FRIDAY 4 OCTOBER | Poetry Workshop: with Laoighseach Ní Choisteabhla | 19:30 Online

MONDAY 7 OCTOBER | Féile Raifteirí Officail Opening: Lecture with Dr. Philip Fogarty | 19:30 Family Resource Centre (H62 H721)

Saturday 19 October | Brekkie Breac Special Program (together with Coláiste an Eachréidh) | 09:00 LCRfm 102.9FM or www.lcrfm.ie

SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER | Poetry Morning | 10:30 Comworks (H62 VN56)

SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER | Performance of ‘Leaca na Filíochta agus an Cheoil - Stepping Stones' with Cantairí Chonamara | 17:00 Gaelscoil Riabhach (H62 TK22)

SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER | Music and Dance with Becky Ní Éallaithe and friends| 21:30 Arch Bar (H62 XD39)

SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER | Visit to Raftery’s Grave: Meeting at Killeeneen Cemetery | 12:00

This performance is a journey through the history of Irish poetry and music from Patrick to U2 and is presented by Cantairí Connemara and Music Matters Galway.

Máire Ní Dhuibhir has laid out the journey in seven movements. The sound of a horn starts from 2,500 b.c. and reference is made to the work of Patrick, Columbanus and the lyrical poetry of that time. The second movement relates to the schools of the bards and the influence of the medieval revival on the poetry of the people. Then reference is made to Dublin in the 18th century, the first time that the Messiah was performed, Irish composers who achieved fame, as well as the work of Thomas Moore. The fourth movement is pertains the work of the poets from the 17th to the 18^th, keening songs, vision poems, and music collectors. In the fifth movement, the Gaelic/Celtic Revival at the turn of the twentieth century, Yeats, the Piersach, Joseph Mary Plunkett are mentioned. Music from the middle of the last century is the theme of the sixth movement - Elizabeth Maconchy, Ó Riordáin, and Ó Direáin. The final movement is called New Roads because it includes works from many genres - Heaney, Ó Riada, Ó Súileabháin, Lisa Hannigan, Van Morrisson, Bill Whelan and U2. This project ends with a newly composed work - a poem by Noelle Hayes from Portumna set to music by Máire Ní Dhuibhir.

Seven panels can also be seen describing the various movements, designed by Éamonn Mac Lochlainn.

The performance will take place on Saturday, 19th October, at 5:00pm in Gaelscoil Riabhach (H62 TK22).

Tickets: €15 at the door (student discount: €10)

Click here for more information on the Féile Raifteirí Poetry Competition.

The theme of Féile Rafteirí 2024 is 'Aisling' (Vision), and Gaeilge Locha Riach is pleased to announce that ChildVision will be coming to Loughrea to hold a Braille workshop as part of the Festival events.

ChildVision offers a range of supports to young people across Ireland who are visually impaired and Early Years Programs are offered at their centres in Dublin and Cork.

In this workshop, a team of transcribers from ChildVision will be introducing Gaelscoil students to Braille through the medium of Irish. Participants will learn about the invention and development of Braille, from Charles Barbier’s system to the Louise Braille’s system, as well as the contemporary system (UIB) used to teach Irish. There will be the opportunity to use the Perkins machine for transcription, and they will also have the opportunity to practice Braille reading skills with fun puzzles and games.

Gaeilge Locha Riach will be holding a Braille workshop in Gaelscoil Riabhach on the 17th October and we are all looking forward to it.

As part of Féile Raifteirí this year, Rónán Ó Snodaigh is conducting singing and music workshops in Coláiste an Eachréidh.

As part of these workshops with Rónán, a group of teenagers have come together and are taking on the challenge of putting together newly composed songs and music and a range of age groups are taking part. As part of the preparation, they were presented with sample materials to encourage them to start composing and the pupils were encouraged to take up pens themselves. They were given advice and guidance regarding the lyrics and rhythm of the music while they were composing and developing and improving their own work.

It is hoped that they will have prepared at least one newly composed song and are ready to present the song 'live' on the program 'An Brekkie Breac' (Loughrea Community Radio Station) before the end of the month.