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Chris Munnia China Ink Exhibition Launches Sunday, 17 September, 5pm
Connemara Novelty Pony Show A pony show with a difference! Connemara Therapeutic Riding is a community project providing therapeutic riding sessions to children and adults with a range of disabilities. The project uses the indigenous Connemara ponies. Fun Jumping and Novelty Classes including: Jockey and Groom jumping Class (1 rider and 1 on foot). Mini Handler and Young Handlers competition. Fancy Dress (individual or team, must include at least 1 pony). Pony Obstacle course, Best Mane and Tail and much more. €5 entry fee for classes. With sincere thanks to the Noonan Family for their support and use of their facilities. All proceeds go to Connemara Therapeutic Riding project. For…
Coffee Morning in aid of the Mental Health Association
Jung, Symbols and Songs of the Soul Brendan Harding, Eleanor Shanley and John Feeley The presentation will consist of a short introduction to basic Jungian Psychology and how the unconscious speaks to us through symbols. We will then tell some stories from the experiences of clients and how they healed themselves through work with symbols. The presentation will be accompanied by songs from Eleanor Shanley and music by John Feeley. Brendan Harding is a Consultant General Surgeon, working at Portiuncula University Hospital, and an adjunct Senior Clinical Lecturer in Surgery at the University of Limerick. He began Jungian studies 35 years ago and has been seeing clients for inner work…
Roundstone Historical Walking Tour A Clifden Arts Festival Special Stroll through Roundstone, Connemara’s most picturesque village, with a professional historian and archaeologist. Discover a rich history; hidden places and the fascinating men and women who lived here – writers, artists, musicians, revolutionaries, scientists, engineers and merchants. Uncover the enduring legacy of Alexander Nimmo, who built Roundstone and the tragedies and triumphs of revolutionaries Alice Cashel and Bulmer Hobson – dubbed ‘Ireland’s most dangerous man’. View Connemara’s Gaelic coast from here, with its maritime heritage of traditional boats, fishing, trade and the ever-present danger of shipwreck. Learn of the area’s ancient monasteries and the Christian denominations that developed Roundstone’s religious traditions…
Poetry, Story and Song: Away and Here Catherine Bateson, Jane Williams and Eileen P Keane Introduced by Robyn Rowland Jane Williams has six books of poetry, most recently Days like these: New and Selected Poems 1998-2013 and has worked in collaboration with animators, sculptors, painters and photographers. She was born in England in 1964 to an Irish father and Australian mother. She lives in Tasmania. She has a Masters in Creative Writing from Canberra University. Catherine Bateson is an award-winning poet and writer for children and young adults. She has three poetry collections published, most recently, Marriage for Beginners. She has three verse novels for young adults published with University of…
The Whitethorn Gallery An Afternoon of Music A collection of paintings and sculptures by local, national and international artists – highlighting the works of Alexandra Van Tuyll and Padraig McCaul. The Whitethorn Gallery is proud to host an afternoon of music from the multi talented Alexandra Van Tuyll on the piano, and Padraig McCaul on the saxophone. Both are also very accomplished painters in their own right, and they will play a series of melodies in The Whitethorn Gallery, surrounded by their very beautiful works of art. Padraig McCaul is a full time artist, originally from Dublin, but now based on Achill Island, where he lives with his wife…
Launch: Connemara and Aran by Walter Pfeiffer Music, images and readings to launch the photography book Connemara & Aran by Walter Pfeiffer (Artisan House 2017) and to celebrate Walter Pfeiffer (1943 – 2017). "My Aran and Connemara are not grey; they are supremely light-filled, recklessly hued and splendidly untamed" – Walter Pfeiffer, Introduction to Connemara & Aran. Connemara & Aran, a visual chronicle of landscapes and seascapes by photographer Walter Pfeiffer, was to be launched joyously at this year’s Clifden Arts Festival. Sadly Walter died unexpectedly on 21st April 2017 – he was not to see his much-anticipated book published by Artisan House, Connemara. Vincent Murphy of Artisan House, a close…
Doors Open at 5:30 - Booking essential ★★★★★ ‘This is pure distilled 100 per cent theatrical magic’ The Evening Standard ★★★★★ ‘Astonishing… a stunning performance’ Ham & High ★★★★ ‘This is a show that abounds with love’ WhatsOnStage ★★★★ ‘Murfi is a magical performer’ The Times ★★★★ ‘A masterclass in the art of the monologue’ Time Out ‘Truthfulness, humour, and tremendous warmth’ The Stage Following the sellout success of The Man In The Woman’s Shoes, Mikel Murfi returns with a new one man show. Late in life, Pat Farnon, a cobbler and all-round contented man, marries the redoubtable Kitsy Rainey. It’s a match made in heaven, in more ways than one. Written and performed by Mikel Murfi I Hear You and Rejoice…
Singing in the Bookies Now in its seventh amazing year. Poems and songs about horses, ponies and greyhounds illuminate the evening in a presentation by local and national crowd-pleasers. Sponsored by Des and Mary Kavanagh.
Sir James Galway The living legend of the flute, Sir James Galway is regarded as both the supreme interpreter of the classical flute repertoire and a consummate entertainer whose appeal crosses all musical boundaries. Globally renowned as the supreme interpreter of the classical flute repertoire, Sir James Galway is a consummate performer whose appeal transcends all musical boundaries. With over 30 million recordings sold worldwide, extensive international touring, frequent television appearances, tireless promotion of the arts and his passionate work in music education, Galway has been a household name for decades. His uniquely expressive interpretations of the flute literature span an extensive range of genres, from classical masterworks to high…
Concert with Steve Poltz To suggest that Steve Poltz isn’t normal is about as safe a statement as one could make. You would basically require the powers of the Hubble space telescope to locate Steve Poltz from any region of normalcy. Among the music cognoscenti, Steve Poltz is regarded as one of the most talented and prolific songwriters of our time. His songs have been among the longest running ever on the Billboard Top 100 and they regularly appear in movie soundtracks, television shows, and even the odd commercial. Poltz’ sound is entirely unique – from his inhuman fingerstyle techniques to the inimitable melodies that roll from his guitar like…
Book Launch: The Deep Heart’s Core by Eugene O'Connell In The Deep Heart’s Core some 100 Irish poets accept the invitation to revisit a favourite, key, or touchstone poem of their own, offer a short commentary on same as they might at a live event. The Deep Heart’s Core is both an ideal introduction to contemporary Irish poetry for the general reader and handbook for the aspiring practitioner or student. Edited by Eugene O’Connell and Pat Boran.
