To mark the 17th
festival commemorating the traditional legacy of the Russell
family from Doolin, the Russell Memorial Committee put
together an exciting programme of events for a weekend
of music and entertainment from Friday 25th to
Monday 28th of February 2011.
Open House
The
festival opened on Friday 25th with a concert at 8-00pm
in the Russell Cultural Centre featuring our local talented
musicians both young and old. Admission was free.
The Russell Concert
which took place on Saturday 26th Feb between 2pm and 4-30pm
in the Russell Cultural Centre
included an impressive array of talented muicians, singers,
and dancers. It featureed Singer Matt Keane from Caherlistrane,
Roscommon duo Patsy Hanly (Flute) and Pauline Hanly (Singer);
from Bell Harbour, the renowned concertina player Chris
Drooney with Francis Droney and Ann McGrath; joining Roscommon
fiddle and banjo player John Carty was Leitrim man Brian
Rooney on fiddle and accordion; Breda Keville (Fiddle) was
joined by Cormac Cannon (Uillean Pipes); Padraic and Gerard
Devaney (Dancers); Celine Hession Dancers; From Sligo Carmel
Gunning (Tin Whistle). Compere was Tipperary-born singer
Dick Hogan.
On Sunday the 27th
Feb at 1pm the Anniversary Remembrance Mass for the Russells
took place at Doolin Church to the accompaniment of hymns
and songs from the Doolin church choir. It was followed
by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Russell grave, with songs
of farewell and tunes in memory of the dead.
Russell
Music
Russell Music events
this year continued to focus on the music, song, and instrumentation
heritage of the Russells with three music recitals beginning
with a music recital in McGann's Pub on Saturday 26 Feb
at 11am .
On Sunday Feb 27th
there were two recitals at 10-30am in McDermott's Pub and
O'Connor's Pub. Admission was free to both recitals.
There was a traditional
singing recital as usual on Saturday 26th Feb at 5pm
in the O'Gorman Room, Russell Cultural Centre, Adm Free
Set
Dancing
Set dancing was held
at 3pm on Sunday 28th at the Function Room in Hotel Doolin,
music by Peter Griffin and the Four Courts Céilí Band.
Music
Workshops
Workshops were provided
in the a variety of instruments from
10am - 12 noon on Sat 26th and Sun 27th February.
Music
Sessions
Events for the weekend
also included the Monday night (Feb 28th) "festival
wrap-up" sessions and there were many informal live
music sessions throughout the weekend in Doolin’s pubs and
hotels.
