Irish Rail Promotion
We really would love you to make the trip to Kilkenny to check out the festival.
To give your bank balance a little bit of a helping hand on this front, we've teamed up with Irish Rail to offer you a 10% discount when you book tickets online on irishrail.ie.
All you have to do is:
Go to www.irishrail.ie
Book your tickets as normal
When you reach the payments page enter this voucher code: KAF1068 in the "voucher number" box and click check.
This will automatically give you a 10% reduction off your train tickets to Kilkenny.
The offer is valid from Monday 26th July at 00.01 until midnight on Wednesday 28th July.
So - get booking!!
Other ways to save money with us this year include becoming a Festival Member, or by booking a Ticket Package.
Ceramics, Jewellery, Glass and Textiles with Angela O’Kelly
Angela O'Kelly is the curator for this year's Craft strand at the Kilkenny Arts Festival, Angela now in her second year curating the strand.
Just as with Matthew and Tom, I caught up with Angela at the Project Arts Centre in Dublin for a chat about what's coming up during this year's festival. Ceramics, jewellery, glass and textiles are all on the cards with two exhibitions from Mah Rana in Gallery 1 at the National Craft Galleries, a showcase of 14 makers in Gallery 2 who are actively embracing new kinds of technology to develop their craft as well as all that Strand 2 entails.
This is the shortened clip to give you a quick insight into the programme. Check back later for the full chat (about 10 minutes in total). You can also view previous clips on our YouTube channel.
MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICE
First things first. Some terrible albums have won ‘Album of the Year’ awards. Likewise, some great albums haven’t even been nominated. Some awards don’t even have a problem giving their award to a ‘Best Of’.
The Choice Music Prize is different. Modelled on the Mercury Prize in the UK – but without the need to nominate Dizzee Rascal every year – it is judged by a panel of industry experts – and Tony Fenton – and carries such gravitas that even being nominated ensures wider exposure for bands and artists.
It is, therefore, testament to the quality of Wired 2010 that the event will play host to three Choice nominees – And So I Watch Your From Afar, Mick Flannery and Valerie Francis – as well as this year’s Choice winner, Adrian Crowley (Season of the Sparks).
Indeed, this was Adrian’s second nomination – he just missed out in 2007 with Long Distance Swimmer – and was a deserving winner despite being possibly the only album nominated that was written and recorded in the space of a week while the artist was dog-sitting.
** check out our facebook page to be in with a chance of winning tickets to all of these great gigs. competition runs until Monday 25th July **
Adrian Crowley | Set Theatre, 15 August, 3pm
And So I Watch You From Afar | Set Theatre, 14 August, 10pm
Mick Flannery | St. Canice's Cathedral, 8 August, 7pm
Valerie Francis | Set Theatre, 15 August, 3pm
Tom Creed Talks Theatre & Dance
In continuing our chats with some of the festival's curators for 2010, I had the chance to catch up with Tom Creed, the gent behind the theatre and dance strand of the festival. 2010 marks Tom's third year in curating this particular area of the festival and he's come up with a quality programme of events with shows including Victor and Gord, The Smile Off Your Face, Where Did It All Go Right?, A Western, THEATREclub's Group Therapy for One, Susan & Darren, Footwashing For The Sole and more.
There's seven shows in total taking place in a theatre, a pub, a wheelchair, a period house, a museum and other venues you might not normally associate with theatrical or dance performances. We'll have more on the strand itself in the build up to the festival over the next few weeks but for the moment, check out the short clip of Tom above as he previews some of the shows on the cards for August. We'll have an extended edition of the video out later!
-Ken
read more...
10 Reasons The Literature Strand Rocks
Honestly, there's more than 10 but I'm really going to try and keep this one at a nice round number. For more on each of these events, please click the titles of each entry.
1. Robert Fisk Will Be There... Will You?
Robert Fisk has done a lot of things in his 63 years that none of us will ever do. He's interviewed Osama Bin Laden. He's reported from Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Lebanon. He's been kidnapped twice. He's suffered hearing problems from getting too close to heavy artillery. He's also won a plethora of awards for a journalistic career that spans 40 years. And of course, he will be the subject of this year's Hubert Butler lecture. He'll be talking about his experiences since he worked as the Belfast correspondent for The Times in the early 1970's. Witty, insightful and absolutely fearless in his questioning, Robert Fisk will no doubt be all those things and more in this 90 minute talk that will take place in St. Canice's Cathedral on August 7th. So yes, the great journalist will be there. Will you?
