The Manchester Irish Festival: 4th - 19th March 2006
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Friday 10th March
Manchester Irish Festival Message Board
Markets
and Festival Tent
Albert Square
Manchester Festival Markets
10.00am – 5.00pm
Heineken Festival Tent
11.00am - 8.00pm
Michael Davitt Exhibition
Sculpture Hall, Manchester Town Hall
10th – 19th March 2006
2006 is the centenary of the death of Michael Davitt, one of the great figures in Irish history. Michael Davitt was born in Straide, County Mayo at the height of the Great Famine. At the age of four Michael and his family were evicted from their home and forced to emigrate to Haslingden, Lancashire, England. Michael was a radical and a humanitarian who dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of the underprivileged. This is an exhibition of memorabilia and books once owned by Davitt, including a gold medal from Celtic Park and a clock and candelabra presented to him by Leo Tolstoy and various other items of family memorabilia.
For further details about Michael Davitt visit www.ihihc.co.uk
‘ShamRocknRoll’ plus ‘Elevation’ club night
The Pack Horse
Stockport Road, Levenshulme 0161 224 4355
8pm-1am Admission:
£3 advance
24rockfest present ‘ShamRocknRoll’ plus ‘Elevation’ club
night with Irish DJ David Hennigan plus live sets from ‘The Logicals’, ‘The
Riffles’, ‘Real!ise’, ‘The Rossonerri’ and ‘All
my Lies’. Sponsored by WKD Iron Brew
The Council of Irish Associations Dinner Dance
Irish World Heritage Centre
Cheetham Hill
7.30pm £21
Our Silver Anniversary – 25 years supporting Manchester’s Irish Community, come help us celebrate this auspicious occasion, music by Tom Healy & Band. Admission by advance booking only, for further information tel:0161 434 8989 or 203 4132
WKD Party Night
M19 Bar
Stockport Road, Levenshulme
0161 225 8359
8pm Admission Free
With an Irish party soundtrack and stacks of WKD prizes and giveaways this night is not for the faint hearted. Sponsored by WKD Iron Brew
Steven Smyth
St Kentigerns
£8
The
Flags
by Bridget O’Connor
The Studio, Royal Exchange Theatre
Box Office 0161 833 9833 www.royalexchange.co.uk
JJ and Howie are lifeguards on the second worst beach in Ireland. They dream of Banna Strand, the perfect beach with ‘tits and ass as far as the eye can see’. The jobs at Banna are unexpectedly vacant, presenting and opportunity for the lads. But somking, losing the lifeguard manual, and the dead birds on the beach mean their chances are slim. Until a young woman comes to the beach with surprising intentions and Aonter is offered up to JJ as a way out. Bridget O’ Connor’s comedy about ambition, dreams and the taste of Pot Noodles answers the question: what is the real reason for The Flags. With Francis Magee and Kieran Cunningham
Whistle
in the Dark
by Tom Murphy
Royal Exchange Theatre
Box Office 0161 833 9833 www.royalexchange.co.uk
England, the early 1960s, somewhere in Coventry; into the home of Michael Carney and his English wife come his brawling family of brothers and their father, the fire-breathing Dada. Michael came to England for a better life but as the Carney brothers gear up to confront a rival gang for control of the area, Michael is forced to take a stand as age old resentments and tensions begin to explode. Written when he was 25, A Whistle in the Dark launched Tom Murphy onto the stage in London and Dublin to a storm of shock, controversy and applause. Now regarded as a classic of Irish drama it remains a devastating portrait of the pull of tribalism and violence in men and the desperate need to stand against it. The show features Gary Whelan as Dada, with Patrick O’Kane as Michael.
I, Keano
The Lowry
Salford Quays
2.30pm & 7.30pm
From £16, 0870 787 5790
The Manchester Irish Festival are proud to bring the UK premier of ‘I, Keano’ described as Up Pompeii meets Father Ted (with a hint of Spitting Image). “Unmercifully Funny” The Irish Times, “A masterfully executed musical comedy” The Times. For further details visit www.thelowry.com
Friday Night Irish Karaoke session with ‘Doc’
Union Inn
Stockport Road, Levenshulme
0161 224 1271
8pm-late Free
Fancy singing ‘Danny Boy’ or ‘Fairy Tale of New York’? Then why not join the legendary ‘Doc’ from Irish County and Western supergroup ‘Driftwood’ for a night of belting out classic Irish tunes.
Karaoke & Play Your Cards Right
Dunicans Bar
(The Great Western), Moss Side.
0161 226 2724
8pm
Barry James & Guests
O’Shea’s Irish Bar
Princess St, City Centre
0161 236 3906
8pm – 1am £2
Barry James formally of Slap ‘n’ Tickle offers a night of Celtic tunes from Christy Moore to rock numbers from his old friend and mentor Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy.