Music, dancing, workshops, walks, talks, sports, arts, poetry and a hint of madness! The festival celebrated it’s 30th birthday in 2014 and has grown to be a wonderful and unique event with something to interest all age groups.
Conamara Bog week kicks off on Sunday 29th Of May with a 5km fun run event which starts inTullycross at 2.30pm and finishes in Letterfrack.
Participants are asked to arrive for sign in before 2pm.
After the race, a fun sports day involving races from under 4 to under 14, with novelty events for adults and children alike will take place. Some old fashioned events such as sheaf throwing, welly throwing and horse shoe throwing will also take place. The day is wrapped up in mighty music with Hernon Family in Mollys and the Jimmy Fitz trio in Veldons, and an exciting concert in the Gothic church in Kylemore abbey showcasing different genres from contemporary to traditional.
Throughout the week, there will be bog walks daily (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday) at 11am in the National Park with local ecologist Marie Louise Heffernan. Meet at the Cafe in the park. On Wednesday night, all Ireland champion piper, Friacha O Regan will launch his new CD in Mollys. And Thursday afternoon will see the Ballinakill active age club enjoying excellent lunch of local produce in Rosleague Manor with a great dollop of music from Marcus Hernon and Matt Keane.
During the week there will be a vibrant schools programme with ecologists Gordan Darcy, Sinead Keane and Michael Jacob. As well as working in the class room the ecologists will be taking the children on field trips, helping the children to have a deeper understanding and appreciation of their place. And to keep schools further engaged Brendan Ridge and his team will be running their Bog Week 5 a side soccer competition. Just to make sure that the adults are also active we will have the usual road race start at 7pm in Letterfrack.
The following June bank holiday weekend has a host of events for all ages.
Friday night (3rd of June) there will be a great blast of music in the village.
Saturday at 2pm will feature poetry in the park with poets, featuring the eminent German poet Jan Wagner and well known Galway poet Eva Bourke who will be joined by the great Clare box player Conor Keane. This event will be followed at 4pm with the opening of the Art exhibition, featuring the work of newly graduated local artists Oilbhe Scannell and Dympha Heaune. At 5pm the music in the village kicks off with a great gig in Mollys followed by a concert in Gothic Church in Kylemore abbey feature Albeilz Trio – Laoise Kelly, Tola Custy and Cormac Brathnach. The night finishes with great music in Mollys and Veldons.
Sunday is an active day which kicks off a project entitled Walking Conamara. In this year when are reflecting on 1916 perhaps a good way to honour the memory of those who died would be to learn a little more about our own place. And in this spirit CEECC are organising a number of short walks in different locations such as Clifden, Letterfrack, Omey Island and Renvyle peninsula. All these walks are free. See website for further details. The day closes with great music in the usual venues.
One of the highlights of the weekend will undoubtedly be the Mairtin O Connor & family concert in the Gothic church on the Sunday. The festival finishes with a lunch time gig in Veldons where the tune for the road will be provided by the amazing Paul O Driscoll Trio.
Futher information contact Leo Hallissey on 085 1154629 or email leo.hallissey@gmail.com.