Reading with Peter Fallon and Eamon Grennan Remembering Francis Ledwidge Peter Fallon founded The Gallery Press in 1970. His books include The Georgics of Virgil (Oxford World Classics) and, most recently, Strong, My Love. A member of Aosdána and winner of the O’Shaughnessy Award, he lives in Loughcrew in County Meath. Eamon Grennan lives in Poughkeepsie, New York, and in Renvyle, Connemara. His latest poetry collection is There Now (Gallery Press), which won the 2016 Listowel Pigott Poetry Prize. His Plays for Voices for Curlew Theatre Company have been premiered at the Clifden Arts Festival for almost the past decade. Synge’s The Aran Islands, was the first. He came to Renvyle…
Lunchtime Recital with Dordán The Celtic group Dordán consists of a trio of women from County Galway, including tin-whistle player Mary Bergin, harpist Kathleen Loughnane and fiddler Dearbhail Standun. Dordán, whose name means "drone" in Gaelic, released their first album Jigs To The Moon in 1994, and gained more attention for their Narada Christmas album The Night Before … A Celtic Christmas. They released another album for Narada, Celtic Aire, in 1999 and one for Shanachie, Irish Traditional & Baroque Music, the same year. Sponsored by Pete and Paula Vine. Admission €10
AIB Collection / Talk Studio Visit and Guided Talk A selection of works from the AIB Art Collection in on display at the branch during the Clifden Arts Festival. Among the key works on show are exhibits by Louis LeBrocquy, George Campbell, Cecily Brennan, Brian Bourke and John Behan. A guided talk of the collection in the company of Blaithin de Sachy will take place on Monday September 18th at 1:30pm. All Welcome.
The Cleggan Bay Disaster by Marie Feeney 90th Anniversary of the One of the Worst Fishing Disasters on the West Coast – On October 28th 1927, a hurricane struck the coast of Connemara and destroyed a fleet of fishing boats from Rossadillisk, Cleggan and Inishbofin Island. Forty-five fishermen perished. The Cleggan Bay Disaster is the story of that fateful night in the life of the two communities – a night that changed the course of local history. Although it is the story of one specific maritime tragedy, it is one that will strike familiar chords in small fishing communities, not only around the coast of Ireland, but anywhere that people…
Reading with Katie Donovan and Mary O'Malley Katie Donovan has published five collections of poetry, all with Bloodaxe Books UK. Her most recent, Off Duty, was short-listed for The Irish Times/Poetry Now award earlier this year. She is the 2017 recipient of the Lawrence O’Shaughnessy Award for Irish Poetry. She teaches Creative Writing at NUI Maynooth. Katie hails from rural North Wexford but has lived in Dalkey, Co Dublin for many years. Mary O’Malley taught on the MA programmes for Writing and Education in the Arts at NUIGalway for ten years, held the Chair of Irish Studies at Villanova University in 2013, and has held Residencies in Paris, Tarragona, New York, NUI…
Fishamble: The New Play Company Presents The Humours of Bandon
Fishamble: The New Play Company Presents The Humours of Bandon Written and performed by Margaret McAuliffe Directed by Stefanie Preissner Set Design by David Fagan Lighting Design by Eoin Winning Script Development by Gavin Kostick Dramaturgical Assistant Jo Halpin Produced by Eva Scanlan WINNER Little Gem Award at Dublin Fringe Festival 2016 NOMINATED Best Performer at Tiger Dublin Fringe Festival 2016 On the eve of the Irish Open championship, we meet Annie, a 16 year old Dubliner, as she charts us through the various successes and disappointments of her Irish dancing life. We share her mind numbing commitment and burning desire to win the Irish Open title. Will she win and,…
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Book Launch with Ciara King Roundstone native and one half of the presenting duo behind RTÉ 2FM’s Chris and Ciara Show, Ciara King will launch her first book Ciara’s Diary with an open launch at Station House Theatre on Monday, 18 September at 7pm. Based on the hilarious radio diary segment, in which Ciara reads cringe-worthy entries from a diary inspired by her own teenage years growing up in Connemara, Ciara’s Diary is a laugh-out-loud account of one girl’s formative years, an account that every girl who came of age around the turn of the millennium will recognise. Fresh, funny and occasionally excruciating, it is the spiritual successor to Adrian Mole,…
Concert with the Irish Opera Artists
Concert with the Irish Opera Artists Introducing the Irish Opera Artists, four of Ireland's leading young opera singers. Soprano Rachel Croash, Mezzo Soprano Kate Allen, Tenor Patrick Hyland, Baritone Rory Musgrave with pianist Dearbhla Collins have come together to form a new ensemble that aims to provide an exciting series of gala concerts to include highlights from, amongst others, La Boheme, Carmen, La Traviata and Rigoletto. These four award-winning solo artists have performed with Ireland's foremost opera companies and are quickly establishing themselves as the next generation of Irish operatic talent. Sponsored by Kay and John Fanning. Admission €15
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Concert with Zoë Conway, Máirtín O’Connor and Donal Lunny This dream tour brings together the dazzling talents of three of the country’s finest musicians. The consummate button box player, Máirtín O'Connor was one of the driving forces behind the Riverdance phenomenon. Add to that his work with the bands De Dannan, Midnight Well and Skylark, his reputation as a composer and solo artist, and recording sessions with Rod Stewart, Elvis Costello and Mark Knopfler, and it’s easy to see why O'Connor is regarded in the folk firmament as something of a national treasure. Fiddle player and singer Zoë Conway is an awesome talent equally at home playing Latin jazz with Rodrigo y Gabriella,…
Newgrange and the Connemara Connection: A Lecture by Michael Gibbons It is 300 years since the death of Ruairí O'Flaherty, Gaelic Lord and Historian of Connemara and Árann. He was the first to identify the connection between the then newly discovered tomb at Newgrange and Brú na Boinne. The talk will deal with the history of the discovery as well as the most recent controversy of aspects of the site's authenticity. Michael Gibbons is a member of the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland with thirty five years of experience as an archaeologist and completed a 5 year term on the Archaeology Committee of the Heritage Council. He has worked with the…
Astronomy Ireland Talk by David Moore David Moore is Ireland's best known astronomer, writing and broadcasting on a regular basis since the 1980s. In 1990 he founded Astronomy Ireland which has grown to become the biggest astronomy society in the world relative to population with nearly 15,000 Irish people joining in its first 25 years. Admission €5
The Esposito Quartet The Esposito Quartet are Mia Cooper and Anna Cashell (violins), Joachim Roewer (viola) and William Butt (cello). In their six concert, cross-border tour, they will start their programme with Schubert’s robust and energetic String Quartet No.2 in C major D.32, which was written when the composer was 15 years old. An important historic Irish work by Michele Esposito (from whom they take their name) String Quartet No.1 in D major Op.33, will be followed by Beethoven’s magnificent seven movement String Quartet C sharp minor Op.131. https://youtu.be/8Qpjmp26nto Classicallinks tour funded by an Arts Council Touring Award and supported by RTÉ Lyric FM. Thanks to Madeleine Flanagan. Sponsored by John Corless.…
Lecture by John Fanning: Ads Make Their Own Importance John Fanning is well known in the advertising circuit. He was the Managing Director of McConnells Advertising 1980-1999, and Chairman 2000-2005. John now lectures in Branding and Marketing Communications at the Smurfit Business School and published The Importance of Being Branded: An Irish Perspective (Liffey Press) in 2006. In addition he writes regular articles on branding and marketing communications in Irish Marketing Review, Marketing Magazine and the Irish Times and is the Chairman of Bord Bia's Brand Forum. Admission €5
Ragtime Piano with Colm ‘Stride’ O’Brien Colm 'Stride' O’Brien plays the works of ragtime and stride piano legends Scott Joplin, George Gershwin, and Fats Waller. Colm is Ireland’s leading exponent of ragtime and stride piano and has performed regularly in the UK and USA including the prestigious Scott Joplin Festival in Missouri. Tributes to the music of Hoagy Carmichael and The Beatles will be highlights of this concert. He will perform in the National Concert Hall Dublin on 17th of November next. Colm is a great friend of Clifden Arts Festival. Sponsored by Ed Downe.
