Sometimes we put too much trust in new technology and that was my failing tonight. Artificial intelligence still has a way to go in coping with human expression in all its variety. The poor transcription was stopped, but not before it undercut a number of very important speeches. Stopping it also deprived some of our audience of access to the later speeches. We are working on producing the corrected archival version of the ceremony which will be available online.

My sincerest apologies,

James Bacon
Chair, Dublin 2019 – An Irish Worldcon

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Much thought and consideration has gone into choosing the repertoire, introducing you to both new pieces and old favourites, new performers and challenging and exciting performances. 

Here, for you, is the current order of play for the night:

We are living in wonderful times, when so much of the world’s popular culture now has a connection to Ireland. 

Game of Thrones, having been filmed here in Ireland, with so much crucial work and acting coming from the Irish pool of talent, has had a definite impact, and Ramin Djawadi‘s music captures the Fantasy World perfectly.  

Eimear Noone has worked as a composer and conductor on over 25 Film and Video Game titles and her work on World of Warcraft has both been hugely popular with fans, and recognised, internationally and a recipient of the “Hollywood Music in Media Award” in 2014. With Seasons of War we recognise the incredible contribution she has made to games and music.

Eimear McGeown released her first album last year, entitled Inis. This virtuoso flautist from Craigavon is dynamic in her approach to music, skilled in both classical and Irish flute, able to draw on a variety of musical influences, and I am incredibly excited that we can feature Eimer in person playing some of her own wonderful music. 

The Return of the King piece, from the Hugo and Oscar-winning Peter Jackson adaption of the Tolkien classic, includes music originally performed by Belfast flautist, James Galway.

Night on Bald Mountain by Mussorgsky will be known to many of you from childhood, as it featured in the classic 1940 animation Fantasia, with the indomitable Mickey Mouse conducting and creating havoc. Leopold Stokowski, who actually conducted the film music, had an Irish mother, which is a lovely connection.

The music of John WIlliams has transcended genres and generations, and when the world of Star Wars came to the Irish island, Skellig Michael, it presented an incredible opportunity that we have not been shy to take.  

Upon your return from the interval, you will be greeted by three short and moving extracts from a brand new opera, each rich and emotional in very different ways. Composed by Gary Lloyd and featuring dance choreographed by Bettina Carpi, it is based on Mary & Bryan Talbot‘s Costa Award Winning graphic novel ‘Dotter Of Her Father’s Eyes‘. Penned by Mary for this special exclusive preview of the opera, the libretto carries a twin narrative about father-daughter relationships – Lucia Joyce and her father James Joyce, and Mary and her own father, a renowned Joycean scholar – and the desire to dance, to be expressive and to be educated, with the hope of a brighter future.

We will then have some classical works. In this the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, we will have Claire de Lune by Debussy and then, Messiah – How beautiful are thy feet, by Handel, who debuted the work on 13 April 1742 in the Fishamble music hall in Dublin, linking us dutifully back to Ireland. 

Our next pieces are Danny Boy, a traditional piece, in this instance the version arranged by Chris Hazel and then Mise Eire by Sean O’Riada, who has been a vital element in both Traditional and Orchestral music of the nation of Ireland. He composed for Ballets, Plays and orchestral works, as well as playing traditional folk music. Here we have the 1959 score which he composed and conducted for the documentary film by George Morrison called Mise Éire (“I am Ireland”), about the founding of the Irish Republic. This is performed, kindly by permission of the O’Riada estate.

We then look to one of our Guests of Honour, Diane Duane who, with over a dozen works written in the world of Star Trek, we enjoy the immediately recognisable work of Jerry Goldsmith and others across 50-plus years of Trek. 

It has been terrific fun to work with Adam Robinson, who produced concerts for us in 2009, at  Loncon 3 in 2014, and in 2017, and liaising with Keith Slade, our conductor for the evening and Vincent Docherty, from Dublin 2019. I hope you really enjoy the concert, especially in the wonderful surroundings of the CCD Auditorium. 

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Monday brings our final theatrical performance of the weekend, starting with the World Premiere of A Critical Miss, written and produced just for Dublin 2019 by Tantalus Ireland. A dramatic comedy, A Critical Miss delves into the world of table-top gaming and just how much it means to those who consider co-operative storytelling one of life’s greatest joys.

