July/August
Friday (29/7/2011)
- Official start with the “seven masters/Heroes”
- 7 masters in form of giant puppets representing the 7 disciplines.
- Simple Dramatical enactment symbolizing the initiation of the Festival.
- Céilí on the Street in Cúil Aodha
- Set Dancing night in the Abbey Hotel
- Sessions in the local pubs as required.
Saturday (30/7/2011)
10:00am | Program of archive films of local material. (For centuries, the area has been a Mecca for folklore and music collectors) |
2:00pm | Forum on Sean Ó Riada’s legacy including intimate memories of him. (Panel of speakers to include his friends and contemporaries locally) |
4:00pm | Liturgical concert in Séipeal Chuil Aodha with Choir from Maynooth seminarians and Cór Chúil Aodha. |
7:30pm | Vespers in Séipéal Chuil Aodha with the priests and seminarians of Maynooth |
8:00pm | 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, sports-people, artists, community leaders and changers of lives stream at home and around the world) Reception afterwards community teas, songs and stories in the Arus.Céilí Abbey Hotel, Sessions in pubs. |
Sunday (31/7/2011)
11:00am | Mass with Cúil Aodha choir broadcast on radio worldwide and streamed on Internet. Music composed by Seán Ó Riada 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. |
12:00am | The ‘pilgrimage” to Cathair Crobh Dearg and back leaves Cúil Aodha. 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 with the finishing point at the main event field in Cúil Aodha. |
2:00pm | Our place of work (Director Pádraig Ó hAoláin –ex CEO Údarás na Gaeltachta) 2:00pm The small industrial unit, its role in Irish society today and its development in the future here. High tech/ highspec/ High quality/ High Craft. Low pollution/low intrusion/low dependence. |
4:30pm | “Tabhacht na Meithile san lá inniu.” A lecture and Q and A on the role of community work-groups in today’s Ireland and the World as we start the second decade of a new millennium. |
An Aeríocht
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 Sulán river, the only male river in Ireland. (catering, seating and refreshments etc. on site) There will be a small stage / pavilion in the centre facing the setting sun.
8:00pm | The gathering of artists for parading to the Venue |
8:30pm | Parade of the Artists in their disciplines (Aosdana, Acadamh Fodhla, Universities etc invited to participate) Parade led by bands etc led by the Irish Army band (other bands invited and all bands welcome.) |
9:15pm | 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. |
9:21pm | Sunset at site release of Lanterns etc |
9:30pm | 60 minute sequence from the storytellers and raconteurs (This includes the journalists as the modern day equivalent) |
10:30pm | Pavilion turned northwards some degrees. |
10:45pm | Sequence of the poets |
11:45pm | Pavilion turned clockwise/sun-wise some degrees |
12:00am | Sequence of the actors |
1:00am | Pavilion turned clockwise/sun-wise some degrees. |
1:15am | Sequence of the dancers. |
2:15am | Pavilion turned clockwise/sun-wise some degrees. |
2:30am | Sequence of the singers. |
3:30am | Pavilion turned clockwise/sun-wise some degrees. |
3:45am | Sequence of the musicians. |
5:00am | Final turning of Pavilion and readying of glass lenses and Torch/beacon. |
5:21am | Sunrise. Combined youth and other orchestras play Mise Éíre to the rising sun which the pavilion is now facing. The suns rays (weather permitting) used to light Torch/Beacon. Some minor celebration and Tea, toast and jam etc Disperse |
Monday Lá Lughnasa (1/8/2011)
12:00pm | Lecture in Memory of John Moriarty (philosopher) “Invoking Ireland”. |
2:00pm | Lecture in memory of Seán Ó Riada “ I gCuimhne Sheáin Uí Riada”.Sessions in local establishments |
12:00pm | With a flare, Sounding of Horns and flag waving the big “Cluiche Caid” (Ancient form of Gaelic football) |
2:00 | Hurling Event. |
There will be puppet shows and clowns and side shows available and placed around Cúil Aodha and Baile Mhuirne at suitable spaces for the day. |
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
10:00am | “The future of Ireland” a conference of futurologists on where-to Ireland in the next 7 years? Session 1 industrially, administratively (including the launch of the proceedings of the August Symposium on small industry) |
12:30pm | Lunch / break |
2:00pm | Opening of exhibition on the August Festival (in various art forms) |
3:00pm | Session 2 Talk The Future of Ireland Culturally |
7:00pm | Concert of Liturgical music – Monks of Glenstall and Cór Chúil Aodha in Séipéal Chúil Aodha. |
9:00pm | Céilí in Arus Mhic Shuibhne, Set Dancing in Abbey Hotel. |
Sessions in pubs. |
Sunday 2/10/2011
11:00am | 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) |
2:00pm | Farwell to Lughansa ceremony starts in Hall (Cuil Aodha) |
2:15pm | Storytellers |
2:30pm | Poets |
2:45pm | Actors |
3:00pm | Dancers |
3:15pm | Musicians |
3:30pm | Singers |
3:45pm | Sportspeople |
Finish at 4:00pm | Announcement that this event will be next held in seven years in 2018 |
An Coirm / The Concert
8:30pm | 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
11:00am | Quiet and short laying of wreath ceremony on the grave of Seán by Ruth Ó Riada |