08_international community.qxd
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08_international community.qxd
08_international community.qxd 21.02.2007 18:44 Uhr Seite 38 Fergal O’Hannrachain, Irish fiddler for Heartlands Fergal O’Hannrachain, violoniste irlandais du groupe Heartlands 08_international community.qxd 21.02.2007 18:44 Uhr Seite 39 International Community 162 nationalities live in Luxembourg, including 2,000 Irish. 162 nationalités cohabitent à Luxembourg, dont 2.000 Irlandais. Vibrant Sounds of a Living Tradition The fiddle that Fergal O’Hannrachain plays is the same as a classic violin – physically they are identical. But Fergal’s fiddle, like the traditional Irish music it plays, is for him: “Alive, vibrant... a truly living thing.” Photos: Andres Lejona / Conception de l’espace: Pascale Michalski U nlike the classical violin, the fiddle has that fundamental quality that is at the soul of all Irish music: it is social. It plays the familiar tunes that are heard in village pubs throughout Ireland – from tearful ballads to jaunty jigs, songs that the locals seem to know by long association, verse by verse. Despite concerns by some musicians, Fergal is not worried that traditional, or “trad”, music will fizzle or fade. He argues that it is as popular as ever, even as it absorbs new influences: “It thrives on fresh injections of new ideas, which in turn is bringing in a whole new generation of listeners and players.” The loyal crowd that gathers on the last Thursday of each month at Oscar Wilde’s Pub is proof. They have come to meet their friends, share a story over a pull of draught and hear the regular jam session of Heartlands, a local trad music group with the “cabbage and pot” of trad instruments: fiddle, tin-whistle, accordion, flute, mandolin and Uilleann pipes (Irish bagpipes). Heartlands has been tied to the Irish community for over a decade, but Irish traditions have been celebrated since the first wave of Irish to Luxembourg. Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann celebrates 25 years this year and is responsible for promoting Irish music, dance and culture in Luxembourg. It is part of a large international organisation that sponsors festivals (fleadh) 39 08_international community.qxd 21.02.2007 18:44 Uhr Seite 40 Lords and Ladies of the Dance Centuries ago traveling dance masters would wander through Ireland teaching jigs and reels, tying hay to their pupils’ left foot and straw to their right, yelling “lift hay feet!” to help them learn the steps and kicks. Today, Rita Neville doesn’t have to tie hay to her students’ feet, which fly lightly around the floor in soft lace-up shoes as she calls out her instructions: “Swallow the floor... hands by your side... advance, retire!” Rita, originally from Limerick, teaches an international group ranging from six to seventeen years old. Although they have participated in feis competitions, Rita’s group is performancebased. You can see them high-stepping in various fêtes in Luxembourg throughout the year. “It’s more difficult than it looks,” says Rita as she leads them in centuriesold dances with names to match: “Walls of Limerick” and the “Siege of Innis.” Her students swing in each other’s arms between great gasps of laughter. DFA Lords et Ladies de la danse Il y a de cela plusieurs siècles, des professeurs de danse itinérants parcouraient l’Irlande pour enseigner gigues et quadrilles, attachant du foin (hay) au pied gauche de leurs élèves et de la paille (straw) à leur pied droit, leur criant «lift hay feet!» pour les aider à apprendre pas et battements de pieds. Aujourd’hui, Rita Neville n’a nul besoin d’attacher du foin aux pieds de ses élèves dont les souples chaussons lacés glissent avec légèreté sur le sol tandis qu’elle donne ses instructions: «Occupez l’espace... Mains sur les côtés... Avancez, reculez!» Rita, originaire de Limerick, enseigne la danse à un groupe d’enfants de toutes nationalités âgés de six à dix-sept ans. Bien que ses élèves aient déjà participé à des concours de «feis», la classe de Rita se consacre principalement au spectacle. Vous pouvez les voir danser toute l’année à l’occasion des différentes fêtes données au Luxembourg. «C’est plus difficile que ça en a l’air», explique Rita tandis qu’elle enseigne à ses élèves des danses centenaires aux noms évocateurs: Walls of Limerick ou Siege of Innis. Les jeunes danseurs se balancent