Wanted: volunteers to play Kodo drums, Djembe drums, timbales, military snake drums, bass drums and tom-toms in the Galway Arts Festival in two months. Macnas, the street theatre company, says no experience is necessary, but enthusiasm and commitment will certainly help. It has just acquired what may be the largest collection of drums on the island, thanks to a grant from the Arts Council.
The co-ordinator is Johnny Donnelly, former drummer with the Saw Doctors and now musical director with Macnas. He has been teaching with the street theatre company for the last four to five years, but decided to work with it on a more permanent basis several months ago.
He will be directing the Macnas drumming show (Meet at the River) in next weekend's St Patrick's Festival in Dublin. The full complement of 120 new and 60 old drums will take to the streets of Galway on July 22nd for the Macnas performance which is normally one of the highlights of the annual festival. For more information on drumming, contact Macnas at the Black Box, Galway, at (091) 561462.
"Bridging the Gap" is the title of an "intergenerational festival" in Connemara which aims to transfer skills like basket-making, lace-making, crochet, Celtic embroidery, home baking and crafts to younger folk.
Hosted by Ballinakill Active Age group, it takes place every Wednesday (10.30 a.m. to 3 p.m.) until the end of this month in Teach Ceoil, Tully, in Renvyle. Four national schools from Lettergesh, Tully, Letterfrack and Eagle's Nest are linking up with senior citizens' groups from Cleggan, Roundstone, Cashel, Ballyconneely, Recess and Leenane.
Youthreach and Adolescent Support are also involved, and the initiative is funded by Galway County Council, People in Need, FAS and the Ireland Fund. "Masked musicians, mysterious dancers, nobility and peasantry" are promised when the Galway Early Music Festival opens on Thursday in the city. This year, Christ Church Baroque Orchestra, Ireland's only national period instrument orchestra, gives its first concert in Galway, and is ably assisted by the award-winning Cois Cladaigh Chamber Choir.
The York Waits, a well-known renaissance town band from York, promise shawms, sackbuts, recorders, drum and tabor in an evening concert, and in a special presentation to schools. The programme also includes 15th century Italian dance by Veronique Daniels of the Schola Cantorum, Basel; the dancers of Ren aidanse and musicians from the internationally acclaimed Les Haulz et les Bas. Galway Early Music is at (091) 564654. The website is www.galwayearlymusic.com The North American poet, writer and teacher, Thomas Krampf, is working with the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar, Co Mayo, for this month as part of the centre's writer-in-residence initiative.
He will read in Ballinrobe Library on May 22nd at 8 p.m. and in the Linenhall on May 30th at 8.30 p.m. He will also give impromptu readings every Friday until June 1st in Castlebar. More details from the Linenhall at (094) 23733 or e-mail: linenhall@anu.ie
Diarmuid de Faoite's show on Padraic O Conaire, which he performed in Padraig's Place on Galway Docks some time back, is on stage in the Taibhdhearc na Gaillimhe theatre from tomorrow to Saturday. Tickets are £5, with group rates for schools, from the theatre at (091) 563600.