Events

Athenry MAD Festival 2021

Join us for another weekend of MAD events as we celebrate the Arts in Athenry with an inclusive programme for all.

Due to COVID restrictions all events will be held in the festival garden of the Athenry Arts & Heritage Centre. Bookings can be made through our Eventbrite page and links will be provided for each event on this page. Numbers will be limited for each event and may be subject to change.

Saturday 18th September

Drumadore: 10:00am-12:00pm

We start this years event with a bang as Eimhin Craddock of Drumadore presents a drumming workshop with the Gliondar Community drummers.

Visitors are welcome to enjoy the sound of the drums as Eimhin sets out a rhythm for the drummers to follow.

The first hour is dedicated to the drummers of Athenry, however the second hour is designed for beginners (8+) to experience a group drumming session and learn from one of Galways best.

Please note that under 16's must be accompanied by an adult and a contact tracing log must be completed.

Children's Craft Workshop 8-12yrs with Elaine Cunningham 12:30pm-2:30pm Free
The musical theme continues as Elaine's workshop is all about making your very own musical instrument.

The children will make instruments and decorate them, recycling household items where possible and then learn to play them together with various rhythms.

The workshop is for 8-12yrs and we ask parents to remain during their time with Elaine.

Tickets for the event are available through Eventbrite or click on the link

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/childrens-craft-workshop-tickets-172113625487

Facepainting Workshop 14+ Free 2:00pm-3:00pm

Special Effects Masterclass 14+ Free 3:00pm-4:00pm

Meet the amazing Michelle Ruane and discover the amazing world of Facepainting.

Michelle's workshops which are designed for the 14+ age group will be split into two sessions, with a maximum of 8 in each session.

Her first hour will introduce the basics of facepainting and the designs that be be made for children of all ages.

Participants can learn some quick basic designs and then develop their skills if time permits.

This is a great interactive workshop for young people to enjoy and develop a new lifelong skill.

Tickets are available through the Athenry Heritage Centre Eventbrite page or click on the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/facepainting-workshop-for-teenagers-tickets-171998832137

Special Effects Masterclass 14+ Free 3:00pm-4:00pm

Part two of Michelle's workshops is a masterclass of special effects make up.

This is a unique opportunity for any young person to develop their skills in facepainting and the art of make up special effects

Learn how to create designs and discover new techniques in the world of special effects.

Places can be booked for both workshops

Spaces are strictly limited and we advise early booking as this will be very popular.

Tickets for the masterclass are available through Eventbrite which is free to attend.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/special-effects-makeup-masterclass-tickets-172010366637

In conversation with RTE Broadcaster Orla Higgins, Kilkenny Arts Officer Mary Butler and writer/poet Elaine Feeney 6:00pm Free

The Arts are good for your (mental) health. Due to circumstances beyond our control this event will be rescheduled in the near future.

The Athenry MAD Festival is proud to present a panel discussion hosted by RTE broadcaster Orla Higgins with a topical discussion 'The Arts are good for your (mental) health'.

Orla will be joined on the day by Mary Butler, Arts Officer of Kilkenny and writer/poet Elaine Feeney.

The event will be held in the festival garden from 6:00pm and we welcome all Arts practitioners and interested parties to join us for a lively discussion about the Arts are good for your health.

Orla Higgins is an award-winning documentary maker, independent audio producer and lecturer from Galway. She has made a number of documentaries for the RTÉ Radio 1 Documentary on One strand where her work has won her awards at the international New York Festivals Radio Awards. She has also produced a radio documentary for the BBC World Service documentary series In the Studio. In addition, Orla produces podcast series including Other: Stories from the Tuam Mother and Baby Home, narrated by the actor Cillian Murphy. She lectures with the Huston School of Film & Digital Media as well as the Business School at NUI Galway.

Twitter: @neoncitystories

Mary Butler is the Arts Officer with Kilkenny County Council and an artist and maker. She has worked in the creative sector for many years now years devising, curating and managing a diverse range of programmes across art forms, including visual arts, theatre, music, literature and multi-disciplinary events.

Current Arts Office projects including the Emerging Curator in Residence Programme, Knitted Together community Arts project, Rhyme Rag online poetry journal for young people, the Poetry Broadsheet and poetry Phoneline and Bookville Children’s Book and Literature Festival.

She combines her working life with her own artistic practice, which fluctuates between textiles, assemblage and site-specific installations using non-traditional materials.

