Friday June 14th
Friday night is dedicated to music song and fun. We kick off the night early with an intimate concert “Songs for the lifeboat” at the Church of Ireland Rosses Point. What better place to start the festival than the church standing proudly at the start of the village?Shanty tonsils will be limbering up for an 8pm start.
Tickets cost €10 with proceeds go to the RNLI.
Village Hostelries
The shanties get into full swing at 9.30pm with the official opening by Captain Redmond Gillen in Harry’s bar.
From 9.30pm onwards local and international shanty groups will perform in each of the village locations:
- Harry’s,
- Austie’s,
- Waterfront,
- Yeats Country Hotel,
- Co Sligo Golf Club
Saturday June 15th
On Saturday, shanties hit the street throughout the village: We host a literary event, specialised workshops and the main festival concert.
Informal sessions -3 to 5pm
There will be plenty of opportunity to catch the full range of performers throughout the village. Take a wander up the village road to enjoy some of our international performers.
Literary Event – Yeats Country Hotel 12noon
The Literary event is an important part of our festival. Local and national poets and writers join us in presenting various works with a sea theme.
Cake Dance - Austies 4pm
This is a traditional Rosses Point festival event which can be traced back to the mid 1800s. It’s a free-style dance open competition with a cake as prize. A bit of fun for young and old.
Workshop Sessions – Sligo Yacht Club,
3pm to 5pm
In a separate but complementary event, this year we are hosting a series of workshops aimed at increasing the awareness of and understanding of shanty singing. This event is made possible through the assistance of the Arts Council and will include practical demonstrations of how shanties were used aboard ship, a trip through the social history of shanties entitled “Shanties the First Rock and Roll” and of course the opportunity to learn and join in the shanty singing.The workshops will be launched by special guest Marcus Connaughton, Producer and Presenter of RTE’s flagship maritime programme – Seascapes
Cost:€10 contribution requested.
Festival -Concert Yeats Country Hotel
Saturday night brings the festival gala concert in aid of the RNLI.
The concert showcases the best in shanty singing and has been a resounding favourite each year.
Time: 9pm
Cost: €10.
Informal sessions
From 930 pm Shanty Groups will sing in Austies, Harrys, and the Waterfront.
Don’t miss the craic as the village echoes to the sound of shanties.
Sunday June 16th
Sunday brings us close to the sea with our remembrance and blessing of the boats, lifeboat open day, boat racing and of course more Shanties
The Pier Area – 12noon to 4pm
Waiting on Shore Commemoration, Annual Blessing of the Boats, Lifeboat Open Day, Sligo Swim Club’s Channel Swim, The Maugherow Cup, the Go As You Please and the Sea Scout Duck Race.
The Pirates Parade – 3.30pm
Time to dress up, pirates old and young parade through the village for a final set of shanties. Sessions will continue throughout the village until about 7pm when the festival prize-giving and conclusion will take place outside Harry’s.Sea Safety advice from the RNLI
The RNLI’s Sea Safety Road-show will be in the village on Saturday and Sunday with lots of great advice, lifejacket checks and much more. Safety is a key to a seafaring village so we’d encourage as many people as possible to attend. Call in over the weekend.
