Iúr Cinn Fleadh

About

Iúr Cinn Fleadh will see over 100 events throughout Newry City. Showcasing the best in traditional and folk music and the arts it will run on the August Bank Holiday Weekend from Thursday 25 to Monday 29 August 2022.

A Session Trail in local pubs and cafés is the glue that holds the festival together along with the festivals famed Trad Cruise which gives visitors the chance to take a two hour boat trip down Newry Ship Canal complete with music and a few glasses of wine.

This years headline concerts concentrate on our home grown talent.

THE SANDS FAMILY AND SPECIAL GUESTS

Born just outside Newry, The Sands Family are 'Close To Home' – their chosen concert theme for the Fleadh. Siblings Tommy, Ben, Colum and Anne grew up in a 'céilí house' that celebrated the Irish tradition of singers, musicians and storytellers. Now an international folk phenomenon, the Sands are bringing it all back home.

Saturday 27 August | 8pm | Newry Town Hall £25

MATT McGINN

Hilltown singer-songwriter Matt McGinn is enjoying a successful season. His recording Time Well Spent scooped RTÉ Radio 1's 'Album of the Week', he wrote a suite celebrating Belfast busker Willie Campbell, and helped develop an online platform for performers, raising £12,000 for charities. He brings to the Fleadh two special guests – Ciara O'Neill

Friday 26 August | 8pm | Newry Town Hall | £15

There is always room for a laugh at the Fleadh

KIERAN CUNNINGHAM

Award-winning Newry actor Kieran Cunningham brings his one-man show on Dave Allen back to the city. For those who missed it at our 2018 Fleadh,
this is an opportunity to witness Kieran's remarkable portrayal of the legendary Irish satirist – or others can watch it a second time. Steve Coogan is a fan!

Thursday 25 August | 8pm | Phoenix Live | £15

Check out our list of events via the www.iurcinnfleadh.com website. Here are some of the highlights:

BIKES AND BEATS ON THE STREETS

The Fleadh is reclaiming the streets of Newry for everyone who loves getting out on their bike.

Get yourselves down and join us for a fun lap of the city with Irish Rapper & DJ Cú Chulainn leading the way while belting out the tunes.

Meet at entrance to Albert Basin.

Sunday 28 August | 2pm | Meet at entrance to Albert Basin

TRAD CRUISE

You haven't fully experienced the soul of Newry until you've sailed on The Brienne towards the city lights with a glass of wine in your hand, listening to ancient Irish tunes drift on the evening mist. It sounds like a fairy tale, but it's actually a major part of the Fleadh.

Thursday to Monday 25-29 August Various sailings | £20

NEWRY COMMUNITY CHOIR & CLOUGHMORE SINGERS

'A choir for the people of Newry' – that's Newry Community Choir. They'll be joining with the Cloughmore Singers – a group of men from all walks of life who share 'a mutual love of music and a desire to perform'. With guest soloists Carla Maney and Hannah Barrett, this promises to be a choral tour de force.

Thursday 25 August | 8pm | Riverside Church £10

PICNIC AT THE LOCK

Turn the Greenway into a path of hope – by walking from Albert Basin to Victoria Lock. Join PIPS Hope and Support on this summer trek that comes complete with live music and moments just to chill out. Bring a packed lunch and your dancing shoes! PIPS Hope and Support is our region's leading independent advocate on all aspects of suicide.

Saturday 27 August | 11am | Newry Greenway to Victoria Lock | £5 donation

TONY WALSH

Tony Walsh, the Longfella, is one of the UK's most widely acclaimed professional poets. Manchester-Irish, working class and entirely self-taught, his powerful writing and electrifying performances have made him a regular on television and radio.

Saturday 27 August | 10am | Marcus Square 9pm | Catholic Working Men's Club

TENX9

Everyone has an experience to share. Tenx9 is an internationally successful storytelling event with a unique format – nine people tell their stories in ten minutes or less. We're delighted to welcome Tenx9 back to Newry and, in keeping with the Fleadh, the theme is 'Music'.

Thursday 25 August | 8pm | McCooeys | Free (bring a donation and a bottle)

A FLAVOUR OF EUROPE

Polish culture has not only remained strong, but also flourished – and now it's coming to the Fleadh! Come and see for yourself at an evening of Polish music by local artists. Newry's Polish community come together to celebrate with traditional songs, Polish DJ Jack7, Polish Christian music, drum show, hip-hop music with special guest Koziol T2T and Polish karaoke – followed by refreshments.

