Drama, heritage, and musical events for all ages will take place in Coole this week as part of the Coole Spring Cultural Programme.
On Saturday Cups and Crowns present A Stitch in Time. Cups and Crowns tell you the story of a young hero called Grace and her search for an old hat in the most fantastical place. Directed by Nora Nic Con Ultaigh and devised by Eileen Gibbons, Gillian Kelly, and Fiona McDonagh, this is aimed for children aged seven to 11. A Stitch in Time takes place from 2pm to 3pm and booking is essential.
The local history publications course continues on Monday January 26 from 8pm to 10pm. This course provides participants with an introduction to local history and how to go about producing a local history publication. Speakers include both local and national experts in their fields. It is intended to present best practice in the production of a local history publication for both individuals and community groups.
Last week Dr Miriam Moffitt, lecturer in local history studies, NUI Maynooth, introduced the study of local history. On Monday next the topic is researching and sources available at Galway County Library, with lectures by Maureen Moran, executive librarian, Galway County Library, and Patria McWalter, archivist, Galway County Council.
The course is an action of Galway County Heritage Plan 2004-2008. Contact Coole Park to check for availability on this course.
On Thursday January 29 Prehistoric Music Ireland presents Sounds Ancient. Simon and Maria O’Dwyer of Prehistoric Music Ireland will perform a recital/presentation featuring the prehistoric, Celtic, and early medieval musical instruments of Ireland. Their instruments range from late Bronze Age horns to the great Celtic trumpas of the middle Iron Age and on to woodwind instruments of early Christianity. Taking 3,000 years of Irish musical instrumentation as their base and 15 years of research, Simon and Maria O’Dwyer recreate the ancient sounds as they play a selection of traditional and new pieces of music on their selection of replica horns, trumpas, bone and stone flutes and whistles. The audience will be taken on an extraordinary journey into the musical past. The event will take place in Coole Park Visitors’ Centre from 8pm to 9pm.
These events mark the start of the forthcoming Spring 2009 Cultural Programme at Coole Park. All events are free. The aim of the programme is to integrate arts, culture, heritage, and education with a series of events for adults, young people, and families. A programme of events can be downloaded from www.coolepark.ie Contact Coole Park Visitors’ Centre at (091 ) 631804 for details on any of these events.
