No plans yet for the solar eclipse? For the best vantage point in Ireland and a real adventure, get your cosmic asses to the Kingdom of Kerry for Ireland s only Eclipse Music Festival.
At exactly 11.10 on Wednesday, 11th August, the moon will cover 95 per cent of the sun, plunging southern Ireland into a twilight abyss. The last time it happened early this century witnesses testified to extraordinary feelings of awe, wonder, spiritual connection, oneness and even re-birth, as the moon s shadow sped across the face of the earth, causing the light to fade and then joyously return. And in the breathtaking grounds of The Waterville Hotel in Waterville, Co. Kerry, just as it goes dark, the first act in the Eclipse Music Festival will take the stage.
Musicians at this amazing outdoor festival include John Martyn, Kila, The Frames, Mary Janes, Hugh Cornwell, Ben Christophers, The Prayer Boat, Kerry s own Strange Brew and a gaggle of DJs, street performers and other special guests. The gig takes place on the shores of beautiful Lough Currane, nestled amongst the panoramic Bearna na Gaoithe mountains.
This will an unmissable audio-stellar experience, enthuses Niall Walsh, organiser. When I first saw the location in Waterville I just couldn t believe it. You re sat in a massive natural amphitheatre of mountains, with a lake in front of you. It should be such a chill-out day, with an eclipse happening in the morning and then a music festival all day and into the evening. John Martyn will be the last act on. We re flying him in by super-chopper from Cornwall. He s actually viewing the eclipse in Cornwall after it hits us!
We re hoping to downlink the whole thing from satellite on a big screen, because if it happens to be overcast, we d still like to be able to show the eclipse.
As well as music, there ll be folks from the Astronomical Society of Ireland issuing special eclipse viewing glasses an absolute must to ensure that you don t damage your eyes as you re watching the eclipse. Adding further to the magic of the day, the area of Waterville is rich in ancient megalithic structures, many with astronomical alignments. Just up the road are five standing stones and several bee-hive huts, like the famous ones on Skellig Islands.
There s also an old ecclesiastical site up there, with an altar and burial ground, raves Kate Ellis Jones, another organiser. It s a fantastic place. We ve even got a guy coming on the day who ll be talking about the archaeological significance of the area.
The money raised by the Eclipse Music Festival goes to the Cill Rialaig Charity. Established in 1991 by patron of the arts Noelle Campbell Sharp and run by a voluntary board of local business people, the Cill Rialaig Project is one of Ireland s most inspired community initiatives. The on-going project is re-building the abandoned, pre-famine Kerry village of Cill Rialaig as an international writers and artists retreat. The seven buildings already finished have housed over 300 artists from around the world. Artists get to stay for one month free of charge, removed from commercial pressures and inspired by the wild remote beauty and unspoilt nature of the place, which is situated on the cliff-edge at Bolus Head, the most western part of Europe.
The next phase of the Cill Rialaig project to be funded by the Eclipse Music Festival is the re-building of a pre-famine house specially designed for the musical arts. This will be dedicated free and in perpetuity to music writers and composers an inspiring retreat with an unbeatable view across the wild Atlantic Ocean.
Because of its worthy aim, all the musicians playing at the Eclipse Festival have waived their fees.
The eclipse is a once-in-a-lifetime, soul-altering event. It won t happen again in our lifetimes. Kerry is one of the best places to view it in Ireland, so do yourself a favour whilst supporting our musical culture, and make the trip to Waterville on August 11th. With a 5,500 capacity, the Eclipse Music Festival promises a day of cosmic celebration: fabulous sounds, hedonistic fun and great karma all round. n
REMEMBER: Looking directly at the eclipse without specially designed viewing glasses can seriously damage your eyes. Ordinary sun-glasses are not sufficient to protect your eyesight.
Tickets for the Eclipse Festival are available at all HMV outlets and Ticket Master (tel: 01 456 9569) for #22.50. For more info, e-mail [email protected], or phone Kate or Niall on (066) 947 9296.