29 April 2011
Athy May Day Festival extended to two days – Athy Community Arts Centre
FOLLOWING the success of last year’s event, the organisers of Athy’s May Day Festival have decided to extend the festival into a two-day event, beginning on Saturday 30th April of the May holiday weekend and continuing into Sunday 1st May.
The round-table discussion on Sunday on the radical Left republican tradition in Irish history includes panellists Brian Hanley (co-author of The Lost Revolution: A History of the Workers’ Party and the Official IRA) and Eoin Ó Broin of Sinn Féin and An Phoblacht.
This year’s event combines music, a photographic exhibition and a History Ireland Hedge School, exploring the radical leftist/republican tradition in Irish history.
On the 200th anniversary of the foundation of the Inland Barrow Navigation scheme, we also look at the life of the original Irish navvy, with particular focus on the impact of the opening-up of the Grand Canal on Athy and its surroundings.
Music will be provided on Saturday night by Jimmy Kelly (Luke’s much-acclaimed younger brother) and Tom Crean.
All are welcome to the picturesque town of Athy where you will be sure to meet a most eclectic bunch, enjoy the activities and celebrate the dawn of the summer.
SATURDAY 30th APRIL 12 noon to 4pm:
Photographic Exhibition commemorating the workers who built the canals and the boatmen who transported the goods throughout the canal network.
2pm to 2:15pm: Official Opening of the Festival by the Mayor of Athy
2:15pm to 4pm: A series of talks examining the socio-economic and cultural impact that the opening of the canals had on provincial life. The typical life of the early navvies and boatmen will be brought to life, and the struggle for improvement in conditions leading to early trade union formation will also be explored.
8pm: A concert of ‘Labour and Workers’ Songs’, featuring two of Dublin’s well-known balladeers, Tom Crean and Jimmy Kelly. The concert will be preceded by a wine reception at 7:30pm.
SUNDAY 1st MAY 3pm: History Ireland’s Hedge School: ‘Whatever Happened to the Citizen Army?’ We have the pleasure of hosting History Ireland’s successful Hedge School series. The round-table discussion will trace the history of the radical Left republican tradition in Irish history. The panel will consist of: Brian Hanley, St Pat's, Drumcondra (co-author of The Lost Revolution: A History of the Workers’ Party and the Official IRA), Eoin Ó Broin, Sinn Féin; Fergus Whelan, ICTU (author of Dissent into Treason); Jack O'Connor, President of SIPTU. The panel will be chaired by Tommy Graham of History Ireland.
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