Féile Dúthalla 2008
What, Why, Where & When

Féile Dúthalla is a project which aims to give the people of Dúthalla a heightened awareness of their cultural and historical heritage. In an era of globalisation and rapid change it seeks to reinforce the traditions that bind the community together and to strengthen the sense of identity and belonging which underpins a successful and healthy society.
 
Féile aims to stimulate the traditional arts of music, dance, song and storytelling by involving as many people as possible from all over the barony in a series of events in different parts of the area. By creating a platform for local musicians. dancers, singers and story tellers it will promote the knowledge and appreciation of local artists by introducing them to as wide a public as possible. This approach should result in a much more active participation in the practice of the traditional arts and should also result in improving performance standards. A special emphasis will be placed on the participation of young people.
 
It is of concern that for many people to-day cultural participation means passive participation often in isolated situations which do not demand interaction with other people. The Féile aims to bring the people together to meet one another and to appreciate their common heritage.

Listening to their 'story' being told by their own people can only strengthen their interdependence, identity and self-confidence and give them a sense belonging to a well rooted and living community. 

Féile Dúthalla was officially launched at the Trades Union Hall, Kanturk on Saturday, September 15th, 2007. A fundraiser on that night raised €3,500 for the Féile. A second fundraising scheme is now underway in the
form of the sale of a compilation audio CD. Further fundraising ventures will be put in place as required. It is hoped to raise a significant portion of the running costs of the Féile from private subscriptions and donations. Details of some of the planned Féile events are enclosed.

Applications for grant aid have been submitted to IRD Duhallow, Cork County Council Arts Office, Fáilte Ireland & The Irish Arts Council, small festivals scheme.

Funding from public agencies is not guaranteed therefore a number of fundraising initiatives have been put in place. Fundraiser No.1 has been completed and grossed €3,500.

Fundraiser No.2 is now underway with the sale, at €10 ea., of an audio CD of music, story & songs recorded by a wide range of Duhallow
performers. The sale of around three hundred copies of this album will hopefully raise in the region of €3,000 for the Féile Fund. The launch date is set for December 8th, 2007, at Scully’s Bar, Newmarket @ 9.30. Your support for this fundraiser will ensure its success.

Féile Dúthalla 2008 will comprise a wide range of events throughout the year culminating in a week long celebration of music, song, storytelling and a host of other events to be held in various venues and locations throughout the Barony from November 17th to 24th, 2008.

A series of talks, an open discussion forum, accompanied by live music sessions and light refreshments has been organised and will
commence with the first one in March 2008. The anticipated running costs for each of these talk/music sessions is in the region of €400.

Sponsorship of the Féile can be achieved by any of the following means and will be officially acknowledged in all Féile media sound bytes & in an official commemorative programme which will be published in conjunction with the November Féile week. Sponsorship details will also be posted on a website, available from Spring 2008.

Sponsorship
Cash donation - €20 ++
Full or part sponsorship of a
Féile Event (i.e. Discussion Forum
Tour, or Venue Fee etc.,) €400 or part thereof
Pledge of donation of an item for a spot prize for a Féile event
Purchase, for resale, of ten (10) copies plus one free of the CD for the sum of €100 with one CD free this offers a return of €110 on the resale of 11 copies)
Your support to help run and/or organize an event within the framework of

Féile Dúthalla 2008

Should you decide to offer your
support and/or make a financial
contribution please get in touch with one of the contacts listed overleaf.
Your contribution is valued and very much appreciated & will ensure the Féile’s success

Discussion Forum & Music Session Series

The first in this series will take place on Wednesday, March 05th at 20.30 in the Trades Union Hal,. Kanturk. The guest speaker is Seamus Ó Croinín, the topic
Cad as Duit / Where are you from
- Place & Identity in Duhallow -

There will be further talks / music sessions held, once per month until
November 2008. See the list of planned events for the full intended programme which is subject to slight change or alteration.

It is hoped that this series will offer people the opportunity to voice their own personal opinions on the subjects being discussed in a friendly and comfortable setting. Light refreshments will be available. The bus tours will offer a further opportunity to meet and also provide a ‘day out.’

Note:
Approximately one thousand copies of this flyer have been circulated, at random, some addressed, some not addressed, throughout the Barony of Duhallow in an attempt to reach a fair cross section of the whole population. Please pass on your copy to someone else who may not have received one or return it should you have no use for it.

Go raibh míle maith agat