County Clare’s symbol of The Gathering Ireland 2013 will make its first official appearance at a Gathering event today when it is put on display during The Concertina Cruinniú in Miltown Malbay.
The Olympics has its famous torch symbol while the Gathering Clare 2013 has Solas an Chláir (The Light of Clare), a commemorative limestone piece by Corofin stone mason John Goggin with design inputs from Ennis sculptor Shane Gilmore.
The Gathering Clare 2013 was launched at an event in Glór last month featuring exhibits on 100 of the estimated 230 Gathering festivals and events taking place throughout the County during 2013.
The first annual Concertina Cruinniú, which takes place in the home town of Willie Clancy until Sunday, is the first of 10 local events Solas an Chláir will be present at during the 11 remaining months of the year. The event is hosted by Oidhreacht an Chláir (OAC) in Miltown Malbay, where concertina playing has been an integral part of traditional music life for centuries and where it is currently thriving.
“We look forward to proudly displaying Solas an Chláir at Aras Oidhreacht an Chláir all weekend. We are honoured to have been selected as one of the host events for this commemorative piece,” commented Aine Hensey, OAC Cultural Projects Animator.
Ms. Hensey added: “Miltown Malbay is an ideal venue for such a festival and the event will salute the instrument’s special place in the local musical landscape. We are expecting up to 100 students from Continental Europe, Britain, the United States of America, and all over Ireland to participate in the weekend’s Cruinniú.”
The principal events of The Concertina Cruinniú include classes for players of all ages and abilities with experienced tutors; instrument maintenance workshops; intimate sessions with some of Clare and Ireland’s leading concertina players; a concert featuring top-class artists performing on the concertina in a variety of interesting combinations; and a lecture by Dan Worrall, regarded as the leading expert on the social history of the Anglo-German concertina worldwide.
Speaking following the presentation of Solas an Chláir to representatives of Oidhreacht an Chláir today, Monica Meehan, Gathering Co-ordinator for County Clare said: “The piece itself is a wonderful symbol for the Gathering and indeed, County Clare. It is also representative of the unique approach that has been adopted in Clare to embracing the Gathering Ireland initiative and developing a comprehensive and countywide programme of events for the year ahead. We always believed that the success of the Gathering would be based on the level of work put into it by local communities, and we are delighted to say that Clare is most certainly leading the way.”
Solas an Chláir’s Journey Around Clare:
February: The Concertina Cruinniú, Miltown Malbay (8th – 10th February)
March: Ennis Phoenix Twinning, Ennis (15th – 22nd March)
April: Gathering the Scattering, Ennis (3rd – 6th April)
May: Bodyke Summer Gathering, Bodyke (3rd – 5th May)
June: Carrigaholt Dolphins & Nature Festival, Carrigaholt (1st – 2nd June)
July: Celebrate Scattery Island, Kilrush (12th – 14th July)
August: Doolin Irish Craft Beer & Food Festival, Doolin and Dan Furey Weekend, Labasheeda (23rd – 25th August)
September: Clare Shout Festival, Kilkishen (13th – 15th September)
October: Clare Harvest Banquet, Old Ground Hotel, Ennis (October tbc)
November: Centenary of Conradh na Gaeilge, Inis (18th – 24th November)
December: Santa’s Workshop @ Aillwee Cave, Ballyvaughan (29th November – 22nd December)
Some of the other highlights of the Gathering Clare 2013 include the Ennis Book Club Festival (1-3 Mar), Sets By The Sea in Spanish Point (8-10 Mar), Gathering of High Nelly Bikes in Bunratty (27-28 Apr), The Burren Tolkien Symposium (9-16 May), Drumdigus National School Reunion (31 May), Boston Meets Boston (1-2 Jun), Ennis Roots Weekend 21-23 (Jun), Welcoming Clare’s/Claire’s to Clare in Ennis (23 Jun), Féile Chnoc na Gaoithe in Tulla (28-30 Jun), Clarecastle Village Gathering 2013 (12-22 Jul), Therapeutic effects of Irish Set Dancing in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease Conference in Feakle (5-11 Aug), St. Patrick's Comprehensive 30 Year School Reunion in Shannon (10 Aug), Tulla Week Of Welcomes (17-25 Aug), Guinness Book of Records attempt for Largest Outdoor Traditional Music Event in Kilfenora (22 Sep), and A Centenary of Conradh na Gaeilge Inis (18-24 Nov).
