DANCING IN THE STREET Dancers, singers and musicians gathered from all over the world at the city-centre performances of the Cork International Folk Dance Festival.
Patrick Street became a boulevard in which groups from Poland, the Philippines, Croatia, Germany, Sardinia, Holland, France and England mingled with kilted Irish bands, step-dancers, and musicians whose jeans and hoodies emphasised the informal nature of this "Day of Dance".
The week-long festival was an "inter-territorial development initiative supported by the Leader programme and promoted by East Cork Area Development Ltd, IRD Duhallow Ltd and West Cork Leader Co-Op Society. Offering a compelling argument in favour of the rumoured pedestrianisation of Patrick Street, this event generated great public excitement. Supported by a variety of sponsors in association with Cork 2005, it included two formal concerts at City Hall, while participating groups performed all over the county.
ALL ABOUT ART Ireland's newest art gallery opens at Lismore Castle on September 3rd with Individual Fields curated by Aileen Corkery. Also on Saturday (at 2.30pm), Marina Warner will speak about aspects of childhood and on the work of Paula Rego at the Glucksman Gallery, while Eight Rooms collects film, photography, poetry and architecture as an installation at the Women's Jail, Sunday's Well until September 10th.
A LITTLE PILGRIMAGE This year's Elizabeth Bowen Commemoration will take place at St Colman's Church, Farahy, near Mitchelstown on September 4th. The service of Evensong begins at 3.30pm, led by Very Rev Dr RB MacCarthy, Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin. The celebration is organised by Jane Annesley of Annes Grove House and the address will be given by Most Rev Dr John Fleming, Bishop of Killala.
