Burning Brightly- Early Evening Performance
Our main performance of the day, Burning Brightly, will see our guest tellers in full flow – the flames of story will be dancing, warming our hearts! Join us!
This event will be hosted in Colaiste Nua a lovely hall on the east side of the island, approximately a 30-40min walk from the Ferry harbour.
Ticket Tip: You need to book a ticket for this event. There are limited tickets available on the door so book in advance to avoid disappointment. Ticket holders get priority into events, but please arrive 15mins before the event, if you are late your spot may be given to another visitor. Please make sure to bring a copy of your ticket either on your phone or in paper.
Ferry Tip: The morning ferries from Baltimore will get you in with time to enjoy other events. The ferry leaving Baltimore at 14.00pm, arriving in Cape Clear around 14.45pm gives you some time to relax, look around the island, get a coffee and festival program before the stories start. For those not staying on the island- the last evening ferry is leaving Cape Clear pier at 18.00pm and arriving in Baltimore at around 18.45pm. Please note that ferry seats are limited, book in advance to ensure you get yours!- https://www.capeclearferries.com/timetables/
Artists
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Colin UrwinStorytellerDescribed as ‘keeping alive the tradition of the Seanchaí’, Colin Urwin is a folk singer, songwriter and storyteller from Co. Antrim. He is well known locally and performs at venues and festivals all over Ireland, the UK and further afield. As well as his beautifully woven stories drawn from the local legend and folklore of his beloved Glens of Antrim, Colin tells many traditional Irish and Scottish folk tales.
In March 2021 he released his first collection of original songs, A Kind of Love Song, and in July two albums of magical stories entitled The Madman’s Window and The Swan Maiden. He has written a book of folk tales which is due for publication in 2022 with Orkneyology Press.
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Donna WashingtonStorytellerDonna Washington is an award-winning internationally known master storyteller, artist-educator, and author who has been performing for audiences of all ages for over thirty-five years. She is renowned for her storytelling for both children & adults from poignant & funny fables about the human condition to racy relationships stories to spine-tingling tales of terror.
She has been featured at numerous festivals, schools, libraries, theaters and other venues around the world including Canada, Peru, Argentina & Hong Kong. During the pandemic, she has presented over two hundred shows & workshops virtually online. In 2020, she co-founded the non-profit organization Artists Standing Strong Together with Master Storyteller Sheila Arnold for which they won a 2021 Oracle Award.
Donna’s eleven storytelling CDs have garnered thirty national awards. She has authored numerous articles about storytelling and education including her very popular blog Language, Literacy & Storytelling. She is also the author of five children’s books: Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa, A Pride of African Tales, The Story of Kwanzaa, A Big Spooky House, and award winning Boo Stew. Peachtree Press is scheduled to publish her next picture book, Prak Fills The House, in September 2023. She travels all over the world performing and giving workshops. She lives with her husband and cat in Durham, NC.
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Joe BrennanStorytellerJoe Brennan from Wexford, has been telling traditional stories for over 20 years across Ireland and beyond. He has travelled to Norway, Iceland, USA, India, Egypt, Lithuania, Russia, Austria, Belgium and Romania telling stories and delivering workshops.
Joe was Artist in Residence with Waterford Healing Arts, sharing stories and delivery workshops with the staff at University Hospital Waterford. He is the author of Donegal Folk Tales. He has written and created a number of theatre performances for young audiences, including a storytelling performance ‘Whispering Waves’.
Joe Brennan has been a featured teller at Cape Clear International Storytelling Festival in the past and we look forward to welcoming him back to share his many wonderful tales.
Follow Joe’s Blog: http://whisperingwaves.wordpress.com/
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Kate CorkeryMC / StorytellerKate Corkery is an Irish storyteller with an international reputation for her work in storytelling. She has performed in countless schools, libraries, theatres and festivals across the world, delighting audiences of all ages. As award winning storyteller-in-residence at The Irish Cultural Centre, London, Kate has run storytelling clubs, festivals, workshops and training courses.
She is a founding member of ‘EVERYDAY MAGIC’ – Storytelling for London Schools, one half of dynamic Afro Caribbean/Celtic duo ‘SPUD & YAM’, and a popular voice worldwide on SUPERGREATKIDSSTORIES podcast.
Kate loves to collect and share stories from Ireland and is author of Cork FolkTales. Her highly acclaimed FATE commissioned show Sweet Shop on the Shore, set in her home town of Passage West, won outstanding storytelling performance at the BASE awards and has gone on to tour far and wide. Kate was a featured teller for The Moth & Butterfly International Festival of Improvisation & Storytelling in February 2026.
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Mairin Mhic LochlainnStorytellerAs Ros a’ Mhíl ó dhúchas do Mháirín, agus tá cónaí uirthi anois i mBaile na mBrabhach. Tá roinnt duaiseanna bainte amach aici in Ealaíon na Scéalaíochta, ina measc Corn Neidí Frainc ag an Oireachtas. Tá sí ina ball do SOI, nó Aos Scéal Éireann.
Bíonn sí ag déanamh Ceardlanna ar fud na hÉireann agus i dtíortha thar lear freisin, chun ealaín na Scéalaíochta traidisiúnta a fhorbaird agus a chur chun cinn; agus a cuid scéalta a roinnt le sean agus óg.
Siad na scéalta Fiannaíochta, nó na Scéalta Gaisce a rogha scéil; scéalta a chuala sí cois teallaigh, óna hathair, Beartla Ó Maoileóin. Agus insíonn scéalta beaga agus scéalta móra faoi na ceantar dúchais chomh maith faoi a rinne a hathair roimpi, agus a mháthair siúd roimhe sin. Bhí an-tionchur ag na Scéalta Gaisce uirthi, mar ba bhreá ó Bheartla craiceann a chur ar scéal. Mar a deir sí féin, ba mhinic léi agus í ina gasúr, tuitim ina codlaigh ag éisteacht le fuaim na seolta móra pucóideacha pacóideacha (ina hintinn).
Tá Máirín ina Scéalaí Cóínaitheach in Ionad Léann na nÉireannach in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe don bhliain 2023.
Living in Indreabhán, Co. Galway, but originally from Rós a Mhíl, Máirín is an award-winning storyteller, claiming many prizes including the Corn Neidí Frainc at the Oireachtas festival.
Developing the craft of story-telling is a mission for Máirín and she has conducted workshops in story-telling throughout Ireland, Wales and Denmark. Her story-telling repertoire includes the Scéalta Fiannaíochta. Máirín grew up listening to stories and cites her father, Beartla Ó Maoileoin as the first storyteller that she heard and his dramatic renditions have had a long standing influence on her. As she say herself, she often went to bed listening to the sound (in her imagination) of the Seolta Móra pucóideacha pacóideacha being hoisted… Máirín has told stories across the globe to both children and adults.
Máirín is Storyteller in Residence at University of Galway’s Centre for Irish Studies 2023.
