Sligo Live has some very special concerts
THROUGHOUT the month of October Sligo Live celebrates a remarkable mix of musical genres. Since 2005 the festival has highlighted Sligo’s vibrant contemporary music scene and rich musical heritage intermingled with international stars and on October 22 and 23 there are some truly special gigs. On Friday, October 22, much-loved singer-songwriter Luka Bloom plays the first Sligo Live 2021 concert at The Hawk’s Well Theatre. He will be joined by special guests The Raines.
In a career spanning 45 years, The Irish Times wrote about his latest album: “Out of the Blue is Luka Bloom’s first instrumental album. Out Of The Blue may be his most articulate yet.
“It is his third album release in a year, after his Live at De Roma (in Antwerp) and Bittersweet Crimson, a delicate collection that effortlessly straddles intimacy and universality.
“This wasn’t part of any grand plan, unsurprisingly. Out of the Blue is that rare thing, an organic collection that emerged unbidden and lured Bloom on an unexpected path.”
Luka Bloom’s special guests The Raines stormed the charts with their debut single in November 2020. One look at the background of the women of The Raines and it’s hard not to be impressed.
Yvonne Tiernan (vocals/banjulele) also sings and has toured with The Chieftains, Ruth Dillon (vocals, guitar, ukulele) toured and recorded with the legendary Dolores Keane, is a former member of The Molly Hicks, and has three solo albums of her own, and Juliana Erkkonen also a former member of The Molly Hicks (fiddle and vocals) has been at the forefront of the Americana music scene in Ireland, where her fiddle playing has won over many a fan.
On Saturday, October 23, Daoirí Farrell performs a very special intimate show at The Hawk’s Well Theatre. Dublin-born traditional singer and bouzouki player Daoirí has been described by some of the biggest names in Irish folk music as one of the most important singers to come out of Ireland in recent years.
Christy Moore said: “I’ve been listening to Daoirí’s sounds since first hearing him in Dublin when he was a young lad – always a treat to hear him sing.” He released his debut album, The
First Turn, in 2009. Daoirí studied traditional music and performance in Dundalk IT and UL and began perform- ing with the who’s who of folk music including Christy Moore, Dónal Lunny, Martin Hayes, Arty McGlynn, Dennis Cahill, Alan Doherty, Danú, Dervish, Julie Fowlis, Arty McGlynn, The John Carty Big Band, Kíla, Sean Keane, Gerry O’Connor (banjo) and Gerry O’Connor (fiddle).
He finally stepped into the limelight and became a folk sensation, launching his solo live career at Celtic Connections.
Following a live session on the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show with Mark Radcliffe just a week before his first UK tour, his name was suddenly everywhere and bookings started to stream in. His follow-up album True Born Irishman was released and he won two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards – Best Traditional Track and Best Newcomer.
In 2019 he released his album, A Lifetime of Happiness, with Donal Lunny in the Producer’s chair. A highly entertaining and consummate performer, his superb voice, bouzouki playing and witty stage presence has endeared him to fans and admirers worldwide, and he is one of the most in-demand musicians on the festival and folk circuit.
Sligo Live audiences are certainly in for a treat.
Planning permission is to be sought to build 59 new houses to complete an unfinished housing estate in Collooney.
Carty Contractors Ltd have given notice that they intend to seek approval from Sligo County Council to complete the estate at Knockbeg West.
This will include the building of 18 two-bed semi-detached houses, four three-bed semi-detached, 11 three-bed detached houses, 15 three-bed houses wth integral internal garages and 11 four-bedroom detached houses.
The work will also include lighting, hard and soft landscaping and works to the site boundaries.
Hospital will be lit up in pink and blue for campaign
Sligo University Hospital is going pink and blue tomorrow, Friday, to mark pregnancy and infant loss as part of an international awareness campaign on the issues affecting families who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy or a baby.
Throughout Ireland and across the world, landmarks and buildings will be illuminated in pink and blue on October 15 as part of a continuous wave of light in honour of babies who have passed away due to ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death and sudden infant death.
The hospital will be lit in blue and pink from 7pm.
Plan for 13 new houses in Gurteen
A plan to build 13 new houses in Gurteen has been revealed. Marcus and Karen Jackson have given notice that they intend to apply for planning permission to construct five two-storey detached houses, two two-storey semi-detached houses, and six two-and-half-storey semi-detached houses with new access onto the public road at Knocknastammer, Gurteen.
New training centre planned
Planning permission is to be sought for a new training centre in Collooney. Niall Mullen is to seek approval from Sligo County Council for a change of use of an existing warehouse unit for use as an educational training centre at Unit 1, Union Road Business Park, Collooney.