Running over two evenings, with an associated exhibition of photography and video, these exciting events will bring together the local and European traditions in music and dance, sharing the European mummering tradition of our Polish and Ukrainian communities.
On August 18th, at the Courthouse Gallery we will examine the legacy of the Céilí and Dance bands of the area since 1930,with an audio visual presentation by Enda Byrt. Musicians and dancers of that era will add to the presentation with their reminiscences and explore how that legacy enhances our current sense of place and belonging.
As a social outlet, the music created by this generation provided an antidote to three decades of economic hardship and emigration. Through reproductions of archival prints, audio recordings from the era and live interviews with the few surviving musicians and dance goers, the public interactions presented as key events will bring the social history of the 1940s to 1960s period to life.
The exhibition of photographs, posters and recordings will be opened on the evening and will be on view in the Courthouse Gallery through September 14th.
On September 14th at the Courthouse Gallery a night of celebration of the European Mummering tradition brings together the local and Eastern European expressions of these shared, ancient practices with music and dance. What is often referred to as a uniquely Irish phenomenon, has many parallel European roots. This event will bring to life the shared histories, in particular of our Ukrainian and Polish community members.
This event has been funded by Clare County Council and Creative Ireland through the Creative Communities fund.
