The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Lots on offer as Dingle goes on the trail of trad
DINGLE Tradfest will get off to a flying start this Thursday when local man David Geaney brings his Velocity: Rising dance show to the Hillgrove Hotel to kick start four days – and long nights – of trad music, song, dance and general good craic.
Started seven years ago by sisters Aoife and Deirdre Granville from John Street, the festival has been hit by cuts in Arts Council funding. But a successful ‘crowd funding’ campaign and unrelenting determination has kept the show on the road with a busy programme of gigs, sessions and workshops.
First up is David Geaney and James Devine’s Velocity: Rising show, which ran throughout August at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was described by ‘The Scotsman’ as “a wonderful, fast-paced and utterly joyful display of Irish dancing.”
The hour-long show, which will help raise funds for the festival, includes the Tríona Mangan dancers from Killarney, some of the Ó Cathasaighs from Lios Póil, Spanish percussionist Moises Mas Garcia – and a DJ. “It’s a modern twist on dancing without destroying the tradition,” David told The Kerryman. “There’s sean nós dancing, flamenco, tap dancing – everything I’ve seen and liked.”
The show is in The Hillgrove at 7.30pm on Thursday. Entry €10.
On Friday An Saol Ó Dheas will broadcast live from Curran’s pub on Main Street, at 8pm there’s a concert in McCarthy’s Pub with Deirdre Scanlan, Kern and guests (€10) and meanwhile music will be flying out the doors of session trail pubs that include The Dingle Pub, Adam’s, Bárr na Sráide, Currans, The Courthouse, An Chonair, Kennedy’s, Hannie Agnes’s, Foxy’s, John Benny’s and O’Flaherty’s.
Saturday’s highlights include a dance workshop with David Geaney and James Devine in Benner’s Hotel from 12.30pm – 2.30pm. The first half of this will be a tough physical workout, developed by James Devine for dancers who are already competing, while the second half will focus on learning steps. The workshop costs €20 for individuals, a family-oriented €50 for groups of three and there are further discounts for larger groups. Advance bookings can be made at velocityofficial.com but it’s ok to just turn up on the day. Bring dancing shoes – and a towel!
At 2pm on Saturday the Temperance Hall on Main Street will host a workshop aimed at children aged 5-9 who will hear all about the famed composer O’Carolan and rehearse some of his tunes. (€8 per child, parent free; €20 for a family).
At 4pm on Saturday David Geaney will be dancing in his favourite venue – his family’s Dingle Pub on Main Street. And at 7pm on Saturday Maeve Gilchrist and Nic Gareiss, along with the Ruben Bada Trio from Asturias and various guests will perform at the Coirmcheoil na Féile in St James’s Church. (Tickets €20 can be bought in advance from the Dingle Record Shop or book online at dingletradfest@ gmail.com).
On Sunday expect to hear the Loc a Bhogaidh fife and drum band marching around Dingle at around 1pm, at 10.30 that night a trad disco will wind up the festival in An Chonair and in between times sessions will continue throughout the town.