Greetings from 1691
More festivals for you this week!
The Limerick History Festival starts on Wednesday 30 September with tours and lectures across the city, and the Bualadh Bos Children's Festival begins the following day at Lime Tree Theatre and Belltable.
On the music side, Huartan are at Dolan's Warehouse on Thursday, followed on Friday by John Spillane, Lisa Murray and The Scratch.
This is our pick of what's on this week. As always for a full event list check out the link at the bottom of the email.
Let's dive in 👇
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Limerick History Festival
Wednesday 30 September to Wednesday 7 October · Various venues across Limerick city
Talks, walking tours, lectures and exhibitions on Limerick's past, with contributions from historians, writers and storytellers. Wednesday 30 September opens with tours of the People's Museum and a walking tour from Arthur's Quay Park. Later events include lectures by Brian Hodkinson and Charlie Spring Rice at the People's Museum, the launch of the 1926 Census Exhibition at City Hall on Friday 2 October, and an Irish Natural Stone Workshop at Old St Muchin's Church on Saturday 3 October.
Bualadh Bos Children's Festival
Thursday 1 to Sunday 11 October · Lime Tree Theatre, Belltable and other venues
Theatre, dance, music, film and workshops for young audiences and their families, spread across Limerick city. Belfast company Young at Art's Baby Rave is at Dance Limerick on Sunday 4 October, and Mónica Muñoz's dance duet FLIP is at Belltable on 9 and 10 October.
Huartan
Thursday 1 October · 20:00 · Dolan's Warehouse
The Belfast trio formed in 2023 in the Gaeltacht quarter of West Belfast and set at-risk Irish language songs from Ulster to electronica. Catriona Ní Ghribín, Múlú and producer Stiofán Ó Luachráin are joined by masked performers who embody the síogaí, or fairy folk. Recognition so far includes BBC Introducing NI Artist of the Year and the 2024 NI Music Prize Live Act of the Year, and they are touring their self-titled debut album this year.
Castleconnell Concert Series: Aoife Ní Bhriain & Cormac McCarthy
Tuesday 29 September · 20:00 · All Saints Church, Castleconnell
The album Cosán Casta, Irish for "twisted path", reimagines Irish traditional music through original compositions, reworked archival tunes and a fusion of classical and jazz idioms. Both musicians left Ireland to study jazz and classical music, and the record pays homage to the music they grew up with in their family homes. The programme includes Cailleach/Crowley's, Ducko and Salamanca.
The Scratch
Friday 2 October · 19:00 · Live at the Big Top
Dublin four-piece The Scratch make high-voltage folk-metal. Their third album, Pull Like A Dog, refines the acoustic and electric fusion of its predecessor Mind Yourself, which debuted at number one on the Irish Vinyl Charts in 2023. Their music also appears in the Netflix series House of Guinness.
John Spillane
Friday 2 October · 20:00 · Dolan's Upstairs
Cork musician, songwriter and storyteller John Spillane is a two-time Meteor Award winner for Best Folk/Trad act, and his songs have been covered by Christy Moore, Sharon Shannon and Sean Keane. His concept album Fíoruisce: The Legend of the Lough, released in September 2024, was named Album of the Year at the RTÉ Folk Awards.
Lisa Murray
Friday 2 October · 20:00 · The Record Room at The Commercial
Gaeltacht pop artist Lisa Murray, a Baile Ghib native, celebrates her debut album, Abhaile, released on 25 September. Her bilingual sound blends modern pop songwriting with Gaeilge. She has been on RTÉ Radio 1 and Ireland AM, played Electric Picnic and has millions of TikTok views.
Let's Make Comics
Saturday 3 October · 12:00 and 14:30 · Limerick City Gallery of Art
Artist Kate Escolin, also known as Tiny Greens, introduces comic making and how to tell a complete story in just a few panels. Participants leave with their own short comic.
How To Catch A Star
Saturday 3 October · 12:30 and 14:30 · Lime Tree Theatre
Branar's puppetry adaptation of Oliver Jeffers' picture book follows a boy who dreams of having a star as a friend. The non-verbal show runs about 45 minutes, with puppets by Suse Reibisch, an original score by Colm Mac Con Iomaire and direction by Marc Mac Lochlainn.
Aston's Stones
Saturday 3 October · 14:30 and 17:00 · Belltable
Aston is a little dog who wants to look after every stone he finds, and each one gets a warm bed at home. His patient parents grow more worried as the stones pile up in the living room. Swedish company Teater Pero has staged the show in 54 cities across 16 countries since its 2010 premiere, and the 17:00 performance is the official opening of the Bualadh Bos Children's Festival.
I am a Badger, a Wren, a Fox: Visual Art Portrait Workshop
Tuesday 6 to Wednesday 7 October · 09:30 and 12:00 · Lime Tree Theatre
Duffy Mooney-Sheppard leads a workshop for school classes that starts from the idea of being a badger, strong, quiet and watchful, a wren, joyful and singing, or a fox, cool and quick and clever. Pupils use those characteristics to make a portrait of their inner selves, and a collaborative class portrait will be displayed at Belltable during the festival.
For a full overview of all events on this week in Limerick check out our event listings page
UNTIL NEXT WEEK
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