Louis De Paor, Paddy Bushe and Seán Ó Coisdealbha A Reading in Memory of Michael Hartnett. Louis De Paor has been involved with the contemporary renaissance of poetry in Irish since 1980 when he was first published in the poetry journal, Innti, which he subsequently edited. He was since published many collections, is internationally renowned and is a four times winner of the Oireachtas prize for best collection of poems in Irish. Ba ag an bhféile seo a léigh Mícheál Ó hAirtnéide a chuid dánta go poiblí don uair dheireannach, dánta Gaeilge ina measc, agus ba mhór aige an fhéile i gcónaí. I gcuimhne air, agus in ómós dó, léifidh triúr file…
Carmel Dempsey with Brenda Curtin and Frankie Colohan Musician and singer, Carmel Dempsey made her first arts festival appearance in September 1983 when she jammed with the great Tom McHugh and Mike Scott at Clifden community school. She has been part of the festival almost every year since. Carmel has her own wedding band and also tours with Dolores Keane. Playing with Carmel in the Church of Ireland are fiddle player and vocalist Brenda Curtin and Frankie Colohan on guitar and vocals. Brenda was a soloist in Michael Flatley's show Lord of the Dance for 8 years. A lively trio. You can also find Carmel Dempsey and Friends later on…
Talk by Erin Gibbons Connemara to Clydebank and Clinton The winter and spring storms of 2014 wreaked havoc on the Connemara shore and Islands. Inishbofin was particularly badly affected. In 2015 an eroding site was observed on Inishlyon, a tidal Island, located off the east beach, Inishbofin. Annual rescue work has been going on there by a team of archaeologists, artists and students since, to try and understand its significance before it disappears. The work is licensed by the National Monuments Service and is undertaken with the permission of the landowners. The site consists of an abandoned village in sand. Finds from the site date from the 1870s. The discovery…
Irish Première - Bottom’s Dream – A Magical Comedy of Rude Mechanicals and Scheming Fairies Footsbarn Travelling Theatre is one of the world’s leading touring companies performing for the most part in one of its circus big tops but also in theatres throughout the world. Renowned for its exciting adaptations of classics such as Shakespeare and Molière transcending the barrier of language with its unique blend of visual theatre, music and magic. In thirty five years, Footsbarn has produced nearly 60 plays and travelled to the six Continents and is a truly multi-national group. The actors possess a multiplicity of talents and theatrical techniques all of which inhabit and enrich every…
Music Network Presents: Cathy Jordan, Jarlath Henderson and Mick Daly Cathy Jordan: voice, bodhrán, bones. Jarlath Henderson: uilleann pipes, whistle, voice. Mick Daly: guitar, 5-string banjo, voice. Prepare to be entranced as three of Ireland’s most inventive singers offer up some stunning new interpretations of well-worn songs, with stirring instrumental playing and more than a little theatrical energy thrown into the mix. Noted for her earthy yet ethereal vocalisations and deceptively powerful voice, Cathy Jordan’s irrepressible energy and powerful stage presence have captivated audiences worldwide. Lead singer of trad supergroup Dervish, Jordan has performed thousands of concerts in over 40 countries, including gigs at the Great Wall of China and the Wailing…
Irish Visual Modernism – A Lecture by Luke Gibbons Luke Gibbons has taught as Professor of Irish Studies at Maynooth University and at the University of Notre Dame, USA. His recent publication inlcuse Joyce’s Ghosts: Ireland, Modernism and Memory (University of Chicago Press, 2015), (Co-editor), Charles O’Conor: Life and Works (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2015), Limits of the Visible: Representing the Irish Great Famine (Quinnipiac University/Cork University Press), and ‘Irish Visual Modernism', in Joe Cleary, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Irish Modernism (Cambridge University Press, 2018). Among his forthcoming publications are ‘Afterword’ to Away from it All: Aran Diaries, 1941—1956, of Ernie O’Malley (Lilliput Press, 2017), and ‘Introduction’ to Dorothy Macardle,…
Music with True North True North rides again! Lefty, Tumbleweed, Blind Boy, Dusty, Doc and Calamity, honored to be a part of the Clifden Arts Festival 40th, bring you the sound of America’s western saloons, barn dances, front porches, parlors, and cowboy campfires. They spice American traditional and newer favorite tunes with hilarious and heartwarming originals, featuring their signature vocal varieties and harmonies. In other lives, they’ve been a US Navy pilot and wine smuggler; a tennis champion and a culinary wizard; a fitness club owner who is a paper-cut survivor; an Alaskan mauled by a polar bear (okay, a baby polar bear); a doctor whose Indian warrior name is…
Poetry Reading with Mike Harding and Shaun Griffin Mike Harding was born into an Irish family in Manchester in 1944, as celebrated in his autobiography, The Crumpsall Kid. He has written close on fifty books on subjects ranging from the life story of the Volkswagen Camper Van to trekking in the High Himalayan. He was written several plays for the stage, many of which have gone on tour and one made it into the West End. In a career which has gone from bus conductor to stand-up comic to BBC presenter, Mike Harding has always had one bed Rick solid love: Poetry. With six published volumes under his belt including the…
Johnny Duhan Book Launch and Concert Sylvie Simmons (acclaimed author of Leonard Cohen’s biography I’m Your Man) had this to say about part one of Johnny Duhan’s autobiography, There is a Time: “When I started to read it I couldn’t put it down. He has such a way with words.” Part two, The Voyage, has been all of 15 years in the writing. After reading a chapter Eoghan Harris wrote: “I read it over a cup of coffee that went cold as I could not stop to sip. Riveting reading.” Johnny Duhan’s songs are performed worldwide in a variety of languages, thanks to the focus put on them by Christy Moore,…
Betty and the Baby Boomers Clifden Arts Festival is delighted to welcome back Betty and the Baby Boomers. The group first performed here in 1993. Over many visits since, the students in the Boomers’ audiences back then have grown up; their children now listen to the group in Clifden’s schools. The Boomers are older too, but their music is timeless, featuring songs by Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and others who shaped the 'baby boomer' generation in America. Betty Boomer, Jean McAvoy, Paul Rubeo, Steve Stanne, and Robert Bard create distinctive arrangements for these classics as well as recent songs in that tradition, original compositions, and selections inspired by their…
The Aran Islands - J.M. Synge: A Dramatic Recital for Two Voices Performed by Tegolin Knowland and Sean Coyne, adapted by Eamon Grennan Between May 1898 and October 1901, John Millington Synge, a Dubliner, spent just under four months (accumulated over four separate visits) on Inishmaan, the middle island of the three Aran Islands lying off the West Coast of Ireland. His first visit was in May-June 1898; his second in September 1899; the third in September 1900; and the last one occurred in September 1901. From the diary and notebooks he kept while there, he composed his volume, The Aran Islands, completed in 1901, but unpublished until 1907. It…
