SPECIAL OPENING NIGHT EVENT

with Senator David Norris

We are delighted to welcome renowned Joycean scholar, civil rights campaigner, independent politician and presidential candidate Senator David Norris to open the 16th Iniscealtra Festival of Arts. Highly entertaining as a brilliant raconteur, Senator Norris's visit promises to be one of the main highlights of the festival. Artist Nigel Rolfe presents a new performance, Follow Voice Keen. Rolfe's work encompasses many media including sound and audio production, video and photography. His primary reputation for the past thirty years is working live, making performances throughout Europe, and the former Eastern Block, North America and Japan. (Supported by the Irish Museum of Modern Art's National Programme). Music provided by 'Chill' an exciting young barbershop quartet from Ennis, who recently performed live on RTE's John Murray Show.

Admission: Free

CLASSICAL CONCERT

Morisca

presented by Music Network

Step back in time to hear a stunning programme of Medieval and Church Music in this historic venue. Playing a variety of early instruments and featuring the noted soprano Pauline Graham, Morisca have impressed audiences and critics. Morsica's line-up for this performace are Pauline Graham (Voice), Laoise O'Brien (Recorder), Michael Quinn (Portative Organ) and as guest performer Sarah Groser (Vielle). The sound of vielle, recorder, and portative organ in St. Caimins should ensure a memorable evening!

Admission: €12/15

The College Players, Limerick, present

The Seafarer

by Conor McPherson

The College Players, Limerick, present The Seafarer by Olivier Award winning playwright Conor McPherson. Hugely popular at The Abbey Theatre, Dublin and with acclaimed runs in London's West End and Broadway, 'The Seafarer' is set in present day Dublin and explores the demons in the lives of broken men. In the midst of this raucous tale of drinking, craic and card playing is a tender story of a family and of redemption. This superb production by The College Players, opened to standing ovations.

Admission: €10

THE SOUND OF ANGELS

Sian Croose Choral event plus Big Sky Choir

The climax to this year's festival theme Voice, brings together a large chorus of singers from East Clare and beyond. Under the expert tutelage of UK based musical director and community choir coordinator Sian Croose, the singers having spent three days of intense rehearsal, will present a musical extravaganza of over 70 voices. Sian's highly accomplished 20 strong choir 'Big Sky' (Norwich, UK) will also perform. As part of the programme they will join with local singers to perform songs from around the world, many in multi part harmony. A spectacular evening, guaranteed to be long remembered....don't miss it!

Admission: €5 (under 12s free)

EXTRAVAGANZA SPECTACULAR

Bran the Blessed

Small World Theatre

A magnificent afternoon event at Mountshannon Harbour. Small World Theatre from Wales are bringing with them Bran the Blessed, a huge 30ft puppet, the biggest ever human powered giant in the world! Bran is an ancient Welsh hero as well as a mythological god of bards and poetry. The son of the Celtic god Llyr, Bran is said to have brought Christianity to Britain following his captivity in Rome. There are many tales of Bran's links with Ireland, where he met his death fighting alongside Irish princes, and his body scattered far and wide across the land. Bran is now returning to heal the ancient rifts, by building an arc across the world, and to unite people with a spectacular event of street theatre, and giant tricycles pulling parts of his body down to the harbor where his head arrives fresh from the lake by boat, still talking! The Healing of Bran is accompanied by our own Lough Derg singers and children from local schools taking part in this fantastical event...Not to be missed! The event will begin in the village park at approx 3pm, with a parade of mime, and street theatre leading down to the harbor.

Admission: Free

FESTIVAL BAND NIGHT

The North Strand Kontra Band

plus Ruaille Buaille DJs

A much anticipated return from our Dublin friends who had us dancing in the streets a couple of years ago, the North Strand Kontra Band have been playing their own unique blend of balkan / klezmer music around Ireland & abroad for the last five years. They're a 7 piece instrumental band who play an upbeat mix of original and traditional material influenced predominantly by the music of Romania and Bulgaria, all the while incorporating elements of funk & drum & bass to make things a little more interesting, & lively!

Admission: €10

FAMILY DAY

Mad Hatter's Tea Party

You are invited to join in the fun of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Create your own Mad Hat and Fantasy Cake. Play life-size Chess, Croquet, Teacups and Roses Relays. Face painting, pony rides, Tall Tale Teller Eddie Lenihan, Irish dancers and Riverdance workshop. Alice in Wonderland music by The Swell Berries. Come in your Maddest Fancy Dress! Donations in aid of Mountshannon N.S. to the Cheshire Cat. Fantastical Crazy Sculptural Cake competition. Bring your own 'Crazy Cake Creation' to enter and win a prize of a meal for two at the Cherry Tree Restaurant, Ballina. Cake Auction of the best 3 cakes and Cake Eating at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party Table!
Enquires: Molly or Fiona at 086 8980356.

Admission Free