BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Eventin//Event Calendar//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH BEGIN:VEVENT UID:cd855363c6d59f3023e80be04bea4a8b@gerryoconnor.net SUMMARY:The Long Grazing Acre - Louth - a celebration of the Travelling Com munity's contribution to Irish Traditional music and song DESCRIPTION:Renowned uilleann piper Paddy Keenan leads a star-studded line up of Irish traditional musicians and singers at the Long Grazing Acre Fest ival at The Lumpers\, Ravensdale\, Co Louth\, from Fri 26 to Sunday 28 Sept ember. The Long Grazing Acre tour celebrates the enormous contribution Trav ellers make to traditional Irish music as it tours Donegal\, Clare and Lout h this year\, focusing on a different musical Traveller family in each loca tion.\nKeenan will be joined in Ravensdale\, County Louth by local Travelle r musicians including Maragret Barry’s grandchildren Marty\, Paddy\, Euge ne\, and Eoin\, piper Johnny Purcell grandson of Johnny Doran\, accordion p layer William Dundon\, and singers Colette Joyce and Coleen Savage along wi th local fiddle virtuoso Gerry O’Connor and Keenan’s long term musical partner Éamonn De Barra. \nThe rich musical heritage of Irish Traveller mu sicians in the Oriel region presents a compelling opportunity for a cultura l celebration that preserves and honours this vital tradition. The Oriel re gion\, encompassing parts of Counties Monaghan\, Louth\, Armagh\, and Down\ , has been home to some of Ireland's most influential Traveller musicians\, whose contributions have shaped mainstream Irish traditional music.\nCentr al to this celebration is the legacy of Margaret Barry\, whose powerful voi ce and distinctive banjo playing style made her one of the most significant figures in Irish traditional music. Barry's performances at festivals and concerts throughout Ireland\, Britain and the USA in the mid-20th century h elped preserve and popularise traditional songs that might otherwise have b een lost. Her recordings\, particularly of songs like "She Moved Through th e Fair" and "The Factory Girl\," stand as masterpieces of the tradition. \n The contemporary generation of Barry musicians - Marty\, Paddy\, Eugene and Eoin demonstrates the living continuity of this tradition. Their music sho ws how Traveller musical heritage continues to evolve while maintaining its essential character. \nSimilarly\, Johnny Purcell\, grandson of Johnny Dor an\, connects us to one of the most celebrated Traveller musical dynasties in Ireland\, has local roots in Newry and will be to the fore at the concer t and sessions. The music of the late John Rooney\, the renowned uilleann p iper from Crossmaglen\, will be recalled and celebrated. Rooney represents another crucial figure in this musical lineage. His mastery of the pipes an d deep knowledge of Traveller tunes represents a vital part of Oriel and Tr aveller heritage.\nWilliam Dundon’s accordion playing and singing is anot her vital strand of this musical tradition\, demonstrating the diversity of instrumental styles within Traveller music in the Oriel region.\nThe conce rt takes place on Saturday 27 September in The Lumpers\, Ravensdale with wo rkshops\, exhibitions\, and walking tours happening throughout the weekend. \n \nThe festival programme for the weekend is as follows: \n \nFriday 26 Sept\n8pm –Opening session with the Long Grazing Acre & local musicians\n  \nSaturday 27 Sept\n10:30 am - 11:30 am The Margaret Barry Legacy with To mmy Fegan & the Barry family \n11:45 am – 1pm Oriel Region Fiddle Traditi ons & Repertoire - with Gerry O'Connor\n2 pm - 3:15 pm The Impact of Travel ler Musicians on Irish Traditional Music - illustrated talk with Tommy Fega n\n\n8 pm Long Grazing Acre Concert Admission: €20\n \nSunday 28 Sept\n1 1 am The Cadgers' Path Walk. Oriel Connects Us Project - Music on the Mount ain. Starting point\, Tullagh Bridge\n2.30 pm Welcome back the Cadger Walke rs\; Farewell Session\n\nThe Long Grazibg Acre is funded by an Arts Council Touring Award\n  LOCATION:Online DTSTAMP:20260927T010359Z DTSTART:20250926T000000Z DTEND:20250928T235900Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR