Féile Draíochta :The Festival of Irish Magic and Spirituality

Nevyn

Originally posted by http://www.irishwitchcraft.com/fd05/fd05.html

Ireland's Independant National Event, run by and for the Irish Pagan Community as a whole, will be held in 2005 on Saturday, June 25th, and it will run as usual from 10 am until midnight. The venue is Chief O’Neills, in Dublin, which we hope will more than adequately meet all requests and requirements expressed by the attendees in previous years.

As anybody who attended a previous "Witchfest Ireland" will know, these yearly events are packed with talks and workshops from Ireland's most knowledgeable and entertaining speakers, on a variety of topics which will be fascinating to everybody who is interested in Irish heritage, mythology, modern magic, healing, divination, environmental issues, or who is even just curious! There is musical entertainment, exhibitions by amazing artists and craftspeople, energy healers, tarot readers, and a wide variety of stalls supplying a wide variety of tastes.

To book tickets from anywhere other than Ireland or the UK, or to book your Stall, Artist's Exhibition, Healer, or (Divinatory) Reader's space - please email us from the link below for prices, information, and advice on how to proceed.


TICKET PRICES:
~ Early Bird Specials! ~

Book before 31st March 2005 and you can avail of the special discounted price of €15 Euros or £12 Sterling

Well I will be there , anyone else ?

Talliesin

Are you excited?
I know I'm excited!
Are you excited?

Yoda

Féile Draíocht is ungrammatical, I believe. "Festival Druidism" is what it means. A genitive should follow Féile, so Féile Draíochta. But even then, "The Festival of Druidism" is a little hollow. The most normal way of putting this would be to say Féile na nDraoithe "Festival of the Druids", with a genitive plural. Compare the Christian festival names Féile na Naomh Uile and Féile na Marbh.

Nevyn

Ok I should know better then to argue over the meanings and origins of a word with you Yoda; so I wont I will however make the point those only dead languages don’t evolve. Irish is not a dead by any means yes it is getting less pure by many standards and the modernization of it sure didn’t help but this is what is being taught in our schools to our children.

Current common usage of the word draíocht currently is to mean magic.
Yes it may have ment Druidism for there was at time when they were the only ones to work Magic and for the one word to be both those terms makes a lot sense.

There is one place I know of that uses it in that sense http://www.adf.org/core/

But not now.

>>draíocht<< definition... magic; (also: magic ~) spell, witchcraft; (fascination) glamour; (charm) romance;

>>magic<<
definition... n draíocht f3; adj, n gen draíochta; (inf: excellent) ar fheabhas, ar dóigh, thar cinn;

http://www.iol.ie/~island/farraige.htm

http://www.draiocht.ie/draiocht/history.htm

The Draiocht which is well known in Blanchardstown and most of Dublin in
as a big arts and preformance space.

and I have also heard it on the play ground, the term 'Ta se draíocht'
and my children are not in a gealscoil.

So to say "Ta an Féile Draíocht' the festival is magic , or Féile Draíocht
the Festival of Magic would seem very right to me and those that I know.

I do know that I would rather be called a Ban Draíocht or bandraoi (woman of magic) then a cailleach (hag) as witch were known here for many a year and
in my local primary school till I had a word.

>>witch<< Irish word :
definition... n cailleach f2, bandraoi m4, draíodóir mná m3;

Yoda

Thaed,

I'm not talking about how you translate the word draíocht. Druidic art, druidism, witchcraft, magic, charm, enchantment. All are fine.

I'm talking about grammar. If one is going to use Irish in the name of a public festival, it is better to use it correctly.

Thaed wrote:

and I have also heard it on the play ground, the term 'Tá sé draíocht' and my children are not in a gealscoil.

That means "It's magic" (as in, the sudden appearance of someone out of thin air is "magic"), which is fine. It doesn't mean "It's magical". That would be Tá sé draíochtach. "He did it by magic" would be Rinne sé é le draíocht.

