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Street Spectacle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Theatre/Comedy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Classical Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Jazz/World/Traditional Music . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Business Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Booking Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Kilkenny People Friends . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Meet the Artists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Visual Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Young People’s Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Workshops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

Day-by-Day - Young People’s Programme . . 60

Day-by-Day - Main Programme . . . . . . . . . .62

Sponsors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64

Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65

CONTENTS

Board of DirectorsFergus Cronin (chair), Susan Proud, Vincent O’Shea, John Purcell, Donna McGreevy, John Ryan, Maureen Kennelly, Anna O’Sullivan, Conor Langton

Festival TeamCEO Geraldine TierneyProgramme Manager Maeve ButlerAdministrator Colette PowerProduction Manager Michael BurkePR Kate Bowe PRArtist Liaison & Publicity Co-ordinator Jane Russell Friends Liaison & Volunteer Co-ordinator Niamh DuffeMerchandising Manager Anna McLaughlinBox Office Team Tracy Power (Manager) Lilian Burke, Jennifer Foley, Lora Foley, Maura Brennan, David Holland, Brian Butler Graphic Design A&DWeb Design Karen Hanratty, Pixel DesignIT Support TextrixWeb Maintenance Spot On Box Office & Venue Design Tom Watts, Imagine Wallpaper

ProgrammersTheatre Rose ParkinsonJazz, New World & Trad Music Gerry GodleyClassical Music Susan Proud & Guest Programmer Carol McGonnellVisual Art Mike FitzpatrickLiterature Eoin McNameeYoung People’s Events Emer McGowan

Festival Image Saturio Alonso

Thanks to our team of energetic volunteers, wecould not do it without you. Thanks to all oursponsors and friends - your vision allows this tohappen. To our programmers and artists - yourcreativity drives the Festival. To all we called onwho said yes, we salute you.

Special thanks to Íde Deloughry, Caroline McGee,Colm Hogan, Jolly Ronan, Tony Walsh, BrianTyrrell, Gerry Byrne, Kathleen Moran, MichaelMcSuibhne, Donal O’Brien, Ann Meaney, GerCody, Mary Butler, Peggy Murray, Fintan BlakeKelly, Teenagh Cunningham, Niamh Finn, PhilipsDomestic Appliances, Dalton TV, Donal Gibbons,Sally Ebert, Laken Akinyemi, Jackie O’Brien, DenisO’Reilly, Majella Byrne, Pius Phelan, StephanieHogan, Cathy Hogan, George Vaughan, SergeantPat Murphy, Alison McGrath, Vincent Dempsey,Blaise Smith, Philip Edmondson, Kilkenny Schoolof Music, Debra Bowden, Maria Comerford,Kilkenny College, John Goode, Royal IrishAcademy of Music, Paul Myles, the Paint Pot.

WELCOME TO THE 33RD KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL,

10 DAYS OF ENTHRALLING ARTISTIC ACTIVITY FOR

ALL! FURTHER INFORMATION ON ALL EVENTS IS

AVAILABLE AT THE FESTIVAL BOX OFFICE LOCATED

IN THE FORMER BANK OF IRELAND BUILDING ON

THE PARADE… JOIN US THERE FROM JULY 5TH.

Kilkenny Arts Festival Box OfficeTel +353 (0)56 775 2175 www.kilkennyarts.ie Email info@kilkennyarts.ie

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HERE IT COMES: ATORRENT OF COLOURAND SOUND, SINGINGAND DANCING,HIGH-JINX AND A LOT A LAUGHS!

The Big River is about to flood thestreets of Kilkenny so bring yourtogs and head down town for a dip –a hidden world awaits you. Delightat the flying rainbow fish andsparkling shoals of minnows; marvelat the acrobatic water boat men andthe dazzling Coral Palace – just don’tlet the Giant Pike catch you! Dangleyour toes in the water or jump rightin and let the whirling river take youaway. Go on – get yourself wet!

Kilkenny Arts Festival, Macnas and KCAT areproud to present this fantastic spectacle onthe streets of Kilkenny and Callan.

Kilkenny Parade Route: Granges Road, The Butts, Dean St, Irishtown,Parliament St, High St, The Parade, endingat Kilkenny Castle.

(Ireland)

Parade The Big River!

Saturday 12 August Streets of Kilkenny 4pmSunday 13 August Streets of Callan 1.30pm

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Thursday 17 AugustStreets of KilkennyWednesday 16 August

Market Cross Shopping Centre & Streets of Kilkenny11am: Just Passing Thru. 1pm & 3pm: Horn Heads

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Horn Heads & Just PassingThruMarching to the beat of a different drum, combiningelements of silent film and European clown, TeatroPachuco transforms ordinary streets into a surrealdreamscape full of imagery, absurdity and strange music.Meet the Horn Heads, tall lovable giants with brassinstrument heads, as they wander the streets performingshort dream sketches; a marching band gently out of step with reality, turning heads wherever they go.

Just Passing Thru sees a man standing alone in the street with a suitcase. Unexpectedly joined by a child, the two begin to create magic as they open a suitcasefull of surprises.

3 MONKEY PRODUCTIONS (UK)

The IncredibleBull CircusAn internationallyrenowned street theatrecomedy classic

Two marvellous matadors, “The Brothers Juan”,sons of a famous bull-fighting father and adaredevil trapeze artist mother, present to youunparalleled deeds of daring performed by anawesome herd of highly trained bulls! A rip-roaring riotous rollercoaster ride of comedy chaos and classic clowning.

“A SMALL MASTERPIECE” TOTAL THEATRE MAGAZINE

MARKET CROSSSHOPPING CENTRE

And then there’s the eagerBathers, who will be aiming totake a Sunday plunge into theRiver Nore. Rain, hail or shine theweather will not deter this pairfrom their daily ritual.

The festival is always a fun day forall the family. The retro RockerCouple recently had twins andhave decided to take them outand about, but watch out, theseare no ordinary babies…

Internationally acclaimed Buí Bolg street theatrecompany from Wexford returns to the streets ofKilkenny this year with a new array of larger thanlife characters.

Look out for the Kilkenny Hurlers, who are as big as we think they are and are all set to marchstraight over their arch rivals.

If you are planning to take in some of the visualart exhibitions, our highly experienced Maid andWaiter will be on hand to offer you a little tipple.

Buí Bolg(Ireland)

Saturday 19 & Sunday 20 AugustMarket Cross Shopping Centre & Streets of Kilkenny

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Fri 11 - Sun 20 August (ex. Tues) Watergate Theatre 8pm (7pm Wed, Thurs) Adm €18/€16Preview Thurs 10 August 8pm Admission €15 Total running time 60 minutes

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KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL PRESENTSTHE IRISH STAGE PREMIERE OF

BY ROBERT PINGET (English text by SAMUEL BECKETT)

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The Old Tune

Night

KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL PRESENTSTHE IRISH STAGE PREMIERE OF

DIRECTED BY PAT KIERNANDESIGNED BY PAUL KEOGANBY ROBERT PINGET

Two old friends meet again by chance and, united in their condemnation of thegeneral progress of science and civilisation, reminisce about the good old days.Their respective memories of people and incidents wildly diverging, The OldTune’s Mr Cream and Mr Gorman are in the tradition of Vladimir and Estragon,Cook and Moore, Smith and Jones…

One of the most outstanding French writers of his generation, Robert Pinget’swork is suffused with a rich vein of comedy. In Samuel Beckett’s adaptation,The Old Tune is relocated from France to rural Ireland. The Old Tune ispresented here in a double bill with Night.

Award winning theatrepractitioner Pat Kiernan isfounding Artistic Director ofCorcadorca Theatre Company andhas won wide acclaim for hiswork, most notably hisgroundbreaking production ofDisco Pigs by Enda Walsh andthe exceptional production in2005 of The Merchant of Venice,described as “a triumph” (TheIrish Times), “outstanding” (IrishIndependent) and “brilliantlyconvincing” (The Guardian).

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FRANKIE McCAFFERTY is one of Ireland’s leading actors. His many film, TV and stageappearances include Omagh, Middletown, Ballykissangel, Conversations on a Homecoming,Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching towards the Somme (The Irish Times Irish Theatre BestSupporting Actor Award), Family Plot, Endgame and Sharon’s Grave. He most recentlyappeared in TRAD (Galway Arts Festival) which won an Edinburgh Fringe First Award andenjoyed an extended run at the Bush Theatre, London and the Adelaide Fringe Festival. As adirector, Frankie has made several short films including Brood, Flush, Filleann an Feall (WhatGoes Around…) and The Devil.

This is his first play.

Fiat Lux is among the most acclaimed of French physical theatre companies.Masters of wordless performance, each new show is considered an event inthe world of European physical theatre.

Making their Kilkenny debut with the acclaimed new production Strike, thisextraordinary French ensemble promises outstanding visual theatre which is atonce funny, poignant and thought-provoking.

At a train station in Calais two refugees, a Scotsman, a businessman and twoelderly English ladies wait for their train… but an unforeseen strike transformsthis peaceful station scene…

Through wordless mischief-making, we witness the dramatic and comedicrepercussions when, for one night, the Europeans experience life as refugees,abandoned on a station platform.

LA COMPAGNIE FIAT LUX (France)

Strike“EFFORTLESSLY,BRUTALLY FUNNY...EVERY DETAILOBSERVED TOPERFECTION”L’EXPRESS

“BRILLIANT!”L’ECLAIREUR

Tues 15 - Thurs 17 August Watergate Theatre 9.30pmAdmission €15/€13 Duration 60 minutes

Alone in an anonymous European hotel room, aphotographer goes through a psychological crisis.In diplomatic limbo after a breakdown at anairport security desk, he attempts to find a wayto explain himself to his interrogators. But firsthe has to convince himself.

Tintype is a highly visual theatrical journeydealing with identity, memory, survivor’s guiltand alienation in the digital age.

ONCE OFF PRODUCTIONS (Ireland)

TintypeWRITTEN AND PERFORMED BY FRANKIE McCAFFERTY

DESIGNED BY PAUL KEOGANMUSIC BY JOE WALLPRODUCED BY MAURA O’KEEFFE

Sat 12 - Tues 15 August 9pm Extra show Sun 13 August 6pmThe Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle Admission €15/€13

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Thurs 17 - Sat 19 August Club 51 at The Kilford Arms Hotel 9pm Admission €18/€16

How better to open this year’s festival thanwith the longed-for return to Kilkenny of theoutstanding Ex Cathedra, one of today’sleading international choirs. On a summer’sevening, St Canice’s Cathedral will resonate tothe distinctive sounds of St Mark’s Venice,with polychoral works including CinqueLaudate psalms by Rovetta and Cavalli, andmusic by Grandi, Gabrieli and Monteverdi.What a glorious way to begin the festival!

Friday 11 August St Canice’s Cathedral 8pm Admission €25/€23 (€40 for both concerts)

Ex Cathedra (UK)

Venetian VespersEX CATHEDRA CHOIR & CONTINUOCONDUCTOR JEFFREY SKIDMORE

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ALIVE, KICKING AND VERY, VERY FUNNY.

Post-post-modern comedy at its very best. In the finest tradition of Not the 9O’Clock News and The Two Ronnies, The Ornate Johnsons present new comedywith the old fashioned notion of having actual jokes. Writing mostly behind thescenes for TV and radio and collaborating with such luminaries as Jerry Sadowitz,Matt Lucas, Jo Caulfield and Steve Furst, they are hugely popular within theindustry. This is a rare opportunity for Irish audiences to catch them live.

FEATURING BRIAN MITCHELL, DAVE MOUNFIELD, GLEN RICHARDSON, CLEA SMITHAND LAURENCE RELTON.

