This concert celebrates the foundation of Scoil Éanna in Ranelagh by Patrick Pearse, 100 years ago. The event will celebrate the happiest period in Pearse’s life, when he was a headmaster in Ranelagh, and concentrates on some of the traditional songs that inspired Irish writers, poets, singers, musicians and revolutionary politicians. Lá Éigin brings together one of our great singers, Liam Ó Maonlaí, with an ensemble of local musicians led by harpist Áine Ní Dhubhghaill and including Naoise Ó Briain (flute), Lonán Ó Briain (trumpet), Caoimhin Ó Briain (cello) and Ciarán Tourish (fiddle).

The concert will be a reflflection of Pearse’s time in Ranelagh – his recalling of the culture in his people, his vision for education and his love of country. It will also reflflect the work of Sean Ó Riada.

Liam Ó Maonlaí grew up in Clonskeagh and is well known as a rock ‘n roll musician on the world stage. His music never strays far from the tradition he inherited from the piano playing of his mother’s Galway family and the love of ancestral culture, language, music and lore transmitted to him by his Cork father. Ceoltoiri Chualainn and Ó Riada were the musical backdrop to many enchanted summers in the Kerry Gaeltacht where, according to Ó Maonlaí, ‘the language remains intact and with it a consciousness and a sense of being that is deeply connected with the land’.

This merging of language, land and music inspired him to seek out similar themes in his travels and exploration of world music. He is an adopted son of the Aboriginal people of Australia. He recently returned from Mali, where he was central to the making of Dambe: The Mali Project, a film revealing the inspiring nature of the people and culture of Mali. This film is being screened at the festival and will be introduced by Liam himself (see Cinema, p. 24, for details).

He has just finished a new body of work, featuring songs in English, Irish and a very old Aboriginal song, recorded in the Czech Republic, with the cooperation of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.

Tá sé céad bliain go díreach ó bhunaigh Pádraig Mac Piarais Scoil Éanna i Raghnallach. Ta ríméad ar lucht Fhéile Raghnallach an ócáid a chomóradh le ceolchoirm iontach dar teideal Lá Éigin. Beidh an t-amhránaí cáiliuil Liam Ó Maonlaí ann, maraon le ceoltóirí eile de chuid an cheantair – Áine Ní Dhubhghaill ar an chláirseach, Naoise Ó Briain (fliúit), Lonán Ó Briain (trumpa), Caoimhín Ó Briain (dordveidhil) agus Ciarán Tourish (veidhlín).

Is é a gcuspóir an tréimhse a chaith an Piarsach mar phríomhoide scoile i Raghnallach (agus i Ráth Fearnáin ní b’fhaide anonn) a thabhairt chun cuimhne – an tréimhse ab aoibhne, b’fhéidir, ina shaol gearr. Cuirfear béim faoi leith ar na hamhráin agus na foinn traidisiúnta ar bhain scríbhneoirí, ceoltóirí, agus go deimhin réabhlóidithe na hÉireann meanma agus inspioráid astu riamh. Déanfar grá an Phiarsaigh da thír agus a cultúr a cheiliúradh, chomh maith lena dhearcadh réabhlóideach ar chúrsaí oideachais. Deir Liam Ó Maonlaí: ‘An chaoi féin a mbailímid lena chéile le ceol a chasadh i láthair an phobail, is teist í sin orthu siúd a chuaigh romhainn. Chaith siad a ndúthracht le saibhreas cultúrtha a chaomhnú agus a chothú in Éirinn. Mar chúiteamh ar a ndearna siad, ní mór dúinn ar ndícheall a dhéanamh muid féin a chur in iúl trí mhéan an cheoil mar a thagann chugainn, cibé múnla nó stíl a mbainimid úsáid astu.’

Since their debut album ‘Almond Tea’ (1999), Pugwash – aka songwriter Thomas Walsh and friends – have been a favourite of Irish and British critics. The ‘Almanac’ album followed in 2002, before Pugwash released their biggest success, ‘Jollity’, on the new label 1969 Records. Their brilliant 2008 release ‘Eleven Modern Antiquities’ features Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory of XTC, as well as local Ranelagh resident, Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy.

The Cullenswood Singers, formed in 1997 by musician Liobhan Boylan, are based in Ranelagh. Their repertoire includes classical, modern and sacred choral music. Their annual Christmas Carol Concert in Beechwood Church, Ranelagh, draws a large and loyal audience, as does their appearance each year at the Ranelagh Arts Festival.

This concert encompasses both ancient and modern music. Despite its title, Palestrina’s Missa Brevis is a substantial work. Although Palestrina wrote more than 90 masses, the Missa Brevis is one of the most frequently performed, both in concert and at worship.