Music with True North True North rides again! Lefty, Tumbleweed, Blind Boy, Dusty, Doc and Calamity, honored to be a part of the Clifden Arts Festival 40th, bring you the sound of America’s western saloons, barn dances, front porches, parlors, and cowboy campfires. They spice American traditional and newer favorite tunes with hilarious and heartwarming originals, featuring their signature vocal varieties and harmonies. In other lives, they’ve been a US Navy pilot and wine smuggler; a tennis champion and a culinary wizard; a fitness club owner who is a paper-cut survivor; an Alaskan mauled by a polar bear (okay, a baby polar bear); a doctor whose Indian warrior name is…
Reading with Colette Bryce, John McAuliffe and Joseph Woods Colette Bryce has published four poetry collections with Picador, including The Full Indian Rope Trick (2004) and Self-Portrait in the Dark (2008). Her latest, The Whole and Rain-domed Universe (2014), which draws on her experience of growing up in Derry during the Troubles, was awarded a Ewart-Biggs Award in memory of Seamus Heaney. Selected Poems, drawing on all her books, is a Poetry Book Society Special Commendation 2017. Joseph Woods has published three award-winning books of poetry. His fourth, The Rain in Burma, is forthcoming. He’s a past winner of the Patrick Kavanagh Award and a recent recipient of the Katherine and Patrick Kavanagh…
Talk by Eamonn P. Kelly Connaught’s Greatest Treasure – The Cross of Cong So-called because it was kept for centuries in the Augustinian Friary at Cong, Co. Mayo, the Cross of Cong is an exquisite work of art made in 1123 to encase a fragment of the True Cross. It is one of the greatest expressions of Irish craftsmanship in the twelfth century and is also one of the great works of European art of the time. An inscription on the sides of the cross identifies the patron as Toirrdelbach Ua Conchobair (Turlough O’Conor), King of Connaught and High King of Ireland. The maker was the craftsman Máel Ísú mac Bratáin…
Footsbarn Travelling Theatre is one of the world’s leading touring companies performing for the most part in one of its circus big tops but also in theatres throughout the world. A journey through the most stirring, hilarious and the most insolent of the farces of Molière. The Forced Marriage An old bachelor is seduced into becoming engaged with a money grabbing young woman. Full of doubts on the wisdom of this marriage, he embarks on a personal odyssey, questioning everyone he meets, philosophers, gypsies and friends, who in turn give him more and more confusing advice. This caustic and candid masterpiece offers an incredible palette of truculent characters and tragi-comic…
Music with True North True North rides again! Lefty, Tumbleweed, Blind Boy, Dusty, Doc and Calamity, honored to be a part of the Clifden Arts Festival 40th, bring you the sound of America’s western saloons, barn dances, front porches, parlors, and cowboy campfires. They spice American traditional and newer favorite tunes with hilarious and heartwarming originals, featuring their signature vocal varieties and harmonies. In other lives, they’ve been a US Navy pilot and wine smuggler; a tennis champion and a culinary wizard; a fitness club owner who is a paper-cut survivor; an Alaskan mauled by a polar bear (okay, a baby polar bear); a doctor whose Indian warrior name is…
Betty and the Baby Boomers Clifden Arts Festival is delighted to welcome back Betty and the Baby Boomers. The group first performed here in 1993. Over many visits since, the students in the Boomers’ audiences back then have grown up; their children now listen to the group in Clifden’s schools. The Boomers are older too, but their music is timeless, featuring songs by Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and others who shaped the 'baby boomer' generation in America. Betty Boomer, Jean McAvoy, Paul Rubeo, Steve Stanne, and Robert Bard create distinctive arrangements for these classics as well as recent songs in that tradition, original compositions, and selections inspired by their…
KíLA
15€"One of the most beautifully euphoric live experiences" BBC World Review ‘Softly spoken off stage and complete lunatics on it, Kíla have torn up the rulebook with their wantonly eclectic mix of styles, Brilliant!’- Hot Press “Whatever it is... this is it. Kíla are right there at the cusp of it... Somehow you get the feeling they lit the fuse for the big bang.” Bono Formed at school in Dublin's late 1980's, Kíla have come to be considered one of Ireland’s most exciting and innovative bands. Their unique and ever evolving sound, while rooted in tradition, is inspired by a myriad of influences from all around the world. Sometimes described…
Yule and McQ Soul Review 8 piece band playing soul, blues and motown review as well as originals from Greg Yule's past four studio albums. Greg Yule is an exceptional musician, a talented singer, songwriter, band and session guitarist who made it through the musical mill of 80s groups, one-nighters, tours, record contracts and studio session work and has now found the leisure and the lifestyle to create and develop his music in his own way. Admission €10
Jazz with Les Follies New Orleans Old Jazz Band à la française Sweet Follies came to play at the Clifden Arts Week for the first time in 1993, and have since been known in Ireland under the name of Les Follies. A few musicians have changed in the band since their first apparition in the local venues, but all of them had and still have the same desire and talent to share with the audience, in a joyful mood, a great quality of New Orleans jazz, …the kind of jazz that they usually play in Paris in the renowned Boîtes de Jazz des bords de Seine. A last appearance in Clifden for…
Coast Modernism: Artaud, Wittgenstein and the West of Ireland – A Lecture by Luke Gibbons Luke Gibbons has taught as Professor of Irish Studies at Maynooth University and at the University of Notre Dame, USA. His recent publication inlcuse Joyce’s Ghosts: Ireland, Modernism and Memory (University of Chicago Press, 2015), (Co-editor), Charles O’Conor: Life and Works (Dublin: Four Courts Press, 2015), Limits of the Visible: Representing the Irish Great Famine (Quinnipiac University/Cork University Press), and ‘Irish Visual Modernism', in Joe Cleary, ed. The Cambridge Companion to Irish Modernism (Cambridge University Press, 2018). Among his forthcoming publications are ‘Afterword’ to Away from it All: Aran Diaries, 1941—1956, of Ernie O’Malley (Lilliput Press, 2017), and…
Jazz with Les Follies New Orleans Old Jazz Band à la française Sweet Follies came to play at the Clifden Arts Week for the first time in 1993, and have since been known in Ireland under the name of Les Follies. A few musicians have changed in the band since their first apparition in the local venues, but all of them had and still have the same desire and talent to share with the audience, in a joyful mood, a great quality of New Orleans jazz, …the kind of jazz that they usually play in Paris in the renowned Boîtes de Jazz des bords de Seine. A last appearance in Clifden for…
FORUM presents: Connemara CLG – Senior Citizens Event Celebrating older persons' contribution to arts and culture in the community. Dinner will be followed by dance and song with Peter Carey, Liam Aspell and friends. Many thanks again to Geraldine Kelly and Martina Gavin.
