Toe tapping line up for Gerry Whelan weekend

Another great programme of trad-inspired events and some top visiting artists has been lined up for the 15th annual Gerry Whelan Memorial weekend. They will run this weekend from today (Friday), September 13 until Sunday, September 1.
Now well established on the annual calendar, the Whelan weekend in Cootehill has been creating a bigger buzz than ever in recent years, driven by a strong and vibrant Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann locally. The annual soirée of song, music, dance and lore will see top names like Goitse, California-based acoustic duo Noctambule, top players Fergus Bogue, Noreen McManus, Barry Conaty and Daithi Kearney. to Cavan’s own squeeze box legend Martin Donohoe will also makes a welcome return to the celebrations he laid the foundations for back in 2005. 
Among the top acts to appear will be the highly acclaimed new band Goitse, a multi-award winning five-piece group who are one of the most exciting young bands on the Irish traditional scene. The Goitse concert takes place on Saturday, September 14, at Cootehill’s Drumlin Theatre, starting at 8pm with support from Cootehill CCÉ’s Senior Group.

 

Official opening
The Memorial Concert and official opening will take place in Drumlin Theature on the Friday evening when special guest Labhrás Ó Murchú, ardstiúrthóir of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann will speak.
The late Gerry Whelan himself had been a stalwart supporter of Comhaltas throughout its formative years, making it all the more appropriate that CCÉ’s director general will be on hand to offer a few words in his memory and in support of the thriving yearly festival in Gerry’s adopted hometown. Among the performers at the opening concert will be the ever-popular Martin Donohoe and his NYAH Cavan Comhaltas group, Dublin accordionist Ray Lawlor with Fionnuala and Siobhan Fay and friends, Scottish Singers, the Rafter School of Dancing, Geraldine Whelan-O’Meara and friends, and Cootehill CCÉ’s Junior Group.

 
Noctambule
The headliners for this show are the eagerly anticipated Noctambule, all the way from California. Noctambule - French for ‘night-owl’ - is a duo featuring Marla Fibish and Bruce Victor from San Francisco. They play a variety of musical forms including traditional Irish tunes and songs, and their own compositions written in a traditional vein. They also conjure up compelling settings for a broad range of poetry. This unique collaboration is rendered with lush beauty, sensitivity and humour on an unusual array of strings — different guitars in varied tunings, mandola, mandolin, cittern, tenor guitar —along with their blended voices. Noctambule will wrap an audience in their exquisitely crafted songs, bringing diverse selections of poetry to life with music and voice. Marla is one of the prominent voices of the mandolin in Irish music; while Bruce is an eclectic and accomplished guitarist and composer who plays different guitars in different tunings and indeed musical genres.

 

Pub Sessions
Local pubs will, as ever, be alive with tunes, songs and the craic over the weekend, starting on Friday night with the Festival Folk Club in Connolly’s (9.30pm), Rambling House in the West End and the Post Concert Session in Nulty’s (10pm), and with more lively sessions in Mullen’s, Hannigan’s, Donaghue’s, Tír na nÓg, Smith’s and Bannon’s lounges.

Here's a flashback to one of the seisiún's in 2014.

Workshops

Workshops for those wanting to improve their skills on various instruments take place from 10am–1pm on Saturday, featuring tutors Fergus Bogue (button accordion), Noreen McManus (fiddle), Barry Conaty (tin whistle) and Daithi Kearney (banjo and other instruments) — all good value for the modest €10 
fee.

Our Frisco friends Noctambule will be back in action in the Library at 12 noon, giving a more intimate recital of their poetry, song and stringed music in a smaller setting (booking essential, phone 049-555 9873).

 

Seisiun
The Drumlin Ceol agus Craic in Drumlin Theatre will see workshop tutors lead a music session at 2.30pm, with all invited to join in, followed by dance and singing from local and visiting musicians.
The library again hosts the Caint agus Comhrá get-together at 3pm for all who want to try their hand at the ‘cúpla focal as Gaeilge’, and from that it’s just a short jaunt over to the West End for the Singing and Storytelling Session hosted by Patsy Cassidy and featuring guests like the Quinn family of Mullaghbawn and songstress Frances Rogers.

Anniversary mass
As has become the now time-honoured tradition, Sunday starts out at 11.30am with the Mass for Deceased Members of Cootehill CCÉ at St Michael’s Church, including music from local and visiting musicians, followed at 12.30pm by the laying of the wreath ceremony for deceased members at Gerry Whelan’s Grave in St Michael’s Cemetery.
Informal afternoon and evening sessions can be expected in pubs around the town on Sunday, with the 6pm Comhaltas Music Session in Nulty’s Lounge featuring Martin Donohoe, Cavan NYAH CCÉ as well as other musicians and singers. The weekend will finish off on a high note with the 8.30pm Sunday Singing Session in Connolly’s, thereby bringing what will undoubtedly be another three days of music and the meeting of friends old and new to a resounding close!
The Whelan Weekend is promoted by Cootehill CCÉ and supported by the above-named local pubs and the local SuperValu (John Foy), along with sponsors Comhaltas, Inishfree, Cavan Co Council and Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Visit gerrywhelanweekend.com for more info.
Admission for the weekend is €15.