Misleór Festival of Nomadic Cultures 2024
Custodians: Keepers of Culture
Exploring the theme ‘Custodians: Keepers of Culture’, this year’s Misleór Festival recognises and celebrates the guardians of music, song, dance, stories, skills and knowledge within the nomadic tradition.
Please join us for a colourful celebration and dynamic conversation on cultural custodianship at Misleór Festival of Nomadic Cultures 2024.
All events are free unless otherwise stated.
Culture Night - Misleór Cherra Sessions
Warm up by the Misleór ‘cherra’ (Cant word for ‘fire’), with live storytelling and music from local Traveller artists, paper flower-making and traditional crafts!
For Travellers and many other nomadic communities the cherra is an important place for sharing and connecting; a melting pot of memory, imagination and creativity. Join us around the cherra to celebrate Traveller culture by simply listening or sharing a story, poem, song or tune of your own!
Art on the Road: Textiles + Tinsmithing (Exhibition)
Admire the incredible skill and creativity of Traveller textile and tinsmithing traditions.
Opening hours:
12-5.30pm (Thurs-Sat)
12-3pm (Sun)
The Beady Pocket
Beady Pockets are culturally significant items of clothing for the Traveller community. Traveller women traditionally wore beady pockets over their skirts, and in them would hold anything important or precious. They were decorated with stitching, embroidery and adornments such as buttons, brooches and medals.
This exhibition will showcase beady pockets old and new, including those recently created by young women from the local Traveller community in a series of workshops run by Galway Traveller Movement. Also on display will be the brand new ‘larger-than-life’ Misleór Beady Pocket, which will be decorated by our nomadic guests from around the world for years to come.
Pavee Beoirs Whiden… Traveller Women Talking
Donegal Travellers Project presents this beautiful exhibition of intricately detailed mannequins. Created by women and girls from the Traveller community in Donegal, the work explores a range of themes, including identity, culture, addiction, mental health and gender equality. Presented alongside a powerful community-made quilt representing culture, education, unity and equality.
The Tinsmith
A collection of stunning colour photographs featuring expert tinsmith Bernard Mongan and his family, documented by National Museum of Ireland staff in 1965. © These images are reproduced with the kind permission of the National Museum of Ireland
Beady Pocket Workshop
Would you like to learn how to make your own beady pocket? Join one of our interactive workshops led by textile artists Nora Mongan and Annemarie McDonagh. Materials provided, but feel free to bring your own decorations and adornments!
Spaces limited - booking recommended!
Mongolian Dance Workshop
Step into the colourful and dynamic world of Mongolian folk dancing, an artform embodying and originating from the nomadic way of life. Workshop hosted by Khuur Mongolian Ethnic Band, with dancer Anujin Mendpurev and morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) players Altangerel Batzorig and Budgarav Bayasgalan.
Traveller Traditions and Crafts
Explore the traditional Traveller barrel-top wagon and get creative with horseshoe painting - all ages welcome!
Misleór Youth Open Mic with PJ and Francis
Presented by Music Generation Galway City, this event welcomes young talents and families to enjoy performances by PJ Mongan and Francis Ward, and a special screening of ‘Campfire in the Dark’ - a new music video made by the Foróige youth group in Ballinfoyle!
We also invite young people to sing a song during the ‘Open Mic’ session, with support from Music Generation Galway City educators David McGloughlin and PJ Mongan - the stage is yours, give a song a go!
Mic Check: Beats & Freestyle Jam
Ready to drop some heat? 🔥 Come kick it with ATMOS Collective for an afternoon of dope beats, live freestyles, and DJ vibes. You in?
Beady Pocket Workshop
Would you like to learn how to make your own beady pocket? Join one of our interactive workshops led by textile artists Nora Mongan and Annemarie McDonagh. Materials provided, but feel free to bring your own decorations and adornments!
Spaces limited - booking recommended!
Misleór at Ballinasloe Fair
We’re on the road again! Misleór is heading to Ballinasloe Fair with our installation of wooden horses made from recycled materials. Get creative with paper flower-making, beady pockets, horseshoe painting and more!
11am-1pm: Tinsmithing
Live demonstrations and discussions with traditional tinsmith Tom McDonnell and friends.
12-3pm: Traveller Shorts (Misleór Outdoor Cinema)
Special selection of short films celebrating custodianship, diversity and resilience within the Traveller community.
2-5pm: Live Music
Come down to the Misleór stage to enjoy a very special line-up of singers and musicians. Hosted by the local talent and rising star PJ Mongan.
2pm: Paddy Keenan
Born in Trim, Co. Meath, Paddy Keenan hails from a musical Traveller family with deep uilleann piping roots.His flowing, open-fingered technique was influenced by his father’s and grandfather’s style.
3pm: Kathleen Keenan
Coming from a family of musicians, Kathleen Keenan is an accomplished singer-songwriter who has been performing from an early age, and recently released her first album ‘Beautiful Angels’.
3.45pm: Janos Lang + Marius Otves
Experience the vibrant spirit of Roma music with fiddle players Janos Lang and Marius Otves. Together, they offer a dynamic showcase of the rich fiddle styles from Hungary, Romania, and Transylvania, taking you on a captivating journey into the heart of Roma culture.
4.15pm: Francis Ward
Francis Ward is a talented young singer and guitarist from the local Traveller community, who recently won the Music Award at the National Traveller Pride Awards alongside fellow musician PJ Mongan.