Celtic Heart Festival 2007

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A celebration of Irish Music, Film and Exhibition

The Celtic Heart Festival 2007, with its showcasing of some of the best of Irish music and cinema, has been deemed a most appropriate way to mark the future of the newly renames Irish Cultural Centre.

Music
The Celtic Heart Festival is proud to present this series of headline concerts, which brings to the stage some of Ireland’s most exciting and dynamic musicians, who, by taking the old traditions to new heights, have all attained sensational world-wide admiration and acclaim…

Concerts at Riverside Studios
April 12 – 14

Thursday April 12 FOUR MEN & A DOG ‘One of the most ferocious and exciting Irish super-groups on the planet’. Four Men and A Dog combine the talents of five of Ireland’s most exhilarating musicians. Blending high-energy Irish ‘trad’ with Southern rock, rap, jazz, blues, bluegrass, polka, country, swing, and even salsa, their live shows are an infectious, fast and furious musical force. Featuring Cathal Hayden, Gino Lupari, Donal Murphy, and Kevin Docherty, Four Men and A Dog sold out earlier this year at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections Festival. This will be another of the rare reunion gigs. With RUDELLE All girl Irish trad band ‘featuring several ‘All Ireland Champion’ award-winning musicians.

Friday April 13 FINBAR FUREY

‘An Irish Music Legend’. Former lead singer and the driving force behind the legendary family band The Fureys, Finbar Furey is one of the most powerful singers, songwriters, composers and one of the most lovable musical ambassadors Ireland has ever produced. Acclaimed as Ireland’s ‘King of the Pipers’ his musical style and rare singing voice are simply unique. Performing tunes and songs of old and new, including many Furey gems, Finbar will be joined on stage by Gary O Briain (Dedanan), Maurice Lennon (Stockton’s Wing) and Jimmy Falkner. With THE MULLIN FAMILY The gifted young Irish 5 piece family band.

Saturday April 14 ALTAN

‘Traditional music and song from Ireland by the undoubted masters of the music’. Selling over 1 million albums and filling concert halls from Dublin to Sydney, Altan are recognised as one of the greatest traditional Irish bands. They forged their musical skills in kitchen and pub sessions in their native Donegal some twenty years ago and from those modest beginnings have come international success. Led by fiddle player and singer, Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, the band plays music that, although rooted in the past is contemporary and living.
With HAYLEY DOLAN Award winning flute and whistle player.

Saturday April 14 Starts at 3pm Tickets: £5, Children £3

FIDDLES, STICKS, BUTTONS AND BOWS
Afternoon Young People’s Family Music Concert
A concert from talented young people (aged from 7 -18 years), all members of The Mulkere Academy Of Irish Music, playing fiddles, banjos, button boxes, whistles, flutes and bodhrans. Among them will be several ‘All Ireland’ and ‘All Britain’ Irish traditional music award-winners. They will be joined by their music teacher, the talented Irish master fiddler, Brendan Mulkere. An inspiring afternoon of magical family entertainment.

Music The Irish Cultural Centre April 20 – 21

Friday April 20 The Dublin City Working Man's Band

This raucous and exciting band of high energy, dynamic Dublin lads are currently acclaimed as 'Ireland's finest balladeers' Renowned for their blazing live shows, they headlined The Trafalgar Square St Pats Celebrations. Coming with the full seal of approval from the ‘The Dubliners’ front-man, the great Ronnie Drew, The DCWMB are being favourably compared to many of the great Irish bands of yesteryear. Not since the ballad boom of the 1960s has an Irish folk band attracted so much attention. They’ll deliver you an entertaining feast of tunes and songs from the likes of The Dubliners, The Pogues, Christy More and The Wolfe Tones and they’ll bring you the very best Celtic knees-ups, in London town! With Niall Kelly talented singer songwriter from N. Ireland.

Saturday April 21
SHARON SHANNON with surprise special guests

Known as the 'Queen Of The Squeeze Box', Sharon Shannon is one of the most adventurous musical spirits to emerge out of Ireland. Having collaborated with the some of the world’s most famous musicians (among them, Donal Lunny, John Prine, The Waterboys, U2’s Adam Clayton, Sinéad O'Connor and Jackson Browne,) Sharon has just completed a sell-out international tour with Country star Willie Nelson. Sales of her most recent album "The Sharon Shannon Collection” reached double platinum status. Sharon will be appearing with members of her band The Woodchoppers and a few special guests.
With special guest DON MESCALL the exceptional and acclaimed award winning Irish singer songwriter.

