Get into the festival spirit
Malcolm Rogers has an early check on the Irish festival scene for
2007.
 By Malcolm
Rogers
Although most of Ireland’s better known festivals don’t begin
until the spring, a few take place in January and February.
You’ve just about got time to head to Ceol Chairlinn, the traditional
music winter school in Carlingford, Co. Louth, this weekend from January
26-28.
Tuition, sessions, workshops and instrument instruction are all available.
The highlight is Saturday night’s concert (January 27) at the Foy
Centre.
Concert highlights include Gerry O’Connor (currently the top fiddler
in Ireland), Mary Bergin on whistle, Roger Sherlock and many more.
The weekend finishes with the Farewell to Carlingford Session in the Milestone
Bar in the heart of the old medieval village on Sunday 28, 1-3pm.
Ceol Chairlinn is a joint initiative between Carlingford Community Development
and Saint Oliver’s Primary School, supported by Louth County Council,
Arts Council, Fáilte Ireland, Carlingford/Cooley Tourism Association
ltd, The Milestone Bar, PJ O’Hare’s and Murphy’s B&B.
The annual Yeats Winter School takes place from January 26-28 at the
Sligo Park Hotel.
The informal, friendly atmosphere takes a relaxed approach to WB Yeats
and his inspiration from all things Sligo.
The Yeats Winter School leads the way for those who have an interest in
Yeats and Yeats country or are merely looking for an excuse to visit or
re-visit the north-west.
The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival boasts a massive programme
of contemporary cinema with over 100 domestic and International films.
It takes place between February 16-25.
www.dubliniff.com
The eighth Waterford New Music Week takes place between February 5-12.
The festival features a programme of events workshops, masterclasses and
performances.
Highlight of the week is Lily’s Labyrinth, an opera by Marian Ingoldsby
at the newly-refurbished Garter Lane Theatre.
Also watch out for the PM Ensemble from Wales (behind the scenes open
rehearsal and performance on February 8) and the Composers of Tomorrow!
recital at the Good Shepherd Chapel which will see a number of local schools
perform their own compositions for an open audience. Ticket office tel:
+353 51 855038.
The Ennis Book Club Festival takes place in Ennis, Co. Clare, March
2-4, 2007, bringing together hundreds of book clubs that exist nationwide.
If you belong to a book club in Britain your club will also be more than
welcome.
www.ennisbookclubfestival.com
Ennis Book Club Festival, 25 Willsgrove, Cahercalla, Ennis
tel: + 353 87 972 3647 / + 353 85 775 8523
info@ennisbookclubfestival.com
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