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СпутникиРНSpaceXРоскосмосNASAThe collection is a collaboration with an artist from Derry
Madden's Bar teams up with Derry artist Bronagh Rafferty for new merch
A new collection of merchandise for a popular Belfast city centre pub is helping to fund free music lessons for local kids. Madden's Bar has teamed up with Derry artist Bronagh Rafferty (Bronaghraff) for a new six-piece collection launching ahead of Belfast Trad Fest and the All-Ireland Fleadh.
Proceeds from the collection are going towards the Madden's Music Initiative, a bursary set up by the pub to provide free traditional music workshops for local children.
The collection includes a t-shirt, pint glass, scarf, and three caps, with every design hand-drawn by Bronagh. The pint glass features an idea from Madden's owner, Brian ‘Bamber’ McMullan, a play on the "split the G" pub game, with the G moved to the base of the glass instead of the middle.
Madden's has long been considered one of Belfast's central spots for traditional music sessions. Bar owner Bamber said the pub's role goes beyond its own four walls.
He said: "People see Madden's as the main pub in Belfast for trad music, but I don't like to think it just lives within the walls. It belongs to the city. It's music everyone can enjoy, it doesn't offend anybody."
Speaking to Belfast Live, Bronagh said the collaboration with one of her favourite pubs was a dream. Originally from Derry but living in Manchester for the past eight years, she said she has been surrounded by trad music all her life, with the project letting her put something back into a tradition that shaped her.
She said: "The primary school I went to really nurtured Irish culture, even just little bits of Irish language, music, and poetry. That always really stuck with me.
"Since I've moved to Manchester, which was about eight years ago, I really feel like my cultural identity is even stronger and I've used music really to do that.
"I'm joining a wee folk group over here and going to sessions, my boyfriend has picked up the tin whistle again. That's one of our favourite things to do together, go and play music together, or go to a session. I'm known to sing the Galway Shawl at many a session."
As for how the collaboration came around, and her inspiration for the designs, Bronagh said: "Bamber, who is the owner of Madden's, dropped me a message on Instagram saying he wanted to make some merch for the bar if I would be interested in a collaboration.
"I love Madden's so much, so it was a dream collab for me - I feel like all I do every day is draw little pints of Guinness.
"He said he didn't want it to just be a t-shirt with a Madden's logo on it, and said he liked how my stuff is quite playful and modern. He wanted to make it fun, something people can get lots of wear out of.
"I had three words in mind when creating this collection, playful, Irish and wearable. I'm really passionate about working with other small or local makers to bring my products to life and I have done so with this project."
Proceeds raised through the new merchandise will be used to help fund the Madden's Music Initiative, a bursary set up by the bar to give children free traditional music lessons.
Bronagh said she hopes it will help many kids fall in love with the music and tradition she loves.
"Bamber was saying he wants all his profits to go to the Madden's Music Initiative, which is a bursary scheme he set up to give free music workshops to kids. The idea is to support the next generation of musicians coming through, and give them a chance to learn something," she said.
"If you don't have family interested in it or aren't in that sort of environment but you want to learn an instrument, you can just slip through the net and think it's for other people. Even buying an instrument is out of reach for a lot of people, so we wanted to do something to support that initiative."
The collection launches ahead of Belfast Trad Fest and this year's All-Ireland Fleadh, both drawing musicians and audiences to the city over the coming months.
The collection is available now via bronaghraff.co.uk, with a pop up shop at Maddens Bar on July 27th from 6:30pm.
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