Northern Ireland at the Smithsonian
odd: label: Introduction
content: The Northern Ireland at the Smithsonian program took place at a seminal moment in Northern Irish history, following a ten-year period of relative peace and stability and the restoration of Northern Ireland's political institutions. More than 160 participants from throughout Northern Ireland - the region's finest performers, artists, craftspeople, cooks, athletic coaches, and occupational experts - came to the National Mall to explain, demonstrate, and celebrate contemporary life in their beautiful, dynamic homeland.

The Festival program may have come as a surprise to some visitors. Like so much else about contemporary Northern Ireland, day-to-day reality transcends assumptions and challenges stereotypes. Northern Ireland is changing rapidly: in 2007, it was a sophisticated, forward-looking society with a booming post-industrial economy and a renewed sense of confidence in the future. Traditional culture, which in the past sometimes divided communities, now contributed to a shared future and fostered inter-community relationships.

Northern Ireland's greatest strengths have always been the warmth, hospitality, and humor of its people. It has a population of approximately 1.7 million and five cities - each with its own unique character - and Belfast as its capital. It also has a large rural community that consists of a network of market towns and villages. Part of the United Kingdom, it shares a verdant island with the Republic of Ireland and comprises six of the nine counties of the ancient province of Ulster: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry, and Tyrone. Few regions of the world have contributed more to the formation of modern American culture than Northern Ireland. Since the seventeenth century, a succession of immigrants from the region has had a profound impact on the development of the United States, heavily influencing culture, politics, education, science, religion, agriculture, and industry. At least seventeen U.S. presidents are claimed by Northern Ireland as her descendants.

Music in Northern Ireland takes place in myriad settings - kitchens, parlors, and pubs, as well as schools, festivals, and concert halls. Not infrequently, traditional forms of instrumental music - jigs, reels, marches, and polkas - attract dancers who happily spend evenings weaving the complex patterns of ancient Irish dances onto modern dance floors. Even as beloved old tunes are performed and sung for today's listeners, tomorrow's music continues to be created. Modern technology - recordings, radio, iPods, and cell phones - often helps spread the latest traditional-style compositions. Irish music, like other Celtic music, enjoys a worldwide popularity that few would have predicted only a few years before.

Although textile arts are particularly strong, numerous other crafts and art industries flourish in Northern Ireland. Specialized crafts are practiced in ateliers and workshops throughout Northern Ireland, where many artisans produce work such as jewelry, ceramics, glass, and clothing on a commercial or semi-commercial basis. Some craftspeople specialize in making musical instruments, including uniquely Irish bodhrans, Lambeg drums, and uilleann bagpipes.

Another highlight of the Festival was Northern Ireland's unmistakable alimentary dialect - rich in diversity, fiercely independent, and supportive of local produce. Although much of the cuisine is heavily inspired by English and, to some extent, European fare, a flair for culinary innovation and exceptional resourcefulness have allowed the province to develop an entirely unique food culture. Other Festival presentations featured language, local history and heritage, and sports - all contributing to provide Festival visitors with an introduction to the fabled past, vibrant present, and exciting future of this beautiful place.

Nancy Groce was Curator and Jason Morris was Program Coordinator. A Curatorial Group included: Valerie Adams, Frances Bailey, Hazel Campbell, Heather Carr, Mick Cory, Anthony Cranney, Paul Flynn, Olga Gallagher, John Gilmour, Helen Gormley, John Gray, Linda Greenwood, Philip Hammond, Nick Harkness, Cathy Hurst, Aubrey Irwin, Colin Jack, Joe Kelly, Brian Lambkin, Fiona Lavery, Shan McAnena, Katherine McCloskey, Aideen McGinley, Colm McGivern, Declan McGovern, Jim McGreevy, Cathie McKimm, Lisa McMurray, Pat Murphy, Yvonne Murphy, Colette Norwood, Peadar O'Cuinneagain, Alice O'Rawe, George Patton, John Speers, Pat Wilson, and Vanessa Wilson.

