Kilkenny Arts Festival Programme 2019 by Kilkenny Arts Festival

kilkennyarts.ie Dreams and discoveries in Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s medieval city

Welcome to eleven days of dreams and discoveries in Ireland’s medieval city… Kilkenny (Cill Chainnigh or the Church of Canice) offers the visitor one of Ireland’s most memorable architectural ensembles, as a vibrant living city still laid out along its ‘medieval mile’ from the castle to the cathedral. Its history stretches back 1,500 years to the arrival of Canice and his fellow monks to found a new monastic settlement on the hill where St Canice’s Cathedral still stands. Few festivals in the world can boast such atmospheric ancient spaces, echoing their history but ideal for performance and embracing the visitors and audiences of today.

St Canice’s Cathedral, 13th century

Kilkenny Castle, 12th century

However special our musicians may be, there’s always an extra shiver down the spine when you hear their music reverberate in the magnificent acoustics of the second longest cathedral nave in Ireland with its glorious timbered ceiling. St Canice’s has been at the heart of the Festival since our first edition in 1974.

This imposing stronghold of the Ormondes and Chief Butlers of Ireland provides the Festival with a stunning space for talks and conversation in the lofty Parade Tower. Its magnificent demesne, the Castle Park, is an oasis of calm for locals and visitors alike in the heart of the medieval city, and also the location for many of our free performances for all ages.

The Black Abbey, 13th century Founded in the 1220s by a group of Dominican friars, the Black Abbey takes its name from the black ‘cappa’ that friars wore over their white habits in the middle ages. Converted to a courthouse by James I, it was restored and reopened in the nineteenth century and has hosted many memorable Festival performances over the years.

St John’s Priory, 13th century To step off busy John Street and into the intimate calm of the Priory (called ‘The Lantern of Ireland’ for its famous stained glass before Cromwell arrived!) creates the perfect atmosphere to discover music, whether much loved or never heard before. Rothe House, 16th century The last remaining example in Ireland of a renaissance merchant’s townhouse is one of Kilkenny’s ‘must sees’. During the Festival it buzzes with energy, the perfect venue for exhibitions and events, including pop-up performances in its beautiful 17th-century merchant’s garden.

#IrelandsAncientEast COVER IMAGE: DAITHI MAGNER

PHOTO ROSS COSTIGAN

St Kieran’s College, 19th century Established in 1782, St Kieran’s College was the first Catholic college in Ireland founded after Grattan’s Parliament had relaxed the penal laws. The magnificent neo-Gothic building was completed in 1836 and its quad provides the perfect space for outdoor performances.

INTRODUCTION Welcome to the 46th Kilkenny Arts Festival!

PHOTO PAT MOORE

This year’s programme is full of heart, passion and imagination and we can’t wait to share it with you. For the 46th time, Kilkenny itself becomes the Festival stage, its stunning cityscape and extraordinary spaces temporarily taken over and set alight by artistic fire and spirit. Our creators and performers will thrill, excite and provoke you and we hope you’ll join them for artistic adventures in our beautiful city and beyond. There’s something for everyone in Kilkenny this summer. We’re collaborating on major productions with two very different but equally bold theatre companies: Rough Magic and Asylum Productions. We’re always eager to bring you to new places and so, for the first time, you’ll experience our open-air Shakespeare in the special surroundings of the Quad at St Kieran’s College, while the town of Callan itself will be the stage for a promenade production of Thomas Kilroy’s iconic novel The Big Chapel. Since the very beginning, Kilkenny Arts Festival has invited the world’s leading artists to perform in some of the most wonderful acoustic spaces in the country and this year’s line-up of international and Irish artists promises a feast of simply gorgeous repertoire at St Canice’s Cathedral, the Black Abbey and St John’s Priory. The Watergate, Cleere’s and Set theatres will play host to everything from theatre, readings, film and dance to a plethora of gigs from Ukraine to Senegal, and medieval Rothe House will host a special afternoon with Crash Ensemble. We’re delighted to have the Marble City Sessions co-curated by the incomparable Martin Hayes and to partner with Rollercoaster Records on a new series of great gigs across the Festival. During the day you can immerse yourself in the exhibitions at the Butler Gallery, the National Design and Craft Gallery and Dore’s Old Factory. You’ll be able to meet our artists, poets and leading thinkers in a varied Literature and Spoken Word programme at the Parade Tower and to catch our pop-up concerts across the Secret Gardens of the city and county. At night you can see a pair of thrilling new projection shows at the cathedral and castle. We thank our core public funders The Arts Council of Ireland and Kilkenny County Council, without whom the Festival simply could not take place. Fáilte Ireland, all our Sponsors, Event Partners and our very generous Festival Friends provide invaluable support in making this programme possible and, of course, our eternal gratitude goes to our extraordinary Volunteers, who are truly the heroes of this Festival! Finally, we thank our artists and you, our audience. Together you have been the beating heart of the Festival for 45 years, sharing your energy and passion, and creating magical moments and memories with us. So, dive into the programme and dive into Kilkenny, this absolute jewel of a city with its extraordinary spaces and people… we’re looking forward to welcoming you in August! Olga Barry Festival Director FESTIVAL TEAM

PATRON

Festival Director Olga Barry

Programme Manager Lisa O’Brien

Artist Liaison Cornelia McCarthy

Graphic Design Íde Deloughry

Michael D. Higgins President of Ireland

Marketing & Development Manager Nollaig Healy

Production Manager Aidan Wallace

Programme Editor Alistair Daniel

Web Design Pixel Design

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Box Office & Friends Manager Céline Reilly

Strategic Consultant Annette Nugent

Official IT Provider BITS

Development Officer Grace Kearney

Publicity O’Doherty Communications

Emer Foley (Chair), Brian Fennelly, Lorelei Harris, Conor Langton, Anna O’Sullivan, Michael O’Toole, Thomas O’Toole, Isabell Smyth

Festival Administrator Valerie Ryan

For 46 years our funders and partners have played an invaluable role in helping Kilkenny Arts Festival to flourish. We greatly appreciate their continuing support! PRINCIPAL FUNDER

PUBLIC FUNDERS

HEADLINE EVENT PARTNERS

oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;neill foley

MAJOR DONORS

EVENT PARTNERS

Bill & Denise Whelan

MEDIA PARTNERS

SUPPLY PARTNERS

KILKENNY HONDA CENTRE

CULTURAL PARTNERS BUTLER

GALLERY

BUTLER

GALLERY

BUTLER

GALLERY

Check Out Our Friends! Help make Kilkenny Arts Festival one of Europe’s finest artistic celebrations. As an individual or business, you’ll find a range of Friend options and benefits available, from complimentary tickets and discounts to Festival Club membership and special events. Friends membership starts at just €95. For more information you can call the Festival Office on 056 776 3663, email friends@kilkennyarts.ie or sign up at kilkennyarts.ie/support-us

PATRON

AIB Anonymous Donor Claire Callanan Ecopower Total Windfarm Solutions Lyndon MacCann Market Cross Shopping Centre Reidy & Foley Solicitors The Kilkenny Inn

BEST FRIEND Ayrfield Medical Practice Conor Crowley Ina & Joe Sweeney James Harte & Son Solicitors Kathleen & Gerry Moran Kieran Boland, Boland Solicitors McDonalds Kilkenny Pat Nolan Irish Origins Research Poe Kiely Hogan Lanigan Solicitors R John McBratney Richard McCullough & Liz Nugent Rudolf Heltzel Gold & Silversmith Sheila O’Donnell & John Tuomey

SPECIAL FRIEND

FRIEND

Bank of Ireland Bernard Dunleavy Bluebird Care Bluett & O’Donoghue Architects Breda Whelan Carmel Dwyer & David Brown Caulfield’s Supervalu Loughboy Kilkenny Dore’s Nostalgia Café - Michael Dore Dr Thomas O’Toole Ella Dunphy of DNG Ella Dunphy Ltd. Gillian Leo Happy Times, Market Cross SC Helen McCarthy Holland Condon Solicitors James Pike Jim Ryan John & Michele Keogan Kilkenny Castle Tea Rooms - Michael Dore Kilkenny Modern Printers Lavistown House Mahony’s Pharmacy Maire & Maurice Foley Mary & Brian MacEneaney Michael & Mary O’Hanrahan Michael & Zureena Hutchinson Michael Reilly Consulting Engineer Moth to a Flame Candles Mr & Mrs John Grogan Murphy Stuart Insurances Newpark Pharmacy O’Brien’s Butchers Market Yard & Loughboy O’Keeffe Auctioneers Ormonde Street Car Park P McDonnell Patricia Connolly Patricia Tomasulo Philip Crowe & Patrick P Higgins Property Partners Buggy Sherry Fitzgerald McCreery SuperValu - Market Cross The Little Green Grocer White’s Pharmacy

Aidan Clancy Áine Ní Fhoghlú Ann Murtagh Anna O’Sullivan Butcher Restaurant Butterslip Catherine Burke Crotty’s Coffee House Dee & Harry Shine Desmond & Barbara Duff Desmond A Byrne Jeweller Florence Ryan-Downes Food for Life Gaby Smyth & Co Ltd Gilligan & Co Accountants James Delaney James Walsh Motor Parts Ltd Jane & Martin Duggan John & Mary McEntagart John Dalton Jones Business Systems Katherine Meenan Manning Travel Mary Kelly Michael Lunt Mocha’s Vintage Tea Room Restaurant Mr & Mrs St.George Orange Café Pennefeather Café Séamus Crimmins Shiela Foley Siobhán Maher Stephen Ryan The Cutting Vedge The Gourmet Store The Nore Bar Tynan’s Bar Kilkenny Ultan O’Gorman Yesterday’s

We also acknowledge those Friends who have chosen to remain anonymous.