Convention Guest of Honour Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Special Guest Dr. Norah Patten represent two different generations of Irish women rising to success and prominence in the fields of science and technology. They discuss their experiences and assessments of where the STEM fields are today, and shine a light on where they think we are going.

George RR Martin and Parris McBride Martin look at the connections in Ireland that the Martins have fostered, encouraged and help create, and are joined by Wild Cards writer Peadar Ó Guilín and Game of Thrones Story Board artist William Simpson, moderated by Marguerite Smith.

We are also excited to bring you a performance by Dublin-born traditional singer and bouzouki player Daoirí (pronounced ‘Derry’) Farrell, who has been described by some of the biggest names in Irish folk music as one of most important singers to come out of Ireland in recent years. After a promising debut album, The First Turn, back in 2009, Daoirí spent several years studying traditional music and performance across Ireland. Daoirí has won numerous awards and his third album, A Lifetime of Happiness, was just released in February 2019.

2000 AD – The Irish Connection features Irish contributers to the science fictional anthology comic talking about their work and the historical contribution Irish creators have made to the comic. 

Aduantas presents the debut of To the Waters and the Wild. Come flying, dancing, soaring… falling….drowning…Come away O Human Child, To the Waters and the Wild…. Aduantas presents an aerial and acrobatic blurring of the human world and that other Ireland that you might have glimpsed before in a shift of the light.

Other Monday items to attend include Guest of Honour Diane Duane telling stories about her animation working days; a look at the 100th Anniversary of Alcock and Brown; Shoot for the Moon: Lunar Depictions in SFF featuring our Guest of Honour Ian McDonald; Giant Robots in Science Fiction; Really Big Telescopes featuring our Guest of Honour Jocelyn Bell Burnell; a second concert by The Library Bards; The influence of Irish music on filk; Shifts in Irish mythology across the diaspora; Women Write About War; and an autographing session with Irish author Eoin Colfer (Artemis Fowl).

Finally, all good things must come to an end, and for Dublin 2019: An Irish Worldcon, that ending will come on Monday at 4:30pm. At our Closing Ceremonies, hosted by best-selling Irish fantasy author Eoin Colfer, we will take a look back at the weekend that was, say farewell to our Guests of Honor, and get a sneak preview of what awaits us at the 2020 Worldcon, CoNZealand.

We’re kidding – that isn’t actually the end! If you can stick around, we’d love you to help volunteer with our Move Out, and then join us in the final party of the weekend, the Dead Dog Party!

See you on Monday!

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The idea of going to a comic convention and giving away free books to promote conventions more focused on SF/F literature started with an Eastercon, LX2009. In 2008 I helped John Dowd to attend London Film and Comic Con and Thought Bubble, and we realised this could welcome new members to our cons. It is amazing the support that comic cons have given and Showmasters, who run LFCC, went on to support Loncon’s outreach efforts at their Collectormania and London Film and Comic Cons.

After the idea was floated in 2009 in Montreal at the Worldcon, although receiving limited support formally from WSFS, by 2011 an Science Fiction Outreach event was planned by myself, Helen Montgomery, Chris Garcia, and Spike. We got a booth at Wondercon in San Francisco to help promote Bay Area cons and the Reno Worldcon that year. Supported by many organisations who run cons, and have run Worldcons, funds were granted and it was very successful.

Helen Montgomery, who is on the Dublin committee, has gone on to lead the US SF Outreach Project efforts annually since then, and the organisation is now a registered 501(c)(3) US non-profit. Since 2011, SF Outreach has been to Emerald City Comic Con, C2E2, Dallas Comic Con, and this year they were at Silicon Valley Comic Con, working hard promoting Worldcon 76 which is in the same Convention Centre.

The organisers of Dublin Comic Con, Karl Walsh and Derek Cosgrave, have developed a real growing convention, and each year it has been in the Convention Centre Dublin, Dublin 2019 have been there with Free Books and Comics, promoting not only Dublin 2019, but with flyers and team members of Octocon, Titancon, Gaelcon, Eastercon and any convention that wants to help.