The Ornate Johnsons (UK)“HUGELY TALENTEDSLICK, SKETCH ACT...VERY, VERY FUNNY”THE TIMES

“A BREATH OF FRESHAIR. BRILLIANTLYOFFBEAT COMEDY”THE EVENING STANDARD

“THE BEST SKETCHESSINCE PYTHON”JERRY SADOWITZ

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Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana is one of the most popular choralworks of the 20th century. The famous opening chorus OFortuna is one of the most dramatic and powerful passages ofmusic ever written, used frequently in TV advertisements andfilm music. It’s a suitably theatrical beginning to Orff’s dizzyingcelebration of sensual pleasure – love, food and drink.

John Joubert is one of the greatest choral composers of thelast 50 years. South of the Line is his setting of five poems by Thomas Hardy, written in response to the outbreak of theAnglo-Boer conflict, and a powerful indictment of war.

JOIN US FOR WHAT PROMISES TO BE A TRULY UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE!

BackBeat PercussionQuartet (UK)

Internationally acclaimed BackBeat PercussionQuartet present a fun-packed and fast movingfamily concert, featuring a wide variety ofpercussion instruments from around the world.Renowned for their imaginative programmeswhich cross boundaries and unite art andentertainment in an accessible and enjoyableway, BackBeat have an extensive repertoire, butparticularly enjoy presenting music that isstrongly theatrical and visual.

With plenty of audience participation throughout,be prepared to be amazed at the sights andsounds on offer and you may even find yourselfon stage with the quartet!

Ex Cathedra (UK)

Carmina Burana CARL ORFF

South of the Line JOHN JOUBERT

EX CATHEDRA CHOIR

NATALIE CLIFTON-GRIFFITH - sopranoGRACE DAVIDSON - sopranoJULIA DOYLE - soprano JEREMY BUDD - tenor EAMONN DOUGAN - bassGILES UNDERWOOD - bass BACKBEAT - percussion quartetROSS WILLIAMS - piano ROBERT BRIDGE - piano

CONDUCTOR JEFFREY SKIDMORE

Saturday 12 August St Canice’s Cathedral 8pm Admission €25/€23 (€40 for both concerts)

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“AMAZING AND JOYOUS” THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Sunday 13 August Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel 12 noon Admission €10/€8Family Music Package €30 (See booking info p. 32)

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One of Ireland’s top pianists, Finghin Collinshas performed with many of the leadinginternational orchestras including, most recently,the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, the ChicagoSymphony, the Houston Symphony and theRotterdam Philharmonic.

Closer to home, Finghin is kept equally busy,playing with all the Irish orchestras includingthe RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and theUlster Orchestra, and recording regularly forboth RTÉ and BBC Radio and Television. He hasalso collaborated with ensembles such asLondon Winds and the Aviv, Shanghai, Skampa,St Petersburg, Vanbrugh, Vertavo and VoglerString Quartets.

A favourite with Kilkenny audiences, Finghin’ssolo programme at St Canice’s Cathedralfeatures Schumann’s Kinderszenen Op. 15 andLiszt’s Sonata in B minor.

Finghin’s latest recording The Complete WorksFor Piano Volume 1 (Schumann) was releasedby Claves Records in May 2006.

“COLLINS SHOWS AGAIN THAT HE IS ONE OF THE MOST PROMISINGPIANO DISCOVERIES OF OUR TIME” WESTFAELENPOST, GERMANY

Finghin Collins, Catherine Leonard and Carol McGonnell – three topclass, young Irish musicians – have toured extensively together in thepast two years, most recently to the Plovdiv Festival in Bulgaria, andhave yielded reviews such as “utterly engaging... brimmed with thehuman and artistic pleasures of making music” (The Irish Times).

Here they are joined for the first time by exceptional British cellist,Guy Johnston for this exciting programme of two of the classics of thechamber music repertoire.

The Quartet for the End of Time (Ireland & UK)

FINGHIN COLLINS – pianoGUY JOHNSTON – celloCATHERINE LEONARD - violinCAROL MCGONNELL – clarinet

Finghin Collins (Ireland)

Monday 14 August St Canice’s Cathedral 1.10pm Admission €15/€13

“CAROL McGONNELL IS QUITE SIMPLYONE OF THE MOST EXCITING YOUNGCLARINETTISTS TO BE HEARD IN THISCITY” TIME OUT, NEW YORK

“CATHERINE LEONARD… IRELAND’S LEADING VIOLINIST”THE IRISH TIMES

“GUY JOHNSTON… AN EXCEPTIONALLYSENSITIVE MUSICIAN”THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

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ProgrammeBEETHOVEN Gassenhauer Trio for clarinet, cello and pianoMESSIAEN Quartet for the End of Time

Tuesday 15 August St Canice’s Cathedral 8pm Admission €20/€18

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Embassy of the United States of America

Arguably the most exciting chamber music ensemble to emergefrom New York City in recent years, Argento has a burgeoningreputation in the US, selling out venues such as Carnegie Hall andAmerica’s premiere new music venue, The Miller Theatre.

Among the top young virtuosi in the United States, the Argentomembers individually have a wide array of musical interests,including non-Western music, jazz, improvisation and cutting edgecontemporary music. The ensemble is highly regarded in the fieldof new music and recently performed at a celebration concert inNew York for Pierre Boulez and Eliott Carter, two living giants ofclassical music.

Significantly influenced by the music of the French spectralists, agroup of composers dedicated to following in the footsteps ofDebussy and Ravel in search of a new experience of sonic beauty,Argento’s search for rich new sound worlds has led the group tothe far ends of the globe. In Istanbul they had the honour ofcollaborating with legendary master vocalist Kani Karaca.

Argento has also immersed itself in the field of interactiveelectronics and has been a dedicated platform of performance forIRCAM, the world’s leading institute for electronic music, based atthe Pompidou Centre in Paris. Argento is highly focused on thefuture of classical music and is continuously active in thecommissioning of new works. Argento records on the Aeon label.

Kilkenny Arts Festival is thrilled to bring this exhilaratingensemble to Ireland for three unique performances in theatmospheric surroundings of the Parade Tower at Kilkenny Castleand St Canice’s Cathedral.

RTÉ LYRIC FM WILL RECORD BOTH OF THESECONCERTS FOR BROADCAST AT A LATER DATE.

“A FIRST RATE PROPONENT OF NEW MUSIC” DAVID LAMARCHE, THE NEW YORK CONCERT REVIEWArgento ChamberEnsemble (USA)

Programme 3Mahler IV with guest soloist Ailish Tynan

STEVE REICHNew York Counterpoint

GERARD GRISEYPeriode

GUSTAV MAHLERSymphony No 4transcribed by Erwin Stein for chamber ensemble

AILISH TYNAN - soprano CATHERINE LEONARD - violinMARK DULEY - harmonium

Programme 2Sounds ImpressionisticMICHEL GALANTELeaves of Absence

PHILIPPE HURELA Measure

GERARD PESSONCinq Chansons

TRISTAN MURAILEthers

Programme 2 Friday 18 August St Canice’s Cathedral 1.10pm Admission €15/€13Programme 3 Saturday 19 August St Canice’s Cathedral 8pm Admission €20/€18Argento Package €40 for all three concerts

Programme 1 - Beckett in Words and MusicA collection of work inspired by various texts of Samuel Beckett

PHILIP GLASS Prelude to Endgame, for timpani and double bass JOHN CORIGLIANO Irish Folk SongsMICHAEL KLINGBEIL Ce Cours de Sable Qui Glisse – World PremiereEARL KIM Exercises En Route

Programme 1 Wednesday 16 August The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle 6pmAdmission €15/€13

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This a capella vocal trio features Irish soprano, Kathleen Dineen, Americantenor, Robert Getchell and Latvian baritone, Raitis Grigalis. Performing someof the most exquisite three-part chansons from 15th century France, Spainand England, along with luxurious arrangements of traditional Irish songs, itis no wonder that White Raven have received great critical acclaim and aremuch sought after at music festivals throughout Europe.

A unique opportunity to experience the warmth and clarity of White Raven’srenowned performance in the atmospheric Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle.

“IT DOESN’T SEEM TO MATTERWHAT MATERIAL WHITE RAVENREACHED OUT TO, EVERYTHINGTHEY TOUCHED SEEMED TOTURN TO PUREST GOLD”THE IRISH TIMES

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European BaroqueOrchestra (EU)The perfect expression of harmony through diversity, the European Baroque Orchestrarepresents the cream of Europe’s emerging specialist musicians. Selected from the top 100 youngbaroque musicians from across Europe, the youthful, unconstrained and vibrant musicianship ofthe EUBO members has dazzled audiences from the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam to the war-torn cities of Bosnia, Montenegro and the Balkans. Under the direction of Lars Ulrik Mortensen,the style, gesture and ornamentation of this baroque orchestra’s playing results in a warm, lightand sweet sound, which promises a very special experience for Kilkenny audiences.

ProgrammeTELEMANN Suite in E flatMUFFAT Sonata II in G minor from Armonico TributoHANDEL Passacaglia and Gigue in A from RadamistoVIVALDI Concerto for two oboes and strings in D minor,

soloists Sophie Rebreyand and Sarah HumphrysRAMEAU Suite from Acante & Cephise

Friday 18 August St Canice’s Cathedral 8pm Admission €20/€18

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Saturday 19 August The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle 6pm

Admission €15/€13

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FEMI KUTI - lead vocals, alto sax OLUROTIMI HENDEYIN - trumpetOLU LALEYE - trumpetFRANCIS ONAH - tenor saxOLU ALBERT - baritone saxophoneTIWALADE OGUNLOWO - tromboneOPEYEMI AWOMOLO - guitarSOLOMON IDOWU - keyboardsRICHARD UDOFOT - bassADEKUNLE OLAYEDE - percussionADEBOWALE OBI - drumsBOSEDE AJILA - vocals, dancerYEMI ORIYIMEI - vocals, dancer

Tonight, Kilkenny moves to the most potentmusical force to emerge from Africa in themodern era. Afrobeat, and its powerful brew oftribal polyrhythms, agitfunk and liberation song,may be forever associated with the late greatFela Kuti, but now the mantle is passed to hiseldest son, Femi Kuti.

Like his revolutionary father, the man theycalled The Black President, Femi speaks for ageneration, addressing the social and politicalconcerns of today’s Africa. His medium is ThePositive Force, a 14-piece brotherhood of funkrhythm section, African percussionists, snappyhorns, riffing vocalists and lithe dancers.

Just as Fela had before him, Femi controls thethrottle of this high performance engine,saxophone in one hand, mic in the other,evoking the spirit of distant nights in TheShrine, the legendary Lagos nightclub whereafrobeat was born in the 70s. The familybusiness continues.

Altan, Danu, Lunasa, Dervish, Liam O’Flynn & The Piper’s Call,Hayes & Cahill… Since the turn of the millennium, we’vebrought you an aristocratic roll call of traditional music.Waiting in the wings, a new generation of Irish groups,evidence of the powerful momentum at work in our musictoday, and its to them we now direct our focus.

Between them, Téada and Beoga give ample evidence thatIrish music’s future is in capable hands, and they’re onsimilar trajectories. Both have honed their skills on thedemanding club circuits in North America and Europe overthe last five years, and both have garnered awards andcritical acclaim for their recorded output.

Stylistically, they couldn’t be more different, another sign ofrude musical health. From Antrim, Beoga have a mischievousside, freely incorporating elements of tango and New Orleansinto their ebullient sound, while Teada opt for the straighterroad, played with a maturity and restraint that belies theirtender years. In both cases, you’ll be glad you came.