So to say "Ta an Féile Draíocht' the festival is magic , or Féile Draíocht the Festival of Magic would seem very right to me and those that I know.

It's bad grammar. To say "The festival is magic" you would say Tá an fhéile draíochtach or Tá draíocht san fhéile 'there is magic in the festival'. For "a festival of magic" you would say Féile Draíochta and for "The Festival of Magic" you would say Féile na Draíochta, I believe.

I do know that I would rather be called a Ban Draíocht or bandraoi (woman of magic) then a cailleach (hag) as witch were known here for many a year and in my local primary school till I had a word.

That's why I suggested Féile na nDraoithe or Féile Lucht na Draíochta. That's the Festival of the People of Magic, which is what it's really about, if I understand correctly.

Please understand... I'm on your side (and will probably be able to give a talk about Palaeolithic goddesses if that's wanted). I just want to point out that Féile Draíocht isn't good Irish. It ought to be. Feel free to check this with other Irish speakers.

Talliesin

Yoda wrote:

(and will probably be able to give a talk about Palaeolithic goddesses if that's wanted)

I think they're going to have enough speakers to fill the schedule already, which is a pity as I was looking forward to that talk.

Nevyn

yoda wrote:

Please understand... I'm on your side (and will probably be able to give a talk about Palaeolithic goddesses if that's wanted). I just want to point out that Féile Draíocht isn't good Irish. It ought to be. Feel free to check this with other Irish speakers.

I have no problems saying that I am wrong or maybe wrong at all.
Much to my own shame I dont have the good working knowledge of Irish that
I should and you most definatly do.

So I have learned somthing new and that is always a good thing, thank you .

BEAT

hmmm very intreresting, my birthday is that week...I may come over for that as a treat for myself on my b-day
I may bring my motehr along as well...I promised to bring her along as a gift and I think she would well get a kick out of this.

It would be nice to know someone there...if I am able to make it do you think we could meet up before and go with you?

Nevyn

Yoda wrote:

For "a festival of magic Féile Draíochta"

I have been told that is the name and the slight error will be amended.
Thank you

Beat I have offered to help staff this a bit so I would need to be there really early before it opens. But I am sure that if you dont come over to the event you should be able track some of us down easily.

Talliesin

Yep, I'm on the staff list too.

(Hey, Thaed. Do we still have to get tickets? )

Nevyn

You mean you agreed to be staff with out asking that question?

nevermind I didnt ask it either as I am happy enough to help get it up and running even if I cant or dont need to staff on the day and will happily pay
to be at the event and hear the speakers and shop at the stalls.

Some of the stalls the last two years were wonderful, a lot of one off
hand crafted items for personal and craft use, books, art, and clothes
hmm may have to start saving now.

Rothen

Where can you get the tickets? I dont want to order them and the site said you may get them in 'select' shops?

Talliesin

I don't think we have a full confirmed list yet. Whereabouts are you?

BEAT

well, I will have to try and come next year my plans have changed, seems I will be on a cruise to Italy instead this year

Talliesin

Rothen wrote:

Where can you get the tickets? I dont want to order them and the site said you may get them in 'select' shops?

No shops have them yet. The actual physical tickets have yet to be printed.

Why don't you want to order them? Credit card security?

Rothen

Talliesin wrote:

No shops have them yet. The actual physical tickets have yet to be printed.

ahh right

Talliesin wrote:

Why don't you want to order them? Credit card security?

Nope, just lack of a credit card. :eek:

Talliesin

Rothen wrote:

Nope, just lack of a credit card. :eek:

Have you tried using a debit card? (I'd be curious to find out if that works for completely unconnected reasons).

I'll have information about shops as and when it becomes available.

Nevyn

Sounds interesting, is it anything like the Mind Body Spirit Festival

It is not a sell sell sell like mind body spirit at all.

There are a series of talks/lectures on differnt topics and interactive workshops
happing all through out the day in different rooms.
There were book signings last year will check if there are any this year.

