Hi story lovers, here's a copy of the article that was in 7 April 2008 Irish Times about the international launch of www.storytellersunlimited.com. Enjoy!
Project tells tales from Galway to Denver LORNA SIGGINS, Irish Times Western correspondent
MOONBOGS, MILESIANS, Oisín, Fionn Mac Cumhail and the Fianna are subjects of an international storytelling project which was initiated in Galway and Denver, USA at the weekend. The terrorising activities of the "gruagaire" or hairy folk who left Scotland for Ireland to escape excessive drinking and tax dodging were recalled at the Irish opening. It was performed in the Galway City Museum by Rab Fulton of Storytellers Unlimited, with harpist Aite Ursa Tinga. His colleague, Clare Muireann Murphy, gave a similarly scary performance in the Children's Museum, Denver, as part of a "simultaneous" international launch on Saturday evening.
Storytellers Unlimited was founded by Fulton and Murphy in Galway, and is currently touring in North America.The duo have built up an archive of Irish and international tales, which have been recorded on video for a new website which is funded by the Arts Council.The video archive includes some fairly familiar tales: how Cuchulainn got his name, the exploits of the Fianna and the birth and death of Oisín.
The archive also deals with some less familiar subjects, like the history of the O'Quinn family of Co Clare, recorded by the late folklorist, TJ Westropp, and a story called Morag and the Sky Princess, which is a tale of "lust, frustration, dogs and embroidery" from Scotland.The website – www.storytellersunlimited.com – also includes information on teaching projects and performances.
Fulton is due to take to the stage at the Town Hall Theatre, Galway, in May.