First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?

Subject: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: janey
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 02:01 PM

It's been a long dark winter and the summer can't come soon enough. We are missing our Festivals, the camping, people and music. I know the Lancaster Maritime is at the end of March but are there any other early ones before Moor and Coast, Holmfirth etc etc? We would especially appreciate any reccommendations for good IRISH Festivals in May/June time since we haven't managed to make it to any yet and have a feeling we might enjoy one...

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: Snuffy
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 05:54 PM

Upton-on-Severn Friday 3rd to Mon 6th May

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: Kenny B (inactive)
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 06:00 PM

Celtic Connections in Glasgow currently in full swing
Celtic Connections

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: vectis
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 06:05 PM

Straw Bear? I think it's on around about now.
Dog Days Do March 8th to 10th.
Mudcat get together at Stony Stratford next weekend.

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: Snuffy
Date: 30 Jan 02 - 06:16 PM

Straw Bear was a couple of weeks ago. See you at Stony

WassaiL! V

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Jan 02 - 12:43 AM

Straw Bear festival is usually around the second Sat in Jan. It's the translated celebrations of Plough Monday, the day after Distaff Day, the first Sunday after 12th Night (Jan 6th), the day when the women would go back to work. Plough Monday, when all the men would go back to work, is the first Monday after 12th Night. They didn't actually do much work though, they stood around after making a ceremonial cutting of the field with the newly blessed and probably decorated plough, threw lots of beer or cider around the place to bless the new crops to be planted in the fields and then buggered off to the pub for more singing and dancing. It's definately a field blessing, related more to the old fertility rites and religions which is why the church never really adopted it as part of the Christmas season - except to muscle in on the plough blessing bit. There are several churches up and down the country that still do plough blessings, but not so often now, as it's a bit difficult to get a Massey Ferguson through the church doors, especially in London.

LTS - supplier of today's useless information.

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: MC Fat
Date: 31 Jan 02 - 04:23 AM

Isn't Cheltenham (the Folk Festival not Horse Racing) in February ?

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: alanww
Date: 31 Jan 02 - 04:47 AM

Cheltenhamm FF is on 8-10 Feb, the same weekend as the Ctony Stratford Mudcat Gathering. I'll be at Stony, along with Snuffy and 38 other Mudcatters! See the Stony Stratford link
. You could also have a look at the Cheltenhamm FF website. Or try the Dog Days website, which is on 8-10 Mar near Maidenhead.

Come fill up your glasses and let us be merry ...
Alan

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: Gervase
Date: 31 Jan 02 - 08:35 AM

Andy Jackson will be hosting the annual Miskin festival near Llantrisant (popularly known as 'the hole with the mint') again this Easter.

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 31 Jan 02 - 09:09 AM

Well if it's Irish you want, you could go over to Ballyvaughan in February. Not sure of the dates though. this page says it's the weekend closest to Valentines day which I think would make it 15th-17th Feb.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: BanjoRay
Date: 31 Jan 02 - 09:45 AM

The Old Time festival at Gainsborough is 15-17 feb.
Superb craic for the weekend - some superb fiddle, banjo, guitar playing - mostly reels, hornpipes, breakdowns etc and a few songs, clogging and square dancing, lots of sessions and workshops. Indoor or outdoor camping.

Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: janey
Date: 31 Jan 02 - 03:52 PM

thanks for all the blue clicky things. am going to get my road atlas out and find miskin. Lancaster Maritime is a lot nearer for us but all that heave away hove awaying and bringing the man down shivers me timbers.

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: Sonnet
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 01:55 PM

Today, 1st Feb. is the start of the Unreel Festival in Newcastle.

Janet

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: Gillie
Date: 01 Feb 02 - 06:40 PM

Darlington Spring Thing in Co.Durham 15th - 17th March.

Good first do, with loads of free things

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: Sooz
Date: 02 Feb 02 - 12:45 PM

Lincoln Folk Festival is over the Easter Weekend.

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 05:15 AM

I think there's a festival in Spiddal, Co Galway (An Spideal, Co na Gaillimhe) next weekend.

Subject: RE: BS: First Uk or Irish Festival this Year?
From: Mr Red
Date: 03 Feb 02 - 10:56 AM

Gloucester Cajun Festival last w/e, Cajun Company (Holland) did the business but Hot Box were .. er . lets say a bit new
Cheltenham FF 8-10th with a workshop to write a dance to go into the public domain & advertise the festival named "Cheltenham Festival" (best suggestion & it does tell it). Probably Sat 9th at 1pm (least ways thats what I was asked to do). People who don't write dances are wanted because we need reasons why it needs improving. I am reddy. See ya all there. Oh and there is a Cajun Festival in Upton-u-Severn April 13 & 14.