Lughnasa – Féile na Laoch
“Ag cuimhneamh ar Sheán Ó Riada”
The Festival
Friday: (29/7/2011) Official start with the “seven masters/Heroes”
Parade from Cross an Mhurnach Bhig where embers of Sean Ó Riada’s hearth will be used to light the Torch.
Torch and flag bearers and various bits of street theatre will process to Cuil Aodha where decendants of the Ó Loinsigh Family will raise the Festival flag and beacon.
Fear an Tí – Páidí Ó Lionáird
Open air Ceili in Clós an tSéipéil and refreshments, Cúil Aodha.
Set Dancing night in the Abbey Hotel Striolán Céilí Band
Sessions in the local Pubs.
Saturday: 30/7/2011
10:00 Program of archive films of local material. (For centuries, the area has been a Meca for folklore and music collectors)
Curator Dónal Ó Ceilleachair. It is a good idea to book seats (free) as there are limited numbers available
2:00 Forum on Sean Ó Riada’s legacy including intimate memories of him. (Panel of speakers to include his friends and contempories locally)
Chairman Páidí Ó Lionáird
Location Abbey Hotel
2:00 Muscraighe Minor Tournament sponsored by Cuman Naomh Abán. 6 Muscrai teams compete. Páirc Coláiste Íosagáin.
3:00 Honda Fifty and vintage car fancy dress rally Baile Mhic Ire- Baile Mhuirne.
4:00 Liturgical concert in Séipeal Chuil Aodha with Choir from Maynooth seminarians and Cór Chúil Aodha.
7:30 Vespers Séipéal Chúil Aodha Choir and staff of the Seminary, Saint Patricks College Maynooth
8:00 Cruinniú na Laoch. An photographic exhibition opening in Arus Eamon Mac Suibhne. (Old photographs/pictures of the Heroes Past of the people and the area – poets, singers, revolutionaries, historical figures, sportspeople, artists, community leaders and changers of lives stream at home and around the world)
Fear an Tí – Seán Óg Ó Duinín
Showing of film “Memory of a People”
Songs and tunes.
Reception afterwards.
Céilí Abbey Hotel, Deenagh Ceilí Band
Sessions in pubs.
Sunday 31st July
11:00 Mass – (Aifreann1 Seán Ó Riada) Cúil Aodha (broadcast on radio worldwide and streamed on Internet).
Cór Chúil Aodha invites representative forces from Maynooth Seminary to join them in singing the Mass first publicly performed outside Cúil Aodha in 1967 in Maynooth with the then Professor of History an t-Ollamh Monsignor Tómás Ó Fiach. Ceiliuraí – An t-Athair Dónal Ó Briain.
12:00 The ‘pilgrimage” to Cathair Crobh Dearg and back leaves Cúil Aodha. Led by Seán Ó Croinín. (aprox 5 hours)
This is a journey on foot over land up to the mountains called Dhá Cíoch Danainn (The Paps – associated with the Tuatha Dé Danainn and last place of pagan worship in Ireland) and Cathair Crobh Dearg which are associated with the ancient Festival of Lughnasa.
Meeting at the Flag Stand Cúil Aodha.
2:00 A meeting conference the work and place of work in the future.
“Tabhacht na Meithile san lá inniu” Where and what jobs will there be in the near future? What changes are hapening now? What role of community work-groups in today’s Ireland and the World as we start the second decade of a new millennium. Talks and Q and A session. Speakers include Trevor Sargent, Ted O Sullivan and various industry and community leaders.
An Aeríocht
Park and ride in effect with carparking spaces in Baile Mhuirne. Traffic restrictions in place. Bus shuttle service from Baile Mhuirne to Cuil Aodha. As it is an outside event and all night affair, warm clothing is recommended.
8:30 the gathering of artists for parading to the Venue. Seipéal Cúil Aodha.
