Music

This week’s best traditional gigs: including Mick Hanly and Dónal Lunny

For fun – and artistry – concertina king Cormac Begley and acrobat Rushad Eggleston

Cormac Begley and Rushad Eggleston

Siobhán Long's face
Siobhán Long
Sat May 12 2018 - 05:00

Saturday 12th

Cormac Begley and Rushad Eggleston

The Dock, Carrick on Shannon 8.30pm, €15/€12, thedock.ie. Also Sunday, The Cobblestone, Dublin

Penultimate date in this ingenious duo’s nationwide tour. West Kerry concertina master, Begley and American cellist, clown and acrobat, Eggleston are regular collaborators and their magical melding of music, hijinks and high spirits is balm for the weary and the curious in equal measure. This is what live performance offers that has no equivalence in recorded sound.

Thursday 17th

Caroline O’Shea: He Don’t Shake Enough

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Na Píobairí Uilleann, Henrietta Street, 8pm, €10/€5, pipers.ie

The Pipers Club monthly lecture and music recital series continues with this intriguing exploration of pipes and piping in Charles Kickham's Knocknagow, a best-selling novel published in 1879.

Mick Hanly and Dónal Lunny

Thursday 17th

Mick Hanly and Dónal Lunny

Belltable, Limerick, 8pm, €19/€17, limetreetheatre.ie. Also Friday, Portlaoise

Two veterans of Irish music come together for the first time ever and for an extensive national tour. Hanly has forged a very successful path as a solo artist, with Past The Point Of Rescue lodged firmly in the Irish – and now, American – country songbook. Lunny is the ultimate collaborator: inventive, mischievous and constantly in evolutionary mode. A double treat to catch them together.

Thursday 17th

Colm Gannon, Kelly Gannon and Brian McGrath

Bewley’s Café Theatre, Grafton St, 5.45pm, €12. 087-2547574

Boston-born, now Connemara resident, and box player extraordinaire, Colm Gannon and his Mayo-born wife, Kelly are joined by banjo and keyboard player, Brian McGrath for the final instalment of this season’s Siamsaíocht @6! monthly teatime concert series, hosted by Gael Linn.

Friday 18th

Johnny Duhan

St John's Theatre, Listowel, Co Kerry, 8pm, €16/€14, stjohnstheatrelistowel.com

If there was ever a singer who had a cry in his voice, it's Johnny Duhan. Former member of Granny's Intentions and composer of some of the most widely loved songs in the folk canon, including The Voyage. This intimate venue is the ideal space for his delicate music.