For more on The Gathering Clare visit www.facebook.com/ClareGathering2013 or www.twitter.com/ClareGathering.
The Olympics has its famous torch symbol while the Gathering Clare 2013 has Solas an Chláir (The Light of Clare), a commemorative limestone piece by Corofin stone mason John Goggin with design inputs from Ennis sculptor Shane Gilmore.
The Gathering Clare 2013 was launched at an event in Glór last month featuring exhibits on 100 of the estimated 230 Gathering festivals and events taking place throughout the County during 2013.
The first annual Concertina Cruinniú, which takes place in the home town of Willie Clancy until Sunday, is the first of 10 local events Solas an Chláir will be present at during the 11 remaining months of the year. The event is hosted by Oidhreacht an Chláir (OAC) in Miltown Malbay, where concertina playing has been an integral part of traditional music life for centuries and where it is currently thriving.
“We look forward to proudly displaying Solas an Chláir at Aras Oidhreacht an Chláir all weekend. We are honoured to have been selected as one of the host events for this commemorative piece,” commented Aine Hensey, OAC Cultural Projects Animator.
Ms. Hensey added: “Miltown Malbay is an ideal venue for such a festival and the event will salute the instrument’s special place in the local musical landscape. We are expecting up to 100 students from Continental Europe, Britain, the United States of America, and all over Ireland to participate in the weekend’s Cruinniú.”
The principal events of The Concertina Cruinniú include classes for players of all ages and abilities with experienced tutors; instrument maintenance workshops; intimate sessions with some of Clare and Ireland’s leading concertina players; a concert featuring top-class artists performing on the concertina in a variety of interesting combinations; and a lecture by Dan Worrall, regarded as the leading expert on the social history of the Anglo-German concertina worldwide.
Speaking following the presentation of Solas an Chláir to representatives of Oidhreacht an Chláir today, Monica Meehan, Gathering Co-ordinator for County Clare said: “The piece itself is a wonderful symbol for the Gathering and indeed, County Clare. It is also representative of the unique approach that has been adopted in Clare to embracing the Gathering Ireland initiative and developing a comprehensive and countywide programme of events for the year ahead. We always believed that the success of the Gathering would be based on the level of work put into it by local communities, and we are delighted to say that Clare is most certainly leading the way.”
Solas an Chláir’s Journey Around Clare:
February: The Concertina Cruinniú, Miltown Malbay (8th – 10th February)
March: Ennis Phoenix Twinning, Ennis (15th – 22nd March)
April: Gathering the Scattering, Ennis (3rd – 6th April)
May: Bodyke Summer Gathering, Bodyke (3rd – 5th May)
June: Carrigaholt Dolphins & Nature Festival, Carrigaholt (1st – 2nd June)
July: Celebrate Scattery Island, Kilrush (12th – 14th July)
August: Doolin Irish Craft Beer & Food Festival, Doolin and Dan Furey Weekend, Labasheeda (23rd – 25th August)
September: Clare Shout Festival, Kilkishen (13th – 15th September)
October: Clare Harvest Banquet, Old Ground Hotel, Ennis (October tbc)
November: Centenary of Conradh na Gaeilge, Inis (18th – 24th November)
December: Santa’s Workshop @ Aillwee Cave, Ballyvaughan (29th November – 22nd December)
Some of the other highlights of the Gathering Clare 2013 include the Ennis Book Club Festival (1-3 Mar), Sets By The Sea in Spanish Point (8-10 Mar), Gathering of High Nelly Bikes in Bunratty (27-28 Apr), The Burren Tolkien Symposium (9-16 May), Drumdigus National School Reunion (31 May), Boston Meets Boston (1-2 Jun), Ennis Roots Weekend 21-23 (Jun), Welcoming Clare’s/Claire’s to Clare in Ennis (23 Jun), Féile Chnoc na Gaoithe in Tulla (28-30 Jun), Clarecastle Village Gathering 2013 (12-22 Jul), Therapeutic effects of Irish Set Dancing in the treatment of Parkinson’s Disease Conference in Feakle (5-11 Aug), St. Patrick's Comprehensive 30 Year School Reunion in Shannon (10 Aug), Tulla Week Of Welcomes (17-25 Aug), Guinness Book of Records attempt for Largest Outdoor Traditional Music Event in Kilfenora (22 Sep), and A Centenary of Conradh na Gaeilge Inis (18-24 Nov).
For more on The Gathering Clare visit www.facebook.com/ClareGathering2013 or www.twitter.com/ClareGathering.
