REKINDLE Festival Day will return to Parliament Street, Ennistymon on the 16th of August as part of National Heritage Week
FRIDAY 15th AUGUST
LASRAÍ - OPENING CONCERT
Rekindle will launch with a very special concert featuring performances from some of the finest traditional musicians and dancers from Ireland and around the world, including renowned Piper Paddy Keenan, Dancer Edwina Guckian and singer Roisin El Cherif.
SATURDAY 16th AUGUST
REKINDLE FESTIVAL DAY
Register for the Festival Day for free here.
SATURDAY 16th AUGUST
REKINDLE FESTIVAL DAY
Register for the Festival Day for free here.
FESTIVAL HUB - AT THE COURTHOUSE GALLERY 12-4pm
Meet the Makers (12-4pm) - Skill demonstrations throughout the day including basket making, hide tanning, natural building with cob from Zack Halliday, traditional woodworking from Eoin Reardon, Hide Tanning with Mo, knitting from Carol Head and the Galway Knitters willow weaving, stone carving, straw crafting and lots more
Land and Lore Maker’s Market (12-4pm) featuring stalls from local producers and organisations with a focus on heritage and traditional skills including Savage Craic, Slieve Aughty Honeys, Scald Coffee Truck and lots more
Live Traditional Music (12-1pm) from Ennistymon Comhaltas.
Outdoor Céilí Mór (1-4pm) hosted by Louise O’Connor with the Rekindle band - followed by The North Clare Refugee All Stars
REKINDLE HERITAGE TRAIL - THROUGHOUT ENNISTYMON 10–8pm
All limited capacity events will be on a first come, first served basis.
Ennistymon Shopfronts Heritage Walk (10-12pm, meet at the Falls Hotel at 9.45am) Explore the historic shopfronts of and their occupants based on the 1901 and 1911 census. This unique heritage walk is given by town planner, artist and musician Brendan P. Lynch. Booking is essential via text to 0863473069 or bplynch@hotmail.com. Places are limited. Finishes at Byrne’s Fiddle Shop and Watercolour Gallery for a few fiddle tunes.
Shared Steps: Fostering Community through Tradition with Edwina Guckian (11 - 12.30 - Pot Duggans)
Traditional Culture & Community Building Edwina Guckian’s will host a workshop Highlighting the role of traditional music and dance in fostering community bonds at at Pot Duggans 10 - 11.30am
Traditional Piping Workshop with Blackie O’Connell from Piping Heaven Piping Hell (12 - 1.30 Cooleys)
Renowned uilleann piper Blackie O’Connell invites participants to explore the music, techniques, and heritage of Ireland’s most iconic pipes. This workshop offers a chance to learn about the instrument’s unique sound, its place in Irish tradition, and the skills behind the playing.
Living Waterways: Heritage & Ecology of the Inagh River
With Feidhlim Harty (12–1, just below the Falls Hotel)
Join Feidhlim for a guided riverside walk exploring the Inagh River’s biodiversity, ecology, and cultural heritage. Along an accessible path, he will share insights on water quality, river care, and traditional ecological knowledge, blending local stories with practical approaches to caring for waterways.
Discussion and Demonstration on Traditional Blacksmithing with Reece Foster (The Courthouse Gallery , Parliament St, 1.00-2.15pm) - We will be chatting to Reece Forster about his journey into traditional metalworking and blacksmithing from Saul Forged, where he operates a 270 year old forge in Mountshannon and about the growth of sharing traditional skills to a wide audience
Traditional Palestinian Tatreez Workshop (2.30 - 3.30 The Courthouse Gallery)
Join Reem, a Clare-based Palestinian craftsperson, for a hands-on Tatreez workshop. Through her company Gorza Ireland Reem shares the art of Palestinian embroidery and the stories stitched into every design
Live Woodwork Demonstration (Eugene’s Pub on Main St, 2pm-3pm) - Leitrim Chair demonstration with Eoin Reardon at Eugene’s Pub.
Straw Mumming Workshop with Maeve Collins
(12:00– 4pm, The Courthouse Gallery) Maeve Collins will be demonstrating strawcraft, where you’ll learn the traditional skill of making mummers’ hats. Along the way, Maeve will share the history and folklore of mumming in Ireland, offering insights into how this age-old craft has been used in seasonal celebrations and community gatherings. A creative and hands-on way to connect with heritage while crafting your own piece of living tradition.
Storytelling & Music Session with (Salmon Books, 4pm-6pm) - Storytelling and traditional bolivian tunes from Americo and finishing with Tunes with Sonja, Bart and friends.
The Heritage of Art and Artists in Ennistymon (Foust Gallery on Main St, open door 12- 4pm) - Tour the Foust Gallery with artist Sara Foust who will showcase her own landscape artworks and explore the heritage of art and artists in County Clare.
Traditional Skincare with Airmid (Airmid Shop on Main St, Open door 12-4pm) - Owners of organic handmade skincare shop ‘Airmid’ Kevin Lynch and Lisa Robinson host an open shop and talk about the traditional processes involved in making natural, handmade, small batch skincares.
CLOSING SESSION
Closing Session at Cooley’s Pub (6pm - 8pm)
Traditional Singing session with Fear an Tí Mick O’Riordan. Mick is a singer and musician based in Doolin and has been singing and playing music in County Clare for the last twenty years. Open session - everyone is welcome to bring a song and join in.
Rekindle Festival of Lost Skills is funded by the National Heritage Council, the Arts Council and Clare County Council.
For any questions or queries, you’re most welcome to get in touch with Aoife on rekindle@ourcommonknowledge.org or on 0834425819.
For any questions or queries, you’re most welcome to get in touch with Aoife and Brendan on rekindle@ourcommonknowledge.org or on 0834425819.