Tyneside Irish Festival returns for 39th year
Dates and events have been announced for the 39th edition of the Tyneside Irish Festival.
The Tyneside Irish Festival has been directed by fiddle player Tony Corcoran since its inception in 1987.
This year eleven performers from Ireland join local talent at the Tyneside Irish Centre in Gallowgate, Newcastle.
Tony recalls the early days of the event, saying: “We made quite a stir back then and even the famous ‘Celtic Connections’ came to see how we did it and founded their new internationally famous even in Glasgow.”
“This year we start by looking back at a film of 1988’s festival made by Tyne Tees television and narrated by Tim Healy. Producer Heather Ging will be our special guest at the event on Friday October 17”.
Traditional music and dance are the main ingredients of the week-long event with eleven performers from Ireland joining local musicians.
Two acclaimed Irish bands, the Daoirí Farrell Trio from Dublin and Lane to the Glen from Sligo are set to perform in Newcastle and Middlesbrough.
There are several family events on the event’s schedule and ‘Pat the Hat’, a story teller from Cork, will be working in local schools.
Free events will include the opening night, the family day on Sunday October 26, and Raised on Songs and Stories in Sunderland on Monday October 20.
Tickets are available from Eventbrite or from the Tyneside Irish Centre website at www.tynesideirish.com.