THEATRE

PREMIERE ROUGH MAGIC & KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL

Much Ado About Nothing By William Shakespeare

On the deck of a deluxe mobile home a group of friends gather for a week-long party full of cocktailinfused debauchery, bad dancing and questionable gender politics. As the celebrations continue, two couples emerge. Claudio and Hero fall deeply and madly in love, while Benedick and Beatrice resume their altogether more quarrelsome romance. Much Ado About Nothing charts the course of these two star-crossed courtships as malicious rumour and pointed lies threaten to tear them both apart. After last year’s award-winning production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rough Magic returns to Kilkenny with this vivid contemporary staging of Shakespeare’s celebrated screwball comedy. This festive production of deception and excess, sparkling wit and linguistic exuberance asks: can we ever truly know the people we love? Duration 2 hrs 20 mins approx. (including interval)

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Please note: this is an outdoor performance. Please dress for the weather. No umbrellas allowed.

laced with glee, invention and a shiver of anxiety

THEATRE

The Irish Times on A Midsummer Night’s Dream at KAF 2018

Director Ronan Phelan Set Design Sabine Dargent Lighting Design Sarah Jane Shiels Costume Design Catherine Fay Sound Design Denis Clohessy Cast Includes Clare Barrett Venetia Bowe Peter Corboy Maeve Fitzgerald Patrick Martins Margaret McAuliffe Jack Mullarkey Shane O’Regan Conor O’Riordan

FRI

SAT

SUN

8 9 10 11

TUE

WED

THU

FRI

SAT

13 14 15 16 17

8PM 8PM 8PM 3.30PM 8PM 8PM 8PM 8PM 3.30PM PREVIEW & 8PM THE QUAD AT ST KIERAN’S COLLEGE ADMISSION €26/€24, FAMILY TICKET €80 FOR MATINEE PERFORMANCES, PREVIEW (THURSDAY 8) €20

SUPPORTED BY

PHOTO STE MURRAY

THU

PHOTO EVELYN MCNAMARA

THEATRE

PREMIERE

Writer John Morton

ASYLUM PRODUCTIONS AND KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE ABBEY THEATRE PRESENT

Director Donal Gallagher

The Big Chapel

Designer Medb Lambert

Based on The Big Chapel by Thomas Kilroy Adapted by John Morton, Medb Lambert and Donal Gallagher

Composer Irene Buckley Choral Director Muireann Ryan Lighting Designer Paul Keogan

What happens when a town takes on the retelling of its own dark history? Come with us on a promenade adventure into an alternate world of gods and monsters. A future town, where truth and lies are interchangeable and public opinion is formed by dangerous rhetoric. A place where the only hope for the future is the voice of a teenager… This could be my town, or your town...or any town. Thomas Kilroy’s Booker-nominated novel is a fictionalised retelling of the real events surrounding the notorious ‘Callan Schools Affair’. This radical adaptation sees the people of Callan retelling their own story, using the town of Callan as its stage. Supported by an exceptional team of professional theatre artists, The Big ChapelX is a unique theatrical experience and the culmination of a year-long series of events celebrating the work of one of Ireland’s greatest writers. Please note that this is a promenade performance and the audience will be on their feet for much of the show. Please dress for the Irish weather. All scenes are wheelchair accessible but we advise bringing a person to assist along the route (Assistants go free, please call the Box Office on 056 7752175).

Choreographer Cindy Cummings Costume Designer Lisa Zagone Video Designer John Loftus Architecture Consultant Je Ahn Acrobatic Consultants Loosysmokes

Funded by The Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon Open Call Award and Kilkenny Leader Project.

The Big Chapel Project Events For details of further events in The Big Chapel Project, see page 28. Duration 2 hrs approx.

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI

SAT

9PM 9PM PREVIEW

9PM

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 9PM

9PM

MEETING POINT: MAIN ENTRANCE TO ST BRIGID’S COLLEGE, KILKENNY RD, CALLAN PARKING: BUNSCOIL MCAULEY RICE, KILKENNY RD, CALLAN PLEASE NOTE CALLAN IS 20KM FROM KILKENNY CITY ADMISSION €20/€14, PREVIEW (SUNDAY 11) €14

THEATRE

ROUGH MAGIC AND GLÓR IN ASSOCIATION WITH GALWAY INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL AND KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL PRESENT

Cleft by Fergal McElherron

‘Everything meets there. Anord. Everything crashes there; the waves crash into the land, the sky crashes into the sea, the wind crashes against your body.’

Director Lynne Parker

Living on a harsh, remote island, twin sisters Fea and Caireen have created their own emotional ecosystem, raising Fea’s son together. But while Caireen embraces motherhood, Fea watches as her son grows in the likeness of his father whose body lies buried beneath the hawthorn tree.

Lighting Design Zia Bergin-Holly

Directed by Rough Magic’s award-winning Artistic Director Lynne Parker and starring Simone Kirby and Penny Layden, Cleft is a dark, folkloric tale about one family’s unrelenting will to survive.

THU

FRI SAT SUN

8 9 10 11 7.30PM 7.30PM 7.30PM 3PM

WATERGATE THEATRE ADMISSION €25/€22.50

Composer/Sound Design Cameron Macaulay Set Design Zia Bergin-Holly and Lynne Parker Cast Simone Kirby Penny Layden Duration 75 mins approx. (without interval)

FEWS ENSEMBLE

THEATRE/ MUSIC

The Soldier’s Tale Music by Igor Stravinsky Libretto by CF Ramuz Translator Jeremy Sams Actor Ciarán Hinds Dancer Emily Ayers The Fews Ensemble directed by Joanne Quigley McParland Joanne Quigley McParland violin Dominic Dudley double bass Andrew Crowley trumpet Ross Lyness trombone Éanna Monaghan bassoon Francesco Paolo Scola clarinet Alex Petcu percussion By arrangement with Chester Music Limited acting on behalf of itself and Schott Music GmH & Co KG

It’s just over a century since Stravinsky penned his second masterpiece at the end of the First World War. Based on an old Russian fable, The Soldier’s Tale (L’histoire du Soldat) tells the story of a soldier who trades his fiddle to the devil in return for untold wealth. Or so he believes… One of Ireland’s most successful actors, Ciarán Hinds, plays narrator, soldier and devil in this gripping concert performance of Stravinsky’s masterpiece. Performed by the Fews Ensemble, Northern Ireland’s outstanding new chamber music group, with movement from contemporary dancer Emily Ayers, The Soldier’s Tale is a thrilling Faustian story with a score every bit as inventive as The Rite of Spring.

TUE WED

13 14

7.30PM 7.30PM

WATERGATE THEATRE ADMISSION €25/€22.50

Supported by Bill & Denise Whelan

PHOTO RORY LEWIS

Duration 60 mins approx. (without interval)

MUSIC

revelatory The Times

Alexander Gavrylyuk Ukraine/Australia PROGRAMME Mozart: Sonata No. 16 in C Major, K. 545 Brahms: Rhapsody No. 2 in G minor, Op. 79 Brahms: Intermezzi Nos. 2 & 3, Op. 117 Liszt: Étude No. 6 Saint-Saëns: Danse macabre (Liszt/Horowitz) Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition Duration 1 hr 45 mins approx. (including interval) ‘If this giant visits your city,’ wrote the eminent Australian pianist Roger Woodward, ‘drop everything you are doing and go and see him. His towering spirit carries the future of music’. Woodward had just witnessed Alexander Gavrylyuk’s electrifying debut at the BBC Proms in 2017. Since then the prodigiously gifted Ukrainian pianist has continued to thrill audiences all over the world with his virtuosity and passion, and we’re delighted to welcome him to St Canice’s for his Irish debut. Spanning everything from Mozart to Mussorgsky, this eclectic programme is the perfect showcase for his astonishing talent. Don’t miss it! Gerry Murphy explores the inspiration behind Mussorgsky’s masterpiece in the Parade Tower on Saturday 10 August at 11am. See page 32 for details.

blow-your-socks-off virtuosity

SAT

10 7.30PM

ST CANICE’S CATHEDRAL ADMISSION ZONE A €30/€28 ZONE B €27/€25

PHOTO MAX BORGGREVE

Gramophone

MUSIC

PROGRAMME Bach – Devotion BWV 42 – Sinfonia BWV – Vergnüte Ruh BWV 4 – Sinfonia BWV 74 – Ich gehe hin BWV 133 – Getrost! BWV 33 – Wie Furchtsam wankten meinne Schritte BWV 56 – Ich will den Kreuzstab gerne tragen BWV 42 – Jesus ist ein Schild BWV 35 – Gott hat alles wohl gemacht BWV 35 – Sinfonia (No. 5) BWV 106 – In deine Hände, befehl’ ich meinen Geist BWV 12 – Sinfona (No. 1) BWV 82 – Ich habe genug Duration 1 hr 45 mins approx. (including interval)

contralto, conductor

Leon Košavić baritone Phoenix 55 International Not only is contralto Nathalie Stutzmann ‘one of the great baroque singers of our day’ (Gramophone), she also enjoys a distinguished international career as a conductor (for the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, among others). For her Kilkenny debut, Stutzmann combines both talents, bringing her acclaimed ensemble Phoenix 55 (comprising musicians from her previous project, Orfeo 55) to St Canice’s to perform a very special programme of Bach cantatas with the talented young baritone, Leon Košavić. Devotion takes sections from some of Bach’s greatest works – specially selected by Stutzmann – and recombines them to form a thrilling ‘new’ composition. This unique programme is the first opportunity for an Irish audience to hear the ‘best contralto in the world’ (BR Klassik) singing Bach’s timeless cantata repertoire as you’ve never heard it before.

Stutzmann’s singing was remarkable Seen and Heard International on Orfeo 55 at Wigmore Hall

Nathalie is the real thing. So much love, intensity and sheer technique. We need more conductors like her Sir Simon Rattle

THU

7.30PM

ST CANICE’S CATHEDRAL ADMISSION ZONE A €35/€31.50 ZONE B €30/€27

PHOTO SIMON FOWLER

Nathalie Stutzmann

MUSIC

Irish Chamber Orchestra PHOTO JULIEN MIGNOT

Thomas Zehetmair conductor, violin Ruth Killius viola PROGRAMME Beethoven: Coriolan Overture Britten: Double Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra Beethoven: Symphony No. 3, ‘Eroica’ Duration 1 hr 45 mins approx. (including interval) We’re thrilled to welcome back the Irish Chamber Orchestra for their annual residency. For this concert the orchestra is joined by Thomas Zehetmair, who enjoys a dual career as a sought-after international conductor and an outstanding violinist whose recordings have won multiple awards. For this magnificent programme featuring Beethoven’s ‘Eroica’ symphony – one of the composer’s most celebrated works – Zehetmair both conducts and performs in the company of the supremely talented violist (and fellow member of the Zehetmair Quartet), Ruth Killius.

FRI

7.30PM

ST CANICE’S CATHEDRAL ADMISSION ZONE A €35/€31.50 ZONE B €30/€27

o’neill foley

CHAMBER MUSIC IN THE AFTERNOON Irish Chamber Orchestra Katherine Hunka conductor, violin

PROGRAMME Benjamin Britten: Variations on a Theme of Frank Bridge, Op. 10 Edward Elgar: Serenade for Strings in E minor, Op. 20 David Fennessy: Hirta Rounds Edward Elgar: Introduction and Allegro in G Major, Op. 47

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MUSIC

See kilkennyarts.ie

The orchestra kicks off a new series of chamber works in the afternoon with this delightful programme featuring Elgar’s masterpiece – the Introduction and Allegro – and Britten’s Variations, the work that brought him international fame. These iconic twentieth-century works are complemented by David Fennessy’s Hirta Rounds, an ethereal piece by one of Ireland’s most accomplished composers.

Duration 80 mins approx.

