Impressive line-up for Russell Memorial Weekend

THOUSANDS of people are expected to come to North Clare for this year’s Russell Memorial Weekend, which takes place at the end of the month. Details of the 17th festival were revealed earlier this week.

To commemorate the traditional music legacy of the Russell family from Doolin, the Russell Memorial Committee has put together a hectic programme of events for a weekend of music and entertainment from Friday, February 25 to Monday, February 28.
“We are expecting a good crowd at this year’s festival. In previous years there have been as many as 4,000 people at a time at it because you had events in the pubs, the hotel and the centre itself and most of them are usually packed,” said Stephen McDermott, one of the festival organising committee.
“Most people come for the music and the craic. The festival goes on for the whole weekend and there is great food in the local pubs and hotels and great music too. Each year the festival is getting bigger and better. We don’t know what to expect for this year but hopefully people will come out and support it and the downturn doesn’t put them off. It really is a big help for the local economy; it helps the B&Bs and hostels and the pubs. Most are open for the Russell weekend,” he continued.
The festival opens on Friday, February 25 with a free concert at 8pm in the Russell Cultural Centre featuring local musicians.
The highlight of the festival is the Russell Concert, which takes place on Saturday afternoon, February 26 in the Russell Cultural Centre. This year’s line-up includes an impressive array of talented musicians, singers and dancers. It features singer Matt Keane from Caherlistrane and Galway native Gary Quinn on accordion; Roscommon duo Patsy Hanly on flute and singer Pauline Hanly; from Belharbour, the renowned concertina player Chris Droney with Francis Droney and Ann McGrath; joining Roscommon fiddle and banjo player John Carty is Leitrim man Brian Rooney on fiddle and accordion; Breda Keville on fiddle is joined by Cormac Cannon on uillean pipes; dancer Padraic and Gerard Devaney; Celine Hession Dancers as well as Sligo’s Carmel Gunning on tin whistle. The compere for this event is Tipperary-born singer Dick Hogan. The concert will be followed by a food and wine reception. Tickets are available at the door.
The Russell Remembrance Mass takes place on Sunday, February 27 at 1pm at Doolin Church to the accompaniment of hymns and songs from the Doolin church choir and local 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.
This year’s events will continue to focus on the music, song and instrumentation heritage of the Russells with three music recitals beginning with a music recital in McGann’s Pub on Saturday, February 26 at 11am. The following day, two free recitals will take place at 10.30am in McDermott’s Pub and O’Connor’s Pub.
There is a free traditional singing recital on Saturday, February 26 at 5pm in the O’Gorman Room, Russell Cultural Centre. Sunday will see set dancing take place at 3pm at the function room in Hotel Doolin with music by Peter Griffin and the Four Courts Céilí Band.
Organisers are also planning a range of workshops in a number of traditional musical instruments on both Saturday and Sunday mornings of the weekend.
“The workshops are always very popular. I think they will be a really popular element of the weekend. For our concert on Saturday we will have Cosa Beoga, who are on the All-Ireland Talent Show and that will definitely draw people because they were so good on the television,” Mr McDermott commented.
The festival wraps up with the Monday night sessions and indeed many informal live music sessions will take place throughout the weekend in Doolin pubs and hotels.