World Meeting of Families
Tom Ryan Reports
The Cashel Co. Tipperary based Brú Ború traditional Irish Music performers have been invited to take-part at the Festival of Families in Dublin on August 24th next. This event will be a celebration of family life around the world, and will feature music and dance performances, as well as five selected families from around the world giving witness to their family’s faith.
Thousands of people from all over the world will be in Ireland for this Festival of Families event, which will be attended by His Holiness Pope Francis (Jorge Mario Bergoglio).
This Brú Ború performance for this world event will come at the end of their Summer Season, held in their award-winning cultural centre close to the foot of the Rock of Cashel.
This year’s Summer Season performances are from Tuesday, 3rd July, for five nights each week, (Tuesday to Saturday) until mid-August. These Cashel Cultural Ambassadors have set their own world record, having been selected to represent Ireland at all five World Expos over the last 20 years. They now look forward to the next World Expo in Dubai in 2020.
Brú Ború performing personnel have had many unique experiences over the last 25 years. They travelled with President Mary McAleese to perform for the Sultan of Oman. They performed on Australian TV for 10 million viewers and the programme was repeated by popular request. RTÉ TV captured their performance on the Great Wall of China in the programme, “From the Rock to the Wall”.
Renowned accordionist Bobby Gardiner said: “We have entertained the world with Brú Ború but it is also nice to be among our own down by the Rock of Cashel.”
Harpist Mary Kelly, who played for Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to the Rock of Cashel, said: “It is gratifying to know that Irish cultural traditions have such a worldwide audience.”
From the Pope’s own country, Argentinian Fernando Marcos, who dances with Brú Ború, said that Irish dancing and music are now a big part of his life.
Tipperary’s “Queen of Song”, Nora Butler, who has performed on all continents, said that after her global experiences when she performs at the Brú Ború base in Cashel she realises that we all inhabit a global village.
Director Úna Ó Murchú said that all the members of the group are very excited regarding this engagement and were deeply honoured to be included in such a prestigious event.
Note: The 45,000 tickets for the papal event at Knock, Co Mayo in August next are fully booked out, however a limited number of tickets to see the Pope Francis’ final Mass in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, are still available on worldmeeting2018.ie.
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