FRI

THE BLACK ABBEY ADMISSION €19/€17

4PM

Musici Ireland PROGRAMME I, SATURDAY 10 AUGUST Arvo Pärt: ‘Es sang vor langen Jahren’ Arvo Pärt: Fratres Arvo Pärt: Summa Arvo Pärt: Stabat Mater Duration 60 mins approx. (without interval) PROGRAMME II, SATURDAY 17 AUGUST Brahms: String Sextet No. 1 in B Major, Op. 18 Brahms: String Sextet No. 2 in G Major, Op. 36 Duration 80 mins approx. (without interval)

Helena Wood violin Siun Milne violin Beth McNinch viola Bill Butt cello Roisin O’Grady soprano Sharon Carty mezzo-soprano Eamonn Mulhall tenor Harriet Mackenzie violin Jane Hackett violin Beth McNinch viola Andreea Banciu viola Bill Butt cello Gráinne Hope cello

We’re delighted to welcome the exciting young chamber music ensemble Musici Ireland to the Festival for this pair of concerts in the Black Abbey, starting with chamber and choral works by the great Estonian composer Arvo Pärt, whose unmistakable sound has captivated audiences all over the world ever since ‘Fratres’ received its premiere more than 40 years ago. The second concert focuses on Brahms’ String Sextets: two of the most radiantly melodic works in the composer’s repertoire.

SAT

10 17

3.30PM 3.30PM

THE BLACK ABBEY ADMISSION €19/€17 FOR EACH CONCERT

CHAMBER MUSIC IN THE AFTERNOON

MUSIC

SPECIAL DEALS FOR THESE EVENTS

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[Vengerov] was well matched by Rafter … there were moments when the two soloists could not be told apart The Irish Times

PROGRAMME Claude Debussy: Sonata for Violin and Piano, L148 Claude Debussy: Estampes, II. La soirée dans Grenade; III. Jardins sous la pluie Eugène Ysaÿe: Sonata No. 3 for Solo Violin ‘Ballade’, Op. 27 César Franck: Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano Duration 70 mins approx. (without interval) Two of Ireland’s most exciting young talents join forces in this mouthwatering programme spanning a century of music. Kilkenny’s own star Patrick Rafter – who at the age of 17 won all three senior competitions at the Dublin RDS Feis Ceoil – now ranks ‘amongst the greatest violinists’ (Alexander Baillie), mentioned in the same breath as Maxim Vengerov, Itzhak Perlman and Nigel Kennedy, while pianist Michael McHale has established himself on the international stage as an outstanding soloist and chamber musician, performing with the likes of James Galway and Dame Felicity Lott.

Patrick Rafter & Michael McHale

SUN

ST JOHN’S PRIORY ADMISSION €19/€17

For this afternoon concert in St John’s they explore a quartet of fin de siècle gems, from César Franck’s late masterpiece, the Sonata in A, to Eugène Ysaÿe’s Bach-inspired Sonata No. 3 and Debussy’s last major composition, the Sonata for Violin and Piano.

3.30PM

Fionnuala Moynihan

she plays with a lightness of touch and enchanting freshness

PROGRAMME Clara Schumann: Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann, Op. 20 Clara Schumann: Piano Sonata in G minor Clara Schumann: Drei Romanzen, Op. 21

Sunday Business Post

Duration 50 mins approx. (without interval)

MON

ST JOHN’S PRIORY ADMISSION €19/€17

3.30PM

Malcolm Proud something of a musical visionary The Irish Times

SAT

17 11AM

Fionnuala Moynihan is one of Ireland’s leading classical pianists, celebrated for her monumental performances of great piano cycles by Mozart, Haydn and Bach. For her solo Festival debut she explores the work of the Romantic composer and pianist, Clara Schumann, whose Variations on a theme by her husband, Robert, inspired Brahms to compose his own, while her Three Romances (Drei Romanzen) sent King George V of Hanover into raptures.

PROGRAMME Bach: Fantasia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 537 Bach: Three chorale preludes on ‘Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland’, BWV 659/660/661 Bach: Canonic variations on ‘Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her’, BWV 769 Bach: Prelude and Fugue in E minor, BWV 548 Duration 50 mins approx. (without interval)

ST CANICE’S CATHEDRAL ADMISSION €19/€17

No Festival would be complete without the world-renowned organist, Malcolm Proud. For this recital he delves into the vast Bach organ repertoire for another unmissable performance at St Canice’s Cathedral.

CHAMBER MUSIC IN THE AFTERNOON

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MUSIC

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Quatuor Mosaïques

PROGRAMME I, TUESDAY 13 AUGUST Mozart: String Quartet No. 3 in G Major, K 156 Haydn: String Quartet No. 59 in G minor, Op. 74, No. 3 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 7 in F Major, Op. 59, No. 1

Austria/France

Duration 75 mins approx. (without interval)

TUE

WED

THU

13 14 15

3.30PM 3.30PM 3.30PM

THE BLACK ABBEY ADMISSION €19/€17 FOR EACH CONCERT

PROGRAMME II, WEDNESDAY 14 AUGUST Haydn: String Quartet No. 35 in D minor, Op. 42 Mozart: String Quartet No. 18 in A Major, K 464 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 8 in E minor, Op. 59, No. 2 Duration 80 mins approx. (without interval) PROGRAMME III, THURSDAY 15 AUGUST Mozart: Adagio and Fugue in C minor, KV 546 Haydn: String Quartet No. 52 in E flat major, Op. 64, No. 6 Beethoven: String Quartet No. 9 in C Major, Op. 59, No. 3 Duration 65 mins approx. (without interval)

Quatuor Mosaïques made a chamber music evening in the concert hall into a breathtaking experience Die Presse

Chamber Choir Ireland Grete Pedersen conductor a sheerly beautiful immersion in choral sonority The Irish Times

PROGRAMME Kaija Saariaho: Nuits, adieux Ørjan Matre: Orphic Songs Prologue, Rite, Hyphnos Louis Andriessen: Un Beau Baiser Deirdre McKay: sable qui glisse Rhona Clarke: The Kiss Maja Linderoth: Sonnet form denatured prose Duration 70 mins approx. (without interval)

After its sold-out, late-night concerts exploring choral works through the ages, Chamber Choir Ireland returns to the Festival with a radical new approach. Led by celebrated Norwegian conductor Grete Pedersen, the choir performs an exciting suite of contemporary pieces by a wealth of European composers. Featuring Louis Andriessen’s gorgeous Un Beau Baiser, as well as recent works by leading Irish composers Rhona Clarke and Deirdre McKay, this truly is, as The Journal of Music put it, ‘new music for everyone’.

FRI

3.30PM

THE BLACK ABBEY ADMISSION €19/€17

PHOTO WOLFGANG KRAUTZER

Quatuor Mosaïques’ performances of Schubert’s late string quartets were among the highlights of the Festival in 2017, and we’re thrilled to welcome the quartet back for a fresh trio of concerts in the magnificent Black Abbey. Focusing on some of Beethoven’s greatest string quartets, complemented with equally brilliant works by Mozart and Haydn, these concerts offer a rare opportunity to hear ‘the world’s leading period-instrument quartet’ (The Independent) performing at the height of its powers.

MUSIC & PROJECTION/VISUALS 16

Eat My Noise fLux

The first of two light shows at this year’s Festival is a multi-sensory spectacular taking place inside St Canice’s Cathedral. The brainchild of Eat My Noise (a collaboration between composers David Duffy and Peter Power), fLux mixes projections, live organ (John O’Brien), live electronics and tape in a breathtaking immersive experience inspired by structural loops, fractals and the Golden Ratio. The result is a feast for the senses that leaves audiences reeling. Duration 70 mins approx. (without interval)

FRI

9.30PM

ST CANICE’S CATHEDRAL ADMISSION €18

MUSIC & PROJECTION/VISUALS

KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OPW

Light Up the Castle 14 15 16 17 10.40PM 10.40PM 10.40PM GATES OPEN 10.15PM

With its distinctive circular towers and magnificent limestone walls, Kilkenny Castle is one of the most celebrated landmarks in the city, if not the country. As night falls, those iconic walls will play host to a spectacular free light show. The show will be visible at several points around the city (and you can tune in to KCLR to hear the music accompanying the show), but the best vantage point is the Castle Rose Garden, from where you can enjoy free access to the full spectacle. Don’t miss this chance to see the castle as you’ve never seen it before! Please note: latecomers will not be admitted. Wheelchair users are advised to contact the Festival box office before the show. Gates open at 10.15pm from the Parade entrance. Duration 20 mins approx.

WED THU FRI SAT

10.40PM

KILKENNY CASTLE ADMISSION FREE AND UNTICKETED

MUSIC

gorgeously sung and passionately played … an evocation of human solidarity

[a] gem of an album The Irish Times

The Guardian

MARK AND MARICHKA MARCZYK Ukraine

Balaklava Blues Anyone who saw Counting Sheep, their award-winning ‘guerilla folk opera’, or danced the night away with the Lemon Bucket Orkestra back in 2017, will need no introduction to Mark and Marichka Marczyk. This year we’re delighted to welcome back the exuberant duo with a brand new show created by Belarus Free Theatre, Balaklava Blues. Balaklava Blues sets the Marczyks’ heart-stopping traditional vocals to a range of propulsive electronic dance beats, performed against a mindblowing backdrop of documentary footage from the front lines of Ukraine’s Maidan revolution. At once hard-hitting and surreal, Balaklava Blues transports you into the heart of war-torn Ukraine with a unique mix of powerful singing and impossibly danceable tunes. Duration 90 mins approx. Please note that this event has limited seating, available on a first-comefirst served basis SAT

9.30PM

SET THEATRE ADMISSION €22

SPECIAL DEALS FOR THIS EVENT

See kilkennyarts.ie

Sun Collective Bands that embrace everything from folk to classical, indie and jazz, sometimes sound confused. But Sun Collective takes these disparate genres and melds them into a seamless blend of gorgeous three-part harmonies and lush string arrangements. Led by songwriter and producer Caimin Gilmore, the Dublin eight-piece has gone from strength to strength since releasing an acclaimed debut album in 2017. This intimate gig in Cleere’s is a wonderful chance to experience their unique sound. Duration 70 mins approx. Please note: This is a standing event

WED

14 9PM

CLEERE’S THEATRE ADMISSION €12

MUSIC

Carlou D Senegal Senegal’s Carlou D is a rising global star with a powerful voice. Since leaving socially conscious hip-hop collective Positive Black Soul, he has forged his own distinct path, developing a sound that blends traditional Senegalese instruments with contemporary influences and collaborating with stellar compatriots like Youssou N’Dour. His powerful voice and deft guitar playing are wonders to behold and his appearance at the Set – backed by a full band featuring acoustic guitars, bass, kora and percussion – is sure to be one of the Festival’s most memorable moments. Duration 80 mins approx. (without interval) Please note that this event has limited seating, available on a first-come-first served basis SPECIAL DEALS FOR THIS EVENT

FRI

SET THEATRE ADMISSION €22

See kilkennyarts.ie

10PM

Homogenic & Kid A

The idea of playing electronic music on wooden instruments might seem bizarre, but it was while working with Radiohead’s Jonny Greenwood that string quintet Wooden Elephant was inspired to do just that. The result was a groundbreaking performance of Björk’s album Homogenic that combined traditional string instruments with everything from wine glasses to kitchen foil. Since then, Wooden Elephant has expanded its repertoire to embrace other pop classics, and for this acoustic performance in the Set the quintet performs two of its favourite albums in their entirety – Homogenic and Radiohead’s masterpiece Kid A. These dazzling interpretations match the restless innovation of the original works, and sound at once familiar and utterly new. Please note that this event has limited seating, available on a first-comefirst served basis

Duration 80 approx.