2. There Is No Sports Strand, But...
After the success of last year's fascinating GAA: Blood and Thunder event in Set Theatre, Kilkenny Arts Festival is once again delving into the storied history of the GAA with this unique event. Once again taking the Monday evening slot in Set Theatre, this year's hurling themed event is titled 'Ireland's Athletic Assault and Battery? Hollywood and Hurling'.
 poster 2(1).jpg)
This programme of films are taken from GAA tours to the US from the 1920's through to the 1940's. They offer a fascinating and rarely glimpsed representation of Hollywood's attitude to Ireland. This representation of both hurling and Ireland proved controversial in some quarters and offers a meaty subject matter for this event. These films and the tales surrounding them will be presented by Dr. Sean Crosson on Monday 9th of August at 7pm.
3. No Better Men To Talk Music And Literature...
In what will be a very special event, Philip King will be talking to Joseph O'Connor about the influence on Irish/American balladry in his recent fiction. O'Connor's recent fiction of course encompasses the 800,000 copies sold worldwide of his best seller Star Of The Sea. It also encompasses 2007's Redemption Falls and his new novel, Ghost Light, a haunting ghost story about the relationship between JM Synge and the actress Molly Allgood. Philip King is well known for a series of fascinating musical projects that he has spearheaded in recent times, most notably the hugely popular Other Voices and The Full Set. It should prove to be a great night of wit, banter, readings and even a song or two. The event takes place in The Watergate Theatre on Friday 6th of August at 8pm.
In the red corner.... He is one of our greatest living writers. A man so good that he has an alter ego named Benjamin Black write wonderfully slick thrillers like Christine Falls for him. He hails from Co. Wexford but currently resides in Dublin. He's a Man Booker Prize winner for The Sea. He is... John Banville! In the blue corner... one of the most original Irish authors of recent times. A writer of German descent who set some of his early works in Europe and achieved great success with his childhood memoir The Speckled People. He has been awarded the Rooney Prize For Irish Literature. Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, he is... Hugo Hamilton! This huge event will take place on August 12th. Get your ringside seats quick!
5. Get Ready To Be Electrified
Paul Durcan has been called many things over a long and accomplished career but electrifying is certainly a word that sums the great poet up to a tee. He was certainly one of the writers who made English class in my latter years of schooling somewhat bearable. He'll be bringing his style, wit and craft to bear on the Watergate Theatre on Saturday August 7th in what should prove to be a masterclass in oratory skills. The focus of this event will be his new, all encompassing collection Life Is A Dream which brings together 4 decades of work. His wonderful and witty anecdotes should be the cherry on top of this event. One of the most electrifying ways to spend a Saturday afternoon this August.
There are many reasons to love Gabriel Byrne. The cool screen presence, the silvery brogue, the harsh glint in his eyes or maybe the wry smirk. Or in the case of Kilkenny folk, the fact that he led a standing ovation for Kilkenny Musical Society’s production of Oklahoma in 2008. Whatever the reason (and there are many) the love usually stems from a stunning 30 year career and a reputation as one of Ireland’s greatest acting exports. This retrospective will include The Coen’s stone cold classic Miller’s Crossing along with the enchanting Into The West. We’ll also be treated to the intimate 2008 portrait of the man himself, Stories From Home. The event takes place on Saturday August 7th in Set Theatre from 10am.
It’ll be another collision of big hitters as two of the countries biggest poets headline an event on Tuesday 10th of August. Ciaran Carson has been at the forefront of literature and poetry in Northern Ireland since the 1970’s and is the current director of the Seamus Heaney centre at Queen’s University. He’ll be reading from his near 40 year career and there’ll no doubt be many gems to be found. I’m a massive fan of his recent reworking of The Tain and will be hoping in vain that he might touch on the epic. Michael Coady’s work is far removed from the epic in scale and focuses on the intimacies of place, environment and community. One of Ireland’s most revered poets and a former winner of the Patrick Kavanagh award, the Carrick-on-Suir native will also be dipping into his long and prolific career. Pure poetry brilliance from the top to the tail of Ireland!
This is shaping up to be one of the most unique events of this year’s Kilkenny Arts Festival. It’s titled When I’m Sixty-Four and while I suspect a lot of people might balk at a symposium on the area of pension reform for a night out, this event will surely prove them wrong. Especially when it’s being headed up by a woman nicknamed ‘the most dangerous woman in America. Theresa Ghilarducci is the Professor of Economics at the New School for Social Research in New York and her radical plans for pension reform earned her that deadly moniker. She will be joined in this most pertinent discussion by Jim Stewart and Gerry Hughes from the School of Business in Trinity College Dublin. The event will be chaired by Fintan O’Toole who did an exemplary job at last year’s festival in his conversation with Thomas Kilroy. The event will take place in St. Canice’s Cathedral on Wednesday August 11th.
