February 3rd – 6th, 2011

www.carlingfordevents.com

Carlingford Community Development (CCD) in association with Saint Oliver’s’ Primary School Carlingford, and the Carlingford Lough Youth Peace Project (CLYPP) are pleased to announce that the 6th annual Carlingford Irish Traditional Arts Learning Festival will be taking place from the 3rd -6th of February 2011.

The weekend will include workshops, music sessions, concerts, talks, familiar and also a photographic exhibition from the Strangford Louth – Carlingford link project.

Strangford – Carlingford Link Project: Photographic Exhibition

On Friday 4th Feb at 6.30pm, Ceol Chairlinn Festival weekend will see the launch of a photographic exhibition entitled “People, Place, Peace”. This photographic exhibition will feature photographs from members of the camera clubs in both Strangford and Carlingford. These photographs were developed as the result of a cross border partnership involving Harmony Community trust, based at Glebe house, County Down and Carlingford Community Development. The exhibition will take place at the Foy Centre throughout the weekend and admission to the exhibition is free.

The Strangford-Carlingford Link Project is supported by the PEACE III Programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body and delivered by the North Down, Ards and Down PEACE III Partnership.

Extra event for Ceol Chairlinn!

This year, Ceol Chairlinn sees not one, but two concerts taking place over the course of the weekend.

On Friday 4th February, talented Irish musician, Steve Dunne will launch his solo CD “About Time”.
Belfast-based and originally from the small village of Clogherhead, Steve began playing the guitar at the age of twelve and the banjo at the age of thirteen. Steve Dunne’s CD was recently considered to be one of the finest banjo albums by Ciarán Ó Hanrahan no less, praise indeed. He has toured with several top bands such as Lunasa and Solas and has also toured with traditional Irish group, “At First Light”.

Steve’s set will be followed by a fine display of Norwegian traditional music played by Frode and Friends for the University of Telemark, Ragnhild Furholt and Ånon Egeland who will travel from Norway.

Ragnhild Furholt grew up in Norway’s southernmost province of Vest-Agder, in a family that is deeply rooted in traditional music. She has released three CDs, the first of which earned her the Norwegian Grammy in 1997. She has also won the All-Norway Traditional Music and Dance Championship four times for her traditional singing. In 1999 and 2007 she received the Folk Artists’ Grant from the Norwegian government. She is currently teaching traditional music at the Rauland department of Telemark University College.

Ånon Egeland learned to play the Hardanger fiddle from the old masters of the Agder region of southern Norway and has been a performing musician since the mid-1970s. True to the tradition and renowned for his archaic playing style, he has been involved in a variety of projects, ranging from the purely traditional to experimental crossover. A major soloist on a dozen albums, he has won a Spellemannpris (the Norwegian counterpart of the Grammy Award) and has twice been nominated for the same award. He has also added his inimitable touch to several albums as a studio musician. Ånon Egeland has more than 20 years’ experience as teacher of traditional music, at both secondary high school and university level. Since 1999 he has been employed as assistant professor at the traditional music department of Telemark University College in Rauland.

Also in the line up are the 35 strong Carlingford Lough Youth Peace Project (CLYPP) band, a cross-border, cross-community group that have been developed by CCD to celebrate our shared, traditional arts cultural heritage. They promise to add an exciting showcase of peace-building, through the medium of traditional arts. This fantastic line up of traditional Irish and Norwegian music is sure to provide great entertainment on the night.

At First Light to Headline at Ceol Chairlinn Saturday Night Concert

Once again, the highlight for many people of Ceol Chairlinn will be the well established and successful Saturday night concert which takes place at the Foy Centre. This year, Ceol Chairlinn Artistic Director, Gerry O’Connor who is arguably one of Ireland’s finest fiddle players will perform on stage along with Dave Sheridan (flute), Laoise Kelly (harp) and the marvelous button accordion player, Martin Donohue who will play together with members of his talented family on stage. Patricia Flynn, the excellent sean nós from South Armagh, will also be appearing and providing a range of songs from her extensive repertoire.

