The Cape Clear International
Storytelling Festival Storytellers
Dovie ThomasonUSA
Dovie Thomason is one of the most respected and admired storytellers of her
generation in the U.S. Her ability to craft tales that not only enchant
audiences, but also teach invaluable lessons about human nature and indigenous
worldviews, has long made her a beloved contributor to schools, organizations
and events around the globe. The wry humor and subtle graces that infuse
Dovie’s work enable her broad and modern appeal, while a lifetime of study and
tradition-bearing ensures the deep cultural roots of her craft remain intact.
Dovie’s journey as a storyteller and artist began with the childhood influence
of her Kiowa Apache grandmother Dovie, whose name she proudly carries. From
her grandmother, Dovie absorbed the stories of her paternal ancestors. These
tales were told in the traditional way, intended not only to entertain, but
also to gently teach and instruct. Imparting everything from practical advice
to cultural values, these tales were coated with affection and humor, making
them well-loved sources of both amusement and wisdom. These timeless stories
would eventually form the core of Dovie’s highly regarded repertoire.
Birgit Lehner is a storyteller from Austria, living in Vienna. She worked as
an actress and as a journalist before she discovered storytelling during a two
years residence in France. She tells stories for all ages, ranging from
kindergarten to retirement homes, and has also been performing in theatres and
at international storytelling festivals in Austria, France, Germany, Greece,
Hungary, Italy, Spain and Switzerland.
She often sings during her performances, accompanying herself on the guitar
zither or on the accordion, and sometimes works together with musicians. In
2014 she released her first CD for children with stories, rhymes and songs.
Birgit visited the 2014 Cape Clear Festival as an enthusiastic listener,
nevertheless seizing the opportunity to tell herself during the Storytelling
Swaps.
Michael has told stories both as a solo performer and with other artists
throughout the UK and Europe as well festivals in North and South America.
Most of his work is in either English or Welsh and occasionally both at the
same time! He is a familiar performer in the UK festival and club scene and
draws particular inspiration from the Welsh oral heritage and landscape.
He is a winner of a major Creative Wales Award and has worked extensively with
La Maison du Conte storytelling centre in Paris and was a featured teller at
the National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough USA in 2012.
Clare Muireann Murphy is a storyteller, writer, teacher (& curiosist). Clare
has had some amazing storytelling adventures with all kinds of people
including The Globe theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, and the National
Theatre. She has played around the world from Tennessee to Sao Paolo, from
whiskey cellars to medieval round towers. She collaborates with & trains other
tellers around Europe, teaches in universities, and writes fiction and essays.
She lives in London.
Clare tells all kinds of tales from myths to modern, and is often described as
a dynamic physical teller. She is honoured to be returning to Cape Clear
Storytelling Festival.
Colum Sands has been described as a poet disguised as a songwriter and a
singer disguised as a story teller but few dispute that he performs in a style
that is truly his own.
For many years the County Down songwriter has been weaving songs and stories
that have taken him to stages from around home to places like Berlin,
Copenhagen, Hong Kong, Sydney, Jerusalem, Vancouver and Auckland. Colum
is also a BBC radio presenter, has produced around one hundred albums, working
with young musicians and veterans like Joan Baez and Pete Seeger, and he was
shortlisted for three nominations for the 2009 Grammy Awards.
MC’s DURING THE 2015 FESTIVAL MC’s will include (various past & present
members of the committee)
Pat Speight: Pat has told stories from Cork to Tennessee,
Belfast to Montreal, North of England to Sardinia and many places in
between. He has told stories to groups of two to 1200. A featured teller at
festivals all over Ireland, England, and North America, is a regular visitor
to Cape Clear. He was Storyteller-in-Residence to Cork County Council in
2002. He is the MC for the ever popular “Story Swap” event on Saturday
afternoon.
Liz Weir: From County Antrim she is the founder of the
Yarnspinner community storytelling groups in Ireland (1986). She was
Director of the Ulster Storytelling Festival (1989-2008), and the North West
International Storytelling Festival in Derry (1993-2000). She is currently
the Director of the new Ghosts in the Glens Festival. She has been a member
of the Cape Clear International Storytelling festival since its inception.
Since 1992, she has travelled the world performing at international
storytelling events, from the National Storytelling Festival (Tennessee) to
the Australian and Canadian National Storytelling Festivals.
Paddy O’Brien: Born in Co Kerry he is a natural storyteller
who has appeared at the Cape Clear Storytelling festival on three occasions
including the first festival in 1994. He has also featured regularly at many
of the other Irish storytelling festivals such as Slieve Bloom and
Courtmacsherry.
Diarmuid O Drisceoil: He grew up in a bi-lingual home, speaking
English and Gaelic, and listened to the stories of his wide family network
for years. He draws his stories mainly from the Irish tradition but adapts
them to suit his surreal sense of humour. He has been a great favourite with
audiences as MC at the festival for a number of years. Diarmuid is the
author of four books, three of which with his brother Donal. The most recent
offerings “50 years have flown: A History of Cork Airport”, and “Serving a
City: The Story of Cork’s English Market” have been widely acclaimed.
Jack Lynch: Jack has twice been the featured Irish storyteller at the
Cape Clear Festival, and has been a regular teller at local arts festivals
and at storytelling festivals – Cultra, Omagh, Scealta Shamhna, Slieve
Bloom, Sperrins, and Courtmacsherry. He is a founder member of the Dublin
Yarnspinners and of Storytellers of Ireland/ Aos Sceal Éireann.
