SoFFT Productions, Monaghan Arts Office announce live performance event 'The Thinning Veil'

In collaboration with the Monaghan Arts Office, SoFFT Productions have announced a celebration of local music and storytelling traditions in an evening of immersive live performances, titled The Thinning Veil.

Coinciding with Samhain, the event will take place on Saturday October 29, at the Sliabh Beagh Hotel, in County Monaghan. It's set to feature a range of talented Irish artists and storytellers.

The lineup thus far includes: Irish composer, writer and performer Michael Gallen, award-winning young composer Rose Connolly, award winning Uilleann Piper Tiarnán Ó Duinnchinn, sean-nós singer and multi-instrumentalist Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, dancer Stephanie Keane, Francis McCarron, Peter Keenan, Gary Lynch and Seán McElwain.

Fresh from a hugely successful run of events including SoFFT Nights festival at Dunderry Park and collaborations with The West Wicklow Festival for Culture Night; SoFFT Productions now turns its attention to the Arts Office of Monaghan County Council to co-host The Thinning Veil.

This immersive event is designed to celebrate the history of Samhain and the unique landscape of Monaghan’s Bragan bogland. Set in the Sliabh Beagh Hotel, the event looks to be something quite special.

Taking shape around an immersive installation by Monaghan visual artist Claire McCluskey, the evening will pay homage to old Samhain traditions with McCluskey's sculpture acting as the traditional fire around which communities would gather and exchange music and storytelling.

The Monaghan artist's sculpture 'Offer' utilises mirror and lighting to create a unique visual experience of space, opening a zone of reflection and exploration.

Claire McCluskey's sculpture 'Offer' will feature at the event.

The event is curated by Natasha Duffy, Claire McCluskey, and Shane O'Callaghan.

Speaking about the night of performance, curator Natasha said: "I have known the bog since I was a wee girl, heading out there with my grandad Barney to foot the turf. It always had a mystical, otherworldly feel to it and I know it is a special place for a lot of people.

"I have been curating site-specific concerts and theatre pieces for the last few years and it is particularly special to return to a very potent site for myself to host this evening. We have created a really magical vibe for the evening and the musicians and storytellers have woven together something that will transport people to another place; across the veil for a Samhain experience."

The Thinning Veil will play host to a wide selection of artists both local and from further afield, spanning multiple disciplines across music, storytelling, poetry and dance.

Samhain traditionally represented the division between the lighter half of the year and the darker portion. During the interim, ancient people believed that the line between the spirit world and the mortal one became so thin that the dead could pass through the veil and walk the earth once more.

With this being the case attendees can expect the evening to explore the more macabre side of ancient artistic traditions as well as contemporary practice.

This event is funded through the Local Live Performance Programming Scheme as part of #LocalLive with support from the Arts office of Monaghan County Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaelteacht, Sports and Media.

The Thinning Veil will take place on October 29 at Sliabh Beagh Hotel, Knockatallon Village, Corlatt, Co. Monaghan.

You can register for The Thinning Veil tickets through Eventbrite - here.