Sat 12 August Kilkenny Rivercourt Hotel Doors 9pm

Admission €18/€16

Turning on Tradition Téada & Beoga (Ireland)“TÉADA ARE KEEPING THE TRADITIONAL FLAGFLYING AT FULL MAST.” THE IRISH TIMES

OISIN Mac DIARMADA - fiddlePAUL FINN - button accordionDAMIEN STENSON - flute, whistleSEÁN McELWAIN - bouzouki, guitarTRISTAN ROSENSTOCK - bodhrán

“BEOGA’S MUSIC HAS THE AUTHORITY OF MASTER CRAFTSMEN, UNAFRAID TO TAKE CHANCESAND WALK ON TRADITIONAL MUSIC’S WILD SIDE.”IRISH MUSIC MAGAZINE

LIAM BRADLEY - pianoDAMIEN McKEE - button accordion NIAMH DUNNE - vocals, fiddleEAMONN MURRAY - bodhranSEAN ÓG GRAHAM - button accordion, guitar

Femi Kuti &The PositiveForce (Nigeria)

Friday 11 August Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel 10.30pm Admission €22/€20Please note this is a standing only performance

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SLOW AND MELANCHOLY, HIS VOICE HAD AN UNSATISFIEDLONGING AS IT CHISELLED INTRICATE SHAPES ON SPECIFIC NOTESWITH A BURNING INTENSITY. IARLA Ó LIONÁIRD IS A SINGER OFSINGULAR POWER.” SONGLINES

Since his emergence as a recording artist for PeterGabriel’s Realworld label a decade ago, Iarla ÓLionáird has travelled the world, filling its mostprestigious halls with his expansive voice and thesongs of his native Cúil Aodha. These days, Kilkenny iswhere he returns to from the road, and his currentrelease Invisible Fields was recorded in his recentlycompleted studio in Thomastown.

Sean nós may mean in the old style, but when Iarlasings, it’s a vibrant living tradition, drawing strengthfrom the past while confidently embracing the future.The Guardian calls him “one of the most dramaticvoices in contemporary music”, and it’s presented herewithout accompaniment, all the better to appreciateits subtle colours and quiet strength.

Further contrast is in store with the music of SliabhLuachra from special guests fiddler Caoimhín ÓRaghallaigh and piper Mick O’Brien, drawn from theiracclaimed 2003 recording Kitty Lie Over.

There’s a modest dance revolution going on in the Five Corners district ofHelsinki, where jazz is returning to the dance floor. It’s not happening viasequencers, loops or remixes, but a return to the hardbop, latin and souljazz ofseminal Blue Note artists like Art Blakey and Joe Henderson, and their signaturesound of tight ensemble work, dynamic soloists and driving rhythm sections.

Leading from the front is trumpet wunderkind Jukka Eskola, but this is no jadedtribute to past heroes. Five Corners Quintet are renewing the jazzman’s contractwith swing for the 21st century, and it’s a formula that’s been wowing festivalaudiences over the last year from Europe to Japan. They’ve an infectious zeal forgetting you on the dance floor, with tunes like Trading Eights, described by TheTimes as “a soaring groover with great rhythms that hooks the tune up nicelyfor dancers. Real jazz played by a hip quintet.” See you on the floor.

“STYLISH, DYNAMIC, DANCEABLE ACOUSTIC JAZZ.” THE OBSERVER

Five Corners Quintet (Finland)With special guest DJ Billy Scurry (Ireland)

JUKKA ESKOLA - trumpetTIMO LASSY - tenor sax MIKAEL JAKOBSSEN - pianoANTTI LÖTJÖNEN - bassTEPPO MÄKYNEN - drums

Sunday 13 August The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle 1pm Admission €15/€13

Iarla ÓLionáird (Ireland)With special guestsCaoimhín Ó Raghallaigh & Mick O’Brien

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Sunday 13 August Newpark Hotel Doors 8pm Admission €20/€18

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Once a staple of céilí bands throughout the country, of late thepiano has had an enigmatic relationship with traditional music.That could all change with the trail blazing Caoimhín Vallely.

The family name might be synonymous with great Armaghmusic, but Caoimhín, youngest of the three Vallely brothers, hasbeen a restless spirit, happy to explore new musical paths. Oneled to Limerick, for studies with Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, and anopportunity to distil other elements from jazz and baroque musicinto an innovative approach, further honed on the road withgroups like North Cregg, Buille and Solas.

The sum of these parts can be heard to greatly satisfying effecton Strayaway, an album that breaks new ground for the piano intraditional music, full of deft touches, from jazz voicings andsubtle contrapunctualism to chamber music dynamics.

“NOT SO MUCH BREAKING WITH TRADITION AS UNPICKING ITS ESSENCE…A STARTLINGLY PROPULSIVE SOLO PIANO DEBUT”. THE IRISH TIMES

Caoimhín Vallely (Ireland)with special guestsNiall Vallely - concertinaBrian Morrissey - guitar

Throughout today’s Europe, music is in motion, andthe sounds emanating from Paris, Barcelona andLondon are a powerful motif for the continent’sgrowing cultural diversity. Add to that list Cologne,home to percussionist Ramesh Shotham, and hisrhythm tour de force Madras Special.

He’s a native of the bustling city of Chennai (formerlyMadras), and a lifelong disciple of carnatic music, theclassical tradition of South India, revered for itsrhythmic sophistication and its unique family ofpercussion instruments such as mridangam, tavil,ghatam, dholak and kanjira.

Based in Europe since the 80’s, he has been acharismatic ambassador for his tradition, performingwith diverse artists like Lebanese oud virtuoso RabihAbou Khalil and jazz provocateur Steve Coleman, aswell as previous visits to Ireland for memorableperformances with the jazz/traditional group Khanda.

With Madras Special, he creates a living mandalla ofsound and rhythm, drawing on the vivid personalitiesof vocalist Sandhya Sanjana, herself steeped inIndian folklore, Budapest’s Zoltan Lantos, a virtuosoof Hungary’s classical and gypsy violin tradition, andleading German bassist Christian Zürner.

Madras Special (India/Europe)

RAMESH SHOTHAM - carnatic percussion, voiceSANDHYA SANJANA - voice ZOLTAN LANTOS - violin, taranginiCHRISTIAN ZURNER - bass

“MADRAS SPECIAL IS A WONDERFUL AUDIO TRIP FROM COLOGNE TO MADRAS. IT COMBINESFUNK AND RAGA, TAKES AN EXCURSION INTO JAZZ, ON INTO THE DEEP SOUTH INDIANTEMPLE MUSIC.” JAZZ PODIUM

Tuesday 15 August St Canice’s Cathedral 1.10pm Admission €15/€13

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Monday 14 August Cleere’s, Parliament St 9pm Admission €18/€16

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Is there a more enigmatic musician of the Irish diaspora than guitarist Christy Doran? Since forming the Swiss band Om in the 70’s, Doran has been insinuating himself into the very fabric of Europeancontemporary jazz from his lakeside base in Lucerne, recording for ECM, leading his power quartet New Bag, and collaborating with towering figures like John Surman and the late Edward Vesala.

Irish performances are rare, but we’ve lured him back for this joint commission between Kilkenny ArtsFestival and Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, for a night of all new music co-written with leading Irishbassist Ronan Guilfoyle. Its inspiration will be Samuel Beckett, though not in any literal sense,focusing instead on the writer’s unique cadence, contour and metre as a source for jazz improvisationalmaterials. It’s also an inter-generational encounter, with potent new voices from Switzerland andIreland in vocalist Isa Witt and drummer Sean Carpio completing this adventurous quartet.

“DORAN IS A SUPERB GUITARIST OF CONSIDERABLE IMAGINATIVE RANGE, WITH GIFTEDTHEMES THAT OPEN ON TO VAST LANDSCAPES OF SOUND.” PENGUIN GUIDE TO JAZZ

CHRISTY DORAN - guitarISA WITT - voice RONAN GUILFOYLE - bassSEAN CARPIO - drums

Beginning To End (Ireland & Switzerland)

Tuesday 15 August Cleere’s, Parliament St 9pm €18/€16

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Twice a nominee for The Mercury Prize, recipient of an unprecedented seven BBC Folk Awards, andyet to usher in her third decade, feisty Eliza Carthy is boldly leading the current rejuvenation ofEnglish folk music.

Like many the traditional musician before her, Eliza’s education started early, and in the home.Weaned on music, her clarion voice, with its alluring combination of warmth and defiance, bearsthe hallmark of her mother Norma Waterson, while the confident swagger of her fiddle playingevokes the artistry of her illustrious guitarist father Martin Carthy.

Her own career took off in earnest when championed by the late John Peel and over fiveacclaimed albums, she’s challenged all the lazy preconceptions about English song tradition,winning legions of new admirers for her vivacious live shows, with a band that features celebratedplayers Spiers and Boden.

Charismatic and intelligent, she’s redefining the notion of folk music on her own terms, bringingfresh vitality to old songs that speak universally of the passions and travails of the common man.

ELIZA CARTHY - fiddle, voice BEN IVITSKY - guitar, viola, voiceJON BODEN - concertina, fiddle, voiceJOHN SPIERS - melodeon, voiceGIDEON JUCKES - tuba

“A GLORIOUSLY NATURAL SINGER” Q MAGAZINE

Eliza Carthy & The Ratcatchers (UK)

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Wednesday 16 August Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel 9pm Admission €20/€18

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“MOONEY’S RICH, LUSCIOUS GUITAR LICKS ARE CONSISTENTLY BREATHTAKING.” HOT PRESS

“KENEVEY EXUDES CONFIDENCE, WIT AND STYLE. THIS TWENTY SOMETHING DUBLINER HASTHE MAKINGS OF A GENUINELY CHARISMATIC TALENT.” THE TIMES LONDON

Istanbul, with its 18 million inhabitants,has an extraordinary music scene, withOttoman classical music, Roma gypsybands, jazz, electronica, even hip hop. It has been exquisitely captured by theGerman filmmaker Fatih Akin in CrossingThe Bridge, an award winning homage tothis noble city on the Bosphorous and itscharismatic musicians.

At its emotional heart is a performance ina Turkish hammam by an arrestinglybeautiful Kurdish singer, who now gracesthe festival stage in our own St Canice’sCathedral. Her name is Aynur Dogan.

Some voices have an immediate emotionalimpact, and this is one. Born in the Kurdishregion of Tunceli, she grew up immersed inthe music, myth and poetry of theAlevites, a further minority within theKurdish diaspora. She’s reimagined thisrichly textured music, with its traditionallutes, woodwinds and elegiac songs for anew generation of young Turks.

It’s all the more remarkable, given Turkey’ssuppression of Kurdish identity until recenttimes, and in Aynur they’ve found an artistwho can heal old wounds and bring it tothe world.

Thursday 17 August St Canice’s Cathedral 8pm Admission €20/€18

AYNUR DOGAN - voiceCEMIL KOCGÜN - baglama, tembur NERIMAN AKALIN - violinYASIN BOYRAZ - kaval, zurna BARIS BOYRAZ - percussion, bassÖMER AVCI - percussion

“A REMARKABLE SINGER, AT THE VANGUARD OF THE CHANGES THAT GRACE THEFACE OF ISTANBUL.” FROOTS

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Jazz & Blues Revue Nigel Mooney Band, Cormac Kenevey & The Phil Ware TrioWITH SPECIAL GUEST RICHIE BUCKLEY

Tonight’s your night to get laid back and low down with the finest entertainers on the jazz andblues scene today.

Bluesman par excellence Nigel Mooney spearheaded the 80’s blues revival, and his GripewaterBlues Band was the band of choice for visiting US players like Lowell Fulson and Louisiana Red,or opening for Dr John and BB King. Today, Mooney’s winning a whole new generation ofadmirers, with his songs championed by broadcasters like Ryan Tubridy.

Singer Cormac Kenevey is another destined for great things, and has just signed to CandidRecords, the label that first signed Jamie Cullum. A pleasing tone, snappy phrasing, personaldelivery and the right songs are prerequisites for any aspiring jazz singer, and Kenevey has allfour in abundance. He’s set to be a charismatic ambassador for jazz from Ireland on theinternational stage, so catch him while you can.

