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The
Russell Memorial Weekend 2010
Feb 26th -Mar 1st
To mark the 16th festival
commemorating the enormous traditional legacy of the Russell
family from Doolin, the Russell Memorial Committee has put
together an exciting programme of events for a weekend of
music and entertainment from Friday 26th to Sunday
28th of February 2010.
Open
House - support Haiti Appeal
The
festival opens on Friday 26th with a concert at 8-00pm in
the Russell Cultural Centre featuring an array of talent from
young and old local musicians. In lieu of an admission fee
the audience is asked to support the Haiti Earthquake
appeal; all monies received on the night will go
to this worthy cause, so please support.
Russell
Concert - Fuaim
Chonamara
The
Russell Concert on Saturday 27th Feb taking place between
2pm and 4-30pm will see the sensational traditional music
entertainment, Fuaim Chonamara (Connemara
Sound) perform on stage in the Russell Cultural Centre.
The star of Fuaim Chonamara
is Brian Cunningham. Brian is also the director
of the show. In Fuaim Chonamara he and a talented group of
young musicians including several members of his own family
weave music, song, story, and dance together in an inspiring
epic about Ireland’s oldest dance form, Sean Nós.
The distinctive music tradition of Connemara lies at the heart
of the show and in each performer’s ability to entertain
both instrumentally and vocally. From packed houses and sell-out
shows in Galway, Mayo, Donegal, and Dublin, this inspiring
new show comprises of five members of the Ó
Cuinneagáin (Cunningham) family: Irene, Ashline,
Lorraine, Micheál and Brian performing sean nós
with some of Ireland's best known and loved entertainers and
musicians.
The
concert will be followed by a wine and food reception for
all attending. Tickets €20 at the door. (Doors open at 1pm)
On Sunday the 28th 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 continues to focus on the
music, song, and instrumentation heritage of the Russells
with three music recitals. Angela Crotty and Friends are
in McGann's Pub on Saturday 27 Feb at 11am . Adm Free.
On Sunday Feb 28th there
are two recitals at 10-30am. Frank Custy and Friends are in
McDermott's Pub, while Noel O'Donoghue and friends are in
O'Connor's Pub. Admission is free to both recitals.
There is a traditional singing recital
on Saturday 27th Feb at 5pm
in the O'Gorman Room, Russell Cultural
Centre, Adm Free
Set dancing will be
held at 3pm on Sunday 28th at the Function Room in Hotel Doolin,
music by Peter Griffin and the Four Courts Céilí Band. Tickets
€10 at the door.
Workshops in several instruments will
take place on the morning of Sat 27th and Sun 28th February
2010 from 10-30am to 12-30pm each day. Workshop Registration
is on Saturday Feb 27th at 10am in the Russell Cultural
Centre. For information and to register please contact Buddy
on 085 2807578.
Events for the weekend
would not be complete without the Monday night (March 1st)
"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, and Smithwicks in making the
Russell Memorial Weekend 2010 possible.
Details of festival
events and concert appearances will be announced as they become
available. Last updated Feb 25, 2010.
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Further Information:
email: info@michorussellweekend.ie
or telephone +353 (0)65- 7074595, 7074168, 7074328, 7074133,085
2807578
Photos of Micho Russell © Ilsa Thielan
2010, © Micho Russell Memorial Weekend Committee, Doolin, Co.
Clare, Ireland 2010
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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, etc.
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 facilitated here.
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