What's going on.... Arts & Parts Quality Conference This Weekend (mairead,jpg) Got this press release in, read it through and thought that sounds so good I must sign up for it. So I did. Can’t say better than that. Next weekend, from Thursday 23rd to Saturday 25th of November, a creative gathering for people living and working in minority and bilingual cultures will take place in Gaoth Dobhair. ’Ceangal’ (meaning Connection), will give artists and organisers an opportunity to showcase examples of some of the most exciting arts and cultural activity taking place in the Gaelic world – both in Ireland and Scotland – and in Welsh-speaking communities in Wales. People will come together to share skills, good practice and creative ideas through performance and discussion, with particular emphasis on work taking place in the indigenous languages and the policies surrounding this area. The conference is open to the general public and should be of interest to artists, community groups, funders & policy makers. Those participating include Irish language poets Louis de Paor and Cathal Ó Searcaigh; Welsh writers Euros Lewis and Rhiannon Ifans; Mairi Nic Aonghais from the Scottish music school Ceolas; and Roddy Moireach from An Lanntair Gallery in Stornoway; Sim MacCoinnich, from the Scottish National Gaelic Theatre Company; Welsh ceramist Meri Wells as well as the Galway based puppet theatre company, Fibín. Simultaneous translation will be provided throughout. As part of the activities, Altan’s Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh will host a concert in Ionad Cois Locha, Dun Luiche on Friday 24th. The concert will feature musicians and singers from Wales and Scotland as well as from Ireland. These include accordian player Dermot Byrne and Sean Nos dancer Seosamh Ó Neachtain, as well as the Welsh singer and harpist Sian James. There will also be a very interesting Language and Culture seminar taking place on the morning of Thursday November 23rd that explores language promotion, translation and publicity material. Like the conference this seminar is open to the general public. This conference is organised under the auspices of Celtic Neighbours which is a recent partnership between Ealaín na Gaeltachta in Ireland, Proiseact Nan Ealan in Scotland and Theatr Felinfach in Wales, led by Voluntary Arts Wales and supported by the Carnegie Rural Commission. Further information is available on www.vaw.org.uk or www.ealain.ie or by contacting Angela Mc Laughlin. Tel. 087 6861765 or mac@eircom.net. Fee €25 to include a light lunch on each of the three days. Film Club this Thursday (enfant.jpg) The sixth film of the season, this Thursday, is L’Enfant (Belgium, France 2005). Directed by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne, it stars Jeremie Renier, Deborah Francois, Jeremie Segard, Fabrizio Rongione and Oliver Gourmet. The film explores life on the margins in Liege. Jeremie Renier plays Bruno, a 20 year old, happily living a hand to mouth existence funded by goods stolen by the schoolkids in his gang and by benefits paid out to his 18 year-old girlfriend Sonja (Deborah Francois), who, as the film begins, has just hours before giving birth to their child. Though almost as reckless as Bruno, she’s unprepared for his cavalier attitude towards parenthood: unbeknownst to her, he arranges, in return for easy money, for the baby to be illegally adopted. This film provides an evocative account of life on the streets: their astute, detailed observations served be performances of enormous subtlety and conviction. Winner of the Palme d’Or at the Festival de Cannes 2005. The final film of the season, District 13 (France, 2004), will be screened on November 30. Films are open to members only. Members must rejoin each season. Membership is available to anyone over 18 from the arts centre (€1.50). All films start at 8.15pm and are screened at Century Cinemas, Port Road, Letterkenny. Admission is €8.00. Druid are in Town! (druidcast.jpg) You’d have to have your head under a rock to not notice that Druid Theatre Company are in town, and with over a thousand tickets booked before last weekend you would be in a minority! Mind that still leaves another thousand so no excuses when i meet you in the street... its got a great cast with the obvious highlights being Garrett Lombard, Mick Lally and Eleanor Methven. It’s a John B Keane play, sure what more do you need? Book on 074 91 20777 and make me happy and my working life a little easier. Short bits I see Dervish are to represent Ireland at the Eurovision, send Daniel I say. Edel McBride has added a new gallery space to her shop and studio in Convoy. Amnesty International are having a concert and information evening in Cafe Blend in Letterkenny on Friday at 7.30 pm. including performances by Mickey Harte, James Devlin and Terry Monaghan. Aoife Ni Fhearraigh has a new album out called I Told You So, check out www.aoife.ie The Frankie Kennedy Winter School This year's Frankie Kennedy Winter School will take place from Wednesday, 27th December 2006 until Tuesday 2nd January 2007. All the events, I’m told, will take place in Gaoth Dobhair mainly in Dunlewey (is this really in Gaoth Dobhair?) and Ostan Ghaoth Dobhair. Classes will be provided in flute, fiddle, uilleann pipes, tin whistle, bodhran, button accordion, sean nos singing, house dancing and accompaniment (guitar/bouzouki). Classes are not suitable for beginners and students are positively encouraged to bring recording devices to the class. The fee is euro 85. You can book for the classes or book tickets for any of the concerts by contacting the Frankie Kennedy Winter School at: Phone: +353 87 930 9656 or email: beanana@eircom.net or by post to: The Frankie Kennedy Winter School, An Chrannog, Derrybeg, Letterkenny, Co Donegal enclosing payment in full by draft, cheque, postal order or credit card. Early booking is advisable as class sizes will be restricted and all bookings will be on a first come first served basis. There’s a brilliant bit in this about the weather: please remember that this is a Winter school so be prepared for the weather, good or bad. Sure when do you remember good weather in late December! Not sure global warming has made that much of a difference yet! Anyway its a cracking winter school and a great idea. Sign up. Contact: this week I’ve been listening to loads of different stuff, sure isnt that the best way. But check out the knightowl at his myspace, www.myspace.com/knightowl and listen to here comes... 50s doo wop meets rap, luvverly! check us out on the web at andparts.blogspot.com and if you find yourself in the Orchard any Friday or Saturday night do say hello.