Music

This week’s best traditional music concerts and events

Farmleigh House hosts a festival and the sounds of harps fills Dublin Castle

Éamonn Cagney will premiere a new work inspired by one of his favourite folktales in Dun Laoighre.

Siobhán Long's face
Siobhán Long
Sat Nov 30 2019 - 05:00

Saturday, 30th

Harp Ireland Gala Concert
Dublin Castle
dublincastle.ie

A timely celebration of our national instrument, hosted by Harp Ireland, who have spearheaded countless initiatives promoting the harp at grassroots level, with the result that there are more young harp players in Ireland now than ever before. A star of tonight’s programme will undoubtedly be Laoise Kelly, Mayo harper who was recently named as the 2020 TG4 Traditional Musician of the Year.

Early Irish harpist, Siobhán Armstrong also features in tonight’s programme, along with Chieftains harpist, Triona Marshall and piper, David Power. Pedal harpist, Richard Allen, singer, Sibéal Ní Chasaide, harper, Cormac de Barra, fiddle player, Odhrán Ó Casaide and flute player, Éamonn de Barra bring further colour and texture to the mix. The Cruit Éireann, Harp Ireland harp ensemble will perform the premiere of a newly commissioned work Cúige na gCruitirí by harper/composer, Anne-Marie O’Farrell.

Saturday, 30th

Farmleigh Music and Arts Festival
Farmleigh House – also Sunday, December 1st
farmleigh.ie

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Artist in residence, composer and guitarist, Dave Flynn makes his considerable mark on Farmleigh House as he stewards this richly programmed weekend festival. Tonight, Laura Snowden on classical guitar will accompany what Flynn terms choral poetry, with poet, Theo Dorgan and the Farmleigh Voices Choir, with conductor, David Brophy.

Tomorrow sees a performance titled Beckett’s Glass guitar, where Samuel Beckett meets Philip Glass. Barry McGovern and Peter Sheridan will recite Beckett while Laura Snowden, Michael O’Toole, David Creevy and Dave Flynn accompany them on guitar. A weekend of eclectic and imaginative programming.

Andy Irvine has an advanced calculus capacity for complex rhythms.

Thursday, 5th

Young Conall of Howth
DLR Lexicon Dun Laoghaire
musicnetwork.ie

Percussionist, composer and musician in residence in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Éamonn Cagney premieres a new work inspired by one of his favourite folktales: Young Conall of Howth, also known as Eachtra Chonaill Ghulbain.

For this performance, Cagney will will be joined by long-time collaborator, guitarist Niwel Tsumbu, and keyboards player, Darragh O’Kelly for a rhythm-based set of music inspired by powerful parts of the story. Expect a humorous and picaresque exploration of an heroic Irish tale with a difference. Free admission.

Friday, 6th

Andy Irvine
Purty Kitchen
purtykitchen.com
Also Saturday 7th at the Flowerfield Arts Centre, Portstewart

The indomitable troubadour of troubadours lets no grass grow under his feet. Hot on the heels of the release of not one but two albums: His first volume of his best work, pithily titled Old dog, Long Road, and his latest collaborations with Mozaik, The Long and the Short of It.

Andy’s advanced calculus capacity for complex rhythms and his remarkable appetite for both old and spanking new material ensure he’s never less than compellingly contemporary.