A new festival taking place in Ireland this year is the Waterford Seafaring Festival of Music & Song. It was officially launched by the Mayor of Waterford, Cllr. John Halligan, in the Theatre Royal on Thursday 4th February.
Speaking to invited guests and sponsors, he said he welcomed the Festival for the City of Waterford which has a proud maritime tradition and he looked forward to seeing (and hearing!) all the groups that will gather in the City, for what should be a lively weekend of music and song.
This three day event will be staged in hotels, bars, along the Waterfront and other outdoor venues from Friday 28th May 2010 to Sunday 30th May, with daytime and evening entertainment.
Waterford was the main port into Ireland for many years and has a long association with maritime matters and a heritage of seafaring that reaches out to all corners of the world. Sadly much of the seagoing activities have diminished over time and most of their maritime artifacts lie at the bottom of the ocean, lost to Atlantic gales and tragedy of war. However the festival can recall the traditions of seafaring in music and song which accompanied these sailing ships around the world.
The Festival is being organised by the well known sea shanty group Hooks and Crookes. This group got together for the Tall Ships visit to Waterford in 2005, and they haven’t stopped singing since! In the past few years they have performed at Maritime Festivals in the UK, Holland, Norway, Germany and France. They have been guests at many Irish festivals, in Birr, Clare, Dublin, Wexford and last year on the Quays of Galway for the Round the World Yacht Race Event. They have researched songs of the sea and have produced a number of CDs. With the experience gained abroad they are now bringing home this vibrant aspect of Maritime Heritage. They have invited their many friends and acquaintances to add a truly International flavour to this Festival. The line-up for this year has just been announced and it includes Rum and Shrub, Falmouth Shout, Short Drag Roger, Dick Miles, Baggywrinkle, and many more.
For more information visit Hooks & Crookes website