The experience though is quite something else. I have been fortunate to help at a number of the outreach events, and I am always astounded by how voracious and knowledgeable young readers are. The questions are always the best, asking if we have anything by a given author, which can frequently lead to quite a lot of engagement and the demographics of interest change, obviously, depending where one is. The diversity at C2E2 in Chicago was especially noticeable to me, and I had some cracking conversations, mostly as I was from Ireland, and that was of interest to fans. (Who knew!)

Near the end of the day, people cycle back to the free table, all their funds exhausted in the show. Free always sounds good, and often the Outreach tables and booths are busier longer, if we haven’t run out. We do keep stock back, so every day we have a good supply.

No matter where we go, we try and focus on ensuring we have something for all ages of reader. We isolate books for children and younger readers, and keep them to one side; we know adults also love them, but we conserve them so every child can walk away with a book or comic.

This year in Dublin we have 4 large boxes of Childrens Comics, The Beano, Whizzer and Chips and Buster, and cartoon based Superhero comics as well as children’s books, and we will ensure kids get them.

It positively encourages the gentle transition of fascination with all that is super heroes or fun on the screen, to reading on the pages.

These projects have benefited hugely from established conventions who support their logistical activities and also from individuals and organisations who make generous donations of books, magazines and comics as well as their time and effort. Publishers and book stores also support the activities, and Half Price Books in the states have consistently been very good to SF Outreach.

This year, Dave Finn from Incognito Comics has again given two car loads of magazines, books, and comics to Outreach, knowing from seeing it in action at London Film and Comic Con, that the energy and enthusiasm to encourage reading is genuine and if as a by-product, people go to more cons, well isn’t that just fabulous.

The promotions team for Dublin 2019 will be at Dublin Comic Con next weekend, and if you are in Dublin and want to check out anything to do with the Worldcon, please do call by and speak to us if you are going to Dublin Comic Con. (Check tickets availability, they do sell so well!)

The team are also always looking for donations of books, comics, magazines, and so forth, so do get in touch with promotions@dublin2019.com if you like the sound of your less favourite books that are spare going to new readers and helping to promote SF Conventions.

Our thanks to all the cons who help us, those who donate, and we hope to see you at Dublin Comic Con.

Video of the Worldcon 76 team and Helen at Silicon Valley Comic Con 2018
https://www.pscp.tv/w/1OwxWEAPYZZGQ

Outreach at Dublin Comic Con 2015
http://file770.com/home-is-where-the-heart-is-outreach-in-dublin/

SF Outreach at Wondercon 2011
http://file770.com/sf-outreach-at-wondercon/

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Peadar displays his apocalyptic Irish roots by going completely green! 

You can sign up for the course here, and we’ve linked the IWC on our Nerdy Dublin map (below)!

http://www.zeemaps.com/pub?group=1791408&legend=1&list=1&h=sunflower,candle&x=-6.254394&y=53.347319&z=3

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The nights draw in and mist curls through the trees, but today we want you to get your walking boots on for Dublin’s Bram Stoker Festival! But was Dracula Irish, you ask yourself? We’ve got the answers for you on today’s Irish Fiction Friday!

As one of our most famous exports, we’ve featured Stoker already as part of Irish Fiction Friday. His most famous work is available online, and for four days in and around Dublin, it is also coming alive in a number of performances, discussions, readings and other events. Perhaps you want to go on a Scary Trail, indulge in a Guillermo Del Toro double bill with the Blade movies, or catch a Penny Dreadzine from one of the bikes swooping around the town! The festival runs between 23rd and 26th of this month, and we can’t wait to get our fangs into it!

If you fancy something more sedentary, take a bite out of Brian Showers’ fascinating recent article on Dracula himself. Whilst Bram Stoker was born and bred in Dublin, was his most famous creation an Irishman? Brian says not…

Sorry Lads, Dracula’s Not Irish! 

For those with a further interest in Bram Stoker, Swan River Press has recently published a hitherto unknown ghost story by Stoker. It appears in print for the first time since its original publication in 1873 in issue six of their flagship journal The Green Book.

The post Irish Fiction Friday: The Bram Stoker Festival 2015 appeared first on Dublin 2019.

At Gaelcon we also have a rather special contribution for the fan auction on Sunday. This weekend sees the launch of the Ticket to Ride, UK Edition. The map also spreads across the rest of Ireland, and is the fifth expansion for the series. Ticket to Ride is a fantastic ‘gateway’ game, and if you’ve not played, we really recommend it. And it has trains in it; what more could you want?

