Line-Up
Helena Byrne
This is Helena’s first visit to our festival. Combining her love of Irish folklore & passion for Irish music, Helena Byrne regularly performs as a traditional seanchaí (storyteller) & folk singer across Ireland & abroad. Helena’s storytelling interweaves tales of the Other World & the mysterious Fairy Folk with traditional Irish songs and wonderful insights into an Irish life of days gone by. Akin to the traditional travelling seanchaí of times past, Helena is renowned for bringing her spellbinding stories & songs to diverse audiences in settings large & small. From young to old, Helena will bring your imagination into an Ireland of times’ past & carry you into the fascinating world of the Banshee, the Pooka & the supernatural, while emulating the traditional Irish sing-song.
Len Cabral
Len Cabral is an internationally acclaimed, award-winning storyteller who has been engaging audiences through the art of storytelling for over 46 years. Len is the great grandson of a Cape Verdean Whaler and whose grandparents immigrated to America in the early 1900’s, from the islands off the coast of West Africa. Len’s strong Cape Verdean ancestry come alive in his exuberant retelling of folktales and legends from around the world as well as some original stories and poetry. Len has told stories in Bali, Singapore, Ireland, Holland and the UK. He is the recipient of the National Storytelling Network 2001 Circle of Excellence Oracle Award. This is Len’s second visit to our festival.
Aoife Granville
Our annual guest lecture series continues with Aoife Granville who is from Dingle, Kerry, and is a performer, educator and researcher who holds a PhD in Folklore/ Ethnomusicology (Dingle Wren & European Carnival Cultures). She lectures in Traditional & Popular Music, Folklore & Festival and currently holds the post of Lecturer in Folklore/Béaloideas at the Folklore Department, UCC. Previously, she lectured at the Department of Music (UCC), the International Centre for Music Studies at Newcastle University (UK) and with visiting US universities to Ireland. Aoife is regarded as an influential figure in the contemporary Irish fluting tradition and is currently working on her third solo album. A regular contributor to radio and television, Aoife works and publishes in both Irish and English.
Sheila Flitton
Actress and playright Sheila Flitton will perform her acclaimed one-woman-show ‘Beezie’. Beezie Gallagher was, for over sixty years, the sole resident of an island on Lough Gill, County Sligo. Born in the 1872 and orphaned in her teens, Beezie’s wisdom, robust humour and fierce independence gained her a reputation as healer, wise woman and witch. Sheila is also known for her movie roles The Banshee of Inisherin and the tilogy of Roddy Doyle movies The Commitments, The Snapper and The Van.
Paddy O’Brien
Paddy O’Brien was born in Co. Kerry, but living in Cork for nearly 40 years, is a natural storyteller who has appeared at Storytelling festivals all over Ireland. Paddy’s been a featured teller on many occasions at the world-famous Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival. He tells fantastic stories, songs and verse – in his own inimitable way. He was at last year’s festival and was enjoyed by everyone so much so that we decided to bring him back for another year. He was a National School teacher but has now retired.
John Spillane
John Spillane is a musician, songwriter, performer, recording artist, storyteller, poet and dreamer. Rooted in people, place and story, his music transports the listener and his live performances captivate audiences around the world. John previously performed at our festival in 2018. John has the ability to charm, mesmerise and entertain in equal measure.
A native of Cork, the County he lovingly describes as “the centre of the universe” and a source of huge creative influence throughout his career. John’s music is inspired by and encapsulates Irish traditional music in its contemporary form – a reflection of Ireland today. Tickets for upcoming Autumn/Winter gigs can be found on http://www.johnspillane.ie