Fethard Walled Town Medieval Festival
From Saturday 21st August- Sunday 22nd August
Festival Programme
'Fired by Bees' exhibition - Town Hall Saturday 5pm
The first event proper of the Festival is the opening of the ‘Fired by Bees’ ceramic exhibition at 5pm in the Town Hall. This exhibition, led by local artist Dóirín Saurus, pays homage to the Bee and in medieval times, and in Irish history in general, the Honey Bee played a huge part in the life and diet of the people. We have all heard of Ireland being described as a land of Milk and Honey and this was a very apt description, as cattle were always ‘huge’ in Ireland and in those far off days - before the advent of sugar – honey was what sweetened up people’s lives.
The exhibition will remain open from 11am to 3pm every day up to Wednesday 25th August.
Guided Walk of Fethard - 6.30pm on Saturday
Mary Hanrahan will take you on a tour of Fethard's 'Medieval Trail' starting from outside the Town Hall at 6.30pm on Saturday 21st August. Free.
Launch of ‘Fethard 1200-2000 A Chronicle of Survival’ - 8.30pm Abymill - Saturday 21st August
‘Fethard 1200-2000 A Chronicle of Survival’ is the title of the history of Fethard that has been completed by Fethard native Michael O’Donnell, originally from the townsland of Kilknockin, just to the North of the town. This huge work, running to over 600 hundred pages, will be launched in the Abymill Theatre, on Saturday 21st August, at 8pm, as part of Fethard Town Wall Medieval Festival. There is an open invitation, to everyone, to attend this historic event and it is hoped that the Abymill will be filled to overflowing on the night.
John Spillane concert by Town Wall, McCarthy's Marque- Saturday 8pm
Twice winner of the meteor award in the best folk/trad category, John Spillane has toured the country and the world spreading joy with a mix of melodic tunes, entertaining stories and poetic lyrics.
Described as ‘one of the truest Irish voices of his generation’ by Irish music magazine, Spillane truly embodies the Celtic spirit.
Christmas 2009 brought us the follow up to Johns double platinum selling album ‘Irish Songs We Learned at School’ with a new collection ‘More Irish Songs We Learned at School’. This new collection features great Irish musicians Christy Moore and Séan Ó Sé and will get everyone singing the songs of their youth.
Not only that but last year saw Spillane release his first best of album ‘So Far So Good, Like’. This compiled some of his greatest works from the memorable anthems of ‘The Dance of the Cherry Trees’ and ‘Dunnes Stores Girl’ to songs from ‘The Gaelic Hit Factory’ and ‘Irish songs we learned at school’. A fantastic mix of songs, including two new tracks from one of Irelands much loved songwriters.
With 2009 being a stellar year for the man with boundless enthusiasm for his craft its doubtful that 2010 will be much different!
The only thing that’s for sure is that whether from the emotive tunes he whisks you on a journey with or his dynamic playful Cork wit, at the end of a John Spillane show there won’t be a dry eye in the house…
“ … funny, quirky, massively entertaining. John is a story teller, a shanachie.” Dan Regan, Founder, Kansas City Irish Festival.
Nominated for “Cork Man of the Year”
John also was awarded the Irish Music Association (USA) “Top Solo Performer in Concert” award 2009 www.irishmusicassociation.com
“One of the great songwriters to emerge in the last 10 years is John Spillane”
Christy Moore “Other Voices” Feb ‘09
So far this year - Christy Moore has recorded one of John’s songs “Gortatagort” to be on his forthcoming album which Christy performed live on the TV show “Other Voices”
“... some of the most skillfully crafted, vividly realized songs anyone has written in Ireland over the past dozen years.”
Earle Hitchner, premier writer/reviewer for Irish Echo and The Wall Street Journal.
Lee Valley String Band - Sunday 22nd August 3pm to 5pm
The renowned 'Lee Valley String Band' from Cork will entertain by the Town Wall from 3pm to 5pm with their particular type of Old Time and Bluegrass music. The current line-up includes original member Chris Twomey autoharp; Mick O'Brien, guitar; Mick Daly, banjo; Kevin Gill, dobro; Hal O'Neill, fiddle (brother of Anne Connolly, Fethard Post Office, and Eoghain O'Neill from Moving Hearts); Brendan Butler, mandolin and Pete Brennan, bass. Chris, Brendan, the two Micks, Kevin and Pete all share vocal duties.
Festivities by Medieval Town Wall - Sunday from 2pm to 6pm
Archery, Medeival Re-enactments, Puppeteer, Dog Show, Food, Fun and Games
There should be ‘tests of skill’ for those with a keen eye and fast hands and legs and of course The Lee Valley String Band will fill the Valley with music between 3and 5pm
Fethard Medieval Cloak and Mantle Project
Children, aged from 8 years upward, are welcome to enrol for a series of Workshops, led by artist Pat Looby, for this years Walled Towns Day Festival on Sunday 22nd August. This Textile Art Project is based on Medieval Clothing and Symbols that appear on historic buildings around Fethard. Pupils will create their own Cloak using materials and fabrics, embroidery, sewing, painting and decoration. Workshops take place from Monday 16th to Friday 20th of August in the same studio as last year, in the premises, formerly Dillon’s Chemist, opposite Newport’s Newsagents. The first session will start on Monday at 1.30pm and will continue daily thereafter from 11am to 1pm and 1.30pm to 3.30pm. It is essential to book for these workshops, this can be done by contacting the Community Office on 61 31000. A special painting workshop for 5 to 7 year-olds will be held, in the same place, on Monday morning from 11am to 12.30pm. The skills learned here can be put to use in the Medieval Activity Tent at the Festival on the following Sunday.
Medieval Fancy Dress Parade
2pm - Town Hall to Town Wall
This year’s Fethard Medieval Fancy Dress Parade will take place on Sunday 22nd August with lots of prizes to be won. We ask children and parents to make a special effort to dress up in costume and participate in this year’s parade and events by the medieval town wall at The Valley. The Fancy Dress Parade will commence at 2pm from the Town Hall on Sunday 22nd August.
The Fethard fancy dress parade was famous all over south Tipperary, and now its back again, but with a medieval twist. Prizes will again be given out to the best Adult and Children entries and those who push the medieval boat out to its colourful limits.
The Knights, Ladies and Re-enactors will join in, and who knows who or what may turn up on the day.
See www.fethardfestival.com or http://www.southtippheritage.ie for more details