9. Striped Pyjamas, Special Purposes and Marilyn Monroe’s Dog
All of these disparate elements will be in the mix on the 8th of August when John Boyne and Andrew O’Hagan headline an event in the Watergate Theatre where they will both be delving into their fascinating new works. Boyne is best known as the author of the publishing behemoth that was The Boy With The Striped Pyjamas and you can bet that some of the 5 million or so people who bought that book will be in attendance. He’ll be reading from his latest novel The House Of Special Purpose which is set I early 20th century St. Petersburg and should prove another enthralling historical perspective.
Andrew O’Hagan has been labeled one of the most exciting young British novelists and he’s already become acquainted with a Booker Prize shortlist. He’ll be bringing his new novel The Life and Opinions Of Maf The Dog which looks at the early 60’s through the eyes of the dog Frank Sinatra bought Marilyn Monroe. Yup, you heard that right. This is going to rock so I reckon get booking while you can!
10. I Wouldn’t Mess With Nell McCafferty
Well, would you? Archbishop Diarmaid Martin found out recently that she certainly hasn’t lost any of her verbal whiplashing skills. She will be one of four speakers who are partaking in a talk entitled Forty Years Of Feminism on Friday August 13th in The Parade Tower. The event can also be summed up with its subheading ‘a discussion on where we are, where we were and where we’re going’ and will focus on the feminist movement in Ireland since the dark days of the early 1970’s and how the Irish Women’s Liberation Movement fought for the rights of women country wide. Nell McCafferty will be joined in the talk by Margaret MacCurtain, Catriona Crowe and Bridget Fitzsimons and it will be chaired by Diarmaid Ferriter. It should prove enlightening, engaging and of course, empowering.
1 Reason The Literature Strand Is Scary
Dennis Waterman in the nip. Yup, he of The Sweeny and Minder fame will be a bit naked this year. Not in the flesh mind. The British tough guy stars in I Can't... I Can't (Wedding Night) which receives it's first Irish screening after being censored in 1969 after it premiered at the Cork Film Festival. It's from a screenplay by Lee Dunne who bothered most of DeValera's Ireland with his smutty stories and naughty tales. It will be screened on Friday August 13th in the Parade Tower. It is possible it will cause you to have 'immodest thoughts'. Although Dennis Waterman in the nip should put paid to that.
Classical, Folk, Trad & Jazz To Start Your Festival
It's far from classical music I was raised, unless you count the Bach CD that used to linger in the kitchen for the odd Sunday dinner, but last year's experience of the strand has me hungry for more.
On the opening night for the 2009 Kilkenny Arts Festival, I made the trip to see Alexsandar Madzar perform in St. Canice's Cathedral. One man and the piano, in what can only be described as a stellar venue for music, captivated the entire audience for what could have been two hours worth of a performance. I was in, I was hooked and I'm looking forward to the strand again this year.
As a taste of what's coming up for the opening weekend, we start things off with 31-year old Finnish pianist, Antti Siirala (see the video above). You've got to go and see something in St. Canice's Cathedral this year - whatever the event, whatever the strand. If you can start off on the Friday with the sounds of some of the most challenging pieces in the piano repertoire (courtesy of Chopin), you won't be disappointed. The music is one thing, but with the music and the venue combined you've got a very special atmosphere and experience that you won't find anywhere else. At time of writing this morning, it looks like the show is heading to be a sell-out, and based on what I had experienced myself last year, I'm not surprised...
read more...
Singers Wanted - Kilkenny Arts Festival Chorus
Would you like to perform at Irelands leading Arts Festival?
Would you like to work under the direction of a leading Irish conductor?
Would you like to work with a professional orchestra and leading soloists?
If so Kilkenny Arts Festival would like to hear from you.
The festival is calling on members of choirs from throughout Ireland to take part in an exclusive choral project that will run during the 2010 Festival.
2010 marks the 37th year of the festival and will take place from 6th -15th August.
Those involved will be provided with tuition from experienced singers under the direction of Fergus Sheil.
There will be workshops with leading soloists and rehearsals will take place throughout festival week culmunating with a performance on Saturday 14th August in Kilkennys magnificent St Canices Cathedral.