There is all so a stall hall for those that wish to sell items, which range from
clothes, books, jewlery, hand crafted items, crystals, intruments, insense and candles.

An exibitions of art work for sale.

Also there are tarot readers, and healers which have thier own spaces.

The talks and work shops are included in the price of the ticket as are the evenings enterainment which will be live music.

There will aslo be a notice board for upcoming events, advertisements for corses, classes , healers , readers ect.

The timetable will be finalised soon and the listing made advailible.

Talliesin

Don't panic if you don't have a credit card, the early bird deadline is being extended, exact details to be finalised soon.

cat_rant

an extention

oh thats nice to know ! and where might one offer their services to staff the event?

to switch catastrophy to helper monkey mode press '/command-search/[helper-monkey-mode-activation]

if that doesnt work try the cattle prod!

Talliesin

Rothen wrote:

Where can you get the tickets? I dont want to order them and the site said you may get them in 'select' shops?

Tickets are now (or maybe now-ish) available in Yellow Brick Road (ooh, the shiny, shiny things they have there) on the quays near the Ha'penny Bridge (on the north side of the river) or House of Astrology (ooh, more shiny things) on Parliament Street (Temple Bar area).
Tickets will also be available at the moot in the Teachers' Club this month (on the 14th) and probably other moots (eh, whenever they are on, eh, I'll get back to ye).
More retailer information soon (I hope).

Rothen

cheers...yellow brick road here i come *shudder*

Nevyn

www.feiledraiochta.net

The list of speakers is up.

~ Explore contemporary Ireland's Magic ~

Featuring talks and workshops by:
~ Lady Olivia Robertson, Founder of the Fellowship of Isis ~
~ Joe McGowan, Author of 'Echoes of Savage land' ~
~ Daragh Smyth, Author of 'A Guide to Irish mythology' ~ "Druids and Seers"
~ Bev Richardson ~ "Exploring Storylines"
~ Wil Kinghan & Cait Branigan ~
~ Steve Wilson, Author of 'Chaos Ritual' ~
~ Deirdre Wadding ~
~ Vinnie Woods ~
~ Ani Payne ~ "The Art of Poi"
~ Mark O’Sullivan ~
~ Diann Fletcher Jones ~
~ John Paul Patton ~ "Thelema: The Way of Liberty"
~ Sue Hayes ~
~ Sean Gilmartin ~ "Ériu's dream - is mythology real?"
~ Pat Griffin ~ "Sacred Mirror: Zodiac and the Land"


Magical Marketplace from 10am to 6pm
Healers and Psychic Readers from 10am to 6pm


Fantastic Evening Entertainment from:
~ Ani Payne ~ Fire Dancing
~ Wendy Marlatt ~ Tribal Belly Dance Troupe
~ The Hitmen ~ Magical and Contemporary Music

and ticket are advailible from

Tickets are on sale at the Dublin moot, Roscommon moot , and the Wexford moot. They are also on sale in Yellow Brick Road, and the House of Astrology, both in Dublin.

Book before 30th April 2005 and you can avail of the special discounted price of €15 Euros.fter the 30th April, Tickets cost €20.

Talliesin

No more for sale in Yellow Brick Road, so down the road to House of Astrology ye must go.

PaulinCork

Maybe I'll get to meet some of you there?

Talliesin

PaulinCork wrote:

Maybe I'll get to meet some of you there?

Well, I'm on security detail, so just don't do anything that means I have to throw you out

PaulinCork

Here I stand with this sword in my hand.

I'm not arguing with anyone while they're holding their sword!

garthv

Hey folks,
Just got told by my manager there (whos helping to run this shindig) that shes got loads of tickets there if anybody needs one just send me a pm

Talliesin

Dublin House of Astrology, Parliament Street.
Dún Laoghaire Blaze
Enniscorthy The Fellowship of Isis.
Wexford Only Natural
Cork PaulinCork paul@queer.ie or through boards PM

Nice one Paul.

