Comment by Bit Devine on July 11, 2013 at 4:02pm

Well done! Good luck to the Armagh Rhymers. the wee child with the Mandolin makes me smile. It looks like grand Craic!

Maith thú! Ádh mór leis an Rannairí Ard Mhacha. Déanann an páiste beag leis an maindilín dom gáire. Breathnaíonn sé cosúil mhór Craic!

Comment by Rónán Gearóid Ó Domhnaill on July 16, 2013 at 8:04am

what time of year are the rhymers about?

Comment by Gerard Cappa on July 16, 2013 at 11:21am

Rónán

The Armagh Rhymers perform more or less all year round, as far as I know. They play at festivals the length and breadth of Ireland and abroad, and do a lot of work with schools and youth organisations.

In the old days, I suppose Rhymers and Mummers would only appear at the main seasonal festivals tied to the daylight/ agricultural cycle that determined daily life but the modern Rhymers are a professional ensemble - I think they appeared at the recent Glastonbury festival in England. You can find out more about them here:

http://www.armaghrhymers.com/

Comment by Rónán Gearóid Ó Domhnaill on July 16, 2013 at 11:25am

 I thought they might be traditional like the wren boys for St. Stephen's Day? 

Comment by Gerard Cappa on July 16, 2013 at 11:38am

They are certainly rooted in the tradition. This photo is taken on the southern shore of Lough Neagh, in an area which until recently was the centre of a thriving basket making tradition  - their wicker masks carry that tradition on. I know they refer back to primary sources like 'The Annals of the Four Masters' for their material, as well as locally received traditions.

Like many professional traditional music groups, the Rhymers progress the tradition to a broader audience but remain faithful to the source tradition.

Comment by jacqueline on July 22, 2013 at 12:54pm

my nephew is the little 1 with the mandoline and hes music crazy a  reall showman he also plays the tin whistle and at 9 years old has more tunes than a lot of adults all taught by his grat uncle 

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