CORK CITY EVENTS
News - Queen in the market for some traditional Irish fare in Cork
Some traditional culinary delights are to be laid on for the Queen on her visit to Ireland next week when she tours the 18th century English Market in Cork city centre on Friday, May 20. Cork’s English Market is known as a treasure trove for foodies and is famed for staples such as pigs' trotters, ‘drisheen' (a type of blood pudding), tripe, farmhouse cheeses, soda breads and virtually every type of fish. The visit to the market — which almost burned down 30 years ago — is being described as the highlight of the Queen's itinerary in Cork, where a street party will take place to honour her visit. City Council last night (11th May) described the street party as “a welcome gesture to the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in acknowledgement of the historical significance of the visit and the Queen's generous decision to visit the city on her short stay”.
Cork Folk Festival
Back
in 1979, when The Cork Folk Festival was being conceived, the
idea of surviving 25 years was not even a pipe dream. At a time
when folk festivals such as Ballisodare and Ballyshannon offered
inspiration, one of the main motivations on Leeside was to
provide an urban platform for the indigenous music, song and
dance of the Muskerry Gaeltacht, Sliabh Luachra and West Kerry;
in tandem with attracting premier national and international
exponents of folk and traditional music to the city. That first year of concerts, céilís, workshops, Festival Club and sessions, offered a successful template for succeeding years. The opening night, Thursday September 13th 1979 at Douglas GAA Club; was headlined by Nioclás Tóibín and Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin, two fine traditional singers sadly no longer among us. The high standard of local traditional musicianship at the time is evident from the other participants: Conal agus Máire Ní Ghráda, and Máire agus Nollaig Ní Chathasaigh.
With venues such as Connolly Hall, UCC, The Country Club, The Phoenix Bar and Heaphy’s Bar (now The Lobby); you could have invested in a weekend ticket covering all 1979 events for jus £8. For that, you could have enjoyed De Dannan, Seán Ó Sé, Na Filí, Jimmy Crowley & Stokers Lodge, The Lee Valley Stringband, Niall Toner, Tomás Ó Canainn, Eoin Ó Riabhaigh, Mandy Murphy, The Press Gang – and a host of other names.
Céilís and Set
Dances are a core component, as are the dance workshops on
Festival Saturday and Sunday, presented by some of the finest
teachers in the country, including: Joe O’Donovan, the late
Connie Ryan, Mick Mulkerins, Pat and Liz Moroney, Betty Ryan,
Máiréad Casey; and of course, Timmy McCarthy and William
Hammond. Cajun two-steps and clog dancing are among other dance
forms to have snuck in, thanks to visiting teachers, musicians
and enthusiasts. Legendary Céilí Bands, including The Tulla,
Kilfenora and Templehouse have provided the music for Folk
Festival dancers; as indeed have many of the bands specialising
in the set dance music indigenous to Cork, Kerry and South
Munster. The Abbey Céilí Band, Donie Nolan & Taylors Cross,
The Four Star Trio, The Island Céilí Band, The Donncha Lynch
Céilí Band and Sliabh Notes have all followed in the footsteps
(or should that be steered the footsteps)since that inaugural
1979 Phoenix Céilí Band hooley. The already mentioned and much
missed Johnny Leary, and other friends from Dan Connell’s
bar and famous dance locale in Knocknagree, have been as much a
part of these events as Cork dance enthusiasts. A hugely popular
element of the Festival which has survived from 1979 is the
Specialist Concert. These are concerts featuring leading
exponents of a specific traditional instrument; such as Button
Accordion, Fiddle, Pipes, Flute & Whistle, or String.
Originally dubbed Workshops, it was eventually decided that this
was something of a misnomer, given that there were no question
and answer sessions, indeed no opportunity for aspiring musicians
to play with the featured exponents. Since the mid 1990s, Master
Classes have successfully bridged that gap. Renowned
unaccompanied traditional singers and songmakers from all over
the country make the annual pilgrimage to the Cork Folk
Festival’s Traditional Song Concert. Like the Specialist
Traditional Concerts, this is presented by a different singer
each year and is invariably a Festival highpoints year after
year.
Since Nioclás Tóibín and Diarmuid Ó Súilleabháin sang on
that very first Festival night in the Douglas GAA Club, literally
hundreds of traditional singers have taken the Traditional Song
Concert stage, from Clare’s late Junior Crehan and Micho
Russell, to Chapelizod’s Frank Harte, from Altan’s
Máiréad Ní Mhaonaigh to Danú’s Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh.
Many are familiar faces from North and South year after year:
Niamh Parsons, Rosie Stewart, Róisín white, Sinéad Caher, Tim
and John Lyons, Tim Dennehy, The Góilín Singers Club (Dublin),
Mick Scannell, Mick Marrinan etc.
Éamonn Coyne and Kris Drever at Cork Folk Festival 2007 Top
Next year will see choirs from as far afield as
Japan and Singapore make the journey to Cork, who are sure to
bring some Eastern colour as they join with the legions of other
international and Irish choirs. 2010 also marks the centenary of
Prof Fleischmann, which the Festival will be celebrating with a
very special Opening Concert and other events marking the
occasion. Click here for the very first sneak preview of
the 
Film Festival has a passionate belief in the power of
flm to unite cultures and generations. Once again
we are indebted to our curator Paul CALLANAN’s
exceptional capacity for exploring the best of
French cinema. He has prepared an exciting week-
long programme that reveals the unpredictable
vitality of the 7th Art, bringing you a selection of
superb screenings, cine-concerts, educational
programmes, master-classes, conferences, speakers
and competitions.
We are pleased to welcome to our 21st Cork
French Film Festival our guest star this year, the
famed French actor Christophe LAMBERT, best
known in these parts for his role as the Highlander.
He will present his latest flm Cartagena and the
iconic 80’s classic Subway, by Luc Besson. We are equally pleased to welcome the celebrated French
screenwriter Guillaume LAURANT (Amélie), the
fascinating traditional Irish Fiddle player Caoimhín
Ó’ RAGHALLAIGH and Marc COLLIN of French band
Nouvelle Vague. We also celebrate the fascinating
New Wave period of French cinema in the presence
of New Wave actor Pierre-Henri DELEAU, founder of
Director’s Fortnight, Cannes.
We would like to express our deep gratitude to the
Arts Council, French Embassy, Cork City Council, our
main sponsor Bord Gáis, all other sponsors, venues,
volunteers and all who have helped to make this
festival happen. Most of all, a sincere thanks to you,
our loyal public, for supporting the Cork French Film
Festival over 21 years!
Nous vous remercions amis cinéphiles qui chaque
année nous renouvelez votre confance!
Nora CALLANAN, Festival Director
Hélène DUQUIN, Festival Manager