On Sunday May 18 around sixty people attended a concert in Bendigo to celebrate the victory of Brian Boru at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. Organised by the Central Victoria Irish Association the event took place at the historic Brian Boru Hotel, established in the 1850s at the height of the ‘gold rush’ era. Where else?

A lively and entertaining program of music, poetry, song and story was well received and appreciated by all who attended.

The proceedings started with a lively rendition of the Brian Boru March, played by Meryl Wilkinson, harp, and Patrick Holden, bodhran. An historical narrative by Maggie Brady set the scene and provided some background to the bloody battle. This was followed by songs and guitar with John Clancy and poetry and storytelling by Ian Read and Janet Tucker. The ninety-minute program concluded with a reading by John Clancy, in Irish and then English, of James Clarence Mangan’s epic poem Kincora.

Host proprietors of the historic establishment, Gary and Anne Wilson, provided an extensive menu that was greatly to the taste of the audience and performers. At the end of the official program the Bendigo Celtic Music Group continued the festivities well into the evening much to the delight of those that were tempted to stay on for the ‘craic’.