On Saturday night the 31st of January in Cleere’s of Parliament Street is a must for traditional music lovers and indeed for people who just like good music and a good night out. The eighth annual concert run by the Kilkenny Uilleann Piper’s Club sees a mix of the best local and national traditional musicians taking to the stage.
Belfast-born flute player and uilleann piper Harry Bradley will feature at this year’s concert. Having toured with such bands as Altan, Cran, Dervish and The Tap Room Trio, Harry also has four solo albums to his name. Having played with just about everybody who is anybody in traditional music circles, Harry received the ultimate award in Irish music when he was given RG4’s Gradam Ceoil award in 2014.
Lovers of traditional song will be delighted to know that Nell Ní Chronín will be performing on the night. From the Cork Gaeltacht of Ballyvourney, Nell is a multi award winning singer and has made numerous television appearances including a documentary made about her singing in 2010. In 2014 she became the youngest ever singer to win the prestigious Corn Ui Riada at the Oireachtas in Killarney, this prize is regarded as the pinnacle for Sean Os singers.
Renowned piper Seamus O’Rochain from Milltown Malbay in County Clare will do a set in the West Clare style of piping made famous by the legendary Willie Clancy.
TG4 young musician of the Year 2012, Caoimhin O’ Fearghail from Ring Co. Waterford will also enhance the line-up. While still in school he released his first album, ‘Gioraíonn Beirt Bothar’ with his brother Sean and released their second album, ‘La ag Ol Uisce’ with Thomas O’Gealbhain in 2014. This multi- instrumentalist is steeped in all that is good about traditional music.
Leonard Barry from Kerry (Pipes) and Andy Morrow (Fiddle) will also perform. Leonard has two critically acclaimed albums to his name, “Mind the Pipes” and “New Road”, while Andy’s recording with Tony O’Connell is regarded as one of the finest albums of the last decade. This duet have appeared all over the world, with performances at the Galway Arts Festival and the Doolin Folk Festival being recent highlights of 2014.
With Kilkenny having musicians to rival any in the country, this night would not be the same if it were not for the input of our local musicians. Paddy Cleere (banjo), Martin Coughlan (accordion), Tommy Lannigan (boudhran) and Colm O’Caoimh (guitar and vocals) round up the line-up for what should be a really special night’s music in Cleere’s Theatre on Saturday January 31 at 9.00.
As this is about the development of emerging talent and tutoring of pipers it’s a great plasure to see that some of the current wave of pipers from Carlow and Kilkenny will also play on the night; Liam Costello, Colm Broderick and Ciarán Byrne dropped in to the studio to play a selection of tunes. They played 2 reels, “Garrett Barry’s” and “The Virginia” as well as a set of jigs : “Seán Buí”, “East Of Glenart” and “The Gander In The Pratie Hall
Also along on the session was Pat Murphy, one of the founding members of the Pipers Club in Kilkenny.
Tickets €10, available at Cleeres, all proceeds go to Kilkenny UIlleann Pipers Club.