For all Concerts Doors Open 7.30pm Support 8.15pm Main Act 9pm
Tickets: £15 (£12) Ticket Bookings (for all concert, at both venues) through
Riverside Studios Box Office 020 82371111. www.riversidestudios.co.uk

Festival Club Session

Thursday April 12 at Riverside Studios.
Friday April 13 at The Irish Cultural Centre.
Saturday April 14 at The Irish Cultural Centre.
Sunday April 15 at The Irish Cultural Centre.
A traditional music session will take place each night from 9pm until late, following concerts and screenings. Audiences, filmmakers and musicians are very welcome to come along and enjoy the Irish party atmosphere. Members of the bands Murphy’s Mob and Hooley will take part in these sessions. Musicians are welcome, don’t forget to bring your instruments!!

Irish Film Festival

Presenting films at both Riverside Studios and The Irish Centre , The Celtic Heart Irish Film Festival brings you some of the very best new and recent Irish feature films, documentaries and shorts. There will be appearances and talks from some of Ireland’s leading Film Directors. The Programme will be a reflection of the wealth of talent which currently exists in the industry of film making throughout the whole of Ireland

Films at Riverside Studios

Friday April 13 6.45pm (Double bill)
Rebel County Dir Pat Collins. Harvest Films (2006 52 mins)

This powerful documentary uses the shooting of Ken Loach’s film The Wind that Shakes the Barley as a springboard to explore the real life events of Ireland’s War of Independence. Featuring observational behind-the-scenes material, it strikes a creative and natural balance between the exploration of the film-making process and the real stories from that period.

Friday April 13 8.00pm
The Wind That Shakes The Barley (Director Ken Loach 126 mins 2006)
Ken Loach’s impassioned study of Ireland’s freedom fighters in 1920. Workers from field to country unite to form volunteer Guerilla armies to face the ruthless Black and Tan squads that are blocking Ireland bid for independence. Winner of Palm d’Or 2006 (Director KEN LOACH is hoping to be present at the start of this screening)

Saturday April 14
3.00pm
48 Angels (Marion Comer 90mins Ireland 2005 cert 12 )
Seamus, a 9 year old boy, has been diagnosed with a serious illness. In search of a miracle and inspired by Saint Columcille, he sets out in a small boat, without any oars or a sail. On his quest he encounters James and Darry..The trio enter upon a journey that results in the healing of hearts and minds. (Director Marion Comer will introduce the screening )

6pm
Borstal Boy (Dir Peter Sheridan 93 mins 2000 / cert 15)
A chilling adaptation of Brendan Behan's prison memoir. As a 16 year old Irish Republican, Behan sets off on a bombing mission from Ireland to Liverpool during the second World War, but is imprisoned in Borstal and forced to live with those he sees as the enemy.
The Film’s Director Peter Sheridan will appear following the screening

8.30pm
Shellshock Rock John Davis 52mins N. Ireland 1979)
Ulster 1978/1979. Punk and new wave are a burgeoning scene in Northern Ireland. Like many of the youths, Davis' first major film, is abrasive, raw and brimming with energy. Featuring music and live performances from the Undertones, Stiff Little Fingers and The Outcasts, the film, which is now a cult movie, caused uproar in Ireland and was banned from the Cork Film Festival on its release. Director John T Davis will appear following the screening

Sunday April 15 12pm Double Bill
The Irishmen. An Impression of Exile (Dir Philip Donnellan 46mins 1966)
Made in 1966, this film follows the journey of a young man from Connemara to London (Euston.) Donnellan’s powerful documentary shows Irishmen working on Britain’s canals, railways and motorways, it explores their lives, dreams and aspirations, whilst paying tribute to the tremendous contribution they made to the building of Britain. Featuring traditional Irish music and singing, weaved with the powerful lyrics of Ewan McColl. Media Lecturer, Paul Long a specialist on Philip Donnellan will introduce this screening.

I Only Came For A Couple Of Years… (Producer David Kelly 31mins 2003)
Interviews with elderly Irish men and women intercut with footage from the 2003 London St Patrick’s Day Parade. These testimonies of coming to London between the 1930s and 1960s constitute a moving and valuable record of a rapidly disappearing section of London’s population. Made in association with The Irish Studies Centre, London Metropolitan University. Film Producer David Kelly will introduce the screening.

