This article is from page 16 of the 2009-02-03 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 16 JPG
AN American businesswoman has do- nated money to help fund this year’s Russell Weekend of traditional music in Doolin. Details of the 15th annual festival, which takes place later this month, were announced yesterday, with the best of local music talent al- ready lined up to take part.
The donation came from Boston woman Denise von Mering, whose grandfather Thomas Joseph Shannon was born in Doolin and was a close neighbour of the Russell family.
Denise has made the donation in his memory and to help enhance and promote the traditional musical herit- age of Doolin.
“IT am drawn to Clare, to the place of story, song and dance that my grandfather spoke of so fondly,” said Ms Von Mering.
“T loved my grandfather very much and knew him well, but it wasn’t un- til I went to Doolin and experienced the Micho Festival that I realised who he really was, how the music and the landscape had defined him and kept a part of him wild and free to the end of his days.
“I know that he would be delighted to think that, in some small way, he was still a part of the musical herit- age in Doolin.”
This year’s festival runs from Feb- ruary 20 to 23, with one of the main highlights, the Russell Concert tak- ing place on the afternoon of Satur- day, February 21.
This year, the concert features Liadan as well as an impressive line-up of local musicians, includ- ing The Fiddle Case (Eoin O’ Neill; Quentin Cooper; Eimer Howley and Jon O’Connell); Seoda (lan Keane and friends); Michael Hynes, Den- nis Liddy and Jack Talty; Terry Bingham, Yvonne Casey, Adam and Dave Shapiro; Paddy Neylon; Aidan Vaughan and Pat Costello.
On Sunday, February 22 at lpm the Anniversary Remembrance Mass for the Russells will take place at Doo- lin Church to the accompaniment of hymns and songs from the Doolin
church choir. It will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the Rus- sell grave, with songs of farewell and tunes in memory of the dead.
Full details of the _ festi- val are available by e-mailing info@michorussellweekend.ie, call- ing 065 7074595 or by logging onto www.michorussellweekend.ie