An American Wake

For the Irish, emigration was like death. People saw little difference between going to America and going to the grave so unlikely were they ever to return. An American Wake brought the community together to help the family cope with the grief of parting and to go on living, no matter how great the loss by giving both the emigrants and those left behind a night to remember for the rest of their lives.

Kanturk Arts Festival present 

An American Wake               

 8pm in Kanturk Rugby Club on March 18^th 

Neighbours gather in the kitchen of the Mahoney house to give the emigrants a memorable send-off, that will live in their memory when they’re across the sea, far away from their home and loved ones. It will be a night of music, story and poetry while the neighbours dispense barmbrack and tea to the guests who have come to bid the young emigrants farewell.   Admission €10

a