Thursday, August 1st, 2024
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Ancient Irish Wakes: The Merry Wake, Keening and the Art of Crying
A Lecture by – Ann Moylan, MA (Hons) Ethnomusicology
Friday 23rd August from 6.00 – 7.45 in Loughboy Library
“Regardless of whether custom calls for festive or restrained behaviour, the study of death rituals throws into relief the most important cultural values by which people live their lives. Life becomes transparent against the background of death, and all fundamental social and cultural issues are revealed.”
Understanding the origins of our Wakes and Funeral Practices may be a key to explaining why we Irish hold our death rituals in such high regard within our communities. This lecture will explain how our ancestors would have seen death not as being instantaneous, but they in fact believed that the spirit of the deceased would continue to preside over the proceedings throughout the three nights of the Wake.
The Wake, unlike today, would not have been led by the clergy, but by the Mna Caointe (Keening Women), or the ‘Caoineadh’, who were hired as professional ‘criers’ and without them, the Wake could not take place. In stark contrast, within the same room, there was what became known as the Merry Wake which was a much-anticipated event of games, boisterous festivities and even courtship.
This 2-hour lecture will explore how, whether riotous or reverent, the Wake was an important ritual for the Irish to honour the spirit of their dead. It will be an immersive event and designed to look as if taking place at a 19th Century Irish Wake, finishing with the creation of a vocal soundscape, a modern-day Keen, as a tribute to the fascinating heritage of our ancestors.
(Please note that due to mature content, this is an adult only event.)
Places are limited. Please phone 0567794176 or email loughboy@kilkennylibrary.ie to book a place.
Loughboy Shopping Centre, Waterford Rd. Kilkenny. R95 TD71