Friday 26 August | 7pm | Phoenix Bar

CAFÉ SESSIONS & SESSION TRAIL

Enjoy music wherever you may go! If you pop out for a coffee or a pint, you're bound to come across one or more of the Fleadh's musicians and singers who'll create a tuneful backdrop for your visit. Make the most of our city of song as melodies fill our coffee houses and public houses.

25 - 29 August | Various times and venues

TOMORROW IS SATURDAY: SEÁN HILLEN

Highly acclaimed documentary Tomorrow Is Saturday is an intimate portrait of Newry born collage artist Seán Hillen. The Fleadh is privileged to share a screening of the film, plus an exclusive conversation with the artist himself. Come and delve into the wonder world of Seán Hillen – the man who repositioned pyramids on Carlingford Lough for the Super Furry Animals.

Monday 30 August | 7.30pm | Bellini's | £5

IÚR CINN FLEADH STREET FEAST

Eating can become electrifying – thanks to local chef Melissa McCabe. Melissa has created Street Feast, an innovative food and drink event showcasing producers and chefs from our region. And she's bringing it to the Fleadh! Celebrate some of the world's finest food, farmed and formed in this locality.

Sunday 28 August | 1-7pm | Newry Market | £2

NOCTAMBULE

San Francisco folk duo Marla Fibish and Bruce Victor are faithful friends of the Fleadh. With guitar, mandolin and voices, they serve up a varied musical menu – from Irish trad to their own original tunes. They'll be launching Every Migrant Is My Fellow, described by Irish Music magazine as 'a keystone album for our time'.

Sunday 28 August | 8pm | Nan Rices

FAMILY FUN AT THE FLEADH

Bob along on a tide of fun for all ages at the Fleadh. Enjoy a packed programme of outdoor games, music, willow weaving, art, caricatures, poetry and puppetry. What a list. Have we missed anything? You'll have to come along and find out!

Saturday 27 August | 10am - 4pm | Marcus Square

MUSIC OF OUR GENERATION

Join Crisis Café for an evening of young local home-grown talent. Musicians will present a mix of genres which represents the sounds of their generation and connects them to their local community. Crisis Café is a Newry social enterprise that helps young people access facilities to safeguard their mental health while interacting with people their own age.

Sunday 25 August | 7-10pm | The Imaginarium

NEWRY WATER FESTIVAL

It's just not the same if you don't get wet in some way at the Fleadh – and best to do it intentionally, don't you think? Join us for a fun-filled afternoon of water and land based activities around the mighty Albert Basin. Booking is essential! email kerrimorrow@nmandd.org

Monday 29 August | 12-4pm | Albert Basin

PROTESTANTS AND THE GAELIC LANGUAGES

The exhibition of texts (Gaeilge agus Gàidhlig) will showcase the contribution of Protestant scholars to the study and promotion of the Gaelic languages. On display will be a small number of signed editions by Protestant writers, religious texts, and primers for the teaching of Irish.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday | Newry Library (during opening hours)

DAYS GONE BY

Take a trip down memory lane with Northern Ireland Screen's Digital Film Archive. Experience wonderful film of Newry as it was – crafts and skills long gone and faces and stories from the past brought to life once more. Constantly updated and expanding, the DFA contains hundreds of hours of moving image titles, spanning from 1897 to the present day.

Sunday 28 August | 8pm | ThinkLab

CLASSICS BY CANDLELIGHT

After a whole weekend of full-on Fleadh fun and excitement, this will be just the job to relax and reflect. Join Newry Chamber Music for an atmospheric evening. NCM present concerts locally and further afield, providing world class chamber music. They're dedicated to the people of this area – and feel strongly that the arts play a huge part in society, health and general wellbeing. 

Monday 29 August | 8 - 10pm | Nan Rice's

DANCING ON THE GREEN

In a bid to restore the ancient Irish tradition of dancing at the crossroads, Iúr Cinn Fleadh is proud to be launching Dancing On The Green. Trad musicians, and dancers and a choir will present a mix of music and movement in gathering places across Newry – at Derrybeg, Whitegates and Mourneview. These will be special moments for our city. Let's dance!

Monday 29 August | 2 - 7.30pm | Various locations