Isca Morrismen 2007 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 2007:-
Over the winter practice season our events were:
January 2007
Saturday 6th - 12th Night Mari Llwyd
| 7.00 p.m. onwards |
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 13th - Wassail at the Ostrich Inn
| 8.00 p.m. onwards |
A traditional cider wassail based on the Ostrich Inn at Newland, just to the south of Monmouth. The wassail began at around 8.45 p.m. with the traditional ceremony followed by the passing around of a traditional wassail bowl filled with mulled cider - a real treat! |
February 2007
Saturday 10th - Ripley Morrismen Ale
March 2007
Saturday 10th - Lassington Oak Ale
Dancing Programme for the Summer Season
May to September 2007:-
May 2007
Tue 1st - May Day - Dancing at Dawn with Cardiff Ladies and others
| 5.30 - 6.40 a.m. 7.00 a.m. 8.15 a.m. |
Map Map Map |
Caerleon Amphitheatre Breakfast at The Gladiator The Gladiator, Malpas |
Mon 7th - May Day Bank Holiday Tour with Sweyns Ey Morrismen and others
| 9.30 a.m. 10.45 a.m. 12.45 p.m. 3.00 p.m. |
Map Map Map Map |
St Woolos Cathedral, Newport Nags Head Inn, Usk Hen & Chickens, Abergavenny Magor Spring Fair |
Sat 12th - Tredegar House Folk Festival, Newport
| 12.45 p.m. 1.55 p.m. 3.25 p.m. |
Map | Dance Procession Courtyard Stage Corus Pavillion Stage |
Tue 15th - Trellech Plateau Joint Tour with Cwmni Gwerin Pont-y-pwl
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Star Inn, Llanvihangel Tor-y-Mynydd Lion Inn, Trellech |
Sat 19th - All Wales Morris Weekend Coach Tour
| 10.00 a.m. 11.45 a.m. 1.30 p.m. 2.25 p.m. 3.45 p.m. 4.30p.m. |
Map Map Map Map Map Map |
Smithfield Market, Rhayader Crown and Anchor, Llanidloes The Angel Hotel, Llanidloes Black Lion, Llangurig Eagle Inn, Rhayader Cornhill Inn, Rhayader |
Wed 23rd - Cappers Joint Pub Tour with Lassington Oak Morrismen
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Punch House, Monmouth Ostrich Inn, Newland |
Thu 31st - Joint Pub Tour with Mendip Morrismen
| 8.00 p.m. 9.00 p.m. |
Map Map |
Seafront (Pier), Clevedon Royal Oak, Clevedon |
June 2007
Sat 2nd - Celebration Wake for the life of Mary Waithira John
| 2 p.m. | Map | Private Function at The Gladiator, Malpas |
Wed 6th - Monmouthshire Exploration - Joint Pub Tour with City Clickers
| 8.30 p.m. |
Map |
Hogs Head, Treadam |
Wed 13th - Joint Pub Tour with Forest of Dean Morrismen
| 8.00 p.m. 9.00 p.m. |
Map Map |
The Crown, St. Briavels The George Inn, St. Briavels |
Sat 23rd - Lion Inn Beer Festival at the Lion Inn, Trellech
| 12.30 p.m. onwards |
Map |
Performances were given at various times during the afternoon. Included the participation of presenter Henrik Elvestad during the filming of Golden Goal for Norwegian Rubicon TV Channel TV2. |
Wed 27th - Godfrey Morgan - Joint Pub Tour with Cardiff Morris
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
St Julian Inn, Newport Bell Inn, Caerleon |
July 2007
Wed 4th - Caerphilly Borders - Joint Pub Tour with Clocs Canton
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Black Cock Inn, Caerphilly Otley Arms, Treforest |
|
Sat 7th Two Rivers Folk Festival, Chepstow Around 25 Sides danced in Chepstow Town Centre during the day. Isca Morrismen toured with Beltane Border Morris, Clocs Canton and OBJ Border Morris and appeared at:
|
|
Wed 11th - Tintern - Joint Pub Tour with Tiger Feet Appalachian Dancers
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Moon & Sixpence, Tintern Cherry Tree Inn, Tintern |
Sat 14th - 2 p.m. Henllys Village Fete, Henllys, Cwmbran
| 12 noon 2.00 p.m. onwards |
Map Map |
The Gladiator, Malpas Henllys Village inc Doralt Inn and Cwrt Henllys |
Wed 18th - Archenfield Triangle
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Hen and Chickens, Abergavenny The Crown at Pantygelli |
August 2007
Sat 18th - Pontardawe Festival with Sweyns Ey Morris
| 1.00 p.m. onwards |
Map |
Pontardawe Town Centre |
September 2007
Thu 6th - Pub Tour of Usk - Joint Pub Tour with The Widders
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Nags Head Inn, Usk Greyhound Inn, Usk |
Wed 12th - Pontypool Valleys - Joint Pub Tour with Cardiff Ladies
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
The George, Pontypool Sebastopol Social Club |
Wed 19th - The Cwmbran Brewery Tour
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Horse and Jockey Inn, Pontymoile Bush Inn, Upper Cwmbran |
Sat 22nd - Bridgend Festival of Wales/Craft and Food with Sweyns Ey Morris
| 11.30 a.m. - 3.30 p.m. |
Map |
Bridgend Town Centre |
Wed 26th - Isca Silurum - Joint Pub Tour with Cardiff Ladies
| 8.30 p.m. 9.30 p.m. |
Map Map |
Red Lion, Caerleon The Gladiator, Malpas |
October 2007
Wed 3rd - Annual General Meeting (not dancing)
| 8.30 p.m. onwards |
Map |
The Gladiator, Newport |
October 2007
Tue 16th - Hopback Brewery Evening at The Commercial, Pontymister
| 8.00 p.m. onwards |
Map |
An evening of dancing and other entertainment whilst we sampled the food and drink from the Hopback Brewery. |
Sat 27th - Otley Arms, Treforest
| 6.30 p.m. onwards |
Map |
We put on a complete evening of dancing, music and song for the visitors to the Oct-O-Bar Fest Beer and Cider Festival held in the Otley Arms - Along with plenty of sampling of both food and drink by us! |
November 2007
Fri 23rd - 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 2007
Sat 8th - Isca Mummers Charity Tour
| 8.15 p.m. onwards |
The side performed the Chepstow Mumming Play in Usk dressed as the Isca Mummers in aid of a childrens' charity. The play took between 10 and 15 minutes to perform at each venue and we toured the pubs of Usk in the following order: |
Sat 15th - Isca Mummers Charity Tour
| 8.15 p.m. onwards |
The side performed the Chepstow Mumming Play in the Caerleon area dressed as the Isca Mummers in aid of a childrens' charity. took between 10 and 15 minutes to perform at each venue and we toured the pubs of Caerleon in the following order: |
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 |
Wed 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. |
This year we had increased interest following the publication of an article in the December 2007 edition of the Country Living Magazine entitled "10 of the Best Boxing Day Walks" which is reprinted with thanks and due acknowledgement to Country Living Magazine
