YARN Storytelling Festival Bray 2016

MERMAID ARTS CENTRE PRESENTS

Tel: 01 272 4030 www.mermaidartscentre.ie

Steve Lally SUNDAY 13 November 3pm | Family Storytelling in Commonground - see page 8 8pm | Open Mic Night CaffĂŠ Letterario GattaNera - see page 9 2

MERMAID ARTS CENTRE PRESENTS

Mermaid Arts Centre is excited to present, for the seventh year, YARN Storytelling Festival Bray.

YARN is a community based non-profit making festival that strives to bring the art-form of storytelling to as many people in our community as possible. Ireland is brimming with fantastic storytellers who will captivate both adults and children from the outset.

This year the programme is, once again, bursting at the seams with something for everyone. We have a YARN exhibition in our gallery entitled ‘Remembered - A Bray man in the Great War’. Admission is free.We are delighted to welcome Steve Lally from Co. Down, Máirín Mhic Lochlainn from Co. Galway and Richard Marsh from Dublin (originally US) as well as YARN favourites Nuala Hayes, Pat Speight, Philip Byrne, Anne Lillis (Rose Lawless), Carmen Cullen and Helena Byrne.

We are particularly thrilled to welcome our international guest, author & storyteller Daniel Morden, who travels to us from Wales for one night only to perform in Frank Duff ’s Lounge. Our younger audiences can look forward to Carmel Kelly,The Speks and puppet shows with puppeteer JulieRose McCormick at the annual Belelnut Family Fun Day. We also have a fabulous production by aerial dance company Fidget Feet who performs Cinder & The Ellas in Mermaid Arts Centre.

So take a look at the line up and join us during YARN for 3 some rich storytelling magic.

Remembered

A Bray man in the Great War

By Seán Downes

Soldiers entering No-Man’s-Land through a cloud of chlorine gas, near Loos-en-Gohelle, France, 1915.

Map showing Allied trenches in Blue (note Bray Trench and Dalkey Trench) and German trenches in red, with No-Man’s-Land in the middle near Loos-en-Gohelle, France.

Opening 6pm on Thursday 10 November. All welcome.

Exhibition runs from 11 - 26 November 2016.

From 2014 to 2018 all across the world countries and communities will come together to commemorate and remember those who fought and died in the First World War.This year, as part of YARN, Mermaid Arts Centre is delighted to host an exhibition by Bray native Seán Downes entitled “Remembered – a Bray man in the Great War”.

Devastation of the town of Loos-en-Gohelle, France.

War Memorial, Bray, Co. Wicklow.

Seán’s maternal grandfather died when his mother was still very young. It was around this time too that his Mam remembers her own mother bringing her to the memorial at the Carlisle Grounds in Bray, and pointing to John Cleary’s name there. He was her Dad’s uncle, and he had disappeared during the Great War. Nothing else was known.

In recent years resources have become available which can help to shed some light onto what happened to John and to men like him during those years. Many records, which for decades had been classified or were simply difficult to access, have been digitised and made available online. Unfortunately this still does not mean that everyone can access them easily, and not everyone is familiar with how to go about doing so.This exhibition draws on these resources, and its intention is to share them with anyone who has an interest in them.

John Cleary, like so many others, has no known grave, and no photograph of him exists that can be found. But he was never forgotten.This is his story but it is also the story of his comrades.

They all deserve to be remembered, and their stories should be told.

GALLERY OPENING HOURS: Monday – Saturday: 10am – 6pm Sunday 13 November: 12pm – 4pm Sunday 20 November: 12pm – 5pm FRI 11 - SAT 26 November Admission Free | Venue: Mermaid Arts Centre (Gallery)

