Talk at Strule Arts Centre on ‘Death, Wakes and Customs’

Professor Salvador Ryan, Professor of Ecclesiastical History from St Patricks College, Maynooth, will give a fascinating talk on the folk traditions theme of ‘Death, Wakes and Customs’ in Strule Arts Centre, Omagh at 7 pm on Friday 30 November 2018.

The talk on ‘Deaths, Wakes and Customs’ is part of the ‘Folk Traditions’ programme which is currently being rolled out across the Fermanagh and Omagh District.

The Folk Traditions programme is one of 16 projects taking place across the District as part of the £2.8 million Fermanagh and Omagh PEACE IV Local Action Plan, which is being delivered by Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Match-funding has been provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department for Rural and Community Development in Ireland.

Professor Ryan’s research interests include popular religion and rituals in Gaelic Ireland. Having recently published a wide-ranging collection of over 70 articles from the expertise of theologians, folklorists, undertakers and palliative care specialists, Professor Salvador will highlight the communal nature of Irish rituals surrounding death and how they play a significant part in normalising death as an integral part of life itself.

The ‘Folk Traditions’ programme, which is being delivered by the Mummers Foundation on behalf of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, explores the history of folk traditions in the Fermanagh and Omagh District Council area with a focus on the tradition of Mumming.

Admission to the talk on ‘Death, Wakes and Customs’ in Strule Arts Centre, Omagh at 7 pm on Friday 30 November 2018 is free. Everybody welcome. To book your place please visit www.struleartscentre.co.uk or contact Jim Ledwith, Mummers Foundation by e-mail at jim.ledwith@btconnect.com or telephone 079 7107 5955.