The program was produced in partnership with the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure of Northern Ireland and with the cooperation of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Rediscover Northern Ireland. Major donors to the Rediscover Northern Ireland program were Titanic Quarter Ltd. and RES. Other donors and supporters were BT, Diageo, Glen Dimplex Group, Grafton ESP, Norbrook, Resource, Bank of Ireland, BDO Stoy Hayward, Delta Print and Packaging, First Trust Bank, Henderson Foodservice, McCabes, McAleer & Rushe Group, McLaughlin & Harvey, Northern Bank, Seagate, Ulster Carpets, Belleek, FireIMC, Harrison Photography, and Northbrook Technology.
label: Researchers and fieldworkers
content: Linda Ballard, Maurice Bradley, Anne Burke, John Edmund, Paul Flynn, Sarah McDowell, Dympna McElhinney, Colum Sands
label: Participants
content: TRADITIONAL CRAFTS

Bob Johnston, 1969-, basket maker, Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKING

Robbie Hughes, 1950-,  -- uilleann -- /Irish bagpipe maker, Strangford, County Down, Northern Ireland

Eamon Maguire, 1944-,  -- bodhran --  maker, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Darren Sterritt, 1974-, Lambeg drum maker, Markethill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

James Roland Sterritt, 1947-, Lambeg drum maker, Markethill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Richard Sterritt, 1964-, Lambeg drum maker, Markethill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

TEXTILES

Mabel Bogie, 1930-, lace maker, needlecrafts, Saintfield, Ballyinagh, County Down, Northern Ireland

Lorainne Mullin, 1958-, dance dress maker, embroiderer, Portadown, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Maureen Paterson, 1946-, hat maker, milliner, Islandmagee, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

VISUAL ARTS

The Bogside Artists  -- The Bogside ArtistsKevin Hasson, 1958-, muralist, Derry, County Londonderry, Northern IrelandTom Kelly, 1959-, muralist, Derry, County Londonderry, Northern IrelandWill Kelly, 1948-, muralist, Derry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

East Belfast Muralists  -- East Belfast MuralistsDavid "Dee" Craig, 1971-, muralist, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern IrelandRachel Sinnamon, 1984-, muralist, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

William Magowan, 1970-, banner painter, Garvagh, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Tomás Ó Maonaigh, 1963-, claymation and animation, The Nerve Centre, Derry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Gary Rosborough, 1962-, claymation and animation, The Nerve Centre, Derry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

FOODWAYS

Norah Brown, 1938-, foodways, Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Hugh Browne, 1949-, foodways, Warrenspoint, County Down, Northern Ireland

Reverend Robert James Mattison, 1948-, foodways, Poyntz Pass, Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland

Liz Moore, 1972-, foodways, Belle Isle, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND DANCE/PERFORMING ARTS

Mary Fox and the All Set Ensemble  -- Mary Fox and the All Set EnsembleSheila Boylan, 1971-, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern IrelandIan Carmichael, 1962-, Portadown, County Armagh, Northern IrelandCaroline Fegan, 1965-, Newry, County Down, Northern IrelandMary Fox, 1960-, Portadown, County Armagh, Northern IrelandPadraig Mac Cionnaith, 1952-, Coulommiers, France

Armagh Pipers Club/Vallely Family  -- Armagh Pipers Club/Vallely FamilyEithne Vallely, 1945-, Armagh, County Armagh, Northern IrelandCaoimhin Vallely, 1977-, Armagh, County Armagh, Northern IrelandCillian Vallely, 1977-, Armagh, County Armagh, Northern Ireland and Woodside, New YorkNiall Vallely, Armagh, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Armagh Rhymers  -- Armagh RhymersBrendan Bailey, 1943-, Portadown, County Armagh, Northern IrelandAnne Hart, 1955-, Armagh, County Armagh, Northern IrelandPeter J. Shortall, 1945-, Keady, County Armagh, Northern IrelandDara Vallely, 1946-, Armagh, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Aughakillymaude Community Mummers  -- Aughakillymaude Community MummersLeanne Drumm, 1986-, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern IrelandCarina Ferguson, 1987-, Belcoo, County Fermanagh, Northern IrelandJim Ledwith, 1957-, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern IrelandMichael McBarron, 1946-, Derrylin, County Fermanagh, Northern IrelandAdrian McBrien, 1982-, Derrylin, County Fermanagh, Northern IrelandDonard McClean, 1944-, Bangor, County Down, Northern IrelandDessie Reilly, 1943-, Irvinestown, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

