Irish music
Halifax Junior Set Dancers make Mayo cultural visit
 On Friday, May 20, 40 members of the Halifax Irish Centre School of Junior Set Dancers visited Mayo for a four-day visit. This unique school of set dancing is made up of young people aged from four to 12. They have performed all over Britain and this was their first visit to Mayo.
Mayo County Council hosted a civic reception in their honour at Áras An Chontae and the group performed at Lough Lannagh Holiday Village in Castlebar
The following day, as part of their visit to Turlough House Museum of Country Life in Castlebar, they gave a two-hour performance. They also performed in the Brown Memorial Hall, Foxford at a céilí held in their honour.
Another display of dancing came at Foxford Woollen Mills prior to the group’s visit to Knock Shrine for Mass.
A farewell function was later held in Lough Lannagh village where most of the 100-strong group stayed.
Former Mayor of Calderdale Joseph Kneafsey who co-ordinated the visit said it came about as a result of the twinning of Mayo and Calderdale. The visit was intended to promote cultural exchange between the two places.
He said he was delighted that John Durcan, whose family came from Killasser, was accompanying the group. As President of the Halifax Irish Centre John Durcan had given huge support to this visit and worked hard to promote the links between Calderdale and Mayo. The Mary Lewis Set Dancers hold weekly classes for children of all ages at the Halifax Irish Centre.
£36,000 Grant for Irish Heritage Project
 A huge, cross-community project which will involve people across Rossendale in East Lancashire in music, theatre and Irish language lessons in a celebration and re-kindling of valuable customs and traditions has been given the green light.
In 2006 Irish Heritage In Haslingden Committee (IHIHC) will organise a series of events to commemorate the legacy bequeathed to Haslingden by Irish migrants since the Famine of the 19th century. Significantly, 2006 is the centenary of the death of Michael Davitt, an Irish emigrant who lived in Haslingden and later rose to international fame.
The celebration has been made possible by a £36,000 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). HLF enables communities to celebrate, look and learn more about our diverse heritage. From great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up the nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. They have supported more than 12,000 projects, allocating over £2billion across Britain.
The programme includes: An original theatre production, written and devised by award-winning Waterfoot-based Horse+Bamboo Theatre involving students from Haslingden High School. This will re-enact the life of migrant Irish children growing up in Victorian Haslingden. A 12-month programme of Irish language lessons, held at All Saints High School and Haslingden Community Link. A Rossendale Museum exhibition of linocuts by artist Brendan Deacy based on the life of Michael Davitt. Interviews with first, second, third, and fourth generation Irish people by North West Sound Archives. A poetry competition at Haslingden Library, plus production of a schools’ education pack and history booklet. A series of traditional Irish music and dancing sessions, held at the Irish Democratic League Club, Haslingden. Refurbishment of a monument commemorating early Irish emigrants; this will recognise the rich pattern woven into the fabric of Haslingden by the Irish.
Michael Cruise, Secretary of the (IHIHC), said: “The event will be a great collective project involving all sections of the community. It will highlight the contribution bequeathed to Haslingden by every aspect of society in the last 150 years. As well as gaining a significant knowledge and understanding of art, poetry, and playwriting, adults and pupils of all ages will learn not only historical facts, but also a sense of belonging and a perspective on the development of the Haslingden community. The community will gain a more cohesive sense of purpose.”
The IHIHC was formed in 2004 by a group of enthusiasts who, having recognised the strong community potential bequeathed to the community by Irish emigrants, decided they would strive to celebrate the fact. As one third-generation Irish observer noted: “You’d be hard-pushed to find anybody living in the top part of Haslingden who can’t trace a member of their family back to Ireland.”
HLF regional manager Tony Jones said: “At HLF we’re committed to ensuring that each and every community has a chance to celebrate and learn about their local heritage. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to support this project and give the community the chance to learn about their colourful history.”
Victor Marcinkiewicz, Haslingden Librarian, said: “We in the library are grateful to the IHIHC for their efforts in researching this project and gaining grant status. We are also grateful to HLF for its invaluable help in allowing this project to reach fruition.”
The IHIHC can be contacted at Haslingden library or by email at: Michael.Cruise@btinternet.com
Sussex Cultural Society expands into trad music
 The Celtic and Irish Cultural Society (CICS) has announced further expansion into traditional music with participation at this year’s Crawley Folk Festival. The society will present Celtic Voices on Sunday June 26 — a unique music concert that combines music from Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Scotland.
The Sussex-based society, which was launched in 2004, has already increased the number of major Irish events in the area that includes the Crawley Fleadh and the Saint Patrick’s weekend celebrations. Celtic Voices launches the summer season early.
Martin Furey will provide the Irish segment at the event performing alongside Welsh harpist Sian James and Cornwall’s Dalla.
CICS chairman Bob Martin said: “We were delighted to be invited to present Celtic Voices. It demonstrates our commitment to the musical culture of the Celtic nations and the mix of styles will appeal to music lovers from across the Celtic countries and over a wide age range”.
The society is also organising the 2005 Crawley Irish Festival taking place on August 28.
Top trio play tyneside
Traditional Irish music fans are in for a rare treat when Mike McGoldrick, Dezi Donnelly and Ed Boyd play the Tyneside Irish centre on Thursday June 23.
Mike McGoldrick who plays flute, whistle, and pipes has been a founder member of the four most influential and progressive Celtic music bands over the last decade — Toss the Feathers, Flook, Lúnasa and Capercaillie.
By the age of 15 Mike had won numerous All-Ireland championships and in 1995 took the BBC Radio 2 Young Traditional Musician award.
In 1996 he recorded his debut solo album Morning Rory (named after his new born son). The album received widespread rave reviews and provided him with the acclaim of being one of the world’s greatest flute players.
In 2000 he released his second album Fused. Fused is a masterpiece, mixing traditional music, world music, new age and funk. On the album are members of Capercaillie and Dezi Donnelly with Ed Boyd. The album has been described as the most ground-breaking folk album of all time.
Fiddle player Dezi Donnelly is the youngest of a Manchester fiddle-playing dynasty has made a name for himself not just as an All-Ireland Champion but as one of the most brilliant musicians to come out of the Manchester Irish music scene.
His aggressive fiddle-playing has featured on many CDs, but his first album was with his school friend Mike McGoldrick and was made after both had won the All-Ireland duet competition as teenagers in 1989.
Dezi was also a founder member of the Manchester Irish folk/rock band Toss the Feathers (with Mike McGoldrick) whilst still in his teens.
He released his critically acclaimed album Welcome in 1995.
In 1998 Dezi won All-Ireland Young Traditional Musician of the Year — an award which give him a recording contract and £5,000.
In 2000 he released his album Familiar Footsteps. While having plenty of zest and brilliance it also shows a Dezi who puts finesse and subtlety over histrionics because he has a great touch and sense for variations. For any person interested in Irish fiddle music this CD is a must have.
On guitar is Ed Boyd. Since he moved up from Bath to Manchester and discovered Irish music Ed has become renowned as a guitar accompanist of great taste and subtlety.
Thursday June 23, 8pm, Tyneside Irish Centre, Gallowgate, Newcastle: Tel 0191- 2610384
Tickets £10/£5(cons) available from Newcastle Information Centre:
Tel 0191- 2778003 |