Sunday April 15 3pm
Rocky Road to Dublin (Dir Peter Lennon 69mins 2005)
Banned in Ireland in 68, this provocative film from Irish-born journalist Peter Lennon and legendary French cinematographer Raoul Coutard, paints a fascinating picture of Ireland in the 1960s. The hypocrisy of church, politics and state is exposed through a series of seemingly innocent interviews, in which Ireland's patriotic sportsmen, priests, censors and children unwittingly reveal the true nature of a repressed and censored Republic. After one showing at a Dublin cinema in 1968, it was then suppressed, until finally restored (by Irish Filmmaker Se Merry Doyle in 2004,) so now it can at last be reassessed after 40 years of neglect. Director Peter Lennon will appear at the screening

The Making Of Rocky Road Director Paul Duane (27mins)
The film includes scenes of the May '68 protests in Paris, rare Cannes footage of Jean-Luc Godard and François Truffaut, an interview with both the 80-year-old Coutard and Peter Lennon who share their memories about making the film.

Sunday April 15 6pm Hobo (Dir John T Davis 90 mins 1991 cert 15 )

Leading Irish film-maker John T Davis, set off on a dangerous, illegal 2,000 mile journey across America, to make this remarkable film. Hiding his camera in his bedrole, he jumped trains and led the life of a ‘Hobo’. Encountering ex-Vietnam vet turned Hobo, ‘Beargrease’, as he ‘rides the rails’, this is an intensely personal portrait of him and the other Hobo’s who Davis met on the way. The film features a stunning musical sound track, which includes songs by Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan.
Director John T Davis will introduce this screening

Sunday April 15 8pm
Middletown (Director Brian Kirk 90mins 2006 )
Set in an Ulster border village, forgotten by time and progress, an Irish priest returns to his hometown after many years away to take over the local ministry. Once there he is reunited with his father and younger sibling, and the tale becomes one of ambition and betrayal.
Best First Feature Galway Film Fleadh. Nominated for an Irish Film Academy Award

Tickets for Films at Riverside Studios £6.50 & £5.50 concs

 

Films at The Irish Cultural Centre

Friday April 13
4.00pm ‘Irish Short Cuts’ (Entry Free to this ‘shorts’ programme)‘What If’ Director Alan Walsh 2006(27 mins) The trials and tribulations of two struggling stuntmen.
Producer: John Phelan (Bootstrap Films) Written By: Alan Walsh & Columb Farrelly

Pan Loaf Director Sean Hynes 1995 (11mins)
Two Belfast students, who go in search of a loaf of bread, find adventure instead.
An award-winning film short film

Venom: Director John Hayes (25 mins) 2006
A dark tale about an elderly widow, who many years ago, lost her husband in a war and her cat to a bee sting; she wages war on the world. Award winner, The Galway Film Festival 2006

Vicious Circle Director Alan Walsh ( Black & white 25 mins) 2006
Set during The Easter Rising 1916, (using some original footage ) the film show what happens when people wont trust each other...

The Making of a Prodigy. Writer/Director Colm McCarthy (12 mins) 1992
An art teacher finds her class blessed by an exceptional talent, in the form of Daniel, a twelve-year-old boy who is a prodigiously talented young painter.

7.30pm; Documentary
The Legend of Liam Clancy. Dir Alan Gilsenan ( 104 mins)
Liam Clancy is an icon. Irish people, thousands of whom pack out every concert he plays, believe they know where Liam has come from, and what he's about….they don't know the half of it. The Legend of Liam Clancy unveils the darker side of the man hailed by Bob Dylan as the greatest ballad singer of all time. Directed by acclaimed film-maker Alan Gilsenan, this biographical film reveals the true Liam Clancy. (Nominated for an Irish Film Academy Award)

9pm Festival Club Session (see music section for full details)

Saturday April 14

1pm (main screen) Irish ‘Short Cuts’ including
‘Six Shooter’ (Dir Martin McDonagh 27mins Ireland 2004 )
A comedy that's blacker than a pint of Guinness. On a sad train journey home, an old man having just been informed of his wife’s death, encounters a strange, outlandish teenager.
Best Live Action Short (Irish Academy Awards 06) and BAFTA winner.
The Film’s Producer Mia Bayes will introduce the Screening.

Most Important (Dir PJ Dillon Ireland 1998 29mins)
Dan O Neill (Colin Meaney) and his brother Paudie (Tony Rohr) train racing greyhounds. After years of failure they acquire a pup who looks like she could fulfil their wish of owning a champion. But life is never simple ….