dans les bras l’un de l’autre entre deux grands éclats de rire. Rita Neville, Irish Traditional Dancing Teacher Rita Neville, professeur de danse traditionnelle irlandaise where thousands of musicians and dancers work their way through regional competitions to be able to participate in the All-Ireland finals at Fleadh Cheoil. “It is the Mecca of Irish music,” Fergal confirms. “The standard of the ‘amateur’ groups competing is so high that it is really professional.” Some of the All-Ireland winners will be performing at the local Comhaltas St Patrick’s Day event this month. Comhaltas is attended annually by over a million people and have resonated in Irish communities all over the world, including our own. Its main focus is fostering the enthusiasm of the amateur or voluntary musician within the framework of traditional Irish music in its purist form. In addition to music, Comhaltas supports Irish song and dance traditions as well as Irish language courses (Irish is now an official language of the European Union). Luxembourg has all of these elements represented. As the local Comhaltas chapter began hosting “céilí” (dances) for the growing Irish community in Luxembourg, so evolved the need for live musical accompaniment. Up to that point Heartlands was “a social group”, as Fergal 40 describes it: “We were just an eclectic group who enjoyed traditional music and playing it informally.” There were few places to play publicly, so they went to small Luxembourgish bars and “just took over.” Eventually, thanks to the efforts of founder John Sweeney, the group became more organised and today has gigs in many community fêtes, or you may catch them tuning up at favourite Irish haunts such as Oscar’s, The Pyg or Black Stuff. The most unusual gig to date? “I’ll never forget the Irish Wolfhound Association fête – playing to a passing parade of dogs.” Heartlands Sounds Members of Heartlands are also doing their part to fulfill the Comhaltas’ vision of encouraging Irish music in the young, amateur enthusiast. Heartlands player Terry O’Brien, amongst others, organises traditional music classes for musicians on a variety of instruments. Contemporary Irish music is also getting mainstream attention, and Fleadh festivals abound, showcasing professional groups from Lúnasa and Aslan to Kila and the Sharon Shannon Big Band. All were featured in the World Fleadh which debuted last year, “St Patrick’s Experience” in Place d’Armes will feature the popular Irish ballad group, Dublin City Workingman’s Band, which have been called the “Dubliners for the naughties.” Fergal notes: “There’s so many different styles of the music now, a lot of ‘trad light’ or traditional music fused with modern.” As Heartlands tunes up for another jam session at Oscar’s, there is camaraderie and an amiable connection between players and listeners around the pub – like sinking into a comfortable chair with familiar sounds and faces. There is a bit of story-telling and a seeming lack of agenda. It’s as if the tunes arise by mutual consent, and may hold surprises even for the players. “We Irish are relaxed as part of our nature,” says Fergal. “Relaxed and flexible. Which allows you to either have no plans, or to be totally prepared for the unexpected!” And Fergal’s Dublinesque spin on an evening of singing, joking, gossiping and tunes? “A brilliant craic – a ninety!” Deborah Fulton Anderson 08_international community.qxd 21.02.2007 18:45 Uhr Ray Hickey, Entrepreneur Ray Hickey, entrepreneur Seite 41 Urban Energy Énergie urbaine On his way back to Ireland from five months of “travelling with the lads”, working just long enough to pay expenses, Ray Hickey landed in Luxembourg. He did short-order in the kitchen of Congo, a bar-restaurant where he was smitten by his lovely co-worker Laura. A banking position brought him back to Luxembourg the next time. “I lasted four days,” says Ray. On the fifth day he bought Congo, and this energetic entrepreneur has never looked back. “There is such an abundance of business opportunities here!” Case in point, in 2002 he and his brother Tom opened Urban, a “Dublin-style city bar.” Ray attributes its success to a welcoming staff and an atmosphere “where we would want to go ourselves. Like we say in Ireland… if anything happens, it’s first gonna happen in a pub.” Ray, Laura and their two sons now consider Luxembourg home. With another venture under way – Big Event