The Armed Man – A Mass for Peace was composed by Karl Jenkins to commemorate the Millennium. It is a wonderfully rich work, both melodically and textually. The Kyrie is evocative of an earlier musical period and the composer acknowledges this in his notation for the Christe eleison as being ‘After Palestrina’. The Cullenswood Singers and regular accompanist Charles Pearson are excited about performing an abridged version of this masterpiece and believe that the composer, a Celt, would approve of their interpretation of his work.

The senior orchestra of the Leeson Park School of Music, under the direction of its Head of Music, Niall O’Brien, will also feature in the concert. The orchestra has performed in Italy, London and Ireland.

Once again, local teenage bands will compete on an open-air stage for top prizes in the Mark Cabena Battle of the Bands. Last year’s brilliant winners, Funky Thursday, will headline the show. This event is evidence of the fantastic musical talent of local teenagers. The Bistro Bianconi Award will be presented to the winning band.

The Battle of the Bands is named after Mark Cabena, who was a member of Immaculate Conception, the band that won the first Ranelagh Arts Festival Battle of the Bands in 2006. Mark, who was a brilliant young musician, died of Sudden Cardiac Death at the age of 18 during the summer of 2007.

Musicians worldwide recognise Ciarán Tourish as an unusually gifted fiddle player. He is a member of Altan, one of the top Irish traditional bands. Dermot McLaughlin is another great Donegal fiddle player. A musician and musicologist, his duties as CEO of Temple Bar Cultural Trust limit his opportunities to perform in public.

Nightshift will feature Sylwester Ochmnski on piano/keyboards; a founder member of Nightshift, Marcin Helak on percussion; and all the way from Buenos Aires, adding that Latin American flavour, Patricia Iglesias on bass.

The songs of Ranelagh resident and singer– songwriter Brian McGuire have a unique humorous, accessible and melodic musical form. His latest single, I’d give a Thousand Dollars (just to be a Millionaire), has been very successful. McGuire will feature on vocals and acoustic guitar, with John O’Brien on guitar and shotgun, and the Galway Girls on backing vocals.

John Faulkner worked with Dolores Keane as a duet co-performer and as musical director and arranger for her band. His song Lion in a Cage (1989) about Nelson Mandela topped the Irish charts. Described in the New York Times as ‘probably the best accordionist in Ireland’, Jackie Daly is the leading exponent of the Sliabh Luachra style of music.

This event will combine a mix of visual art and short films with the music of Orca and Chequerboard. The Ranelagh Arts Festival is breaking new ground by holding an event in the Sugar Club in Leeson Street. A special thanks is due to Ranelagh-man Oisin Davis, who has made us welcome in his great venue.

Orca features Anna Jordan on vocals and piano, and Keith Lindsay on glockenspiel, electronics and visuals.

Chequerboard is the ‘nomme de guerre’ of Irish musician and visual artist John Lambert. One of the most avant-garde artists on the Irish music scene, this live show is not to be missed.

John Faulkner has toured extensively worldwide. As well as being a solo performer, he worked for many years with Dolores Keane. In 1989, he wrote Lion in a Cage about Nelson Mandela and Dolores Keane topped the Irish charts with her recording of this song. Prior to Mandela’s release, the song was banned in South Africa, but thankfully was bootlegged and played extensively in the townships.

Jackie Daly is the leading exponent of the Sliabh Luachra style of music. Over the years, he has played with Seamus Creagh, Kevin Burke, Buttons and Bows, De Dannan, Arcady, Patrick Street, Kinvara and The Reel Union.

In recent months, John and Jackie rekindled a musical collaboration that started in the late 1980s in the band Kinvara, when they toured the USA and Europe to great acclaim.

In previous festivals, we focused on our Chinese neighbours with Zhang Ning’s Karoake sessions. This year, we turn to the Polish community.

Nightshift brings to the festival accomplished Polish jazz, with a hint of Latin American. The ensemble will feature award-winning vocalist Beata Wald. On piano/ keyboards, Sylwester Ochmnski – who has played with the Philharmonic Orchestra in Poznan, as well as with big bands and smaller jazz groups. On percussion, Marcin Helak – a founder member of Nightshift, whose love of jazz has been rekindled since his arrival in Ireland. And all the way from Buenos Aires, adding that Latin American flflavour – Patricia Iglesias on bass.

A special thanks to Ranelagh based Business Consultant and Arts Entrepeuner Katarzyna Mejger who assisted in the organization of this event.

Niceol Blue is a singer–songwriter and guitar player. A powerful vocalist, who crosses genres from blues to folk and percussive rock, she was born in the USA and now lives in Ireland. She has played on stage at both the Folklife and Bumbershoot Festivals in Seattle, and has played venues from Portland Oregon and Seattle to Honolulu and all over Ireland, including the Róisín Dubh in Galway and The Helix in Dublin.