Event type: Comedy

The Gaelic League and the Easter Rising is a lecture from Tony Birtill, Secretary of the Gaelic League (Liverpool), founded in 1896. Tony teaches Irish at St Michael’s Irish Centre and, as a National Union of Journalists member, contributes to The Irish Post. The majority of the Easter Rising leaders were members of the Irish Language movement The Gaelic League. Members of the organisation’s Liverpool branch made a particularly important contribution to the events of 1916. This lecture will look at the work of some of the key individuals involved and examine why Liverpool was so important to the Irish cultural revival and revolution

‘I am standing on the threshold of another trembling world. May God have mercy on my soul’.

With these words, IRA volunteer Bobby Sands began his hunger strike on 1 March 1981. Sands’ undoubted act of personal bravery brought Ireland to a standstill as the outside world looked on to see an intense battle unfold between an unseen prisoner and the might of the British Government. 66 Days tells the factual story of Bobby Sands’ life for the first time on film.

Shown in association with Picture House

A friendly, musical and warm atmosphere awaits anyone stepping across the threshold at ‘the Eddie’, with a great selection of ales, bar snacks and songs. This Grade II listed pub, transports guests to Ireland every Monday, but make sure arrive early to secure your seat in this cosy, two-roomed gem

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.

Celebrate the Liverpool Irish Festival with family and friends in a day commemorating 100 years since the Easter Rising.

There will be dancing, music, talks and activities to join in with, across the day. Delivered in partnership with Comhaltas and National Museums Liverpool this is a true highlight of the festival, where sharing, enjoyment and conviviality are at the centre of all we do

This event took place at Museum of Liverpool. We understand that some early schedules billed this as Central Library. We are incredibly sorry for any change in information and offer our sincere apologies for anyone who made the trip and was unable to attend. We are truly sorry.

A lecture by historian Philip Orr and former Lord Mayor of Belfast, Tom Hartley on the nature of reconciliation and the work being done to unify the two communities in Northern Ireland.

The speakers will discuss the importance of the 1916 Easter Rising to Nationalist and Republican traditions and of the Battle of the Somme to Unionist communities.

Philip Orr is an author, teacher and community worker, based in Carrickfergus, County Antrim. He has written extensively on the Irish experience of the Great War and has been involved in the decade of Irish political centenaries, advocating discussion, personal encounter and theatre to navigate meaningful journeys through Ireland’s contested histories.

Tom Hartley is an historian, author, republican politician and former Sinn Féin Lord Mayor of Belfast. Concerned with the conversation of histories, he works to highlight the importance of Belfast City Cemetery as a repository of political, social and economic history.

The talks will be followed by a question and answer session and a tour of the Museum’s poppy gallery and Liverpool 1916 display

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.

“There is a simple lucid clarity to Seán Keane’s singing voice, which – like a laser – cuts through the cacophonous clatter and bang of a noisy world.

“He is a storyteller, whose voice is the sound of everyman; as ancient history [simultaneously] as vital as a digital radio signal, winging its way across the heaven in search of new civilisations. Sometimes he can sound as lonely as an emigrant standing on the prow of a ship […] taking him away from his native homeland and more times he can sound like a cyber survivor, full of strength and valour that provides comfort to those who battle unequally with the hostile emotional landscape of the modern world. Seán Keane is a touchstone of great signing tradition. He is the past, the present and the future”, Shay Healy, songwriter, broadcaster and journalist

There is already a large contingent for whom an introduction to Seán Keane is unnecessary. Steeped in music, Seán has grown to musical maturity in an atmosphere where nothing is more important than playing a tune well and singing a song as it should be sung. Although heavily influenced by traditional styles and values, Seán will not be categorised as a traditional singer. Whether the songs are traditional, folk, country or blues, he applies a unique voice and individual style that you will never forget

£13 from St Michael’s Irish Centre or online (+booking fee)

Two great Liverpool based acts – Conleath McGeary and headliners The Jesse Janes – set up what is sure to be a great night of Irish folk, bluegrass, skiffle and rock and roll. Expect a party atmosphere and lots of dancing!

According to Irish mythology, Samhain (like Beltane) was a time when the ‘doorways’ to the Otherworld opened, allowing supernatural beings and the souls of the dead to come into our world; but while Beltane was a summer festival for the living, Samhain “was essentially a festival for the dead”

This December, it’ll be 100 years since the publication of James Joyce’s A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. As debuts go, it’s a fairly sensational one, but we almost didn’t get to read it. In a fit of fury, because no one would publish The Dubliners, he threw Portrait into the fire, it was saved by his family.

Our festival opens with a panel exploring Joyce and the novel; the role of Irish writing, of emerging writers and directors, as well as those who wrote a century ago.

A panel discussion on James Joyce’s celebrated novel with His Excellency, the Irish Ambassador to the UK, Dan Mulhall, Dr Maria-Daniella Dick (Lecturer in Irish and Scottish Literature, University of Glasgow), Professor Frank Shovlin (Institute of Irish Studies, University of Liverpool) and Professor Andrew Gibson (Royal Holloway, University of London).

Festival speeches will be given, marking the official opening of Liverpool Irish Festival 2016

Contrary to printed listings, Dr Katherine Mullin (Senior Lecturer, Leeds University) will no longer be appearing. We apologise for this change of notice.