Come to Ireland with me!

Erin Hart & Celtic Journeys Present
IRELAND WITH ERIN HART
April 8-18, 2016 
10 days/9 nights in Ireland focusing on history, mystery, archaeology & folklore

I'm excited this year to be working with Jean Wynne of Celtic Journeys. I will be leading a small band of a dozen or so on a wonderful trip called "Ireland with Erin Hart" focusing on history, mystery, archaeology & folklore—full of fascinating historic sites, informal chats with archaeologists, folklorists, storytellers and musicians. 

Dates are April 8 (departing the US) to April 18. Have a look at our full itinerary, and find out how to make your reservation—just click on the links below. 

The booking deadline is February 8, 2016, so please get in touch with Jean Wynne right away if you're interested!

Join me for this unique trip through Ireland, visiting many of the places that have inspired my writing, from the archaeology of ancient sites, the peat bog and its hidden treasures, and all along the way exploring the folklore and folkways of Ireland, past and present. 

We'll spend three nights in Dublin, exploring the city and taking in the the bog men and the Faddan More Psalter at the National Museum, along with the Book of Kells at Trinity College, traditional music sessions, and a day trip to Lough Crew megalithic cemetery. 

From Dublin we'll head to the ancient monastery at Glendalough, and take in Ireland's oldest city of Waterford where we'll go into the Mayor's Wine Vault, under the city from medieval times. 

Then westward to Dingle Peninsula, taking in its rugged beauty (not to mention its music and fresh seafood) before traveling up the coast and into West Galway, Connemara and the Aran Islands. Along the way, we'll visit with renowned storytellers, musicians, archaeologists, and folklorists. Finally, we'll head east across the bogs toward Dublin again and have a last night in a Barberstown Castle, a magical way to end your journey through Ireland! 

Questions? Please call Jean Wynne at 651-291-8003 or email her at jean@celtic-journeys.com. 

Full details, itinerary and reservation form are also on my website, and at Celtic Journeys website. 

Saint Mathias Celtic Festival - July 21 in Brainerd

Paddy and I will be speaking and signing books and CDs at the Saint Mathias Celtic Festival in Brainerd, MN on July 21.

The fourth annual Saint Mathias Celtic Festival will be held at The Farm on St. Mathias (7579 St. Mathias Road, Brainerd, MN 56401) on Saturday July 21, from 11 am - 6 pm.

I'm on at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm, talking about my books, all the research that goes into them, and I'll bring along images of bog people archaeological treasures, as well as samples of Irish turf—or peat, as it's usually called here.

Paddy will be speaking and playing a few tunes at 1:00 and 4:00 pm, about his compendium of 1,000 tunes, The Paddy O'Brien Tune Collection, and about all the older musicians he learned from, and how he happens to carry more than 3,000 Irish tunes in his head.

Besides our scheduled presentations, Paddy and I will both be on hand for the main part of the day, just to chat with people, and to sign books and CDs.

The Farm on Saint Mathias is proud to be partnering with Finnegans to support the Emergency Foodshelf Network’s Harvest for the Hungry program. Buy beer from Finnegan's truck at the festival and all proceeds will be donated to Harvest for the Hungry.

Live entertainment on the Main Stage will feature the Hounds of Finn, the Gunn Slingers, Rumgumption, and Center for Irish Music student musicians with Live Ireland's Singer of the Year Norah Rendell—all emceed by Welsh storyteller John Dingley. Check out the full schedule!

Traditional Celtic craft demonstrations will include sheep shearing, fiber spinning, dying and weaving. The festival will feature demonstrations by stonecutters, blacksmiths, metalsmiths, fiber spinners and the Blue Ox Brewers Society. Activities for children will include facepainting and a special music show.

Featured vendors will be selling Celtic clothing, soaps, music, and craft items. Vendors include: From the Ground Up Pottery, Fiber Creations by Tammy Severtson, Handcrafted soaps by Backwoods Bathing, Celtic Cottage, Reclaimation furniture, The Center for Irish Music and more. Food on site will be catered by Prairie Bay restaurant in Baxter!

Comic Song Tradition in Ireland

The comic song is a longstanding tradition in Ireland, from the legendary days when poets could compose songs featuring satire that could kill—or was at least strong enough to strip paint! 

In recent years, great songs have been written to commemorate the rash of moving statues of the Virgin in County Cork, various outrages and sporting events.

Radio host Paula Carroll has put together a great documentary on the Irish comic song tradition. The program focuses on some of the best  contemporary comic songmakers in the traditional idiom, featuring the songs of Michael Marrinan, Sean Mone, Robbie McMahon, Tim Lyons, Con O'Drisceoil and Brian O'Rourke.

You can have a listen to it here:
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/songmakers.html

Originally broadcast on Clare FM.

Produced by Paula Carroll with sound supervison by Tracy Maloney.