“Dance like a wave on the sea”
Final preparations are being made in the villages of Drumcliffe and Rathcormac for the 9th annual Cos Cos Sean Nós festival which opens next week.
The Cos Cos festival committee has put together an exciting programme of events to suit all ages and tastes.
This year’s festival runs over six days from Tuesday May 5th to Sunday May 10th and will feature a vast array of dance events, competitions, workshops, céilís and seisiúns.
The festival will open on Tuesday evening, May 5th, with the Cos Cos 8K Run and Walk in Rathcormac. The walk starts at 6.30pm, the run will begin at 7pm.
Key highlights this year include the Festival Concert on Friday 8th which will feature some of festival’s established acts alongside new artists such as ‘Rip the Calico’ who’ll be making their Cos Cos debut.
The main festival céilí on Saturday night (9th) in Rathcormac Hall will feature The Mighty Johnny Reidy Céili Band. A big favourite with set dancers nationally, the Kerry-based musicians are set to serve up a rousing evening of music and entertainment (Adm: €10).
Well known Roscommon dancer Ger Butler will lead the Sean Nós dance workshops for beginners and improvers.
And, of course, the hugely popular Sunday morning outdoor dancing session at the History Centre in Rathcormac is sure to be a big draw again (weather permitting). That’ll be followed by one of the signature events of the festival: the Sean Nós dancing competitions in Collins Pub which attract competitors from all over Ireland. The competitions cater for dancers aged 8 to 80!
Children’s activities form a central part of the festival weekend.
They can try their hand (and their feet!) at Sean Nós dancing for the first time.
There will also be a youth showcase concert, enabling children to display their musical and dance talents. Musician Peter Crann will also lead a ‘Drumming for Everyone’ workshop on Sunday 10th in Rathcormac Hall. This event has proved hugely popular with kids and parents in previous years.
“This is a community and family celebration,” explains Cos Cos Festival Director Brenda O’Callaghan. “Since it began nine years ago, we’ve always strived to celebrate creativity as well as our local culture and heritage.”
While Sean Nós dancing and traditional music is at the core of the Cos Cos festival, the programme offers a variety of other arts events.
These include a ‘Vintage Yeats’ poetry event as part of National Poetry Day with Drumcliffe poet Nora McGillen on Thursday 7th, a Bookmaking craft workshop with Catherine Fanning on Saturday 9th. And local historian Chris Branley will host a special walk and talk along the Diarmuid and Gráinne Trail.
Most of the events are free.
The full programme is available to view on coscos.ie
You can also follow the festival on facebook and twitter.
The Annual Cos Cos Colmcille Pageant will be a special twilight event on Sunday, June 7th, at 9pm at Drumcliffe Churchyard.
This year’s pageant is entitled: ‘Under Bare Benbulben’ and will feature an historic meeting between St Colmcille and W.B. Yeats.
(Source – Sligo Today – 25/04/2015)