Lunchtime Concert with Seán Keane Sean Keane is going back to his roots in music. In this brand new one-man show, set in his grandmother’s kitchen as he searches through her old leather suitcase where she held all the words of many famous songs collected from people who visited her home in Carragh near Caherlistrane, Sean combines songs and stories of how he was influenced to sing in the traditional way from a very early age. Featuring many well-known favourites like A Stór Mo Chroí, Dear Little Isle, May Morning Dew and Erin’s Lovely Home. Sponsored by Anne Ueltchi. Admission €10
Music with True North True North rides again! Lefty, Tumbleweed, Blind Boy, Dusty, Doc and Calamity, honored to be a part of the Clifden Arts Festival 40th, bring you the sound of America’s western saloons, barn dances, front porches, parlors, and cowboy campfires. They spice American traditional and newer favorite tunes with hilarious and heartwarming originals, featuring their signature vocal varieties and harmonies. In other lives, they’ve been a US Navy pilot and wine smuggler; a tennis champion and a culinary wizard; a fitness club owner who is a paper-cut survivor; an Alaskan mauled by a polar bear (okay, a baby polar bear); a doctor whose Indian warrior name is…
Connemara Between History and Myth 1700-1950: An Illustrated Lecture by Professor Kevin Whelan Kevin Whelan, Michael Smurfit Director of the Keough Naughton Notre Dame Centre in Dublin has been a visiting professor at New York University, Boston College and Concordia University, Montreal. He has lectured in over a dozen countries and at the Sorbonne, Cambridge, Oxford, Torino, Berkeley, Yale, Dartmouth and Louvain. He has written or edited fifteen books and over one hundred articles on Ireland’s history, geography and culture. Sponsored by O`Dalaigh Jewellers. Admission €5
Betty and the Baby Boomers Clifden Arts Festival is delighted to welcome back Betty and the Baby Boomers. The group first performed here in 1993. Over many visits since, the students in the Boomers’ audiences back then have grown up; their children now listen to the group in Clifden’s schools. The Boomers are older too, but their music is timeless, featuring songs by Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and others who shaped the 'baby boomer' generation in America. Betty Boomer, Jean McAvoy, Paul Rubeo, Steve Stanne, and Robert Bard create distinctive arrangements for these classics as well as recent songs in that tradition, original compositions, and selections inspired by their…
Poetry and Music with Simon Ó Faoláin Rugadh Simon Ó Faoláin i mBaile Átha Cliath agus tógadh é in Iarthar Dhuibhneach. Tá trí leabhar filíochta Gaeilge foilsithe aige. I measc na ngradam atá buaite aige dá scríbhneoireacht tá Duais Glen Dimplex, Duais Strong, Duais Bhaitéar Uí Mhaicín, Duais Cholm Cille agus Duais Foras na Gaeilge. Tá sé ina stiúrthóir ar An Fhéile Bheag Filíochta, féile dhátheangach ealaíne bhliantúil ar an mBuailtín. Is amhránaí sean nóis aitheanta é le suim ar leith aige in amhráin an tsár-amhránaí Duibhnigh Seán de hÓra. Simon Ó Faoláin was born in Dublin and raised in the West Kerry Gaeltacht. He has published three books of…
Dance: Traces to Nowhere Dancer, choreographer: Magdalena Hylak Video projection: Cathy Coughlan Traces to Nowhere explores themes of isolation and the artist’s search for connection and points of anchor within her environment. The title draws from the first episode of David Lynch’s cult classic Twin Peaks. A combination of the need for solitude with the desire for contact and support, manifests itself in constant movement, from place to place, experience to experience, leading the dancer into a state of uneasiness, uncertainty and disorientation. "I will always feel like a stranger here, but I would feel like a stranger anywhere in the world, detached." Admission €5
Tom Lyden Memorial The Festival’s tribute to the late poet and great friend of the Clifden Arts Festival, Thomas Lyden for his family, friends and his old comrades of the Baskethouse Collective of which he was a founding member. Admission €5
Talk by John Coll Talking Heads A demonstration and dissertation on the art of the modelled portrait with sculptor John Coll. John Coll will give a talk and demonstration on the art, history and techniques of modelling a portrait head with reference to many of the famous and infamous heads he has worked on in the past 33 years as a sculptor. The talk will be approx 1 hour in length.
