LORIENT INTERCELTIC FESTIVAL

Celtic cultures are unique. On one side their roots are firmly in the soil of European history, reaching well back into this continent's Celtic past. On the other, the western peninsulas which had retained their identity spread their traditions far and wide when emigration from Europe became necessary. From Canada to Australia, thousands of musicians are a daily living testimony to this and for those us who stayed, The Knights of the Round Table, Tristan and Isolde and the Legend of Ys are ever present.

The INTERCELTIC FESTIVAL is THE annual gathering for the creative artists of the Celtic countries. Each year in August 4,500 of them converge to the Breton port of Lorient. They come from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Cornwall, Asturias, Galicia and Brittany, as well as from other parts of the world. This is the annual showcase of the Celtic countries and their longstanding traditions but it is also vibrant platform for future talents. On stage, in the street or under big tents, 260 events are played out in front of 300,000 spectators and the players are as diverse as they are gifted: traditional, classical, folk, rock and jazz musicians, singers, dancers, painters, sculpters, writers, film makers and lecturers.

In 1996 the Festival released a video named " 24 hours at the Interceltic Festival of Lorient ".

1997 will be the "Year of Wales" and the Festival will welcome even more Welsh artists.

The INTERCELTIC FESTIVAL also takes place in a unique environment. It is a perfect stage for a holiday with its beaches, sailing, fishing, golfing, horse-riding, rambling, canoeing, local cultural heritage and Breton gastronomy, complete with sea food specialities.

There are several possibilities. Hotel rooms range in price from 100 to 1250 French Francs but there is also a youth hostel and a holiday camp, along with country holiday homes (i.e. rural gîtes) and numerous camps sites and caravan parks. For information and reservation please contact :

Sydney, Australia - Sunday 26th January, 1997 -
The Lorient Interceltic Ensemble played themselves into the minds and hearts of the Celts gathered at St Leonards Park for the 4th Annual Celtic Australia Day.
Although heavy rain marred the festival Marianig Larc'hantec on Clarsach (Breton small harp), Catherine Boulogne on Viola, Alain Pennec on Accordian, Alain Kerneur on Bombarde, and Hubert Rand on Bagpipe drew many people out from under shelter to hear the amazing Breton sounds that eminated so provocatively from the small sound shell behind them.
Great ambassadors for Brittany and for the Lorient Interceltic Festival, they bit deeply into people's Celtic spirit and had them literally dancing in the rain.

Brisbane, Australia - Tuesday 29th January, 1997 -
Having 'brought' the Breton rain to Brisbane as well as Sydney the Ensemble played the house down before 300 Celts at the Queensland Irish Club in Brisbane. Playing well into the night, with impromptu dancing in the audience, Australia's east coast Celts now know the special sounds of Breton music.

The Ensemble, Festival Director Pichard, Festival President Pierre Beurgadie, and accompnaying journalist Alain Cabain of Ouest-France Journal, leave Australia on Thursday 30th with many new friends, and converts to Breton music (as well as a taste for Aussie beer)! We hope that they have enjoyed their short stay and will come back again soon. (Chris Dunkerley, Celtic Council of Australia)

Le Telegramme 7/2/97- "Le Festival Interceltique ambassadeur breton aux antipodes"
Ouest-France 5/2/97 - "Le Festival a la conquete de l'Australie" - "Lorient est bien au couer de la 'Celtic Connection'"