Aibreán Curated Programme
The Greenway Poetry Trail on Thursday April 28th from 6.00pm to 8.00pm
On April 28, celebrating the Art of the Word, and on the occasion of Poetry Day Ireland, FOLKLIFE took to the Western Greenway for a poetry trail featuring some of Mayo’s and Ireland’s finest minstrels and poets. Experience the work of poets Séamus Barra Ó Súilleabháin, Terry McDonagh, Ger Reidy, Geraldine Mitchell and Sasha Terfous with musical friends as they journey along the Greenway.
Bealtaine Eve on Saturday April 30th
On April 30, visual artist John Conway presented his newly commissioned artwork on the ground of NMI - Country Life, Turlough. The event featured performances by Eriko Uehara Hopkinson and youth choir and internationally acclaimed folk band Landless featuring Ruth Clinton, Meabh Meir, Sinead Lynch and Lily Power.
Folklife Commissions
Visual artist, John Conway creates innovative multi-disciplinary projects which result in sophisticated solo and participatory artworks, often produced in response to sensitive, challenging, or novel contexts. His Folklife commissions are informed by his visits to the NMI - Country Life and took the form of light filled installations to presented on the grounds of The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life.
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Súil Amháin is the hip-hop project of Irish language poet Séamus Barra Ó Súilleabháin. In 2021 Súil Amháin released for 4 songs all produced by Bantum -Viva Liobarnach; Lá Breá; Incantation of Féile-Flow Funk and Oíche Mhaith.
Séamus Barra published his first collection poetry Beatha Dhónaill Dhuibh (2016). Séamus has done extensive research on the relationship between composition and folklore in the writings of the Blasket Island poet Mícheál Ó Gaoithín.
For the FOLKLIFE - Faoin Spéir commission Séamus wrote a piece in response to Raifteirí and will collaborate with the Gaoth Dobhair musician Robert Mulhern.
Folklife Performances
Choral conductor Eriko Uehara Hopkinson led her Youth Choir in a performance of seasonal song to welcome summer. The choir also presented a soundscape responding to the range of commissions and residency outcomes.
A very special performance by the critically acclaimed Landless took place on April 30th. Ruth Clinton, Meabh Meir, Sinead Lynch and Lily Power performed unaccompanied traditional songs from Irish, Scottish, English and American traditions in close four part harmony. Their repertoire features songs of love, death and lamentation, as well as work songs, shape-note hymns and more recently penned folk songs. Landless have performed in a variety of settings, both in Ireland and abroad, and are closely involved with traditional singing sessions in Dublin and Belfast.