Blas is proud to present our annual lunchtime concert series online from 21st-25th June 2021. This daily concert series will feature a mix of pre-recorded and live-streamed Irish traditional music, song and dance performances by world-renowned performers. These concerts will be available on the Irish World Academy youtube channel and are free to the public (saor in aisce). Individual links are included below. This concert series is generously supported by funding from Culture Ireland and Blas would like to express our sincere gratitude.
Dé Luain, 21ú Meitheamh / Monday, 21st June, 1pm
Louise Mulcahy (uilleann pipes and flute), Michelle Mulcahy (harp, concertina, and fiddle) and Mick Mulcahy (button accordion and melodeon). Click here to watch.
Dé Máirt, 22ú Meitheamh / Tuesday, 22nd June, 1pm
Conal O’Kane (guitar), Aisling Drost Byrne (fiddle), and Brendan McCarthy (button accordion). Click here to watch.
Dé Céadaoin, 23ú Meitheamh / Wednesday, 23rd June, 1pm
Tadhg Ó Meachair (piano and piano accordion), Joanna Hyde (fiddle and song), and Dave Curley (guitar and song). This concert is also in association with the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention. Click here to watch.
Déardaoin, 24ú Meitheamh / Thursday, 24th June, 1pm
Tara Breen (fiddle), Derek Hickey (button accordion), Róisín Ní Ghallóglaigh (song) and Ciara Callanan-Ryan (dance and whistle). This concert is also in association with the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention. Click here to watch.
Dé hAoine, 25ú Meitheamh / Friday, 25th June, 1pm
Aisling Lyons (harp and concertina), Alan Reid (banjo and bouzouki), Niall Keegan (flute) and Sandra Joyce (song). This concert is also in association with the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention. Click here to watch.
“A huge shout out needs to go to the Blas Lunchtime Concert Series held June 21st – 25th. For those of us here in The States who love, appreciate, and feel Covid starved for Irish Traditional Music and its musicians, this series provided a magnificent variety of short concert/seisiúns. Featuring graduates, teachers, and students of UL, we were treated to a daily dose of “the best.” Brilliant musical families were represented by Louise, Michelle, and Michael Mulcahy; an old fashioned tap your toes session with guitar ace Conal O’Kane, Aisling Drost Byrne, and Brendan McCarthy brightened the day. Thanks to technology, One for the Foxes was able to perform from West Cork and Orlando, Florida treating us to one of the most popular bands touring here prior to the pandemic. It was a happy day seeing and hearing Tadhg Ó Meachair, Joanna Hyde, and David Curley performing together again. Tara Breen, Derek Hickey, Róisín Ní Ghallóglaigh, and Ciara Callanan-Ryan gave a wonderfully vibrant set of song, dance and sets. Closing the series was a dynamite quartet including Alan Reid, Aisling Lyons, Niall Keegan and Sandra Joyce who performed a wide variety of tunes, some from Irish musicians in America, including their history. The deadly playing of flute, bouzouki, banjo, harp, concertina, bodhrán, and beautiful songs was as perfect culmination of a week of special presentations.
Each day there was excitement to look forward to, and at the end, a craving for more. Thank you to the musicians, UL, Pamela Cotter and the organizing committee, and Culture Ireland who was a sponsor. You are all truly appreciated!”
By Maryann Keifer
Host of Ireland Tonight weekly radio show WDCB; Host of Maryann’s Hour Global Irish Radio; Cohost of Sessiuns From the Cottage Global Irish Radio; Music Writer for Irish American News and Irish Music Magazine.
Review of Lunchtime Concert Series