SPECIAL DEALS FOR THIS EVENT

See kilkennyarts.ie

SAT

10PM

SET THEATRE ADMISSION €22

PHOTO ANNE CELDT MULTIMEDIA

Wooden Elephant International

MUSIC

SPOKEN WORD/ MUSIC

extraordinary

[Crash Ensemble] plays with the energy and spirit of a rock group

The Irish Times

The New York Times

IRISH PREMIERE

Crash Ensemble Song of the Books

Famished Cherry Smyth Ed Bennett Lauren Kinsella

The mighty Crash Ensemble returns to Kilkenny for a series of free pop-up concerts in the atmospheric courtyard of Rothe House. Led by the indomitable Kate Ellis, the ensemble performs a selection of works at 1.30, 2.30 and 3.30pm, including the Irish premiere of a major new piece by Northern Irish composer Ed Bennett, a thrillingly modern work for cello, electronics and amplified ensemble inspired by the traditional air Amhrán na Leabhar or ‘Song of the Books’. Be sure to drop by the courtyard to catch a performance and enjoy the intriguing musical interludes interspersed between each concert. Duration 30 mins per concert approx.

It was while hurrying through a London tube station that award-winning poet Cherry Smyth got the inspiration for Famished, her ‘extraordinary’ (The Irish Times) collaboration with composer Ed Bennett and leading jazz vocalist Lauren Kinsella. The fruit of seven years’ research into the forgotten stories of the Irish Famine and the role played by British Imperialism, Famished combines Smyth’s lyrical poems with Bennett’s cinematic score and haunting vocal interventions from Kinsella to tell the story of one of the greatest humanitarian disasters of the nineteenth century. The result is a lyrical lament that leaves audiences stunned and deeply moved. Duration 90 mins approx. (without interval)

THU

15 5PM

FRI PARADE TOWER ADMISSION €12/€10

16 1.30-4PM

ROTHE HOUSE ADMISSION FREE (UNTICKETED)

FILM/DANCE

MUSIC

QME has well and truly arrived. Beautiful! All About Jazz

Quiet Music Ensemble Deep Listening Sunday

Sandy Silva Canada people hold their breath each time Sandy Silva appears … she burns the floor Le Soleil

Canadian dancer Sandy Silva is a pioneer of ‘body percussion’, an expressive dance style that uses the whole body to weave tapestries of sound, from the whisper of a shoe on a floor to blazingly fast tap rhythms. Drawing on a breathtaking range of traditional dance forms, from Cape Breton to the Appalachian mountains, Silva works at the crossroads of movement and sound, forging a style both totally unique and utterly compelling. This show combines screenings of Silva’s short films from the award-winning Migration Dance Project with exhilarating live performance, accompanied by acclaimed guitarist Steve Cooney.

Founded by composer John Godfrey, and comprised of some of the best musicians in the country, the Quiet Music Ensemble is renowned for its innovative performances of experimental music, mixing improvisation with live electronics and recorded sounds. The ensemble’s repertoire of hushed, ambient pieces are meditations on sound itself, designed to draw audiences into a state of ‘deep listening’ that richly rewards close attention. This free performance in the Parade Tower features world premieres of works by leading composers including Marianthi PapalexandriAlexandri and Heather Frasch. Stop by any time during the performance and immerse yourself in these entrancing soundscapes. Duration 3 hrs approx. Quiet Music Ensemble acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council in making this performance possible.

Duration 70 mins approx. (without interval)

FRI

16 6PM

WATERGATE THEATRE ADMISSION €15

SUN

18 2PM

PARADE TOWER ADMISSION FREE (UNTICKETED)

MUSIC: ROLLERCOASTER SESSIONS

Sick Love WITH

The Wha

THE ROLLERCOASTER SESSIONS

The Festival is thrilled to present this exciting double bill featuring two up-and-coming Irish bands. Kilkenny’s own indie rock four-piece The Wha has been making waves this year with its debut single ‘Innocence’, while Sick Love’s high-energy, no-holds-barred rock shows have seen them hotly tipped ‘to join the Super League of Irish rock bands’ (The Irish Times). Duration 90 mins approx.

FRI

Please note that this event has limited seating, available on a first-comefirst served basis

8PM

Cathal Coughlan

Song of Co-Aklan I: The Re-Brand Audit (a Retrospective) Song of Co-Aklan II: The Final Coronation Anthem for a Hostile Takeover

SET THEATRE ADMISSION €12

MUSIC: ROLLERCOASTER SESSIONS

David Keenan & Band ‘If you have yet to discover the melodies and words of David Keenan,’ wrote GoldenPlec, ‘you are in for a rare and wonderful find’. A deft lyricist with a powerful storytelling sense, the 25-year-old Dundalk native’s songs are bursting with infectious hooks and original turns of phrase, all delivered with an impassioned, soulful voice. With a string of acclaimed releases and a US tour under his belt Keenan is busy making waves, and this rousing gig in the Set, backed by a full band, is the perfect showcase for his unique talent.

one of the most inspiring talents to come out of Irish music for a very long time GoldenPlec

Duration 90 mins approx.

SUN

Please note that this event has limited seating, available on a first-come-first served basis

9.30PM

[a] genius of Irish rock The Irish Times

SET THEATRE ADMISSION €20

Coughlan’s intelligence and passion are a rebuke to a vapid music industry, his chronicles of disaffection and disgust an inspiration The Guardian

For 30 years, whether as a solo artist or frontman of acclaimed indie bands Microdisney and the Fatima Mansions, Cathal Coughlan has been one of rock’s most singular performers, feted for his caustic wit and dark lyricism. This pair of back-to-back shows offers the first glimpses of Coughlan’s satirical new persona, ‘Co-Aklan’. In the first gig, the artist formerly known as ‘Cathal Coughlan’ joins forces with his band, the Grand Necropolitan Quartet, mixing favourite songs from his extraordinary back catalogue with new work inspired by Bertolt Brecht. For the second concert Coughlan/Co-Aklan is joined by guitarist James Woodrow to perform songs old and new, inspired by everything from the Book of Ezekiel to Kafka’s short story ‘The Burrow’. Don’t miss this chance to catch a genuinely original talent at the birth of this thrilling new project. Duration 70 mins per concert approx.

SUN

MON

8PM

9PM

11 12

CLEERE’S THEATRE ADMISSION €25 FOR EACH CONCERT

SPECIAL DEALS FOR THIS EVENT

See kilkennyarts.ie

Please note: These are standing events

MUSIC: ROLLERCOASTER SESSIONS 24

Arborist

A UNIQUE SERIES OF COLLABORATIONS CO-CURATED BY MARTIN HAYES

a staggering debut Mojo on Home Burial

Most bands have a few albums under their belt before they come to the attention of indie legends, but Arborist’s very first single, ‘Twisted Arrow’, featured guest vocals from none other than Kim Deal. Since then the band, fronted by singer-songwriter Mark McCambridge, has gone from strength to strength, releasing a rapturously received album, Home Burial, and supporting the likes of Low and Cat Power. With an eagerly awaited new album in the pipeline, Arborist bring their entrancing brand of Americana to Cleere’s Please note: This is a standing event for an evening of low-fi acoustic songs filled with laidback melodies and washed with gorgeous strings. THU

15 8PM

Support: Patrick M Barrett Duration 80 mins approx.

CLEERE’S THEATRE ADMISSION €17

magical amplified folk journeys through modern life … gorgeous electronics … stunning The Guardian on The Curious Hand

Seamus Fogarty

It’s seven years since Seamus Fogarty last appeared at the Festival, supporting Mick Flannery. Since then Fogarty has grown into a headline act in his own right, with barnstorming live performances and a stunning second album, The Curious Hand, that sent critics into raptures. Whether singing about Van Gogh or sleeping in a church in Carlow, Fogarty is a musical anthropologist, a collector of stories and sounds lifted wholesale and tucked into the folds of his songs. On record his delicate alt-folk is enriched by a dazzling array of electronic pulses, but it’s live that his songwriting talent and troubadour spirit really come to the fore.

a masterclass in interpretation … yet another thoughtprovoking escapade to relish from Hayes The Irish Times

Duration 80 mins approx. Please note: This is a standing event FRI

16 8PM

CLEERE’S THEATRE ADMISSION €20

WED ST CANICE’S CATHEDRAL ADMISSION €30/€27 7.30PM

THE MARBLE CITY SESSIONS Maighread & Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill / Louise & Michelle Mulcahy This unique event brings together two celebrated pairs of sisters from very different parts of the Irish tradition. Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill – leading lights in Irish traditional music for over 40 years – are steeped in the rich tradition of West Donegal, while flautist and uilleann piper Louise Mulcahy and her multi-instrumentalist sister Michelle – one of Ireland’s most creative harpists – hail from Limerick. For this concert the siblings join forces to explore their musical heritage in an unmissable collaboration between four of the finest talents working in traditional music today. Duration 90 mins approx.

Martin Hayes Quartet Martin Hayes makes an eagerly awaited return to St Canice’s with his newest groundbreaking ensemble. Mixing traditional tunes with unconventional instruments – courtesy of guitarist Dennis Cahill, viola d’amore player Liz Knowles, and clarinettist Doug Wieselman – the Martin Hayes Quartet is busy redefining how traditional music can sound. The result, ‘intimate in feel and panoramic in scope’ (Journal of Music), is a beguiling blend of tradition and innovation at once familiar and utterly fresh. For this year’s concert, the quartet is complemented by dancer Sandy Silva, another unique performer whose work takes a fresh approach to traditional forms. Duration 90 mins approx.

MUSIC: MARBLE CITY SESSIONS

music fit for the gods The Irish Times on Maighread and Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill

her revolutionary style on the harp is scintillating … one of the most significant musicians redefining harp at present The Living Tradition on Michelle Mulcahy

Please note: this is a seated event

TUE

13 9PM

SET THEATRE ADMISSION €25

MUSIC: MARBLE CITY SESSSIONS 26

Richard Thompson UK It’s 13 years since he was presented with a lifetime achievement award by the BBC, but Richard Thompson shows no signs of resting on his laurels. In the intervening time the folk-rock legend has curated London’s prestigious Meltdown Festival, recorded the soundtrack to Werner Herzog’s Grizzly Man, and released a string of critically acclaimed albums showcasing the songwriting prowess that earned him an Ivor Novello Award and more than one Grammy nomination over the course of a glittering career. This very special gig in the Set is a wonderful chance to see for yourself just why Thompson is regarded as one of the genuine songwriting, and guitar-playing, greats.

Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill with Cormac Begley Steve Cooney Síle Denvir Sandy Silva & more

Support: Katherine Priddy Duration 80 mins approx. (excluding support) Please note: this is a seated event

WED

9.30PM

SET THEATRE ADMISSION €30

the finest songwriter after Dylan and the best electric guitarist since Hendrix Los Angeles Times

SAT

17 8PM

ST CANICE’S CATHEDRAL ADMISSION €30/€27

an irresistible force of truth, beauty and electric improvisation

MUSIC: MARBLE CITY SESSIONS

The Village Voice

Sounds Like Freedom A Musical Celebration of the Struggle for Civil Rights in Ireland and America featuring Karan Casey Melvin Gibbs JT Lewis Úna Monaghan Aidan O’Rourke Brandon Ross Niall Vallely

SPECIAL DEALS FOR THIS EVENT

See kilkennyarts.ie

THU

15 10PM

From The Gloaming to The Martin Hayes Quartet, the partnership of Martin Hayes’ fiddle and Dennis Cahill’s guitar has been at the heart of many of the most exciting traditional music projects in recent years. For this closing concert in the Marble City Sessions, Hayes and Cahill are joined by a line-up of outstanding musicians, including concertina-player Cormac Begley, guitarist Steve Cooney, sean nós singer and harpist Síle Denvir, cellist Kate Ellis, singer Iarla Ó Lionáird and dancer Sandy Silva, for a celebration of eleven days of Festival magic. Duration 90 mins approx.

SET THEATRE ADMISSION €25

Please note: this is a seated event

Irish traditional music has a proud history of speaking out against injustice, and it was when he heard the Harriet Tubman Trio that concertina-player Niall Vallely got the idea for this unique concert exploring the musical connections between the civil rights movements in Ireland and the US. Named after a celebrated African American who liberated 300 slaves, the Harriet Tubman Trio is a powerhouse of New York’s experimental jazz scene whose earth-scorching blend of funk, rock, jazz and dub is infused with revolutionary zeal. For this very special collaboration the trio is joined by a quartet of musicians whose work sits at the cutting edge of trad: singer Karan Casey, harpist Úna Monaghan, fiddle player Aidan O’Rourke and Vallely himself. Performing songs of protest and rebellion, Sounds Like Freedom celebrates the subversive spirit of Irish traditional music and forges new connections between musicians whose work speaks the language of protest. Duration 90 mins approx. For a taste of the Harriet Tubman Trio don’t miss their free Sofa Session gig at Billy Byrne’s on Wednesday 14 August at 10pm. Limited capacity. Book online at kilkennyarts.ie

THE BIG CHAPEL PROJECT: EVENTS

SPOKEN WORD/ ARCHITECTURE

A special programme of events to mark The Big Chapel Project. For details of The Big ChapelX, a theatrical adaptation of Thomas Kilroy’s novel, see pages 6-7.

Notions As part of The Big Chapel Project, architecture partners Studio Weave, led by Je Ahn and Callan-based curator Orlaith Treacy, have teamed up with students from UCD School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy to re-imagine Callan’s regeneration and redevelopment as a pilot town for Project Ireland 2040.

PHOTO JOE O’SHAUGHNESSY

Based on interviews with locals and extensive research into the past and present of the town, this exhibition maps out some possible futures that these young architects and planners of tomorrow have dreamed up for Callan. PREVIEW MACRA NA FEIRME HALL, SUN MILL STREET, CALLAN OPENING HOURS: 12-5PM 3PM-5PM EXHIBITION RUNS UNTIL SATURDAY 17 AUGUST

The Big Chapel

Placemarker…

in conversation

How art can influence our experience of spaces and places

How do you adapt a novel, not for the stage, but for an entire town? Where do you begin? Author Thomas Kilroy joins director Donal Gallagher, designer Medb Lambert and Abbey Theatre producer Jen Coppinger to explore the unique challenges of staging The Big Chapel in Callan.

Creative Producer Róise Goan (Arts Admin) chairs this free panel discussion with Dr Mick Lennon (Director of Teaching and Learning, BA Planning, Geography & Environment, UCD School of Architecture), Virginia Teehan (Chief Executive, Heritage Council of Ireland) and Je Ahn (Studio Weave). Duration 60 mins approx.

Over the Backyard Wall Over the Backyard Wall, Thomas Kilroy’s recent ‘memory book’, is a genre-bending mix of memoir and imagination, combining historical fiction with recollections of his Callan childhood, his education at St Kieran’s College in Kilkenny, and his early adventures in Europe and America. For this event, Kilroy joins theatre and opera director Patrick Mason to explore the ways in which Kilkenny has influenced his life and work. Duration 60 mins approx. SUN

11AM

PARADE TOWER ADMISSION €14/€12

A year-long podcast series exploring Thomas Kilroy’s novel chapter by chapter. Presented by Etaoin Holahan and recorded in Fennelly’s of Callan, each episode focuses on a chapter of the novel in conversation with enthusiasts, experts and admirers.

Duration 60 mins approx. TUE

13 11AM

PARADE TOWER ADMISSION FREE BUT TICKETED

SAT

3.30PM

https://www.thebigchapel.com/theproject#/the-big-chapel-podcast/ THE FRIARY, WEST STREET, CALLAN ADMISSION FREE

SPOKEN WORD 29

KATO PRESENTS

a glittering gem of a show The Irish Times on Pondling

Rat King

A rehearsed reading Writer and performer Genevieve Hulme-Beaman is a rising star of the Irish stage. In 2014, her wickedly dark debut Pondling, about a young girl’s obsessive crush on an older boy, was a runaway hit, garnering rave reviews from Edinburgh to New York and winning a clutch of awards, including Best Female Performer at Dublin Fringe Festival, the Scotsman Fringe First Award Edinburgh and a New York Times Critics Pick. This rehearsed reading offers a tantalizing glimpse of her brandnew work before its official premiere. Rat King is a spoken-word black comedy exploring the lives of David and Chrissy, a pigeonhearted duo clambering to make sense of their world. Shot through with her deliciously dark humour, Rat King confirms Hulme-Beaman as one of the country’s most exciting new talents.

Writer/performer Genevieve Hulme-Beaman Director Ronan Phelan Producer Kate Ferris

SAT

Suitable for ages 16 and over.

Duration 40 mins approx.

5PM

CLEERE’S THEATRE ADMISSION FREE BUT TICKETED

Heroic Failure Fintan O’Toole

Scott of the Antarctic, the Light Brigade, Gordon of Khartoum: the British have long enjoyed portraying themselves as plucky underdogs in noble pursuit of a lost cause. There may be no cause more hopeless than Brexit – less a process than a sort of quicksand in which an entire nation has become progressively mired – and yet half the nation, and many of its politicians, remain doggedly committed to the cause. How did this happen? When did failure slip from pastime to national obsession?

SAT

17 2PM

PARADE TOWER ADMISSION €14/€12

a quite brilliant dissection of the cultural roots of the Brexit narrative Ed Milliband

Fintan O’Toole, journalist and author of the bestselling Heroic Failure, picks through the wreckage of Brexit, exploring the rise of English nationalism, and considering the potential consequences for Ireland, the border, and peace. Duration 60 mins approx.

SPOKEN WORD

THE HUBERT BUTLER ANNUAL LECTURE

From Revolution to Resolution: War and Peace in the Modern Era Fergal Keane Introduced by Olivia O’Leary

In his three decades as a BBC correspondent, Fergal Keane has reported on conflicts all over the world, from Northern Ireland to Rwanda, earning acclaim for his deep compassion and eye for detail, and winning countless awards including a BAFTA, the Orwell Prize for political writing and an OBE for services to journalism. He is now Africa Editor of the BBC, travelling and reporting on the continent. In recent years he has turned his attention to older conflicts, writing acclaimed books on everything from the siege of Kohima during World War Two to his grandmother’s experiences in North Kerry during the War of Independence and the Civil War. In this year’s Hubert Butler Lecture, Keane draws on a lifetime of frontline experience to reflect on the nature of war. What makes people decide to take up arms, how does the act of killing reverberate through the generations, and is it possible to achieve a more peaceful world? Duration 75 mins approx.

SUN

5.30PM

ST CANICE’S CATHEDRAL ADMISSION €17/€15

The Hubert Butler Annual Lecture was established by the Festival in 2007 to honour the Kilkenny writer, historian and broadcaster whose remarkable consistency of vision and clarity of mind made him unique among 20th-century essayists.

SPOKEN WORD

Transforming Evans’ Home

Creating a Butler Gallery for the 21st Century Evelyn Graham, Gerry Kearns, Niall McCullough & Anna O’Sullivan The Butler Gallery’s eagerly awaited new premises at Evans’ Home will open next year, complete with four permanent collection galleries, a large contemporary art gallery, an education and learning centre and a media centre. As building work continues apace, Evelyn Graham, Project Liaison Architect at Kilkenny County Council; Gerry Kearns, Professor of Human Geography at NUI Maynooth; architect Niall McCullough and Butler Gallery Director Anna O’Sullivan trace the evolution of the project so far, exploring the concept behind McCullough Mulvin’s acclaimed design, and the challenges of combining a restoration project with a state-of-the-art new space. Duration 60 mins approx. SUN

11 2PM

Amy Cutler, Eamon Colman & Blaise Smith Chaired by Anna O’Sullivan MON

12 5PM

PARADE TOWER ADMISSION FREE BUT TICKETED

PHOTO WITOLD RIEDEL

Behind the Canvas

PARADE TOWER ADMISSION FREE BUT TICKETED

Some of the artists featured in this year’s Festival have radically different approaches to their work. While Blaise Smith’s extraordinarily detailed portraits are painted from close observation, Eamon Colman’s abstract works are inspired by epic walks through the Irish landscape and Amy Cutler draws inspiration from a mixture of memory, imagination and current events. In this fascinating talk all three artists share thoughts on their own artistic process in the company of Butler Gallery Director Anna O’Sullivan. Duration 60 mins approx.

SPOKEN WORD

Pictures at an Exhibition The Creative Dialogue Between Hartmann and Mussorgsky Gerry Murphy

Inspired by a posthumous exhibition of his friend Viktor Hartmann’s work, Pictures at an Exhibition takes the listener on a musical tour of the show, with each piece representing one of Hartmann’s paintings. Ahead of Alexander Gavrylyuk’s eagerly awaited performance in St Canice’s, composer and music teacher Gerry Murphy explores the visual inspiration behind Mussorgsky’s most celebrated work. Duration 80 mins approx. SAT

10 11AM

Clara Schumann: Her Life & Music Ian Fox A talented pianist and a celebrated composer, Clara Schumann lived a life packed with drama. A child prodigy, she became the first pianist to perform from memory, earned most of the Schumann family’s income, and stood at the centre of a tempestuous love triangle between her husband Robert Schumann and Brahms. To celebrate the 200th anniversary of her birth, Ian Fox explores the life and work of the woman who tragically renounced composition at the age of 36. Duration 60 mins approx.