The Venue – is an outdoor field in the Cuil Aodha glen where the Tuatha Dé Danan made their last stand against the Celts. It is on the banks of the Sulan river, the only male river in Ireland. (catering, seating and refreshments etc. on site) There will be a small stage / pavilion in the center facing the setting sun.
8:30 Parade of the Artists in their disciplines
Parade led by Irish Army band of the Southern Command. (other bands invited and all bands welcome.)
9:15 The release of Chinese lanterns into the dusk skies with wishes and evocations. System of pre-ordering one’s own lantern etc available on website in the months beforehand. They are also available in the Festival shop in Cuil Aodha during the course of the weekend up to 7:00 on Sunday evening. (The Lanterns will be handled by specific staff only)
9:21 Sunset at site release of Lanterns etc
9:30 60 minute sequence from the Poets
10:30 Pavilion turned northwards some degrees.
10:45 Sequence of the Actors
11:45 Pavilion turned clockwise/sun-wise some degrees
12:00 Sequence of the Reacairí
1:00 Pavilion turned clockwise/sun-wise some degrees
1:15 Sequence of the dancers
2:15 Pavilion turned clockwise/sun-wise some degrees
2:30 Sequence of the singers
3:30 Pavilion turned clockwise/sun-wise some degrees
3:45 Sequence of the musicians
5:00 Final turning of Pavilion and readying of glass lenses and Torch/beacon
5:21 Sunrise. Orchestra plays Mise Éíre sequence to the rising sun which the pavilion is now facing.
The horns call and the Sporting Heroes arriver down the mountain and display 7 skills as mentioned in the Fiannaíochta and Ruaraíocht lays and stories of old. Disperse
Luan Lá Lughnasa 1/8/2011
12:00 Lecture in Memory of John Moriarty (philosopher) “Invoking Ireland” An File Gabriel FitzMaurice.
Location: Abbey Hotel
2:00 Lecture in memory of Seán Ó Riada “ I gCuimhne Sheáin Uí Riada” An Dochtúir Mícheál Ó Suilleabháín
Location: Abbey Hotel
Sessions in local establishments
October
Friday 30/9/2011 Start of wind down of Festival with
Reception in Arus Éamon Mac Suibhne.
Official listing of all festivals and events that took/will happen, during the year. Ceremony of Awards / recognition to people who have done much to further Irish Culture during the last seven years. Low key song, story and musical evening in informal concert.
Saturday 1/10/2011
10:00 “The future of Ireland” a conference of futurologists on where-to Ireland in the next 7 years? Tomás Ó hAodha (director Imbolc Festival in charge)
Session 1 industrially, administratively (including the launch of the proceedings of the August Symposium on small industry)
12:30 Lunch / break
2:00 Opening of exhibition on the August Festival (in various art forms)
3:00 Session 2 Talk The Future of Ireland Culturally
7:00 Concert of Liturgical music – Monks of Glenstall and Cór Chúil Aodha in Séipéal Chúil Aodha.
9:00 Céilí in Arus Mhic Shuibhne, Set Dancing in Abbey Hotel. Sessions in pubs.
Sunday 2/10/2011
11:00 Aifreann 2
Commemorative Mass (Aifreann 2) broadcast worldwide on radio. Cór Cúil Aodha invites the Monks of GlenStall to join them in singing Sean Ó Riada’s second Mass originally commissioned by Glenstall Monastery in 1969 (Streamed on internet)
2:00 Farwell to Lughansa ceremony starts in Hall (Cuil Aodha)
2:15 Storytellers 2:30 Poets 2:45 Actors 3:00 dancers 3:15 Musicians 3:30 Singers 3:45 Sportpeople finish at 4:00 with announcement that this event will be next held in seven years in 2018
An Coirm / The Concert
8:30 Major and only concert – Árus Eamon Mac Suibhne, finishing 12:45 stroke of bell to mark time of passing of Sean Ó Riada and the singing of the final parting song by all. Closing sequence and quenching of torch
Monday morning 3/10/2011
11:00 Quite and short laying of wreath ceremony on the grave of Seán an Ruth Ó Riada
