a magical mixture of musical instruments. “Mamatung. . . are like something you’d stumble upon in an empty field. Like witches singing sweet songs of earth and the wild. ‘New ancient sounds” – Cee Smith, Newsnet.scot @mamatung
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Emma Lusby

Steeped in the roots of Irish tradition and influenced by the likes of Dervish and Sandy Denny, 20 year old Trad and Folk singer Emma Lusby has performed at Celtic Connections (Glasgow), the Baltic State Folk Festival (Latvia) and other UK festivals. Liverpool based, her music is played on folk radio stations throughout the UK. Presently, Emma is working alongside Cinematic Skies on a project promoting cultural tourism in Northern Ireland to be released later this year… “Emma doesn’t sing words, she sings pictures. One note from her lips can transport you down history’s path to the tip of a lovers’ tiff or the pit of a nation’s anguish.” – Marty Cullen, BBC Radio Ulster. soundcloud.com/emma-lusby

 

Unveiling a number of discrete, yet important case histories of Liverpool, Liverpool Irish and/or Irish women, In:Visible Women’s morning sessions set the scene for exploring the issues women still face today, particularly in certain Irish communities.

By recognising their influence and impact we aim to redress their abilities and attributes. Discussions move to more difficult issues in the afternoon and could include discussion around shamed pregnancies, arranged marriages, faith crises, institutional abuse, secret adoptions and illegal abortions; many of which retain influence and impact on families and communities today and are highlighted elsewhere in the festival programme. Whilst the laws in the Irish Republic, Northern Ireland and mainland Great Britain still allow 11 women per day to travel to England to have their ‘shame dealt with’ these issues are not just a matter for women, but for society, legislature and reconciliation and so the late afternoon sessions will consider this.

In:Visible Women builds relationships with artists, academics and organisations to deliver illuminating talks, films, performances, artworks and written features to start making ‘invisible’ women’s issues, visible.  Piloting this year is our In:Visible Women day at Central Library. Artists and academics will highlight individual, historic case studies, bringing to light diminished or overlooked histories and stories. After an enlightening day of discussion, imagery, installations and film, we have an evening of Liverpool, Liverpool Irish and Irish female singer songwriters at the Liverpool Philharmonic Music Room, showcasing a raft of contemporary talent.

This is the tip of the iceberg. As In:Visible Women has developed, more striking stories, histories and opportunities have presented themselves and we expect to expand the programme in future years. Our inaugural year already has much to offer. Having received interest from press, artists, academics and activists, we advise getting your tickets early and engaging now. A full day schedule will follow online, but artists Casey Orr and Alison Little are already involved. #invisiblewomen

We also recommend booking for the Visible Women: New and powerful women in music.

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Whilst the Liverpool Irish Festival does provide free events, this is an all-day event that will require refreshments. The ticket price is to cover visitor beverages for the day, but lunch will not be provided. Although we will not provide a lunch, we do recommend the cafe at the library and people are welcome to bring a packed lunch which can be eaten outside. In order to provide barrierless access, we have with-held a small allocation of tickets for those who do not feel they are able to pay the ticket price. To apply for one of these tickets, please send your request to info@liverpoolirishfestival.com with the subject header “IW Bursary”.

This event is now completely sold out. We are sorry for any inconvenience and hope you will join us for other festival events.

Orla Guerin (Dublin) became the BBC’s Egypt Correspondent in 2013. Since then she has reported Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Tunisia, and Libya.

She has reported on the first democratic transition of power in Cairo, suicide bombings, sectarian violence, the Taliban shooting of Malala Yousufzai and the battle for female education. In total, Orla has reported from over 60 countries, and her work has been recognised with awards and nominations in the UK, USA, and her native Ireland. In this talk, Orla discusses her work and life.

Organised by the Institute of Irish Studies, in partnership with the Liverpool Irish Festival, this event also contributes to the festival’s new strand of work In:Visible Women, an important body of work considering women, particularly those with Irish connections, today.
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Free entry, booking required. Spaces are limited. Please RSVP to Dorothy Lynch (Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool) using dorothy@liv.ac.uk or +44(0) 151 794 3837. Remaining seats will allocated on a first-come first served basis. The event takes place in the Eleanor Rathbone Theatre in the Eleanor Rathbone Building.

The Breath is Stuart McCallum (ex-guitarist of The Cinematic Orchestra), Irish singer Rioghnach Connolly, fellow Cinematic alumnus pianist John Ellis and drummer Elliot Bennett.

