07 Feb 2006

Celtic Celebration at University College Cork (UCC), 7-10 March

UCC hosts Celtfest from Tuesday, 7 March to Friday, 10 March 2006.   Hosted by Áras na Mac Léinn, Celfest is an annual celebration of celtic song, music, dance language and culure.  Now in it eighth year, Celfest will once again welcome musicians and performers from Brittany and Galicia (the Celtic region in the North West of Spain).  According to Events Manager, Gráinne Thompson "This annual showcase of the Celtic countries and their longstanding traditions gives the people of Cork an opportunity to experience celtic culture at its best." "The highlight of the festival this year, is undoubtedly the Celtic concert on Thursday night, 9 March in Devere Hall which features both Panvrid ar Beskont and SonDeSeu." She added "The festival creates a wonderful atmosphere on campus".

This year Brittany will be represented by the traditional Breton Bagad (or pipe band) "Panvrid ar Beskont" whose musical repertoire is derived from Breton compositions which incorporate old and new traditions. Each year the bagad participates in numerous festivals in France and abroad as well as the Pipe Band Championship of Brittany during the InterCeltic fetival of Lorient.  Galicia will be represented by SonDeSeu - an orchestra of 46 musicians who make a return visit to the Festival. SonDeSeu is a contemporary folk orchestra, comprising both teachers and students from the conservatory of Traditional Music in Vigo (Spain). The orchestra performs a traditional and contemporary repertory; the music which is essentially classic Galician folk music is original and is written exclusively for the orchestra by the teachers themselves.

Impromptu performances will take place during the week in and around Áras na Mac Léinn. Staff and students are encouraged to promote Irish during the week.

At the conclusion of the Festival, the participating groups will travel to the Muskerry Gaeltacht where they will perform in Baile Bhúirne and Cúl Aodha during the weekend (10-12 March).

183MMcS