PaulinCork

and I just talked the Crystal Connection on the Coal Quay in Cork into selling tickets, too. They'll be there from tomorrow afternoon

Talliesin

Féile Draíochta - A Festival of Irish Magic and Spirituality ~ Explore contemporary Ireland's Magic ~

Ireland's Independent National Event, run by and for the Irish Pagan Community as a whole, will be held on Saturday, June 25th 2005, and will run from 10 am until midnight. It is called Féile Draíochta, though was known in previous years as "Witchfest" and "Craftfest", and has been run by the same organisers - Barbara Lee (High Priestess and Witch) and Lora O'Brien (Author, "Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch") - since 2003. This year's venue is Chief
O'Neills Hotel, Smithfield, Dublin 7.

Féile Draíochta (phonetically pronounced as Fay-lah Dree-ockta) is packed with talks and workshops from some of Ireland's most knowledgeable and entertaining speakers, on a variety of topics which will be fascinating to everybody who is interested in Irish heritage, mythology, modern magic, healing, divination, mediumship, environmental issues, or who is even just curious! There will be musical entertainment, exhibitions by amazing artists and craftspeople, energy healers, psychic readers, and a wide variety of stalls supplying a wide variety of tastes.


Featuring talks and workshops by:

Lady Olivia Robertson: Arch Priestess and Co-founder of the Fellowship of Isis - County Wexford.
~ Star Children "A New Humanity is Born" ~

Joe McGowan: Author of "Echoes of a Savage Land", Irish Folklorist - County Sligo.
~ Pagan Voices: Interpreting the Irish landscape ~

Daragh Smyth: Author of "A Guide to Irish mythology", Lecturer in Sociology and Irish Cultural Studies at the Dublin Institute of Technology - County Dublin.
~ Druids and Seers ~

Bev Richardson: Dean of Castle Pook - County Cork.
Workshop ~ Exploring Storylines ~

Wil Kinghan & Cait Branigan
Wil is a Shamanic Practitioner in the native Celtic traditions and an initiated High Priest, Cait is a Shamanic and Reiki Practitioner, Ovate and Member of OBOD (Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids) - County Wexford.

Steve Wilson: Author of "Chaos Ritual" - UK.
~ The Filidh: Shaman Poets of Ireland ~

Deirdre Wadding: Witch, Shamanic Worker, Tarot Reader and Teacher - County Wexford.
Workshop ~ Experiencing the Changing Face of the Goddess Through the
Wheel of the Year ~

Vinnie Woods: Vinnie works with Crystals and Magical Stones - County Dublin.
Workshop ~ Crystals: Discovering the Magic Within ~

Ani Payne: Fire Dancer, Performance Artist, and Witch - County Westmeath.
Workshop ~ The Art of Poi ~

Mark O'Sullivan - County Dublin.
~ Paganism and Deep Ecology ~

Diann Fletcher Jones: Witch and Herbalist - County Wexford.
~ Irish Plant Spirit Medicine ~

John Paul Patton: Thelemic Magician, Author of "The Living Ogam" - County Antrim.
~ Thelema: The Way of Liberty ~

Sue Hayes: Medium and Traditional Witch - County Kilkenny.
~ Journey Into Spirit ~

Sean Gilmartin: Researches Irish Mythology and Stories - County Dublin
~ Ériu's dream - is mythology real? ~

Pat Griffin: Priestess of the Fellowship of Isis, Astrologer and former President of the Astrological Association - County Wexford.
~ Sacred Mirror: Zodiac and the Land ~

Full Programme and Schedule Information will be provided on entry.

The Way of the Warrior - Martial Arts Demonstration Pencak Silat Ireland will give a demonstration and be available on the day to discuss their art. Pencak Silat (`Silat') is the generic term for the indigenous martial arts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei. It is non-aggressive, learnt and practised by
men and women, boys and girls of any age, and is accessible to complete beginners in martial arts. Silat employs natural body movements and develops balance and economy of movement in each individual. It can be practised purely for sport and fitness, for the aesthetic beauty of the art or for the chance to learn one of the world's few remaining complete traditional martial arts systems.

