Isca Morrismen 2004 Events
The Isca Morrismen maintained a long-standing tradition of dancing out most Wednesday evenings during the summer period at a variety of real ale pubs where we brought entertainment to the community and provided the men themselves with the opportunity to enjoy good ale! Outside of this period we were either busy practicing or travelling to a variety of outside events. We danced throughout the old county of Gwent, now spread across the City of Newport and the county boroughs of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Monmouthshire and Torfaen.
Period up to May 2004:-
Over the winter practice season our events were:
January 2004
Tuesday 6th - 12th Night Mari Llwyd
7.00 p.m. Starting from the Star Inn, Llanvihangel Tor-y-mynydd with performances in the village during the course of the evening. A chance to enjoy this traditional Welsh folk custom, re-enacted and revived by the community with joviality, banter, music and dancing helped along by the Isca Morrismen. Around 9.00 p.m. the Mari returned to the Star Inn after it's perambulation around the parish.
Saturday 17th - Wassail at the Ostrich Inn
A new innovation started in 2004 with the side actually running a traditional wassail evening based on the Ostrich Inn at Newland, just to the south of Monmouth. The wassail began at around 8 p.m. and the side had a specially commissioned spalted cherry 4 lipped wassail bowl made for the occasion.
Saturday 31st - Ripley Morrismen Ale
March 2004
Saturday 6th - Lassington Oak Ale
Dancing Programme for the Summer Season
May to September 2004:-
May 2004
Sat 1st - May Day - Dancing at Dawn
| 5.15 a.m. - 6.40 a.m. |
Caerleon Amphitheatre and afterwards at Maggie May Restaurant, Caerleon |
Mon 3rd - May Bank Holiday Tour with Sweyns Ey Morrismen
| 9.30 a.m. 10.45 a.m. 12.00 noon 1.15 p.m 3.00 p.m. 3.45 p.m. 5.30 p.m. |
St Woolos Cathedral, Newport Nags Head Inn, Usk Carpenters Arms, Shirenewton Bridge Inn, Chepstow Magor Spring Fair Rock & Fountain Inn Real Ale Festival, Penhow Greyhound Inn, Christchurch |
Wed 12th - Pontypool Valleys
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
The George, Pontypool Globe Inn, Talywain |
Wed 19th - Cappers Joint Tour with Lassington Oak Morrismen
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Boat Inn, Penalt Ostrich Inn, Newland |
June 2004
Thu 3rd - Joint Pub Tour with Mendip Morrismen
| 8.00 p.m. 9.00 p.m. |
Little Harp, Clevedon Ship, Redcliffe Bay, Portishead |
Wed 9th - Isca Silurum
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Red Lion, Caerleon Wheatsheaf Inn, Llanhennock |
Wed 16th - Joint Tour with Forest of Dean Morrismen
| 8.30 p.m. | Fountain Inn, Tellech Grange |
Sat 19th - 3rd Trellech Village Festival, Trellech, Monmouthshire
| 1.00 p.m. onwards |
Lion Inn Beer Festival |
Wed 23rd - Joint Tour with Cardiff Morrismen
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Swan Inn, Taffs Well Black Cock Inn, Caerphilly |
July 2004
Wed 7th - Archenfield Triangle
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Hen & Chickens, Abergavenny Crown Inn, Pantygelli |
Sat 17th - 2 p.m. Henllys Village Fete, Henllys, Cwmbran
| 1.00 p.m. onwards |
Henllys Village inc Doralt Inn and Cwrt Henllys |
August 2004
Sat 21st - Pontardawe Festival with Sweyns Ey Morris
| 1.00 p.m. onwards | Pontardawe Town Centre |
September 2004
Wed 1st - Newport Explorations
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Oddfellows & Foresters, Baneswell The Gladiator, Malpas |
Wed 15th - Winding Down
| 9.00 p.m. | Wheatsheaf Inn, Magor |
Sat 18th - Talywaun Carnival and Beer Festival
| 1.00 p.m. onwards |
The Isca Morrismen will be dancing at various times during the afternoon at the Globe Inn |
Wed 29th - Annual General Meeting (not dancing)
| 8.00 p.m. onwards |
The Gladiator, Newport |
October 2004
Wed 6th onwards
After some 27 years based in the Brynglas House Community Centre in Newport, the increasing emphasis by Newport council on turning Community Centres into Exam Factories meant that we were no longer welcome. As a result we were grateful for the encouragement and support we received from our after practice pub. We met every Wednesday evening from 8.00pm. onwards in the Function Room at The Gladiator for dancing, ale and convivial conversation.
In addition to our weekly practices, the following events took place in this period:-
November 2004
Fri 26th - Cardiff Morrismen Winter Ale
| 7.30 p.m. onwards |
Penarth Conservative Club - A convivial evening spent with the Cardiff Morrismen at their Winter Ale just outside Cardiff. |
December 2004
Sat 4th - Isca Mummers Charity Tour
| 8.00 p.m. onwards |
The side performed the Chepstow Mumming Play dressed as the Isca Mummers in aid of a childrens' charity. |
Sat 11th - Isca Mummers Charity Tour
| 8.00 p.m. onwards |
The side performed the Chepstow Mumming Play dressed as the Isca Mummers in aid of a childrens' charity. |
For more details on the Mumming Play, it's historical background and pictures of Isca Mummers in action please see the following web pages on the Isca site:-
| Historical Background Folk Mumming Plays |
The Chepstow Mumming Play Isca Mummers in Action |
Fri 17th - Mendip Morrismen Ale
| 7.30 p.m. onwards |
The side attended the Mendip Men's ale evening in Wrington in the countryside between Weston super Mare and Bristol. |
Sun 26th - Boxing Day at the Ostrich Inn
| 12.15 p.m. onwards |
Our traditional one pub outing for Boxing Day at the Ostrich Inn in Newland, just to the south of Monmouth. Performances were at around 12.45 p.m. and 2.15 p.m. |