Elaine Feeney is a writer from the west of Ireland. Feeney has published three poetry collections including The Radio was Gospel & Rise (Salmon Poetry). Her debut novel As You Were (Penguin Random House) won the 2021 Dalkey Book Festival’s Emerging Writer Prize, The Kate O’ Brien Prize, The Society of Authors’ McKitterick Prize (UK). It was nominated for Irish Novel of the Year at the Irish Book Awards, and shortlisted for the prestigious Rathbones-Folio Prize. Feeney’s work featured on Best of 2020 lists in, The Telegraph, Sunday Times, Irish Times, Examiner, Irish Independent, The Herald (Scotland), Evening Standard, Telegraph, Guardian & Observer. Feeney was chosen by the Observer as a top debut novelist for 2020. Her short story Sojourn was published in the Art of The Glimpse: 100 Irish Short Stories. Feeney wrote the multi award-winning drama, WRoNGHEADED commissioned by the Liz Roche Company. She lectures in poetry at The National University of Ireland, Galway, where she is also a founding member of the Tuam Oral History Project. Feeney was a judge of the Seamus Heaney Poetry Prize 2021.

Poetry Town Event: Reason For Rhymes 7:00pm Festival Garden

The Athenry MAD Festival is association with Poetry Ireland will celebrate Athenry Poetry Town with an evening of spoken word, music and announcing the winners of the Padriac Fallon Poetry Competition.

Athenry's Poet laureate Elaine Feeney will read a specially commissioned poem for the event and will also announce the winners of the poetry competition.

Tickets are available through Eventbrite or click the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-reason-for-rhymes-tickets-169016024479

We are pleased to announce another great speaker to the Poetry Town event as writer and poet Anne Marie Kennedy will read some of her recent work and it will be a wonderful addition to the evenings event.

Anne Marie Kennedy has performed at Boyle Arts Festival, Yeats Society Sligo, InisWriters, Galway Fringe Festival, Shorelines Arts Festival, Baffle Poetry Festival, Cúirt Internal Festival of Literature, Yeats’ 150th anniversary at Thoor Ballylee, Electric Picnic 2015, O’Bhéal Poetry Series, Cork and in the National Concert Hall, Dublin.

As a freelance journalist, she writes for Irish Music Magazine, the Connacht Tribune, Irish Times and RTE Radio.

Acafellas 8:00pm Free

Saturday night wouldn't be complete with out a live concert to close the evening.

This year, the Athenry MAD Festival welcomes the Acafellas to the festival garden.

The Acafellas are brothers Mike & Colga Coy and James Kennedy. With backgrounds in musicals, choirs, folk and traditional singing, they take well known songs from a variety of genres, breathing new life into them with three-part harmonies. They have performed extensively in boutique festivals across Ireland and Pan-Celtic Festivals in France.

Tickets are available through Eventbrite or click on the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/acafellas-tickets-172070205617

Se7en Inch Collective Live Streaming From The Athenry Heritage Centre

The MAD Festival welcomes back the Se7en Inch Collective to the Athenry Ars & Heritage Centre.

Your resident DJ's Steve & John will take you on a virtual spin of the decks as they play their 45's in the comfort of you home, car, caravan and maybe on the bus!!

Enjoy a monumental 6 hours of music as they play a range of musical genres which takes you from the 1950's to the present day.

Make it a special day with friends and family and have a kitchen party on us.

The Se7en Inch Collective will be live streamed from this link https://twitch.tv/kilo1977 from 3:30pm-10:30pm.

Sunday 19th September

Pianomania 9:30am-11:00am

As part of Athenry MAD Festival local Suzuki piano students will perform in the festival garden with an eclectic mix of music.

Teachers Helen Gannon and Elaine O Connor are delighted at the prospect of live performances after 18 months from their young pupils ranging from age 5 to 17. Music from the Movies, Classical, Jazz, Latin American and original arrangements among the styles that will be performed on Sunday Morning.

The event is free to attend but space is limited so please arrive on time.

Free Laughter Yoga Workshop with Fou Scarf 11:30am-12:30pm 18+

Start your day with a smile, and some fun,

with the MAD Festival Laughter Yoga Workshop.

All welcome.

No experience necessary.

Laughter Connects Everyone.

Circus Skills Workshop with Mollylu 1:00pm-3:00pm

Roll Up, Roll Up Mollylu and her fantastic circus workshop arrives into town.

Children will love this two hour workshop with Mollylu and she introduces children to the world of circus skills.

