Millennium festival remembering King Brian Boru

It has been almost two years since I last posted about the summer Olympics and the story of an O'Brien Olympian. I had background trouble with this post and I was reluctant to do another. Yet the celebration of the death of my progenitor and who's the subject of this blogspot is nearly here. Odd to be celebration the death of somebody, but Brian is considered the only Irish King whoever united the various provincial kingdoms and clans of Ireland under one king, even though it lasted just over two years past a decade. This celebration will come the 23 April 2014, will mark a thousand years since the battle of Clontarf outside of Norse Dublin, and the death of King Brian. In just six weeks begins the festival. To learn more about this unique festival click here http://www.brianborumillennium.ie/ .

This festival year is unique in that many artist of all the genres are creating music, songs, and art concerning King Brian. Such events as:

• Kincora Call (okay not traditional but creative), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q7RkAkh1nY
• Killaloe events, http://www.brianboru2014.com/Events.html .
• Irish Tourism board, http://www.irishtourism.com/brianboru .

One such artist is Warren Faye, who painted twelve scenes from the life of Brian, from boy to his death, have been combined into a calendar for 2014, which can be seen in its entirety and a copy purchased at the following http://warrenfaye.com/section/380432_Brian_Boru.html . A few of his paintings are posted below.

As for myself I can't attend this wonderful event and historical moment, but I can post about it here and I shall be there (Emerald Isle) in spirit.

Slainte Mhagh,

Garaidh O Briain

Paintings by Warren Faye

Tadgh protects a wounded Brian in his youth.

In a period of relative peace, Brian and his eldest son Murchadh share a quiet moment on the west coast of Clare. It is 1004 A.D.

The old King Brian hears of Maol Mordha's plans against him, Sigurd, The Great Orkney Earl, has mobilised his armies. Brian the veteran general contemplates his last great battle.

Murchadh the warrior taunts the enemy and tempts his fate at the battle of Clontarf on Good Friday in the year 1014 A.D.

Killaloe at centre of national Brian Boru Festival plans

The Clare Champion

Friday, November 18, 2011

Barrack Street, Ennis, County Clare, Ireland.

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Killaloe at centre of national Brian Boru Festival plans

Written by Dan Danaher

A MARCH of Warriors to the Phoenix Park on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014, is being proposed by a new committee as one of the special events to commemorate the 1,000th anniversary of a former High King of Ireland.       Organised by a nationally recognised charity, “warriors” would depart from several venues around the country and travel to the Phoenix Park, where they would spend the night with the assistance of the army and civil defence. On Easter Monday, April 21, the “warriors” will march from Phoenix Park to Clontarf under their respective banners, including members of the O’Brien clan from around the world, with the help of Machnas, live bands and bodhrans as part of a truly great spectacle, before participating in a full programme of events organised by Clontarf 2014.       This is one of the plans for a major national Brian Boru festival with international tourism potential, which has been unveiled by a new committee in Killaloe/Ballina. The committee is celebrating the fact the historic figure was born, raised and ruled in Killaloe and while he was High King from 1002 to 1014, Killaloe was capital of Ireland.       Former Lions rugby captain, Keith Wood and international comedian, Brendan Grace have been selected as the Brian Boru 2014 ambassadors. Lord Inchiquin Conor O’Brien, chief of the O’Brien Clan, has become honorary president and festival ambassador.       The festival will be officially launched from March 15 to 17, 2014 including music, battle re-enactments and the National Lottery Skyfest Fireworks Display on the evening of March 15. Three sites are being suggested as suitable venues – Ballycuggeran, from the centre of the lake where it could be viewed from any point on the mountains on either side of Lough Derg; Tountinna from the top of the mountain on the Tipperary side of the lake where it could be seen from five different counties and from each side of the Killaloe Bridge with St Flannan’s Cathedral as a memorable backdrop. The main event for 2014 is the proposed staging of Killaloe as Honorary Capital of Ireland from April 25 to 27. This would give the committee an opportunity to hold a mass in remembrance of Brian Boru on the Friday, followed by a civic ceremony to possibly unveil a monument or launch a commemorative coin or stamp.       Celebrations on the lake are planned for Saturday, April 26 with water-based activities and sports and in the evening a salute to Brian Boru on the water with music on a floating stage. Riverdance, Machnas and re-enactments ending with a phantom longboat sailing up Lough Derg would provide a poignant remembrance, as the ghost of Brian Boru makes his final voyage.       Sunday, April 27 would be a family day with music, parades, a re-enactment village, sports and lots of fun. The O’Brien Clan, with an estimated 700,000 members spread throughout the world, and members of the Dalcassian Clan will be invited back to Killaloe that weekend to see the birth place and home of their kinsmen.       The committee are also seeking the heritage re-branding of East Clare and North Tipperary as Brian Boru country.       Committee chairman, John O’Shea believes the festival will provide a huge tourism spin-off in 2014 and for years afterwards once tourists become award of  “Ireland’s best kept secret”.    [ http://www.clarechampion.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6199:killaloe-at-centre-of-national-brian-boru-festival-plans&catid=67:human-interest&Itemid=60]