TradFest Belgium12-18 June 2017Traditional

Irish Music FestivalProgramme

Message from H.E. Éamonn Mac Aodha,Ambassador of Ireland to the Kingdom of Belgium

Following two hugely successfulTradFest festivals in 2015 and 2016 I amdelighted to present the programme forTradFest 2017.

The Embassy of Ireland initiated thisfestival in 2015 to bring Irish music andculture to the large Irish community inBelgium and also to a Belgian and widerinternational audience.

Visitor numbers from Belgium to Irelandhave risen significantly in recent yearsand we hope that TradFest 2017 willattract even more people to discover allthat Ireland has to offer.

This year TradFest events will take partin Brussels, Kraainem, Liège and Loker.

Events will include an art exhibition, Irishmusic, dance and language classes anda series of lunchtime literary events.

The festival will also include a specialfocus on World War One and the Battleof Messines Ridge, the centenary ofwhich will be commemorated on 7 June.Ronan McGreevy and Thomas Burke willdeliver expert talks on the subject aspart of this year’s festival.

And of course, as before, music will beat the heart of the festival. Talented,well-known Irish musicians and singerswill travel from Ireland for the festivalincluding Mary Black, Máirtín O’ConnorTrio, Maighread and Tríona NíDhomhnaill, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Brú Ború,Na Fir Sneachta and many others, tojoin the large number of wonderful localand continental traditional musicianswho are the inspiration for this festival.

We are particularly delighted thatmembers of Na Píobairí Uilleann will join

us to give a masterclass introduction to the wonderfuluilleann pipes.

The week-longprogramme couldnot have happenedwithout the supportof many volunteersand sponsors and I would like to thankBNP Paribas Fortis in particular for theirgenerous support.

A special word of thanks to Tom andDoreen Bourke for their enthusiasmand energy in leading fundraisingefforts once again this year. Thanks tooto all the members of our TradFestCommittee for their positive input andadvice.

Above all I want to thank the artists andexperts from Ireland, Belgium andelsewhere who have made this festivalpossible.

I also want to acknowledge with sincerethanks the generous support of theOffice of the Northern Ireland Executivehere in Brussels for agreeing to co-hosta major event on 14 June.

I hope that you’ll attend as many eventsas possible to make this year’s festivalthe best yet!

Guím gach rath ar an bhféile – bainigíuilig sult as!

Éamonn Mac Aodha Ambassador of Ireland

3

TradFest Belgium 12 > 18 June 2017Programme

Monday 12 JuneTRADFEST Belgium Official OpeningHeadline act - Mary Black concert

Time : 20.00Venue : Flagey Place Sainte-Croix/Heilig-Kruisplein, 1050 Brussels

Tickets :http://flagey.be/en/program/21024/mary-black

On June 12th, revered Irish singer Mary Black returns toBelgium for the first time in three years to headlinethe Tradfest 2017. “I’m really looking forward toplaying the Tradfest at this beautiful venue" saysMary.

“…a versatile vocalist who bringsenergizing qualities of pop and jazz

to her foundation in traditionalmusic.”—Los Angeles Times

“…one of the best interpretative singersaround.”—San Francisco Chronicle

“…simply spellbinding.”—Boston Globe

Opening Session : Na Fir Sneachta

Time : 21.30Venue : Aloft Hotel Schuman Place Jean Rey, 1040 Brussels

A multi-generational collective of familyand friends drawn from the fourprovinces of Ireland, playing a diverse mixof traditional tunes and ballads, featuringaccordion, fiddle, flute, tin whistle, banjo,mandolin, guitar, harmonica andbodhrán. The group consists of brothersDonogh and Eoin Lane, their cousin

Eileen and her husband Gerry Keady,Marty Lynch and his daughter Aine andcousin Maeve, with friends Patsy Fortuneand Dave Lyons completing the line-up.

Opening session, all welcome !

