A busy schedule of events was listed throughout the autumn and winter of 2011. Many innovations were piloted and others developed further. September’s ‘30 Lectures in 30 Days’ started with a flourish of 8 nightly talks. But, due to the proprietor’s absence in the Dominican Republic for 10 crucial days, it slowed down and the 30 lectures were eventually finished by late November. This was partly as a result of the series ‘Sunday Night at the Lectures’ with Ann Mulrooney – The Function of Ornament; Francis Tansey – On Colour; Don Mescall – Songwriter by Design; Tomm Moore – Imaging Imagination; Michael Jackson – From Commercial to Artistic Potter. When October evolved into Classical Month lectures on Catherine Hayes (soprano 1830s) & George Osborne (Composer, 1830s) – The Irish Friends of Chopin, were followed by a series on Franz Liszt – Asleep on High Street, Kilkenny (1840), Early and Later Compositions, Franz Liszt in Ireland (story line for movie), The Parry Diary and The ‘Flying Trapeze’ Parisian Piano Circle. A lecture with video footage on Ireland’s current classical composer, Patrick Cassidy was followed by the first exploration of the music of Charles Aznavour – Edging on Classical: Chansons de Piaf et Aznavour.
A number of unique events were initiated. John McKenna performed his one man play, Redemption Song and Firebird Theatre was inaugurated with a show ‘44th Off Broadway’ featuring Willie Ryan doing Edgar Allen Poe’s ‘The Raven’ whilst Leftenant Larry Scallan lectured on the Inception of the Great War. 11 11 11 was Armistice Day 2011 and this was marked with a commemoration at 11 minutes, 11 seconds past 11 am. It was attended by members of the military community attached to James Stephens Barracks and also a number of citizens whose relatives had been lost in battle. The HW was decked out with many WW1 recruitment posters, medals and other military memorabilia relating to the war. Larry Scallan donated an American 1914 – 1918 uniform to the HW collection as well as a genuine army surplus American soldier’s steel helmet worn by Tom Hanks during the filming of Saving Private Ryan on the Wexford beaches
The HW hosted the Towards Prevention 4 conference on atheroma with a Dublin based panel of speakers comprising Prof Gerald Tompkins, Dr Ross Murphy, Dr Alan Healy and Dr David Pritchard. The evening banquet featured the Faulty Towers Dining Experience.
November was Meso Politico (Political Month) and many political discussions were triggered by the presidential election and its outcome around that time. Days of America commenced on November 14th with lectures on Tammany Hall & the Irish in America; The Irish Channel, New Orleans by Michael Conway. A key event was November 22nd – The Zapruder Movie: The Assassination of JFK – a video essay. This featured original video footage of the route of the JFK cavalcade shot in 2007. It questioned the opinion that the Dallas Book Depository Store (DBDS) was the vantage point from which the shooting took place – the angle is wrong when the DBDS is filmed from a moving vehicle. The Zapruder 16mm movie confirmed that suspicion since the lethal shot clearly comes from the front. Oliver Stone’s JFK was watched also. For some American guests the evening presentations seemed to raise key concerns – but, they said they’d be back next year. Michael Conway proposed to the theatre fraternity of HW that they should consider presenting a play called Shooter – based on the individual who fired shots from the grassy knoll. November 2012, perhaps?
Future Proof ran their fortnightly movie series and raised awareness of the potential environmental hazards of processes such as fracking.
Throughout the autumn and winter, music held pride of place in the HW program. That had commenced in the spring of 2011 with the first of the Acoustic Divas concerts. Juliet Turner did two sold out gigs in one night. Other female acoustic performers were Maria Doyle-Kennedy, Deedrich, Karrie, Eleanor McEvoy, Dewberry & Rooney and Little Black Wren. Singers such as Mary Coghlan (who performed on two occasions) and the Australian, London based soprano Rachel Somers were part of a musical tapestry that featured something totally unique and extraordinary, Kilkenny’s 21 year old Ciara McCollam, in the inaugural HW show ‘Being Edith Piaf’. After her discovery at a sing-song in May where she sang La Vie en Rose, she did three shows at HW (2 during the 2011 Arts Festival) which were sell outs. The stunning feature was how she so emotionally sang the songs without any voice training ever whilst learning 9 Edith Piaf songs in French in 10 days (learning 2 additional songs on the days of the concerts). With Clare McHugh expertly fashioning the piano accompaniment (with a Parisian accordion sound etc), the experience for all concerned made the hair stand on the back of the head. An American visitor who happened upon one of her rehearsals was heard to say ‘She’s sensational. She’s the new Josephine Baker’. In December she played Eamonn Langton’s Set Theatre to an audience of 200 where 92 year Pat Shortis (accompanied by 83 year old Jim Cody) was introduced by Michael Conway as the exceptional opening act – the oldest active performer in Ireland opening for the youngest new performer in Kilkenny.
HW featured many male performers throughout the year. The highlight was, without doubt, Liam O‘Maonlai. This Irish musician has something special that separates him from the others. It is difficult to identify. But, when in a room he is a presence. He found an energy at the HW that Ronan O’Snodaigh also experienced during his subsequent performance. The latter drew the audience in through not only his bodhran sounds and singing, but also through his poetry. O’Maonlai did the same, but in an even more mystical way through his Sean Nos and piano playing. The HW was the perfect setting for his South West of Ireland, bare footed command – his genetic roots in harmony with the raw exposed stone of the 16th century walls. John Spillane played twice and Don Mescall recorded and performed three concerts in one weekend – the Sunday afternoon gig including students from the local Gael Scoil who had been chosen for an intra gig competition. Preston Reed’s guitar playing was mind-lowing whilst the gigs by JP Ryan, The Man Whom, Jamie Lawson and others are to be repeated. Steve Reilly, Anthony Barrett and Aishling de Cleir were discovered whilst Jarlath Regan brought the house down and Don Conroy showed how to draw owls etc. And there were two in house bands – Nova Scotia (Cajun) and the Poor White Reggae Steel Band.
2012
And so 2012 beckons. 7 weeks of focus on Gaeilge in March – Seacht Seachtain na Gaeilge with Sean Nose singers from Connemara etc. Rusty McCarthy on March 29th, Don Mescall March 30th, 31st and April 1st. Freddie White is on April 5th and Juliet Turner April 13th. See the listings.