The Táin Bó Fliodhaise Festival returns for a second year, and will take place this year in Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park on Friday, June 7 and Saturday, June 8 2019. The Táin Bó Fliodhaise Cattle Raid is an exciting and adventurous Celtic mythology saga set around the 1st century A.D. which takes place in County Mayo, primarily the Erris area in the north-west of the county.
The theme of this year’s festival is Cattle in Ancient and Modern Ireland.
Programme of Events
Friday, 7th June
Ballycroy National Park Visitor Centre, Ballycroy, Co. Mayo
7.30 p.m. Welcome / Fáilte
Welcome to the official launch of the Táin Bó Fliodhaise Festival which will be performed by Colmán Ó Raghallaigh, publisher with Cló Mhaigh Eo and a long-standing community and Irish language activist. An interactive display of Medieval Irish and Scottish arms and armour by archaeologist Dave Swift of Claíomh will be featured, as well as artworks by schoolchildren from Gleann na Muaidhe, Ros Dumhach and Ceathrú Thaidhg National schools depicting the landscapes, sites and scenes associated with the story.
8.30 p.m. A session of traditional music with Micheál Ó Seighin, Vincent Mc Grath and others
Saturday, 8th June / Dé Sathairn, 8ú Meitheamh
Ballycroy National Park Visitor Centre, Ballycroy, Co. Mayo
9.30 – 10.00 a.m. Registration / Clárú
10.00 – 10.15 a.m. Welcome and Introduction by Anthony Brogan, Chairman of the Táin Bó Fliodhaise Project Steering Committee
10.20 – 11.00 a.m. Opening address by Dr. Seamus Caulfield, Prof. Emeritus of Archaeology at U.C.D: Cattle in Prehistoric Ireland
11.05 – 11.35 a.m. William Cormacan, Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park: Traditional Breeds in Irish National Parks
11.45 – 12.05 a.m. Greg Walsh (author of Cattle Breeds in Ireland): Cattle of Iron Age Ireland
12.15 – 12.50 p.m. Anthony Brogan, Chairman of the Táin Bó Fliodhaise Project: Archaeology and Mythology – The Archaeological Sites and Monuments associated with the route of the Táin Bó Fliodhaise in County Mayo
12.50 – 1.05 p.m. Closing Remarks with Question and Answer Sessionaí
1.10 p.m. Lunch in Ginger & Wild Café
2.00 p.m. A guided bus tour to include the following:- (1) A visit to Lag Dubh to view the resident cattle herd of Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park with William Cormacan and (2) A tour of sites of interest along the route of the Táin Bó Fliodhaise including Dún Dónaill, Ráth Muireagáin, Munhin, Ceathrú Mór, Trá Chiortáin and Dún Chiortáin with guide Jim Henry (Sláinte Ireland Tours) accompanied by Niall King.
Contact Details:
Email: [email protected]
Background and Acknowledgements / Cúlra agus Focal Buíochais
A voluntary committee (under the auspices of Comhar Dún Chaocháin Teo) whose members are Anthony Brogan, Jim Henry, Treasa Ní Ghearraigh, Niall King, Diana Taylor, Micheál Ó Seighin, Caitlín Uí Sheighin, P.J. Lynn, Jim Gilvarry, Uinsíonn Mac Graith, Billy Lyons and Pat Mc Loughlin, was set up to highlight and create an awareness of this epic cattle raid.
The Táin Bó Fliodhaise Festival and the publication of the book ‘Táin Bó Mhaigh Eo The Cattle Raid of Mayo – The History and Heritage of the Táin Bó Fliodhaise’ (above) are part of that journey.
The voluntary group would like to thank everyone who helped in the organization of the festival in any way, particularly Sláinte Ireland Tours, Margaret Flaherty and staff from Wild Nephin Ballycroy National Park Visitor Centre, The National Parks & Wildlife Service, The Department of Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht and our guest speakers, contributors and musicians.