MON

12 11AM

PARADE TOWER ADMISSION €12/€10

SPOKEN WORD

Niamh Boyce In 1324, Kilkenny heiress Alice Kyteler was accused of witchcraft by the Bishop of Ossory and her maidservant Petronelle was burned at the stake. Nothing is known of Petronelle bar her name, but in Her Kind bestselling author Niamh Boyce reimagines the story from the point of view of Petronelle and her daughter Basilia. Both lyrical and unflinching, Her Kind is a ‘shout through time’ (Nuala O’Connor), a rich and involving story of ambition, loss, misogyny and family love that gives voice to two of the silenced women in Kilkenny – and Ireland’s – past. In this fascinating talk – taking place, appropriately, in one of Kilkenny’s iconic medieval spaces – Boyce reads from her acclaimed novel and explores what inspired her to write about the Kilkenny Witch Trials.

PHOTO MIGUEL RUIZ

Duration 60 mins approx.

SAT

PARADE TOWER ADMISSION €12/€10

11AM

Boyce’s writing … is always a pleasure to read … her prose strikes a perfect balance between the gritty and the sublime The Irish Times

RHYME RAG IN COLLABORATION WITH LAUREATE NA nÓG PRESENTS

We Are The Poets Laureate na nÓg Sarah Crossan is on a mission to encourage teenagers to express themselves through poetry. Her project We Are The Poets inspires young people to perform with more confidence and helps them to connect them to a wider audience. For this special Festival edition of We Are The Poets, featuring MC John Cummins and guest poet Moley, Kilkenny’s Rhyme Rag Collective performs work created during a masterclass for young writers. John Cummins has been writing for over 20 years and performing since early 2010. He was Leinster Poetry Slam Champion for three years running and the 2013/2014 All-Ireland Poetry Slam Champion. He is currently poet in residence at Bohemians Football Club.

Laureate na nÓg is an initiative of the Arts Council. It is supported by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and Poetry Ireland and is managed by Children’s Books Ireland. The honour was established by the Arts Council to engage young people with high-quality literature and to underline the importance of children’s literature in our cultural and imaginative lives.

WED

2PM

PARADE TOWER ADMISSION FREE BUT TICKETED

from the getgo, Paterson’s poetry has been essential reading

SPOKEN WORD

The Guardian

Mícheál ‘Moley’ Ó Súilleabháin

Don Paterson UK

Whether singing sean nós or Gregorian chant, singer, poet, rapper, actor and human beatboxer Mícheál ‘Moley’ Ó Súilleabháin is a spellbinding performer. For this special event Ó Súilleabháin performs original compositions from his debut poetry collection, forthcoming from Many Rivers Press.

POET IN RESIDENCE Introduced by Maureen Kennelly

Since his first collection, Nil Nil, won the Forward Prize in 1993, Don Paterson has been hailed as one of the most exciting voices in British poetry. Over seven collections – including Landing Light and 40 Sonnets – his exuberant mix of the quotidian, the surreal and the mystical has earned him countless accolades, including the TS Eliot Prize (twice), the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize and the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry. A talented jazz musician and composer, a brilliantly insightful critic, and – as Poetry Editor for Picador – a long-standing champion of new voices, Paterson’s talents are astonishingly diverse, and we’re delighted to welcome him back to Kilkenny to read from his work, and to reflect on the state of poetry, in all its forms, today.

Moley also takes part in We Are the Poets. See page 33 for details. Duration 60 mins approx.

Duration 60 mins approx. THU

15 1PM

SAT

PARADE TOWER ADMISSION €12/€10

PARADE TOWER ADMISSION €14/€12

5PM

Poetry Workshop

Kilkenny Poetry Broadsheet

Don Paterson leads this workshop for poets. Participation is by application. Email info@poetryireland.ie for further details.

Join us at the Parade Tower to celebrate the publication of Kilkenny Arts Office’s Poetry Broadsheet 19, launched this year by Don Paterson and Jean O’Brien. The Broadsheet gives local writers a platform to showcase their work. This year’s editor is Dublin-based writer and poet, Jean O’Brien. She has published five collections of poetry, the latest of which, New & Selected Fish on a Bicycle, was reprinted by Salmon Publishing in 2018. She was the 2017/18 recipient of the Patrick and Katherine Kavanagh Fellowship and has won many awards for her poetry.

Please note: places are strictly limited. SAT

17 11AM

FRI

ATTENDANCE BY APPLICATION

PHOTO MURDO MACLEOD

16 4PM

PARADE TOWER ADMISSION FREE (TICKETED)

MUSIC & FILM

Dracula with live score

Musicians Eivind Aarset electric guitar Seán Mac Erlaine reeds/electronics/prepared piano Matthew Nolan electric guitar/synth Sharon Phelan vocals As darkness falls on a summer evening, why not cool down with this spine-chilling screening of Dracula? Released in 1931, and starring the legendary Bela Lugosi as the thirsty count, Tod Browning’s version of the horror classic is one of the last great films of the silent era. This special screening features a bone-tingling live score composed and performed by Seán Mac Erlaine, ‘one of the most interesting and adventurous musicians of his generation’ (The Irish Times), who leads a quartet of outstanding musicians, including guitarists Eivind Aarset and Matthew Nolan, and acclaimed singer Sharon Phelan. Filled with haunting vocals and nerve-shredding guitar riffs, this thrilling live show is guaranteed to cool the blood on a warm August night.

SAT

17 8PM

Duration 75 mins approx.

Local Films for Local People: Kilkenny Kaleidoscope

WATERGATE THEATRE ADMISSION €15

The Irish Film Institute’s Local Films For Local People brings county-specific programmes of films from the IFI Irish Film Archive out of the vaults and back to the communities from whence they came. The first of two Kilkenny-themed programmes offers glimpses of life in the city through the ages, from Countess Markievicz at a 1917 political rally to the restoration of the castle by the OPW. The second programme focuses on hurling, including a screening of the much-loved comedy Rooney, about a Dublin dustbin man who finds himself lining up for Kilkenny at the 1957 final. IFI is supported by the Arts Council

KILKENNY KALEIDOSCOPE: PROGRAMME 1 Political Rally Kilkenny 5 mins / B&W / c.1917 Kilkenny 685 20 mins / B&W / 1966 The Restoration of Kilkenny Castle 30 mins / Colour / 1995

KILKENNY KALEIDOSCOPE: PROGRAMME 2 GAA Hurling Final 1957 10 mins / B&W / 1957 Rooney 85 mins / B&W / 1958 / George Pollock

WATERGATE THEATRE PROGRAMME 1: 4.30PM PROGRAMME 2: 6.30PM 4.30PM & ADMISSION €7 PER PROGRAMME, 6.30PM €10 FOR BOTH

THU

VISUAL ART

Amy Cutler You Were Always On My Mind, 2013 Gouache on paper 22-1/8 x 23 inches; 56.2 x 58.4 cm Â© Amy Cutler, courtesy Leslie Tonkonow Artworks + Projects, New York, Heather Podesta Collection

VISUAL ART 37

BUTLER GALLERY IN ASSOCIATION WITH KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL

Amy Cutler: Colloquies The Butler Gallery is delighted to present the first exhibition in Ireland by the New York-based artist Amy Cutler. Cutler’s paintings and pencil on paper works are both dark and delightful – whimsical allegories illustrating the destructive effects of the unrealistic expectations that cultures impose on women. Cutler draws from a combination of her own memories and life experiences and current events to convey the complexities and cultural subtexts associated with womanhood. The rituals Cutler illustrates and the allusive narrative world she creates between her archetypal characters become a fascinating conversation full of intrigue that reveals the interior and exterior life of women. Amy Cutler has exhibited extensively internationally including shows at the Institute of Contemporary Art, Philadelphia; the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO; the Indianapolis Museum of Art; Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid. Works by the artist are in the collections of The Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; the Baltimore Museum of Art; the Hammer Museum, Los Angeles; Herbert F. Johnson Museum, Ithaca, NY; Indianapolis Museum of Art; Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Madrid; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; The Phillips Collection, Washington, DC, and those of many other distinguished institutions and private individuals. Funding support provided by Creative Ireland and the Kilkenny County Council. Amy Cutler will take part in an artists’ discussion with Eamon Colman and Blaise Smith in the Parade Tower on Monday 12 August at 5pm. See page 31 for details.

BUTLER OPENING

SAT BUTLER

3PM-5PM

BUTLER

GALLERY BUTLER GALLERY, THE CASTLE, KILKENNY

+353 56 776 1106 GALLERY

WWW.BUTLERGALLERY.COM 10AM – 5.30PM DAILY UNTIL 6 OCTOBER

GALLERY

VISUAL ART

Double Vision

PHOTO KATE BOWE O’BRIEN

Eamon Colman & Blaise Smith

The Encounter That Never Was Kilkenny Arts Office is pleased to present The Encounter That Never Was, a group exhibition which explores how we interpret and inhabit space through a series of subtle sculptural interventions. Drawing on architectural language and materiality the exhibition interrogates how we encounter and understand our surroundings.

This exhibition brings together two radically different Kilkenny-based artists for a double ‘portrait’ of the county. While Blaise Smith’s creates portraits and landscapes that record everyday life with breathtaking precision, Eamon Colman blends the figurative and the abstract, capturing shifting weather patterns and the experience of walking the terrain. For this brand-new project, both artists have spent time painting ‘landscapes’ in and around Kilkenny. The result is a fascinating exhibition that offers two startlingly fresh visions of the city, and the county, as seen through the eyes of two of Ireland’s most respected artists. Drop into Rothe House in the afternoon on Friday 16 August to see Blaise Smith painting en plein air. Eamon Colman and Blaise Smith will take part in an artists’ discussion with Amy Cutler in the Parade Tower on Monday 12 August at 5pm. See page 31 for details.

This is the third in a series of exhibitions by curator in residence Leah Corbett in the Kilkenny Arts Office Gallery. This programme is funded by Kilkenny County Council Arts Office, Creative Ireland and the Arts Council of Ireland.

