A CELEBRATION of the Irish wake is set to take place during a special show in Belfast later this year.
Members of The Wonders of the Wake band and Belfast's Féile Women's Community Choir will take part in a keening lament live on stage at the Lyric Theatre in March.
The traditional practice of keening, which involves a wailing lament for the dead, is non existent in Ireland today.
The Wonders of the Wake band is composed of the Donegal-born Henry Girls, Belfast singer Niamh Parsons, and BAFTA-winning writer Kevin Toolis.
Mr Toolis said: “Keening, traditional laments at funerals, is as old as the fall of Troy and was once common at all Irish funerals.
“Keening has always had an immense emotional power, music that comes directly from the soul of women.
“My great grandmother on Achill Island in Mayo was a keener.”
The keening event is due to take place on March 14 and 15.