4

Tuesday 13 June

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launch-by-thomas-burke-messines-to-carrick-hill-at-aloft-registration-34622171848

We are delighted to announce thatThomas Burke will join us to launch hisbook Messines to Carrick Hill. The book isstructured around a collection of letterswritten by a nineteen year old Irish officerin the 6th Royal Irish Regiment, 2nd

Lieutenant Michael Wall from Carrick Hill,near Malahide in north Co. Dublin.Michael was educated by the ChristianBrothers in Dublin and destined to studyscience at UCD before being seduced

by the illusionof adventure through war. Bycontextualising and expanding thecontent of Wall’s letters and setting themwithin the entrenched battle zone of theMessines Ridge, Burke offers a uniqueinsight into the trench life this young Irishman experienced, his disillusionmentwith war and his desire to get home.

Music Session : Na Fir Sneachta

Time : 20.00Venue : The Wild Geese Avenue Livingstone 2, 1000 Brussels

A multi-generational collective of familyand friends drawn from the fourprovinces of Ireland, playing a diverse mixof traditional tunes and ballads, featuringaccordion, fiddle, flute, tin whistle, banjo,mandolin, guitar, harmonica andbodhrán. The group consists of brothers

Donogh and Eoin Lane, their cousinEileen and her husband Gerry Keady,Marty Lynch and his daughter Aine andcousin Maeve, with friends Patsy Fortuneand Dave Lyons completing the line-up.

All welcome !

TradFest Belgium 12 > 18 June 2017Programme

Book LaunchThomas Burke : Messines to Carrick Hill

Time : 13.00Venue : Aloft Hotel, Place Jean Rey, 1040 BrusselsPlease register for this event online through the following link :

5

Wednesday 14 JuneArt Exhibition LaunchHelen O’Sullivan Tyrrell

Time : 13.00Venue : Aloft Hotel Place Jean Rey, 1040 Brussels

All welcome !

Born in London in 1968, O’Sullivan-Tyrrell grew up inBray Co. Wicklow (Ireland). She studied architecture atthe Dublin institute of Technology. In 1995 she movedto Brussels and later studied painting at the Flemishart academy BKO (Beeldende Kunst Overijse). While mainly a figurative painter, Helen’s subjectsrange from portraiture, still life and landscape and sheis currently examining the theme of tribal identities;particularly how the imagery associated withCatholicism is intertwined in what is viewed as‘Irishness’.

Lunchtime concert and CD launch

Time : 13.30Venue : Aloft Hotel Place Jean Rey, 1040 Brussels

All welcome !

Amala is a newly-formed duo: ReidunSchlesinger (harps) and Paul de Grae(guitars). They play music from severalcenturies, in original arrangements. Thecore of their repertoire is Irish: traditionalIrish tunes, and music from the Irish harprepertoire; they also play tunes fromvarious continental European countries,Renaissance and early classical pieces,some jazz, and our own jazz-tingedcompositions.

Reidun is originally from Belgium and haslived in Kerry since 2008; she hasconsiderable experience of playing soloand in bands in Belgium, Germany andFrance, and recorded three CDs with theBelgian band Amorroma. From Dublin, butnow also based in Kerry, Paul has playedand recorded with Matt Cranitch & JackieDaly, Aoife Ní Chaoimh & Paudie O'Connor,and the trio Smoky Chimney, amongothers. Their debut CD "resonance" hasreceived some great reviews.

TradFest Belgium 12 > 18 June 2017Programme

6

Music Sesion in Liège

Time : from 20.00Venue : Shamrock Pub, Rue Louvreix 1, 4000 Liège

All welcome !

Sisters Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill belongto a renowned singing family originally from theDonegal Gaeltacht. The unique style and repertoireof traditional singing they represent so gloriously,comes down to them through generations of the ÓDomhnaill family. Added to this is their distinctiveunison and harmonic interpretations of Donegalsongs and their fluent and accomplished singing toinstrumental accompaniment.

This session is open to every musician regardlessof familiarity with Irish traditional music.Repertoire is mainly Irish traditional, with variousdigressions to other genres, depending on whois playing and his/her mood. Do not be afraid tobring your instrument and join in!

Connla - Hailing from the cities ofArmagh and Derry and made up of CiaraMcCafferty (vocals), Ciaran Carlin(Flute/Whistles) and Paul Starrett (Guitar)Emer Mallon (Harp) and Conor Mallon(Uilleann Pipes/Whistles). Labelled as theHottest New Group out of NorthernIreland, (Chicago Irish American News)Connla have been quickly making animpact on the folk/traditional scene.Since the release of their EP in April 2015,and album “River Waiting” in July 2016

they have received fantastic reviews athome and internationally.

Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill & Connla concert

Time : 18.30Venue : Office of the Northern Ireland Executive 180 Chaussée d'Etterbeek - 1040 Brussels

Prior registration is required at brusselsevents@executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk

7

Music Session : Cairde sa Bheilg

Time : from 20.00Venue : The Old OakRue Franklin 26, 1000 Brussels

All welcome !

Cairde sa Bheilg which in the Irishlanguage means "Friends inBelgium". Micheal O'Briain, MichelJacqmain and Jan Thoelen form acore of musicians and friends whocome together to share their loveof Irish traditional music.

Thursday 15 JuneRonan McGreevy talk

Time : 13.00Venue : Aloft Hotel Place Jean Rey, 1040 Brussels

Please register for this event onlinethrough the following link :

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ronan-mcgreevy-wherever-the-firing-line-extends-ireland-and-the-western-front-registration-34686121122

Ronan McGreevy is an Irish timesjournalist and videographer. He is theauthor of Wherever the Firing LineExtends: Ireland and the Western Front.The book has been described by The IrishIndependent as the “superlative anddefinitive account of Ireland in WorldWar I”. Often forgotten at home andwritten out of Irish history, the Irishsoldiers and their regiments foundthemselves more honoured in foreignfields. From the first shot monument in

Mons to the plaque to the Royal IrishLancers who liberated the town onArmistice Day 1918, McGreevy takes a tourof the Western Front. At a time whenIreland is revisiting its history and itsplace in the world, he looks at thoseplaces where the Irish made their markand are remembered in the monuments,cemeteries and landscapes of France andFlanders.

TradFest Belgium 12 > 18 June 2017Programme

8

ConcertMáirtín O’Connor Trio

Time : 20.00Venue: Molière, Galerie de la Porte de Namur, 3Square du Bastion, 1050 Brussels (Ixelles)

Tickets : www.muziekpublique.be

Legendary accordion player, MáirtínO’Connor (De Danann, Skylark,Riverdance), Cathal Hayden on fiddle andbanjo (Four Men and a Dog), and SeamieO’Dowd on guitar and vocals (Dervish)come together with a very specialsynergy that ignites audiences and bringsthem to their feet. Virtuoso accordionplayer, Máirtín, superb fiddle and banjoplayer, Cathal and beloved guitarist andvocalist Seamie, explore Irish music ininnovative and contemporary styles

while staying rooted in the tradition. TheTrio’s joyous performances and kinshipon stage make them a must see andhear.“Genius is an overused word, but it sitslightly on the shoulders of Galwegianaccordionist and tune composer MáirtínO’Connor...His impish, quizzical style is asdistinctive as a fingerprint.” (Irish Times)- Máirtín O’Connor: accordion - Seamus O’Dowd: guitar, vocals- Cathal Hayden: violin, banjo

Music Session

Time : 21.30Venue: The Meeting PointRue du Taciturne 39, 1000 BrusselsAct to be confirmed

All welcome !

9

Friday 16 JunePhil Lynch poetry talk

Time : 13.00Venue : Aloft Hotel, Place Jean Rey, 1040 Brussels

Please register for this event online through the following link :

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/phil-lynch-poetry-talk-registration-34660318947

Liam Ó Maonlaí in concert withsupport by Páidí Ó Dubháin

Time : 20.00Venue : Office of the Northern IrelandExecutive180 Chaussée d'Etterbeek - 1040 Brussels

Tickets on sale at the door for €10. Please reserve your seat (limited seating) by email at brusselsembassy@dfa.ie

Páidí Ó Dubháin is a graduate of theBA(Hons) in Applied Music at DundalkInstitute of Technology. His extensiverepertoire ranges from opera andoratorio to art song and to traditionalIrish sean-nós. In 2012, Páidí was awardeda place on the NI Opera Young ArtistProgramme, where he specialised incontemporary opera roles.

