The Manchester Irish Festival: 4th - 20th March 2005
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Union Music Lounge
2005 Manchester Irish Festival
Photography Exhibition
The festival is converting the Union Music Lounge on Stockport Road into an Arts Centre for the duration of the festival. There will be a two week exhibition, which features the work of the Manchester Irish Festival Arts collective of photographers; Dave Brunton, Ged the Camera and Tony Hennigan. The show features everything from a look at ‘Mayo’ in the West of Ireland, documentary shots of Manchester’s ten Irish Festivals to, a year in the life of a Rock photographer and insights into Levenshulme’s Irish community life.
Sponsored by
Levenshulme Pub Company
Irish World Heritage Centre
Council of Irish Associations
Annual Quiz Night
Time: 8pm
Pit your wits against the best if the County Associations and see if you can win the prize of the year. For more information contact Anne on
0161 434 8989.
Union Music Lounge
‘Looking Back’ Manchester’s tenth
Irish Festival Launch Night
Time: 7pm
Admission: FREE
The launch night of the two-week exhibition features the work of the MIF Arts collective of photographers; Dave Brunton, Ged the Camera and Tony Hennigan.
St Kentigern's Social Club>
Brendan Shine
O’Sheas Irish Bar
Culainn
Time: 9pm – 1am
Admission: £2
Formed in 1998 by John Bilek former front man of Rattle n’ Reel, celebrate the Manc Irish export, fusing rock with traditional and even soul with didgeridoo!
The Irish Association Social Club
Ged Graham
Time: 8pm
English Martyrs Parish Centre
Fundraising Dance in aid of Diabetes U.K
music by Heartbeat
Time : 8pm
Admission: £3 members - £3.50 non members
Organised by Jim Elliott in memory of his late wife, Telephone 0161 226 1107 for further information
Waxy O’Connors
Galaxy 102 FM’s Irish Alan
Time 9pm – 2am
Conors Bar & Lounge
The Mayo Man
Time : 8pm
Peter Mylett in his first show at Conors, playing Country & Western and Traditional Irish Ballads. A true class performer who should not to be missed.
Dunicans Bar
(The Great Western)
Tony Sullivan
Time : 8pm
Sunday 6th March
A Walk Around Little Ireland
with Mervyn Busteed
Meet at Salisbury public house at foot of steps leading up to Oxford Road Station
Time: 11.00.a.m
This walk will focus on the history of Little Ireland, the living and working conditions of the Irish who lived there and how they were reported in the newspapers and official publications of the day. The walk is organised by Mervyn Busteed, a Lecturer in Geography at Manchester University, Chair of the British Association for Irish Studies and a frequent contributor to Irish Studies conferences.
Union Music Lounge
The Sunday afternoon Session
with Driftwood
Time: 4pm- 8pm
Admission: FREE
This Sunday afternoon session has become a legendary fixture of Levenshulme Village, where the emphasis is on having a great time. Expect a lively afternoon of good old Irish ‘Craic’ and Irish Music that makes you want to dance. South Manchester’s most popular Irish Band, “Driftwood” play a fine selection of country and Irish music.
A part of the Levenshulme Fleadh
Sponsored by Magners Irish Cider
O’Sheas Irish Bar
Celtic Rogue
Time: 9am – 1am
A regular favourite, finish the weekend with some traditional Irish music with true Celtic rock
Waxy O’Connors
The Sturdy Beggars
Time: 9pm – 2am
Irish World Heritage Centre
Celtic Vibes
Time: 8pm – Late
Traditional Music
Conors Bar & Lounge
Kieran Cunningham
Time 12 noon
A regular attraction at Conors, Kieran Cunningham is an outstanding Newry singer and guitarist.
Conors Bar & Lounge
The Long Road
Time: 8pm
John Joyce and Fergal O’Neil are an exciting traditional band new to the circuit, with a refreshing Irish sound.
St. Anne’s Social Club
Dance
With music from J.I.B. sound.