Music with True North True North rides again! Lefty, Tumbleweed, Blind Boy, Dusty, Doc and Calamity, honored to be a part of the Clifden Arts Festival 40th, bring you the sound of America’s western saloons, barn dances, front porches, parlors, and cowboy campfires. They spice American traditional and newer favorite tunes with hilarious and heartwarming originals, featuring their signature vocal varieties and harmonies. In other lives, they’ve been a US Navy pilot and wine smuggler; a tennis champion and a culinary wizard; a fitness club owner who is a paper-cut survivor; an Alaskan mauled by a polar bear (okay, a baby polar bear); a doctor whose Indian warrior name is…
Betty and the Baby Boomers Clifden Arts Festival is delighted to welcome back Betty and the Baby Boomers. The group first performed here in 1993. Over many visits since, the students in the Boomers’ audiences back then have grown up; their children now listen to the group in Clifden’s schools. The Boomers are older too, but their music is timeless, featuring songs by Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and others who shaped the 'baby boomer' generation in America. Betty Boomer, Jean McAvoy, Paul Rubeo, Steve Stanne, and Robert Bard create distinctive arrangements for these classics as well as recent songs in that tradition, original compositions, and selections inspired by their…
Lisa is one of Ireland's most sought after actors and singers. A graduate of the Samuel Beckett Centre Trinity College, her debut solo album Hiding Away recorded in Nashville in 2015 was received with great acclaim in the US and Ireland; RTE Radio One Album of the Week, and debuted in the top ten in the general Irish charts and reached number one in iTunes. Fiachna has worked with African gospel singers, Moroccan tribesmen, Texan swingers and Irish balladeers as well as performing with his own band Hothouse Flowers. Peter is suspected to be able to "get a tune from a ball of twine if you flung it at him" according to Hot…
Music with True North True North rides again! Lefty, Tumbleweed, Blind Boy, Dusty, Doc and Calamity, honored to be a part of the Clifden Arts Festival 40th, bring you the sound of America’s western saloons, barn dances, front porches, parlors, and cowboy campfires. They spice American traditional and newer favorite tunes with hilarious and heartwarming originals, featuring their signature vocal varieties and harmonies. In other lives, they’ve been a US Navy pilot and wine smuggler; a tennis champion and a culinary wizard; a fitness club owner who is a paper-cut survivor; an Alaskan mauled by a polar bear (okay, a baby polar bear); a doctor whose Indian warrior name is…
Jazz with Les Follies New Orleans Old Jazz Band à la française Sweet Follies came to play at the Clifden Arts Week for the first time in 1993, and have since been known in Ireland under the name of Les Follies. A few musicians have changed in the band since their first apparition in the local venues, but all of them had and still have the same desire and talent to share with the audience, in a joyful mood, a great quality of New Orleans jazz, …the kind of jazz that they usually play in Paris in the renowned Boîtes de Jazz des bords de Seine. A last appearance in Clifden for…
Tickets are selling like organic hot cakes for the new 2017 live show 'Saying Yes to Yes.' Grab yourself some comedy enlightenment while stocks last! 'Join spiritual guru Kevin McAleer for a mind-splitting evening of living hilariously in the moment, with meditation, mindfulness, deep breathing, tree visualization, bananarama yoga, straw bale therapy, psychic flower arranging, firewalking with dolphins, and ego massage. McAleer is universally recognized as Tyrone's leading Zen Buddhist saint, having trained for thirty three years under the legendary Deepjoy Chakra in Peru, before founding the Institute of Light™ in Strabane in 1972. He will be signing copies of his thirty nine classic self-help books, including the bestselling 'Idiot's…
Pol Huellou and Friends Forth’iest Clifden World Sound Party Following the release of the new CD by Pol Huellou The Lost Agenda, he will be visiting the Festival with a new recital featuring two of the best known Breton musicians as well as a few surprise guests. Poetry, world beats, dance and craic guaranteed! Gilles Le Bigot: guitar. Jean Marc Lecoq: French button accordeon; Pol Huellou: vocals, various flutes, sanza. Gerry O’Connor: fiddle. Sean Howley: bouzuki. Admission €8
Inishbofin Field Trip With Michael Gibbons Return ferry at 5pm. Cost per person includes ferry. Lunch stop on island not included. Boots and outdoor gear needed. Bookings in advance, please call 095 21379. Starting point: Cleggan Pier Cost: €40 About Michael Michael is a member of the Institute of Archaeologists of Ireland with thirty five years of experience as an archaeologist and completed a 5 year term on the Archaeology Committee of the Heritage Council. He has worked with the Department of Antiquities in Jerusalem and for the Museum of London City Excavation Programme. In Ireland, he worked on the Donegal Archaeological Survey and Galway Archaeological Survey before being appointed as…
Awhile with Seamus Heaney – Lecture by Larry McCluskey Seamus Heaney was a supporter and guiding spirit for the Clifden Arts Festival from its inception in 1977 and made visits until his passing in 2013. His inspirational contribution lives on through his works and the friendships he fostered here over many years. It is fitting that he is remembered in this lecture by Larry McCluskey. "Walk on air against your better judgement." Sponsored by The Quay House. Admission €10
Music with True North True North rides again! Lefty, Tumbleweed, Blind Boy, Dusty, Doc and Calamity, honored to be a part of the Clifden Arts Festival 40th, bring you the sound of America’s western saloons, barn dances, front porches, parlors, and cowboy campfires. They spice American traditional and newer favorite tunes with hilarious and heartwarming originals, featuring their signature vocal varieties and harmonies. In other lives, they’ve been a US Navy pilot and wine smuggler; a tennis champion and a culinary wizard; a fitness club owner who is a paper-cut survivor; an Alaskan mauled by a polar bear (okay, a baby polar bear); a doctor whose Indian warrior name is…
The Irish Guitar Quartet Latin, Folk and American Classics The Irish Guitar Quartet is drawn from some of Ireland’s most talented and versatile classical guitarists and is sure to be recognized as one of Ireland’s premier instrumental ensembles. Members Jerry Creedon, David Keating, Colin McLean and Aengus Kirakowski have garnered acclaim as soloists on stages around the world, with each member contributing their individual strengths toward creating an exciting, dynamic and engaging ensemble. The programme including Latin, folk and American classics transports listeners around the world in a single concert experience. Sponsored by Conor Killeen. Admission €10
Reading with Carlo Gebler and Frank McGuinness Carlo Gébler was born in Dublin in 1954. He lives in Co. Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. He is the author of several novels including A Good Day for A Dog and The Dead Eight (shortlisted for the Kerry Irish Fiction Prize), the short story collections W.9. and Other Lives and The Wing Orderly’s Tales, works of non-fiction, The Siege of Derry and the memoirs Father and I, Confessions of a Catastrophist and The Projectionist, The Story of Ernest Gébler. He has also written novels for children as well as plays for radio and the stage, including 10 Rounds, which was short-listed for the Ewart-Biggs Prize.…
Poetry, Music and Song with Nan Tom Teaimín de Búrca, John Sheahan, Seamus O’Flaithearta and Danny O’Mahoney Seamus O’Flaithearta has been playing music as long as her can remember. He is lucky to have been surrounded by the best of Irish musicians and singers in the area and have been able to travel the world with his music, sharing the lively art form with eager audiences around the world in places such as Canada, China, Europe and the United States of America. He has been part of Clifden Arts Festival events from a young age with Marie Walsh's West Coast groups. Danny O’Mahony is a traditional musician from Ballyduff in County Kerry.…
