The Liverpool Irish Festival will be held from the 6th-30th October 2005. The Festival is now in its third year and celebrates the links between Liverpool and Ireland, highlighting the significance of Irish traditions, music, literature, theatre and art in defining Liverpool's culture.
 | | Emer Mayock |
The Festival will feature traditional and contemporary art by dozens of artists from Ireland (or with an Irish connection), ranging from worldwide superstars of Irish music to local primary school children performing work created during workshops. Liverpool has an unique historical affinity with Ireland, so the event promises to be an Irish Festival like no other. Fittingly, in the year that Cork enjoys the accolade of Capital of Culture that will have passed to Liverpool by 2008, the Festival has managed to extend further across the arts and entertainment scene in the city than in its previous years. Here are some of the star attractions and special events to look out for during October. Launch Launch – the VIP launch of the Festival is on Thursday 6th October at the Everyman Theatre Foyer Bar. The Undertones - Derry’s new wave pioneers perform at the Liverpool Academy later the same evening. Music
 | | Christy Moore |
The Philharmonic Hall is once again the mainstay of the Festival’s music programme, with a visit by the legendary Christy Moore (appearing with Declan Sinnot on Oct 20th/21st) and a reunion concert for siblings Frances, Shay, Michael and Martin, four members of the Black Family (Oct 23rd). These concerts form part of a music weekend that also welcomes leading lights of Irish music, including Alan Burke, Emer Mayock, Garva, a host of top musicians in relaxed sessions at the Everyman Bistro, the Casa and The Fly In The Loaf, plus an appearance by Matt Molloy, John Carty and Arty McGlynn in the atmospheric surroundings of the Metropolitan Cathedral’s Crypt (Oct 20th). The music sessions continue over the last weekend in October and incorporate a singing festival, again attracting some highly respected performers. Theatre
 | | The Cambria |
The Everyman Theatre plays host to a modern classic by Brian Friel. The National Theatre Touring production of Translations (Oct 11-15). The Arts Centre (Liverpool Community College) sees local company Network stage Owen Hagan’s A Drink With Patrick Kavanagh (Oct 21st/22nd) and two plays by and featuring the prolific writer and actor Donal O’Kelly, Jimmy Joyced! (Oct 24th) and The Cambria (Oct 25th). Brian Friel’s work is again showcased in Crosby where Alsop Drama perform The Loves Of Cass Mcguire at Crosby Civic Hall (Oct 22-24). Poetry/Spoken Word
 | | Maighread Medbh |
Poetry from Northern Ireland, the Republic and Liverpool’s Irish diaspora is prominent during the Festival. Donegal’s Matthew Sweeney (Oct 19th), Dublin’s Máighréad Medbh and Nessa O’Mahony (Oct 27th) and Belfast’s Géaroid McLochlainn (Oct 28th) perform alongside Liverpool Irish writers and Festival musicians. One of the country’s top screenwriters, Jimmy McGovern, appears at FACT (Oct 26th), discussing his work in conversation with Roger Phillips of BBC Radio Merseyside and in a question and answer session. Dance
 | | Dance Showcase |
The best of the region’s young traditional Irish dance talent, including George Ferguson’s school join contemporary dancer Claire Quinn, performing a devised piece, and Bisakha Sarker, who blends Indian dance with Irish music, for a special Dance Showcase at the Arts Centre (Oct 29th). Comedy In a late addition to the programme, presenter of BBC’s Fame Academy and one of Northern Ireland’s most renowned stand-ups, Patrick Kielty, performs at Rawhide Comedy Club at the Royal Court, contributing in one go to Liverpool’s Irish and Comedy Festivals. Education & Family the Family Day (Oct 23rd) at the Philharmonic Hall showcases work developed during Irish art workshops in eight of the city’s primary school. St Michael’s Irish Centre host a Children’s Irish Arts Day (Oct 28th). There are lectures in aspects of Irish history at Liverpool University, as well as a bus tour of Irish heritage sites (Oct 30th). As part of the Kensington One World week, Irish culture is celebrated with a Ceili (Oct 23rd tbc). Film The Mighty Celt, starring Robert Carlyle, Gillian Anderson and Ken Stott, shows on the big screen at Philharmonic Hall (Oct 18th). More information and booking details can be found in the Festival brochure and on the website. The brochure is available across the city and can be obtained by phoning the Festival hotline 07759451645 (Mon-Fri office hours), or emailing info@liverpoolirishfestival.com Follow the link on the right hand side of this page to visit the website. | 