Liam Ó MaonlaíBono once described Liam as ‘The bestwhite boy soul singer in the world’ and hehas been also described as one of Ireland’sbest Sean Nós (traditional Irish) singers.Liam has released two solo albums; Rian(2006) which was made into acontemporary dance show of the samename by choreographer Michael KeeganDolan and toured worldwide. To be touchedreleased in 2009 and recorded with thehelp of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.Liam tours regularly with Peter O Toole,guitarist from Hot House Flowers. Forfurther information: www.liamomaonlai.ie

Phil Lynch currently lives in Dublin andhas also lived in Belgium. Publications inwhich his poems have appeared include:Even The Daybreak (35 years of SalmonPoetry), Revival, Bare Hands Poetry, BoyneBerries Series, The Poetry Bus, Headstuff,OFi Press Literary Magazine (Mexico),Wordlegs, The Runt, Census, Circle Time,Bray Arts Journal, Flare (SunflowerSessions). In 2015, he was placed third in

the Doolin Writers’ Weekend PoetryCompetition, shortlisted in the Red LinePoetry Competition and longlisted in theDermot Healy International PoetryCompetition. In 2014 he was a runner upin the iYeats Poetry Competition andlonglisted in the Over The Edge NewWriter of the Year Competition. His firstcollection, In a Changing Light, waspublished by Salmon Poetry in 2016.

TradFest Belgium 12 > 18 June 2017Programme

The unique Brú Ború group are in constantdemand throughout the world because oftheir performance of Irish authentictraditional music, song and dance. Theyhave represented Ireland at 5 World EXPOincluding performing for President Higginson Ireland’s National Day at the MilanEXPO 2015.

During the summer months from late Juneto mid-August the group perform in their

summer residence in the Brú Ború CulturalCentre, Cashel, Co. Tipperary. The grouplook forward to performing at Tradfest inBrussels for the third year in a row.

For further information : www.comhaltas.ie

All welcome !

Music Session : Brú Ború group

Time : 21.30Venue : The Coolock Rue Archimède 55, 1000 Brussels

Saturday 17 JuneIrish Language Class

Time : 13.00Venue : Embassy of IrelandRue Froissart/Froissartstraat 50, 1040 Brussels

Please register for this event online throughthe following link :

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tradfest-belgium-2017-irish-language-class-at-1300-on-saturday-17-june-registration-34565978773

Please specify your level in the registrationform as beginner or non-beginner.

Traditional Irish Dancing Class

Time : 14.00Venue : Embassy of IrelandRue Froissart/Froissartstraat 50, 1040 Brussels

Please register for this event online throughthe following link :

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tradfest-belgium-2017-traditional-irish-dancing-class-at-1400-on-saturday-17-june-registration-34566063025

Traditional Irish Music Class

Time : 14.00Venue : Embassy of IrelandRue Froissart/Froissartstraat 50, 1040 Brussels

Please bring along your musicinstrument !

Please register for this event online throughthe following link :

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tradfest-belgium-2017-traditional-irish-music-class-at-1400-on-saturday-17-june-registration-34566097127

Classes will be organised for the followinginstruments : intro fiddle and whistle/flute

10

11

Na Píobairí UilleannPipers talk and music

Time : 15.30Venue : Embassy of IrelandRue Froissart/Froissartstraat 50, 1040 Brussels

Please register for this event online throughthe following link :

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tradfest-belgium-2017-na-piobairi-uilleann-pipers-talk-and-music-on-saturday-17-june-registration-34617379514

Gay McKeon took an interest in uilleannpiping in the 1960s under the tutelage ofpiper and pipe-maker Leo Rowsome atthe Piper’s Club on Thomas Street inDublin’s city centre. Since the mid 1970sGay has toured and recorded extensivelywith artists including Christy Moore,Maddy Prior and June Tabor and hasfeatured on albums including The Dronesand Chanters Volume 2 and The Piper’sRock, as well as a solo album Irish PipingTradition, and a trio CD The Dusty Millerwith his two sons Conor and Seán. Gay

has performed on three volumes of thetutor series The Art of Uilleann Piping andproduced and directed publicationsincluding the Piper’s Choice DVD seriesand numerous CD recordings publishedby Na Píobairí Uilleann. Gay teachespiping at summer schools and on aregular basis throughout the year. Servingon the Board of Na Píobairí Uilleann from1987, Gay was Chairman from 2002 until2006 when became CEO of theorganisation.

