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Solstice Ceili
Cork Midsummer Festival

Solstice Céilí

Martin O'Donoghue

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  • Music
  • Dance

A time-traveling collective of traditional musicians and dancers explore the history of our island’s social dancing from 2025 BC to 2025 AD.

An experimental format of re-invented bronze age music and dance rituals related to the Summer Solstice are crossed with the more modern traditions of céilí dances. We explore how we might have danced and how we might dance again, ecstatically to Irish music.

Featuring new compositions of ancient instruments, human voice, and bird-song, this gathering of young and old, invites us to join together in joyous communal celebration of our culture of music, dance and merriment.

Following the sell-out success of last year’s debut performance of the Solstice Céilí, this year is centred around new co-created community dances embodying the creativity of the people of Cork, along with some FIRE magic!

Supported by the Arts Council.

Choreography Martin O Donoghue
Bouzouki John Drew
Banjo / Fiddle Frances Curran
Bodhrán Kevin Hegarty
Dulcimer Brian Leach
Accordian Ken O Donoghue
Live Sampling and Mouth Music Jack O Malley
Whistling Anita Bennett
Bronze age horn Holger Lonze
Hang drum Martin O'Donoghue
Scenic Art Millie Egan
Fire Sculpture Paddy McCormack
Costume Design Cass Louks
Sound Design Brian Leach
Sound Mixing Steve Isherwood
Sound Advisors Maria & Simon O Dwyer (Ancient Sound), Rónán O Snódaigh (Rhythmic), Sean Ronayne (Bird Sound)

  1. 21 June

  2. 9pm

    €7 / €5

  3. Elizabeth Fort View map
  4. Cork, Ireland

  5. 90 mins

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