It's a great introduction to learn new skills, meet new friends and show your new found talent to family and friends.

Tickets for the Circus Skills Workshop are available through Eventbrite or click on the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/mollylus-circus-skills-workshop-tickets-172051900867

The Bandwagons Free Family Concert in the Festival Garden 4:00pm-5:30pm

There's gonna be dancing in the garden with the fantastic Bandwagons from Athenry.

Enjoy a family day, have a boogie, meet your friends or family.

Enjoy some tunes from the Athenry MAD Festival.

This event is free to attend but has limited capacity, so please arrive on time.

Its an outdoor event so please wear the appropriate clothing for the time of year.

COVID protocols must be adhered to and please wear a facemask too.

Free tickets are available through Eventbrite, please click on the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/the-bandwagons-tickets-174959788437

Wednesday West 8:00pm €5.00 plus booking fee Children Free

The Athenry MAD Festival closes with the amazing Wednesday West. This traditional group will play a lively set of jigs and reels and they are sure to get the toes tapping and the legs dancing.

Enjoy the moment of Trad sounds in the wonderful setting of the festival garden.

Wednesday West was formed out of the vibrant traditional music scene in Galway City. Freda, Tommy, Liz, and Michael have been meeting up regularly to play music on Wednesday nights in Cookes Thatch Bar, and it was from these sessions that Wednesday West was born. All four musicians are based in the West of Ireland and come from a variety of musical backgrounds, from self-taught to classical training to traditional courses studied at university level. Each of them have played in a variety of groups and have toured extensively all over the world, and their music has been cumulatively recorded on dozens of albums. Unable to meet and play regularly during the pandemic, they are looking forward to this special opportunity to bring back the exciting dynamics of the live traditional session to a listening audience. This performance will include lively sets of jigs and reels, contemplative and contemporary pieces, and poignant songs.

Tickets for the vent are available through Eventbrite or click on the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/wednesday-west-perform-at-the-athenry-mad-festival-tickets-171852855517

Wednesday West are:

Freda Hatton: harp, concertina, whistle

Tommy Carew: guitar, vocals

Liz Coleman: fiddle

Michael Chang: fiddle, viola, mandolin

The festival committee would like to thank the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for their continuing support of the Athenry MAD Festival in 2021.

Athenry Virtual Walled Towns Day 2021

Celebrate Athenry's Virtual Walled Towns Day this Sunday 15th August 2021.

Discover the rich medieval history of Athenry with a collection of specially commissioned videos to showcase the best of medieval crafts, music, weaponry, clothes, Maddens Forge, children's craft workshops and much much more.

The event will be streamed live through the Galway Community Heritage website and the Galway Beo YouTube channel

Links for both can be accessed here

Athenry Virtual Walled Town Day Archives - Galway County Heritage Office (galwaycommunityheritage.org)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxqCU9dDLUU

The event is supported by the Irish Walled Towns Network and The Heritage Council.

Free TikTok Training for this year’s Athenry Virtual Medieval Festival

Wednesday 14^th July (10am-4pm)

Galway County Council Heritage Office and Athenry Heritage Centre working with Garry Kelly (GK Media/Digital Training Hub) has developed a Full-Day TikTok Course for Heritage Groups and Heritage Practitioners working in the county of Galway (Galway County Council’s administrative area only). This project is funded by the Irish Walled Towns Network, Heritage Council and Galway County Council.

Although founded 5 years ago, TikTok is still a fairly new social media platform which consists of short video clips either 15 seconds or 60 seconds long. It has seen significant growth over the last two years and now has around 800 million active users per month

Showing products, services and events in a visually appealing way is key on TikTok, as users want to be both entertained and informed.

For this year’s Athenry Virtual Medieval Festival, we are encouraging the local community to get involved in promoting the festival through the use of TikTok and other social media platforms.

Garry Kelly will host a full-day workshop on Wednesday 14^th July (10am-4pm)

The course will be delivered online and is free of charge.

There are limited places available on the course and booking is essential.

To book your place on this online course please log on to the following link:

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/how-can-tiktok-benefit-our-heritage-events-and-festivals-athenry-tickets-162062508325

Street Photography Workshop

Street Photography Workshop 11th August 10:00am-12:00pm

Galway County Council Heritage Office and Athenry Heritage Centre working with Steve Scott has developed a two hour street photography workshop for Heritage Groups and Heritage Practitioners working in the county of Galway (Galway County Council’s administrative area only). This project is funded by the Irish Walled Towns Network, Heritage Council and Galway County Council.