OPENING SAT

10 1PM

5 DEAN STREET, KILKENNY EXHIBITION DATES: 9 AUGUST - 7 SEPTEMBER 2019 OPENING HOURS 9 - 18 AUGUST: 10.30AM-5.30PM

OPENING FRI

5PM

10 – 18 AUGUST DORE’S OLD FACTORY MON-SUN 10.30AM-5.30PM

VISUAL ART

Eamon Colman lets his feelings run wild with his landscapes – his work is a kind of revelation Sunday Times

PHOTO ANTHONY HOBBS

Eamon Colman On Slievenamon lies a warrior queen, 2019 Oil and mixed media on acid-free paper, framed under perspex H. 60 cm x W. 56 cm (unframed size)

as a figurative artist, Blaise Smith is … in a class of his own Sunday Times Blaise Smith Noel’s Back Field, 2018 Oil on canvas 25 cm x 35 cm

DESIGN

IMAGES FROM DAITHI MAGNER, CAOIMHE MCGUCKIN, JOE CASLIN, JOHN RAINEY

CURATED BY Fiona Mulholland

This thought-provoking exhibition represents the ‘emotional geography’ of the makers, generating a fascinating visual interplay between authentic storytelling and artistic expression, with a sense of playfulness and infectious imagination. A common thread throughout is the artists’ preoccupation with making the invisible visible, and a fundamental interest in traditional processes and materials. From amputated limb jewellery by Hazel Kenny to wearable measurement systems of Caoimhe McGuckin; ‘voluptuously illustrated’ silk scarfs by Pony Ltd., to Rorschach inkblot textiles of Brigitta Varadi; derelict angel houses constructed using found materials by Daithi Magner, to artefacts that suggest new ways of representing the self of Max Brosi and John Rainey, Crowded Thresholds is an intriguing group exhibition of established and emerging practitioners, working across different disciplines in applied art, design and visual art. As part of the exhibition, renowned illustrator Joe Caslin is producing a new installation reflecting creativity in Kilkenny, which will be installed in a prominent location within the city centre. Crowded Thresholds explores effects of the subconscious in the creation and response to objects of material culture. Reflecting on what Freud termed ‘The Uncanny’, the psychological experience of something as strangely familiar, the curator is interested in how psychoanalytic concepts overlap with the creative process. Bringing together a disparate set of influences from popular culture to the avant-garde; surrealism to realism; social cultural issues to the body at a microscopic level, the exhibition ultimately embraces our humanity.

OPENING SAT

1PM-4PM

10 AUGUST – 10 NOVEMBER 2019 NATIONAL DESIGN & CRAFT GALLERY, CASTLE YARD MON-SAT 10AM-5.30PM, SUN 11AM-5.30PM

EXHIBITORS Max Brosi Joe Caslin Julie Connellan Hazel Kenny Daithi Magner Paul McClure Caoimhe McGuckin John Rainey Niall Sweeney @ Pony Ltd. Brigitta Varadi

DESIGN 41

Talks + Workshops at National Design & Craft Gallery FRI 9 AUG, 2PM – 5PM Line + Narrative (16+) €25* Masterclass in illustration techniques with Joe Caslin.

SUN 11 AUG, 12 NOON Movement + Mindfulness (14+)* Flow yoga in the Castle Yard with Essie Millie.

SAT 10 + SUN 11 AUG, Drop-in 11AM – 4PM Creative Construction in the Secret Garden (14+) A collaborative build using found materials and DIY architecture, inspired by Daithi Magner’s sculpture, with Sandra McAlister.

TUES 13 - THUR 15 AUG, 2PM, 3PM & 4PM Children’s Craft Workshops, 1 workshop/child (6-13yrs)*

SUN 11 – SUN 18 AUG, 11AM – 4PM Secret Garden Reflective Creative Space Drop in to our peaceful secret garden retreat to relax, contemplate or make.

Textured Textiles with Sandra Mc Allister

SAT 10 AUG, 1PM Crowded Thresholds Curator’s Tour Join curator Fiona Mulholland with exhibiting makers as they expand on the narratives in the show, discussing personal and creative investments within making processes. SAT 10 AUG, 1PM – 4PM Crowded Thresholds Launch Exhibition launch with Crafted Cocktails from Pembroke Kilkenny.

Impressive Illustrations with Caroline Schofield

Clay Creatures with Brid Lyons SAT 17 AUG, 11AM – 1PM Visible // Invisible (16+)* €10 Relax and reflect in this mindful drawing session, with Caroline Schofield.

* Booking required - for more info & to book workshops visit http://ndcg.eventbrite.com

FAMILY

A Creative Space for Children

The partnership between Barnstorm and Kilkenny Arts Festival continues in 2019 with StormFest – a family season of a theatre and storytelling programme in the New Space @ CBS Secondary School, James Street, Kilkenny.

PHOTO LEWIS WILEMAN

‘We believe passionately that an audience of children has the same right to the highest standards of production as does an adult audience,’ says Barnstorm’s Artistic Director Philip Hardy, ‘and the shows coming to StormFest this year exemplify this quality.’

TEATER PATRASKET DENMARK

M6 THEATRE COMPANY UK

Fly

Little Gift

Fly is a puppet theatre show for 5-to-10-year-olds and adults – a poetic journey into a circus world of strange characters, big emotions and captivating puppet imagery.

An old soul lives alone. He likes it that way. It’s quieter and safer. One day, a surprise visitor plants a little seed of hope and turns this lonely life upside down.

Arthur and Marta are two very old puppeteers who have been together throughout their lives. With a magical pavilion as a focal point, they play out the story of the poor orphan boy Max, who is being bullied and oppressed and is longing to fly. One day he discovers the giraffe woman Lily, and the great love that might give him wings… Teater Patrasket is a well-known travelling theatre from Copenhagen that tours throughout Denmark and abroad. The performance is created in collaboration with the director Giacomo Ravicchio and draws inspiration from melodrama, freak show and circus romance.

Told by a very special performer, with a playful mix of puppetry, original music and song, Little Gift is a brand-new tale from multi-award-winners M6 Theatre and Andy Manley. Join us for a beautiful and optimistic story about a friendship waiting to grow. Suitable for children (3-7 years) and their families. Duration 40 mins approx.

Duration 40 mins approx. SAT

12PM & 3PM

SUN

12PM & 3PM

THE SPACE, CBS SECONDARY SCHOOL, JAMES STREET, KILKENNY ADMISSION €10 (€35 FOR FAMILY OF 4)

FRI

12PM & 3PM

SAT

12PM & 3PM

THE SPACE, CBS SECONDARY SCHOOL, JAMES STREET, KILKENNY ADMISSION €10 (€35 FOR FAMILY OF 4)

We acknowledge with gratitude the support of Creative Ireland and the Arts Council of Ireland.

FAMILY

a thing of beauty The Irish Times on I Am a Little Boat

I am a Little Boat

Pop-Up Storytelling

Join traditional musicians Fiona Kelleher and Jim Murray for this enchanting concert for young children (aged 0 to 5) and their parents. Drawing on her roots in traditional music, singer and composer Fiona Kelleher has written a delightful collection of gentle, soothing songs, specially designed to enchant young children. Packed with gorgeous melodies and simple lyrics, I am a Little SUN Boat is the perfect introduction ORMONDE HOTEL to the world of music.

Duration 60 mins approx. StormFest and Kilkenny Arts Festival are delighted to again collaborate in presenting a series of storytelling events which include telling for children and adults, and a unique storytelling workshop for all budding tellers in the region. Times and venues to be revealed. See barnstorm.ie for details. Admission €7.

Tiny Dancer Lace up your dancing shoes and grab those glowsticks: it’s time for the kids to throw some shapes and bust out their best moves as DJ Donal Dineen hits the decks for a musical rollercoaster ride. Expect dance tunes from every corner of the globe. Kids just wanna have fun! Duration 60 mins approx. Under 1s go free but if you’re dancing you need a ticket! SUN

11AM & 2PM

ORMONDE HOTEL ADMISSION €7 ADULT/ €5 CHILD

11AM & 2PM

ADMISSION €7

OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE

Secret Garden Music Now in its sixth year, Secret Garden Music is one of the Festival’s most popular series. Every day throughout the Festival, a range of artists offer pop-up performances in some of Kilkenny’s loveliest spaces. This year we’ve expanded the programme both within the city and beyond, adding a special Crash Ensemble performance at Rothe House Courtyard (with Blaise Smith painting nearby) and an extended session at Mount Juliet. Wherever you find yourself, why not come along to find out who’s playing and enjoy free performances from leading Irish and international musicians? SAT MON WED

Duration 15 mins approx. Performances are subject to weather conditions.

SAT TUE THU SUN

1.30PM 10 12PM 13 12PM 15 18 12PM

FRI

16 1.30PM

CASTLE PARK ADMISSION FREE

Crash at the Courtyard ROTHE HOUSE COURTYARD For details of Crash Ensemble’s ADMISSION FREE concerts in Rothe House see page 20.

MON

FRI

12 16 1.30PM 12PM

10 12 14 12PM 12PM 12PM

SUN TUE

SAT

11 13 17 1.30PM 1.30PM 12PM

ROTHE HOUSE GARDEN ADMISSION FREE

SUN THU

SAT

STONE CIRCLE BUTLER HOUSE GARDEN ADMISSION FREE

11 15 17 12PM 1.30PM 1.30PM

WED HERITAGE COUNCIL GARDEN ADMISSION FREE

GAZEBO BUTLER HOUSE GARDEN ADMISSION FREE

14 1.30PM

MOUNT JULIET ADMISSION FREE SPECIAL EXTENDED SGM

Image courtesy of the National Library of Ireland

Kilkenny is a treasure trove of wonderful local businesses, and we're proud to receive their support.

46 1

GREAT PLACES TO SLEEP

Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel

Kilkenny Pembroke Hotel

Langton House Hotel

056 776 2000

056 775 0200

056 778 3500

056 776 5133

kilkennyormonde.com

Anocht Restaurant

Special Festival menus available at select restaurants

Hotel Kilkenny hotelkilkenny.ie

GREAT PLACES TO EAT

pembrokekilkenny.com

Aroi

Billy Byrne’s

056 770 3644

056 772 1783

Butler Tea Rooms

056 772 2118

056 772 2828

Foodworks

Fennelly’s of Callan

056 777 7696

langtons.ie

La Rivista

Marble City Bar

056 777 1666

056 776 1143

086 069 1421

Matt the Miller’s Bar & Restaurant 056 776 1696

Rive Gauche 056 777 5604

Statham’s Restaurant

The Hoban Hotel

Victor’s at The Club House

056 778 3500

056 788 3100

056 772 1994

Zuni Restaurant 056 772 3999

Whatever you're looking to do, check out these great places! 5

Lyrath Estate Hotel

Mount Juliet Estate

056 776 0088

056 777 3000

lyrath.com

Cakeface Patisserie

Newpark Hotel

Butler Court

Butler House

056 776 0500

056 776 1178

056 772 2828

flynnhotels.com

butlercourt.com

butler.ie

mountjuliet.ie 15

Campagne

Harper’s Restaurant

Langton’s Restaurant

056 777 2858

056 777 1888

056 776 5133

056 773 9971 23

Sullivan’s Taproom 056 772 2907

Petronella

Restaurant & Café

Paris Texas

Ristorante Rinuccini

056 776 1822

056 776 1575

056 776 1899 32

GREAT PLACES TO DRINK

Bridie’s

Cleere’s Bar

Hibernian Bar

Kyteler’s Inn

056 776 5133

056 776 2573

056 777 1888

056 772 1064

See map on p.51.

