City of London Festival: Irish Roots on the Heath

A celebration of Irish culture and the ancient trees of the Heath.

1pm-2pm
Tir Eolas

Eclectic alternative-folk group was formed at the Royal College of Music.The band draw on their Celtic and English folk roots to create their unique combination of traditional folk songs/tunes and original material - think virtuosic instrumentals, 4-part singing, guaranteed foot-stomping, and beautiful renditions of time-honoured folk ballads telling stories of love, loss and longing.

1.30pm-2.30pm
Brian Finnegan

Brian Finnegan is widely regarded as one of the true pioneers in Irish music with the legendary Flook for over 13 years, this maverick flute and tin whistle player has toured the world. Here he performs with talented, young guitarist Ian Stephenson.

3.00pm-4.00pm
Hat Fitz & Cara Robinson

Hat Fitz is a wild man of the blues scene in Australia. Cara Robinson is a fine-voiced chanteuse from Co. Down. Together this dynamic, husband and wife duo form a unique combination skillfully bringing together their music of hill style country blues with old time Irish folk.

“Hat Fitz and Cara make beautiful, raw, exciting music that never fails to grab me” Jeff Lang, Australia

"simple, powerful, full of the inherent realism” Samuel J. Fell (Rolling Stone)


4.30pm-6.00pm
Beoga

Beoga is gaelic for ‘lively’ and this five-piece band based in County Antrim certainly live up to their name. Incorporating traditional Irish sounds with bluesy, Astor Piazzola-style jazz, and a raunchy jamboree vibe, their music always returns to a wonderfully bouncy Irish sound. The result is traditional, with a huge sense of fun and adventure and it all works - wonderfully well.

“The most exciting new traditional band to emerge from Ireland this century.” The Wall Street Journal

“Nobody does this stuff better at the moment. Beoga are at the forefront of the new Irish wave.”Irish Music Magazine


Participative activities for all the family to enjoy will take place throughout the afternoon around the bandstand. Don’t miss the chance to have a go at Gaelic football, listen to stories told by Irish storyteller Kate Corkery, watch some dancing courtesy of Maguire O'Shea Academy of Irish Dance or make your own Irish tree spirit.

Various Times

Kate Corkery

Kate Corkery is an international Irish storyteller . She runs a monthly storytelling club for adults ‘Around the Fire’ from the Irish Cultural Centre in London, where she is Storyteller in Residence and was awarded Best Storyteller at The Fringe Report Awards 2009. Kate is a frequent guest teller at other storytelling clubs and festivals across Europe Kate is also partners Winston Nzinga in ‘Spud & Yam’.


Maguire O'Shea Academy of Irish Dance

The Maguire O'Shea Academy has been running for nearly forty years. Kathleen Maguire has won three world championships and together with her husband Michael Maguire they have produced many World, All Ireland and all major champions, with many of their dancers going on to perform in major shows such as 'Riverdance', 'Lord of the Dance' and 'Magic of the Dance, making Maguire O'Shea one of the most successful schools in the world.




Activities for all ages will be taking place throughout the day including:

Scavenger hunt
Tree themed arts and crafts
Make-your-own head garland
Face-painting