YARN Saturday

An Cat Nua Everyone deserves a good home and sometimes an uninvited guest becomes the most special and loved member of the family. Will this fluffy feline be lucky and find his forever home? Tá áit cónaithe maith tuillte ag gach duine agus go minic is é an t-aoi gan chuireadh an comhalta is ansa leis an teaglach. An mbeidh an t-ádh ar an bpuisín clúmhach seo agus áit chónaithe bhuan a bheith aige? Join author Carmel Ui Cheallaigh for a bilingual storytelling session as she reads her new book An Cat Nua. SAT 12 November | 11am FREE | Venue: Mermaid Arts Centre | Age Suitability: 3 - 6 years

YARN Saturday

Family Storytelling with Nuala Hayes Join renowned Irish storyteller Nuala Hayes who will share stories from her travels around Ireland and further afield. Stories of Cailleachaí, Witches, Sea Creatures who live on land, and Balor of the Evil Eye who was defeated by his grandson, Lugh Lámh Fhada…Nuala is an actor, storyteller and broadcaster. She was founder/director of Scéalta Shamhna, Dublin’s Storytelling Festival, which she ran for 10 years. She has performed at many arts and storytelling festivals throughout the world. Nuala will captivate from the word go…

SAT 12 November | 2pm FREE | Venue: The Shoot Room, Killruddery Farm Market | Age Suitability: 5+ 6

YARN Saturday

Orchard Tales with Nuala Hayes As the leaves fall and the trees become like ghostly skeletons we will share stories inspired by forests, lone trees, and everything that grows and flies and dies. Join much-loved storyteller Nuala Hayes for a feast of family stories beneath the boughs of the Youth Heritage Orchard. Nuala has a broad repertoire of folktales, legends and myths, connected mainly but not exclusively with Ireland. If the weather is cold we will sit together to hear the stories in the Community Centre beside the Youth Orchard. All welcome.

SAT 12 November | 4pm FREE | Venue: The Community Centre, Fassaroe | Age Suitability: 5+

YARN Saturday

Molly Bloom Cabaret AT Noah's ark The Molly Bloom Soliloquy, is the glorious finale to James Joyce’s Ulysses, where Leopold Bloom’s wife, Molly, freely ruminates over her life, her lost child, her affair, her desires, her memories and her marriage. With this dynamic and original show, Rose Lawless, comedienne and songstress, has created an evening of raw, intimate, sensuous and lyrical cabaret. Rose Lawless is the alter-ego of Bray artist Anne Lillis, actor, singer/songwriter and cabaret artist. Anne will be joined by musician Julie Cruickshank. A real highlight of YARN. SAT 12 November | 8pm Admission free, special YARN gourmet platters & drinks available for purchase | Venue: Noah’s Ark, Main St | Booking essential directly through Noah’s Ark Tel: 01 535 6775 | Age Suitability: Adults

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YARN Sunday

The Speks The Speks present a lively show of nursery rhymes and sing-along songs set to acoustic Irish music which will have adults and kids jumping in their seats! Their hand-clapping, toe-tapping, heartylaughing show is all about life on Glasses Island – a magical island off the coast of Co. Clare where everybody wears glasses! Winners of a Parents’ Choice music award in the US where their music has been described as “Riverdance for kids”, they encourage everyone to sing, scream, clap and dance along during their performances.

“The Speks...they’re really great!” – Derek Mooney, RTE Radio 1 SUN 13 November | 2pm €8 | Venue: Mermaid Arts Centre | Age Suitability: 2 - 92 years

YARN Sunday

Commonground Tales with Steve Lally YARN is delighted to welcome renowned storyteller Steve Lally to Bray for the first time. With a huge repertoire of tales ranging from ancient Celtic epics of Ireland and beyond, stories of adventure and romance, of faith and love and the fairy folk through to humorous anecdotes and quirky comic stories, this family storytelling session is a must.

SUN 13 November | 3pm

8

FREE | Venue: Commonground, Church Terrace (Laneway opposite Royal Hotel beside Macari’s) | Age Suitability: 5+

YARN Sunday

Taking it Home -

Poetry, Music & Songs A celebration of the Just Around the Corner Entertainment held regularly in Caffé Letterario GattaNera.This special Yarn event features the duo, John McLoughlin and Mandy Byrne, singing original songs, the subtle music and poetry of Ashford’s Gerry Anderson and poems of well-known local writer Carmen Cullen.