For this year’s Athenry Virtual Medieval Festival, we are encouraging the local community to get involved in promoting the festival through the use of Street Photography and posting the images onto the Athenry Heritage Centre’s Instagram or Facebook page. Steve Scott will host a two hour workshop on Thursday 5th August (10:00am-12:00pm) The course will be delivered online and is free of charge.
There are limited places available on the course and booking is essential.

To book you place, please click on the link below and register on the centre's Eventbrite page.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/bouncing-off-the-walls-tickets-164100734715

These workshops will take place via Zoom. Please ensure you have downloaded the software to your computer or tablet. Login details will be sent 12 hours before the course commences.

Bouncing Off The Walls

Enjoy an evening of music and storytelling with Little John Nee on Thursday 16th September 2021. The event will be performed in the Athenry Handball Alley on Abbey Row and commences at 7:00pm. The Bouncing Off The Walls project is supported by Creative Ireland and Galway County Council.

Little John Nee is a writer and performer based in Co. Galway. His style of storytelling theatre with music has won him international recognition. Throughout lockdown he has been prolific creating over 50 livestreams, a radio play “The Jumpin Inn”, outdoor theatre “Tilt of the Sky”, and film, including an award winning collaboration with Laura Sheeran “Drone Bone Jetty”. Currently an Arts Council artist in Residence, with Town Hall Theatre Galway and Galway County Council, he is working on a new post lockdown celebration “All the Small Ocean” to premiere in late October, and new musical collaboration “Salt of the Sea” which will premiere at Babaró. Little John Nee is an associate artist at Siamsa Tíre.

Tickets are available through the centre's Eventbrite page

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/bouncing-off-the-walls-with-little-john-nee-tickets-170284301931

Bouncing Off The Walls is a series of concerts to be held in the Athenry Handball Alley, Abbey Row, Athenry.

This Creative Ireland event includes the Athenry Youth Choir, guitarist Adam Cunningham and harpist Una Ni Fhlannagain. The programme is designed to showcase local musicians and artists in the unique setting of Athenry's handball alley, a place that use to be the centre of the community and a hub of sporting activity.

The project looks to engage the public with a new performance space and create a legacy for new generations to discover an architectural feature which has been in the town for nearly 100 years.

Tickets for this event are available through the centre's EVENTBRITE page or click on the link to book your tickets.

https://www.eventbrite.ie/e/bouncing-off-the-walls-tickets-164100734715

Spaces are strictly limited and children must be accompanied at all times.

We advise all patrons of the event to be aware of COVID19 protocols and we ask everyone to wear a mask during the performances

Athenry Virtual Walled Towns Day 2020

Learning from our Heritage

Athenry Walled Towns Day has been in existence since 2006. It is a family focused heritage and educational fun day where all sectors of the community can gain a greater awareness, appreciation and knowledge of the medieval town walls and the town of Athenry.

The events are programmed to suit all age groups and have a strong educational and awareness building theme.

This year due to Covid19 Athenry Walled Town Day has gone virtual and the theme of this year’s event is ‘Learning from our Heritage’.

Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway County Council said “Athenry Virtual Walled Towns Day 2020 has been designed to be inclusive, accessible, fun and free for all to view on our websites and social media platforms.”

Alan Burgess, Manager, Athenry Arts & Heritage Centre said “The programme reflects the medieval history of Athenry and is a platform to showcase craft, food, art weaponry music and the rich heritage assets of the town”.

Join Dr Christy Cunniffe, Dr Jeff Dann, GK Media and Gary Dempsey as they take you on virtual tours of Athenry Walls, Castle, Dominican Friary, the Mace and Seal of Athenry, Loro Gate and St Mary’s Church, Athenry..

Loughrea Craft Club have two videos how to make a medieval castle and how to make medieval characters for your castle. The Athenry Medieval Times newspaper is a available to download and print and frame as it was designed for the virtual occasion.

There is also an online etching exhibition by Martina Passman of the main medieval features of the town. This exhibition is also on view in the Athenry Heritage Centre.

Gary Dempsey has created wonderful 3D models of Athenry Market Cross, the Mace & Seal of Athenry and elements of the Dominican Priory. Film maker Paul Murphy has produced an excellent film on the Art and Craft of Spinning with Sandra King, Irish Fibre Crafters and Medieval Combat Armour by Brian Quinn. Anna O’Donnell, Gastronomy Heritage Expert showcases the art of Butter making on the banks of the Clarin river and Dr. Jeff Dann presents 'Food Glorious Food, medieval style. Follow Úna Ní Fhlannagáin as she takes you on a musical journey of Irish history.

