EAMONN CEANNT - Galwayman, traditional musician, Republican leader, signatory of the 1916 Proclamation - will be commemorated and celebrated as part of The Galway Sessions 2016 festival.
The festival, the city's annual celebration of Irish folk and trad, runs from June 12 to 19 and will feature a 1916 National Commemoration Event, Remembering Eamonn Ceannt.
Ceannt was heavily involved in the Gaelic revival of the early 20th century and in particular with organisations such as Conradh na Gaeilge and Cumann na Piobairí. He was a founder member of Cumann na Piobairí in 1900 and served as its secretary. His wife Aine O’Brennan was treasurer of the organisation.
The focus of the 2016 festival is, naturally, on pipes and pipers and pays tribute to Ceannt's work in reviving interest in the instrument. The highlight will be a special memorial concert at the Town Hall Theatre on Wednesday June 15, featuring Liam O'Flynn, Ronan Browne, and fiddlers Sean Keane of The Chieftains and Paddy Glackin.
There will also be a performance of a newly composed memorial piece by Dave Flynn entitled ‘Calmly Awaiting the End’, specially commissioned for the occasion by the Galway City Arts Office and Galway Music Residency. It will be performed by piper Mick O’Brien and the ConTempo Quartet.
Other events include a lunchtime lecture series at Galway City Museum; shows at the Róisín Dubh with folk sensations Lynched and Lunasa; Scottish singer and two time BBC Folk Award winner Julie Fowlis in concert on Friday June 17 at 8pm; and the re-enactment of the famous 1913 Oireachtas photograph at the Town Hall Theatre.
The festival concludes with a free event in Eyre Square on Sunday June 19 at 3pm, with a performance by the Eamonn Ceannt Quartet - Tommy Keane, Marion McCarthy, Peadar Giles ,and Cormac Cannon; rebel songs will be performed by Don Stiffe, Greg Cotter and Eamon O’Broithe; and music from Scottish and Irish pipe bands.The festival will be officially launched in The Crane Bar, Sea Road, on Saturday May 21 at 3pm. See www.galwaysessions.com