Guesting with both bands is Richie Buckley, tenor saxophonist to the stars, from Van Morrisonto Elvis Costello. With his beautiful sound, soulful expression and lightning wit, expect thosemusical sparks to fly.

Friday 18 August Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel 9pm Admission €20/€18

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Stefano Bollani (Italy)

“CLOSE TO THE STATE OF THE SOLO PIANO ART.” MOJO

Jazz is a music that celebrates its mavericks andItaly’s Stefano Bollani is certainly in that category.An important new voice in European jazz, he hascome up under the tutelage of Italian jazz patriarchEnrico Rava, but this Mediterranean extrovert is animportant new voice in his own right, copper-fastened by a forthcoming solo release for the ECMlabel, home to Keith Jarrett. This is a witty andexuberant pianist, blessed with a wonderful touch,joyous lyricism and devastating rhythmic self-sufficiency. On a given night, he’ll play TheloniusMonk, Prokofiev, Lennon and McCartney, FrankZappa and audience requests in a freewheelingride that exploits every note on the piano, both onand off the keyboard.

Sunday 20 August St Canice’s Cathedral3pm MISHA ALPERIN 5.30pm JOHN TAYLOR 8pm STEFANO BOLLANIAdmission €15 per concert or €30 for all three

John Taylor (UK)

“PENSIVE YET URGENT, THE MUSIC SEEMED TO REFLECT ONEOF THE OUTSTANDING CHARACTERISTICS OF TAYLOR’SPLAYING, HIS REMARKABLE ABILITY TO BE SIMULTANEOUSLYASSERTIVE AND YET INFINITELY DELICATE. THE GUARDIAN

Manchester born John Taylor is among Europe’smost significant, yet understated masters of thepiano. In a career spanning four decades, hispoised, elegant playing with its pastoral nuanceshas placed him in the highest echelons,collaborating with musicians like Jan Garbarek andJohn Surman, and the seminal trio Azimuth, one ofthe music’s most imaginatively conceived chambergroups. Taylor is a supremely gifted soloist in hisown right, a romantic that’s not averse to swinginghard in the grand tradition of Bill Evans, the masterhe’s often likened to.

Misha Alperin(Norway)

“RARELY HAVE THE FRONTIERS BETWEEN EASTERN ANDWESTERN FOLK MUSIC, JAZZ AND CLASSICAL MUSICBEEN SO GRACEFULLY NEGOTIATED “ INTERNATIONALHERALD TRIBUNE

Founder of the feted Moscow Art Trio in 1989,now based in Norway, Russian pianist MishaAlperin has made great virtue of hisgeographical isolation from obvious centres ofjazz creativity, developing a very personalmusic from the perspective of Eastern folk,Russian classicism and his own Jewish heritage.In the process, he has fashioned somethingspecial, freely weaving these elementstogether with a mischievous sense of humour,moments of uninhibited virtuosity and anappetite for discovery.

Kilkenny is endowed with a beautiful Steinway piano, and blessed with adramatic room in which to hear it – St Canice’s Cathedral. And what bettermusical coda to this year’s festival than our final Sunday spent in thecompany of three of the world’s most expressive jazz pianists.

Solo performance is the highest expression of the jazz musician’s craft, wherethe player and the instrument are literally at one with the audience. In theright artistic hands, it’s a direct experience, with no impediment to thepossibilities, from its gentle intimacy to its orchestral sweep. At the highestlevel, it’s within the gift of a small band of pianists worldwide and MishaAlperin, John Taylor and Stefano Bollani are among them.

NATIONAL IRISH BANK AND KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL PRESENT Solo @ St. Canice’s

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Masala! If you were part of the capacity crowd at last year’s Hecho En Irlanda, our celebrationof all things Latin, you won’t want to miss Masala, as we get into multiculti partymode with the Asian subcontinent in our sights.

Every great Indian dish starts with a masala, a fragrant compound of spices, and ourversion is gourmet fare. Its principle ingredients are music, with legendary UK Asianproducer Kuljit Bhamra leading a carnival of indian percussion with his group Taala,and DJ Ritu, founder of Outcaste Records and London’s hugely popular Kuch Kuch Club.

There’ll be Bhangra aplenty, the music that started life at harvest time in The Punjab,then radically transformed in the Asian club scene, the beat of the mighty dhol drumfusing with DJ culture to create a potent dance floor groove. From Dublin, Jagroopand his Bhangra dance crew will be showing you all the moves with demos and afree class, and we’ll also have Bollywood movies, a mehndi artist for traditionalhenna tattoos and some tasty Asian treats to keep dance floor fatigue at bay.

Call it a Mela, the Sanskrit word for all manner of community celebrations andfestivals in the Asian subcontinent, Kilkenny style!

Saturday 19 August Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel 8pm Admission €22/€20Please note this is a standing only performance

Business Friends of Kilkenny Arts Festival

Every year for ten days in August, Kilkenny comes alive with afeast of artistic entertainment for all, taking full advantage of thecity’s stunning historic buildings and easily accessible trails. Thecity’s oldest and largest festival now draws over 70,000 visitorsannually who partake in all that Kilkenny has to offer.

As a non-profit organisation, you, our friends, are our lifeline,allowing us to present a festival of distinction that continues toinspire and delight. Your valuable contribution helps us bridge thegap between government grants, sponsorship and box office sales.

A cost effective, highly visible sponsorship partnership withourselves raises your company profile, fosters goodwill with allmarkets and strengthens your cultural ties in the local community.

Further info tel 056 776 3663, email info@kilkennyarts.ie

Your City… Your Festival… Your Point of Difference

the arts for all our friends

PARTNERSAlliance Fire & Security Systems Bluett & O’Donoghue

ASSOCIATESA.I.B. KilkennyBank of IrelandCarroll’s Bar, ThomastownCelebrate ItChez PierreDuggan Steel GroupJ.A. Canny SolicitorLacken House Restaurant & GuesthouseLautrecsLe Caveau, The Specialist Wine MerchantsMeublesO’Connell’s Chemist, High St. & Rose Inn St.Padraig Butler SolicitorsPatterson Bannon & Associate Architects Ltd(Kilkenny & Carlow)PJT Insurance Services LtdPordylo’s RestaurantRestaurant Café SolRipley’s Steak HouseThe Blackbird GalleryWhazOnZuni Restaurant & Townhouse

BUSINESS PATRONSAtlantic Flight Training Pilot Training Cork LtdBoyd’s Real Estate AllianceButler Court Guest AccommodationClub House HotelCrotty’s Coffee HouseDean Street Medical CentreDr John ClarkeElectro CityErinstoneFinlay HydrascreensFléva RestaurantGlanbiaGlenpatrick Spring WaterJeff Howes Golf DesignJohn’s Green Medical CentreKilkenny Blue LimestoneKilkenny Project Engineering (Architectural Practices)Lemonsol RestaurantManning Travel WorldchoiceMarble City TravelMcDonald’s RestaurantMurphy JewellersOrmonde BrickReidy & Foley SolicitorsSilver OasisState Street InternationalThe Springhill ClinicWhites PharmacyWillie Duggan Lighting Ltd

Thank you to:

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Please enclose a stamped self-addressed envelope with order. Cheques/POs should be made payable toKilkenny Arts Festival Ltd. Please read the booking information carefully and check totals to avoid delays. Whilstevery effort will be made to adhere to the advertised programme, Kilkenny Arts Festival reserves the right toalter the programme. Please note that latecomers may only be admitted at the discretion of Management.

Booking InformationFestival Box Office, Old Bank of Ireland, The Parade, KilkennyTelephone & Credit Card Hotline 056 775 2175Online Booking www.kilkennyarts.ieBox Office open Mon-Fri, 10am-6pm

Concessions are available and apply to students, senior citizens andthe unwaged. Evidence will be requested at point of purchase.

Concessions are not available for online bookings.

Booking opens Wednesday 5 July

Student standby tickets available on the door, subject to availability.25% discount on the production of a valid student card, 15 minutesbefore start time.

Festival Club Membership is available through the Friends/PatronsScheme. Details from the Box Office.

Ticket Packages 10% discount if you buy tickets for 3 events or more at the same time

10% discount for bookings of 10 or more people.• Ex Cathedra Package: Two Ex Cathedra concerts for €40 (p. 9 & 10)• Argento Package: All three Argento concerts for €40 (p. 14 & 15)• Family Music Package: €30 for family of four.

Applies to BackBeat Percussion Quartet (p. 11), Viento Y Fuego (p. 57) and The Session (p. 58)

• Solo @ St Canice’s Package: All three concerts for €30 (p. 28 & 29)

Ticket prices include booking fee.Tickets purchased at outlets outside of Kilkenny are subject to a €2 agents fee.Tickets purchased online and over the phone by credit card are subject to a credit card booking fee.Tickets purchased directly from the Festival Box Office are not subject to any additional charges,unless payment is made using a credit card.

NAME DATE

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Booking FormPostal Bookings to: Kilkenny Arts Festival Administration Office, 9/10 Abbey Business Centre, Abbey St, KilkennyTel +353 56 775 2175, Fax +353 56 775 1704, www.kilkennyarts.ie

EVENT DATE TIME NUMBER PRICE VALUE

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Tobias Hill (UK)Prize-winning novelist and poet Tobias Hill is a man with anintense curiosity about the world. His atmospheric thrillersThe Cryptographer, The Love of Stones and Undergrounddisplay a strongly poetic sense, which imperceptibly createsthe genuinely dark environments of his urban-pastoraldramas. His outstanding use of language makes his novelsnot only thrilling, but absolutely compelling.

Past winner of the Macmillan/Pen Award and the BritishArts Council Writer’s Award, Tobias Hill has also worked as arock critic for the Sunday Telegraph and is a regular reviewerfor several publications. He was the inaugural Poet inResidence at London Zoo.

“ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING YOUNG NOVELISTS WORKING INBRITAIN TODAY.” THE GUARDIAN

‘’ENGAGE, AND YOU’RE HOOKED… HE MAKES READING A JOY.”TOM ADAIR, SCOTSMAN

The writers for this year’s Festival have been chosen to reflect awhole spectrum of work within the crime/thriller genre.

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esAlex Barclay (Ireland)While working as a freelancejournalist and copywriter, AlexBarclay drafted the opening chaptersof her debut novel, Darkhouse. A successful pitch to a leading UKagent and eight months of seclusionlater, the finished manuscript hit thebestseller lists in Ireland and the UK.The rollercoaster rides on as this newwriter’s dark and gritty tale ofviolent crime takes the world bystorm, undergoing translations into11 languages and thrilling readersaround the world.

“A TERRIFIC DEBUT BY AN EXCITING NEWWRITER” THE INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY

”THRILLER WRITERS BEWARE: THERE’S ANEW KID ON THE BLOCK IN THE PERSON OFIRISH AUTHOR ALEX BARCLAY”THE IRISH TIMES LI

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Monday 14 August The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle 6pm Admission €12/€10

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our the people of kilkenny

Kilkenny People FriendsPeople are the lifeblood of Kilkenny Arts Festival

You are our inspiration and our strength. People whose interest,enthusiasm and commitment match ours. People whoseparticipation at events - on the streets, at a concert, theatre show,reading or gig - make it special.

We would like you to become one of our Kilkenny People Friends.We do hope that you will consider joining our scheme which helpsus to bridge the gap between government grants, sponsorship andbox office revenue. Please note that the Kilkenny Arts Festival is anon-profit organisation.

Join us and you will enjoy a host of benefits during festival timeand throughout the year. Your support will genuinely make adifference, helping us continue to bring you a festival of wonderand distinction, now and for years to come.

Further info tel 056 776 3663, email info@kilkennyarts.ie

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A unique opportunity to experience two of the leading North ofEngland writers of our times. Unmissable.

