The Armagh Rhymers are a folk music and theatre ensemble based in Northern Ireland whose work is inspired by traditional Irish performances such as Mummers' plays, Wren Boys, and biddymen.[2]
The Armagh Rhymers
The Armagh Rhymers performing at Aonach Mhacha in March 2023
The Armagh Rhymers performing at Aonach Mhacha in March 2023
The Armagh Rhymers group was founded in the 1970s by Dara Vallely,[3] and is one of the few groups on the island of Ireland preserving the tradition of rhyming and mumming.[4][5] The group perform using woven flax, willow, and straw masks,[4] inspired by the traditional Mummers' masks with outfits mostly made from hessian sackcloth. They incorporate storytelling, music, poetry and song into their performances.[6]
The group have a collection of over 30 masks used in different performances. The oldest mask is a horse's head made by James Mulholland when the group was founded. Their performances are seasonal, marking the Irish festivals including Saint Brigid's Day, Saint Patrick's Day, Bealtaine, and Wren Day and have inspired the poets Seamus Heaney and Michael Longley.[3] The group is the oldest professional theatre in education company.[2]
They tour internationally to festivals including Milk International Festival, Canada, AssiteJ Children's Theatre Festival Korea, Milwaukee Irish Fest, TradFest Edinburgh,[7] and the IMBOLC Festival.[8] They have performed numerous times at the Glastonbury Festival since the 1980s.[6] The group played with Lambeg drummers at the Ulster Folk Museum at an event called Mummers and Drummers in 2019.[5]
Past members of the group include Peter J. Shortall, Brendan Bailey,[3] and Barry Lynch.[9]
Referencesedit
^"Our Performers". Armagh Rhymers. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
^ abNí Nuadháin, Maireád (8 October 1989). "Armagh Rhymers". RTÉ Archives. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
^ abcBailie, Stuart (24 December 2022). "Rhymers and reason". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
^ abFox, Matt (26 December 2022). "Mumming: The Boxing Day hunt, but not as you know it". BBC News. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
^ abHarris, Arlene (26 December 2021). "Keeping Mumm on our ancient heritage… folk tradition dating back hundreds of 200 years kept alive by band of devoted artists in straw disguise". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
^ abStewart, Linda (30 March 2013). "Forget the Stones, Glastonbury's star attraction is the Armagh Rhymers". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
^"Armagh Rhymers". www.womex.com. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
^McDaid, Brendan (2 December 2022). "Folk & trad music festival Imbolc will be returning to Derry in January 2023". Derry Journal. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
^Breslin, John (17 May 2023). "Musician Barry Lynch remembered as 'a lighthouse of a man' after shock death". The Irish News. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
External linksedit
The Mummers Play at Home
April 10, 2024
armagh, rhymers, folk, music, theatre, ensemble, based, northern, ireland, whose, work, inspired, traditional, irish, performances, such, mummers, plays, wren, boys, biddymen, performing, aonach, mhacha, march, 2023background, informationgenresirish, tradition. The Armagh Rhymers are a folk music and theatre ensemble based in Northern Ireland whose work is inspired by traditional Irish performances such as Mummers plays Wren Boys and biddymen 2 The Armagh RhymersThe Armagh Rhymers performing at Aonach Mhacha in March 2023Background informationGenresIrish traditional musicMembersDara Vallely Anne Hart Annie June Callaghan Ciara Cullen Larry Harte Eilis NicLochlainn 1 Websitearmaghrhymers wbr comHistory edit nbsp The Armagh Rhymers performing at Aonach Mhacha in March 2023The Armagh Rhymers group was founded in the 1970s by Dara Vallely 3 and is one of the few groups on the island of Ireland preserving the tradition of rhyming and mumming 4 5 The group perform using woven flax willow and straw masks 4 inspired by the traditional Mummers masks with outfits mostly made from hessian sackcloth They incorporate storytelling music poetry and song into their performances 6 The group have a collection of over 30 masks used in different performances The oldest mask is a horse s head made by James Mulholland when the group was founded Their performances are seasonal marking the Irish festivals including Saint Brigid s Day Saint Patrick s Day Bealtaine and Wren Day and have inspired the poets Seamus Heaney and Michael Longley 3 The group is the oldest professional theatre in education company 2 They tour internationally to festivals including Milk International Festival Canada AssiteJ Children s Theatre Festival Korea Milwaukee Irish Fest TradFest Edinburgh 7 and the IMBOLC Festival 8 They have performed numerous times at the Glastonbury Festival since the 1980s 6 The group played with Lambeg drummers at the Ulster Folk Museum at an event called Mummers and Drummers in 2019 5 Past members of the group include Peter J Shortall Brendan Bailey 3 and Barry Lynch 9 References edit Our Performers Armagh Rhymers Retrieved 19 May 2023 a b Ni Nuadhain Mairead 8 October 1989 Armagh Rhymers RTE Archives Retrieved 19 May 2023 a b c Bailie Stuart 24 December 2022 Rhymers and reason Belfast Telegraph Retrieved 19 May 2023 a b Fox Matt 26 December 2022 Mumming The Boxing Day hunt but not as you know it BBC News Retrieved 19 May 2023 a b Harris Arlene 26 December 2021 Keeping Mumm on our ancient heritage folk tradition dating back hundreds of 200 years kept alive by band of devoted artists in straw disguise Belfast Telegraph Retrieved 19 May 2023 a b Stewart Linda 30 March 2013 Forget the Stones Glastonbury s star attraction is the Armagh Rhymers Belfast Telegraph Retrieved 19 May 2023 Armagh Rhymers www womex com Retrieved 19 May 2023 McDaid Brendan 2 December 2022 Folk amp trad music festival Imbolc will be returning to Derry in January 2023 Derry Journal Retrieved 19 May 2023 Breslin John 17 May 2023 Musician Barry Lynch remembered as a lighthouse of a man after shock death The Irish News Retrieved 19 May 2023 External links editThe Mummers Play at Home Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Armagh Rhymers amp oldid 1155792243, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
