October 4-7, 2007
Oulu, Finland
www.irkku.fi

Welcome to the Irish Festival of Oulu from October 4th-7th, 2007. The festival brings the City a weekend full of lively events and cultural entertainment for all ages. Organized by the Irish Music Society of Oulu, the festival celebrates the richness of Irish culture through dance, art, story telling, an Irish Wolfhound show, and plenty of traditional Irish music.

Daily traditional Irish music sessions in various venues are open to all persons and musicians are welcome to join in. The festival features local Oulu-based Irish bands Cascade, The Soap Pig, and the Yläsiirtola Ramblers. Jari Sirniö is hosting a ballad evening, singing all the popular pub songs you love so well such as Whiskey in the Jar, Dirty Old Town, Wild Rover, etc. Everyone is welcome to sing along and join in the fun.
Irish folk tales can be enjoyed by the entire family in the City Library Young People’s Department and the hit children’s duo Soiva Siili teams up with The Soap Pig for a concert especially for the children. A unique highlight is the Irish Wolfhound Presentation, where you get to view and learn more about these enormous dogs. Back by popular demand is the weekend long traditional Irish dance course by Matthew Fitzsimons that will be loads of fun geared for youth, students and adults.

Mr. Sean Cassidy, from County Cavan, will exhibit his highly respected paintings of Celtic, landscape, and famine art in the NUKU Youth and Culture Atrium area.
The festival’s main events are Irish band RíRá and the legendary Paddy Keenan and Tommy O’Sullivan, guaranteed to deliver energetic shows of world class traditional Irish music. Rí Rá is a five piece contemporary traditional band from County Galway with a reputation as fine entertainers, bringing a unique, infectious energy and enthusiasm to their performance.
The festival is honoured to present legendary uilleann piper Paddy Keenan and Tommy O’ Sullivan. Keenan is a founding member and piper of the Bothy Band and “one of the most exciting players of the last 50 years — in Irish music and in any genre. O’Sullivan is a gifted guitar player and singer with a varied selection of ballads from both sides of the Atlantic, containing traditional Irish and American songs.

We hope everyone enjoys the eventful festival weekend celebrating the age old traditions of Irish music, art, dance and culture in the City of Oulu, Finland. See ya at the festival!
Fáilte-Tervetuloa-Welcome

Music events _Paddy Keenan/Tommy O’Sullivan (IRE)- MAIN EVENT _RíRá Traditional Irish Band (IRE)_Jari Sirniö_Cascade_Yläsiirtola Ramblers_The Soap Pig_Soiva Siili _Other events_Sean Cassidy (IRE) Irish Art Exhibition_Traditional Irish Dance Course_Irish Story Telling_Irish Wolfhound Presentation

For further information contact:
Brent Cassidy
Event Director
The Irish Music Society of Oulu
Ritaharjuntie 40 C 4, 90540, Oulu, Finland
www.irishmusicsocietyofoulu.org
+358 (0) 50 380 190