Gary Dempsey of Digital Heritage Age has created 3D models of various elements of the medieval heritage of Athenry including the market cross, the seal of Athenry and the tomb of Meiler de Bermingham.

Introduction of Athenry Walled Towns Day with Programme Coordinators Alan Burgess, Athenry Heritage Centre & Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer, Galway County Council

Watch three historical videos with Gary Dempsey as he chats with Dr. Christy Cunniffe about the Market Cross and St. Mary's Church. Dr. Jeff Dann explains about the significance of Athenry's 14th century Mace & Seal which are displayed in the Athenry Heritage Centre.

Acclaimed film maker Paul Murphy from Merchants Gate Films presents two short films of two unique people showcasing their particular skills. Meet Sandra King who demonstrates the craft of spinning and Brian Quinn talks about full contact medieval combat which includes demonstrations from the Athenry 1316 Fight Club.

Meet Rachel from the Loughrea Crafts Club as she demonstrates how to make a medieval castle and fun figures to go with it. This is a family fun activity that children will love but make sure you have an adult to help. Discover the true meaning of fun when you make your very own castle. All materials should be in your home or very easy to find. Enjoy your castle making and medieval figures to live in it.

Galway3D is a part of the Digital Counties Initiative, which aims to assist local communities in creating 3D digital collections of local heritage from their counties. The Galway3D project has been recording heritage in Co. Galway since 2016. The process of recording is called Photogrammetry, which creates 3D models from photographs, and is an easy process to learn.

If people are interested they can discover more from the Digital Heritage Age website www.digitalheritageage.co

Enjoy a musical journey with acclaimed harpist Una Ni Flannagain as she takes you on a tour of Irish history.

Winner of the Ó Riada Gold Medal for harp, Úna Ní Fhlannagáin is a harper and singer based in Galway, Ireland. Rooted in the jigs and reels of North Clare and the sean-nós singing of Connemara, she is also influenced by American post-minimalists and free jazz.

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Experience the world of medieval food with Anna O’Donnell, Gastronomy Heritage Expert as she showcases the art of Butter making on the banks of the Clarin river and Dr. Jeff Dann presents 'Food, Glorious Food, Medieval Style" in the Athenry Heritage Centre.

Take a tour of Athenry with Dr. Christy Cunniffe and he tells the stories of Athenry's medieval gates and the 13th century Dominican Priory. Your tour is complete with Dave Swift as he demonstrates the weaponry of the middle ages.

Artist John Flynn has created excellent post cards on the Athenry Madonna at Lady's Well , the 14th century Mace and Seal of Athenry and the Market Cross. Copies of the postcard are available from the Athenry Heritage Centre and the Heritage Office, Galway County Council.

Choose one of three designs and post them to friends and relatives as a momento of Athenry's Walled Towns Day 2020.

View the exhibition of etchings by Martina Passman, there's 8 specially commissioned works of art which are for sale in the Athenry Heritage Centre.

‘Etching Athenry’
Martina Passman is a mixed media artist based in County Galway. In 1998 after graduating from GMIT in Fine Art and Design, Martina Passman joined Artspace Studios in Galway. She exhibited
extensively around Ireland with the Artspace group. On completion of an Honors Degree in Fine Art
in 2017, Passman continued her studies through an MA in Creative Practice in CCAM Galway in 2018.
Passmans work is part of the Irish state art collection.
These etchings are produced by needle point onto metal plate and are inspired by the medieval ruins in Athenry, County Galway.

'Read all about it' with Athenry's very own Medieval Times!

See all the news on the 16th August 1316. Print off your copy today.

Click here for a printable version of this image

Listen to the podcast by Sally-Ann Barrett from Galway Bay FM as she chats to Alan Burgess, Manager of the Athenry Heritage Centre and senior tour guide Jeff Dann on the Heritage Trail of Athenry and the activities of the Athenry Heritage Centre.

The podcat is available to listen on this link

https://galwaybayfm.ie/podcasts/galway-talks-with-keith-finnegan/discover-athenrys-impressive-heritage-trail-with-sally-ann-barrett/

Athenry's Virtual Walled Towns Day was designed by the Athenry Heritage Centre in partnership with Galway County Council. The event was supported by the Heritage Council, the Irish Walled Towns Network and Galway County Council.