The Scotland Road walk will be led by local historians, exploring Liverpool’s world famous dockland district, its Irish traditions, connections to the Easter Rising and forgotten graveyards, tunnels
Meet on Juvenal-Grosvenor Street corners (see Scotland Road walk meeting point in Venues)
Similar to the Friday and Saturday evening ‘relax and wind down’ seisiúns, these afternoon seisiúns are split in to half hour slots and given to musicians and performers who volunteered their services before the festival began.
Audiences are encouraged to bring instruments and play along with these informal, acoustic seisiúns, which are family friendly, fun and warm. Stay, have a spot to eat, browse the Irish materials library and talk with other festival guests in this truly convivial setting
Social seisiún platlist PDF available.
Described as “psycho céilí”, “whiskey-soaked folk” and just plain old “partying music”, whatever it is The Logues have made the genre their own. From their humble beginnings in a sleepy County Tyrone village, they have become one of Ireland’s most sought-after live bands
£7 from St Michael’s Irish Centre or online (+booking fee)
Free, roll up and look for Liverpool Irish Festival signs
Half-hour slots are given to local musicians and performers to perform informal, acoustic seisiúns in this post-show, ‘relax and wind down’ hour. Seisiún performers volunteered themselves in advance of the festival and have been selected for their ability, charm and capacity to share the stage with audiences, who are encouraged to sing along, bring instruments and generally take part in the activity
Social seisiún platlist PDF available.
Alsop Drama present a programme of three of short plays exploring the theme of ‘the undead’ and how Irish peasantry’s relationship between the living and dead was full of mysticism and myth.
The plays – performed in rotation – look at how superstition and folklore influenced relationships with the spirits, the living and past. Originally performed as a trinity of plays by the RSC, Alsop Drama capture the essence of rural life in early twentieth century Ireland through these well-known playwrights.
Riders to the Sea, 25 mins
John Millington Synge, b.1871-d.1909
A tragedy of a mother and the loss of her husbands and sons to the sea. Based not on the traditional conflict of human will, but on the hopeless struggle of people against the impersonal and relentless cruelty of the sea, this clearly Catholic family find themselves wary of the supernatural characteristics of natural elements, an idea ever present in Celtic paganism. Some consider this the perfect one act play
The Shadow of the Glen, 30 mins
John Millington Synge, b.1871-d.1909
A ‘tramp’ seeks shelter at the Burkes’ isolated farmhouse, finding Nora tending to the corpse of Dan. Nora goes to find Michael, whilst Dan reveals his death is a mere ruse to the ‘tramp’. Playing dead again on her return, Dan leaps up in protest when Michael proposes to Nora. Dan kicks Nora out, leaving her to wander the roads with the ‘tramp’ who promises her a life of freedom
Purgatory, 15 mins
William Butler Yeats, b.1865-1939
A family saga of decline and fall told through its two remaining members: an Old Man (the father) and a Boy (his sixteen-year-old son). It is set outside the former family home, which the Old Man’s father had drunkenly burned down, leading him to kill his father as the building perished. Tonight, the Old Man tells the Boy, is the anniversary of his mother’s wedding night…This was the night on which he was conceived
A time to unwind, be with friends and family and celebrate the breadth of Irish culture in this afternoon of music, song, dance, food and drink (available).
A perfect time to reconnect with your loved ones, your (or another) culture and plan your next trip to the Island of Ireland! Comhaltas and local dance schools will present the cream of their membership for all to enjoy.
Regarding food and drink: Visitors are permitted to bring their own food to this event as long as it is eaten in the Garden or Courtyard. The food and drink referred to in print versions of the programme is indicative of venue menus being available from the bar and bistro.
£3/£2conc/£0 under 16s, pre-booking advised
Half-hour slots are given to local musicians and performers to perform informal, acoustic seisiúns in this post-show, ‘relax and wind down’ hour.
Seisiún performers volunteered themselves in advance of the festival and have been selected for their ability, charm and capacity to share the stage with audiences, who are encouraged to sing along, bring instruments and generally take part in the activity
Social seisiún platlist PDF available.
An original production, which aims to celebrate the little known story of the men and women from Liverpool who helped to change the course of Irish history, remembering their contribution to the formation of an independent Irish republic, through drama, dance and music.
The story begins in Liverpool in January 1916 and follows the exploits of a group of volunteers who travel to Dublin to take part in the Easter Rising in April 1916. Written by Peter King, descendent of the King Brothers, who themselves engaged in the Easter Rising making the crossing in support of the action
£5 from St Michael’s Irish Centre or online (+booking fee)
It is 1914 in Downings, County Donegal. In a women’s commune, we meet and witness the journeys of five women, accompanied by live music, imagery and old, Celtic stories.
Our main character, Murieann, is leaving the island of Tory for America. We journey with her, exploring early-twentieth-century revolution and suffrage, in Ireland and England, precipitating the feelings, actions and emotions that continue informing politics today, locally and globally. Should we take action? Should we educate? Must we be involved? What does that mean?
A brand new production and original play, at up-and-coming venue The Invisible Wind Factory, Scadán is fictional play (based on historic accounts) produced, performed and written by young, emerging artists living in the city, including young writers, Lauren O’Hara and Connor Kelly (from Derry-Londonderry), who live in Liverpool alongside upcoming, Liverpool-based Producer/Director Roisin Fletcher.
crowdfunder.co.uk/scadn-2016-1
www.facebook.com/scadan2016
£8/£6 conc/£3 15-17 year olds
A provocative and deeply moving work, celebrating the resilience and humour of a city mostly forgotten now by the West.
Combining new music for classical accordion, poetry, photography and film Sklonište celebrates the spirit of the Sarajevans who lived through the longest siege in modern history. The Siege of Sarajevo (Bosnia) was the longest siege in modern warfare, lasting 1,425 days and claiming 13,952 lives.
Ailís Ní Ríain is an Irish classical composer and writer, interested in creating work across music, theatre and installation to challenge, provoke and engage
£7/£5conc/members
More information here.
Watch trailers of the event, below.