The cosy atmosphere of our new, but already cherished Literary Café, is perfect for this intimate event. A relaxed experience to look forward to, with a chance, if you’re in the audience, to join in.

SUN 13 November | 5pm FREE | Venue: Caffé Letterario GattaNera, Albert Walk

YARN Sunday

Open Mic Night at Gattanera Fancy telling a tale? We all have stories in us and we invite you to join us and storyteller Steve Lally for this relaxed open mic session in the cosy surrounds of GattaNera literary café.There is no pressure to share a tale… listeners needed too!

SUN 13 November | 8pm FREE | Venue: Caffé Letterario GattaNera, Albert Walk 9

YARN Monday

LIFESONGS The journey continues Now a long-standing favourite at YARN, join Klawitter Theatre Group for a special afternoon of immigration songs written by Rod Paton and Hedda Kaphengst. The whole world is home, if you live in your heart.

MON 14 November | 3pm FREE (Booking essential) | Venue: Mermaid Arts Centre

YARN Monday

Bray Arts -

journal launch

Bray Arts Journal focuses on presenting new work by local arts practitioners. The journal emphasises variety, catering to all reading tastes. We try to maintain a balance between poetry & story, between fact & fiction, between cartoons & drawings & between comedy & tragedy. Work featured from both established & emerging artists & writers, James Devlin, Brigid O’Brien, Brian Quigley, Michael Gordon, Breda Wall Ryan & Catherine Brophy, is balanced by work by newcomers Lisa Reynolds, Ursula Quill, Maeve Edwards, Colm Brennan & Simon Lewis, winner of the Irish Times emerging poet award 2015. Visual artists include Ari Ahmad & Aaron Forde, established authors Tanya Farrelly, Fionnuala Brennan, Carmen Cullen, Rita Ni Giollain & David O’Donoghue.

Bray Arts thanks and congratulates all artists who have contributed to date. The journal is also available online at www.brayarts.net.

MON 14 November | 7pm FREE | Venue: Mermaid Arts Centre, Gallery 10

YARN Tuesday

Utopia

Backstage Theatre in association with Mermaid Arts Centre An ensemble of performers with intellectual disability from St Christopher’s Services, Longford and the Visual Theatre Programme, Mermaid will devise a theatre piece with Gemma Gallagher (Shadowbox Theatre). Gemma, will guide and direct this ensemble of actors to create from the heart of the participants own reflections and experiences finding imaginative ways of sharing their story and challenging preconceptions of what it is to be ‘other’. This piece will be performed in Longford and Bray, as part of a collaboration between Backstage and Mermaid.

Supported by the Arts Council, Co Longford Arts Office and the Ireland Funds.

TUE 15 November | 7pm FREE (Booking essential) | Venue: Mermaid Arts Centre

YARN Wednesday

Daniel Morden: The Empty Hand YARN is proud to welcome Daniel Morden, one of Europe’s most popular storytellers for one night only… Daniel Morden is both a multi-award winning Welsh storyteller in the oral tradition and a writer.Traditional tales still have the power to charm, chill and thrill us today. Daniel has the timing of a stand-up and the eloquence of a poet. He will transport you with tales as old as the hills and as fresh as a daisy. What better way to spend a November evening? Join us in Frank Duff ’s Lounge for this special YARN event.

WED 16 November | 8pm FREE | Venue: Frank Duff ’s Lounge, Main Street 11

YARN Thursday

Harbour Bar Tales with Pat Speight Join storytelling legend Pat Speight for a wonderful evening in aid of the RNLI Lifeboats. Pat will have the hairs stand up on the back of your neck one minute and then fling you into a deep belly chuckle the next! A great opportunity to experience one of Ireland’s storytelling greats.This event is kindly sponsored by The Harbour Bar. Your €5 ticket fee goes straight to the Lifeboats to buy equipment.

Please come along and show your support.

