CULTURE NIGHT 2020
MOUNTSHANNON MISCELLANY

The theme we chose for 2020, is ‘Identity’, and our Culture Night event this year explored that theme in words and music. Two of the artists taking part, have personal experience of Ireland’s inhumane Direct Provision system, and contributed to the wonderful ‘Correspondences’ book, edited by Jessica Traynor and Stephen Rea. Direct Provision is an appalling system that needs urgent change. In her piece in "Correspondences", Emilie Pine compares Direct Provision with the Magdelene Laundries, and asks how it is possible, that we continue to make the same mistakes, and continue to allow our government to commit such shocking abuse to our fellow men, women and children, in our name. We call on the government to take immediate steps to change the system and show the world the true compassion of the Irish people.

PROGRAMME

• Introduction: Eavan Brennan

• Patricia Donnellan reads her poem ‘Earth Mother’

• Gaelynn Lea. Unfortunately Gaelynn couldn’t join us, but sent this video of her song ‘Breathe you are alive’

• Owodunni Mustapha reads her poem ‘Up the Hill in Mayo’

• Jyoshna and Denise play a Bengali song with Celtic influence, called 'Dharma amari sathe' or ‘Spirituality is my friend' and an English song called Tiny Green Island, by Prabhat Ranjain Sarkar

• Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe reads three of her own poems:

• ‘Ama de Casa’ ‘C’est poésie’ and ‘Hard Border’

• Cathal Moloney plays ‘One Day Like This’ by Elbow, and ‘Man in the Moon’ by Cathal Moloney.

• Victoria Claire Thoughts on ‘Identity’ followed by her song: ‘Know you Matter’

• Denise and Terence ‘A walk in the Sun’ Denise Glass followed by ‘Lonesome Robin’ about Robin Hood by Bob Coltman

• Insaf Yalçinkaya reads two poems: ‘A Worthless Life’ and ‘Borders’

• Pearse O’Shiel reads his poem ‘Zwelihle’

• Fin and Cian ‘The Parting Glass’

• Ruth Smith and Fergal Scahill. Sadly we didn’t manage to re-record their contribution.

We intended to have a live stream event for Culture Night, but unfortunately, we had technical difficulties, and although the artists all performed their pieces on the night, we were not able to successfully share the wonderful evening. We were determined however, not to lose the energy and beauty of the evening, and nearly all of the artists generously gave their time, so that we were able to record them again, and produce this video. Sadly, Ruth and Fergal were unable to join us.

We wish to sincerely thank Imelda and all in the Clare Arts office, for their generous support, without which, this event could not have happened. We would also like to thank Peggy and all in ‘Under the Oak’, for allowing us to use the cafe. Thanks also to Klaus and Gudrun and Paschal for all of their work on the technology side of things. And of course a huge thank you to all of the artists who took part, including Ruth and Fergal, who we would love to work with again in the not too distant future.