For the 14^th successive year the Dutch city of Deventer embraces it’s annual Irish Pub festival. Each year the centre of Deventer transforms itself into an atmosphere resembling what you can expect to find in the Temple Bar area of Dublin which is the main attraction for those who seek all aspects & cross sections of Irish Music.

This is a genuine Irish festival unique to the Netherlands & unique outside the boundaries of Ireland itself in the sence that the festival is presently exclusive to the city of Deventer. Festival director Mark Gilligan comes from Dublin and has spent his lifetime involved with Irish Music & is a well known impresario & runs the Irish Music agency Poucha Promotions. Since acquiring the Deventer Irish Pub festival in 2000 he has single handed transformed this festival into a professionally organised cultural event. In its 2006 edition he successfully invited the Irish Ambassador together with Deventer’s Lord Mayor to officially open the festival. For the first time in history the Irish Ambassador in the Netherlands visited Deventer. Stemming from this special occasion, the Lord Mayor strongly suggested that many historians believe that Deventer was originally founded by an Irish saint (St. Lebuïnus) back in 768 n.Chr.

Building on the 2006 success, Gilligan has decided that it was high time to have a centre point & information centre. He has recently negotiated a partnership deal with the Irish Brewery Murphy’s into visualising this cultural house. As Gilligan says “ I got the idea from football, when the Dutch play away they always have a centre point in the form of Heineken House, so lets have Murphy’s house at my festival”. He found that perfect location at de Oude Maria Kerk. Transforming this magnificent building into an information centre equipped with stands from Toerisme Ierland, The Claddagh, Irish club Nederland, and Gael Force CDs. Also a genuine Irish Bar with Murphy’s Red & Stout on tap together with simple Irish food like Murphy’s Irish Stew & Irish sausage broodjes. Live on Stage orm 21.00 is Guinan & Gilligan with a few suprises. There will also be audio visual display of Irish culture. Murphy’s House will be opened for the public from 20.30 till 0.30.

Gilligan is fully convinced that Murphy’s house is the ideal starting point for visitors. Here they can soak up genuine Irish atmosphere, plan their route & head off to the 15

Locations housing a diverse program of superb Irish musicianship & entertainment.

The 17 pubs taking part have something to offer every ones taste. Performing this year is Paul Martin & Jock the Box at de Dikke van Dale. Paul is one of the most outstanding Irish performers ever to grace this land. For traditional Irish music lovers we have Lowland Paddies at de 7e Hemel & Celtic Wind at COC.. Typical Irish lively pub entertainers include Noel Shannon at Buren van Schimmelpennick, Robert Pfeiffer of Amadan at de Brave Broeder & Pat Kelly at de Heks. For the younger & progressive public he has programmed Celtic Punksters Filthy Nelly at de Elegast , The Thirsty Dog in t’Burgerweeshuis cafe & the Boys from Co. Hell at Midtown. Up & Comming folk band MORAGH plays Persee.. At Darren Byrne will perform.at Deventer’s newest cafe Heeren op de Brink. A unique act that should not be missed. Darren has penned two songs for the new Hollywood production “P.S. I love you” staring Hilary Swank.. There will be a couple of surprises like Gilligan himself performing with some of the artists & a marching Pipe band.

This festival is 100% free to the public. There is no cover charge!!!  The festival relies 100% on partners & sponsors. The Deventer Irish Pub festival is now renamed to Murphy’s Irish Pub Festival for obvious reasons. The festival is fully supported by the following: Shamrock Vastgoed b.v., department of foreign affairs Ireland, Grand Cafe Dikke van Dale,Jameson Irish whiskey, Gemeente Deventer & VVV Deventer. The festival partners are Murphy’s Irish Red & toerisme Ierland.

The festival will take place between 21.00 – 1.00.

On Saturday 2 Feb “Murphy’s Big Irish Party” takes place at de Oude Maria Kerk. With live music from 15.00hrs till midnight. Live on stage is Ken Parsons, Paul Martin & Jock the Box headliners The John O’Gods and the leftover musicians from the night before. Yes the Irish just love an excuse to party. The will be a small cover charge of € 5,-.

So come on down and experience genuine Irish food & genuine Irish beer in an atmosphere of superb quality entertainers.

For information & program please visit www.irishpubfestival.nl & the blog site www.myspace.com/deventeririshpubfestival