MILLMOUNT, Drogheda’s REAL centre of culture and heritage, hosts it’s annual TRADITIONAL DAY (the REAL arts festival) on Sunday May 3rd from 12 noon to 6pm., with FREE ADMISSION.
GET THOSE FEET TAPPING and hands clapping at the Traditional Day in Millmount! From 12 noon to 6 pm, there will be activities for all the family as the Festival presents musicians, singers and dancers of the highest calibre in the historic surroundings of Millmount. Meandering through Millmount Museum and Craft Village will be food and craft stalls Old Drogheda Society Bookstall, street theatre, Meath Harp Ensemble, live music, sing-a-longs, set dancing, the firing of the replica 1808 cannons on Millmount Tower, the Cannonball Circus with the Fanzini Brothers and much more.
THE CANNONS WILL ROAR at 2pm The replica 1808 cannons on Millmount Tower will be fired by a full artillery crew in period costume while down in the Barracks Square foot soldiers from the period will drill and fire their muskets. And just in case things get too serious, the fabulous Fanzini Brothers will be on hand to whip up an air of the ridiculous with their Cannonball Circus Guido and Ronaldo Fanzini, inspired by the mountains of Venice and the canals of the Italian Alps, present their new show Cannonball Circus. With no expense spared, with no concern for their safety, they laugh in the face of danger. They have spent the entire budget on a gargantuan cannon! There is no money left for the acts! The show must go on, but what will they do?
IF YOU FEEL LIKE SINGING… Join singer Niamh de Búrca and guitarist Mark Kelly (Altan) for a trip down memory lane with songs in English and ‘as Gaeilge’ from our school days. Song-sheets will be provided and participation will be greatly encouraged!
SET DANCING VISITORS to Millmount will be invited to join in with the Termonfeckin Set Dancers, an enthusiastic group of people who have been dancing for over thirty years. This group, lead by John and Sheila McEvoy, loves to share their great love of dancing and encourages everyone to ‘have a go’.
1). DONAL O’CONNOR & MARTIN MEEHAN: Donal O’Connor, son of the celebrated fiddler Gerry O’Connor (Skylark, Kinvara) and renowned singer Eithne Ní Uallacháin (Lá Lugh), Dónal O’Connor (Fiddle) has inherited a great musical legacy of at least five generations of fiddle playing. Dónal’s playing was described recently by the press as “immaculate” “electrifying” and “…borne out of naked talent and consummate professionalism…” The Irish Times and “exquisite” – The Scotsman. Martin Meehan (Flute) originates from Manchester where he began tin whistle and flute classes under the guidance of Angela Durkin and Michael McGoldrick. He has recently released a solo flute album ‘Three’s Company’ to much critical acclaim. “One of the most sensual odes to a musical instrument you’ll encounter this side of Miles Davis’s ‘Tutu’.” — The Irish Times. Time: 1-2pm Venue: Millmount Tower Tickets €10.00.
2). NUALA KENNEDY: Irish traditional singer and flautist Nuala Kennedy performs a range of material from across the Irish and Scottish traditional music repertoires. She also composes her own idiosyncratic brand of traditional music and tours in a variety of line-ups from duo and quartet to a nine-piece festival band ‘The New Shoes’ with whom she recorded her debut album released on Nashville’s Compass Records (2007). It received four-star reviews from the national Scotland on Sunday newspaper, Songlines Magazine and was voted traditional album of the week by The Irish Times. “original and highly accomplished” SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY “not only an exceptional interpreter of the tradition, her own tunes glisten with freshness…dazzling” THE IRISH TIMES. Time: 3-4pm .Venue: Millmount Tower. Tickets: €10.oo.
3). DROGHEDA’S FINEST: A seisiún with Drogheda’s finest traditional musicians and guests. Time 5-6pm. Venue: Millmount Tower Tickets :€7.oo.
Season tickets (events 1.2, & 3) - €18.00.
