Culture

John Prine remembrance concert to be held in Galway next month

Gig will be first public event to celebrate life and work of musician who died in April 2020

For more than 20 years, John Prine and his family spent summers in Kinvara, Co Galway, at their home on the outskirts of the village. Photograph: Mark Humphrey/AP

Olivia Kelleher
Fri Sep 17 2021 - 20:46

A concert celebrating the life and work of the late American singer songwriter John Prine will be held in his adopted home of Galway next month.

The family of the two-time Grammy winner today announced the remembrance concert and celebration of his life and work, which will be live streamed from The Mick Lally Theatre on the evening of October 4th.

The Prine family say they look forward to celebrating the legendary songwriter, along with some of Ireland’s best known musicians who will come together and perform songs from his vast catalogue.

Mary Black, Paul Brady, Sharon Shannon, Tommy Prine, Little John Nee and Declan O’Rourke are among the scheduled performers. John’s long-time friend and supporter John Creedon will be MC for the evening.

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For more than 20 years, John Prine and his family spent summers in Kinvara, Co Galway, at their home on the outskirts of the village. His family say that John enjoyed nothing more than the music sessions he participated in at Mary Green’s pub where he met and befriended many local musicians.

This will be the first public event to celebrate the life and work of Prine, who died from complications due to Covid-19 on April 7th, 2020.

His wife Fiona says that it is fitting that this concert should take place in Ireland where she was born and where John spent some of the happiest times in his life.

“John recognised that in Ireland people loved and accepted him outside of his life as a celebrated artist. His Irish passport was one of his most prized possessions. We are delighted to be able to remember him with his family and musician friends from Ireland, with this very special tribute event from Galway.”

Net proceeds from the livestream/on demand event will benefit Doras an independent, non-profit, NGO working to promote and protect the rights of people from a migrant and refugee background in Ireland. Funds will also be allocated to Ireland’s leading theatre touring company Druid.

The concert will be broadcast on RTÉ Radio One at a future date. The live stream will also be available on demand in the days following the concert.

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