Series of exciting cross-border folk concerts taking place in Carlingford and Rostrevor
Carlingford Heritage Trust and Rostrevor Folk Club at Crawford’s are delighted to announce the first cross-border collaboration to promote top class Irish and folk music on the island of Ireland.
The initiative consists of six concerts in both May and August, with artists performing in venues Carlingford and Rostrevor on successive nights.
The north Louth musical duo of Zoë Conway and John Mc Intyre have presented the popular spring and summer concert series at Carlingford Heritage Centre for several years, introducing and playing with the cream of Irish music.
Across the lough, Rostrevor Folk Club, with Colum Sands as its guiding light, has been presenting top folk and Irish music artists for over seven years. It is hoped that the collaboration will promote world class live music across around Carlingford Lough, building connections as it grows.
The programme will see guest artists of the calibre of Liam Ó Maonlaí, Donal O’Connor and Muireann Nic Amhloibh, Tim Edey, Alfi, Bill Whelan, Cathy Jordan and Barry Kerr feature.
“Our spring and summer concerts are always special events, but this new connection across the lough between North and South feels like a truly special collaboration. I find these two villages of Rostrevor and Carlingford have that magical quality situated between mountain, forest and sea, that writers, musicians and artists have been inspired by for generations, so this new relationship is a great artistic pairing too!” fiddler and artistic co-director Zoë Conway said.
Her husband, guitarist John Mc Intyre said they are look forwarding to” welcoming some of the finest musicians in Ireland to two very fine music rooms on the shores of Carlingford Lough. ”
“We are honoured that this year’s programme includes local musicians Fiachra Meek and Dónal O’Connor, both originally from the Cooley Peninsula. It is wonderful to have a platform to invite established musicians connected to the area home to play,” he added,
“People have found ways to carry their songs over land and water for as long they have watched the turning of the tide,” Colum Sands said “I have always loved observing how those songs, with their stories and tunes, have found their own quiet ways of carrying people on great journeys too!
The spring concert programme takes place in May with Donal O’Connor and Muireann Nic Amhloibh performing in the Heritage Centre on May 12, while Tim Edey plays the Rostrevour
Liam Ó Maonlaí of Hothouse Flowers fame will perform at the Heritage Centre on May 19 and Rostevor Folk Club the following day.
Next up is Alfi, featuring local musicians Fiachra Meek and Ryan McAuley along with Alannah Thornburgh are at the Heritage Centre on May 26 and in Rostrevor Folk Club the next day.
Th line-up for the summer concert series in August features Michelle abd Louise Mulcahy, Bill Whelan, John McIntrye and Zoe Conway, Laura Kerr, Donogh Hennesy, Barry Kerr, and Cathy Jordan.