The Eugene Irish Cultural Festival has brought authentic Irish culture to Eugene for the past seven years with traditional music, dance workshops, history presentations and even Irish language workshops. As a part of the festival, traditional Irish music group Téada will visit the University from Sligo, Ireland, on Friday, March 5 to kick off the festival.
Peggy Hinsman has been the festival coordinator for five years and works with the family activities area, where people of all ages can learn about Irish culture, history and geography.
“Our mission is to cultivate exposure and participation in understanding and enjoyment of a broad spectrum of authentic Irish culture, both past and present,” Hinsman said.
The traditional Irish music workshops held throughout the festival will introduce the usual instruments involved, such as the fiddle, guitar, flute, tin whistle, uilleann pipes and the bodhrán drums.
Téada was founded in 2001 by fiddler Oisín Mac Diarmada. After an initial appearance on an Irish television show, the group went on to tour at Irish music festivals internationally.
The music group, which is comprised of five members, has now toured most parts of the globe.
“This is Téada’s first involvement with the Eugene Irish Festival, and we are really excited,” Mac Diarmada said. “It has been many years since Téada has performed in Oregon. A lot of care seems to have been taken with programming this festival to give a good representation of the various strands of Irish culture. It’s not just a glorified drinking fest!”
Although many people may think of traditional Irish music as a more static genre, it is actually a growing and vibrant music field in Irish culture.
“We hope that our music enthuses and energizes,” Mac Diarmada said. “It will evoke memories for some of family members who came from Ireland in the past, or even of a recent vacation spent in Ireland. Music creates memories in our present lives, and also gives us an entry-point into the past.”
Téada’s upcoming performance demonstrates the crucial involvement of universities in the development and recognition of Irish culture. While Mac Diarmada has been playing the fiddle for 25 years, fellow Téada member Tristan Rosenstock has been playing the bodhrán, a traditional Irish goatskin-drum, for almost 20 years.
“Ireland is known as the land of Saints and Scholars,” Rosenstock said. “Gaelic is the third oldest written language in Europe, and with such a rich history in learning and education it is fitting that the University of Oregon provides a platform for this unique celebration of Irish culture in Eugene.”
Although the festival focuses on the education and celebration of several aspects of Irish culture, Téada’s music often reminds listeners of their own heritage.
“Traditional Irish music covers a lot of moods,” Rosenstock said. “Two people can come to our show and have very different experiences.
It’s not unusual for people to tell us after a show that our music lifted their spirits. It can also stir a lot of emotions in those who have Irish ties.”
The festival attempts to avoid Irish stereotypes and brings in people who are experts in Irish culture, such as the Irish natives of the Téada music group.
“I really think this is a unique opportunity for people to learn so many aspects of Irish culture in a truly authentic way,” Hinsman said. “We offer educational and fun activities at very affordable prices so that all people can enjoy and learn about Irish culture.”
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