Dancers and musicians light up Cork Midsummer Festival

The Cork Midsummer Festival is set to ignite the city with a vibrant celebration of arts and culture, centered around the theme 'Time to Play.' As the longest day of the year approaches, dancers, musicians, and performers are preparing a wide-ranging program of events designed to engage audiences both on and off the streets.

“

This show, Naoi Déag Seachtó Cúig or 1975 is inspired by, and based on the first Bothy Band album.

A standout performance will be the dance-theatre show '1975/Naoi Déag Seachtó Cúig,' presented by choreographer Michael Keegan Dolan's Teaċ Daṁsa company. This production honors the 50th anniversary of the seminal debut album by the celebrated Irish traditional and folk music group, The Bothy Band. Dolan explained that the album and its original musicians served as a significant inspiration during his youth, prompting him to explore its meaning through dance.

Dolan highlighted the profound connection between performers and audiences, stating that theatre cannot exist without its viewers. He finds performing at festivals like Cork's particularly rewarding due to the positive atmosphere. "The invitation to the audiences to come to our shows is important as theatre can't exist without an audience," he said. "I love dancing in my bedroom on my own, but there's something else to be dancing in front of 1,000 or 2,000 eyes."

“

the band's original line up of musicians, Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill, Micheál Ó Domhnaill, Donal Lunny, Paddy Keenan, Tommy Peoples, and Matt Malloy who all played on that first Bothy Band release, were a "source of inspiration to my family and to me when I was a young fella, and 50 years after that, I decided it was time to have a look at what that kind of meant, and make it into this dance".

The choreographer also spoke about the therapeutic power of theatre, especially in challenging times. "I think we are living in difficult times, where humanity is kind of under assault from all sort of directions and I think theatre is a place where we can assuage some of those pressures, anxieties and fears," Dolan remarked. He believes theatre can foster a sense of unity and connection among people, which is fundamental to his artistic vision.

“

Cork is really important to us because we live out in West Kerry, so it's like a cultural hub for us

Festival director Lorraine Maye echoed the sentiment of 'Time to Play,' describing the program as a "really brilliant mix." The festival aims to offer something for everyone, bringing a dynamic cultural experience to Cork.

“

because the philosophy, or the feeling at a festival, is really good and it's great to be part of this