New Cultural Event for Carlingford.
This Halloween sees a new cultural event take place in Carlingford.

The Carlingford Canadian/Irish Cultural Day, which has been organised by those cultural trailblazers Carlingford Community Development, examines the cultural links between Carlingford and Canada. The highlight of this inaugural cultural event will be the Carlingford premier of the play “Griffintown”.

Griffintown by two piece théâtre group Théâtre Rua, is a dramatic piece of theatre, set in Montreal’s Irish community.

So grab your passport, compass and map, let Théâtre Rua take you down to Griffintown.

Having enjoyed a successful run with Griffintown at the St-Ambroise Montréal Fringe Festival in June 2010, two performers, with a suitcase full of characters, bring to life a once upon-a-time Irish neighbourhood in Montréal in a fun and playful way through the art of storytelling and physical theatre.

Théâtre Rua is a two person ensemble made of Dundalk girl, Laura Flynn and Clíona de Brí from Prosperous, Co. Kildare. Originally founded in Montréal in 2009, Théâtre Rua now based in Ireland, will be providing their premier Carlingford performance, in the Foy Centre.

An interesting connection to Carlingford for the hstorians out there is that  Griffintown is an area once represented by Carlingford’s own Thomas  D’arcy Magee). Thios production has been supported by Create Louth.

Through their love of play, Laura and Clíona have devised a piece using stories from the Montréal neighbourhood of Griffintown with the idea of community at the core. A large number of Ireland’s first emigrants found themselves in Québec and Griffintown became a hot pot of Canadian Irish culture.

Also on the Griffintown bill, there will be two bands playing live.

TEAS: pronounced chass is the Irish word for “heat” which aptly describes the energy
brought to bear by a traditional band that everyone is beginning to take notice of. This four
piece band, blend Irish traditional and contemporary folk influences in a wonderful tapestry
of sounds.

TEAS comprised of Brendan McCreanor (uilleann pipes/low whistle/tin whistle),
Áine Murphy (flute/tin whistle) Barry Kieran (fiddle) and Seán Ó Roideáin (vocals/guitar),
have played festivals including Fleadh Cheoil, and Muckno-Mania and will be headlining
at Íontas Theatre, Castleblayney in December.

The CLYPP BAND: is a cross-border, cross community youth band developed by Carlingford Community Development under the aegis of the Carlingford Lough Youth Peace Project, which has been generously supported by the International Fund for Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs and recently appeared at the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Ireland’s biggest festival.

Griffintown will be performed for one night only at the Foy Centre’s Donn Cuailgne Room venue an 80 capacity performance space. So please contact the Foy Centre Event Office to reserve your seat in advance as this event is expected to sell-out.

CANADIAN/IRISH CULTURAL DAY CHILDREN’S WORKSHOP PROGRAMME

CHILDREN’S DRAMA WORKSHOP
Is the next Colin Farrell or Saoirse Ronan out there?

As part of the Canadian/Irish Cultural Day activities there will be two children’s cultural workshops. Members of Théâtre Rua will lead a theatre workshop running form 10am-3.pm. The drama workshop costs €10.and is suitable for children aged 7 years and upwards.

This is an opportunity for local children and young people to work with two experienced, working, professional actors, but remember, places are limited to 20 and the workshop is expected to sell out so please book, (through the Foy Centre) to avoid disappointment.

Drama workshop participants are asked to bring a packed lunch

YOUNG MUSICIAN’S  WORKSHOP
The CLYPP Band Music Workshop is open to young people (aged 12 years upwards). Participants will need to have a reasonable experience in music, plus their own instrument whether you have been involved in CLYPP before or not come along. TEAS musicians Brendan McCreanor, Áine Murphy and Barry Kieran will be on hand to lead young musicians through a number of tunes from the Cape Breton as well as Irish musical traditions. The music workshop  runs from 1-5pm  and is free.

All in all, Carlingford is the place to be for  a great day’s entertainment and activity in this innovative new cultural event.

“Halloween is historically a great storytelling time in Irish culture. “The
Canadian/Irish Cultural Day will provide an opportunity to explore the
great cultural links between Carlingford and Canada through theatre, music,
song and workshops. When once again our people are faced with
mass emigration from home, the Canadian/Irish cultural day will provide
a chance to recall the cultural contribution the Irish diaspora have made in general
to the countries they have migrated to and to Canada in particular.
So come along to the Carlingford Canadian/Irish Cultural Dayand
enjoy a day of fun, culture and craic!”

The Carlingford/Irish Cultural day is presented by Carlingford Community Development, in association with Carlingford Lough Youth Peace Project (CLYPP) and Carlingford Cultural Quarter (a new cultural tourism initiative).

The Carlingford Canadian/Irish Cultural Day has been supported by the International Fund for Ireland and Create Louth

Finally the orgnisers would like to thank our sponsors FOOD FOR THOUGHT, Carlingford’s premier delicatessen and the perfect place to book your Christmas Pudding, hamper, or for that unique artisan craft food Christmas gift, just phone Food For Thought on: 042-938-3838.

A CCD spokesperson said

For further info contact the Foy Centre Event Office on@ 042-9383624, (Email) info@carlingfordevents.com or check out our Facebook page:
carlingford events carlingford.

Carlingford Canadian/Irish Cultural Day Programme at a glance
Date
Time
Activity
Venue
Charge
Saturday 29/10/11
10am-3pm
Theatre Rua
Children’s
Drama
Workshop
Foy
Centre
€10

Saturday 29/10/11
1-5pm
CLYPP Band
Music Workshop with
TEAS Band members
Foy
Centre
FREE
Saturday 29/10/11
5-7pm
Reception
Foy
Centre
FREE
(all welcome)
Saturday 29/10/11
8-10.30pm
Griffintown plus
TEAS
plus CLYPP BAND
Foy
Centre
€10/€8
(concessions)

Event Organiser:  Seán Ó Roideáin is available for interviews.