Bloomsnight

Time : 20.00Venue : De Lijsterbes, Lijsterbessenbomenlaan 6, 1950 Kraainem

The Irish Theatre Group asbl, has beenentertaining audiences in Brussels for 35years. In association with the Embassy ofIreland and TradFest 2017, the ITG willhost their annual, end-of-seasonBloomsnight gathering at De Lijsterbeson Saturday 17 June.

It is a fun evening of food, drink andentertainment, including drama, poetryand song. Tickets are €20 (including light

buffet supper).

Doors open at 7:30pm, when food will beserved for the first course, andentertainment begins at 8pm.

More info: www.irishtheatrebrussels.com Tickets: https://thelittleboxoffice.com/itg

TradFest Belgium 12 > 18 June 2017Programme

12

Sunday 18 June

Music Session: Gerry O’Connor

Time : 20.00Brú BorúTime: 21.00

Venue : The Old Hack Irish Pub Rue Joseph II 176, 1000 Brussels

All welcome !

Gerry O’Connor is from Dundalk, Co.Louth, where he grew up in a family ofmusicians, dancers and singers. From anearly age Gerry was involved Irish music,winning numerous All Ireland awards in arange of duets, trios and céilí band titles.Gerry O’Connor has played and recordedwith Lá Lúgh (Eithne Ní Uallacháin, SonyMusic) and Skylark (Len Graham, GaryO’Briain & Máirtín O’Connor), recordingfour CDs on the Claddagh label. He has

toured and recorded with members of allthe legendary Traditional musicensembles, including Planxty, Bothy Band,De Danann, Boys of the Lough and TheChieftains. Lá Lugh’s album Brighid’s Kisswas voted Album of the Year in 1996 byreaders of Irish Music magazine, andGerry’s solo CD Journeyman was rated inthe top five Albums of 2004 by The IrishTimes.

www.gerryoconnor.net

Trad Music Session

Time : 19.00Venue : The Wild Geese Avenue Livingstone 2, 1000 Brussels

FREE ENTRY & GREAT CRAIC !!

www.thewildgeese.eu

All welcome !

13

Events outside 12-18 June 2017

Ireland, 1209. An island on the edge of theworld. A small group of monks begin areluctant pilgrimage across an island tornbetween centuries of tribal warfare andthe growing power of Norman invaders.Escorting their monastery's holiest relic -a rock used in the martyrdom of St.Mathias, the thirteenth apostle - toRome, the monks' progress is seenthrough the eyes of a pious young novice

and a mute lay-brother with a violentpast. As the true material, political andreligious significance of the bejewelledrelic becomes dangerously apparent,their path to the east coast becomesincreasingly fraught with danger. Themonks belatedly realise that in this wildland of ancient superstitions, the faiththat binds them together may ultimatelylead to their destruction.

Special avant-premiere screening in Bozar on 22 JunePILGRIMAGE - A FILM BY BRENDAN MULDOWNEY

Time : 19.00Venue : Bozar, Rue Ravensteinstraat 23, 1000 Brussels

Please register for this event online through the following link :

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/special-avant-premiere-screening-of-pilgrimage-tickets-34715606313

LOKERWednesday 7 June Time : 6.30pmSpecial Moment at the Grave of Willie Redmond andat the Dry-stone wall Monument with theparticipation of the Dublin Fusiliers

Friday 9 June Time : 7.30pmTradFest session in Redmond’s Irish Pub Loker

Saturday 10 JuneTime : 10amTour based on the Book of Tom Burke “Messines toCarrick Hill: Writing Home from the Great War”

4pm - Cultural Event with the Poetry of Philip McDonagh and a new book on Messines by Tom Burke(see below).

Sunday 11 June Time : 10am Tour based on "Messines to Carrick Hill : Writing Homefrom the Great War", a new book by Tom Burke.

For further information on all of these events pleasecontact Redmond’s Irish Pub Loker, Dikkebusstraat 135,8958 Loker or phone: +32 473 23 92 68 oremail:redmondsirishpubloker@hotmail.com

For full programme details and updates check out our website : www.embassyofireland.beFollow us on Twitter : @IrishEmbBelgium,#TradFestBelgium

TradFest is organised by

With generous support of

and