Craobh Rua  -- Craobh RuaMichael Cassidy, 1966-, Dundrum, County Antrim, Northern IrelandBrian Connolly, 1961-, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern IrelandConor Lamb, 1986-, Crumlin, County Antrim, Northern IrelandJames Rainey, 1974-, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Lucy Mulholland and Cuckoo's Nest  -- Lucy Mulholland and Cuckoo's NestLucy Mulholland, 1948-, Carryduff, County Down, Northern IrelandLyn Rankin, 1950-, Carryduff, County Down, Northern IrelandJames McElheran, 1942-, Cushendun, County Antrim, Northern IrelandDominic McNabb, 1932-, Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern IrelandPatsy Downey, 1937-, Belfast, County Down, Northern Ireland

Patricia Flynn, 1951-, ballad singer, Mullaghbawn, Newry, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Four Men and a Dog  -- Four Men and a DogKevin Doherty, 1967-, Armagh, County Armagh, Northern IrelandCathal Hayden, 1963-, Pomeroy, County Tyrone, Northern IrelandGino Lupari, 1958-, Magherafelt, County Londonderry, Northern IrelandDonal Murphy, Armagh, County Armagh, Northern IrelandGerry O'Connor, 1960-, Armagh, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Len Graham, 1944-, singer, Mullaghbawn, Newry, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Hidden Fermanagh  -- Hidden FermanaghGabriel McArdle, 1949-, singer, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern IrelandCathal McConnell, flutist, singer, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland and Edinburgh, ScotlandJim McGrath, 1956-, accordionist, Monea, County Fermanagh, Northern IrelandPat McManus, 1958-, fiddler, Teemore, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

Jarlath Henderson, 1986-,  -- uilleann  -- piper, Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

George Holmes, 1946-, banjo, dulcimer, flute, Lambeg drum,  -- bodhran -- , Donaghadee, County Down, Northern Ireland

John Kennedy, 1928-, ballad singer, fife and whistle, Cullybackey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

The Low Country Boys  -- The Low Country BoysIvan McFerran, 1959-, Glastry, Ballyhalbert, County Down, Northern IrelandMark Thompson, 1972-, Newtownards, County Down, Northern IrelandGraeme Thompson, 1974-, Newtownards, County Down, Northern IrelandGibson Young, 1962-, Greyabbey, County Down, Northern Ireland

Jack Lynch, 1952-, storyteller, County Armagh, Northern Ireland and Dublin, Republic of Ireland

Micil Ned Quinn, 1926-, singer, raconteur, Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland

Colum Sands, 1951-, singer-songwriter, Rostrevor, County Down, Northern Ireland

Tommy Sands, singer-songwriter, Rostrevor, County Down, Northern Ireland

Session Band  -- Session BandMaurice Bradley, 1962-, Draperstown, County Londonderry, Northern IrelandCatherine Sands, 1971-, Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern IrelandMichael Sands, 1971-, Ballycastle, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Nisha Tandon, 1957-, dancer, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Robert Watt, 1978-, bagpiper, Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Roisin White, 1950-, singer, Cavanacaw, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Mark Wilson, 1971-, percussionist, Craigavon, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Lee Lawson, percussionist, Campbelltown, Argyll, Scotland

HISTORY AND HERITAGE

Colin Breen, 1969-, marine archaeologist, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Wes Forsythe, 1971-, marine archaeologist, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Rosemary McConkey, marine archaeologist, University of Ulster, Coleraine, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Maybelline Gormley, archaeologist, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Declan Hurl, 1956-, archaeologist, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Kenneth Shilliday, mason, restorer, Craigavon, County Armagh, Northern Ireland

Valerie Adams, 1948-, genealogist, Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI), Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Philip McDermott, 1980-, oral historian, University of Ulster/Magee Campus, Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Christine McIvor, 1952-, genealogist, Centre for Migration Studies/Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Fintan Mullan, 1969-, genealogist, Ulster Historical Foundation, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Billy Stirling, 1945-, warden, The National Trust/Bridge at Carrick-a-Rede, Ballybogey, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Ulster-Scots Culture/Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland  -- Ulster-Scots Culture/Grand Orange Lodge of IrelandDavid Hume, 1964-, historian, Lame, County Antrim, Northern IrelandJonathan Mattison, 1977-, historian, Hillsborough, County Down, Northern Ireland