8pm till late
Telephone: 0161 865 9247
Monday 7th March 2005
Conors Bar & Lounge
Dezi Donnelly and Kieran Cunningham
Time: 8pm
Award winning fiddle player Dezi Donnelly along with Kieran Cunningham, playing a mixture of the finest Irish Music
Manchester Town Hall
Adult Irish Dance Class
Time: 7 – 9pm
Ever wanted to join Riverdance? Come along to a none stop class, and take your first steps.
Manchester Town Hall
The Irish Culture Workshop
Time: 8.30 – 10.30pm.
Manchester Irish Language Group are holding a Gaelic Language taster session. Come along and try the Gaelic language for yourself all levels welcome.
O’Sheas Irish Bar
Skirm
Time: 9pm – 1am
Skirm, who is regarded as one of the finest traditional musicians in Manchester, goes solo in own unique style. Not to be missed!
Irish World Heritage Centre
A drink with Patrick Kavanagh
by Owen Hagan
Time: 8pm for 9pm start
Admission £2 / 3
Liverpool’s Network Theatre presents an informal evening of music, and scenes from the life of one of Ireland’s great poets.
Tuesday 8th March 2005
English Martyrs Parish Centre
Stella Morgan School of Irish Dancing
Time: 6.30pm - 8pm
All children welcome to this weekly class in Irish Dancing
O’Sheas Irish Bar
Sean O’Connor and Richard Sanderson
Time: 9pm – 1am
Sean although new on scene is proving himself to be amongst the best in Manchester, joined by Green Hot Clover's energetic fiddler Richard.
St Kentigerns
Sean Dempsey Set Dance Club
Time: 7- 8.45pm
Set dancing lessons, come along and try a set.
All levels welcome.
Irish Association Club
Sean Dempsey Set Dance Club
Time 9-11pm
Set dancing lessons, come along and try a set.
All levels welcome.
The Lowry Theatre
The Pillowman
through to 12th March
Martin McDonagh's new play is a viciously funny and savage tale about a writer in a totalitarian state who is interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories. This play contains scenes and language that may offend and is not suitable for children.
Irish World Heritage Centre
‘A wild Irish Flower
(Blath Fiain Gaelach)
Time: 8pm
With traditional Irish music, dance, and poetry this drama commemorates the Irish emigrants of the 1950’s and 1960’s who made new lives in Manchester and Salford.
Wednesday 9 March
Union Music Lounge
‘From Mayo with Love’
by Tony Hennigan
Time: 7pm
Admission: FREE
Most of the Irish population of Levenshulme have close links to County Mayo on the West coast of Ireland. Tony’s exhibition focuses on the idyllic rural birthplace of his parents with its abundance of lakes, thatched cottages and miles of mountain ranges around the bustling and cosmopolitan town of Ballina during its internationally famous ‘Salmon Festival’ and much more.
Sponsored by
Levenshulme Pub Company
Irish World Heritage Centre
‘A wild Irish Flower
(Blath Fiain Gaelach)
Time: 8pm
With traditional Irish music, dance, and poetry this drama commemorates the Irish emigrants of the 1950’s and 1960’s who made new lives in Manchester and Salford.
O’Sheas Irish Bar
Barry James and Friends
Time: 9pm – 1am
The Ex Toss the Feathers front man provides a range of Celtic tunes from Christy Moore to Van Morrison
Irish World Heritage Centre
Oral History Exhibition
Time: 2pm
This exhibition maps the lives of Irish people and their experience of migration to Manchester. Compiled by a group of Manchester students with the help of The Heritage Lottery Fund.
Irish World Heritage Centre
Conradh na Gaelige
(An Evening of Gaelic Language)
Time: 8pm
Tickets £5 from Tom Power 0161 796 9926
An evening with Liam Ó Cuinnegáin, Oideas Gael and Páid Ó Donnchú
Conors Bar & Lounge
Celli Night
Time: 8pm
Pete Durkin’s Celli night, a fantastic friendly and enjoyable midweek break.
St. Mary’s, Levenshulme
Sean Dempsey Set Dance Club
Time 8.30pm-10.30pm
Set dancing lessons, come along and try a set.
All levels welcome.
Manchester Town Hall
Children’s Irish Dance Class
Time: 7pm – 9pm
Come along and try you feet at Irish Dancing.