Conamara Bog Week

Music, Cycling & Madness at Conamara Bog Week ?10

Letterfrack May 28th to June 7th

In the Quaker village of Letterfrack the annual Conamara Bog Week 2010 festival starts Friday May 28th and finishes Bank Holiday Monday June 7th. This is the 26th year of the festival and the organisers Conamara Environmental Education and Cultural Centre are promising an exciting line up as usual.

This is a multi layered festival which attempts to provide spaces for expression for various interests in the community embracing young and old, sporting, cultural and artistic. The whole festival is wrapped in the very best of trad music and there is a great line up of musicians to join in the festivities ? Sean Tyrell, Conor Keane , Johnny Connolly, Liam Lewis, Don Stiff, Mary Staunton, Yvonne Kane, Marcus Hernon, Maire Keane, Liz Kane, The Devaney Brothers, Pat Eade, Angelina Carberry, Daire O?Neill, Patsy Broderick, Edel Fox, John O?Halloran, Emma O?Sullivan, Mary Finn, Peter Guy, Festy Homburger, Michael McNamara, Danny Brouder, Gerry Whelan, Marie Walsh, Eilin Ni Mhaille and a host of young players who will be most welcome.

Conamara Bog Week 2010 opens Friday 28th May with a schools programme for national schools; a visit by Letterfrack NS to the Ballinakill Active Age Club where the younger generation of musicians and dancers will entertain their older friends. An exhibition entitled ?A Walk in the Peatlands? opens in Conamara National Park Letterfrack at 8.00pm, various artists established and emerging, present anonymously and all works sell at E70.00, all are welcome, and it will also feature some young talented musicians, singers and dancers in what promises to be a most memorable night. The fun continues with 'Oiche Chonamara' in Molly?s Bar with an exciting line up which will include Johnny Connolly - melodeon, Liz Kane -fiddle and the Devaney Brothers. In the Renvyle Inn Yvonne Kane - fiddle will be joined by Edel Fox - concertina, Angelina Carberry ? banjo and Emma O'Sullivan - sean nos dancer. Both events start at 9.45pm.

Saturday morning kicks off with a set of music workshops featuring all instruments in Letterfrack NS at 11.30a.m. ? 3.30p.m. followed by an afternoon session in The Bards Den in which all the players will strut their stuff: The workshops are with Liz & Yvonne Kane - fiddle; Marie Walsh - box; Noreen O'Sullivan - whistle and Clare Keville -concertina. To book contact Leo 085 1154629. Later that evening there will be the opening of an important art exhibition entitled 'The Lost Boys' by well known internationally acclaimed artist Hardy Langer. This is a reflection of the troubled history of Letterfrack?s Industrial School. The exhibition opens at 7.30pm in the building opposite the Monastery Hostel. Later, at 9.45pm in the Bards Den, there will be a session of music and dance with Johnny O?Halloran - box, Gerry Whelan - banjo and Emma O'Sullivan - sean nos dancer.

Sunday is a very sporting day which will challenge everybody from 4 to 84 to get out there and do their thing. The Conamara Bog Week Fun Run - a 5km sponsored race from Tullycross to Letterfrack - begins at 2.30pm. You can run, jump, skip or hop but please take part as all monies raised go to FORUM for youth projects in the region, so please grab a sponsorship card from either FORUM of Letterfrack NS. The day continues with a 'fun sports' with lots of novelty events, jockey back races, three legged races, miniature golf, throwing horse shoes as well as penalty shoot out and a clatter of short races. A Car Boot Sale will also take place in Letterfrack from 2.00 to 5.00pm. Music in Molly's Bar at 5.00pm with Patsy Broderick - keyboards and Danny Brouder - box. A great day for all the family.

Throughout the week there will be a vibrant school?s programme with a great team including Gordon Darcy - ecologist/artist; Michael Jacob - ecologist with a special interest in bogs and Clare Murphy - storyteller extraordinaire. Children will be enthused, excited and put in touch with the magic of Conamara

The Bank Holiday weekend has some great music starting on Friday night in Mollys Bar at 9.45pm with Sean Tyrell - mandochello/vocals and Liam Lewis - fiddle, two of Ireland's finest performers. And, in The Renvyle Inn a might session with Mary Finn - box, Michael McNamara - box and Pat Eade guitar/vocals.

On Saturday evening at 7.30pm we will have the annual Monastery Hostel Gig featuring this year the amazing voices of Mary Staunton ? box/guitar/vocals and Don Stiff ? guitar/vocals. Candlelit dinner and a warm and welcoming atmosphere make this a special evening. Fee ?20 ? contact Stephen on 41132.

The Bards Den: 9.45pm with Conor Kane - box, Maire Kane - flute, Daire O'Neill - flute and a scatter of friends

Sunday starts with the Conamara Walkabout at 10.00am. A unique walk in the company of poets, painters, scientists and musicians, a slow meander through this magical landscape. Meeting at Letterfrack NS.

Badminton Bonanza contact Brendan Ridge 41181.

Sean nos Workshops in Ellis Hall 4.00pm with the mighty Devaney Brothers followed by a session in Molly's Bar at 5.00pm with the wonderful Hernon family. An afternoon of great music and dancing.

Mol an Oige Concert with over 100 young people, from all over Conamara, performing in Letterfrack Church at 8.30pm. Tickets E10. All proceeds to a special fund for the making of a CD featuring a host of young players from all over Conamara.

The final trad session - The Bards Den 9.45pm with Marie Walsh - box, Eilin Ni Mhaille - banjo with some of Conamara's finest young players, a night to remember.

Bank Holiday Monday will see Brendan Ridge and his team organising the annual Conamara Bog Week Soccer Tournament for primary schools. Visiting players are welcome. Letterfrack NS 11.00am. Contact Brendan 41181.

And don?t forget the Cycle Races on May 22nd (65km) and May 23rd (85km). For details contact John James on 087 9120910 or log onto www.westernlakescc.com

For further information contact Leo Hallissey C.E.E.C.C., Letterfrack, Co. Galway.
Phone No.s: +353 (0)95 41034 or 43443.
Mobile: +353 (0)85 1154629
Email:lfrack@eircom.net and Website http://www.ceecc.org