Mummers, Masks and Mischief

For inquiries, or to purchase a high quality DVD of this film contact Mummers representative, [e-mail]
Mumming is an age old tradition of folk drama, which has been practiced in various guises throughout Ireland, England and all over the world for hundreds of years.
This 25 minute documentary features The Aughakillymaude Mummers of county Fermanagh in Ireland, and follows them to street performances, wedding rituals, mountain top bonfires and even all the way to Bulgaria!
Produced and Directed by James Kelly
Filmed by Michael Kelly and Michael O'Donovan
Edited by Rónán Ó Muirgheasa
To find out more about the Aughakillymaude Mummers - www.fermanagh.info/aughakillym...
www.feenish.ie
Feenish Productions

[@Waldvogel91]

13:34, who knew such marvellous theatre could be seen outside Woolworth's? Ace video.

[@natalimenacher1981]

It's from the old Celtics here in bavaria by the Tschechien boarder we have very similar traditions. Schön perchten ore krampus perchten and all that stuff. and it's more important for us its anything. And is goes back more than 600 years. And we still do it every year. Teach our children all the mystery and stories behind.

[@soinbhe]

Great Fermanagh mumming with interesting account of its origins.

[@BohemianBerkeley]

It reminds me of american Halloween in a way... but like actors. Fascinating. And weird. Love it.

[@lisrichards7516]

Thank you for this! & hello from Dartmoor Border Morris - we also do a seasonal Mummer's Play at Buckland Abbey in Devon, with Francis Drake as the hero, & the King of Spain as the villain - local colour! By the way, we also have a horse in the side, as many English Morris sides do! He always comes out for the mumming, but also during the year for the dancing, if we have enough bodies spare!!

[@bighands69]

Halloween and Born fire night in Ireland has many of the rituals associated with modern Mummers. Most of these rituals can be traced back over thousands of years. People are confusing absorption of other cultures into these rituals as being the root of these rituals. When in fact they are an addition to the rituals. Just as people who who use fireworks as part of these rituals. People would for a second claim that fireworks is the source of these rituals. It is sort of like saying Santa is the reason Christmas exists even though there has been celebrations at that time of the year for thousands of years.

[@namafarm]

This goes back thousands of years to prehistory ...and in Africa. Many of the costumes masks and dances are exactly as are still performed in African village Masque festivals to this day. Astounding Stuff! Humans being wild!

[@twinsinoveralls]

Very informative. I live near Philly and it was interesting to see what remained and what was altered as this tradition crossed the ocean.

[@keepinguptheday]

Greetings from the Northstow Mummers - thankyou!

[@gmckennon]

What a beautiful, wild & crazy, and heart-warming presentation! Thank you so very much!!!

[@GilesConradWatson]

Wonderful film - and nice to see the cross-cultural parallels...

[@ferkinskin]

Excellent. Thank you!

[@namafarm]

Even the huge bells costumes are seen in Viking style traditions.. and in Africa! The shaggy Strawboys go back to the Masque festivals, thousands of years old and still to this day happening.. in Africa, with many identical dance moves and drumming! Astounding stuff. Pre Christian fertility rites and health is correct... watch out for the White Horse!

[@Wotsitorlabart]

The mumming tradition has absolutely nothing to do with pre-Christian pagan fertility rites. All that is utter nonsense.

[@hutch01301]

“Oh, come!” they said; “Sure, it’s all good fun and games” Till the straw suit they gave me could not clear the flames-- But dowsed with a full cask of ale, Oh my Gawd! I could party till dawn in Aucha-Killy-Maude.

[@pipewatcher]

cool movie! thanks for posting this!!

[@isteachsateach]

Brilliant! Really well researched1

[@duncaolog]

@twinsinoveralls This is not actually representative of Mummers in Ireland but a mixture of Strawboys and Mummers and other unrelated material.

[@FeenishProductions]

@pipewatcher - you're welcome, glad you liked it

[@MrDrummerboy1800]

what is the song in the first minute of this video? Beautiful!

[@soinbhe]

Is there still a mummers festival in Enniskillen?

[@RedSpiralHandTV]

i like this but it feels a bit weird...