TRADES AND OCCUPATIONS

Belleek Pottery  -- Belleek PotteryFergus Cleary, 1954-, designer, Belleek, County Fermanagh, Northern IrelandJohn Doogan, 1957-, potter, Belleek, County Fermanagh, Northern IrelandKate Rasdale, 1956-, painter, Belleek County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

Bushmills Irish Whiskey, Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern Ireland  -- Bushmills Irish Whiskey, Bushmills, County Antrim, Northern IrelandMichael John Dalzell, 1966-, customer servicesGordon Donoghue, managementHenry Johnston Elliott, 1943-, maturationKenneth Garvin, 1956-, distillingDavid Alexander Gault, 1947-, transportElaine Harrison, 1968-, laboratoryWilliam McKeown, 1946-, maturationShirley Elizabeth McMullan, 1960-, bottlingAgnes Rainey, 1943-, visitor centerJeanette Wilmont, 1956-, bottling

Call Centres/Northbrook Technology  -- Call Centres/Northbrook TechnologyAndrew Galvin, 1980-, trainer, Strabane, County Tyrone, Northern IrelandJoanne Haire, 1980-, trainer, Strabane, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Harland and Wolff Heavy Industries  -- Harland and Wolff Heavy IndustriesDavid McVeigh, 1970-, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern IrelandIan Ritchie, 1959-, mechanical fitter, Newtownabby, County Antrim, Northern IrelandJohn Robinson, 1955-, draftsman, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Thomas Fergusons Irish Linen  -- Thomas Fergusons Irish LinenNigel Spiers, 1961-, weaver, Gilford, Craigavon, County Armagh, Northern IrelandJonathan Neilly, 1987-, weaver, Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland

Ulster Carpets  -- Ulster CarpetsPhilip Holland, 1947-, weaver, Craigavon, Portadown, County Armagh, Northern IrelandRodney Smyth, 1966-, weaver, Portadown, County Armagh, Northern IrelandLouise Stevenson, 1981-, weaver, Ballygowan, Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland

AGRICULTURE AND FISHING

Eel Fishing in Lough Neagh  -- Eel Fishing in Lough NeaghJohn Quinn, 1973-, eel fisher, Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern IrelandTommy John Quinn, 1923-, eel fisher, Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern IrelandDanny Donnelly, 1938-, eel fisher, Dungannon, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Louise Lilburn, 1984-, cattle breeder, Dromore, County Down, Northern Ireland

Mary McCormack, 1954-, farmer, Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Joe McDonald, 1972-, farmer, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

John Rankin, 1942-, dairy farmer, Newtownards, County Down, Northern Ireland

John Gilliland, 1965-, farmer, Rural Generation Ltd./Brook Hall Estate, Londonderry, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Alistair McCracken, 1951-, food scientist, mycologist, Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Mark McGuigan, 1972-, project manager, technical supervisor, Omagh College of Further Education, Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

Tim Volk, forester, State University of New York, Syracuse, New York

SPORTS AND GAMES

Margaret Deevy, 1973-, children's sports, PlayBoard, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Marie-Louise Tohill, 1980-, children's sports, PlayBoard, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Gaelic Athletic Association/Comhairle Uladh Cumann Luthchleas Gael  -- Gaelic Athletic Association/Comhairle Uladh Cumann Luthchleas GaelJimmy Darragh, 1960-, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern IrelandStephen McGeehan, 1978-, Armagh, County Armagh, Northern IrelandUna McKay, 1979-, Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern IrelandTerence McWilliams, 1951-, Kilrea, County Londonderry, Northern IrelandAileen Tohill, 1978-, Maghera, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Gavan Duffy, 1977-, hurling stick maker, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Trevor Erskine, 1955-, Irish Football Association, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland

David McVeigh, Irish Football Association, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Brian Gardiner, 1963-, motorcycle racer, Ballyclare, County Antrim, Northern Ireland

Niall McShea, 1974-, rally driver, Markethill, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland

Michael Black, 1974-, Irish Rugby Football Union Ulster Branch (Ulster Rugby), Kilfennan, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland

Barry Willis, 1981-, Irish Rugby Football Union Ulster Branch (Ulster Rugby), Larne, County Antrim, Northern Ireland
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 2007 Smithsonian Folklife Festival
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.2007, Series 3
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials