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ArtsNote: This page has been updated. Visit our Arts Section for more up to date information about Duchas Chill Dara Dúchas Chill Dara Kildare International Folk Arts Festival 27th – 30th August 1998
Celtic Nations Unite at Dúchas Chill Dara Dúchas Chill Dara ’98 – Kildare International Folk Arts Festival which was held from Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 August 1998, was a resounding success. A series of parades, concerts and pub sessions throughout the weekend included performances from Pennduiged Ar Releg – Brittany; Dawnswyr Delyn – Wales; Bock Yuan Fannee – Isle of Man; Tan ha Dowr – Cornwall; Landers Folkdance Group; Lord Edward’s Own Narraghmore Pipe Band; Culture Pulse and Carmel Somers Folkdance Group. The official opening of this year’s festival was performed by Eamonn Mulvihill, Principal of St. Joseph’s Academy, at Market Square, Kildare on Thursday 27 August. He welcomed visitors to the town and referred to the historical links that unite the Celtic Nations, particularly in the area of folk arts. The opening was followed by performances from the international groups, who introduced their music and dance in their own languages and in English. The groups performed in St. Conleth’s Day Care Centre, Kildare on Thursday and Friday mornings and visited local and national tourist attractions during their stay. The festival programme included a concert in the Carmelite Church, Kildare on Friday night, performances at the Curragh Races on Saturday, a concert in Berneys, Kilcullen on Saturday night and many unscheduled sessions in local pubs. Following midday mass on Sunday in the Carmelite Church, White Abbey, Kildare, which included performances by the visiting groups, the festival parade took place to Market Square, where the groups gave their final performances, finishing in time to watch the Kildare v Kerry All Ireland Football Semi-Final The festival became part of the build-up to the event, with Sunday’s programme starting and finishing earlier that originally planned so that everyone involved could watch the match. Amongst the many international visitors to Kildare on Sunday was American Richard Aylmer, who is preparing a biography on Lord Edward Fitzgerald. Members of Lord Edward’s Own Narraghmore Pipe Band were delighted to meet the man responsible for discovering a set of bagpipes belonging to Lord Edward. At the conclusion of the festival, Chairman Pat Sweeney thanked the host families, St Joseph’s Academy, St. Conleth’s Day Care Centre, Magee Barracks, advertisers in the festival programme, sponsors and all who helped make the event a success. Arrangements for Dúchas Chill Dara ’99 are already being made and groups expected to take part include an Italian flag waving group, an Asturian pipe band and a Russian folkdance group. Dúchas Chill Dara is organised by Kildare Town Twinning Association in conjunction with The Institute For International Cultural Exchange. Phone 045-521190 Fax: 045-521198 E-mail: mdassociates@tinet.ie The following is the programme of events for the festival: Important AnnouncementKildare combines Celtic Festival and Gaelic Games This year the festival will be part of the build-up to the Kildare v Kerry All Ireland Football Semi-Final, which will be held in Croke Park, with Sunday's programme starting and finishing earlier than originally planned so that everyone involved can watch the match. This year’s festival will have a Celtic theme, with music, song and dance groups from the Celtic nations taking part. Visitors from Brittany, Cornwall, Isle of Man, Scotland and Wales will join Irish Folkdance and music groups, pipe bands and solo performers for what promises to be an exciting cultural weekend.
There is a long tradition of music, song and dance in Kildare and the purpose of the festival is to celebrate this tradition, to make people more aware of its existence and to play a part in preserving the tradition and passing it on to future generations. The festival is centred in Kildare Town but groups will also perform at other locations throughout the county. |
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