GREY SKIES and soft rain greeted a choir of “sacred singers” from the west African state of Mali, who arrived in Kilkenny yesterday to launch the annual arts festival, which begins today.
Black Machine spokesman Diatourou said first impressions of Ireland were positive. He was “trés content” to discover a new land full of “amitié” and impressed by his first sighting of a medieval castle.
The group, accompanied by Belgian jazz band Akamoon, are among 200 artists participating in a festival which the local authorities hope will provide an economic boost to the city.
Organisers have promised “10 exhilarating days of art to change the way you think, music to get you up dancing, and performances to break your heart”.
In a nod to the difficult economic circumstances, 2,000 free tickets are being provided for the children’s programme of events.
The festival’s chief executive Damian Downes said ticket sales were “down about 9 per cent on last year, but picking up strongly in the last few days”.
Events already sold out include readings by the poets Seamus Heaney and Dennis O’Driscoll and a performance by Xi’ An Si from Zhenghzhou, who will play traditional Irish airs on Chinese instruments.
Free events include access to all visual arts and crafts exhibitions and an outdoor event in the Castle Park tomorrow night by a Portuguese physical theatre group who will celebrate “Kilkenny 400” with an “aerial acrobatics” display. Among the extensive fringe activities is a visiting exhibition from Galway’s Bold art gallery of paintings by Russian artist Elena Mikhailova.
Many Kilkenny residents will, however, depart for Dublin this weekend to see their team play Waterford in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final at Croke Park.
There has been some criticism in recent years that the festival was "too high brow" and "ignored local culture". Former Kilkenny hurler Eddie Keher last week said that "for many years the festival ignored the great art of hurling" – the cultural activity for which the county is most renowned. But he was pleased to note that this year's programme features a seminar, GAA: Blood and Thunder – Hurling and Life in 1930s Ireland, chaired by historian Diarmaid Ferriter. Among themes to be discussed is: What Did Lads from Rural Ireland Make of New York in the Jazz Age?– an exploration of the experiences of the Kilkenny All-Ireland hurling team who visited America in 1933.
Mr Downes said that other highlights, for which tickets are still available, include a visit by English theatre director Peter Brook for a staging of his adaption of Shakespeare’s sonnets, Love is my Sin; and tomorrow’s Le Concert Spirituel, a performance of French baroque music at St Canice’s Cathedral.
He was also “delighted” to announce that Kilkenny’s Mayor, Green Party councillor Malcolm Noonan, is one of 200 volunteers who will assist with the running of the festival which should generate €8 million for the local economy and attract “80,000 visitors”.
For the full programme and tickets see www.kilkennyarts.ie