The cost of participating in this Choral project is €70 which includes the purchase of music. Members of the Festival Chorus will also be entitled to reduction in ticket prices to other festival events and selected accommodation. The works to be performed are Rossinis “Sabat Mater” and Beethovens “Choral Fantasy”
Places are limited to 200 which will be evenly divided between sopranos, altos, tenors and basses. To secure your place in the Chorus please submit the entry form along with fee. Places will be secured on a “first come first served basis”.
Download the entry form here or contact the festival office on 056 7763663 or email info@kilkennyarts.ie
Choir Rehearsal Times:
Tuesday 10th August 10am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-5pm
Wednesday 11th August 10am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-5pm
Thursday 12th August 10am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-5pm
Friday 13th August 10am-12.30pm & 2.30pm-5pm
Saturday 14th August Dress Rehearsal 3-6pm with performance at 8pm
Matthew Nolan Talks Wired Strand
As part of a new series of videos that we're rolling out ahead of the festival this August, I travelled to Dublin last week to catch up with Wired strand curator Matthew Nolan to get an insight into this year's Wired programme. Tindersticks, Pierce Turner, Mick Flannery, Morton Valence, Adrian Crowley, And So I Watch You From Afar and loads more will arrive in Kilkenny in August for their respective shows. This is Matthew's third year to curate the Wired strand and having brought the likes of Mercury Rev, Spiritualized and Amiina to Kilkenny since 2008, the bar has been firmly set to deliver a programme of acts to satisfy all tastes for the alternative music world.
The clip you'll see above is a shortened clip of the chat I had with Matthew. We'll be back to update you later on with the extended version (about 8 or 9 minutes long) for a deeper insight into the gigs taking place during the festival as well as an industry panel session at the Kilkenny Arts Office on Sunday August 8th. Check out the Wired strand listings on KilkennyArts.ie and don't forget you can book online this year as well!
-Ken
Update (6pm): You can check out the extended video chat with Matthew, now on YouTube. *(it runs around 8 mins or so)
Festival Box Office Opens
Mayor of Kilkeny, Martin Brett officially declared the box office for this year's festival open in an unveiling ceremony at 11am this morning. Brochures, cupcakes, balloons and all the details on this year's festival were on offer as the rain cleared for the grand opening.
Mayor Brett declared he was "delighted" to be opening the festival box office and went on to speak about the economic value of the festival to the city of Kilkenny.
"When you look at the economic base of where we're coming from, this is a serious benefit for Kilkenny. [The festival] is going to generate somewhere in the region of six million Euro for the economy of Kilkenny. Any penny we can get coming in here is most welcome and we'll endorse it most sincerely."
Festival CEO Damian Downes promised the festival would be as good as any gone before, praised the extraordinary programmes put in place by this year's festival curators and urged people to come and visit the festival where a welcome awaits you in August. Check out the video above for a peek at what went on at the launch earlier this morning.
This year, the festival box office can be found at John's Bridge, right next to Tynan's Bridge Bar (we're in a bright pink-painted shop front, you can't miss it!), in the heart of the city. Opening hours are Monday to Saturday 10am-6pm and on weekends from July 31st (Sunday) from 12 noon to 5pm. You can contact the festival box office on 056-7752175 or book your tickets online through KilkennyArts.ie.
We’ve Got Something To Sing About
Want to be at our Kilkenny Arts Festival launch – without it taking more than 5 minutes of your time??
Too good to be true?!
Not so.
We launched this year’s programme with....the programme. We got some of the most beautiful choral singers in the country to perform, and asked conductor extraordinaire Fergus Sheils to write an arrangement of the Hallelujah Chorus where the lyrics named each performance at the 2010 Kilkenny Arts Festival.
Then we performed it all for national media down at the Dublin City Council Fruit Markets – and now here it is online, your own personal launch experience for the 2010 Kilkenny Arts Festival programme.
It's not often that Tindersticks, Robert Fisk, Adrian Crowley, Fintan O’Toole, Willie O’Doherty, Joseph O’Connor and many others have been name-checked in the one song, but here you have it! We hope this clip will provide a moment of calm and relaxation, while we whet your appetite for the wonderful cultural experiences that the festival has in store from August 6 – 15.
Click Here (or view below) to take a look at a super video of it all in action.
We're going to be regularly updating our blog with insights in to our great programme line-up this year, as well as posting video blogs from our curators and plenty of news directly from our artists as well. Plus we might have a few tickets to give away along the way as well!! Stay tuned!
If you want to have a look at who we've got lined up for this year, take a look Here.
That's it for now,
KAF
We're Social