International Women's Day, 8 Mar

In honour of International Women's Day (today) we are shining a light on some recent commissions we have worked on, particularly those with women. If you've got a special woman in your life, lift her up today by telling you how much you care about her, telling other people about her greatness and celebrating the other women you know.

It is Mother's Day next Sunday. Spare a thought for those who can't share messages or time with their Mums - whether through Covid-19, work or life-circumstance. It can be an emotional day as well as a celebratory one. Here's to all the Mums out there. Thank you for all you do, did or have done.

Finding Bridget

A recent commission we have not had a chance to shout about yet, is part of an ongoing project with Maz O'Connor, in which she is developing a musical theatre production about the life of Bridget Cleary. In our new article, Maz explores some of the new developments that have taken place in the piece, sharing her creative process and the developments that occur when collaborating with others. Read the article here.

This article was funded by the Government of Ireland's Creative Community Fund (#CreativeCommunity), along with six others, four of which are by women. Cathy Carter / Andrew Connally / Edy Fung (via Art Arcadia) / Alison Little / Maz O’Connor / Ciara Ní É / The Sound Agents. The links will take you to the individual commissions.

The Life and Times of June Furlong

Another of the #CreativeCommunity commisions that has a strong female lead can be found in this film, as developed by the Sound Agents, voiced by Festival patron (and stellar woman) Eithne Browne, which centres wholly on June Furlong, a Liverpool-Irish life model in a career that spanned decades. Click here to view.

Liz Weir at the Palm House

11am, Wed 10 Mar; Join Irish storyteller Liz Weir on Zoom as she shares tales for all the family in the lead up to St Patrick's Day. Liz is based in County Antrim but has an international reputation, having shared her stories on five continents. She is the author of two children's story collections Boom Chicka Boom and Here There and Everywhere. Click here for full event details.

Quick news

Ireland to Liverpool

We are thrilled to be able to share our new Festival theme song; written, performed and produced by Andrew Connally, who some of you may know from his work in Wet the Tea, our River Festival La Lamouine takeover or gigs at the Liverpool Irish Centre. Andrew worked with us to make a bespoke song we can use for events, films and openings and we are delighted. Hear it below and/or read more here.

Ireland to Liverpool (full version) (C) Andrew Connally, 2021.
Please click the image to open audio in a new window.

Event announcements

**Watch Tony Birtill - Hidden History online**

Following on from the live event last Thurs, we now have a recording, which many of you may be interested in. Tony Birtill in known for his Irish Language lessons at the Liverpool Irish Centre, his journalism and Board membership of the Festival. You may also already know him as an author. Tony's book Hidden History-The Irish Language in Liverpool/An Ghaeilge i Learpholl is available to buy here. We are delighted to partner with Writing on the Wall to host this launch as part of the 2021 Year of Writing.

St Patrick's celebrations and #GlobalGreening

The Government's roadmap shows we'll not be enjoying any major social gatherings over the next couple of months. For many it will be the second St Patrick's Day in a row they have missed spending with family, friends and loved ones. Whilst we are putting energy in to #Global Greening the message remains 'celebrate together, apart'. With this in mind, we are encouraging people to join London Irish Centre's St Patrick's Day online celebrations. Working with the Mayor of London, Saddiq Khan, the Centre has many plans afoot. Use this link to learn more.

Other events and work you may be interested in are taking place at the Irish Arts Foundation (Leeds) with work exploring the musical traditions of County Leitrim & County Fermanagh. More here.

Patrick’s Words and Worlds

A St Patrick’s Day Event with two of the authors of A History of Ireland in 100 Words

The Institute of Irish Studies is delighted to invite you to Patrick’s Words and Worlds, a St Patrick’s Day Event with Dr Sharon Arbuthnot and Professor Máire Ní Mhaonaigh, two of the authors of A History of Ireland in 100 Words. The event will be moderated by Ruth Hegarty, Royal Irish Academy, and introduced by Professor Peter Shirlow, FAcSS, Director of the Institute of Irish Studies at University of Liverpool (and Board Director of the Festival). The event will be held online at 6pm on Wed 17 Mar. To book, click here.

Cultural Connectedness Exchange: Part #3

Are you an Irish artist working in England (or hoping to)? Are you an events or arts organiser hoping to work with Irish producers? Then the Cultural Connectedness Exchange might be just right for you. Our third meeting will be held on 23 March 2021, with details here. Click the link to get the lowdown and book your place.

Summer's on it's way!

Can you believe we are already in March? In just three months it will be June and the vast majority of us will have had our vaccines and be able to see friends, family and loved ones again! Fingers crossed. We'll be able to enjoy our parks, release ourselves from the Black Mirror of our screens and speak face-to-face again. We wish everyone well getting their vaccines and to seeing you in person soon!

We hope you are all keeping as well as it is possible to in your area. Irish in Britain continue to run online resources and networks you may find useful (use this link) and, in Liverpool, Irish Community Care and CARA continue to develop their services (read the latest enewsletter here). Slainte Le Cheile do great sessions you can access online and internationally; we can't recommend them highly enough. Don't be alone; if you can, get online. There is fun ahead. We're looking forward to sharing in that with you.

Stay safe, take care, Team Liverpool Irish Festival

If you haven't looked already, Alison Little's sculptural work, responding to Eavan Boland's poem Quarantine, is remarkable (link here) for its depth, references and observations on the time, relationship and struggle. Quarantine responds to An Gorta Mór, which the Festival is starting to do a lot of work on, particularly in relation to the Liverpool Irish Famine Trail. In time, we will be looking for volunteers to help us with history research, storytelling and more. We'll keep you up to date as plans progress. Alison's story is also deeply connected with today's pandemic. We encourage you to read it.

This work was funded by the Government of Ireland's creative community fund. #CreativeCommunity

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