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The
Russell Memorial Weekend 2012
Feb 24th - 27th 2012
To mark the 18th festival
commemorating the traditional legacy of the Russell family
from Doolin, the Russell Memorial Committee is putting together
an exciting programme of events for a weekend of music and
entertainment from Friday 24th to Monday 27th of
February 2012.
The
festival opens on Friday 24th with a concert at 8-00pm in
the Russell Cultural Centre featuring music, song & dance
by local and national talent.
Kilnaboy natives Siobhán & Úna Hogan’s
will launch their debut CD, “The Blue-Eyed Rascal”.
Great night guaranteed. Russell Cultural Centre. Admission
is free and all are welcome.
The
highlight of the festival is the Russell Concert which takes
place on Saturday 25th Feb between 2pm and 4-30pm in the Russell
Cultural Centre. This year's line
up features award-winning singer Seán Keane
from Caherlistrane, Galway. Seán Keane plays with his
band Análú. The concert also includes performances
from three of Ireland’s most gifted musicians Darragh,
Michael and Sinead Healy and world champion sean
nós dancer, Liam Scanlon.
The concert will be
followed by a food and wine reception. Tickets €20 at the
door. (Doors open at 1-30pm)
On Sunday the 26th Feb
at 1 pm the Anniversary Remembrance Mass for the Russells
will take place at Doolin Church to the accompaniment of hymns
and songs from the Doolin church choir. It will be followed
by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Russell grave, with songs
of farewell and tunes in memory of the dead.
Russell Music events
this year continue to focus on the music, song, and instrumentation
heritage of the Russells. (Details to be announced)
Recitals begin on Saturday
25th Feb at 11-30am with music recitals in McGann's Pub and
Hotel Doolin. Adm Free.
On Sunday Feb 26th there
are two recitals at 11-30am. Recitals will take place in McDermott's
Pub and O'Connor's Pub. Admission is free to both recitals.
Following the Russell
concert there is the ever popular informal traditional
singing recital on Saturday 25th Feb at 5pm in the O'Gorman
Room, Russell Cultural Centre, All welcome. Adm Free.
Set dancing will be
held at 3pm on Sunday 27th at the Function Room in Hotel Doolin,
music by Peter Griffin and the Four Courts Céilí Band. Tickets
€10 at the door. Refreshments served.
Saturday
& Sunday Workshops
Workshops
take place on Sat 25th and Sun 26th between 10-30am
- 12-30pm in the following instruments:
- Concertina: Terry Bingham - McDermott’s
pub in Lynch’s Lounge
- Concert Flute & Tin Whistle: Christy
Barry - O’Connor’s Pub
- Fiddle: James Cullinan
- Cullinan’s Restaurant
& Guesthouse
Workshop Registration is
at the venue. The cost is €15 per session. For information
and to register please contact Adrian & Bev O'Connor (065)
7074595 or mobile 087 1254858.
Events for the weekend
would not be complete without the Monday night (Feb 27th)
"festival wrap-up" sessions and indeed the many
informal live music sessions that continue throughout the
weekend in Doolin’s pubs and hotels.
The
Russell Memorial Weekend Committee acknowledges the financial
support of the Arts Council in making the Russell Memorial
Weekend 2012 possible.
Details of festival
events and concert appearances will be announced as they become
available. Last updated Jan 27, 2012. |
Further Information:
email: info@michorussellweekend.ie
or telephone +353 (0)65- 7074595, 7074168, 7074328, 7074133,085
2807578
Photos of Micho Russell © Ilsa Thielan
2011, © Micho Russell Memorial Weekend Committee, Doolin, Co.
Clare, Ireland 2011
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The annual traditional festival held in Doolin falling
on the last full weekend in February is a
remembrance ceremony to the Russell family,
Micho
Packie and
Gussie
Russell, the world-famous traditional musicians.
The festival began in 1995 as a remembrance
ceremony to Micho Russell, one of Ireland's best known and loved
the traditional musicians, who died in 1994.
In 2006 the festival was renamed the Russell Memorial Weekend in
memory of the three Russell brothers.
The weekend festival is now firmly
established on the traditional festival calendar as one of the
earliest festivals of the year. It also hosts some of the best of
traditional entertainment and attracts musicians from around the
country.
The theme throughout the weekend is one of
celebration as the new and vibrant music talents attract the growing
audience for traditional music. There is also a hint of nostalgia
for visitors and locals alike as they revisit and relive the heyday
of Doolin in the 1960s and 1970s in music sessions taking place in
the public houses and hotels.
The highlight of the festival is the concert on
Saturday afternoon. The concert has a unique and spontaneous
atmosphere, which often includes surprise guest appearances.
Recent performers include: Liam Óg O Flynn, Joe
Burke, Seamus Tansey, Bobby Gardiner, John Carty, Kieran Hanrahan,
Coir Cúil Aodh, Tony McMahon, Christy Barry, and many more.
On Sunday, an annual anniversary mass is held at
Doolin Church in memory of the many musicians who have passed away,
followed by a wreath-laying service at the Russell grave in Doolin
Cemetery.
Events throughout the weekend take place in
the Russell Cultural Centre, a facility with community
hall and meeting rooms completed in 2000. Festival exhibitions,
lectures, poetry readings, stage performances, workshops, and receptions
are generally facilitated here.
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