The Aughakillymaude Mummers in recent years have conquered and surrounded themselves in glory in Eastern Europe but it seems that their eyes are now set on heading in the opposite direction, America! The Smithsonian Centre for Folklife and Cultural Heritage have just issued a formal invite to seven of Aughakillymaude mummers to attend the Internationally renowned Smithsonian Folklife festival that coincides with American Day of independence in July this year.

According to Jim Ledwith the Smithsonian Centre's representative Dr Nancy Groce had met with some of the mummers at Aughakillymaude and indeed had followed up the initial meeting with an in depth interview to see what the "batch" of seven mummers could offer at the ten day outdoor festival in the centre of Washington's National Mall which is surrounded by Smithsonian National Museums. "We offered music, mumming and dance and hopefully we can play the skittles when we are there". If we are performing before an overall audience of over one million visitors we certainly want to pass ourselves as well as bringing some disorder and mayhem to the event. This we can guarantee" he said.

The Aughakillymaude contingent who are all mad keen to set foot on American soil are also joining up with a total of 120 artists, crafts people, cooks and musicians that embody the rich history of traditions and customs from throughout the province as Northern Ireland is one of the main themes of this years 41st festival.

Jim continued "The Smithsonian Folklife festival people have been plotting this expedition with the full cooperation of the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure (DCAL) to ensure dynamic performances and demonstrations of living traditions such as mumming and strawcraft can be shared with the million or so visitors to the festival.

For the small group of mummers who are going to the one week, recognised top tourist event in the USA, it also represents a real international opportunity to expand cultural exchanges between the new Mummers Centre at Aughakillymaude and dedicated cultural grassroots organizations such as Philadelphia's mummers museum and the Philadelphia mumming festival. For Michael Mc Barron, Captain of Aughakillymaude Mummers the welcome invite comes after a busy and energetic 2006 year which saw the mummers troupe having appeared on over 41 separate occasions at Weddings, Festivals, Emigrant wakes, Homecomings and Birthday occasions the length and breadth of Ireland."

"The invite to us is a real chance for us to display our mumming and strawcraft disguises such as the much sought after straw masks and our highly acclaimed mumming video in Washington