Siamsa Glas Festival to celebrate language and culture of Meath’s Gaeltacht

The Siamsa Glas festival which will celebrate the Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway, combined with an opportunity to experience the Irish language and culture of Meath’s Gaeltacht Baile Ghib, takes place this weekend.

Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the Greenway and attend events at each village along the way. The festival is open to anyone with an interest in speaking a cúpla focal and all are welcome no matter what your level of Irish is.

On Friday 12th September and Saturday 13th September visitors can explore the Greenway and capture an inspiring image along the way to be in with a chance of winning a prize.

Open to adults and children, you can send your two favorit images to anitareynoldsart@gmail.com. Your photos will be displayed in the Railway Storehouse on Sunday and a winner will be chosen by local artist Anita Reynolds.

The winner will receive an original Anita Reynolds Bluebell Woods, inspired by childhood memories of bluebells along Whitewood Lake. The photos will also be shared on the Discover Boyne Valley socials.

Events kick off on Friday 12th September with a treasure hunt (Tóraíocht Taisce) at GNR Café in Kilmainhamwood. Taking place from 10am – 4:30pm, there is sure to be fun for the entire family.

In Baile Ghib/Gibbstown, there will be an introduction to the Bodhran class with Shay Casserly in Halla Bhaile Ghib from 4:30pm – 5:30pm, followed by a showing of 'An Cailín Ciúin' at 7pm.

If you’re in the mood for some music and for cúpla focal, then there will be a Popup Gaeltacht in The Kilberry from 9pm.

On Saturday, 13th September, 'For the Love of Ledwidge' - a piece of open-air theatre written especially for Siamsa Glas Festival by Sharon Carroll, will take place at 1pm on Wilkinstown Railway Platform.

Sharon wrote the much-admired piece for last year’s festival 'The Journey'. This play looks at the local connection of Slane poet Francis Ledwidge to the Wilkinstown area. It explores the love letters he wrote to Lizzie Healy who lived in the village. (There will also be a performance at 1pm on Sunday).

This will be followed by Spraoi sa Phairc in Park Beo Wilkinstown, with fun for the whole family on both Saturday and Sunday with local market stalls and kids arts and ceol greenway sessions both days with Trigger and the Hitmen from 2-4.30pm on Saturday and Out on Bale on Sunday from 2pm-4.30pm.

There will also be an opportunity to take part in Bodhran Biking class with Feel Good Bicycles in collaboration with Shay Casserly (2pm-5pm). For a full list of events at Park Beo Greenway Hub see their Facebook page.

In Baile Ghib/Gibbstown, there will be a maidin yoga at 10am in Halla Bhaile Ghib on Saturday followed by a talk on bee keeping at 11am in Teltown House, bread making with James Tallon at 3pm in Martry Mill. There will also be a performance of Way Back Home drama at 9pm along with traditional music in Colwell’s Pub, from 9:30pm for anyone that’s in the mood for a song to finish the day.

In Castletown, there will be a Tidy Towns Fun Walk on Saturday at 4pm at the proposed new coffee shop at Castletown, Children’s Music and Dance Session at 5pm. There will be live music with 'Just Us' at 7pm and a Seisiun Ceoil with local musicians at 9pm, all in Finn’s Bar Castletown.

In Kilmainhamwood, children will love the chance to make a magical creature with clay at a Kid’s Pottery Workshop, inspired by the Whitewood Lake Monster in the Printing Studio at 10am (Saturday and Sunday).

At Kilmainhamwood Station, at 2:30pm on Saturday, 'A Chat with Joe' will see Joe Gogarty tell the story of a lifetime running his printing business in the railway Storehouse while bringing up a family in the station house across the tracks. As an avid historian Joe will tell the story of Kilmainhamwood railway junction with the help of photos and objects on display.

There will also be live music at Kilmainhamwood Station from 5:30pm with Kingscourt Town Band (and a trad session from 2:30pm on Sunday).

Also on Saturday, 13th September, there will be a cultural concert in Nobber Heritage Centre from 7.30pm – 9.30pm. This features the Accora Orchestra, a musical group who draws heavily on Irish as well as contemporary music genres. They will be supported by Harpist Mary Horgan, who will perform notable Irish music pieces including some compositions of Nobber born Turlough O’Carolan.

On Sunday, 14th September, there will be yoga/mindful breathing with Tara at 10am at Halla Bhaile Ghib, followed by a biodiversity/nature walk with Emma and Paula at 11am at Gibbstown Park and then ending with bingo sa charr at 3pm in Halla Bhaile Ghib.

Our Station Story - a display of photos and memorabilia telling the story of Kilmainhamwood Storehouse and Station will be open to visitors from Friday to Sunday (10am - 5pm) in the Railway Storehouse.

You will have an opportunity to design your own tweed coaster on Sunday at 2pm with Bréidín na Bóinne.

There will be a performance of Way Back Home at Tiernan’s Pub at 7pm. The play is set on Christmas morning in Flanagan’s pub in north Leitrim.

Majella Farrell, Head of Economic Development & Tourism for Meath County Council said: “We are really looking forward to celebrating the Irish language and culture along the Boyne Valley to Lakelands Greenway at the Siamsa Glas Festival. There are several fantastic events due to take place on what is sure to be a busy and exciting weekend for the region. The Irish language and culture is a huge part of the Boyne Valley, especially with Meath having two Gaeltachts which are the only Gaeltachts in Leinster. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to the Boyne Valley for what will be a memorable weekend.”