Jazz with Les Follies New Orleans Old Jazz Band à la française Sweet Follies came to play at the Clifden Arts Week for the first time in 1993, and have since been known in Ireland under the name of Les Follies. A few musicians have changed in the band since their first apparition in the local venues, but all of them had and still have the same desire and talent to share with the audience, in a joyful mood, a great quality of New Orleans jazz, …the kind of jazz that they usually play in Paris in the renowned Boîtes de Jazz des bords de Seine. A last appearance in Clifden for…
Public 'Paint In' By 6 Artists Special Culture Night Event
Music with True North True North rides again! Lefty, Tumbleweed, Blind Boy, Dusty, Doc and Calamity, honored to be a part of the Clifden Arts Festival 40th, bring you the sound of America’s western saloons, barn dances, front porches, parlors, and cowboy campfires. They spice American traditional and newer favorite tunes with hilarious and heartwarming originals, featuring their signature vocal varieties and harmonies. In other lives, they’ve been a US Navy pilot and wine smuggler; a tennis champion and a culinary wizard; a fitness club owner who is a paper-cut survivor; an Alaskan mauled by a polar bear (okay, a baby polar bear); a doctor whose Indian warrior name is…
Betty and the Baby Boomers Clifden Arts Festival is delighted to welcome back Betty and the Baby Boomers. The group first performed here in 1993. Over many visits since, the students in the Boomers’ audiences back then have grown up; their children now listen to the group in Clifden’s schools. The Boomers are older too, but their music is timeless, featuring songs by Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and others who shaped the 'baby boomer' generation in America. Betty Boomer, Jean McAvoy, Paul Rubeo, Steve Stanne, and Robert Bard create distinctive arrangements for these classics as well as recent songs in that tradition, original compositions, and selections inspired by their…
Tommy is regarded as one of the finest singers and actors worldwide and is currently enjoying a hugely successful career. After 25 years honing his craft, Tommy is now taking his place at the forefront of popular music across the globe. The mere mention of a Tommy Fleming concert has ‘sold out’ signs being displayed at venues from Dublin to Darwin within the space of minutes. Tommy turns each song into his own with his own unique and powerful style touching emotions in you that only music can reach. Tommy is famous for his own arrangement of “Danny Boy”, “Isle of Inisfree” and “Hard Times” all songs that you know…
LUXe Present: Ship of Fools To celebrate the 40th Clifden Arts Festival, landscape spectacle company LUXe present Ship of Fools, a special intimate spectacle in the harbour mouth with procession, illuminated boats, fire, and music at sunset in the half light.
Jazz with Les Follies New Orleans Old Jazz Band à la française Sweet Follies came to play at the Clifden Arts Week for the first time in 1993, and have since been known in Ireland under the name of Les Follies. A few musicians have changed in the band since their first apparition in the local venues, but all of them had and still have the same desire and talent to share with the audience, in a joyful mood, a great quality of New Orleans jazz, …the kind of jazz that they usually play in Paris in the renowned Boîtes de Jazz des bords de Seine. A last appearance in Clifden for…
Johnny Cash Tribute Band Award-winning singer, songwriter and accomplished pianist Joey Lee Lawlor returns by popular demand with his energetic authentic show The Man in Black. Joey Lee takes us back to a time when Johnny Cash was in his prime, backed by a four piece live band and joined on stage by June Carter and his daughter. He also gives a nod to the killer himself Jerry Lee Lewis and the early sounds of the king of rock 'n' roll Elvis Presley. This is one show not to be missed! Admission €10
Rob Strong and Band Going right back to the late 60s, Rob Strong personifies the raw energy of rock and blues. His unique voice sings out wild and true! He is rated as one of Europe’s finest soul singers. His musical roots are in the soul of the Motown era. Admission €10
Humble Hearts, Gentle Gazes, Exacting Eyes: John McGahern and William Trevor A Lecture by Eoghan Harris Eoghan Harris is a former RTÉ television producer (Seven Days and Feach), screenwriter (Sharpe), Abbey Theatre playwright (Souper Sullivan), political media advisor (to Mary Robinson and David Trimble). He currently tutors in screenwriting at IADT, the National Film School, and writes a weekly political column for the Sunday Independent. Sponsored by Shane O’Grady, Guy's Bar. Admission €10
Lunchtime Recital with Jack O'Rourke 2016 was a phenomenal year for Jack O’Rourke, with the musician releasing one of the most critically acclaimed debut albums of the year. Dreamcatcher includes cinematic torch songs, noir folk and baroque pop creating a singular sound, delivered in a plaintive baritone around the piano. Dreamcatcher reached No.5 in the Irish album charts - just below Drake! Winning in the prestigious International Songwriting Competition for lyrics for the album’s centerpiece ballad, Silence – performed live on The Late Late Show, judged by industry legends Tom Waits and Bill Withers, Jack's eclectic songs range from the driving euphoric rock of Naivety to the dark Americana of I'll…
Music with True North True North rides again! Lefty, Tumbleweed, Blind Boy, Dusty, Doc and Calamity, honored to be a part of the Clifden Arts Festival 40th, bring you the sound of America’s western saloons, barn dances, front porches, parlors, and cowboy campfires. They spice American traditional and newer favorite tunes with hilarious and heartwarming originals, featuring their signature vocal varieties and harmonies. In other lives, they’ve been a US Navy pilot and wine smuggler; a tennis champion and a culinary wizard; a fitness club owner who is a paper-cut survivor; an Alaskan mauled by a polar bear (okay, a baby polar bear); a doctor whose Indian warrior name is…
Jazz with Les Follies New Orleans Old Jazz Band à la française Sweet Follies came to play at the Clifden Arts Week for the first time in 1993, and have since been known in Ireland under the name of Les Follies. A few musicians have changed in the band since their first apparition in the local venues, but all of them had and still have the same desire and talent to share with the audience, in a joyful mood, a great quality of New Orleans jazz, …the kind of jazz that they usually play in Paris in the renowned Boîtes de Jazz des bords de Seine. A last appearance in Clifden for…
Betty and the Baby Boomers Clifden Arts Festival is delighted to welcome back Betty and the Baby Boomers. The group first performed here in 1993. Over many visits since, the students in the Boomers’ audiences back then have grown up; their children now listen to the group in Clifden’s schools. The Boomers are older too, but their music is timeless, featuring songs by Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, and others who shaped the 'baby boomer' generation in America. Betty Boomer, Jean McAvoy, Paul Rubeo, Steve Stanne, and Robert Bard create distinctive arrangements for these classics as well as recent songs in that tradition, original compositions, and selections inspired by their…
The Storied Self: A Talk by Dr. Grace O'Grady – John Moriarty Memorial Lecture This talk explores story as a portal through which a person enters the world and by which their experience of the world is interpreted and made personally meaningful (Connolly & Clandinin, 2006). In tracing threshold moments in her own story, Grace O'Grady invites the audience into a space of remembering. Sponsored by Tim and Mairead Robinson. Admission €10