THUR 17 November | 8pm €5 at the door in aid of RNLI Dun Laoghaire | Venue: The Harbour Bar (Upstairs)

YARN Friday

Phoenix Youth Project Bray Máirín Mhic Lochlainn will challenge your bravery when she tells you about the eel who lived in Lough Corrib and the bravery of one sixteen year old who challenged her, while soldiers ran away in fright.

She will have you in stitches laughing while relating the tale about Conán Maol and the Old Hag from Clare, and she will take you on a trip to a magic island, and after that you will never know where you might end up. Kindly sponsored by Bray Credit Union.

FRI 18 November | 8pm

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FREE | Venue: Carlisle Grounds (Seapoint Rd side) | Age Suitability: 13 - 18 years

YARN/AERIAL DANCE Friday

Cinder & The Ellas Presented by Fidget Feet: Cinderella takes flight in this classic fairy tale, full of amazing aerial circus acts. Come and share in Cinderella’s journey and watch the thrilling and heart felt story being retold using aerial hoops, cyr wheel, aerial triple trapeze, a specially designed set full of projections and an original music score.

This show is full of Fidget Feet’s humour, Cinder and Ella’s is a stunning mix of aerial feats mixed with dance, theatre, comedy and video art. A pint sized Cirque Du Soleil, Fidget Feet is an internationally renowned company that is one of Ireland’s own.

This show is funded by the Arts Council, in association with the Irish Aerial Creation Centre, Limerick and glór, Ennis.

FRI 18 November | 11am (Schools show) | 7pm (Family show) €10 adults | €8 kids | €30 Family Ticket (2 adults & 2 kids) Age Suitability: 8+ | Venue: Mermaid Arts Centre 13

YARN Friday

The Story of Wicklow Wolf Ever wondered about the Story of Wicklow Wolf Brewing Company in Bray? Delve into the art of craft beer brewing and Wicklow tales at this unique YARN event.The specialist tour of the brewery will be followed by a storytelling session with well-known storyteller and author Richard Marsh – author of Tales of the Wicklow Hills. Immerse yourself in Wicklow legends whilst sampling a legendary craft beer. Limited capacity so booking advised.Ticket fee goes 100% to Wicklow Hospice Buy a Brick Campaign.

UT O D SOL

FRI 18 November | 8pm

€5 at the door in aid of Wicklow Hospice | Venue: Wicklow Wolf Brewery | Age Suitability: 18+ | Limited seating

YARN Saturday

Scéalta as Gaeilge Máirín Mhic Lochlainn was brought up listening to her father telling stories by the fireside when she was young, and kids always love the story about the six little piglets, and it usually scares the adults.

It was the same when she was young. Her tale about the Tailor and the Fairies will enchant everyone, and you will love the twist at the end of the story about the old couple who caught a leprechaun.

Seo sean scéalta as Conamara, agus tá leaganacha dhóibh le fáil i chuile áit sa tír. (Those are stories from Connemara, but you can get versions of them all over Ireland). After that, she will tell whatever story that might come to mind at the time.

SAT 19 November | 12pm

14

FREE | Venue: Mermaid Arts Centre | Age Suitability: 2 - 4 years

YARN Saturday

Family Storytelling with Máirín Mhic Lochlainn Coming from Connemara, Máirín Mhic Lochlainn has many stories about the sea, and she will take you on a trip to the bottom of the ocean with her story about The Little Mermaid. She has her own version of the Grimm Brothers The Frog Prince, and she will take you on a voyage with the fairies in her story about The Magic Dance. After that you never know where you might end up. Just let your imagination lead you on a magic voyage, like she used to do as a kid, when her father was telling herself and her siblings stories by the fireside.

SAT 19 November | 2pm FREE | Venue: The Shoot Room, Killruddery Farm Market | Age Suitability: 5+

YARN Saturday

Bray Singer'S Circle Sometimes the most interesting things happen when space is left for spontaneity. Bray Singers’ Circle promotes the ancient traditional art of impromptu singing similar to that of the sean-nós tradition. So experience for yourself an evening of laid-back, organic storytelling through song.There’s no set menu of songs on offer, just an opportunity to turn up and see where the night takes you. Pull up a chair in Co. Wicklow Lawn Tennis Club and enjoy this wonderful evening of song. Acoustic self-accompaniment welcome.

