TORONTO, ON (February 13, 2012) – The Toronto Irish Film Festival (TIRFF) will once again celebrate the best of Irish cinema on Friday March 9th and Saturday March 10th with 11 Canadian premieres of Irish films at TIFF Bell Lightbox.

“We’re extremely proud to be showcasing a stellar line-up of Irish filmmaking talent”, says Michael Barry, TIRFF Executive Director. “The entire Irish community can ‘come home’ with us though the magic of movies as this year’s festival program takes a close look at Ireland’s rich past, present and future.”

OPENING NIGHT GALA PRESENTATION- Proudly Sponsored by Tourism Ireland

The Opening Night Gala on Friday March 9th, sponsored by Tourism Ireland, will feature the Canadian Premiere of DREAMING THE QUIET MAN by renowned director Sé Merry Doyle. The documentary explores legendary Hollywood director John Ford’s 20-year journey to create the iconic Irish masterpiece, THE QUIET MAN, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. “We’re delighted to have Tourism Ireland on board as our Opening Night Sponsor – it’s a perfect fit to align a movie that is credited for launching Ireland’s tourism industry with the primary organization that is dedicated to promoting it”, adds John Galway, TIRFF Chair.

A reception will follow the Opening Night Gala at Quinn’s Steakhouse & Irish Bar, located at 96 Richmond Street West, from 9:00 pm.

A FULL DAY OF FILM PREMIERES- Saturday, March 10, 2012

The full-day program on Saturday March 10th will feature the Canadian Premiere of PARKED, sponsored by KPMG, starring Colm Meaney, of the Star Trek: The Next Generation series, and tells the heart-warming story of a man who, upon returning to Ireland with nothing, finds friendship, redemption and love while living out in his car.

SENSATION tells the bittersweet story of Donal who, flush with cash following his father’s death, partners up with local escort, Kim, to start his own adult-services agency. The film stars Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, True Grit), son of renowned Irish actor Brendan Gleeson.

EMERGING FILMMAKER SPOTLIGHT

Premiering the work of Toronto-based Irish filmmakers including DIASPORA, beautifully shot and sequenced by Barbara Deignan, documents the voices of today’s Irish youth as they settle in Toronto. aLIVE FROM THE DIVIS FLATS, by Canadian filmmaker Eleanor McGrath, profiles Irish community personality and entertainer, Hugo Straney, through candid interviews and revealing on-stage performances.

SPOTLIGHT ON MUSIC

The MUSIC PROGRAM will feature the Canadian Premiere of HOT PRESS: THE WRITE STUFF, showcasing Ireland’s legendary and highly controversial music publication, which celebrates 35 years this year and features interviews with Ireland’s leading musicians and journalists. The MUSIC PROGRAM will also feature the latest music videos by Ireland’s up-and-coming artist and bands.

SHORT FILM SHOWCASE

The SHORTS PROGRAM premieres the amazing work by Ireland’s emerging filmmaking talent. “We’re presenting what we believe to be the next wave of successful Irish directors in the comedy, drama and documentary genres”, adds Barry. “We’re also delighted and honoured to feature shorts in Gaelic, showcasing films shot in Ireland’s national and first official language.”

Tickets will be available for purchase on FEBRUARY 17th 2012 via the TIFF Bell Lightbox website and box office.

ABOUT TIRFF

After a sold out first edition, the Toronto Irish Film Festival (TIRFF) is expanding to include exclusive Canadian premieres of critically acclaimed Irish films. Recently, TIRFF announced the appointment of a new Board of Directors including Chair John Galway (Harold Greenberg Fund), Executive Director Michael Barry, Brendan Maher (KPMG), Alan Gregg (Teletoon), Sandra McEoghain (RBC), Matthew Cotter (eOne) and Irish radio personality Hugo Straney.

For all festival 2012 updates and info, please visit http://torontoirishfilmfest.com

For interviews, screeners or additional press materials, please contact:

Nadia Sandhu – nsandhu@studiofilmgroup.com – 647 716 8508

Hi folks,

Because the current Earlybird deadline of Feb. 19th falls on a Sunday, we’re extending it to Wednesday February 22nd, to give you a bit more time to register for classes for the upcoming winter term. Some of the classes are filling up, so if you’re interested in taking a class, feel free to email me to give me a heads up.

