Are you getting Liverpool Fringe Festival withdrawal symptoms? Fear not another one is here! As one Festival ends, another one begins.  

The Liverpool Irish Festival which began in 2003 as an Irish Music Festival, has grown to become a ten day creative explosion of all things Irish.

Thursday the 19th October marks the official launch of The Irish Festival at the Liverpool Irish Centre in the North of the City, the Irish Communties’ home since the 1990’s, having previously been at The Wellington Rooms since 1960s on Mount Pleasant. London Irish Folk Rock band The London Lasses will be playing and there will be the usual speeches. The event is free, bookable on Eventbrite. There is even a free drink on arrival.

This Year, it is the biggest one yet and offers talks, family days, plays, musical workshops,  films, musical events and a Ceilidh.

Leaflets and newspapers have been delivered all over the usual places in the City by a committed team of volunteers over

the last three weeks with all the  information you need. You can also  gleen all the information you need from the website.

Highlights include a double bill of two plays upstairs at LEAF on Tuesday 24th October by Irish performers which is a surprising bijou venue and a lovely intimate space. A Bolt from the Blue and for The Love of Mary. Both plays exploring what it means to be Irish. The first,  a personal account of surving a near death experience. And Green and Blue at Hope Street Theatre on Thursday 26th October. A play exploring the harsh and sometimes humorous reality of patrolling the border at the height of the troubles.

There is also a talk at The University of Liverpool on the 25 Year Anniversary of The Good Friday Agreement at The University of Liverpool on the same night which is a free event and bookable via Eventbrite

And a Family Day on Saturday the 21st October at the Museum of Liverpool with workshops and events for all the Family on the which is free to attend. Even a walking tour from members of the Liverpool Irish Famine Trail team.

There will be two wonderful events at the exciting new venue of The Tung Auditorium.

Lisa Lamb ,  Actor and Musician and an original member of Celtic Woman will perform. Nightvisioning: Songs and Stories from the Hearth. It will include musicians from the North West and New material especially composed for the Liverpool Irish Festival on Friday 20th October.

It is the hundredth birthday of Brendhan Behan and we have Brendan, son of Dublin. It is a Musical Play re telling his short but extraordinary life who famously said he was a “drinker with a writing problem” on Saturday the 28th October.

And 2 Indie Cork Films at the Festival’s newest venue FACT.

A Ceilidh on the 28th at the Irish Centre which this Year is facilitated by Arts Groupie and fancy dress competition  ( obviously Halloween or Saiwhain themed).

The Festival runs from Thursday 19th October to 29th October ( future dates can be found on the Festival website).

N.B You, me or the Wallpaper at the Sefton Park Palmhouse on Wednesday 25th of October has now been cancelled until November and will be relisted.

Please go to https://www.liverpoolirishfestival.com/ for all the fabulous events available. Links to buy tickets are also on the website. Have a peruse and see what tickles your fancy. Look forward to seeing you!

 Written by, Clare McGrath