Ireland: Jewish culture festival, Oct. 18-19

Irish Family History - the blog - had a neat piece on the documentary, "Shalom Ireland," at the Cork Festival of Jewish Culture, Oct 18-19.

In 1861, there were only 341 Jews living in Ireland, but by the turn of the 20th century the Jewish population had risen to more than 3,000.

In 1901, the largest Jewish populations were in Dublin (2,048), Belfast (708), Cork (359) and Limerick (171).

This autumn, Cork celebrates the Jewish community in the Cork Festival of Jewish Culture, October 18 – 19, 2008. If you are interested in the history of the Jewish community in Ireland, don’t miss out on the screening of ‘Shalom Ireland’.

In this documentary, director Valerie Lapin Ganley reveals Ireland’s remarkable, yet little known Jewish community.

"Shalom Ireland" chronicles the history of Irish Jewry while celebrating the unique culture created by blending Irish and Jewish traditions.
From gun running for the Irish Republican Army during Ireland’s War of Independence to smuggling fellow Jews escaping from the Holocaust into Palestine, "Shalom Ireland" tells the untold story of how Irish Jews participated in the creation of both Ireland and Israel.

Events will take place in Main Restaurant and Boole Lecture Theatre 1, University College Cork.

Saturday,October 18
7-7:15pm
Opening, Cork Festival of Jewish Culture
7:15-8:15pm
Klezmer dance, Yiddish song workshop; Vivi Lachs (London); accompaniment, Klezmer Klub (London)
8:30-9:45pm
Concert, Klezmer Klub (London)
10:00-11:30pm
Concert, The Fireflies (klezmer band, South West Ireland)

Sunday,October 19
4-4:45pm
Lecture, Professor Dermot Keogh, UCC History Department; history of Cork's Jewish community
5-6pm
Screening, “Shalom Ireland” - history of Ireland's Jewish community in Ireland
6-6:30pm
Break & refreshments
6:30-7:30pm
Concert, Festival Ensemble
8-9:30pm
Concert, North Strand Klezmer Band (Dublin)
10-11:30pm
Concert, Yurodny (Dublin)

The Festival is held under the patronage of the Lord Mayor of Cork, Brian Bermingham and University College Cork president, Dr. Michael Murphy.
Concert tickets: €10/ €15. For more information: corkjewishfestival@gmail.com