Booley House runs during the months of July and August. All shows take place on Wednesday nights at St. Michaels Hall Ballyduff and commence at 8.15pm. For information and bookings:telephone Lismore Heritage Centre on (058)54975 (9.30 am-5.30 pm) throughout the year.
The Booley House Musical brings the great Irish legacy to life.Traveling all over the world the Booley House presents 90 fast paced,uninterrupted minutes of authentic traditional music played on traditional instruments.Filled with brilliant singing,set and step dancing,Booley House also fosters the unique legacy of the golden-tongued Irish storyteller.
An exciting and fast moving show,The Booley House musical is staged over the summer months in Ballyduff,County Waterford.The show includes the very best of Irish music,song and dance and includes resident "Shanacie"(storyteller),James Lenane-All Ireland winner in the particular field.The Booley House Musical also includes The Michael Ryan School of Dancers,which encompass a wonderful range of original step dancing routines that always generate enthusiastic audience response.A number of dancers from this school have performed in *Riverdance and Lord of the Dance*.
The local Set Dancer Master,Tom Hyland,will have his dancers doing Irish sets,often leading audience members to dance in the aisles.A recent innovation to the show is the introduction of brush dancers,which has now become a showstopper.
The musicians provide a unique sound performing on traditional instruments.This has been the hallmark of the Booley House since its inception.Singer Ber Browne completes the artists on stage.
Ballyduff County Waterford is a small rural community in Ireland.It is an active and vibrant community and has established a strong tradition in sport,music and drama.It stages a Drama Festival every spring and it was recently voted Irelands best festival.
Twelve years ago the local community decided to introduce a summer traditional show as a fundraiser to improve local amenities.The show was christened The Booley House-in ancient Ireland the cattle grazed the uplands in summer and the farmers who tended them lived in temporary dwellings called Booleys-and since then it has established the reputation as one of Irelands premier traditional shows. (Over sixty people of all ages are involved in the production and it is a big community endeavour)
*1990:The Booley House begins its summer run in Ballyduff and has been staged annually since.Now recognised with Brus Boru as the two top traditional summer shows in the country.
**1994-1998:Many Booley House dancers join Riverdance troupes.**
*1995:The Booley House represents Ireland at an International Music Festival in Turkey.
*1998:Booley House performs at a Traditional Arts Festival in Brittany,France.
*2000:Performs as a curtain raiser to Sharon Shannon before 6,000 people in Lismore Co.Waterford.
*2001:Entertains E.U politicians at a conference in Cork.
*2002:Visits Northern Ireland as part of a Cultural Exchange and stages a concert in Tyrone.
*2003:Booley House headlines an open air concert attended by 10,000 people in Clonmel during the All Ireland Fleadh Cheol
**2004:New York-The Booley House troupe fulfills a dream as they perform six shows in White Plains,Nyack and Upstate New York.**
*2004:The following are some comments highlighting the positive reaction to the summer debut of The Booley House at St.Michaels Hall,Ballyduff: "..fabulous..outstanding talent..one of the best shows I have seen..." John Hancock,Virginia,U.S.A "...."very lively and exciting...magnificent entertainment..I loved it.." Maria Cewleora,Slovakia"...."stunning show..wonderful variety..the highlight of our trip to Ireland.." Susan and Mikel,Denmark.
*2005:The arts critic in the "Irish Voice" New York reviewed the show and referred to superb dancing marvellous stories...traditional music spot on and concluded by stating that 'it is crystally clear that a visit to the Booley House in Co. Waterford should be on your itinerary if you like traditional music and dance with a flair and pride for its native origins'.
*Booley House-05 has been a great success with record attendances.
*Booley House (2006-2010) This period has seen a large increase in the number of international visitors.
Click here for: photo montage
*Thanks to Maurice Geary,Ballyduff for provision of information on Booley House Musical-John Barry.