The Wonders of the Wake
The Wonders of the Wake is a unique celebration of one of the oldest rites of humanity, the Irish Wake: in song, music, bardic poetry and story-telling. From the ancient Neolithic graves on Achill Island on the Atlantic seaboard, to the plains of Troy and Homer’s Iliad, to yesterday’s funeral, the Irish Wake still teaches us all how to live, love and die. The Wonders of the Wake in keening, music, song and word celebrates the craic, the joy, the prumsái, and the haunting lament of a traditional Irish Wake. Wonders of the Wake is based on acclaimed BAFTA-winning writer Kevin Toolis’ bestselling book My Father’s Wake: How the Irish Teach Us to Live, Love and Die and is an artistic collaboration with the beloved Irish singer Mags Gallen and harpist Freda Hatton.
Kevin Toolis is a writer, a bardic poet and former war correspondent for the New York Times. Mags Gallen is an actress and sings, plays piano and fiddle with the Irish Trad band Arcanadh. Freda Hatton is a graduate of Music and Irish from University College Cork and has toured extensively.