We’ll be donating our copy to the auction and very much encourage you to go along and bid. Irish fans are known for their generosity, and you can read about the Gaelcon auction here.

Ticket to Ride UK has been donated to us by Eclectic Games in Reading, UK. Eclectic ran many of the demo games in the Games Tent at Loncon, and have been supporting Dublin 2019 right from the start. They recently launched their new premises, and we’re proud to have sponsored four chairs in their gaming room. So, you’ll be able to go in and sit on a famous mythical or literary SFF character from Ireland when you visit to play some games; Dracula, Morrigan, Gulliver or Grainne! Eclectic are also a sterling example of the growing games communities in Ireland and the UK.

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The National Irish Science Fiction Film Festival are pleased to announce the nominations for this year’s Golden Blasters. You can read more about the Golden Blasters, which are now in their seventh year, over on their webpage. The festival is usually held at the National Irish Science Fiction Convention; Octocon, so look out for it when the Programme is announced (we’ll be reporting back on that as well as it happens… there may be cake).

Film Title                                       Director

Legacy                                                Josh Mawer
Whisper                                             Jo Lewis
Prelude to Axanar                           Alec Peters
Ravenous                                          Aleksander Szeser
reStart                                               Olga Osorio
wakenings                                        Bhargav Saikia
populace                                            Jamie Pigott
Cyclic                                                  Nelson Dunk
The Detectives of Noir Town         Andrew Chambers
C.T.R.L                                               Mariana Conde
Cosmonaut                                        David John Kelly

The showing of the films will take place on Friday the 9th and the awards will be announced at the closing ceremony of Octocon on Sunday 11th of October.

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TitanCon 2015 – Sat 26 Sept

Got anything planned for next weekend? No? Then why not head up to Belfast for TitanCon, and give yourself another dose of convention to warm up with before Octocon on 10-11 October.

Now in it’s fifth year, TitanCon boasts a strong line up of author guests, plus cast members from the hit HBO show Game of Thrones. As we go to press it’s still not clear which cast members from the show will be there on the day, filming schedules can be so changeable and TitanCon is committed to not naming a guest until they are totally certain they can be there. Please check the website (www.titancon.com) for the full up to date guest list.

Author guests include Joe Abercrombie (The Blade Itself, The Heroes, Half a King), Pat Cadigan (two time winner of the Arthur C. Clarke Award), Sarah Pinborough (The Death House, The Language of Dying) and many more, including several up and coming locally based authors. All of the authors will be reading extracts from their latest work at the free to attend TitanCon Literature night from 7.30 pm on Friday 25 September at the Wellington Park Hotel.

The main convention on Saturday features an exciting programme of discussion panels, workshops and events to enjoy. Just take a look at the programme (www.titancon.com/2015/programme.php and below) and I’m confident you’ll find something you really want to see. Whether it’s Lord Grimdark and pals talking about ‘Building a (broken) World’, the hilarious Great TitanCon quiz in a Blankety Blank format, a workshop in Scottish Gaelic for Time Travellers (one for any Outlander fans) or Sarah Pinborough leading a panel talking about writing sex scenes. There’s something for everyone at TitanCon.

Also on offer are Combat Workshops in which you can learn the art of stage combat from Arya Stark’s Water Dancing teacher, Miltos Yerolemou (Syrio Forel). Or if you prefer some instruction in real historical combat techniques there are also Medieval Combat Workshops run by Belfast’s Medieval Combat Group.

If you are feeling creative why not sit down and create something beautiful in a Game of Thrones themed Westeros Crafting workshop. Workshops on offer include clay, papercraft and leather making workshops with Emma Andrews from the Game of Thrones Drapes Department. Everything is provided for you, you just need your imagination.

The day is capped off by a stage performance from Brutal Ballet, combining classical ballet with heavy metal in a Game of Thrones inspired performance that promises to be spectacular.

Tickets for TitanCon on Saturday 26 September cost £25 and are available now from the website (www.titancon.com), or on the door at the Wellington Park Hotel. In addition there is a TitanCon Coach Tour visiting Game of Thrones filming locations around Northern Ireland on Sunday 27 September, please see the website for more details.

It’s going to be a great convention and we hope to see you there!

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