.
Part of the exhibition in Siamsa Tíre.
SIAMSA Tíre in Tralee has a solution on what to do when the rain returns this summer — or if you fancy a bit of shade!
Its newly-opened Folk Homecoming Exhibition explores Ireland’s cultural traditions of song, music, and dance and it makes for a great activity for all the family.
The free exhibition offers a peek backstage into what the theatre does to care for Ireland’s cultural heritage, as well as giving an insight into the history and practice of traditional Irish music, song, storytelling, and dance with its wealth of regional, national, and international variations.
Continued below…
.
Photographs, audio, and video material from Siamsa Tíre’s archive tells the story of its beginnings half a century ago and introduces visitors to some of the people who have shaped and championed its work over the years.
They explain the formation of the Folk Theatre Training Academy in 1974 and demonstrate how Siamsa Tíre passes on the traditions through a range of education and cultural engagement initiatives.
They also give an insight into the architecture of the iconic building itself. Thirty years old this year, the theatre is enclosed by a round outer wall inspired by Staigue Fort on the Iveragh Peninsula, one of the finest ring forts in all of Ireland.
It’s designed to look like a cluster of structures such as you would have found within those ring forts, with a round tower here and a conical roof there.
The history of Staigue Fort is told too. When it was inhabited two thousand years ago, it’s thought to have served as an amphitheatre and place of security and refuge for local people.
The self-guided Folk Homecoming exhibition is open from 10am to 6pm Thursday to Sunday. For further information visit www.siamsatire.com .
