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Festivals in Ireland  Putting
you in the picture: Cinema is truth 24 times a second according to Jean
Luc Goddard. It was probably something James Joyce ruminated on when he
became manager of Dublin’s first cinema, the Volta, 99 years ago
in 1909.
Alas, the cinema is no more but Ireland remains in thrall to the silver
screen. With the largest cinema-going population (per capita) in the EU,
it’s no surprise that Dublin hosts one of the best film festivals
in Europe.
This year’s festival looks popcorntastic. It begins this weekend
Saturday, February 16 and runs to February 25. High-profile guests and
a diverse selection of the best in contemporary world cinema are on offer.
www.dubliniff.com
Festival season begins in Killarney in the Gleneagle and Inec in Kiliarney
with The Gathering from February 20-24. This traditional festival combines
great music, song and dance with master-classes in instruments, set dancing
and sean-nós singing, not to mention stonking pub sessions too.
Tel 00 353 64-71550
www.thegatheringonline.com
In March the big celebration is, of course, St. Patrick’s.
In days gone by in Ireland the day was almost entirely a religious day
— strictly come praying as it were. This year the Church feast day
is March 15 because Easter is early (a saint’s feast day and the
Holy Days of Easter cannot coincide, even if your name is Patrick).
In Armagh and Downpatrick — the two places most associated with
the saint’s earthly life — celebration of the Apostle’s
missionary will be, as in days of yore, primarily contemplative. St. Patrick
is buried in the grounds of Down Cathedral, reputedly alongside Ireland’s
other two patron saints, St. Brigid and St. Colmcille. Religious services
will take place throughout the weekend. But don’t head for Armagh
on March 20 unless your security rating is excellent. Queen Elizabeth
II is expected to be visiting and will take part in the ancient Maundy
ceremony. For the first time in Ireland the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh
will lead the special service at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Armagh.
Waterford, the oldest city in Ireland, will also celebrate enthusiastically.
Largely as a result of local boy Luke Wadding, March 17 was declared a
holy day of obligation within the Church. In 1625 Luke, a Franciscan scholar,
established the Irish College of St. Isidore in Rome. Although this was
for the education of Irish priests, strangely enough, St. Isidore is today
patron saint of the internet — St. WWW, as it were. A tangled web,
indeed.
Dublin of course will mark the Apostle of Ireland’s Day in saintly
style — particularly in the Pro Cathedral, St. Patrick’s Cathedral
and Christ Church.
Secular celebrations have only been going on for a century — so
we’ve been trying to make up for lost time ever since.
Dublin’s St. Patrick’s Day Festival this year runs for five
days, March 13-17, with music, theatre, carnivals, a treasure hunt and
of course on Monday, March 17 — the Parade. Over five days 4,000
performers and 1million people will be celebrating with céilís,
capers and craic. Assign a designated driver and party on!
www.stpatricksfestival.ie
Should you be looking for a more out-of-doorsy St. Patrick’s weekend,
head for Achill Island. The Achill Walks Festival takes place from Saturday,
March 15 until St. Patrick’s Day. Walks include Achill’s secluded
beaches, the Slí Acla waymarked walking route and the lowland area
around The Valley and Dooniver with its four large loughs and views across
Blacksod Bay
www.achilltourism.com/walks2008.html
In Ulster, the Co. Cavan Traditional Arts Festival, Cavan Town runs
from March 5 to St. Patrick’s Day. This festival showcases regional
artists, traditional and contemporary.
www.cavanmusic.com
The Friends of Father Ted Festival takes place on Inis Mor from February
29 to March 2.
For the weekend this part of the Aran Islands of Inis Mór becomes
Craggy Island and features a Lovely Girls’ Competition, Buckaroo
Speed Dating, World’s biggest Cup of Tea and Craggy Cup. Ah ye will,
ye will, ye will.
www.friendsofted.org
Ennis Book Club Festival, Ennis, Co. Clare runs from February 29 to
March 2.
The programme includes author visits, readings, lectures, workshops, exhibitions
and cookery demonstrations, musical entertainment and chocolate tasting
in various venues around Ennis.
This year’s contributors include British author Joanne Harris, who
wrote the bestseller Chocolat; Roddy Doyle, Hugo Hamilton, winner of the
Rooney Prize for Irish Literature, Morgan Llywelyn, author of historical
fantasy; Dermot Bolger, the author of eight novels and winner of the Samuel
Beckett Award; and Nuala O Faolain, Irish Times columnist and author of
Are You Somebody?
www.ennisbookclubfestival.com |