Mixing Irish folk influences with mesmerizing guitar riffs, anthemic themes and powerful hooks, Connolly’s soulful vocals are interwoven into the electronic fabric of McCallum’s distinctive sound-world. In turns hypnotic, lush, powerfully raw and raucously punchy, their songs enter, uplift and break your heart as The Breath conjure a kaleidoscope of sound that perfectly frames Connolly’s raw songs and soul-cleansing vocals. While original lyrics pour forth from her in a torrent of meaning, she sings songs of birth and death, woman’s rights, first love, the call of motherhood, the death of men at sea and post-colonial wrongs.

Returning once again, Alan O’Hare (Only Child) hosts a mic night of music, slam poetry and beats from the best of open mic contributors at The Magnet, the bar Noel Gallagher called the “the best club in the UK for future Rock and Roll stars”.

Festival favourites, Only Child appear with String Quartet and special guests Limerance and Rachael Jean Harris.

Only Child have released two albums and two EPs since 2012 and have headlined Liverpool’s The Music Room, View Two Gallery, Zanzibar Club and The Magnet, among others. For this special concert Only Child will be accompanied by a string quartet to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the group’s debut gig.

‘Violin, voices and electric piano echo one another, both playful and mournfully. It’s beautifully haunting, as the band falls away leaving just strings’ – Liverpool Acoustic

The year is 1867.

Edward Brett and his Irish wife, Eliza are struggling to make a living from their small shop. Edward’s brother, a popular policeman, is shot dead during the rescue of two Irish Republican prisoners in Manchester. A huge upsurge of anti-Irish feeling sweeps the country and three Irishmen are publicly hanged. Edward and Eliza struggle to cope with their personal loss, their loyalty to each other and their different cultural backgrounds.

Written to coincide with the 150th anniversary of real events, the play explores dilemmas that are still very relevant today. Written by Eileen Murphy, directed by Chris Honer and performed by Straightforward Theatre. @sftheatre

Celebrate the Liverpool Irish Festival with family and friends in a day incorporating music, talks and activities for everyone to enjoy, across the day.

Delivered in partnership with National Museums Liverpool, with contributions from Liverpool Comhaltas (celebrating their 60th anniversary) Melody Makers and the Institute of Irish Studies at University of Liverpool this is a true highlight of the festival, where culture sharing, enjoyment and conviviality are at the centre of all we do.

Across the day, there will be various activities, including:

Carmel Uí Cheallaigh/Kelly

(Galway, ROI) reading from her Gaelic and English children’s books in the morning

Alison Little

will run mask making workshops throughout the day

VICA

Professor Mary Hickman chairs a Votes for Irish Citizens Abroad panel in the morning. The discussion and Q&A highlights the rights held by the Irish diaspora currently, what future referenda are considering and what Irish citizenship means/could mean – today and in future

Script Shop

…help pass the afternoon, performing two plays linking Liverpool and Ireland; Settled Score (Graham Scott) about a nurse accused of killing a former British soldier and Aftermath (Alex May), exploring James Larkin’s role in the 1913 Dublin Lock Out

Basil Abbott

…will perform his self-researched and penned 17 character court room drama The Flush Hall Murder presenting the real life case of a young man, attacked and left for dead on his way home from a Masonic meeting over 100 years ago. Vignettes throughout the day will support a full run through in the afternoon

Pop-up Gaeltacht

An bhfuil cúpla focail agat? There’s a good chance that if you understand that question, the answer is ‘Tá’.  Pop-Up Gaeltacht is an informal affair, where an Irish language speaker will be present in order that anyone wishing to share a few words (cúpla focal) of Gaelic can and is welcomed to do so. @PopUpGael You can link with Pop-Up Gaeltacht internationally through their Facebook group, here

The Lily & The Poppy (full event listing at this link).

A full listing of activity will be available in advance online and at reception on the day. We will also update this page as and when timings are known and additional activities are confirmed.
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This event is delivered in partnership with National Museums Liverpool, Liverpool Comhaltas and Melody Makers with support from the Institute of Irish Studies at University of Liverpool and sponsored by Tourism Ireland. It also forms part of a wider Family Weekend programme, which includes a Children’s Hour with Carmel Kelly and a Family Céilí. Please see the other events listings for details.

Named Peter Kavanagh’s after its original owner, locals affectionately know this place as PK’s.

Come along to this unique, Grade II listed pub, full of curios and character to join in the weekly toe-tapping music session. Famed for its collection of artefacts, murals and ship’s tables (front lounge), this pub is a must see!

 

5 years in the making, Coming Home is a documentary that charts the dreams and histories of 5 Irish immigrants, from their locations on 4 continents.

This début documentary comes from Cathal Kenna (Dublin), who directed, edited, shot and sound recorded the production. With some Liverpool connections, too, this film echoes multiple diaspora stories, combining family stories, economic histories and the sort of nostalgic romanticism only the homesick can create. @ComingHomeDoc