The Armagh Rhymers: St Patrick’s Day Celtic Cabaret
These legendary performers will bring the tales of St Patrick to life through the ancient Irish tradition of mumming – when the kitchen floor once became the stage. Expect lively music, colourful masks, eccentric characters, and plenty of craic. It’s storytelling, poetry, song, and laughter rolled into one unforgettable night.
The Armagh Rhymers are a world-renowned folk theatre group dedicated to preserving and performing Ireland’s oldest art forms – mumming, storytelling, and traditional music.
Based in historic County Armagh, they bring cultural heritage to life through dynamic performances that blend myth, music, masks, and drama. Their iconic straw costumes and handcrafted masks, rooted in centuries-old customs, turn every show into a vivid celebration of folklore and community spirit.
Known as “Theatre of the People”, the traditions of mumming and rhyming have inspired poets such as Seamus Heaney, Patrick Kavanagh, Brendan Kennelly, John Montague, and John Hewitt.
Mumming itself is an ancient form of folk theatre that stretches back thousands of years in Ireland and across Europe. Traditionally performed around seasonal festivals like Halloween, Christmas, Imbolc, and Bealtaine, mumming features masked performers – or rhymers – who act out ritual plays filled with rhymed verse, symbolic battles, and the timeless themes of death and rebirth.
These performances grow from oral storytelling, with familiar figures like the Saint, the Doctor, and Biddy Funnyappearing in many guises across regions. The Armagh Rhymers have revitalised this ancient practice, transforming it into a vibrant cultural experience that honours its roots while connecting with modern audiences.
