Festival Workshops
Sean-nós Northwest offers enriching, hands-on workshops on the Saturday and Sunday of the festival. Registration is required for these workshops, but registrants can choose independently which workshops to attend. Each day there are two AM workshop blocks of roughly 1.5 hours each (punctuated by a long lunch break) followed by one PM workshop block (also roughly 1.5 hours). During these blocks of time, there will be at least one workshop offered in each of the following cultural practices:
Sean-nós singing (amhránaíocht ar an sean-nós)
Sean-nós and vernacular dancing (damhsa ar an sean-nós agus damhsa dúchasach)
Irish language* (An Ghaeilge)
Traditional instrumental music (both performance techniques and tunes)
There is also at least one workshop offered in each of these blocks that is appropriate for beginners. We encourage participants new to SNNW to explore as many of the cultural practices on offer as one can in order to gain foundational knowledge. However, you may choose to focus on one practice that particularly speaks to your heart. Masterclasses for participants with advanced skills may also be offered. Further information on these masterclasses will be provided at the event itself.
*The Irish language is given special reverence at SNNW as it is the root of many of the cultural practices showcased at our festival. We invite you to engage with the language at a level that feels comfortable to you while encouraging curiosity and playfulness in learning basic phrases useful in a social setting.
Emma O’Sullivan teaches a dance class (photo by Angeline LeLeux)
FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
Thursday night - Community EVENT
Community Concert (6:30 - 9:00 pm) featuring our festival’s guests at the Historic Alberta House 5131 NE 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97211
If you can’t participate during the weekend, please consider attending the community concert. The festival guests perform on Thursday evening, demonstrating their respective areas of expertise. It is a wonderful opportunity to see and hear some of the best traditional dancing, music, singing, and storytelling around! Purchase your tickets in advance as space is limited. (Sponsored by Corrib Theatre)
Friday night - community event
All-Sets Community Céilí (6:30 - 9:00 pm) at the Historic Alberta House 5131 NE 23rd Ave, Portland, OR 97211
Whether you're committed to your dance practice or curious about Irish social dancing in general, our community céilí is an opportunity for you to mix with our local set-dancing community as well as other festival participants. Live calling and music will make this a memorable evening to get your warmed up for the workshops over the weekend. (Sponsored by Portland Set Dancing)
SATURDAY & SUNDAY - WORKSHOPS & COMMUNITY EVENTS
AM/PM Workshops (9:30 am - 3:30 pm) at the Alberta Abbey 126 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211
See the schedule (below) and list of festival guests to determine which workshops might work for you. This is your chance to work intimately with some of the best proponents of these traditions found anywhere. There are several levels of passes for purchase that include all events/workshops, all weekend workshops, and single-day workshops. Choose what works for you. Staffing and complimentary tea and coffee at the workshop venue kindly sponsored by Gaeilge Northwest.
What would a festival be without some festive Community Events? Come join us after the workshops are through on Saturday from 4:30 - 6:30 pm for barrel-dancing and half-door dancing exhibitions (sponsored by Maldon Meehan Dance) at Kells Irish Restaurant & Pub 112 SW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97204. Likewise, after Sunday’s workshops, join us from 4:30 - 6:30 pm for an intimate close to the festival at a singing circle (sponsored by Oíche na nAmhrán | Night of Song) to be held at T. C. O’Leary’s 2926 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211. These events are free and open to the public.
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
What Should I Bring And Wear?
This is a casual festival, therefore, dress for comfort. However, since it is May in the Pacific Northwest, we recommend you wear layers to account for the ever-changing weather. We also recommend that you bring paper and a writing implement, an audio/video recording device, a refillable water bottle, and snacks to accommodate your nutritional needs between workshops . Complimentary tea and coffee are on offer and graciously sponsored by Gaeilge Northwest. If you're enrolled in dance workshops, please bring non-marking, low-heeled, slick-bottomed shoes (e.g. character shoes, leather or plastic-soled dress shoes). No metal taps or fiberglass-tipped Irish step-dancing shoes. The shoe types suggested really do make a difference to your learning experience, so take these suggestions into serious consideration, please.
What About Lunch?
SNNW does not provide lunch to participants. However, feel free to bring your own lunch with you but be aware there may not be amenities to reheat or cook food at the festival venue. The venue is conveniently located, so you may choose to head out on foot to the many eateries and food carts in the neighborhood.
health note!
Singing, dancing, and playing wind instruments are all high-transmission activities related to COVID-19. To avoid a superspreading event, we ask all attendees to acknowledge their personal responsibility regarding public health and best practices utilized to keep everyone safe. These practices include vaccination against COVID-19, not attending the event if feeling unwell, testing before the event to assure a non-positive COVID-19 result, and wearing a mask to protect oneself against transmission of disease - especially if you are particularly vulnerable to disease. Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine!
DAILY SCHEDULE (UPDATED!)
| 9:00 am - 9:30 am | Check-in at the desk, grab a cuppa, and head to the auditorum for welcome! (Sponsored by Gaeilge Northwest) |
| 9:30 am - 11:00 am | Workshop 1 Gaeilge: Features of Donegal Irish w/Scot Ó Muilleora Singing: Songs from the Donegal Tradition w/Gearóidín Breathnach Dance: Set Dancing w/Jackie O'Riley (Boyne Set & W. Kerry Set (time permitting)) Music: Introduction to Donegal Fiddle Tradtions* w/Danny Diamond |
| 11:00 am - 12:30 pm | Workshop 2 Gaeilge: Topics in Irish Gaelic w/Brian Ó hAirt Singing: Basic Songs in Irish & English w/Dáithí Sproule Dance: Topics in Sean-nós Dancing w/Anna Lethert (Int/Adv) Music: Mazurkas, Highlands, & Scottiches* w/Preston Howard-Wilde |
| 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm | Lunch on your own |
| 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm | Workshop 3 Gaeilge: Comhrá agus Caint le Scot Ó Muilleora Singing: Derry-Donegal Connection w/Dáithí Sproule Dance: Beginning Sean-nós Dancing w/Anna Lethert Music: Irish Fiddle Techniques & Repertoire^ w/Danny Diamond |
| 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm | Break |
| 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm | Halfdoor & Barrel Dancing Exhibition (Sponsored by Maldon Meehan Dance) Kells Irish Restaurant 112 SW 2nd Ave. Downtown Portland |
| From 6:30 pm onward | Dinnéar, craic, ceol, is damhsa! |
*Suitable for all instruments. ^For fiddle only.
| 9:00 am - 9:30 am | Check-in, grab a cuppa, chat, and head to your workshop! (Sponsored by Gaeilge Northwest) |
| 9:30 am - 11:00 am | Workshop 4 Gaeilge: Topics in Irish Gaelic w/Niall Ó Murchú Singing: Songs of Skara Brae w/Dáithí Sproule Dance: The Steps of Brigid Tunney (the Maggie Pickens) w/Jackie O'Riley Music: The Long Road to Glenties (Johnny Doherty) w/Danny Diamond |
| 11:00 am - 12:30 pm | Workshop 5 Gaeilge: Comhrá agus Caint le Scot Ó Muilleora Singing: Introduction to Irish Storytelling w/David Ingerson Dance: Vernacular Dance Traditions of Ulster w/Jonathan McCloy (facilitator: O'Riley) Music: Irish Technique & Repertoire* w/Danny Diamond |
| 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm | Lunch on your own |
| 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm | Workshop 6 Gaeilge: Topics in Irish Gaelic w/Scot Ó Muilleora Singing: Rare & Gorgeous Songs w/Dáithí Sproule Dance: Two-Handed Kitchen Dances from Donegal w/Anna Lethert Music: The Gaelic Harp Tradition of Ireland w/Aran Adams |
| 3:35 pm - 4:30 pm | Break |
| 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm | The Big Sing (Sponsored by Oíche na nAmhrán | Night of Song) T.C. O'Leary's Pub 2926 NE Alberta St. | From 6:30 pm onward | Dinnéar, craic, ceol, is damhsa agus slán abhaile! (Until next year) |
*Suitable for all instruments.