Productions, co-organisers of the “St Patrick’s Experience 2007” – Ray is surely part of what’s “gonna make it happen” in the Grand Duchy. DFA C’est sur le chemin du retour vers l’Irlande, après un «voyage entre copains» de cinq mois où il travaillait juste assez pour payer ses dépenses, que Ray Hickey se retrouve au Luxembourg. Chargé de la restauration rapide du Congo, un bar-restaurant, il tombe sous le charme de sa ravissante collègue, Laura. La fois suivante, c’est un poste dans le secteur bancaire qui le ramène au Luxembourg. «Je n’y ai tenu que quatre jours», explique-til. Le cinquième jour, cet entrepreneur énergique achète le Congo et ne l’a jamais regretté. «Il y a tellement d’opportunités professionnelles ici!» La preuve en est: en 2002, il crée avec son frère Tom un «bar urbain dans le style dublinois», Urban. Ray attribue son succès à son personnel accueillant et à l’atmosphère d’un lieu «où nous aimerions aller nous-mêmes. Comme on dit en Irlande, si quelque chose doit arriver, c’est au pub que ça arrivera.» Ray, Laura et leurs deux fils se sentent maintenant chez eux au Luxembourg. Avec un nouveau projet en cours – Big Event Productions, co-organisateur de la St. Patrick’s Experience 2007 – Ray fait sans nul doute partie de ceux qui «font que les choses arrivent» au Grand-Duché. Vibrantes sonorités pour une tradition bien vivante L e fiddle dont joue Fergal O’Hannrachain est similaire au violon classique – physiquement ils sont identiquess. Mais le violon de Fergal, tout comme la musique traditionnelle irlandaise qu’il joue, est selon lui: «Animé, vibrant... un objet vraiment vivant». Contrairement au violon classique, le fiddle présente la caractéristique principale d’être l’âme même de la musique irlandaise: il est social. C’est sur ce violon que sont joués les airs bien connus que l’on entend dans les pubs de tous les villages d’Irlande – tristes ballades ou gigues enjouées, leurs habitants semblent connaître ces chansons depuis toujours, à la rime près. Musique traditionnelle Malgré les inquiétudes de certains musiciens, Fergal ne craint pas la disparition ou l’extinction de la musique traditionnelle ou «trad». Elle est en effet plus populaire que jamais, explique-t-il, même si elle intègre maintenant de nouvelles influences: «Elle se développe grâce à l’intégration de nouvelles idées, ce qui amène également toute une nouvelle génération de spectateurs et de musiciens». Fergal joue au sein de Heartlands, un groupe local «trad» très lié au Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, qui célèbre 25 ans de promotion de la musique, de la danse et de la culture irlandaises au Luxembourg. Ce groupe fait partie d’une importante organisation qui sponsorise des festivals («fleadh») grâce auxquels des milliers de musiciens et de danseurs peuvent accéder à des concours régionaux et participer à la finale All-Ireland de Fleadh Cheoil. «C’est la Mecque de la musique traditionnelle irlandaise,» confirme Fergal. «Le niveau des groupes “amateurs” en compétition est si élevé qu’on atteint un résultat vraiment professionnel». Certains des vainqueurs de l’All-Ireland joueront lors du concert organisé ce mois-ci au Luxembourg par le Comhaltas local à l’occasion de la Saint Patrick. La musique irlandaise contemporaine attire également l’attention du public et des médias et les festivals Fleadh se multiplient en Europe, présentant des groupes professionnels très populaires. La «St. Patrick’s Experience» qui se déroulera Place d’Armes ce mois-ci présentera, en parallèle de troupes de danse, le groupe irlandais de ballades Dublin City Workingman’s Band. A really good craic! Fergal note: «Il existe maintenant tellement de styles de musique différents, un grand nombre de musiques "trad light" ou traditionnelles ont fusionné avec la musique moderne». Les événements organisés par la communauté irlandaise du Luxembourg sont décontractés et il existe toujours une grande camaraderie entre les musiciens et leur public. La Saint Patrick promet d’être un vrai bon moment, «a really good craic!», comme disent les Dublinois. 