Isca Morrismen 2005 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 2005:-
Over the winter practice season our events were:
January 2005
Thursday 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 15th - Wassail at the Ostrich Inn
An evolving tradition 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 used a specially commissioned spalted cherry 4 lipped wassail bowl made for the occassion.
Saturday 29th - Ripley Morrismen Ale
March 2005
Saturday 5th - Lassington Oak Ale
Dancing Programme for the Summer Season
May to September 2005:-
May 2005
Sun 1st - May Day - Dancing at Dawn with Sweyns Ey Morrismen
| 5.30 - 6.40 a.m. 7.00 a.m. 8.30 a.m. 9.45 a.m. 11.00 a.m. 12.45 p.m. |
Caerleon Amphitheatre Breakfast at The Gladiator The Gladiator, Malpas St Woolos Cathedral, Newport Nags Head Inn, Usk Greyhound Inn, Usk |
Sat 7th - Tredegar House Folk Festival, Newport
| 1.00 p.m. 2.00 p.m. 3.00 p.m. 4.30 p.m. |
Procession Marcus Music Marcus Music Courtyard Stage |
Wed 11th - Newport Explorations
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Oddfellows & Foresters, Baneswell Six Bells Inn, St Woolos, Newport |
Sat 21st - All Wales Morris Weekend Coach Tour
with Carreg Las, Clerical Error and Sweyns Ey Morrismen
| 10.00 a.m. 11.45 a.m. 1.00 p.m. 2.00 p.m. 3.00 p.m. 4.30 p.m. |
Smithfield Market, Rhayader Crown & Anchor, Llanidloes Angel Inn, Llanidloes Angel Inn, Llanidloes Sun Inn, St. Harmon Cornhill Inn, Rhayader |
Wed 25th - Cappers Joint Pub Tour with Lassington Oak Morrismen
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Punch House, Monmouth Ostrich Inn, Newland |
June 2005
Wed 1st - Isca Silurum - Joint Pub Tour with Clocs Canton
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Red Lion, Caerleon The Gladiator, Malpas |
Thu 9th - Joint Pub Tour with Mendip Morrismen
| 8.00 p.m. 9.00 p.m. |
Seafront (Pier), Clevedon Royal Oak, Clevedon |
Wed 15th - Caerphilly Borders
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Cross Keys Hotel, Nantgarw Black Cock Inn, Caerphilly |
Wed 22nd - Joint Pub Tour with Forest of Dean Morrismen
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Bridge Inn, Chepstow Boat Inn, Chepstow |
Wed 29th - Archenfield Triangle - Joint Pub Tour with Gwerinwyr Gwent
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Hen & Chickens, Abergavenny The Crown at Pantygelli |
July 2005
Wed 6th - Vale of Caerphilly - Joint Pub Tour with Cardiff Ladies
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Hollybush Inn, Draethen White Hart Inn, Machen |
Wed 13th - Wentlooge Levels
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Port of Call, Marshfield Church Inn, St Brides Wentlooge |
Sat 16th - 2 p.m. Henllys Village Fete, Henllys, Cwmbran
| 1.00 p.m. onwards |
Henllys Village inc Doralt Inn and Cwrt Henllys |
August 2005
Sat 20th - Pontardawe Festival with Sweyns Ey Morris
| 1.00 p.m. onwards |
Pontardawe Town Centre |
September 2005
Wed 7th - The Cwmbran Brewery Tour - Joint Pub Tour with The Widders
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Horse & Jockey Inn, Pontymoile Bush Inn, Upper Cwmbran |
Wed 14th - Pontypool Valleys - Joint Pub Tour with Cwmni Gwerin Pont-y-pwl
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
The George, Pontypool Sebastopol Social Club |
Sat 17th - Talywaun Beer Festival
| 7.00 p.m. onwards |
The Isca Morrismen will be dancing at various times during the evening at the Globe Inn |
Wed 21st - Godfrey Morgan Tour
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Old Murrenger House, Newport St.Julian Inn, Newport |
October 2005
Wed 5th - Annual General Meeting (not dancing)
| 8.00 p.m. onwards |
The Gladiator, Newport |
Sat 8th - Tockington Beer Festival (provisional booking)
| 2.00 p.m. onwards |
The Swan Inn, Tockington |
From 12th October onwards
In the winter our practice season began in October and we were grateful for the encouragement and support we received from The Gladiator. 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 2005
Fri 25th - 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 2005
Fri 16th - 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. |
Mon 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 around 12.45 p.m. and 2.15 p.m. |