Ardeevan. (Dir Jonathan Richardson. 15mins 23secs Ireland 2003)
A man revisits the derelict sanatorium, where he spent part of his youth suffering from Tuberculosis, the memories and ghosts of his past come back to haunt him.
The writer/ lead actor Peter Dineen will introduce this screening

Skin Tight (Directed by John Forte Northern Ireland, 1995,) 15m
A tale of love desire ambition murder and a goat (starring Maire Jones).

Forgiveness (Directors Barrie Dowdall and Jamie O'Neill 2006. 9mins) 1922. The Irish Civil War. The night before his execution, Erskine Childers (played by Barry McGovern,) asks his young son to carry out a last wish for him and so he visits the office of the man who signed his father’s death warrant.

1pm (Screen Upstairs .)
‘Fairy Wife. The Burning of Bridget Cleary’ (Adrian McCarthy 48mins)
In1895 in the small Tipperary village of Ballyvadlea, a constable discover a badly burned body in a shallow grave. It is the body of Bridget Cleary, a 26-year old woman, who had met her death at the hands of her husband. His motive? He believed she had been taken away by the Fairies. This powerful documentary explores the events surrounding the burning of Bridget Cleary and the massive impact it had on the country at the time.

Plus Short Film ‘Agnes’ (Director Eoin Coffey 28 mins)
This Short Docu-drama portrays the life of Irish nursing pioneer Agnes Jones from Faheen, Donegal. In 1860, when Ireland was still ravished by the legacy of the famine, Agnes enrolled as one of Florence Nightingale’s first 12 trainees and devoted her short life to her fellow country men and women, whose dreams of escaping to ‘The New World’ ended in poverty and despair.

3pm. High Boot Benny. Director Joe Comerford (90mins)
An atmospheric and grittily brutal story of a Benny, a 17 year old teenager, caught up in the Troubles. A delinquent, he is distrustful of all sides of the Irish conflict, he runs away to takes refuge in a remote village school just across the border in Southern Ireland.

7.30pm
Bloody Sunday - A Derry Diary. Director Margo Harkin (2007 N.Ireland) A Premiere of this powerful documentary by one of Ireland’s leading Filmmakers which follows the course of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry from the point of view of the families and victims, as they travel between London and Derry over a five year period. The film-maker Margo Harkin was a witness to Bloody Sunday and gave evidence at the Tribunal. She is one of Ireland’s most established and respected Filmmakers.

9pm Festival Club Session (see Music section for full details)

Sunday April 15
2.30pm Celtic - The Irish Connection. Dir Brain O Flaherty ( 2006) A documentary about the long and illustrious history of Celtic Football Club. Founded by Sligo born Brother Walfrid in 1888, with the purpose of alleviating poverty in Glasgow's East End parishes. Presented by RTE broadcaster Jimmy Magee, the film contains never before seen footage as well as interviews with players and celebrities including, Sean Fallon, Packie Bonner and Tommy Gemmell.

5pm Nuala Ní Dhomhnaill – Taibhsí i mBéal na Gaoithe Director Pat Collins. Irish Language Film/Sub-titled (2007) A fascinating and intimate look at the life and work of one of Ireland’s most celebrated contemporary poets from Ireland’s Award winning director.

7pm Closing Feature Film
Playboy of The Western World (96 mins)
This classic version of the Synge’s enchanting play, staring Soibhan McKenna as Pegeen Mike is a master piece.. When Christ Mahon (played by Gary Raymond) staggers into a remote inn on the sweeping coast of County Mayo, the lives of all the locals are changed forever.
Tickets for films At Riverside Studios £6.50/£5.50
Tickets for Films at the Irish Cultural Centre £5./£4concs

9pm Festival Club Session (See Music Section for full details)

Celtic Heart Exhibition

‘Hobo.’ Still Photographs from the film by John T. Davis
‘Hobo, the classic American rail-tramp, a wandering man who works infrequently - but is not a bum’. An exhibition of still photographs from the film ‘Hobo’ and the personal archives of leading Irish filmmaker John T. Davis, who lived as a Hobo himself for three months during the making of his award-winning film. This photographic exhibition pays tribute to the hobos who wandered across America jumping freight trains. The exhibition will include Davis's images of Bob Dylan, Van Morrison and John Lee Hooker.
Rare prints of the images will be for sale; for sales enquiries contact Rosalind Scanlon on 020 8741 4590.

This exhibition will be at Riverside Studios from April 10 – May 5
Some Stills can also be viewed at Hammersmith Irish Centre.
(Film Screening of Hobo at Riverside 6.00pm on Sunday April 15.)
For photo sales enquiries please contact Rosalind Scanlon on 020 8741 4590.

March 26, 2007