Folklife, curated by Culture Works, is an outdoor multi-disciplinary and artist residency programme of inclusive and engaging arts events and interventions.
The programme takes its inspiration from The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life Collection, the natural beauty of Turlough Park and the Great Western Greenway (Castlebar to Turlough ). Aibréan events will take place on April 28 and 30.
In keeping with the recent celebration of Imbolc, Aibréan marks the halfway point between the spring equinox and summer solstice, the liminal space between spring and summer when we come together to, once again, celebrate the changing seasons.
Art of the Word
Day one of the event will take place on Thursday April 28 from 6pm to 8pm. Commencing at National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, they celebrate the Art of the Word and Poetry Day Ireland, taking to the Western Greenway for a poetry trail which will feature some of Mayo’s and Ireland's finest minstrels and poets. Taking place "faoin spéir" - in the open, where you will hear some new poems of spring and hopefulness, songs and music. Experience the words of poets Terry McDonagh, Ger Reidy, Geraldine Mitchell, Sasha Terfous and Nithy Kasa as they pop up along the Greenway. Accompanying the poets along the way will be piper Diarmuid Moynihan, singer/songwriter Tony Reidy, harpist Laoise Kelly and percussionists Robbie Harris and friends. Take the walk, stop along the way and return to the museum with us for complimentary hot drinks and a poetic grand finale.
Aibreán
Day two will take place on Saturday April 30 from 9pm to 11pm. Join in at 8.30pm as we gather to celebrate the arrival of Bealtaine and the beginning of summer. Work created during the Folklife residencies will be presented over the course of the evening. Since January, artists in residence Jane Cassidy and Breda Burns have been working with Mayo Artsquad to explore ancestral knowledge, human connection with natural cycles and the traditions of our past.
These new collaborative works together with a commissioned work by artist, John Conway will be revealed on the evening of 30th April. Conway’s Folklife commissions are informed by his visits to the NMI - Country Life and will take the form of light-filled installations.
Also, on the evening of the 30th April, poet and musician Seamus Barra O'Suilleabháin will present a newly commissioned, contemporary "take" on the works of Ó'Raifteirí an File. A professional performance by Mayo Youth Choir led by Eriko Uehara Hopkinson and a concert by the critically acclaimed folk band, Landless will take place over the course of the evening. Landless is Ruth Clinton, Meabh Meir, Sinead Lynch and Lily Power and this will be their first visit to the National Museum of Ireland - Country Life.
Events are free but ticketed. Bookings will open on Monday, April 11 via Eventbrite. To receive notification of tickets, follow us on Mayo Arts Service Eventbrite.
Folklife is funded by the Arts Council through the Faoin Spéir/In the Open 2021 - 2022 nationwide programme and locally by Mayo County Council Arts Service, The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, The Linenhall Arts Centre and Mayo Artsquad.
