Balor images – 2026 Launch eventbrite

The Frances Browne Literary Festival presents an evening of storytelling, verse and mumming, courtesy of The Armagh Rhymers and Sheddas on The Page

The Armagh Rhymers – Masks, music and mischief! The Armagh Rhymers bring the mumming tradition to The Balor.

The Armagh Rhymers are a world-renowned Irish folk theatre group dedicated to preserving the rich traditions of Irish mumming, storytelling and traditional music. They bring Ireland’s cultural heritage to life through dynamic performances that blend myth, music, masks and drama. Their iconic straw costumes and handcrafted masks are rooted in centuries-old customs, making every show a powerful celebration of Irish folklore and community spirit.

Known as ‘Theatre of the People’ the ancient mumming and rhyming traditions have inspired poets including Seamus Heaney, John Kavanagh, Brendan Kennelly, John Montague and John Hewitt.

Sheddas On Tha Page – Created by the Ulster-Scots Community Network in 2023 the Sheddas are drawn from Ulster, Scotland and the USA, with the creative focus of encouraging contemporary writing in Ulster-Scots. The Sheddas writers are well known for their innovative, thought-provoking and comic observations.

Join them as they perform excerpts from their three published anthologies and a selection of new work. Sheddas writers celebrate the strength, power and expressive beauty of this remarkable leid and have great craic together in the process.