Illustrated lecture to open Russell weekend

DOOLIN is preparing for its 19th Russell Memorial Weekend, which takes place later this month, with highlights including an illustrated lecture on local history, as well as the much-anticipated Russell Concert.

The festival begins on Friday, February 22 and continues to Monday, February 25.

The festival opens on the Friday night at 8pm with a fully-illustrated presentation of early Ireland in history, art and song by the Irish historian and traditional singer Michael Geaney in Hotel Doolin.

Michael is a regular visitor to the Doolin festival and his associations with the village and the Russells go back to the early 1970s. The talk will cover the early monuments, the gold work, Christian Ireland, the monasteries and church vessels, the book of Kells and some music and song.

Michael’s presentation will be illustrated with love songs, songs of historical events and emigration songs in his singing in the sean nós style.

The Russell Concert is the centre piece of the festival and it takes place on the Saturday at 2pm in the Russell Cultural Centre. The Legend of Gráinne Mhaol is this year’s main act. It is a spectacular traditional music show from Mayo recounting the story of the legendary 16th century Irish pirate queen, Gráinne Mhaol. It celebrates her rebellious life as a fearless seafarer through Irish music, song and dance.

The cast includes Lord of the Dance fiddle player Cora Smyth, who headlines the show with renowned balladeers James Kilbane and Jenny Mulvey; Latino dancer Pollyanna Guedes; all-Ireland champion box player Darragh Healy and seán nós dancer Liam Cunningham among the wealth of talented musicians, dancers and singers.

On Sunday, February 24 at 1pm, the anniversary remembrance mass for the Russells will take place at Doolin Church with accompaniment from the children’s choir and traditional musicians.

It will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Russell grave, with songs of farewell and tunes in memory of the dead.

Set dancing will be held at 3pm at the Function Room in Hotel Doolin, with music by Peter Griffin and the Four Courts Céilí Band.

Workshops will take place on both the Saturday and Sunday, between 10.30am and 12.30pm, in concertina, tin whistle, fiddle and accordion with music sessions throughout the weekend in Doolin, culminating in the Monday night festival wrap-up sessions.