International Mumming Traditions

Mumming Traditions in Cross-Border and
Cross-Community Contexts

An international conference focussing on mumming traditions in cross-border and cross-community contexts will be held at the Academy for Irish Cultural Heritages, University of Ulster, Londonderry, from 9-14 June 2003. [Please note that this is a change of date from previous announcements/]

The Conference is being organised in cooperation with Room to Rhyme, a collaborative mumming project undertaken by University College Dublin (Department of Irish Folklore), University of Ulster (Academy for Irish Cultural Heritages), and the University of Turku (Finland).

A panel of specially invited speakers from Europe and North America will address issues relating to mumming in a variety of cross-border and cross-community contexts. Additional elements of the programme will also be held in Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh and Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.

Details of the conference programme can be accessed at www.arts.ulst.ac.uk/academy/ or by contacting Críostóir Mac Cárthaigh, Department of Irish Folklore, University College, Belfield, Dublin 4, Email: criostoir.maccarthaigh@ucd.ie Telephone: +353.1.716 8216, Fax: +353.1.7161144.

In December 2000, the Department of Irish Folklore (University College Dublin), in partnership with the University of Ulster and the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, initiated a collaborative project on mumming, entitled ‘Room to Rhyme’.

Saint George and Saint Patrick, taken from a woodcut in J.Nicholson's chapbook "The New Christmas Rhyme-Book", Belfast, 1890s

The goal of the project, which is ongoing, is to document the nature and extent of mumming, particularly in north Connacht and west Ulster where there is a long-standing and vibrant tradition of mumming. Room to Rhyme is supported by the: Department of Foreign Affairs, Foras na Gaeilge, Údarás na Gaeltachta, and the Ulster Scots Agency.

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