The Saturday night concert will also see those rising stars of traditional arts, “At First Light” perform at Ceol Chairlinn for the very first time. They are one of the most exciting bands to hit the Irish traditional music scene for years. “At First Light” displays their excellent talents on a range of instruments and they capture the imagination of the listener without fail.
The pedigree of each individual musician is outstanding, their experience and sheer mastery of the music is evident for all to see, but it is when their considerable talents are combined that you can expect the unexpected.

“At First Light” comprises the talents of world renowned Uilleann Piper, John McSherry and outstanding fiddle player, Dónal O’Connor, who are the creators of Tripswitch, which has been described as ‘Acoustic perfection’. Combined with the sublime talent of Francis McIlduff on the tin whistle and bodhrán, from the famous McPeake clann to Michael McCague on the guitar/bouzouki and Ciara McCrickard on the fiddle, you can see why the band is being portrayed as ‘a dream team line up’.

PEEAS Music in Schools Initiative

In another new and innovative development, Thursday the 3rd & Friday 4th February will see Patricia Flynn, the renowned, Armagh Set and Sean Nós singer, working with children from both sides of Carlingford Lough. She will be demonstrating her extensive repertoire of Oriel Songs to a range of students. The PEEAS Music in Schools Initiative is supported by the European Union’s PEACE III Programme as awarded by the Louth Peace & Reconciliation Partnership.

The central focus of Ceol Chairlinn since it began back in 2006 has been the traditional music with expert tuition and this year is no exception.

Music Workshops

Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th of February will see expert tutors of traditional Irish music conducting a range of valuable training workshops in both Saint Oliver’s Primary School and in the Foy Centre. Workshops will be held in the following instruments:
Gerry O’Connor, Donal O’Connor and Ciara McCrickard (fiddle), Francie McIlduff (whistle), Dave Sheridan (flute), Dave Sheridan (flute), Steve Dunne (banjo), Martin Donohue (button accordion, John McSherry(uileann pipes), Laoise Kelly (harp) Patricia Flynn (sean nós singing- in English) and Micháel & Kathleen McGlynn (set & sean Nós Dance).
Registration for all the music workshops will take place in St. Oliver’s School, Carlingford on Saturday 4th February starting at 9am sharp.

Set & Sean Nós Dance Workshop

It’s not just traditional instrumental workshops that will be taking place but there will also be a traditional dance workshop happening at the festival. Once again, this year will see the return of the Saturday afternoon Set & Sean Nós Dance workshop. The workshop will be lead by Michael & Kathleen McGlynn who began teaching in the Cooley Peninsula in the 1980’s and they have been teaching both Set & Sean nos styles in the local area and also in many parts of the country for many years. The work shop will take place from 2-5.00pm and costs €5.00. No previous experience is necessary to take part and a good time is guaranteed!

Recession Busting Tuition Fees!

Ceol Chairlinn is doing its level best to facilitate access to quality tuition for everyone dealing with the economic downturn.
The standard adult tuition price remains the same as it has been previous years at €50. There is also a concessionary rate for persons on unemployment benefit, pension, student (USI Card) or disability allowance.
A new Youth Rate for persons under 25 years has been introduced this year at €40. Similar to previous years, a family ticket provides for two or more family members. The price of a family ticket has been reduced from €90 to €80. Tuition tickets also include free entry into the Saturday evening concert.
Tickets for the Steve Dunne CD Launch Concert at the Carlingford Heritage Centre on Friday 4th February, costs €10/€8 (concessions).
Tickets for the Saturday night concert, at the Foy Centre, featuring “At First Light” cost €12 / €10 (concessions).

A Network of Supporters

CCD has managed through the six years to build this high quality traditional arts learning festival and this year is no exception. Ceol Chairlinn would not be possible without the generous financial support received from sponsors and Ceol Chairlinn would like to take this opportunity to thank the International Fund for Ireland, Department of Foreign Affairs, Arts Council DÉIS Scheme, Louth County Council and Carlingford & Cooley Tourism Association, without whose support, this key cultural event would not be possible.

For further information on concerts, tuition and ticket availability please contact:
The Foy Centre, Dundalk Street, Carlingford.
(Tel) 00353 42 9383624 / 626
Fax: 00353 42 9383625 or
Email: info@carlingfordevents.com or visit our events website on www.carlingfordevents.com