Connemara Sea Week

Connemara Sea Week is a celebration of our Marine Heritage which takes place over two weekends – an exciting blend of myth, magic and madness.

Conamara Sea Week is a multi-disciplinary festival, celebrating the wonderful marine heritage of Conamara.

The festival celebrated it’s 30th birthday in 2014 and has grown to be a wonderful and unique festival with something to interest all age groups. Highlights include music workshops, art exhibitions, concerts, talks, walks, children’s activities, sports events, lots of great music and buckets of fun for all the family.

Sunday 21st October

• Kite Making Workshop Big thanks to Bengoora Scouts Group. 12 pm, Courtyard Cafe
• Kite Flying 1 pm, Connemara West Centre
• Mini Boat Regatta 2 pm, Connemara National Park
• Connemara’s Bumper Book Fair 3 pm, Ellis Hall
• The Killary Challenge 4 pm, Connemara West Centre
• Trad Session PJ Hernon, Marcus Hernon and Don Stiffe 5 pm, Molly’s Bar
• Music in the Gothic Luka Bloom, one of Ireland’s finest singer/songwriters, joined by the amazing Swiss duo Jonas on accordion and Andrea on fiddle. 8 pm, Kylemore Abbey Booking essential www.ceecc.org €15
• Trad Session Oliver Diviney, one of the great box players, joined by two of Ireland’s finest fiddlers Liz and Yvonne Kane. 9.30pm, Veldon’s Bar

Thursday 25th October

• Guided Shore Walk with Marie Louise Heffernan 10.30am, Meet at White Strand, Renvyle
• Active Age Club Lunch with Marcus Hernon and Don Stiffe 1.30 pm, Rosleague Manor. Booking essential, contact Martina 095 41064
• Sea Week Community Dinner Award winning chef Jonathan Keane and his team present the finest of local produce. 8pm, Courtyard Cafe Booking essential www.ceecc.org €30

Friday 26th October

• Funk, R’n’B & Soul Session Faith Dealers, 5 piece funk/soul band 9.30 pm, Veldon’s Bar
• Trad Session Anders Traberg, Plunkett O’Toole, Katie Nee, Jackie McCarthy, Tommy Kane 9.30 pm, Molly’s Bar

Saturday 27th October

• Talks at Kylemore Abbey Exploring the challenges and opportunities facing coastal communities. 10.30am – 5pm. Notre Dame at Kylemore Abbey. Booking essential www.ceecc.org €20 (incl. lunch)
• Trad Session Mirella Murray joined by Geraldine McNamara and Noel O’Grady. 5pm, Molly’s Bar
• Music in the Gothic The Josephine Marsh Band joined by Seamus Flaherty, Caoimhe Flaherty and Rian Sheridan. 8pm, Kylemore Abbey. Booking essential www.ceecc.org €15
• Trad Session Kane Sisters, Conor Keane, Katie Theasby, Katie Nee, Plunkett O’Toole 9.30pm, Molly’s Bar
• High Energy R’n’B Session John Conneely Trio 9.30 pm,Veldon’s

Sunday 28th October

• Walking to an Island Strolling through beautiful Omey Island in the company of the enthusiastic John O’Halloran, local archaeologist. 11.30 am, Meet at Claddaghduff Church
• Demo and Tasting A delightful culinary morning in the company of Sally Barnes, fish smoker and Michael O’Mara, chef and author of Sea Gastronomy. 12 pm, Artisan House, Letterfrack Booking essential www.ceecc.org €20 (incl. lunch)
• Guided Shore Walk with Dave McGrath, marine biologist 2 pm, Meet at Glassilaun Beach
• The Quest for Adventure Dawson Stelfox, the first Irishman to climb Everest, reflects on the quest for adventure with explorer Damian Brown who recently rowed solo across the Atlantic. 3 pm, AV Room, Connemara National Park
• Sean Nós Dance Workshop Workshop with Oireachtas winner Gearoid Devaney 3.30 pm, Ellis Hall Adults €10 Students €5
• Small Works Exhibition Official Opening 4.30 pm Connemara National Park. Open Daily
• Trad Session Johnny O’Halloran & Gerry Whelan 5 pm, Molly’s Bar
• Music in the Gothic With the highly acclaimed musician/ composer Máirtín O’Connor, joined by his daughters Ciara and Sinead on fiddle and cello, and the amazing multi-instrumentalist Gary O’Briain. 8pm, Kylemore Abbey Booking essential www.ceecc.org €15
• Trad Session The Tiernan Family from Castlebar, joined by their parents John Tiernan and Katie Sweeney. 9.30 pm, Veldon’s Bar
• ‘Out the Gap’ Conor Keane, Sean Tyrell, Blackie O’Connell, Francie O’Halloran, Katie Theasby, Cathal Ó Conaire, Siobhan Peoples, Katie Nee, Plunket O’Toole. 9.30 pm, Molly’s Bar

Monday 29th October

• ‘One for the Road’ with The Koko Ensemble – Aenghus Hackett, Szymon Misniak and Paul O’Driscoll 1 pm, Veldon’s Bar

SCHOOLS PROGRAMME – Monday 22nd – Friday 26th October

• ‘Pirates’ an exciting extravaganza with Niko Brown on accordion/ various instruments and Martin Brunsden on double bass
• Heritage in Schools Experts Gordon Darcy ecologist/artist and Dave McGrath marine biologist explore the wonders of the ocean.
• ‘After the Light’ Parade A unique night time, fire filled spectacle full of myth and magic. 7.30 pm, Wednesday 24th October Letterfrack village