# Event Details

- **Event Name**: The Music of Healing
- **Event Start and End Date**: Thu, 16 Jul, 2026 at 02:30 am
- **Event Description**: The Music of Healing: How Rostrevor is Sharing Lessons of Peace and Art with the World
For more than three decades, The Music of Healing has been one of the defining highlights of the Fiddler’s Green Festival in Rostrevor. Inspired by the famous song written by Tommy Sands and the late Pete Seeger, this special night has evolved into a unique gathering where music and honest conversation create a safe space for true understanding and reconciliation.
At its heart is a firm belief in the power of the arts to heal deep divisions, honour human experience, and bring people together across political, cultural, and religious boundaries. Each year, Tommy Sands, alongside musicians, artists, and special guests from many walks of life, welcomes audiences to an evening that encourages deep listening and a genuine appreciation of “the other side”.
Exploring Ancient Sorrow in the Afternoon ( £5 at the door)
This year’s programming features two distinct sessions, starting in the afternoon. At 2:30pm, a special prelude gathering will take place entitled “Ancient Songs and Dealings of Sorrow.” Bringing together voices from the worlds of medical science, religion, and music, this discussion will explore the role of the arts—and music in particular—in helping people navigate grief and mourning across different cultures.
Through reflections on the ancient Irish harpers’ triad of goltrai (sorrow), geantrai (joy), and suantrai (sleep), the storied music of the Scottish pibroch, Saxon traditions, and American Delta Blues, the event will examine music as both a witness and a remedy to suffering.
An Evening of Mystery and Extraordinary Stories
The main evening event begins at 8:00pm (with doors opening at 7:30pm). The night has a long tradition of not revealing all of its guests in advance. This practice originally evolved out of sheer necessity during the dark days of the Troubles. While those difficult times are thankfully behind us, the sense of mystery and anticipation remains a vital part of the evening’s unique atmosphere.
A central highlight of the night features a powerful and deeply moving conversation between Jo Berry and Pat Magee, whose lives became forever linked through the 1984 Brighton hotel bombing. Emerging from profoundly different experiences of conflict, their extraordinary 24-year journey of dialogue and forgiveness has inspired audiences around the world.
The evening will also feature a stellar lineup of talent, including:
Clemens Bittlinger: A singing pastor from Germany.
Bróna McVittie: An acclaimed local harpist.
Pipe Major David Hanna MBE: Bringing traditional piping to the stage.
Bruce Victor: A practicing psychiatrist and skilled guitarist.
Na Leanaí: The dynamic local folk group.
Celebrating the Creative Arts
The evening will also include the presentation of the prestigious Creative Arts Award. This honour recognises distinguished contributions to the arts, literature, and culture—values that remain integral to the spirit of the Fiddler’s Green Festival. The beautiful bronze sculpture was created by the renowned Irish artist Carolyn Mulholland and was first presented to Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney in 2000. Following tradition, the identity of this year's recipient is a closely guarded secret until the final moment on stage.
From Rostrevor to Harvard and Beyond
This is an Artsahealing event organised by Rostrevor-based non-profit Arts a Wonder. The team has just returned from a groundbreaking residency in the United States, where they explored the vital link between music and well-being at Harvard Medical School and the Kennedy School of Leadership.
People used to joke that Ireland and Northern Ireland had "a problem for every solution." Today, that narrative has flipped. The island is now a global beacon of hope. True peace requires us to understand the pain of the other side, and art allows us to feel another person's sorrow without using harsh words.
Acknowledging hurt is the first step toward true healing. Just as Queen Elizabeth II showed during her historic 2011 visit to Dublin, and as local communities have shown by acknowledging past discrimination, honest reflection changes futures. Because the US generously helped Ireland during its peace process, Tommy Sands and his team are now returning the favour by sharing these lessons of musical healing to help communities across America.
Event Details
Date: Thursday 16th July 2026
Prelude Event: “Ancient Songs and Dealings of Sorrow” at 2:30pm
Main Event: Doors open at 7:30pm, performance starts at 8:00pm
Venue: An Cuan, Rostrevor
Tickets: £15.00 (Available now on the official Fiddler’s Green Festival Website)
Support: Proudly supported by PEACEPLUS
- **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/newry/the-music-of-healing/200030267929205
- **Event Categories**: Art, Festivals, Music, Entertainment, literary-art, science-fair
- **Interested Audience**: 
  - total_interested_count: 32

## Ticket Details


## Event venue details

- **city**: Newry
- **state**: NI
- **country**: United Kingdom
- **location**: YWAM An Cuan - Rostrevor
- **lat**: 54.096786822758
- **long**: -6.1941733289046
- **full address**: YWAM An Cuan - Rostrevor, 44, Shore Road,Newry, United Kingdom

## Event gallery

- **Alt text**: The Music of Healing
  - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events2/banners/95e6cc330e619ee357445cc50fb9e75acbc52cc623906b6dd8f8d98f2d03e07a-rimg-w1200-h693-dc131312-gmir?v=1783546300

## FAQs

- **Q**: When and where is The Music of Healing being held?
  - **A:** The Music of Healing takes place on Thu, 16 Jul, 2026 at 02:30 am to Thu, 16 Jul, 2026 at 02:30 am at YWAM An Cuan - Rostrevor, 44, Shore Road,Newry, United Kingdom.
- **Q**: Who is organizing The Music of Healing?
  - **A:** The Music of Healing is organized by Artsawonder.

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