The Ranelagh Singers Church of Ireland Restoration Fund The Ranelagh Singers are an award winning acapella choir that hails from a leafy suburb of Dublin 6 and were formed in 2011. The programme for this concert under the direction of Rosemary O’Brien ranges from medieval works of Desperz and Dowland right up to modern works by a fascinating young Finnish composer Mia Makaroff, and with new versions of Irish folk songs such as 'Mo Ghile Mear'. Admission €10
Streetwise Presents: An Afternoon of Fun Jim Solo No one can remember when Jim started performing, least of all Jim but your parents may have recollections of seeing him when they were growing up! His unique blend of comedy and skills will enthral young and old alike. Juggling blindfold, ladder-balancing, fire juggling and a cup of tea on an 8 foot unicycle result in a street show that cannot be missed. Babcock and Bobbins Based in Belfast, this act tour their show throughout Ireland. From Coleraine to Cork and Belfast to Balina, they pull in the crowds... and now it’s Cliften’s turn! Come and see the madcap double act unleash their…
Jazz with Les Follies New Orleans Old Jazz Band à la française Sweet Follies came to play at the Clifden Arts Week for the first time in 1993, and have since been known in Ireland under the name of Les Follies. A few musicians have changed in the band since their first apparition in the local venues, but all of them had and still have the same desire and talent to share with the audience, in a joyful mood, a great quality of New Orleans jazz, …the kind of jazz that they usually play in Paris in the renowned Boîtes de Jazz des bords de Seine. A last appearance in Clifden for…
Paul Muldoon is an Irish poet and professor of poetry, as well as an editor, critic, and translator. Born in 1951 in Portadown, Co. Armagh, Northern Ireland, to Patrick Muldoon, a farm labourer and market gardener, and Brigid Regan, a schoolteacher, Paul Muldoon was brought up near a village called The Moy on the border of Counties Armagh and Tyrone. He is the oldest of three children. After studying at Queen’s University, Belfast, he published his first book, New Weather (Faber) in 1973, at the age of 21. From 1973 he worked as a producer for the BBC in Belfast until, in the mid-1980’s, he gave up his job to…
The Voice Squad
The Voice Squad The Voice Squad's (Phil Callery, Fran McPhail and Gerry Cullen) style of singing in harmony does not form part of the Irish singing tradition but each singer had already served their time in our individual tradition before coming together to sing in harmony. They have carried with them this individual approach to the song and it is this that gives the group its unique sound. The Voice Squad has been compared to those great English family groups, The Watersons and The Copper Family and while they would have enjoyed the singing of both these groups their strongest influences have come directly from our own traditional songs and…
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Haydn Mass with Cantairí Chonamara Choir, The Ranelagh Singers and Raymond O'Donnell Caintairí Chonamara contributes music to the local community and builds on the culture of arts in Connemara. Cantairí Chonamara has a broad repertoire of short songs and longer choral works to draw from. It is also learning new pieces suitable for specific events. While the main focus is on classical works, the choir also has a range of lighter pieces in many styles. The Ranelagh Singers is a community based mixed voice choir based in Ranelagh, Dublin 6. This dynamic choir was established in 2009 and is conducted by Rosemary O'Brien. It's repertoire spans from Medieval to Contemporary choral…
The Festival Grand Parade (All Around Clifden Town) LUXe return in celebratory spirit for the 40th Clifden Arts Festival with The Sea of Rainbows, which will fill the town with a fully illuminated community procession, the culmination of work with local schools. LUXe is a processional spectacle company based in Donegal and have developed the Clifden illuminated parade over 12 years adapting and expanding their collection sumptuous costume and processional sculpture. This year’s spectacular array of rainbows and boats will carry the festival forward into a bright new world of possibility. Fidget Feet will take to the skies of Clifden, bringing you amazing aerial acts high in the sky. Performances will take place…
Jazz with Les Follies New Orleans Old Jazz Band à la française Sweet Follies came to play at the Clifden Arts Week for the first time in 1993, and have since been known in Ireland under the name of Les Follies. A few musicians have changed in the band since their first apparition in the local venues, but all of them had and still have the same desire and talent to share with the audience, in a joyful mood, a great quality of New Orleans jazz, …the kind of jazz that they usually play in Paris in the renowned Boîtes de Jazz des bords de Seine. A last appearance in Clifden for…
Knights of Columbus Knights of Columbus are a high energy 5 piece Rock band from the west of Ireland. Comprised of lead vocalist Paul Mulligan, lead vocalist and lead guitarist Barry Jennings, lead guitarist Kenneth Coyne, bassist Marcin Piasecki and Drummer Luke Dunne. Knights of Columbus draw from a wide range of musical styles to create their own distinct style which is heavily based on classic rock and blues with a touch of grunge and a hint of Funk. They are are focused on making an impact on the music scene through performing a wide range of cover songs, everything from Gun's 'n' Roses to Michael Jackson as well as original music from their upcoming debut album.
The Light Runners Band The Light Runners were formed in 2014 by Lazare Mbouwoua, from the Central African Republic, the lead singer and frontman of the group whose passionate and enigmatic performances have brought people of all ages to the dance floor all over Europe and Africa. The lead singer with a number of reggae bands for over 15 years in the Congo and Germany Lazare is the band leader and driving force on stage. Lead guitarist best known for his work with legendary Congolese Rumba bands OK Jazz and Zaiko Langa Langa as well as ‘Ireland's most travelled African band The Lace, Daniel Muyombo is a true powerhouse of…
Fun for all the family enjoy the Clifden Vintage Car Exhibition which takes place on Market Square.
One For The Road with BackWest Galway’s New Trad Supergroup Individually, they hold authenticity; collectively they showcase the powerful ensemble of Western and Northern styles. They have performed at international festivals, danced on the biggest stages including ‘Lord of the Dance’ and they have featured on TV stations and radio programmes across the world. Together, they are BackWest – a vibrant, vivacious and thoroughly exciting new trad band, and they are all set to hit the open road with their magical combination of music, song and dance! Featuring Tyrone’s legendary virtuoso PJ McDonald (guitar/vocals/whistle), Galway’s well known brother and sister duo Maureen and Brendan Browne (fiddle and accordion) and Galway’s own…
John O’Conor & Veronica McSwiney
The Irish pianist John O’Conor has been gathering wonderful reviews for his masterly playing for over forty years. Having studied in his native Dublin, in Vienna with Dieter Weber and being tutored by the legendary Wilhelm Kempff his unanimous 1st Prize at the International Beethoven Piano Competition in Vienna in 1973 opened the door to a career that has brought him all around the world. His recordings of the complete Beethoven Piano Sonatas led CD Review to say that he “by now should be recognised as the world’s premier Beethoven interpreter” and his recent recordings of the complete Beethoven Piano Concertos with the London Symphony Orchestra and Andreas Delfs have…
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