48 36

GREAT PLACES TO DRINK

Lenehans Bar 086 250 4081

Matt the Miller’s Bar & Restaurant

Paris Texas

Statham’s Bar

056 776 1822

056 778 3500

056 776 1696 40

GREAT PLACES TO SHOP 44

Allens of Kilkenny & Carlow

Kieran O’Gorman - Hair & Beauty Day Spa

Cuffesgrange

The Butterslip

Mokum Interiors 2 Dean Street

The Book Centre

Folkster

10 High Street

27 Patrick Street

95 High Street

Highbank Orchard & Distillery 49

Specsavers Kilkenny Market Cross Shopping Centre

GOODS – 4 Floors of Fashion 88/90 High Street

Kilkenny Design Centre

Lamber de Bie Ormonde Street

Castle Yard

Mint MediSpa by Pembroke Kilkenny 11 Patrick Street

Textures Castle Yard

The Wardrobe Kilkenny - Design Consignment Store 29 Patrick Street

The Zip Yard Irishtown

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s some news worth hearing.

Ticket THE IRISH TIMES culture magazine

BOOKS

ARTS

FILM

MUSIC

Kilkenny Vehicle Centre, Callan Road, Kilkenny. 086 2443229 kilkennyvehicles.com

THEATRE

Every Saturday in THE IRISH TIMES

51 VICA

HERITAGE COUNCIL GARDEN

R ST

To Newpark Hotel

REET

LFE

Mokum Interiors

The Zip Yard

NE G LA ILDIN ROTHE HOUSE GARDEN

St John’s Priory

To Lyrath Estate Hotel

LAN

LIA

WIL

GOODS

FÁILTE IRELAND TOURIST OFFICE

Paris Texas

T YS IAR

FR Aroi

25 38

41 The Book Centre

Allen’s of Kilkenny

Hibernian 34 47 Harper’s 16 Bar Restaurant The 52 T Wardrobe REE E ST D N O Folkster 42 M KILLKENNY OR

Zuni Victors at The Club House

ORMONDE HOTEL

N’S

JOH

W NE

WE LO ST

Langton’s Restaurant

Bridie’s

Ristorante Rinuccini Pembroke Hotel Statham’s Restaurant & Mint by Pembroke

Kilkenny Design Centre

46 10

49 3 28 39

PARADE TOWER

Anocht Restaurant

Butler Court

13 9

KILKENNY CASTLE PARK

BUTLER GALLERY

NATIONAL DESIGN & CRAFT GALLERY

EP AR

PATRICK ST UPPER

To Hotel Kilkenny

To Fennelly’s of Callan

To The Hoban Hotel

ORD

lan Cal o T

OAD

R AYDEN

H FATHER

ERF WAT

To Highbank Orchard & Distillery, Cuffesgrange

Textures

Butler House Tea Rooms

G LLE

BOX OFFICE

Rive Gauche

Butler House

Kilkenny Castle

BUTLER HOUSE GARDEN

St Kieran’s College

76 JOHN ST

DG BRI

LIN

Langton House HotelT

KILKENNY CASTLE ROSE GARDEN

Lamber de Bie

37 E

Petronella Restaurant & Café

EET

SET THEATRE

’S

ER LLI

STR

HIGH

LAN

Matt the Miller’s

Kieran O’Gorman Hair, Beauty, Day Spa

INN

Specsavers

TREET

50 PEL

N’

ES S

JAM

Sullivan’s Taproom

KIE

MILL S

T REE

Marble City Bar

Kyteler’s Inn

BLACK

THE SPACE, CBS SCHOOL

See page 46 for details

Rothe House

Foodworks

Great Places to Sleep Great Places to Drink Great Places to Eat Great Places to Shop

BU NEW

Kilkenny City Map

T YS

Billy Byrne’s Bar

S ENT LIAM PAR

DORE’S OLD FACTORY

MIC

TRAIN BL STATION IN RO AD

TU PP

La Rivista

HN S

WATERGATE THEATRE

CLEERE’S THEATRE

The Black Abbey

MacDONAGH JUNCTION

Cleere’s Bar

B AB

Campagne

5 DEAN STREET

TRE

S EAN

Cakeface Patisserie

36 Lenehan’s Bar

St Canice’s Cathedral IRI

6 To Mount Juliet Estate

2cm = 100m approx. 1 inch = 400 feet approx.

Kilkenny Arts Festival 2019 Schedule

Thursday 8

Friday 9

Saturday 10

Sunday 11

St Kieran’s College Quad

Much Ado About Nothing (preview) 8pm, p.4

Much Ado About Nothing 8pm, p.4

Much Ado About Nothing 3.30pm, p.4

St Canice’s Cathedral

fLux 9.30pm, p.16

Alexander Gavrylyuk 7.30pm, p.10

Hubert Butler Lecture: Fergal Keane 5.30pm, p.30

Black Abbey

ICO / Hunka 4pm, p.13

Musici Ireland I 3.30pm, p.13

St John’s Priory

Rafter / McHale 3.30pm, p.14

Watergate Theatre

Cleft 7.30pm, p.8

Cleft 7:30pm, p.8

Cleft 3pm, p.8

Set Theatre

Rollercoaster: Sick Love / The Wha 8pm, p.22

Balaklava Blues 9.30pm, p.18

Rollercoaster: David Keenan 9.30pm, p.23

Cleere’s Theatre

Rat King 5pm, p.29

Rollercoaster: Cathal Coughlan 1 8pm, p.22

Rollercoaster: Cathal Coughlan 2 9pm, p.22

Pictures at an Exhibition 11am, p.32

Over the Backyard Wall 11am, p.28

Clara Schumann: Her Life and Music 11am, p.32

Parade Tower

Callan

Transforming Evans’ Home 2pm, p.31

Monday 12

Fionnuala Moynihan 3.30pm, p.14

Behind the Surface 5pm, p.31

The Big Chapel (Preview) 9pm, p.6

The Big Chapel 9pm, p.6

Amy Cutler Opening 3pm, p.36

Colloquies 10am-5.30pm, p.36

Kilkenny Castle Rose Garden

Butler Gallery

National Design & Craft Gallery

Crowded Thresholds Opening Crowded Thresholds 1pm, p.40 11am-5.30pm, p.40

Crowded Thresholds 10am-5.30pm, p.40

Double Vision Opening 5pm

Double Vision 10.30am-5.30pm, p.38

The Encounter That Never Was 5 Dean St, Kilkenny 10.30am-5.30pm, p.38

That Never Was 5 Dean St, Kilkenny 10.30am-5.30pm (Opening 1pm) , p.38

The Encounter That Never Was 5 Dean St, Kilkenny 10.30am-5.30pm, p.38

Fly CBS Secondary School 12pm & 3pm, p.42

I Am a Little Boat Ormonde Hotel 11am & 2pm, p.43

Notions Macra Na Feirme Hall, Callan 12pm-5pm, p.28

Dore’s Old Factory Kilkenny Arts Office Gallery

Other Venues

Notions (Opening) Macra Na Feirme Hall, Callan 3pm, p.28

Street & Gardens

THEATRE

MUSIC

MUSIC: MARBLE CITY SESSIONS

SPOKEN WORD

FILM

Fly CBS Secondary School 12pm & 3pm, p.42

Secret Garden Music Gazebo, Butler House Garden 12pm, p.44 Castle Park 1.30pm, p.44

Secret Garden Music Stone Circle, Butler House 12pm, p.44 Rothe House Garden 1.30pm, p.44

VISUAL ART & DESIGN

FAMILY

OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE

Secret Garden Music Gazebo, Butler House 12pm, p.44 Heritage Council Garden 1.30pm, p.44

Tuesday 13

Wednesday 14

Thursday 15

Friday 16

Saturday 17

Much Ado About Nothing 8pm, p.4

Much Ado About Nothing 3:30pm & 8pm, p.4

MCS: Martin Hayes Quartet 7.30pm, p.25

Natalie Stutzmann & Phoenix 55 7.30pm, p.11

ICO / Zehetmair 7.30pm, p.12

Malcolm Proud Organ Recital 11am, p.14

MCS: Martin Hayes & Dennis Cahill & guests 8pm, p.27

Quatuor Mosaïques 3.30pm, p.15

Chamber Choir Ireland 3.30pm, p.15

Musici Ireland II 3.30pm, p.13

The Soldier’s Tale 7.30pm, p.9

IFI Kilkenny Kaleidoscope 4.30pm & 6.30pm, p.35

Sandy Silva 6pm, p.21

Dracula 8pm, p.35

MCS: Ní Dhomnaills / Mulcahys 9pm, p.25

MCS: Richard Thompson 9.30pm, p.26

MCS: Sounds Like Freedom 10pm, p.27

Carlou D 10pm, p.19

Wooden Elephant 10pm, p.19

Sun Collective 9pm, p.18

Rollercoaster: Arborist 8pm, p.24

Rollercoaster: Seamus Fogarty 8pm, p.24

We Are the Poets 2pm, p.33

Mícheál ‘Moley’ Ó Súilleabháin 1pm, p.34

Kilkenny Poetry Broadsheet Niamh Boyce 11am, p.33 4pm, p.34

The Big Chapel: In Conversation 11am, p.28

Famished 5pm, p.20

Sunday 18

Quiet Music Ensemble 2pm, p.21

Heroic Failure 2pm, p.29

Don Paterson 5pm, p.34

The Big Chapel 9pm, p.6

Light Up the Castle 10.40pm, p.17

Light Up the Castle 10:40pm, p.17

Colloquies 10am-5.30pm, p.36

Crowded Thresholds 10am-5.30pm, p.40

Crowded Thresholds 11am-5.30pm, p.40

Double Vision 10.30am-5.30pm, p.38

The Encounter That Never Was 5 Dean St, Kilkenny 10.30am-5.30pm, p.38

Notions Macra Na Feirme Hall, Callan 12pm-5pm, p.28

Tiny Dancer Ormonde Hotel 11am & 2pm, p.43

Little Gift CBS Secondary School 12pm & 3pm, p.42

Placemarker The Friary, Callan 3.30pm, p.28

Crash Ensemble (Courtyard) Rothe House 1.30pm, p.20

Little Gift CBS Secondary School 12pm & 3pm, p.42

Secret Garden Music Heritage Council Garden 12pm, p.44 Rothe House Courtyard 1.30pm, p.44

Secret Garden Music Rothe House Garden 12pm, p.44 Stone Circle, Butler House 1.30pm, p.44

Secret Garden Music Castle Park 12pm, p.44 Rothe House Garden 1.30pm, p.44

Secret Garden Music Gazebo, Butler House Garden 12pm, p.44 Mount Juliet 1.30pm, p.44

Secret Garden Music Castle Park 12pm, p.44 Stone Circle, Butler House 1.30pm, p.44

Secret Garden Music Castle Park 12pm, p.44

BOOKING TICKETS FOR KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL 2019 ONLINE

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BY PHONE

IN PERSON from 11 July at the Festival Box Office, 76 John St, Kilkenny

from 11 July on +353 56 775 2175

Weekdays: 10am - 5pm During the Festival: daily 10am - 7pm

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