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Tuesday 15 August The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle 6pm Admission €12/€10

AdrianMcKinty(Northern Ireland)Born in Carrickfergus at the height of theTroubles, Adrian McKinty studied politics atOxford University and moved to New York City inthe early 1990s. Dead I Well May Be, his firstnovel, was short-listed for the CWA Ian FlemingSteel Dagger and is soon to be made into aUniversal Pictures movie, directed by John LeeHancock (The Alamo). This was followed byHidden River in 2005, and this year by the widelyacclaimed The Dead Yard.

“McKINTY IS A CROSS BETWEEN MICKEY SPILLANE ANDDAMON RUNYON – THE TOUGHEST, THE BEST. BEWARE OFMCKINTY” FRANK McCOURT

“THE DEAD YARD IS COMPELLING CRIME FICTION AT ITSFINEST! ADRIAN McKINTY IS AN EXCITING NEW TALENTAND MICHAEL FORSYTHE IS A HERO THAT OTHER WRITERSCAN ONLY ASPIRE TO CREATE” ED McBAIN

EoinMcNamee(Ireland)Acclaimed novelist, Eoin McNamee’s prolific careerincludes Resurrection Man, The Ultras and BlueTango. His first book, the novella The Last ofDeeds, was short-listed for the Irish TimesLiterature Prize. Other publications include thepoetry collection The Language of Birds and twoscreenplays, Resurrection Man (1998) and I WantYou (1998), directed by Michael Winterbottom.Eoin also writes under the name John Creed.

“THE ULTRAS… A BREATHLESS, FEVERISH NOVEL… DARKLY COMPULSIVE” AL KENNEDY

Eoin McNamee is the guest curator of the Literature and Film programme of Kilkenny Arts Festival2006. He will also read from his first book for children, The Navigator, on Thurs 17 August (see p. 52)

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Thursday 17 August The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle 6pm Admission €12/€10

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The award-winning author of some of the finest piecesof fiction in recent years, The North of England HomeService, Alma Cogan (Whitbread First Novel Prize) andFullalove, Gordon Burn has written equally compellingnon-fiction including his work on Peter SutcliffeSomebody’s Husband, Somebody’s Son, (winner of a USEdgar Allan Poe award) and Happy Like Murderers, aboutFred and Rose West. He also wrote the text for DamienHirst’s I want to spend the rest of my life everywhere,with everyone, one to one, always, forever, now, beforetheir collaboration On the Way to Work.

Gordon’s forthcoming work Best and Edwards - Football,Fame and Oblivion will be published in September 2006.

Joining Gordon will be the excellent speaker, writer andchronicler, David Peace. Initially established as aremarkable writer following the success of Red RidingQuartet, David Peace consolidated his reputation with thepublication of the immensely important GB84, hisfictionalised account of the British miners’ strike of the1980s. Described by the Sunday Times as “anenormously significant novel”, the Guardian said “He hasturned the whole episode into a gripping thriller, withno detriment to documentary realism”, while the TimesLiterary Supplement adjudged it to be “compelling,painful reading”.

David’s reading at Kilkenny coincides with the publicationof his new book The Damned United, which recountsBrian Clough’s controversial term as Manager of LeedsUnited in the bleak heart of the 1970s.

Gordon Burn &David Peace (UK)

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Man with a Movie CameraDIRECTOR DZIGA VERTOV1929

Vertov’s pioneering experiment stands as an iconthat has forever changed film history. A striking,avant-garde documentary which celebratesSoviet workers and film-making, Vertov usesradical editing techniques and cinematicpyrotechnics to not only portray a typical day inMoscow, but to transform it through the powerof the kino-glaz (cinema eye).

“I AM KINO-EYE, I AM MECHANICAL EYE. I, A MACHINE,SHOW YOU THE WORLD AS ONLY I CAN SEE IT.”DZIGA VERTOV

Blood of a PoetDIRECTOR JEAN COCTEAU1930

Cocteau’s groundbreaking first film depicts a distinctlypersonal world, capturing the poet’s obsession withthe struggle between the forces of life and death.Immersed in surrealism, this inventive representationof artistic feeling and thought explores the technicalcapabilities of film to magically transcend time, tocapture creativity and to suspend physical laws. Partof the Orphic Trilogy, Blood of a Poet is anexceptional example of the genius of one of themost versatile French artists of the 20th century.

“POETS… SHED NOT ONLY THE RED BLOOD OF THEIR HEARTSBUT THE WHITE BLOOD OF THEIR SOULS.” JEAN COCTEAU

MATTHEW NOLAN - electric guitarCAMERON DOYLE - electric guitarKAREN DERVAN - violaLIOBA PETRIE - celloRICHARD McCULLOUGH - keyboardsJAMES MACKEN - drums/percussionDAVID GOUGH - bass guitar

Returning to Kilkenny following their sell-outperformance at last year’s festival, eclecticmusic ensemble 3epkano present live musicaccompaniment to two of the mostoutstanding movies from the silent film era:Man With a Movie Camera and Blood of aPoet. An absolute treat.

3epkanoLive music accompanimentto classic films

Friday 18 August The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle 6pm Admission €15/€13

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Saturday 19 August The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle1pm Admission €15/€13

Saturday 12 August at 12 noon

Meet the Artists and CuratorsWith Mike Fitzpatrick, Curator of Kilkenny Arts Festival’s Visual ArtProgramme and Director of Limerick City Gallery of Art, and anumber of the visiting artists exhibiting at this year’s festival,including Caroline McCarthy, Joe Duggan, Deirdre Power, TinaO’Connell, Tom Fitzgerald, Martin Healy and Nevan Lahart. (See p.40)

Monday 14 August at 4pm

Meet the Theatre Artists With Frankie McCafferty, writer and actor, Tintype (see p. 6), and Maura O’Keeffe, producer.

Tues 15 August at 4pm

Meet the Musicians 1With Caoimhín Vallely (see p. 23) and Gerry Godley, curator ofKilkenny Arts Festival’s Jazz, World and Trad Music Programme.

Thurs 16 August at 4pm

Meet the Musicians 2With members of Argento Chamber Ensemble from New York(see p.14-15), including Carol McGonnell, Guest Curator ofKilkenny Arts Festival’s Classical Music Programme.

The informal setting of Morrisson's Bar at the Hibernian Hotel is theideal spot to meet some of the extraordinary artists taking part in thisyear's festival. If you have ever wanted to know the ins and outs ofhow a music performance, art exhibition or piece of theatre cometogether, this is your chance to find out!

Meet the Artists

Upstairs Bar at Morrisson’s, Hibernian Hotel, Ormonde Street Admission Free

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Failure at Kilkenny ArtsFestival 2006MIKE FITZPATRICK, CURATOR

Failure is an exhibition of projects that are in some way related with failure orthe possibility of failure inherent in creativity. Failure features an internationalgroup of artists whose work can be associated with this theme through a broadrange of aesthetic, conceptual or abject concerns and art practices. The exhibitionacknowledges how artists may employ an ironic sense of failure as a means ofcommunicating aspects of the human condition and also chart a reflexivecommentary on the act of creativity itself.

Failure is an exploration of the artistic process. To be creative is to fail, orcertainly, to be prepared to fail. I wonder if one of the enjoyments of the artconnoisseur is to stand before a new artwork and make a secret declaration ofsuccess or failure. Artists are conscious of the dilemmas of the creative processand use a variety of means to acknowledge it within their work. Failure inartwork can be inherent or apparent. The work of Bas Jan Ader, perhaps thedaddy of slacker art, exudes a pathetic sad-clown-like quality, a type of lamentthat allows the viewer to both identify with and wallow within. Certainly his finalwork involving his own disappearance in 1974 guaranteed his status as ‘hero’ ofsuccess through failure. In fact, in a Christ-like manner he gave his life to achieveartistic failure and success simultaneously. His seminal work ‘I’m too sad to tellyou’ featuring the artist crying, sums up his grasp of the zeitgeist of the self-involved tuned-out generation and serves as a precursor to the later GenerationX. However this exhibition is broadly based in terms of art practice and artistintentionality, and the concept is to encourage connections between these manywork practices and concerns through witnessing the freedom of Failure.

Friday 11 August - Sunday 20 August, 10am - 6pm

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museum in progress

As part of this museum in progress project, 1 - 3 minute video clips by international artistswere broadcast each week on Austrian nationaltelevision. The artists selected by Hans-UlrichObrist, give “instructions for use” which take on many layers of meaning through variousinterpretations and ways of carrying them out.

“DO IT” TV Version with Damian Hirst.

Roman Signer

In this beautiful elegy to destruction, a model helicopter takes offand flies in ever increasing circles in a small confined space.

Schweben in einer Kiste, 1999, Roman Signer, Courtesy of the Artist and Hauser & Wirth Zürich, London

THE MALTINGS, JAMES STREET

Bas Jan Ader

A series of films that show the legendary BasJan Ader cycle into an Amsterdam Canal, hangfrom a tree until he could no longer hold on andweep uncontrollably.

Courtesy Boymans Museum Rotterdam

Deirdre Power

Poignant images of post 9/11disbelief and raw humour inVermont where some citizens madeeffigies and reference to Osama BinLaden in their daily lives.

Vito Acconci

Vito’s approach to the show is to select a pre-project, a form of written description, a firstapproach toward a project that the studio nevergot the chance to work on, and create an auralnon-physical work based on this initial text.

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Julie Henry

Julie’s work examines recreation activities such as football, skittles and gaming machines in amanner that is painfully and hauntingly revealing.

Courtesy of the Wilkinson Gallery and the Film and Video Umbrella.

Tom Fitzgerald

Tom’s work masterfully utilises anarray of techniques and materialsinvariably involving socialcommentary on the absurditiesand contradictions of our existence.

ST FRANCIS ABBEY BREWERYPARLIAMENT STREET

GRENNAN MILL, THOMASTOWN

Joe Duggan

This series of photographs Like FatherLike Son and Family Man Series attractwith their apparent wholesomeness,only to find that Duggan’s construct of‘Family’ is void of human life apart fromhis solitary presence.

BUTLER HOUSE, PATRICK STREET

CarolineMcCarthy

Caroline will premiereEndeavor (1944). Aresponse to the packagingof an Icelandic brand ofready meals named ‘1944’,so called in reference tothe year of Iceland’sindependence fromDenmark. The idea is touse the packaging from theentire range of meals tomake one ‘travel vehicle’.The title Endeavor takes itsname from the 1970’sAmerican space shuttleupon which the form ofthe work is based.

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Steve ReinkeThe Mendi

A powerful view of the anthropologist beinganthropologised, which pervades the viewer withboth a sense of total freedom and jaded despair.

HIS FEARLESSNESS MAKES ME WONDER: HOW COULD HE?HOW DOES HE DARE?” MIKE HOOLBOOM, INTERNATIONALFILM FESTIVAL ROTTERDAM

Alex BagGladiaDaters 2004

With a combination of humour, acerbic wit,politics, and feminism, Alex Bag draws herinspiration from mass media sources,particularly television, and simultaneouslylambastes and embraces the culture theyreflect and inform. Bag confronts us as boththe critic and the fanatic as she addresses theabsurd relationships we have with thosetopics to which we find ourselves inextricablylinked as both villains and victims.

JOHN’S GATE, CASTLECOMER ROAD

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PARNELL HOUSE, PARNELL STREET

Martin Healy

GENESIS 28:12, A work examining mythologies in popularculture and in particular the myth of hidden messages inreversed music, what is commonly known as backwardsmasking. Arguably the most infamous song containingbackwards messaging is Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin, which reputedly reveals satanic messages whencertain verses are played backwards.

CASTLE YARD & CASTLE YARD STUDIO

Nevan Lahart

“I only got this gig because the fella organising theshow was impressed with what I last did. How that fitswith the theme of failure is beyond me. Surely the restof the artists in the show can’t be aspiring wasters,who can’t help themselves but succeed.”

