Festival of Ireland launches on St Partick's Day

A LITTLE bit of Ireland comes to town from Friday - St Patrick's Day - as Edinburgh's Festival of Ireland presents more than 20 events throughout the Capital over the next nine days.
Edinburgh's Festival of IrelandEdinburgh's Festival of Ireland
Edinburgh's Festival of Ireland

Running until 25 March, there’s something for everyone: music, song, dance, comedy, film, storytelling, family gatherings, free dance tuition, Irish language groups and talks on the history of Scotland and Ireland.

Events include a talk by Ireland’s Ambassador to the UK, Dan Mulhall entitled Scottish–Irish Relations: Past, Present and Post-Brexit.

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This talk by the Irish Ambassador and Irish Consul General in Edinburgh looks at the rich relationship between Scotland and Ireland.

It’s made highly topical by the challenges of Brexit in the very month the UK government is to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty.

There are also family-friendly events such as Children’s Ceili and Storytelling organised by the Fallon Academy of Irish Dance, and Waking Ned Devine, a film show with Irish comedy; follow the antics of his ‘friends’ when an Irish lottery winner dies of shock.

Another Festival highlight will be Celtic Caledonia, a Celtic Faery Tale, which is a creative re-imagining of the meeting between the ancient clans of Gaels and Picts.

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Travel with the Gaels from Ireland as they venture to the Scottish Kingdom of the Picts, the clash of cultures and the founding of Caledonia.

Other events include a free Irish Set Dancing taster session, Irish comedians, Irish language for beginners and the traditional come-all-ye Irish music and song pub session.

The Grand Finale Concert, an Irish-Scottish Dance Spectacular with award-winning Siamsoir Irish Dancers, will take place on 25 March.

A full programme of events can be found at www.edinburghsfestivalofireland.org