Schedule

"We had a great time. The music was fantastic! My daughter and her friend enjoyed the crafts very much."
-- A.H. Corvallis

"This was a wonderful event. Thanks to all who made it happen."
-- M.P. Eugene

"GREAT job. Thank you. This was my very first Celtic fest and I thoroughly enjoyed myself."
-- S.M. Eugene

"I loved what I was able to take in -- wish it was stretched out over a week's worth of events."
-- C.R. Eugene

Festival Overview

Doors Open 10:30am • Family Activities 11:00-5:00
Daytime Performances & Workshops 11:00-6:00
Irish Ceili Dance 3:30-4:50
Food Served until 5:00

Art Room
12:30 – 1:50	Irish Calligraphy Workshop	Anne Merydith	Learn to write in the uncial font similar to The Book of Kells by a long time member and officer of the Valley Calligrapher’s Guild. This workshop is limited to 20 participants. Bring a calligraphy pen (and ink) or we will provide one for you to borrow. Paper will be provided. All skill levels welcome.
2:00 – 3:20	Irish Language Workshop	Gerry Carthy	Learn to speak some Irish from an Irishman from County Mayo. All skill levels welcome.
3:30 – 4:50	Celtic Knot Workshop	Anne Merydith	Learn to draw Celtic Knots from Anne Merydith who has taught similar workshops during calligraphy gatherings. The workshop is limited to 20 participants. Paper & pencils provided.
Band Room
11:00 – 12:20	Learn Chorus Songs from Ireland	Michael Black	Learn songs from Ireland from a member of Ireland’s foremost family of song. Chorus songs are fun to sing and easy to learn and often the chorus is sung by the audience in a performance. Singers of all levels are welcome.
12:30 – 1:50	Uilleann Pipe Workshop	Eliot Grasso	Eliot Grasso has been playing Irish music on a number of instruments since the age of 7 and is an excellent Uilleann Piper. Bring your pipes and learn a tune or two, technique and some history.
2:00 – 2:50	The Poetry of Patrick Kavanagh	Mark Quigley	Mark Quigley, an English professor at the University of Oregon whose area of expertise is Irish Literature, will present information about one of Ireland’s underappreciated 20th century writers. Patrick Kavanagh’s poetry is both rich and accessible to all levels of readers.
3:00 – 3:50	Irish Stone Masonry, Walls and Dwellings	Alan Ash	Alan Ash has been involved in historic stonemasonry restorations since 1983 including rebuilding a Traditional Irish Stone House transported from Ireland to Virginia for a museum. Learn about the history of Irish stone masonry from a master mason.
4:00 – 4:50	Art & Culture of the Aran Islands and West of Ireland	Dianne Dugaw	Dianne Dugaw, an English professor at the University of Oregon, has specialized in music, culture and folklore of the British Isles and Ireland. Dianne will pique and satisfy your interest in the art & culture of the Aran Islands and West of Ireland.
Choir Room
11:00 - 12:20	Learn Sea Shanties	Shay Black	Sing Sea Shanties with a member of Ireland’s foremost family of song.
12:30 – 1:50	Guitar Workshop	Dave Cory	Learn how to back Irish music from a highly respected guitar and banjo player of Irish music, who just returned from spending several months in Ireland. Dave will focus on rhythm, chords and melody. Guitarists of all levels are welcome.
2:00 – 2:50	Traditional Irish Music on Uilleann Pipes, Banjo and Guitar	Eliot Grasso & Dave Cory	Come listen to this awesome duo. How often do we get to hear a master Uilleann piper and master banjo player in Eugene?
3:00 – 3:50	Storytelling	Yvonne Young	Yvonne is a prolific teller of Irish stories for all ages. Not only enjoy the stories, but learn about the stories the Irish grew up with in days of old.
4:00 – 4:50	Traditional Irish Music	James Wilson	James' music mixes classical and contemporary elements of Irish music with a strong respect for the tradition. His performance will feature jigs, reels, slow airs, O'Carolan tunes, hornpipes, and a few polkas on guitar, mandolin, bouzouki, low "d" whistle, pennywhistle, and his father's one-row Hohner button melodeon and a bit about the tunes.
Little Theater
11:00 – 12:20	Learn Songs from Dublin	Martin Black	Learn to sing songs from Dublin from a member of Ireland’s foremost family of song who lives in Dublin.
12:30 – 1:50	Whistle Workshop	Gerry Carthy	Learn tin whistle tunes and technique from Gerry Carthy, a musician who grew up in County Mayo in Ireland. Tin whistlers of all levels are welcome.
2:00 – 2:50	Traditional Irish Music	Ceili Mor	Come listen to this Celtic Music class from the University of Oregon’s School of Music and Dance, taught by harpist Laura Zaerr.
3:00 – 3:50	Irish Dance Workshop	Murray Irish Dancers	Have you ever been to a session and wanted to dance to a jig or reel? Come learn how at this workshop.
4:00 – 4:50	Harp Circle	Janet Naylor, Laura Zaerr, Noah Brenner, AnnaLee Foster	Local harpists will play solo and group tunes and discuss the origin of the tunes.
Cafeteria
12:30 – 1:50	Irish Fiddle Workshop	Dan Compton	Dan Compton, an accomplished fiddler from Portland, plays in a Celtic group called Raven and has several CDs on Irish session tunes. Dan will teach technique on Irish fiddling as well as a tune or two. All skill levels welcome.
2:00 – 3:20	Bodhran, Bones & Spoons – Playing Irish Percussion	Vash	Bring your percussion instrument and learn to play from one of the finest players of Irish/Celtic percussion in Oregon.
3:30 – 4:50	Ceili Dance	Caller and Musicians	Learn and do social Irish dancing – for people of all ages.
Auditorium Main Stage
1:00 – 1:45	Songs of Ireland	Sheldon Choir and The Dublinaires	Come listen to two fantastic choirs from Sheldon High School sing songs of Ireland.
2:00 – 2:40	Traditional Irish Step Dancing	Murray Irish Dancers	Enjoy a high energy and highly skilled group of traditional Irish step dancers from Portland.
3:00 – 3:45	Traditional Irish Music with a lot of Energy	Tonn Nua	This group of five local teenage musicians will get you stomping and dancing to beat and rhythm of Irish music.
4:00 – 4:40	Traditional Irish Music	Gerry Carthy	Gerry Carthy, who grew up in County Mayo, plays banjo, guitar, tin whistle, low D whistle, fiddle and vocals, and often has great stories to tell.
5:00 – 6:00	Traditional Irish Music	Circled By Hounds	Circled By Hounds brings their high energy brand of original & traditional acoustic Celtic music to bars, pubs, music festivals & street corners in Portland Oregon, the Pacific Northwest and across the country.