A feast of yarns and song at Hilltown Storytelling Festival

The Gathering, Hilltown Storytelling Festival opens this week for its third year and organisers are looking forward to entertaining visitors with a wonder mix of events.

The festival promotes the ancient traditions of storytelling with a line-up that is rich, inclusive and accessible, filled with stories, music and songs. Full details can be found in festival programmes - available in local outlets - or can be viewed at www.facebook.com

On Thursday 22nd, Hilltown dancer and caller Joe Farrell will lead a free children’s Set Dancing Masterclass in Clonduff GAA Clubrooms from 6-7pm. There will also be a demo of sean nos dancing from Mayo dancer Roisin Greaney. ‘So They Say’, with Colum Sands and Una Walsh will kick off the storytelling in Minny Doyles that evening at 8pm, tickets £5.

Mayo man, Joe Greaney will visit St Paul’s PS in Cabra on Friday lunchtime to pass on his bilingual storytelling skills to the senior classes. His show, ‘Doin’ the Fool’ takes place later that evening in Doran’s Bar, with music by the Rambling Paddies, from 8pm.

Local camogs and hurlers will have a bi-lingual coaching session with Joe on Saturday morning down at the GAA pitch at 11am. Mary Margarets will host a Cúpla Scéal Gaelige with Joe Greaney and Cathal O’Baoill at the fire from 2pm. On Saturday night the Ciara McCrickard Trio will impress with their musical talents, paying tribute to their traditional roots, in the Downshire Arms Hotel and 8pm, tickets £10.

The Tea Dance on Sunday afternoon will be hosted by the Fegan family for two charities close to their hearts, the Air Ambulance and Life & Time. Running in the INF Hall from 2.30pm to 5.30pm. The ambulance is an important part of their family due to a grandchild who suffers epilepsy. And they much value Life & Time which provides a vital caring service to our community. Music by Breakaway with afternoon tea and raffle. Tickets £5 payable at the door.

The first week wraps up with a special screening of Gaza with Film Hub NI in Carcullion House. The documentary, filmed in 2019, is a beautiful portrait of everyday Gazan citizens, leading meaningful lives beyond the rubble. The screening starts at 7pm and is free with donations being collected on the night for the “Irish Artists for Palestine” organisation which continues to fundraise to meet the urgent medical and humanitarian needs in Gaza.

The second week of the Gathering starts on Thursday 29th February with the wonderful play ‘The Man in The Woman’s Shoes’, by Mikel Murphy. Mikel brings his one-person theatrical masterpiece all the way from Co Sligo. It takes place in the Downshire Arms Hotel at 8pm. Tickets £10.

Japanese born storyteller, Masako Carey, whose home is now the Glens of Antrim, will open a window on her culture with the senior classes in St Patrick’s PS on Friday and Eamonn Keenan will share his stories of heroes, fairies, ghosts, witches and love at Carcullion House at 1pm. The session will spark discussion on beginning a community archive of stories, song, film and photos.

Homegrown storyteller Sinead McAleavey, will host her monthly storytelling meet up, the First Friday session, in the Tipsy Cow, from 8pm. The amazing Briege Murphy is the special guest, a singer/songwriter from Forkhill.

Galway native Aindrais de Staic will visit Hilltown for the first time on the Saturday. Kicking off with his Bardic-Style Storytelling Workshop in Dorans in the morning at 10am. He will explain how to use music, rhythm, poetry and bardic meter to enhance storytelling. Cost is £10 and includes hot lunch. Later that evening he will head to the Front Bar in the INF at 7.30pm for his ‘Words & Music’ performance with plenty of humour, rhythm and energy, tickets cost £10. The recently formed Clonduff Comhaltas will lead a traditional music session afterwards. All musicians, singers and storytellers are welcome.

Sunday 3rd March, the final day, starts with ‘Morning After Stories’ in the Boley Inn lead by Sean O’Baoill and other local storytellers for tall tales and soothing stories from 12pm. The monthly sets ceili takes place in the afternoon, from 3-6pm, with Glenside Ceili Band in the INF Hall. Tickets are £10, payable at the door. Afternoon tea included.

Hilltown singer/songwriter Matt McGinn and Friends will wrap up the festival at Tory Bush Cottages at 8pm. He is accompanied by Sinead McKenna from Co Tyrone on fiddle and Newry’s Martha Guiney on flute. Tickets £10 and bring your own drinks.

The Gathering is organised by Hilltown Community Association and Tumbling Paddy with Financial Support from Newry Mourne and Down Council’s Arts & Culture Fund. 

Check out the programme at online.fliphtml5.com