The Seán Corcoran Series is named after the Irish singer, musician and collector of Irish traditional music who passed in 2021.
Taking place in Drogheda, Louth from Friday 6th to Sunday 8th September, The Seán Corcoran Series’ programme features free and ticketed events taking in Arabic cello music, zine making, recitals, mumming, community history, bell ringing, poetry, documentary film, food, folklore, community gatherings and a new Arts and Heritage Day.
Performers include the Irish debut of Palestinian cellist Naseem Alatrash, musician and composer Natalia Beylis, Dublin folk singer Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, The Armagh Rhymers, singers Len Graham and Niamh Bury, fiddler Doireann Ní Ghlacáin, archivist Catriona Crowe, broadcaster and biologist Éanna Ní Lamhna, violinist Cora Venus Lunny, poet Theo Dorgan, filmmaker Sorcha Glackin and many more.
See the programme of events below:
FRIDAY 6th SEPTEMBER
The festivities begin at Droichead Arts Centre on Friday 6th September with an intimate evening of song with Dublin’s Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, accompanied by cellist Kaitlin Cullen-Verhauz and guitarist Ian Kinsella.
SATURDAY 7th SEPTEMBER
On Saturday morning, festival artist-in-residence – musician, composer and sonic storyteller Natalia Beylis – will deliver a specially curated community zine making workshop with Rita Hynes of the Drogheda Zine Fair, inspired by the writing, community organising and activism of the late Drogheda historian, Moira Corcoran.
Later that afternoon filmmaker Sorcha Glackin’s sensitively rendered film portrait of legendary Irish song collector Tom Munnelly for TG4 – Tom Munnelly: Fear na n-Amhrán, will screen as part of the Séan Corcoran Series at Droichead Arts Centre.
An ‘in conversation’ on the making of the film with Director Sorcha Glackin and Irish Times journalist Sorcha Pollak will follow the screening.
Singer Niamh Bury, a founder member of Dublin’s Cobblestone based Night Before Larry Got Stretched song collective, will host the Seán Corcoran Series singing session on Saturday afternoon, where you can hear some of the finest traditional singers in the English language and sean-nós realm.
Join community historian Brendan Matthews and Inis Hartigan of Only Natural Health Food Store to learn about the history of medicinal and culinary herbs in Drogheda and their modern day uses.
On the evening of Saturday 8th September in Drogheda’s Augustinian Church there’ll be a gala gathering in celebration of the true spirit of hospitality for all – with Naseem Alatrash, Doireann Ní Ghlacáin, Len Graham, Niamh Bury, the Sunday’s Gate Quartet, Libby McCrohan, Cora Venus Lunny, Theo Dorgan, Eoghan Mac Giolla Bhríde, Michael Holohan and more.
SUNDAY 8th SEPTEMBER
Sunday sees the launch of the new Séan Corcoran Series Arts and Heritage Day on St Laurence Street, in the Old Methodist Church, Highlanes Gallery and at St Laurence’s Gate.
Events include an ‘In Conversation’ in the Highlanes Gallery with archivist and author Catriona Crowe on her life and fascinating 40-year career at the National Archives of Ireland, with historian Donal Fallon.
Artist-in-residence Natalia Beylis will give a listening workshop geared towards both novice and seasoned sound collectors, field recordists and those interested in finding new ways to engage with our everyday sonic landscape. All that is needed is a digital or analog handheld recorder, or your phone, and an open ear!
Community Historian Brendan Matthews will give a talk on the history of the Old Methodist Church and a public address from St Laurence’s Gate, on Drogheda’s historic town walls and defences.
Both the Louth and Meath Archaeological and Historical Societies will join in for the day and have books, journals and membership forms at the ready for you to join up.
Artist-in-residence Natalia Beylis’ specially commissioned graphic score in collaboration with the bell ringers of St Peter’s Church of Ireland, will be performed live.
A Wonders of the Wild event for children and adults with Louth native, nature writer and broadcaster Éanna Ní Lamhna will tell us why squirrels don’t hibernate, frogs don’t drown, and how caterpillars burst.
Visitors are welcome to make a Mummers hat with Leitrim’s Sowing the Seed Project or try out a set of uilleann pipes with Na Píobairí Uilleann.
A flute troupe led by Rev Gary Hastings with Aoife Granville, Fióna Ní Mhearáin, Sabhbh Ní Mhaolagáin, Harry Bradley and Fintan Vallely will perform in tribute to the great flute player and singer, Cathal McConnell.
Celebrated traditional music and theatre ensemble the Armagh Rhymers will bring the rich tradition of mumming and rhyming to life on the streets of Drogheda to close the festival.
See the SC site for tickets and details.
