THE BLACKBIRD Siamsa Tíre

To celebrate 30 years of the creation of the world famous ‘Blackbird’, members of the National Folk Theatre, past and present, have come together to showcase this unique traditional Irish music and dance piece from their homes in isolation or while working on our behalf on the front line #HSE! We'd like to thank all of our artists for continuing to entertain us as we do our part to #StayAtHome.
In March 1991, Siamsa Tíre opened the doors of a brand new purpose built theatre in Tralee Co. Kerry. A new production by the National Folk Theatre was the launchpad for this new beginning for the company. The production, Ding Dong Dedero - forging the dance, told the story of the famous North Kerry Dance Master, Jeremiah Molyneaux, known locally as Munnix.
One step dance formed the back bone of this production, the now world famous Blackbird. This step was specially devised by the members of the National Folk Theatre and their founder Director Fr. Pat Ahern in 1990. It is based on the many recordings held by the company of Munnix pupils, such as Jack Lyons, Jerry Nolan, John McCarthy, Phil Cahill and many more, and is seen as the finest tribute to the North Kerry style, still used by the company to this day. Molyneaux lived and taught his dance in the North Kerry area in the early part of the 20th century. This unique style of dance has its origins in Kerry going back to the early 1700's.
In 2020, thirty years on since the creation of the Blackbird, in the midst of the Covid 19 pandemic isolation, members of the National Folk Theatre, past and present, have come together from all over Ireland and across the world to play and dance, the Blackbird. In total 28 dancers and 11 musicians have been included in this piece with artists young and old, spanning the generations and families that have trained in the National Folk Theatre Training Academy over the last 50 years.
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Find out more about Siamsa Tíre and the National Folk Theatre of Ireland at : www.siamsatire...
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Thank you to our world-class talented artists who have allowed us to share this video in this way, during these unprecedented times.
Siamsa Tíre, home of the National Folk Theatre and one of Ireland's busiest theatres and arts centres, is situated in the capital of County Kerry - Tralee. Located on the south western coastline of the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland, Tralee is an ideal location for exploring the beauties of world famous County Kerry.
The National Folk Theatre presents Ireland's premier cultural experience with a cast of over 100 professionally trained in the Irish arts performing across the season. Ireland's best Irish dancers, musicians and folk stage performers present five folk theatre productions of exhilarating, colourful and lively representations of Irish culture and heritage through the best of Irish music, song and dance.

[@dirhabogchick]

Fab! Julia Galvin here, Jerry Molyneaux was my Grandfather Patrick Flavins cousin. He taught my mother to dance. Unfortunately, I didn't pick up the dancing gene.
I was always told that he 'made out' the dance moves on the palm of his hand using his opposite hands index and middle fingers (as would be legs) I was also told that he hated anybody's arms to move whilst they danced. If he spotted you at a dance with a moving arm he'd come out of the crowd thump the dancer between the two shoulders! It was said he could tell after 30 seconds if you'd make a dancer, and wouldn't wrong you in trying to teach you if you would never make the grade. Nice work all around folks! Keep up the good work Jonathan!

[@jirihozpodebrad23]

Beautiful

[@colmcroffy7652]

Fabulous, Go hIontach ar fad !