February 2009 Traditional Irish Arts Among Highlights of Múscailt this Week

A special performance of traditional Irish music, song and dance will be among the highlights of Múscailt, NUI Galway's Spring Arts Festival, which starts today and runs all week. An array of talented artists will take part in a special performance on Thursday, 12 February, in the Aula Maxima, NUI Galway, at 8pm. The Traditional Arts Concert will contain music, seán-nós dancing, and Irish-language poetry, with an opportunity to hear the artists describe their own artistic journey. Performers will include Ronan Browne (Uilleann Pipes), Máirtín O'Connor (accordion), Seamie O'Dowd (guitar), Roisín Elsafty (sean-nós singer), Lilis Ó Laoire (sean-nós singer), Roisín Ní Mhainín and Micheál Seoighe (sean-nós dancers), Mary McPartlan (traditional/contemporary singer) and Louis de Paor (Irish-language poet). The concert is presented by Arts in Action, a creative arts programme devised by the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies at NUI Galway. The Arts in Action programme runs throughout the college year with a programme of seminars, concerts and field trips inviting students to come closer to the creative arts. Professor Kevin Barry, Dean of Arts at NUI Galway, says Arts in Action adds to the student experience: "Creative arts are an important part of education at NUI Galway. The Arts in Action programme, through continued support from professionals within the arts world, enriches the curriculum for students. We are also opening up the possibilities of a future in the creative industries among our students. Arts in Action puts students on the other side of the foot lights". The Múscailt festival is produced by the Arts office and the Societies office at NUI Galway, and includes the best of the societies' events and exciting guest artists from around the world. For full programme details and further information about the festival visit www.muscailt.nuigalway.ie or www.socs.nuigalway.ie. For all ticket and further information contact the SocsBox the Hub, Áras na Mac Léinn, at 091 492852 or email socsbox@socs.nuigalway.ie. -ends-