Left hand page Right hand page

New York Irish Center

Tir Na Nog Children’s Festival

The New York Irish Center was a haven of youth, creativity and heritage over during the last two weeks of July this year. For the first time in its existence, the New York Irish Center opened its doors to a vibrant group of children longing to explore their Irish roots, heritage, and culture, through a dynamic new program called, The Tír na nÓg Children’s Festival 2012.

The Tír na nÓg Children’s Festival 2012 is a unique program implemented and designed by newly appointed Arts and Cultural Director, Jane Mc Carter. Led by our Tír na nÓg team of Teaching Artists, the Festival facilitates the exploration, through four Irish art forms, of the oldest aspects of Irish Culture, Irish myths and legends; Ancient Irish Visual Arts by Vera Doherty, Traditional Tin Whistle

by Christel Rice, Irish Dance by Niall O’Leary, and Irish Myths & Legends Drama by Jane Mc Carter.

For two weeks children enjoyed all four Art forms every day from 10am-4pm.

The time flew by quickly and before we knew it we were getting ready for our Grand Finale Showcase on Thursday 26th July 2012.

Around 6pm family and friends gathered in the NYIC main hall and took their seats, cameras at hand. Meanwhile a very excited group of children were getting ready to treat family and friends to a glimpse of what fun was had over the previous two weeks during the Tír na nÓg Childrens Festival. For the majority of children this evening was an important milestone in their personal lives as

it marked, their first time ever on stage and first live performance.

The Tír na nÓg Children’s Team did not disappoint! The show opened with an energetic treat of Irish Dance. This talented bunch proceeded to amaze by transforming from an Irish Dance Troupe into a 16 piece Irish tin-whistle band, and performed 3 delightful tunes. Then the children went backstage and made one more transformation into the Tír

na nÓg Drama Company, and returned to the stage in a multitude of Irish characters, retelling the story of Oisín and Tír na nÓg through drama.

The elated audience rightly praised and cheered for the Tír na nÓg Children’s team as they took their bows. Children were then presented with a Certificate of Successful Completion of the Tír na nÓg Children’s Festival and a stunning T-shirt. The showcase

was complete, but the fun didn’t stop there. Everyone enjoyed a after-show family party in the main hall and had the opportunity to admire the beautiful artwork exhibition that decorated the hall.

The Tír na nÓg Children’s Festival 2012 was a roaring success, and plans to return next Summer. But before next Summer be sure to keep an eye out for more childrens’ events and our weekly childrens’ classes at the New York Irish Center.

The NYIC would like to thank everyone that made this magical event happen, from all our friends to our teaching artists, to our volunteers, all the wonderfully supportive parents, family and friends, but the BIGGEST THANK YOU has to go to our Brilliant Tír na nÓg Children who over 2 weeks, with their imagination, energy, and creativity brought Tír na nÓg to life!

Ciaran O’Reilly, Producing Director of the Irish Repertory Theatre

will open each of our two shows with a live monologue from Brian Friel’s

multiple award winning play. This will be followed by a screening of

the adapted 1998 feature film.

Film directed by Pat O’Connor Screenplay by Frank McGuinness.

Friel’s portrait of five Irish sisters takes

place in 1936 on a Donegal farm. Told through the eyes of a boy, it is a

poignant and lyrical story of sisterhood, place, memory, love and loyalty.

Stars Meryl Streep, Catherine McCormack, Kathy Burke, Sophie Thompson, Bríd Brennan,

Michael Gambon & Gerard McSorley.

Friday Sept. 7th 7.30pm • Friday Sept 21st 7.30pm

Smartix Box Office (212) 868 4444

Tickets $15 (includes service charges)

For details about other 1st Irish shows visit www.1stirish.org

We are very proud to be part of the 2012 1st Irish Theater Festival, now in its 5th consecutive year. We are honored to be collaborating with the

Irish Repertory Theatre’s Eugene O’Neill Award Winner, Ciaran O’Reilly