Shopping

Our stalls area, the Magical Marketplace, will be available all attendees from 10am to 6pm. Products on sale will include everything from organic makeup and chemical free skin care to bodhráns, painted glassware to fancy candles, books, incense, unusual clothing, crystals and gem stones, jewellery, cards and prints, tarot and divination cards, ritual weaponry, essential oils and aromatherapy products, and much much more! Energy Healers and Psychic Readers will be available for booking in our Sacred Space.
Event attendees will be able to enjoy a Reiki healing or a Tarot reading, along with many other practises, from 10am to 6pm.

Fantastic Evening Entertainment

~ Ani Payne ~ Fire Dancing
~ Wendy Marlatt ~ Tribal Belly Dance Troupe
~ The Hitmen ~ Magical and Contemporary Music Entertainment tickets will be available from 7 pm to 8.30pm, the evening finishes at Midnight.

Magical Rituals

Experience for yourself the Power and Energy of unique magical rituals on the day. We will have Con Connors of Druid School, organising a mid event ritual which will involve and energise all
attendees who wish to participate, in preparation for the evening's entertainment. Our lovely Northern Witch and speaker liaison, Anne, will facilitate the opening and closing ceremonies which begin and end Féile Draíochta.

Tickets
Tickets are on sale at the Dublin moot (An Fáinne), Roscommon moot, and the Wexford moot. Other outlets include: "Crystal Connection" on the Coal Quay in Cork, "Blaze" in Dun Laoighaire in Dublin, Pat
Griffin in the "Fellowship of Isis", Deirdre Wadding at "Only Natural" in Wexford, Ani Payne in Castlepollard, Westmeath.
You can purchase tickets through an online ordering system at www.feiledraiochta.net
For further details on any of these outlets please ring or text Barbara at 087-2500064.

They are also on sale in the "House of Astrology" (9 Parliament Street, Temple Bar, Dublin), to whom we wish to extend special thanks for all of their help and support.

Tickets are priced at €20.00, which covers entrance from 10am until Midnight, and provides access to all talks, workshops, and evening entertainment.
Attendees are advised to bring money to purchase their own food and drink (available all day within the venue), to book a healing or energy reading in the Sacred Space, or to shop in the Magical Marketplace.

The Organisers
Lora O'Brien: A full time mother, her husband is also a Witch, and they live in County Roscommon. Lora has considered herself a Witch from about the age of 15, even before she knew what to call it, after a powerful magical experience led her to this path. Though first a solitary witch, and then trained in Alexandrian Wicca as a High Priestess, she has gone on to discover her own path, Irish Witchcraft in it's essence. Priestess is how she generally describes herself these days, Bean Draoí (pronounced Ban Dree) in her native tongue, or just Witch.
She speaks and holds workshops at Witchcraft and Pagan events in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and organises the Roscommon Monthly meetings or 'Moots'. Her first book, "Irish Witchcraft from an Irish Witch", was published by New Page Books in October 2004, receiving many excellent reviews from critics and the general public alike. Lora is currently working on a second book.

Barbara Lee: A mother of two active teenagers, is a full time Tarot consultant based in Dublin, having read and worked with Tarot for over 25 years. She is also an Alexandrian High Priestess, and has run a training coven since 1982, first with her former husband and now with her current partner.
She always says that she didn't look for Wicca, it found her, and has been very content to follow it as her spiritual path from the late 1970s, as when she discovered it, it was a "homecoming".
As a Witch she is consulted by people on a regular basis for help and guidance. She teaches classes on Witchcraft and Wicca in Dublin and Wexford, and lectures and runs workshops both in Ireland and the UK. She is also a trained hypnotherapist, counsellor and Reiki Master, and works extensively with crystals in both healing and divination. She is next due to speak at the Pagan Association Conference in Birmingham in September.