Articles from 2018
Mary Ann McCracken Show at Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival 7.30 pm Thurs 10th May 2018
Jane and Maurice are delighted to be presenting their show telling the story of Mary Ann McCracken’s life through words and folk-song at the historic 1st Presbyterian Church, Rosemary Street, Belfast. It’s particularly poignant to be performing this show in Rosemary Street where Mary Ann and the McCrackens lived for so many years.
Maurice and Jane are marking the occasion by re-releasing their 1995 album ‘Mary Ann McCracken 1770-1866’ featuring songs and readings from the show.
Jane and Maurice will be joined on stage by Joe McHugh on uilleann pipes and whistle.
Tickets from http://cqaf.com/mary-ann-mccracken/
Tickets £8 from http://cqaf.com/mary-ann-mccracken/
Cushendun Big Arts Weekend: Songs of the Handloom Weavers Sat 5th May 2015
Jane talks about the old Sunflower Folk Club BBC Folk on Two Awards, Belfast 4th April 2018
Jane gives an interview to BBC Northern Ireland Online on her time as resident singer at the old Sunflower Folk Club founded by Geoff Harden back in the early 1980’s. Fergus O’Hare takes up the story with the present-day Sunflower Folk Club which meets every Thurs evening in Union St. Belfast. The piece was recorded as part of the BBC Folk on Two Awards which took place in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall on the 4th April 2018.
https://canvas-story.bbcrewind.co.uk/sites/sunflower-folk-club/
Belfast Hills Partnership Conference at Belfast Castle 14th March 2018
The Gallery Folk Club, 110 Dundrum Rd, Newcastle Sun 18th March 2018 7.30pm
International Women’s Day at Sunflower Folk Club 8th March 2018
Jane was delighted to be MC for the night at a special Women’s Day celebration at the Sunflower Folk Club. A packed house heard from a host of female talent with Tiona McSherry taking to the stage with her band for the second half. Thanks to Maire and Fergus O’Hare for organising a really special night!
Millies Conway Mill, Falls Road, Belfast Sat 10th March 10am – 3pm
Pop into Conway Mill’s Saturday market and enjoy a range of performances from local actors including Gerard Jordan and Antoinette Morelli and musicians Jane Cassidy and Maurice Leyden.
The music will be linen-related traditional songs, gathered by Maurice for his book ‘A Social History of the Ulster Linen Industry through Folk Song’.
The drama will include performances of The Doffer’s Tale by Rosaleen Walsh and extracts from Lay Up Your Ends by Martin Lynch and Charabanc.
There will also a number of historical talks from Myrtle Hill, as well as some amazing footage of the mills and its workers from the Northern Visions archive.
Remembering Bunting Festival 16th & 17th Feb 2018
Jane and Maurice are delighted to be performing their Mary Ann McCracken Show with Jaff Piobaire at the inaugural ‘Remembering Bunting Festival’ on the 16th Feb in the Duke of York Belfast. The festival takes place on the 16th and 17th Feb with concerts and talks celebrating the life and work of Edward Bunting, musician transcriber and musicologist.
Ceol Bunting Festival Final 2
Human Chain at The Seamus Heaney Homeplace Sunday 4th March 2018 5.30 pm
Maurice and Jane are invited by Kabosh Theatre Group to perform as part of the Human Chain event at the Seamus Heaney Homeplace.
ArtsEkta in partnership with Kabosh Theatre Company are taking to the Helicon stage to present this showcase of their community theatre project ‘Human Chain’. Participants from across Mid-Ulster, have been expanding their theatre skills and working with a professional company to create a new piece of theatre.
This event was postponed in Feb due to snow.