Several months ago, an Irish Corner was opened in the department library of the Department of English and American Studies, FF UP with the participation of the Irish ambassador Alan Gibbons, our former Rector Martin Procházka and additional representatives from our university, the city of Olomouc and the Olomouc Region. This cooperation with the only native English speaking country remaining in the European Union continued on May 24 with a concert of traditional Irish music by the Prague based band Conamara Chaos in Jazz Tibet Club in Olomouc.
Conamara Chaos is a folk band led by Doc. Radvan Markus, lecturer in Irish language and literature at Charles University. Doc. Markus has also been teaching the Irish language part-time at the Department of English and American Studies in Olomouc for over ten years. Apart from his academic pursuits, he is also a renowned translator (having received the Magnesia Litera award in 2017 for his translation from Irish to Czech of Máirtín Ó Cadhain novel Cré na Cille (Graveyard Clay in English, in Czech Hřbitovní hlína) and last but not least a talented musician. Doc. Markus plays the flute, the recorder, the Irish whistle and even the bouzouki. His wife, Jana Markusová plays the violin, Martin Jankovec the guitar and Ladislav Veselý the bodhrán. Vocals and the stand-up bass are provided by Svatka Hlávková Štěpánková. The name of the band makes reference to a region in the west of Ireland as well as to part of the planet Jupiter’s moon Europa. They recently released a CD entitled Anord consisting of a mix of traditional tunes and their own compositions. These, and other songs, were performed at the concert in Jazz Tibet. Further information about the band: www.conamarachaos.cz.
The concert was organised and sponsored by both the university and the city of Olomouc. From the university side, financial support was provided by the Rectorate, the Faculty of Arts and the Department of English and American Studies. Special thanks go out to Ms. Tereza Kalousková, from the International Department, for her assistance with the organisation. The City of Olomouc also provided financing and support and thanks once again go to the members of the Department of Foreign Relations, specifically Ms. Hana Ederová and her team. The Lord Mayor of Olomouc, Mr. Miroslav Žbánek, even attended the event and said a few words of support prior to the concert. There was a full audience, consisting of people of a range of nationalities and ages, for the approximate two hour show. Many of the adults and children danced through much of the performance. Our thanks also go out to Mr. Roman Fojtášek, the manager of the club, for his assistance with the organisation of the concert.
The evening was enjoyed by all, both audience and performers, and provided further proof of the rich connection between Ireland and Czechia. It will hopefully lead to further cooperation on the university, city and regional levels.