Friday September 25th to Sunday October 4th. 2009
Our Celtic Festival for the current year (2009) is now taking shape and you are invited to visit our programme page for details of the items planned. Thank you for your interest and please get in touch should you need any additional information.
Michael Prendergast
Cathaoirleach Chairman
Programme for 2009
Friday September 25th
8.00pm Official Opening of Daonscoil Osraí.
The welcoming reception will be followed by the Daonscoil Osraí Keynote Lecture which is delivered in Irish.Theme: will be announced shortly Venue: Butler House, Patrick Street. Admission: €10.00
Saturday September 26th
2.30pm Afternoon conducted Coach Tour A coach tour of Co. Kilkenny, also incorporating a visit to Cashel, one of the most famous early ecclesastical sites on the island of Ireland
Sunday September 27th
10.30am Mass in Irish in the Friary Church. Members of Conradh na Gaeilge meet here every Sunday at 10.30am and Festival goers are invited to join them.
3.00 pm Lecture in English Language
Theme: To be confirmed shortly Venue: Butler House Admission €10.00
Wednesday September 30th
7.30pm Leaving Certificate Poetry Evening An evening of poetry of particular interest to students of the 2010 Leaving Certificate Venue: Springhill Court Hotel
Thursday October 1st
9.30am -5pm Kilkenny Craft Guild Art Exhibition An exhibition which will run over the duration of the Festival featuring a number of local crafts people Venue: Butler House
4.00pm Introduction to the Irish Language
The Classes are delivered by skilled Irish Speaker and Festival Committee member Gráinne Ní Ailín. Venue: Rothe House. Conradh Na Gaeilge have been active in Kilkenny for more than a century and are based in Rothe House, Parliament Street which is itself well worth a visit especially the world famous 16th century garden.
7.30 pm Choral Concert in St. John’s Church, Dublin Road
St John's Church is the venue for the first concert of the festival, where visiting and local choral groups will perform
Friday October 2nd
10am - 6pm Kilkenny Craft Guild Art Exhibition continues in Butler House. Butler House is the dower house of the famous Butler Family who resided in the nearby Ormonde Castle from 1381 to 1936. Their dower house was constructed in the mid 18th century and reflects the elegances of those prosperious times in Ireland
1.00 - 1.45pm Street Entertainment by visiting groups.Visiting groups provide live entertainment at a number of locations around the city centre Venue: McDonagh Junction/The Tholsel/Market Cross
1.00pm Lunch Time Concert in Langton's
A recital by visiting groups will take place in Langtons in John Street
4.00pm Introduction to the Irish Language II
Venue: Rothe House, Parliament Streeet. Admission: €6.00
4.30pm Street Entertainment by Visiting Groups
Festival groups perform spirited dancing, singing and music performances under the colonnades of City Hall in High Street, one of the most popular locations for colourful and lively displays of Celtic traditional dancing.
7.30pm Cuirt an Mhean-Oiche (The Midnight Court) Written by acclaimed Irish poet Brian Merriman in 1780, Cuirt an Mhean-Oiche is widely regarded as the greatest comic poem in the history of Irish literature. It's dramatisation takes place in the atmospheric surroundings of Rothe House. Venue: Rothe House Admission €25.00 concession €20.00 Tickets are limited so prior booking is strongly recommended for this performance
8pm Kilkenny Celtic Festival Live Music Trail
A series of lively performances will take place in many of Kilkennys pubs, allowing festival goers and performers to mingle
Saturday October 3th
10.30am - 12.45 pm Celtic Dance Workshop
The Celtic Dance workshop provides a wonderful introduction to seán nós and céili dancing Venue: Clubhouse Hotel Patrick Street Admission: €6.00
11.45am Public Street entertainment by visiting groups 
Venue: McDonagh Junction/The Tholsel/Market Cross
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2.30pm Children’s Storytelling Traditional Celtic stories will enthrall our younger festival goers at this children's storytelling session delivered by Michael Moylan of Irish History Live. Venue: Butler House, Patrick Street
1.30pm Parade of the Nations Featuring all 
of the visiting groups together with some local groups, the Parade of the Nations starts Saturday afternoon's activities in the grounds of the 12th century Kilkenny Castle
2pm Senior Camogie Final An exciting match of the traditional Irish sport of camogie, played out against the stunning backdrop of Kilkenny Castle
8pm Celtic Evening A celebration of Celtic song, dance and food with performances from visiting groups, followed by a traditional Irish Ceili featuring Ceili band "Shorten the Strap". This event is sure to be one of the festival highlights so prior booking for tickest is advised. Venue: Hotel Kilkenny Admission: €20 (includes meal)
Sunday October 4th
10.30am Mass in Irish at the Friary Church
Members of Conradh na Gaeilge meet here every Sunday at 10.30am and Festival goers are invited to join them.
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11.30am Public Street Entertainment. The final day's public performances will be mostly located within the extensive grounds of Kilkenny Castle.
3pm Saint Francis Abbey Brewery National Currach Races on the River Nore
The series of races pits the best of the west coast rowers against those from Cork and elsewhere who pursue this strenuous sport. The afternoon's competitions culiminate in the grand final which concludes on a line between the River Court Hotel and the large scale Kilkenny Castle on the opposite, west bank.
Later in the afternoon prizes are awarded to the rowers at the Hotel which brings this year's Celtic Festival to a rousing conclusion.
END OF FESTIVAL PROGRAMME FOR 2009