KILKENNY CASTLE – ROSE GARDEN

Tina O’Connell

“Sculpture no longer operates on a formal or figurativelevel, liberalist attitudes have rendered purely aestheticreadings of a work difficult, and the complex structuresof relational era of making and viewing, in which bothpositions are collapsed, mean the object is in a constantstate of transition”.

Assisted by

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FAILURE

Gerard ByrneA Crime Dramatically Reconstructed, Again, 1995 - 2002

16mm film projection, viewing hourly and by requestCourtesy of the Artist and Green on Red Gallery, Dublin

A Crime Dramatically Reconstructed, Again is anintriguing black and white film projection with anoperatic accompaniment, a work revisited over asustained period by the artist. It presents a complexstaging and visualisation of an intimate act of listening,its origins echoing the psychological relationship ofmother and son and creating an interrogation ofperception and understanding between the viewer, the unseen voice, the subject and the object.

Jeanne SilverthorneBurning DNA

This exhibition addresses the literal andmetaphorical implications of DNA. Diminutiverubber figures extend the notion of the portraitby including reports tracing each subject’s DNAover several thousand years. Candles in double-helix shapes bear different genetic codes, andan elaborately absurd rubber machine repeatedlyattempts to blow out a fake “eternal” flame.

Jeanne Silverthorne is an installation artist based in New York and Donegal. Her work ispresently on view in “Against the Grain,” at theMuseum of Modern Art, New York, part of thepermanent collection.

EmergingCeramics

The diverse energies of16 emerging Irish andWelsh ceramic artists. A unique opportunity fornew makers to launchtheir work on aninternational platform.

Both events are part of Féile Clai (Festival of Clay), anexciting new partnership between Ireland and Wales.

Ceramics Ireland InternationalFestival

A festival of visual drama tocelebrate this most beautiful ofart forms. Featuring the work ofmajor ceramic artists from Taiwan,USA, France, Ireland and Wales.This wonderful snapshot ofcontemporary ceramic practice isnot to be missed.

Artists: John Ffrench (Irl/US), Greg Crowe (Aus),Daphne Corregan (France), Eric Astoule (France),Shao Ting Ju (Taiwan), Ashraf Hanna (Wales),Geoffrey Healy (Ireland)

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Ceramics Ireland International Festival: Aug 11 - Oct 12Emerging Ceramics: Aug 11 - Oct 1National Craft Gallery, Castle Yard, Kilkenny Mon - Sat 10am - 6pm, Sun 11am - 6pm

Aug 12 - Sept 24Butler Gallery, Kilkenny Castle9.30am - 7pm daily

Endangered ArtistsFrom here to there

This exhibition consists of a wide rangeof artists working across the disciplinesof painting, sculpture, installation, videoand sound works. All artists are part ofEndangered Studios, which were bornfrom within the rust of the Chadwicksbuilding on the HebronRoad in Kilkenny in2003, an initiative ofKilkenny County CouncilArts Office. Followingthe demolition of the former site in 2005,the nomadic groupaccessed space withinthe Maltings buildingfrom which they haveproduced work for thisshow, and managed aseries of groundbreaking educationalworkshops. Moving onfrom a highlysuccessful show in the2004 Arts Festival,artists from the groupreturn with new worksover two venues.

11 - 20 AugustNo. 72 John StreetMon - Fri 9am - 5pm Sat & Sun 10am - 6pm

Watergate Theatre, Parliament Street Mon - Fri 10am - 7pm, Sat 2pm - 7pm

Parade Design

Over the last yearKCAT and Macnashave collaborated on the large scale,dazzling parade which takes placeduring the openingweekend of KilkennyArts Festival 2006.

The exhibition ParadeDesign documentsthis process andfeatures the colourfuldesign work for theparade by SinéadFahey, Andrew Pikeand other KCAT artists.

The Friary, Callan12 - 20 August10am - 5pm daily

Sculpture at KellsVarious Artists

“SPECTACULAR… THE SETTING ISMAGICAL” IRISH TIMES

One ancient monastic settlementembraces the work of ten leadingcontemporary artists. Althoughsurrounded by the architecturalfragments of the past, this striking,conceptual work is very much of ourtime and place in the 21st century.One of the most exciting artisticevents of the year.

Artists: (Ireland) Michael Warren, Tom Fitzgerald, Walker and Walker,Tina O’Connell and Kathlyn O’Brien.(Wales) Iwan Balla, Helen Jones, Lois Williams, Craig Wood and PaulJeff & Richard Huw Morgan (Good Cop Bad Cop).

Plus: Stunning display of the ancient art of bronze casting by Umha Aois Sat 12 & Sun 13 August.

Kells Priory, Kells, Co Kilkenny12 – 20 August

NATIONAL CRAFT GALLERY

BUTLER GALLERY

KILKENNY COUNTY COUNCIL KELLS PRIORY

KCAT

Anne Harrington ReesFibre Works

Anne Harrington Rees uses natural fibres –some collected near her home – and thetraditional basketry technique of coiling tocreate small-scale sculptural pieces, inspiredby natural forms, architecture, vessels andmovement. The work is titled in Irish,Welsh, English or scientifically and each hasa story to tell, mainly with anenvironmental message; the stories beingas important as the making.

Anne is very conscious of environmentalissues and therefore sets out to make workwhich uses natural and renewableresources, which does not impact on theenvironment in a negative way.

Anne is originally from Kilkenny and hasrecently returned to Ireland having spentmany years living in Anglesey, Wales.ST

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Alan Counihan

Alan Counihan has been the recipient of manygrants and awards including the Pollock-KrasnerFoundation Award. He has created many large-scale works in the public domain both in Irelandand the U.S.A. and his work is in many public andprivate collections on both sides of the Atlantic.

The works in this exhibition are a furtherdevelopment of the 2001 series Prayers beforeDying. The small vessel forms of bone werepartly inspired by the Imrama, the otherworldvoyages of early Irish literature. They are hereaccompanied by works which also reflect onmortality and the human condition, but in thecontext of 21st century Ireland as experienced bya returned emigrant. The rapid social changes ofrecent times have encouraged an exploration ofinherited notions of cultural identity.

11 - 20 August Rudolf Heltzel Gallery, 10 Patrick StreetMon - Sat, 9.30am - 1pm, 2pm - 5.30pmSun 2pm - 5pm

The main galleryfeatures Memory of mysenses, by ceramic artist,Antonia Splini.

The upper gallery showsnew work by MichaelMulcahy and SuzyO’Mullane.

The mill grounds by theriver feature ConcaveConvex, a videoinstallation by AideenBarry and DeirdreManifold.

11 - 20 August Berkeley Gallery, Thomastown10am – 6pm daily

On the 21st Anniversary of the BerkeleyGallery in the Grennan Mill, the gallery isdelighted to offer audiences a uniqueopportunity to experience a feast for the eyes.This year’s shows offer a variety of media.

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RUDOLF HELTZEL GALLERY

BERKELEY GALLERY

Invited artists: Clodagh Emoe (Irl)Pauline Rowan (Irl)Naked Ruby (UK)Vaginal Vynal (Irl)Joanna Peacock (UK)

Also featuring otherimpromptu performances.

Events will run from Saturday 19 August11am – midnight and Sunday 20 August11am – 5pmbut will it really end here!

Information re:performance timesavailable from:Arts Festival Box Officewww.kilkennyarts.ieNo. 72 John Streetwww.kilkennycoco.ieThe Butler Gallerywww.butlergallery.com

19 & 20 August7 Bridgewater, Dean St

Re-ProductionCURATED BY MARY BUTLER AND LOUISE ALLEN

Prepare yourselves for a wild alternative experienceof untamed, bizarre and curious art at the House, 7Bridgewater, Dean St.

Performances, installations, dancers, DJs andexhibitions by leading artists from Ireland and the UK.

11 - 20 August Red Aesthetic, Rose Inn StreetMon - Sat 10am - 6pm, Sun 12pm - 5pm

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A partnership between Kilkenny County Council Arts Office andKilkenny Arts Festival, the VERGE initiative seeks to provide a platformfor emerging visual artists and makers, active in and around KilkennyCity and County, to exhibit their work as part of the festival. Followingthe success of this initiative in the last two years, an open invitationwas extended earlier this year to all who consider themselvesemerging artists to submit proposals for this year’s festival. We aredelighted to include the following artists in the 2006 programme:

Kate Minnock

Kate’s paintings, prints andinstallations are concernedwith the fragility of thenatural environment. Herwork focuses on thestructural correlationsbetween forms found inlichens and other plants and animals, in particularreindeer antlers. Intriguedby recurring patterns innature, her current body of work aims to drawattention to these subtleand delicate minutiae.

Kate Minnock graduatedfrom NCAD with a BA inFine Art (Painting) in 2003and has exhibited in Ireland,New Zealand and Canada.Her residencies include TheTyrone Guthrie Centre, Co.Monaghan and New PacificStudio, New Zealand.

Neill Lyons

Neill’s work can be described assculptural furniture, with theinspiration for the pieces derivingfrom minimalist architecture/sculpture, in particular the workof Donald Judd and thearchitecture of Tadao Ando.

Kilkenny native Neill Lyonsgraduated in 2003 from theUniversity of Central Lancashirewith a BA in Furniture Design. Healso holds a Diploma in Auto CADfrom Dun Laoghaire College ofFurther Education and hasexhibited in Ireland and the UK.

11 - 20 August No 1 St Canice’s StepsMon - Fri 10am - 7pmSat 10am - 6pm, Sun 11 - 6pm

Tunde TothNew work in Fibre Art and Mixed Media

Working with a variety of naturalmaterials – cotton and bamboo fibres,handmade paper, textiles, beeswax, herbsand spices – allows endless possibilitiesfor combination and brings exciting visualimpact to Tunde’s work. These very tactilematerials and their textures are the maininspirations for her work.

A graduate of JPTE University in Hungary,Tunde moved to Ireland in 1998 andworks from her studio in Thomastown.

DeirdreMadden(Ireland)

Come and hearprize-winning authorDeirdre Maddenread from and talkabout her criticallyacclaimed first novel for children,Snakes’ Elbows.

When millionaire, Barney, returns to live inthe place that he was born, equally richmillionaire, Jasper, is worried that he’ll beupstaged. He sets out to make life as difficultas possible for Barney – with hilarious and far-reaching consequences.

Snakes’ Elbows won the Eilis Dillon Award inJune this year and was short-listed for theDublin Airport Authority Irish Book of the YearAward.

“WHAT THIS BOOK IS REALLY ABOUT IS LOVE ANDFRIENDSHIP AND THE THINGS THAT TRULY MATTER IN LIFE. RARELY HAS SUCH A SEEMINGLY LOOPY TALE SO MOVED ME. QUITE SIMPLY MARVELLOUS.”PHILIP ARDAGH, THE GUARDIAN

Silly Storiesand Talesfrom WalesOnce the only “official” storyteller in Wales,Catherine recreated the role of the Cyfarwydd(Kuh-vah-with) who travelled around the courtsof the ancient Welsh princes telling magical tales of triumph and sadness. Now, working forherself, she visits Ireland using a myriad ofdifferent voices and facial expressions tointroduce us to an array of characters who live inthe world of silly stories and tales from Wales.