41 08_international community.qxd 21.02.2007 18:45 Uhr Seite 42 Accents of Home Accents du pays natal Una Clifford may miss County Derry, but after almost three years in Luxembourg she is happy with the transition. “There is an excitement here if you know where to find the sparks,” says Una. “The key is to learn how and where to look for what’s going on.” The close-knit Irish community here was essential. “At work we have a mentoring programme. Knowing no one those first months here, I was invited to parties in Irish homes surrounded by the familiar talk and accents of home.” But Una has not limited herself to speaking in her native tongue. A Cambridge graduate, she readily absorbs new languages. “After French and German, I thought a bit of Latino spirit would do a treat.” That has led to the study of Spanish, Portuguese and her latest endeavour – Turkish. As enthusiastic as she is for international connections, she retains a solid tie to all things Irish. “The country, the community and our family are all very important to us. Forty shades of green and forty shades of goodness lie there too.” DFA Il se peut que son Derry natal manque à Una Clifford mais, après presque trois années passées au Luxembourg, elle est heureuse de cette transition. «C’est un endroit excitant si vous savez où dénicher les bons plans, explique Una. La clé est de savoir où et comment se tenir informé de ce qui se passe.» La très solidaire communauté irlandaise présente sur place s’est avérée essentielle. «Au travail, nous avons un programme de mentorat. Comme je ne connaissais personne ici les premiers mois, j’ai été invitée à des fêtes dans des familles irlandaises où j’étais entourée par la langue et les accents familiers du pays». Mais Una ne se contente pas de parler sa langue natale. Diplômée de Cambridge, elle assimile facilement de nouvelles langues. «Après le français et l’allemand, je me suis dit qu’une petite touche latine serait la bienvenue». C’est ainsi qu’elle commence à étudier l’espagnol, le portugais puis le turc, son tout dernier projet. Malgré son enthousiasme pour les relations internationales, elle conserve des liens solides avec tout ce qui se rapporte à l’Irlande. «Notre pays, notre communauté et notre famille sont très importants pour nous. On trouve en Irlande quarante nuances de vert mais aussi quarante vertus». Una Clifford, finding the sparks in Luxembourg Una Clifford, à la recherche de bons plans à Luxembourg Ireland Facts FOR MORE INFORMATION: Embassy of Ireland HE Mr. Martin Burke Ambassador of Ireland to Luxembourg 28, route d’Arlon, L-1140 Luxembourg Tel 45 06 10 24, Fax 45 8820, [email protected] Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, Luxembourg Branch Irish Cultural Organisation. Sponsors music, dance and language courses/events www.comhaltas.lu [email protected] Irish Club of Luxembourg Open to all nationalities. www.irishclub.lu Gaelic Sports Club Luxembourg Open to all nationalities – men’s and ladies’ teams luxembourg.europe.gaa.ie [email protected] Cumann Gaelach Irish Language Club Classes and speakers. [email protected] 42 Luxembourg Rose of Tralee Participation in Rose of Tralee festival www.rose.lu IRELAND IN LUXEMBOURG: Ireland – A Big Language with a Small Base Lecture by Professor Alan Titley, University College, Cork 01.03.07, 20h, Salle des Fêtes, European School [email protected] Night at the Races Gaelic Sports Club event 02.03.07, 20h, Black Stuff Irish Pub [email protected] St Patrick’s Experience Two-day festival with live performances Sponsored by Black Stuff and Big Event Productions 16.03.07, 17h and 17.03.07, 12.30h Place d’Armes, Luxembourg blackstuff.lu/html/stpatricksexperience2007 “Céilí” Traditional Irish Dance Live music and dancing Sponsored by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann 17.03.07, 18.30h children, 20h adults Arquebusiers Tennis Club, Val St Croix Bookings: [email protected] St Patrick’s Dinner Party Sponsored by the Irish Club 17.03.07, 19.30h, Novotel Luxembourg, Kirchberg Bookings: [email protected] WHERE IRISH MEET IN LUXEMBOURG: Black Stuff Irish Pub, Oscar Wilde’s, The Pyg, Town House, Urban Bar and Kitchen… (see Vademecum) ABOUT IRELAND: Population: 07/2006: 4,062,235 (est.) Capital: Dublin National Holiday: 17 March, St Patrick’s Day Government: Republic, parliamentary democracy Head of state: President Mary McAleese Head of government: Prime Minister Bertie Ahern FAMOUS IRISH: Oscar Wilde, novelist, satirist Samuel Beckett, dramatist, novelist William Butler Yeats, poet James Joyce, novelist Jonathan Swift, writer of Gulliver’s Travels Peter O’Toole, actor Sinéad O’Connor, singer, songwriter Van Morrison, singer, songwriter Bono, lead singer of U2 Michael O’Leary, CEO of Ryanair