SAT 19 November | 9pm FREE | Venue: Co. Wicklow Lawn Tennis Club, Vevay Road

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YARN Saturday

Scéal In this modern world, are we really so far removed from our ancestors’ beliefs and behaviours? This was not a question that storyteller and singer Helena Byrne expected to answer when she set out to gather Irish folk tales. But her venture into Ireland’s past led her to discover more about her grandparents and herself than she had ever anticipated.

In this unique theatre event, Helena brings Ireland’s most precious heirlooms to life; legendary tales of the Fairy Folk, the Other World, and a selection of much loved and newly composed Irish folk songs, with help from her father John Byrne and pianist Josh Johnston.

SAT 19 November | 8pm €10 | Venue: Mermaid Arts Centre 16

YARN Sunday

umbrellas with tales Cliff Walk Stories Join Bray storyteller Philip Byrne for a storytelling stroll along the Cliff Walk.This year Philip is inviting everyone to take a brolly along with a ribbon or tail attached.Then we will have both tales and tails.

As it is November and the weather uncertain we may very well be glad to bring our brollies with tails! The walk and stories will begin at Raheen Car Park, just off the Newcourt Road. Kindly sponsored by An Evening of Food, Folklore & Fairies in The Brazen Head (Johnny Daly Irish Folk Tours).

SUN 20 November | 2pm FREE | Venue: Meeting at Raheen car-park

YARN Sunday

Betelnut Family Fun Day Betelnut CafĂŠ invite you to their annual fun day! Join Julie-Rose McCormick Puppeteer for a fun-filled afternoon with two fantastic short family puppet shows.The fun day starts at 3pm with facepainting and cupcake decorating.The puppet shows take place at 3.30pm (Beauty & The Beast) and 4.30pm (The Chinese Princess & The Cricket). Free fun for all the family!

SUN 20 November | 3pm - 5pm FREE (No booking required) | Age Suitability: 2 - 12 years

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YARN Sunday

The Sunflower & the Lion The premier of a one woman show, written by Filia Clowne and performed by Rose Lawless. Music accompaniment by Julie Cruickshank: When Rose, a circus girl, has her heart broken by a second clown, she decides to close her heart to broken relationships forever and marry her true self. She buys a small second-hand photo frame, shaped like a sunflower for her 33rd birthday and chooses to fall in love with her own life, for better or for worse.

SUN 20 November | 4pm + 7pm FREE - (Booking essential, very limited capacity) | Venue: Contact box office for venue details Tel: 01 272 4030

STORYTELLING IN BORDERLANDS 21 – 24th June 2017 Termonfeckin, Co. Louth The Federation of European Storytelling conference takes place next June for the first time in Ireland. For full details & booking information please keep an eye on: www.storytellersofireland.org 18

Thank You! This brochure highlights the public storytelling events.

During YARN, storytellers will also be visiting school and community groups.YARN is a non-profit making community festival that would not happen without the continued support of individuals, local businesses, schools and groups.

We would particularly like to thank the following; An Evening of Food, Folklore & Fairies in The Brazen Head Betelnut Café Bray Credit Union Bray School Project Bray Local Drug and Alcohol Taskforce Caffé Letterario Gatta Nera Carlton Clinic Commonground Fifth Wicklow Sea Scouts Frank Duff’s Lounge Killruddery House & Gardens Key Plastics Little Bray Family Resource Centre Little Bray Youth Heritage Orchard Loreto Secondary School Newcourt School Noah’s Ark Phoenix Youth Project Bray Poetry Ireland The Harbour Bar Wicklow County Council Library Services Wicklow Wolf Brewing Company

Tel: 01 272 4030 www.mermaidartscentre.ie