London calling for the Wonders of the Wake

A unique Irish wake show 'Wonders of the Wake' which has its origins in Mayo will be performed in the Claddagh Ring Irish bar in north London in October.

The 'Wonders of the Wake' show was born out of the world's first arts festival The Keening, held in Mayo this year, which celebrates the old arts of the Irish Wake.

In laughter, joy, lament, keen, song and bardic poetry Ireland's finest musicians and poets will be honouring their oldest Irish tradition of all - the Irish Wake - in a unique show that will captivate hearts coming to the UK for the first time.

If you've never experienced the true life-affirming joy of a real Irish Wake then the Wonders of the Wake is the best wake you'll ever get to see this side of heaven!

“Across the world people always say the Irish do death well. So it's great to bringing the wake for the very first time, the very heart of Irish culture, to London with Ireland's finest female musicians in one fabulous show. There will be keening, joy, original songs, laughter, remembrance and some of the best sing-along tunes you've ever heard,” said producer Kevin Toolis, the BAFTA-winning writer of My Father's Wake: How the Irish Teach Us to Live, Love and Die.

“The Keening Festival in Mayo was a global sensation. We had people coming from all over the world in recognition of how important the Wake is in Irish culture,” added Toolis, who is also the Keening Festival Director.

“So we thought we'd take the wisdom of the Irish Wake, the best way of dealing with life and death, on the road and the Claddagh Ring Pub in north London is ideal. The Wonders Show is a totally immersive experience. Like a real Irish wake there will be tea, sandwiches, drink and of course a coffin as musicians and show-goers celebrate the craic. Definitely the best Wake you'll ever get to this side of Heaven. But the Wonders is not just another show - we'll be remembering too those we have loved and lost as part of the night as we would in a real Wake.”

Wonder of the Lake producer, Kevin Toolis with musicians Kate Heneghan, Caitriona Ní Chennabháin and Maria Harnett

Wonders of the Wake stars the fabulous Connemara Sean Nós singer Caitriona Ní Chennabháin, Kate and Maggie Heneghan and will uniquely feature keening, harp, original songs and traditional Sean Nós laments in Irish.

The show will run from October 9 to 13 in the The Claddagh Ring, Hendon, London with the show starting at 8pm every night with a Sunday matinee at 2.30pm.

Tickets are available to buy on https://www.ticketsource.eu/-wonders-of-the-wake.

For more information on the show visit the website www.wondersofthewake.com.