Cheers

Eva

P.S. The next RCC student session (traditional Irish/Scottish music) will be upstairs at the Albion on Sunday March 4rth, 2 to 5 p.m.

And don’t forget about the upcoming Irish Fiddle and Repertoire workshops and concert with amazing fiddlers Tony DeMarco and Patrick Ourceau on Sunday Feb. 26th at the Albion. Hope you can make it! (Please drop me a line if you have any questions.)

Check out some of our great classes:

We’d like to introduce you to our newest instructor, award-winning fiddler Julie Fitzgerald! Julie is a two-time Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Champion (2009, 2010) and also the 2010 & 2011 Ontario Open Step Dancing Champion. Julie is currently in her third year of studies at Humber College in Toronto where she is pursuing a degree in Jazz and Contemporary Music. She is an experienced performer and wonderful teacher, and is currently enrolled in the Jazz program at Humber College. Julie will be teaching the Introductory Violin 1 & 2 classes , as well as a new Ottawa Valley Step Dancing class! Step Dancing is lots of fun, great exercise, and no experience is necessary…so check it out!

Back by popular demand, the very talented fiddler Dan MacDonald will be teaching the “Irish Fiddle Technique & Tunes” class. In this class there will be an in-depth exploration of Irish fiddle technique and ornamentation, as well as ear training through the aural/oral learning of traditional fiddle tunes. Dan will also be teaching his popular ” Intermediate Irish Fiddle Class”.

For all you pipers who would like to play Scottish smallpipes (and border pipes) with others in sessions, you’ll enjoy the Scottish Bagpiping Class with Robin Aggus, who is not only a great teacher, but also the inaugural “Musician in Residence” at MacDougall Cottage.

And, back this term (after a leave of absence–we’ve missed you Jason!) is the wonderfully talented Jason Pfeiffer, who will be teaching the Beginner Irish Tinwhistle class, as well as the Intermediate Irish Tinwhistle/Flute class.

This is just a sampling–there are many more great classes with excellent teachers…see the schedule tab for more details.

Classes run for 10 weeks, starting on Thursday March 1st. The early bird discount deadline is on Sunday February 19th. Register by sending a cheque in the mail by the 19th, and the tuition for one course is $220.00 ($245.00 after the 19th). If you take 2 courses it’s $418 (instead of $440.00); after February 19th, $465.00 (instead of $490.00).

You can also pay online with Paypal anytime–the tuition for each course is $235.00 ($450 for two).

Classes run from Thursday March 1st to Thursday April 26th. (The only exception to this are the Intro Violin classes and Ottawa Valley Stepdancing classes taught by Julie Fitzgerald–because she will be going on tour, her classes will be a shorter term, with a lower tuition fee–the exact dates and tuition fees for her classes TBA in the next day or two)

The 10th class is the Final Wrap Up Session/Celebration for all students and instrcutors, and will be on Sunday April 29th at 7:30 p.m., upstairs at the Albion.

Looking forward to seeing you all for another great term at Riverside Celtic College!

Cheers

Eva

Eva McCauley

Director/RCC

www.riversidecelticcollege.ca

(celebrating our 18th year at Chaucer’s)

www.CuckoosNest.folk.on.ca

A Night Robert Burns Would Have Enjoyed

featuring

Ian Bell – songs, recitations, guitar, concertina, button accordion

Donald McGeoch – songs and stories, guitar

Robin Aggus – bagpipes of every description

Sat. January 21, 7:30 pm

Chaucer’s, 122 Carling Street (upstairs), London

$15 Advance/ $18 Door

Advance tickets available at:

Chaucer’s/Marienbad (122 Carling St.), Centennial Hall Box Office (519-672-1967), Chapters North (Masonville), Grooves (353 Clarence St.), The Village Idiot (Wortley Village)

What sort of an evening would Robert Burns have enjoyed? Certainly one that included good songs to listen to and sing along with — a bit of rhyme, (including some of his own!) a few lively tunes to shake a foot to, and a well-stocked bar! Ian, Don, and Robin promise to provide plenty of the first three items on the menu and let the friendly staff at Chaucer’s Pub take care of the last. The bill of fare will include songs and verse by the “plooman poet” along with other Scottish and Scots-Canadian songs and even some work by his imitators. (like the infamous James MacIntyre — 19th century cheese-poet-laureate of Ingersoll Ontario!) There’ll be tunes too — on button accordion, harmonica and Robin’s amazing array of bagpipes — small, medium and large! Don’t miss this great evening of words and music!

