SOMA MUSIC FESTIVAL 2016 and the new SHEEHY SKEFFINGTON Language School initiative

Armagh Rhymers

Viking  and his dogs with Josephine Olivia and Penny in the corner

Sessions

Story telling

View from castle window

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Local actress Eileen O' Higgins  told us about her role
in the film Brooklyn

SOMA festival is different for everyone and we started the festivities by tasting a locally made cider called Kilmegan and watching the film Brooklyn at Maginn's bar.It was very nice, On Saturday there was the Lisa Hannigan concert. I didn't think I would really enjoy a concert in a church but my goodness the accoustics are brilliant. She was fabulous.The music a dream. Sean's Walk sounded really good there too. 

The fabulous Lisa Hannigan

We also managed to go on the half day tour visiting Strangford area of Winterfell from the Game of thrones that left from King's Inn as announced on the SOMA webpage. We were so glad we went and learnt so much.

Dire Wolf Tours with William jr and William sr owners of Greywind and Summer
 with Biddy ,Suzie,Angélica,Noelia and Patricia

What else? There was so much more...the bi lingual Irish/English early morning walk for bird lovers,

Bi lingual bird walk with Pól and Micky Ciara and Suzie,

Special visits for attendees of the Sheehy Skeffington language school to the castle and the arboretum.

Castle tour with Andrew

Elizabeth, Ana Sofía Angélica and  Noelia at the castle gates

Arboretum tour with Robert

We really must tell the Japanese about it. They would love the gardens and English language classes. Our pupils this year were from Columbia and Poland and like everyone else we know who attended the festival...we all want to come back next year! 
Unfortunately Mirek, Angelika and Arak from Poland  couldn't come with us on the outings but Noelia from Spain did.

We were given a warm welcome by the inter church choir where I unexpectedly and very happily met old friends and new and we joined them and then enjoyed the amazing gospel singers from Dublin on Sunday. It was lovely to be back in my hometown.

Angélica from Columbia and Josephine Olivia from the U.S. join the Interchurch choir

Mary, thanks for asking me to help start the language school.

Elizabeth, Ana Sofía, Mary and Angélica outside a lovely shopfront.

Biddy getting ready for the firat class

It is a brilliant initiative. Congratulations SOMA for a wonderful festival!

Mary and Tiona finally get to have a rest

Last but not least the intriguing name Sheehy Skeffington. Where did it come from? Many of us have only learned about this unsung local hero now and can only be happy to recover the memory of this linguist and pacifist.  The discovery also led us to the area of cultural tourism that SOMA wants to promote with talks and debates because of our own peculiar history.

Announcing the first award winner at Kings' Inn

SOMA 2016 launched an award for social justice through the promotion of peace and respect for all cultures. The first ever prize went to Castlewellan Community Action Group, founders and volunteers who have saved our local primary school and turned it into a community centre for all kinds of fun learning activities for young and old in both Irish and English.

The old primary school

Well done!!!  We had the pleasure of the presence of the grand - daughter of the Sheehy Skeffingtons who works in U.C.G. and who was delighted with Mary’s invitation to be at Kings’ Inn on Saturday 16^th July. With fascinating footage we relived the struggle for freedom and votes for women in early 20^th century Ireland and that the battle for equal rights continues today.