Welcome to Féile Patrick Byrne 2016, an Irish traditional music festival held annually on the Palm Sunday weekend in and around Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. Organised by the Carrickmacross branch of Comhaltas, the event honours the Farney harper Patrick Byrne (c.17941863) who was the first Irish traditional musician ever photographed. The féile has been running since 2007 and aims to showcase the best of traditional music and dance through concerts, workshops, sessions, a lecture and céilí.
Tuesday 15th March | 8pm | Singing Session – Cunningham’s Loft, Carrickmacross – adm. free |
Wednesday 16th March |
| The 2016 Patrick Byrne Lecture – The Monaghan Piping Tradition Comhaltas President Ann Finnegan will officially open the féile at our annual St. Finbarr’s Church, Main Street, Carrickmacross – adm. free |
| 10pm | Music Session – Markey’s, Carrickmacross. |
Thursday 17th March St. Patrick’s Day | Féile Patrick Byrne in association with Laragh Heritage and Aughnamullen CCÉ will hold a traditional music session in St. Peter’s Church. Constructed entirely out of corrugated iron in a swissgothic style, this session promises to be a very special event. This session would particularly suit musicians of all ages. The Tin Church, Laragh, Broomfield, Co. Monaghan. | |
| 8pm | Fíor Céilí with the Cera Moyle céilí band, the Phoenix Centre Céilí organised by Carrickmacross Pioneer Association. |
Friday 18th March | 10am – 1pm | Irish language workshop – This workshop will focus on oral Irish skills and would suit those preparing for this year’s leaving certificate exams. The workshop will be run in the Carrickmacross Workhouse. Registration is at 9:30am and the class will run Workshop fee €5. |
| 8pm |
Carrickmacross Comhaltas Concert The Corduff & Raferagh Community Centre will be the venue for the concert featuring the best of local musicians and visiting artists. Concert will start at 8pm and admission is €5. |
10pm | Festival Club The Mountain Dew, Corduff. | |
10pm | Music Session McNally’s, Carrickmacross. | |
| Saturday 19th March | 10am – 1pm | Music Workshops The Carrickmacross Workhouse will again host the workshops. Registration is at 9:30am and classes will run from 10am to 1pm. Workshop fees are €10. In addition there will be a special Fun Trad workshop for younger musicians, cost €5. Fiddle – Zoë Conway Accordion – Máirtín O’Connor Banjo – George McAdam Harp Bodhrán Fun Trad Places for workshops are limited to 15 per class. To reserve a place, send an email to patrickbyrnefestival@gmail.com with your name, address, contact telephone and workshop you want to attend and we will contact you back shortly. |
11am | Heritage Walk Historian Charles Barker will guide walkers around Carrickmacross and bring alive the vibrant history of the town. The tour takes approximately 90 minutes and walkers should comfortable shoes and perhaps bring an umbrella! Meet at the front of the Courthouse / Shirley Arms Hotel. | |
| 8pm | Zoë Conway, Máirtín O’Connor & Dónal Lunny in concert Three of Ireland’s most influential musicians will headline this year’s Féile Patrick Byrne. From Planxty and Dé Dannan to the Bothy Band and Riverdance, Lunny, O’Connor and Conway have been centrally involved in nearly every major development in Irish traditional music over the last half century. Their concert promises to be a real treat for music fans. St. Louis Secondary School Hall, Carrickamcross – adm €10. | |
| 10.30pm | Festival Club Markey’s, Carrickmacross. |
| Sunday 20th March | 12.00pm-2pm | Sean Nós Dance Workshop Dancing masters, Kathleen and Michael McGlynn, will teach steps in the sean nós dancing style. Workshop fee €10. Noon to 2pm St. Louis Secondary School Hall, Carrickamcross |
| 3pm-6pm | Rise The Dust Sets céilí with one of Ireland’s finest bands. Sets will be called and refreshments served. Adm €10. 3pm to 6pm St. Louis Secondary School Hall, Carrickamcross | |
| 6pm to 8pm | Trad for Teens Music session for youth musicians. Dusty O’Neill’s, Carrickmacross | |
| 6.30pm | Music Session Music session aimed at younger musicians with tunes played at a relaxed pace. To be followed by full session to close the féile. 6:30pm to 8pm – Junior session 8pm - Senior session The Valley Lodge, Carrickamcross |
Carrickmacross Comhaltas / Féile Patrick Byrne would like to thank our funders for their generous support and making the festival possible: the Arts Council, Comhaltas Meitheal programme and Monaghan County Council Arts Office.
We would also like to thank the pubs who have sponsored our music sessions: Cunningham’s, Dusty O’Neill’s, Markey’s, McNally’s and the Valley Lodge. At these sessions you’ll discover the real tradition and have an opportunity to get involved by playing, singing or dancing. We would ask you to support these pubs as they support the 2016 festival.
Further details on Facebook and www.carrickmacross.ie/feilepatrickbyrne. Email patrickbyrnefestival@gmail.com. Text 087 2396665.
For the Timetable of events Feile Patrick Byrne 2016 click here >>
Féile Patrick Byrne Committee
Brian Walsh, Finian McCluskey, Breen Jackson, Eamon Sewell, Katrina Coleman, Kate Beagan, Seán Ó Roideáin, Sinéad Finnegan, Ciara Moroney, Margaret Flanagan, Vera Keyes & Andrew Jackson.
Contact Details
| Email: | patrickbyrnefestival@gmail.com |
| Facebook: | www.facebook.com/pages/F%C3%A9ile-Patrick-Byrne/291018008922?fref=ts |