Sat 12, Sun 13 & Mon 14 AugustCBS Primary School, Stephen St12pm (3-5 yrs) & 2pm (6-8 yrs)Admission €6

Tues 15 August Graiguenamanagh Library12pm (3-5 yrs) & 2pm (6-8 yrs)Admission €6Fri 11 August Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel 3pm

Admission €6 (8-10 yrs)

11 - 20 August Tilbury House, 25 James St Daily 10am – 6pm

15 August 6pm - 10pm16 August 12 noon - 11pmBassets at Woodstock, Restaurant andCafé, Woodstock Gardens, Inistioge

17 August – 15 SeptemberKOZO Studio, Marches St, Thomastown10am - 6pm daily

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CatherineAran (Wales)

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Saturday 12 August Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel 2pmAdmission €6 (10-12 yrs)

Thursday 17 August Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel 2pmAdmission €6 (10-14 yrs)

DarrenShan (Ireland)One of the hottest properties in children’sliterature, Darren Shan writes aboutvampires, demons and circus freaks and isthe author of The Darren Shan Saga and TheDemonata series. Translated into more than20 languages, his books have beenbestsellers all over the world, selling inexcess of 10 million copies. A big film buff,Darren also reads lots of comics and books,loves watching football, listening to pop androck music, travelling and dreaming up newways to terrify his readers!

“GREAT STORY-TELLING” RODDY DOYLE

“STEPHEN KING FOR KIDS” EVENING STANDARD

EoinMcNamee(Ireland)An acclaimed novelist, Eoin McNamee’s best knownwork includes Resurrection Man, The Ultras andBlue Tango. His first novel for children, TheNavigator, introduces young Owen, whose ordinarylife is turned upside-down the day he getsinvolved with the Resisters and their centuries-longfeud with an ancient evil race. The Harsh, withtheir icy blasts and relentless onslaught have asingle aim: turn back time and eliminate all life.Unless they are stopped, everything Owen knowswill vanish, as if it had never been…

Eoin McNameeis guest curatorof the Literatureand Filmprogramme ofKilkenny ArtsFestival 2006.

“(RESURRECTIONMAN)…ONE OFTHE MOSTOUTSTANDINGPIECES OF FICTIONTO HAVE COMEALONG IN YEARS”.THE IRISH TIMES

Using hip hop rhythms and dynamic theatrical techniques, Mayhem Poetshave developed powerful performances and workshops to inspire youngpeople to listen, craft and perform original poetry. These masters of thespoken word rap and rhyme their way through contemporary life,reflecting the world around us in the essence of uber cool.

You can catch the Mayhem Poets on the streets of Kilkenny, in fullperformance at the Ormonde Hotel, or join their workshops at The ParadeTower, Kilkenny Castle. Whichever you choose, you’re bound to beinspired! Who said poetry wasn’t cool?

WorkshopsExplore the art of verbal mayhem! Exercise your skill in wordplay,improvisation, writing and performing with the self-expression specialists.These Verbal Mayhem workshops are highly recommended by teachers.

MayhemPoets (USA)Performances &Workshops

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Performances: Sat 12 August Streets of Kilkenny Times: 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm

Sun 13 August Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel3pm (9-11 yrs), 6pm (12-14 yrs) Admission €8

Workshops: Mon 14 August The Parade Tower, Kilkenny Castle12pm (9-11 yrs), 3pm (12-14 yrs) Admission €1035 participants per workshop

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MARKET CROSSSHOPPING CENTRE

Embassy of the United States of America

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Come on a fantastical voyage beyond the palace walls,into the forests and down to the seashore. Bring magicalanimals to life with the help of one of Ireland’s mostunique dance companies, Oficina da Capoeira.

Stunning visual theatre, inspiring art and interactivescience at its most magical. This groundbreakingperformance is the result of a unique collaborationbetween the Crafts Council of Ireland, textile artist TaraCarrigy, the Adaptive Information Cluster at DCU and, ofcourse, children.

Adapted from an original story by Antonia Hart.

Jacare Jungle (Ireland & Brazil)

JackWith a handful of beans and a heart full of courage, Jack setsoff on a tall tale of high adventure. Based on Jack and theBeanstalk, this production remains faithful to the spirit of theoriginal ancient tale: a story of enchantment and magic, ofcruelty and humour, of courage and ingenuity and triumphover gigantic adversity.

The Pea, the Bean& the EnormousTurnip

Both shows for childrenaged 5 yrs upwards.Duration: 60 minutes per performance

In this unforgettably leguminous tale of three famousvegetables, Rod Burnett uses his formidable skills as astoryteller and puppeteer to take his audience on a journeyinto the extraordinary world of the imagination. Weavingtogether a glorious tapestry of tales by Hans ChristianAndersen and the Brothers Grimm, Rod tells of a pea whichfinds a real princess; he tells of the biggest turnip in theworld and he tells of a bean which runs away to make itsmark. The Pea, the Bean and the Enormous Turnip will sendmagic tingling up the spines of children and adults alike.

JACKMonday 14 August Paulstown Hall 6pm Tuesday 15 August CBS Primary School, Stephen St 2pm & 4pm

THE PEA, THE BEAN & THE ENORMOUS TURNIPWednesday 16 August CBS Primary School, Stephen St 2pm & 4pmAdmission €8

STORYBOX THEATRE COMPANY (UK)Two shows for children and their families

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Suitable for children aged 5-11 years.

Monday 14 August CBS Primary School, Stephen St. 4pm & 6pmAdmission €8

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Friday 18 & Saturday 19 August CBS Primary School, Stephen St 12pm, 2pm & 4pm Admission €6

Saturday 19 August Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel 3pmAdmission €10/€8 Family Music Package €30 (See booking info p. 32)

Welcome to our magic circle where wecelebrate the wonders of nature. Sit downand relax on our comfy cushions as Percy andApril guide you through the four seasons.Make some friends while you play peek-a-booin our puddles or dance at the butterfly party.You’ll see how everyone likes to sleep on themoon cushion or cover themselves with snowfrom their first year to their fortieth, fromspring to autumn and back again.

This is the highly interactive version for theunder 3’s of Lyngo’s very popular Watch theBirdy show where you can simply rock androll around the clock to our lullaby or crawl into the middle and be a star!

Funded by the Arts Council, England.

BY MARCELLO CHIARENZA AND PATRICK LYNCH DIRECTED AND DESIGNED BY MARCELLO CHIARENZAMUSIC BY CARLO ‘CIALDO’ CAPELLIPERFORMERS: PATRICK LYNCH & ELENA MARINIWITH THANKS TO TIM WEBB FROM OILY CART

LYNGO THEATRE COMPANY (UK)

Egg and Spoon

For children under 3yrsDuration: 30 minutes

Viento y Fuego (Spain)

ANGEL - flamenco guitarARIANY - flamenco danceJOSÉ - flamenco percussion

Be swept along in the infectiousrhythms of Spain at this uniqueFlamenco performance for all thefamily. Bringing together the music,dance, colour and emotion of thisvibrant country, Viento Y Fuegoexpresses the thrill of the Flamencoand the passion of the Tango, Tientos,Bulerias, Rumbas and the Sevillanas.Compelling the audience to respondwith rhythmic palmas (hand-clapping)and jaleo (shouts of encouragement),this interactive performance will sendyou on your way with a skip in yourstep and a little flamenco passion inyour heart.

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Sunday 20 August Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel2pm & 5pm Admission €10/€8Family Music Package €30 (See booking info p.32)

RhythmWorkshopsWe all have Rhythm!The world is filled with music, and it all has rhythm. The first sounds we ever heard, while still in our mother’swomb, were the beating of her heart and the rhythm of her breath.

These interactive and fun workshops will introduce childrento rhythms from all over the world and will teach them toexplore their own abilities through a hands-on drummingexperience. They will be amazed at their own talent!

Facilitated by percussionist Robbie Harris from The Session,rhythms from a wide variety of locations including Ireland,Africa, Latin America and Asia will be explored, as well asa range of rhythm games such as Call & Response and theDrum Circle.

The Carlton Ballroom, Chapel Lane, KilkennyThurs 17 August 12 noon - 1pm Group 1 (5-7 yrs) €10Fri 18 August 12 noon - 1pm Group 2 (5-7 yrs) €10Sat 19 August 12 noon - 1pm Group 3 (5-7 yrs) €10Thurs 17 - Sat 19 2.30pm - 3.30pm Group 4 (8-10 yrs) €30 (3 day workshop)

The SessionBring your children along to enjoy some tasty tunesat this interactive traditional Irish music sessionwith flute, percussion, guitar and dance, featuringsome of Ireland’s top musicians. Curated by thehighly accomplished percussionist Robbie Harris,who has performed and recorded with groups asdiverse as Riverdance, The Fleadh Cowboys, Kíla,Stockton’s Wing and Rodrigo Y Gabriela.

ROBBIE HARRIS - bodhran, percussionEMER MAYOCK - flute, fiddle & pipesDONAL SIGGINS - guitar, mandolaMUIREANN NIC AMHLAOIBH - vocals, fluteRONAN McCORMAC – dancer

Suitable for all ages.

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Visual Art Workshops

Musical Paint BrushesAge 4 - 6 yrs

In this workshop,participants will listen todifferent types of music.Using a range ofmaterials, they will thendraw, paint and colourdifferent images inspiredby rhythm and mood.

Mon 14 AugustWorkshop 1 2pm-3pmWorkshop 2 4pm-5pm20 participants in eachAdmission €10

Creature CostumesAge 7 - 9 yrs

Participants will create,make and finish theirvery own costumes.Using paint, card, paperand fabric, participantswill decide what theywant their creaturecostume to look like.Expect everything fromTime Travellers to Jungle Warriors!

Workshop 1 Tues 15Workshop 2 Wed 16Workshop 3 Thurs 1710.30am-12.30pm20 participants in eachAdmission €15

All in a CircleAge 4 - 6 yrs

Each participant willcreate their own specialspace (under the sea,fairy kingdoms) usingpencils, pastels andchalks.

Fri 18 AugustWorkshop 110.30am-11.30amWorkshop 212.30pm-1.30pm15 participants in eachAdmission €10

Festival Totem PoleAge 10 - 12 yrsThis 3 day workshop will see childrenusing a range of materials from clay topaint to recycled materials to designand make the first ever Kilkenny ArtsFestival Totem Pole. The Pole will beplaced as a piece of public sculpturearound Kilkenny.Tues 15-Thurs 17 August3pm-5.30pm daily

Please note venue: VEC Art Space Tues & Wed Castle Grounds Thurs (weather permitting)

20 participants in totalAdmission €40 (3 day workshop)

All participants should wear old clothes… just in case.All materials are supplied.Venue: VEC Arts Space, New Street.

Papermaking WorkshopsCastlecomer Estate Yard'sbeautifully equippedpapermaking studio, 'PaperWorks' is the venue for childrento learn how to make beautifulhandmade papers with Artist and Papermaker Polly Minett.

Following the success of last year's workshops, this yearparticipants will be working with pulps made fromrecycled jeans, linen dresses and cotton shirts, to createyour own 'paper art' wall hangings. All materials will beprovided but you might like to bring ribbons, threads orphotocopies of your favourite photograph to incorporateinto your art works.

Family Papermaking Workshop for BeginnersMonday 14 August, 2-4pm, Admission €15Participants limited to eight children plus adults.

