Tale of the Gael has two original Productions on tour to celebrate WB Yeats
Lady Gregory’s Legacy
Lady Augusta Isabella Gregory, 12th July 1911
Mother, socialite, folklorist, traveller, landlady, lover, writer, patron ,activist and Gaelic speaker, Lady Augusta Isabella Gregory is well known for her role as a founding member of the The Abbey Theatre, Dublin, and as close friend of WB Yeats. Less public is her life as a London socialite, her interest in European architecture, the politics of her day and the fact that she spoke with a charming lisp…Tale of the Gael tells a carefully researched tale of a woman who influenced the social and literary currents of her time, and was equally influenced by them…
Often defined in terms of others, this well researched evening with Tale of the Gael presents Lady Gregory as herself. Their trademark blend of traditional music with classical overtones provide the perfect backdrop for a woman whose story is synonomous with Irish culture, but whose early experiences were colonially British and European.
Performances see here:
The Poet and The Harper: Turlough O Carolan and WB Yeats
A small wire harp similar to the instrument used by Turlough O Carolan
Though two centuries apart, poet W.B. Yeats and harper/composer Turlough O Carolan were often artistically influenced by similar themes. Both men, for example cite the beautiful west of Ireland landscape as an inspiration, and fairies as a muse. Both had hopeless romantic aspirations, and both relied heavily on patronage…Tale of the Gael takes aspects of these fascinating and creative lives and weaves them into a 90 minute presentation that entertains and delights while placing the works of these men into the context of their time. First performed in Drumcliffe Church during the Yeats International Summer School in August 2013, the performance was also staged for the Geneva Literary Society in November of the same year, and again in Ireland in early summer of 2014
Best described as traditional with a classical twist, audience friendly, entertaining and informative, this presentation draws together different threads from the same weave, leaving the audience with a rich picture of the creative forces at work in the west over the last two centuries, not to mention a head full of the finest melodies and poetry…
Performances see here
Past Performances
Yeats International Summer School, Drumcliffe, Sligo, July 2013 , Geneva Literary Society Switzerland, November 2013 Loughrea Library, Loughrea, Co Galway, June 2014 Carlow Arts Festival, June 2014
Comments from the Guest Book: 2013/14
…what visitors to Ireland were saying about our music in the 12th century…
‘Absolutely fascinating…’
‘ Not only a fabulous choice of music but informative too, well done everyone.’
‘Could have stayed there another hour…’
Very, very well put together…and completely entertaining
Another great evening from Geneva Literary Aid, thanks