For more info call 519-473-2099 or e-mail folk@iandavies.com — Info at www.CuckoosNest.folk.on.ca

We would like to invite you to an exciting benefit concert our dear friend Karen MacLeod is presenting on Saturday January 14, 2012 at the Registry Theatre, Kitchener.

A Celtic Winter Gathering features four groups–Traddicted, Gaedelica, Dulcimerhead, and Cairdeas– performing Celtic music, from Traditional to Trance. This award-winning and accomplished lineup of musicians promises to set the darkness of winter ablaze with revelry, beauty and humour. Don’t miss it!

Proceeds will go to offset the expenses of our very dear friends, RCC faculty member & flute player, Jason Pfeiffer and Paul Bishop, as a result of Jason’s treatment for leukemia.

We really appreciate this opportunity to not only enjoy an evening of great music, but also show our support for Jason, who is not only a prodigiously talented musician, but is also one of the most generous and kind-hearted people that we know! We hope that you can all join us to make this a very special evening.

Tickets are $20, available through Centre in the Square (519-578-1570), Wordsworth Books, and reserved at The Registry Theatre (519-745-6565) for pick-up at the door. Doors open at 7:30 for an 8:00 start.

Visit the event’s page on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/events/212329732179648/

Wishes for a prosperous, happy and healthy 2012 and we hope to see you there!

All the best,

Eva

Eva McCauley

Director/RCC

www.riversidecelticcollege.ca

519-848-5970

Traddicted: traditional Irish players from Stratford and London kick it into high gear and travel the wintery roads to begin the evening’s festivities! These accomplished session musicians include Beth Beech (keyboard), Rob Hoffman (accordion), Mary Lynn Ashton (fiddle), Les Starkey (bodhran) and Paul Gribbon (uillean pipes).

Gaedelica: inspired by poems and prayers of the Scottish Highlands and Western Isles, @Karen MacLeod’s songs are infused with haunting melodies and intricate guitar work. Jason Pfeiffer, her partner in the Gaedelica ensemble, is the guest of honour for this evening’s concert.

Dulcimerhead: visual artist and former Presbyterian elder joins up with Norse death metal percussionist to create Celtic music the way Hendrix would have wanted it. (It’s true. You can’t make that up.) David Rankine on Appalachian dulcimers and Fernando Villalobos on percussion will raise eyebrows and spirits with their “Celtic-Persian Trance” improvisations.

Cairdreas: Multiple UK award winners and arguably Ontario’s King and Queen of traditional British Isles folk music, Steafan Hannigan and Saskia Tomkins bring several of their 800+ instruments–and singer Marsala Lukianchuk–to play a rousing set of tunes and songs from the Seven Alternative Celtic Nations: Ireland, Scotland, Brittany, Sweden, Romany, North Carolina, and Argentina

You are invited to

A CELTIC WINTER GATHERING

from traditional to trance

a concert for Kitchener musician Jason Pfeiffer

Music from the Celtic Nations

celebrating life in the dead of winter

 featuring:

TRADDICTED  

  GAEDELICA     DULCIMERHEAD   

 CAIRDEAS

 Saturday, January 14th, 2012

at the REGISTRY THEATRE

122 Frederick St. Kitchener (at Weber)

 8 pm – doors open at 7:30  ~ $20

Tickets at Centre in the Square box office

(519) 578-1570 ~  wwww.centre-square.com

Words Worth Books  in Waterloo and at the door

 http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Celtic-Winter-Gathering-at-The-Registry-Theatre/192775454147531

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