FREE ROLLING VIDEO & GAMES CENTER FOR CHILDREN
2pm to 6pm
Wii, Dance Revolution, Guitar Hero & more.
PLUS FREE GYROSCOPE RIDES! 2pm to 5pm
ST. PADDY'S DAY LIVE MUSIC & DANCE STAGE
OUTSIDE TENT STAGE - COVER 3 PARKING LOT
ST. PATRICK'S DAY LIVE MUSIC STAGE
INSIDE COVER 3 STAGE
SUBJECT TO CHANGE!
2:30 PM - CHILDREN'S STORYBOOK HOUR
with the GAELIC LEAGUE OF AUSTIN
Members of the Gaelic League will read
from Children's books written in Irish and
translated for young listeners.
3:30 PM - CONNEMARA & ITS PONIES
This fascinating, half-hour colour
documentary, shot in 1969 has been
shown around the world. It features a
year in the life of the remarkable
Connemara pony, starting with
never-before recorded footage of the birth
of a foal in the open. It shows the famous
Clifden Pony Show and the Maam Cross
horse fair. It also reveals a traditional way
of life in the west of Ireland that no longer
exists. With beautiful shots of Connemara
and the ponies in their natural setting, this
film is not only a valuable archival
document but also a homage to this
robust Irish breed and the people of the
Connemara region in County Galway,
Ireland.
4:00 PM - FERMANAGH COUNTRY
This historic and unique documentary
captures a rural lifestyle no longer found
in Ireland. It tells the story of the
Mulholland family from Co. Fermanagh,
and records their traditional lifestyle and
methods of farming, quarrying, and
making circular grinding wheels and
whetstones for sharpening scythes. It
gives a glimpse into the lives of these
hardworking Fermanagh men and women
who carry on their rural practices
seemingly oblivious to modern methods.
4:30 PM - INTRO TO THE IRISH LANGUAGE
with the GAELIC LEAGUE OF AUSTIN
Learn some conversational Irish with the
GAELIC LEAGUE OF AUSTIN. Everyday
sayings and simple, beginning fun.
5:30 PM - HURL MAKING
The ancient ball and stick game of Hurling
has been played in Ireland for centuries.
The water-powered sawmill on the river
Nore, near Kilkenny is used for the initial
sawing of the ash wood planks. John
Surlis, master craftsman, still does the job
entirely by hand. Famed hurl-maker,
Raymie Dowling, skillfully shapes the hurl
using a band saw, and hand finishes it. His
craftsmanship makes it to the All Ireland
hurling final at Croke Park in Dublin. Liam
Dargan makes the traditional sliothar or
leather ball.
6:00 PM - WEXFORD THATCHER
The Rochford family has been growing
oats in Cleariestown, Co. Wexford for
generations, and providing excellent
straw for thatching. We see them using
their restored 19th century Marshall
steam engine to drive the threshing
machine. Tommy McGrath cuts sally
willows to make scallops for roofing
staples. Master craftsman, Paddy Casey,
gets to work near Kilmore Quay using his
home-made beating pin to drive home the
straw fletchs.
6:30 PM - IRISH BLESSINGS AND CURSES
with the GAELIC LEAGUE OF AUSTIN
Impress your friends and confound your
enemies with these great, ol' Gaelic
sayings.
7:30 PM - DONEGAL WEAVERS
This evocative film follows the traditional
way of life of the three McNelis brothers
from Ardara, Co. Donegal. Connal and
Jimmy are weavers, outworkers for the
well-known woollen mill and shop
'Magee's' of Donegal Town. We see the
setting up of the loom, and weaving the
fine tweed. John, the third brother, makes
wholemeal bread baked in a pot-oven
over the open fire, milks the cows, churns
butter, and cultivates the shamrock,
Ireland's national symbol.
8:00 PM - HARP MAKING
The Forgotten Sound. The sweet
resonance of the Irish wire-strung,
low-headed Harp - Ireland's national
symbol, had not been heard for centuries.
This film tells the story of Peter Kilroy from
Kenmare, Co. Kerry, who decided to
construct one based on the Brian Boru
harp in Trinity College, Dublin. We watch
him making the body from willow, and the
back sounding board from 20,000 year old
Bog Pine. The harmonic curve is carved,
the pieces assembled, the brass tuning
pegs adjusted and the instruments
strung. We hear again that ancient,
magical sound.
8:30 PM - CURRAGHS
Man's first arrival in Ireland during the
Mesolithic period was most likely in these
supremely seaworthy, keel-less skin
boats. This documentary covers their
regional variations. In Co. Kerry we see
the use of the naomhóg as a racing
currach. On the Aran Islands, Co. Galway,
the currach is still used for fishing and to
ferry supplies to the Islands. Northwest
Co. Donegal is the last area where the
small Donegal paddled currach is used for
setting fixed trammel nets and
lobsterpots. The film includes rare film
from the 1930's of the construction of the
River Boyne Corracle.
ST. PATRICK'S DAY BANQUET ROOM SCHEDULE
INSIDE COVER 3 * FAR BACK BANQUET ROOM
ALL WORKSHOPS AND FILMERS ARE FREE TO TICKET HOLDERS
Children under 13 years of age. GET IN FREE!
The Celtic Cultural Center is proud to present the
documentary series "Hands" at this St. Patrick's Day in
Austin. An archival series of films on Irish traditional
crafts.
David and Sally Shaw-Smith made HANDS, a unique,
multi-award winning series of thirty-seven documentries
on Irish crafts for Irish television (RTÉ). Capturing the final
years of traditional rural and urban life in Ireland, during
the seventies and eighties. They travelled the length and
breadth of the country recording these personal and
revealing films. As much about the life of the individuals,
as the crafts they practised.
We will be showing 7 of the films throughout the course of
St. Patrick's Day. See the schedule to the right.
The St. Patrick's Day Austin is the only place in
Austin to celebrate St. Patrick's Day! A
commitment to authentic Irish culture. No green
beer or leprechauns, just fierce Irish tradition
and fun! Austin St. Patrick's Day Fest has it all.
STARRING: The David Munnelly Band from County
Mayo, named Irish Band of the Decade! Plus
many more! Pipers, Dancers, local Irish bands,
coming to you on two stages!
Check out the performers page for the full lineup.
All schedules are subject to change!
MARCH 17TH, 2011
Thursday 2pm to 10:30pm at COVER 3
on Anderson Lane across from
Northcross Mall.
Tickets $10.00. Children under 13 free.
New expanded outdoor tent and stage!