Beginners Papermaking for Children Aged 5 – 8 yrsTuesday 15 August, 10.30-12 noon, Admission €15Participants limited to ten children

Beginners Papermaking for Children Aged 8 – 12 yrsTuesday 15 August, 2-4pm, Admission €15Participants limited to ten children

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Day-by-day Young People’s Programme

Friday 11

Saturday 12

Sunday 13

Monday 14

Tuesday 15

Wednesday 16

Thursday 17

Friday 18

Saturday 19

Sunday 20

MMaayyhheemm PPooeettss 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pmStreets & Market Cross

Shopping Centre

MMaayyhheemm PPooeettss 3pm & 6pmOrmonde Hotel (Kilbride)

JJaaccaarree JJuunnggllee 4pm & 6pmCBS Primary School

JJaacckk 6pm Paulstown Hall

JJaacckk 2pm & 4pmCBS Primary School

TThhee EEnnoorrmmoouuss TTuurrnniipp2pm & 4pm

CBS Primary School

EEgggg && SSppoooonn12 noon, 2pm & 4pmCBS Primary School

EEgggg && SSppoooonn12 noon, 2pm & 4pmCBS Primary School

DDeeiirrddrree MMaaddddeenn 3pm Ormonde Hotel (River Rm)

CCaatthh AArrrraann 12 & 2pm CBS Primary SchoolDDaarrrreenn SShhaann 2pm

Ormonde Hotel (Kilbride)

CCaatthh AArrrraann 12 & 2pmCBS Primary SchoolBBaacckkBBeeaatt 12 noon

Ormonde Hotel (Kilbride)

CCaatthh AArrrraann 12 & 2pmCBS Primary School

CCaatthh AArrrraann 12 & 2pm Graiguenamanagh Library

EEooiinn MMccNNaammeeee 2pmOrmonde Hotel (River Rm)

VViieennttoo YY FFuueeggoo 3pmOrmonde Hotel (Kilbride)

TThhee SSeessssiioonn 2pm & 5pm Ormonde Hotel (Kilbride)

FFaammiillyy PPaappeerrmmaakkiinngg WWoorrkksshhoopp Castlecomer 2pm-4pmMMuussiiccaall PPaaiinntt BBrruusshheess

VEC Art SpaceWorkshop 1 2pm-3pmWorkshop 2 4pm-5pm

BBeeggiinnnneerrss PPaappeerrmmaakkiinngg WWoorrkksshhoopp10.30am-12 noon (5-8 yrs)

2pm-4pm (8-12 yrs)Castlecomer

CCrreeaattuurree CCoossttuummeess 1110.30am-12.30pm, VEC Art Space

FFeessttiivvaall TTootteemm PPoollee DDaayy 113pm-5.30pm, VEC Art Space

CCrreeaattuurree CCoossttuummeess 22 10.30am-12.30pm, VEC Art Space

FFeessttiivvaall TTootteemm PPoollee DDaayy 223pm-5.30pm, VEC Art Space

CCrreeaattuurree CCoossttuummeess 3310.30am-12.30pm, VEC Art Space

FFeessttiivvaall TTootteemm PPoollee DDaayy 333pm-5.30pm, Castle Grounds*

AAllll iinn aa CCiirrccllee Workshop 1 10.30am-11.30amWorkshop 2 12.30pm-1.30pm

VEC Art Space

* Castle Grounds weather permitting,otherwise VEC

MMaayyhheemm PPooeettss WWoorrkksshhoopp 12 noon (9-11 yrs), 3pm (12-14 yrs)

Parade Tower

RRhhyytthhmm WWoorrkksshhooppss Group 1 (5-7 yrs) 12 noon-1pm

Group 4 (8-10 yrs) 2.30pm-3.30pm Carlton Ballroom

RRhhyytthhmm WWoorrkksshhooppssGroup 2 (5-7 yrs) 12 noon-1pm

Group 4 (8-10 yrs) 2.30pm-3.30pm Carlton Ballroom

RRhhyytthhmm WWoorrkksshhooppssGroup 3 (5-7 yrs) 12 noon-1pm

Group 4 (8-10 yrs) 2.30pm-3.30pmCarlton Ballroom

Theatre/ Readings/Storytelling/ Papermaking/Visual Art Performance Poetry/Rhythm Performance Poetry Music Workshops Workshops

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Day-by-day Main Programme

Visual Art Venues Failure THE MALTINGS Bas Jan Ader, Roman Signer, Museum in Progress at BUTLER HOUSE Vito Acconci, Caroline McCarthy, Deirdre PowerKilkenny ST FRANCIS ABBEY BREWERY Joe DugganArts JOHN’S GATE Steve Reinke, Gerard Byrne, Alex BagFestival PARNELL HOUSE Martin Healy

THE CRESCENT/CASTLEYARD Nevan LahartCASTLE GROUNDS Tina O’ConnellGRENNAN MILL Julie Henry, Tom Fitzgerald

Watergate Theatre

Street & Market CrossShopping Centre

Parade Tower

St Canice’s Cathedral

KilkennyOrmonde Hotel

Carlton Ballroom

VEC Art Space

CBS Primary School

OTHER CITY VENUES

OTHER COUNTY VENUES

Friday 11

The Old Tune 8pm

Ex Cathedra 8pm

Deirdre Madden 3pmFemi Kuti & The Positive

Force 10.30pm

Saturday 12

The Old Tune 8pm

The Big River Parade 4pm Mayhem Poets

1pm, 2pm, 3pm, 4pm

Tintype 9pm

Ex Cathedra 8pm

Darren Shan 2pm

Cath Arran12 noon & 2pm

Meet the Artists Hibernian Hotel 12 noon

Turning on TraditionRivercourt 9pm

Sunday 13

The Old Tune 8pm

Iarla Ó Lionáird 1pmTintype 6pm & 9pm

BackBeat PercussionQuartet 12 noon Mayhem Poets 3pm & 6pm

Cath Arran12 noon & 2pm

Five Corners Quintet & DJ Billy Scurry

Newpark Hotel 8pm

The Big River Parade inCallan 1.30pm

Monday 14

The Old Tune 8pm

Mayhem Poets Workshop12 noon & 3pm Alex Barclay & Tobias Hill 6pm Tintype 9pm

Finghin Collins 1.10pm

Visual Art Workshop2pm & 4pm

Cath Arran 12 noon & 2pm

Jacare Jungle 4pm & 6pm

Meet the Artists Hibernian Hotel 4pm

Madras Special Cleeres 9pm

Family PapermakingWorkshop Castlecomer

2pm Jack

Paulstown Hall 6pm

Legend

• Street Theatre

• Theatre/Comedy

• Classical Music

• Jazz/World/Traditional Music

• Literature

• Film

• Visual Art

• Young People

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Strand 2 NATIONAL CRAFT GALLERYBUTLER GALLERY72 JOHN STREET & WATERGATE THEATREKCAT, CALLANSCULPTURE AT KELLS, KELLS PRIORYRUDOLF HELTZEL GALLERYBERKELEY GALLERY, THOMASTOWNRED, ROSE INN ST7 BRIDGEWATER, DEAN ST.

Verge NO.1 ST CANICE’S STEPSTILBURY HOUSE, JAMES STBASSETS AT WOODSTOCK, INISTIOGE& KOZO STUDIO, THOMASTOWN

Tuesday 15

Strike 9.30pm

Adrian McKinty & Eoin McNamee 6pm

Tintype 9pm

Caoimhín Vallely 1.10pmQuartet for the

End of Time 8pm

Visual Art Workshop10.30am & 3pm

Jack 2pm & 4pm

Meet the Artists Hibernian Hotel 4pm

Beginning To End Cleeres 9pm

Papermaking WorkshopCastlecomer

10.30am & 2pmCath Arran

Graiguenamanagh Library12 noon & 2pm

Wednesday 16

The Old Tune 7pmStrike 9.30pm

Teatro Pachuco 11am, 1pm & 3pm

Argento ChamberEnsemble

6pm

Eliza Carthy & The Ratcatchers 9pm

Visual Art Workshop10.30am & 3pm

The Enormous Turnip2pm & 4pm

Thursday 17

The Old Tune 7pmStrike 9.30pm

Incredible Bull Circus

David Peace & Gordon Burn 6pm

Aynur 8pm

Eoin McNamee 2pm

Rhythm Workshops 12 noon & 2.30pm

Visual Art Workshop10.30am & 3pm*

Meet the Artists Hibernian Hotel 4pm

Ornate Johnsons Club 51 @ Kilford Arms

Hotel 9pm

Friday 18

The Old Tune 8pm

3epkano 6pm

Argento ChamberEnsemble 1.10pmEuropean Baroque

Orchestra 8pm

Jazz & Blues Revue 9pm

Rhythm Workshops12 noon & 2.30pm

Visual Art Workshop10.30am & 12.30pm

Egg & Spoon12 noon, 2pm & 4pm

Ornate JohnsonsClub 51 @ Kilford Arms

Hotel 9pm

Saturday 19

The Old Tune 8pm

Buí Bolg

3epkano 1pmWhite Raven 6pm

Argento ChamberEnsemble

8pm

Viento Y Fuego 3pmMasala 8pm

Rhythm Workshops12 noon & 2.30pm

Egg & Spoon12 noon, 2pm & 4pm

Ornate JohnsonsClub 51 @ Kilford Arms

Hotel 9pm

Sunday 20

The Old Tune 8pm

Buí Bolg

Solo @ St Canice’sMisha Alperin 3pm John Taylor 5.30pmStefano Bollani 8pm

The Session 2pm & 5pm

End of Festival Party!Langtons 9.30pm

All welcomeAdm €10

* 3pm workshop Castle Grounds, weather permitting

Funding Bodies

Programme Sponsors

Media Partners

General Sponsors

Hotel Sponsors

THE IRISH TIMES

MARKET CROSSSHOPPING CENTRE

POE KIELYHOGAN

KILKENNYVINTNERS

ASSOCIATION

KILKENNYINDUSTRIAL

DEVELOPMENTCOMPANY

THE KILKENNY ORMONDE HOTEL IS THE OFFICIAL ACCOMMODATION PROVIDER TO KILKENNY ARTS FESTIVAL. FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS SUPPORTED BY CITYMART.Festival information, reviews, artists interviews, and ticket give-aways broadcast each day of the Festival on KCLR 96fm.

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CASTLECOMERBallyragget

Freshford

Kilmanagh

Tullaroan Goresbridge

PAULSTOWN

Gowran

Bennettsbridge

THOMASTOWN

GRAIGUENAMANAGH

New Ross

INISTIOGE

CALLAN KELLS

Knocktopher

Ballyhale

Mullinavat

Carrick-on-Suir

Mooncoin

Glenmore

Slieverue

Stoneyford

Urlingford

KILKENNY

DEAN STREET

THEBUTTS

ST CAN

ICE’S P

LACE

CHAPEL LA

NE

ORMONDE STREET

ORM

ONDE

ROA

D

PARNELL STREET

STEP

HEN’

S ST

REET

DOM

INIC

STR

EET

COLLIER’S L

ANE

WILLIAM STR

EET

FRIARY STR

EET ROSE

INN

STREE

T

LOWER NEW STREET

GAOL ROAD

KICKHAM STREET

NEW BUILDING LANE

STREET

ABBEY

KIERAN’S STREET

BLACK MILL STREET

MAUDLIN STREET

DUBLIN ROAD

CASTLECOMER ROAD

WALKIN

STRE

ET

POTNTZ LANE

JAMES STREET

IRISH TOWN

VICAR STREET

PARLIAMENT STREET

HIGH STREET

THE PARADE

PATRICK STREETPATRICK

STREETUPPER

JOHN’S BRIDGE

JOHN

’S ST

. LOW

ER

JOHN

’S ST

. UPP

ER

CASTLE ROAD

CASTLEGROUNDS

TOCASTLECOMER

TONEWPARK

HOTEL

TO KELLS

TO GRAIGUENAMANAGH

THOMASTOWNINISTIOGE

TO MOUNT JULIET

CONRAD

TO LYRATH

ESTATE HOTEL

TO HOTEL KILKENNYTO CALLAN

Kilkenny CastleThe ParadeTower

Butle

rGa

llery

Kilkenny

Ormonde Hotel

Market Cross

Shopping Centre

St Francis

Abbey Brewery

Watergate

Theatre

St. Canice’s Cathedral

ROUTE OF THEFESTIVAL PARADE

Kilkenny River Court Hotel

LangtonHouseHotelNo. 72

KilfordArms

Hibernian

Hotel

Kilkenny City and County Map

Box

Office

CastleYard &NCG

RedAesthetic

ButlerHouse

Heltzel

Gallery

The CarltonBallroom

Parnell

House

CBS PrimarySchool

VEC Art

Space

Cleere’sPub

No. 1 St Canice’s

Steps

No. 7Bridgewater

TheMaltings

TilburyHouse

John’sGate

GRANGES ROAD

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