Address enquiries to: Director, Cape Clear Island International Storytelling Festival, Cape Clear Island, Skibbereen, Co. Cork, Republic of Ireland.
Email: stories@indigo.ie
Jim May, USA.
Jim is a storyteller who speaks in the natural, matter-of-fact style of the fathers, horse traders, and small-town raconteurs who populated rural McHenry County, Illinois where his family has lived since the 1840's. For adult audiences, he tells original stories of growing up in the tiny Catholic farming community of Spring Grove. These stories that are at once hilarious and touching range from, "How to Become 'Most Valuable Altar Boy' (MVAB)", to horse trading tales and heart-warming memories of family life. For children he offers stories from traditional sources. These folk tales, myths, legends and ghost stories from various cultures worldwide have the humour and wisdom of the great tales that have been preserved in every culture and handed down orally from one generation to the next. Jim May's stories have taken him across the United States and Europe. He received a 1989 Chicago Emmy award for a WTTW-Channel 11 production of his original story, "A Bell For Shorty."
Jim May, SAM.
Is scéalaí é Jim May a labhrann sa stíl nádúrtha céanna a bhí ag a shinsear. Ba cheannaithe capall iad, agus ba scéalaithe iad féin a chónaigh i McHenry County, Illinois, áit a raibh chónaí ar a mhuintir ó 1840. Insíonn sé scéalta nua chumtha do dhaoine fásta faoin saol a chaith sé ag fás aníos sa phobal beag caitliceacigh sin Spring Grove. Is scéalta iad a chuirfeadh sna tríthí ag gáire thú agus san am céanna seans go meallafaidís deor ó do shúil, baineann na scéalta leis an eaglais, le ceannach agus díol capall agus le cuimhní cinn Jim óna óige. Cuireann sé scéalta traidisiúnta ar fáil do pháistí chomh maith. Tá greann agus gaois sna scéalta, sna miotais, agus sna sí scéalta ó na cultúir ar fud an domhain. Tá Meiriceá agus an Eoraip siúlta ag Jim agus é ag insint scéalta. Sa bhliain 1989 bhuaigh sé EMMY as an scéal ‘A Bell for Shorty” a craoladh ar an teilifís i Chicago.
Jess Smith, Scotland
A traditional storyteller from Perthshire, she has been working as a professional teller for many years and she has told stories all over the world.. She is a member of the Scottish travelling people. Jess' past lifestyle which is now extinct was all about working the land. This closeness to nature taught her many things about the body's hidden senses. Jess is a self-taught storyteller, having learnt the skill from many years spent listening to master tellers around the campfire. Jess is also an accomplished author. She has written three books about her life as a traveller; travelling the country in an old bus with parents and seven sisters who came and went over a period spanning ten years. Jess is an accomplished singer and she also recites poetry and books. Her core belief as an artist is that her ancient tales should be passed on to future generations. Jess is a member of the Scottish Storytelling Centre, or Netherbow as its known as well as The Scottish Book Trust.
Prizes: Kirriemuir - winner of the Doric Verse 2004. TMSA (Traditional Music and Song Association) Keith Festival 2003 - winner of women's singing and storytelling cup. Keith Festival - winner of storytelling cup in 2002.
Jess Smith, Albain
Is Scéalaí traidisiúnta í Jess Smith ó Perthshire in Albain, tá sí ag obair mar scéalaí gairmiúil leis na blianta agus scéalta inste aici ar fud an domhain. Is ball í Jess de Lucht Siúil na hAlbain. Tá seansaol Jess imithe le fán anois, agus bhain an saol sin leis an talmhaíocht go príomha. Mhúin an dlúthbhaint seo leis an nádúr go leor dí faoi chéadfaí an choirp atá faoi cheilt. Is Scéalaí féin-mhúinte í Jess, d'fhoghlaim sí a ceird ó bheith ag éisteacht le scoth na scéalaithe cois na tine thar blianta a óige. Is údar den scoth í chomh maith. Tá trí leabhar scríofa aici faoina saol mar bhean siúil a bhí ag taisteal na tíre i seanbhus lena tuismitheoirí agus a seacht ndeirfiúracha a bhí ag teacht is ag imeacht thar thréimhse deich mbliana. Is amhránaí an-bhreá í chomh maith agus tá sí an-mhaith chun dán a chuir di. Is é an cloch is mó ar a paidrín mar ealaíontóir ná a cuid scéalta a bhronnadh ar na glúine atá ag teacht aníos. Is ball í Jess den Scottish Storytelling Centre nó Netherbow mar a thugtar air chomh maith le bheith ina ball den Scottish Book Trust.
Gradaim: Kirriemuir - Doric Verse 2004.
TMSA (Traditional Music and Song Association) Keith Festival 2003 - Buaiteoir Choirn na mBan don scéalaíocht agus don amhránaíocht.
Keith Festival - Buaiteoir an choirn scéalaíochta sa bhliain 2002.
website: http://indigo.ie/~stories/index.htm
