Méabh Meir

Howth Burns Nicht goes online again

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Howth Singing Circle has again moved its annual Burns Nicht celebration online this year in light of the continuing public health crisis caused by Covid-19. As was the case last year, the Howth Singing Circle are co-ordinating their efforts with two renowned Edinburgh institutions – the Edinburgh Folk Club and The World’s Room singers’ club..

The event on Saturday January 22 will be run over Zoom from 8pm featuring a combination of live and pre-recorded performances. The concert will also be simultaneously streamed on the HSC’s Facebook page.

 

Among the performers already lined up for the event are: (from Ireland) Méabh Meir (pictured above), Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Francy Devine, John Kelly, Larry Egan and Mick Mullen; (from Scotland) Steve Byrne, George Duff, David Francis, Margaret Bennett and Billy Jolly, (and from both): An Corráiste (The Luck Penny: featuring Jaff Mac Seafraidh and Jackie Jeffries).

The concert will be followed on Sunday afternoon (January 23) by an open singing session from 3pm-6pm on Zoom – which is expected to feature contributions from Ireland and Scotland as well as three songs each from Niamh Parsons and Scott Gardiner.

Niamh Parsons
Steve Byrne
LIam O'Flynn1

Applications for €15,000 Liam O’Flynn Award close on January 20

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Applications for the lucrative Liam O’Flynn Award will close on January 20. The purpose of the Liam O’Flynn Award is to provide a traditional artist with a period of artistic reflection, inspiration and creation in residence in the National Concert Hall and to enhance appreciation, knowledge and enjoyment of the traditional arts across the rich milieu of the National Concert Hall.

In memory of the piper Liam O’Flynn, the award is a joint initiative of the Arts Council/An Chomhairle Ealaíon and the National Concert Hall/An Ceoláras Náisiúnta as part of their partnership for the promotion, appreciation and enjoyment of traditional arts, which also includes the Tradition Now festival of traditional music. It celebrates the role of the individual creative traditional artist in the creation of new works, the inception of unique artistic collaborations and innovations, and in the transmission of traditional arts for future generations to enjoy and practice.

The objectives of the award are:

  • To provide an artistically supportive, stimulating and challenging environment for the selected traditional artist
  • To provide physical work space for their individual reflective and creative artistic work.
  • To support artistic collaboration.
  • To enable a working relationship with the National Concert Hall’s Learning and Participation team.
  • To engage audiences with the traditional arts.

The Liam O’Flynn Award comprises;

  • €10,000 towards fees and living expenses during the period, enabling the artist to spend time focusing on practice-based research and creative work in the National Concert Hall.
  • €5,000 for fees and other expenses relating to collaboration with other artists and the presentation of work.
  • Work space in the National Concert Hall.
  • Professional support and career advice.
Liam O'Flynn

The Liam O’Flynn Award is open to application from traditional artists working in any of the following genres; instrumental music; singing; dance; oral arts such as storytelling, agallamh beirte or lúibíní.

The Liam O’Flynn Award scheme welcomes applications from senior artists, established artists in mid-career, and young and emerging artists.

Previous recipients of the award include Úna Monaghan, Barry Kerr and Jack Talty.

One award will be made in 2022.

More information (including details of the application process) is available from the Arts Council at https://www.artscouncil.ie/uploadedFiles/Main_Site/Content/Funds/2022%20Guidelines_LiamOFlynnAward(1).pdf

Tommy-Reck-CD-Cover-resized

NPU issues new Tommy Reck album

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Na Píobairí Uilleann has released Tommy Reck – The Master Pipers Volume 4, a double album featuring a range of performances from Tommy Reck at the height of his powers, from 1949 to c.1965.

The first CD in the set draws on a variety of sources while the second CD features new transfers of the “Walkinstown Tape” made in 1960 by Peter O’Loughlin and Seán Reid.

The double album is accompanied by an 80-page booklet which includes contributions from Gerry Starr, Emmett Gill, Ronan Browne , Tommy Keane, Mick O’Brien, Bill Haneman and Mick O’Connor.

The album may be ordered from NPU at https://pipers.ie/store/products/the-master-pipers-vol-4-tommy-reck/

or downloaded from Bandcamp at https://tommyreck.bandcamp.com/
(download includes access to a PDF of the booklet).

Joanie Madden narrower

Joanie Madden honoured at Irish Arts Center

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Cherish the Ladies leader, Joanie Madden, was honoured at a special event at the new Irish Arts Center in New York with the Spirit of Ireland Award for 2021 – presented by Gabriel Byrne.

After the presentation she was joined by her bandmates to play a set.

This new honour follows the award of the National Heritage Fellowship for 2021 by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

Joanie Madden (centre) with her Cherish The Ladies bandmates, Nollaig Casey, Mirella Murray, Mary Coogan and Cathie Ryan – flanked by Bruce Foley and Gabriel Donohue (Photo: Nuala Purcell),