The Achill Seafood Festival, Féile Bia na Mara,
will take place from 14th to 17th July this year. Ross Lewis, of Dublin's Michelin-starred Chapter One will be the celebrity chef. He will open the festival at the Gala Seafood Buffet on 15th July and give a cookery
demonstration on Saturday 16th July in nearby Gielty's. Chef Michael (Boley) McNamara's
demonstration on the Sunday is always fantastic, and includes a session
on wine appreciation.
Ross Lewis, Head Chef and co-owner of Michelin-starred Dublin restaurant Chapter One
St Patrick's Day is huge in Achill, and 2011 was no different. The weather was lovely, making it a little easier for the five village Pipe Bands to march and play all day long. This is the Keel Pipe band on its way to Dookinella Church.
Achill has a long tradition of piping, and each village has its own pipe band. There is friendly rivalry between them on St Patrick's Day every year.
Scoil Acla celebrated its centenary during 2010. It
was founded in 1910, which makes Scoil Acla the oldest summer school in
Ireland. The main event was a Guinness World Record attempt in which
1,015 musicians came together on Keel strand to play the same tune: Fáinne Geal an Lae. It was a fantastic day!
January 2011: the weather was lovely this year for the New Year's Day swimmers, who swam in aid of Achill RNLI
Over 160 swimmers went into the sea on New Year's Day 2011!
Walkers enjoying the unusual cold spell in Keel on New Years Day
The Achill Pipe Band, a group of 24 young musicians, went to Glasgow in mid-August 2010 to defend the title they won last year in the World Pipe Band competition: 4th in the World! They weren't able to improve their placing this time, but that won't stop them trying again!
Achill Pipe Band in Glasgow at World Pipe Band Championships
Michael Junior (Flix) is a piper in the Achill Pipe Band and the Keel Band, and if you're lucky (or unlucky, depending how you look at it!) you'll hear him practicing playing his bagpipes, flute, small pipes, border pipes or tin whistles. Don't worry, he only plays during the day, so you're guaranteed a peaceful night's sleep!
Michael and his mates Sean, Kevin and Alan have formed a new band called 'Annagh'. They appeared in July on TG4's Féilte programme. The band has recorded a new C.D. called D'Aon Ghuth, which means "one voice". They play an unusual combination of insturments: border pipes, uilleann pipes, bazouki, guitar and djembe, and their new sound is making its mark in Traditional Music circles. Watch out for them in Sligo Town and Achill where they play regular gigs.
