soilse na nollag

SOILSE NA NOLLAG
A Traditional Irish Christmas
19 – 23 December 2011
Soilse na Nollag (Christmas Lights) makes
a welcome return to The National Concert
Hall after the success of the 2010 series. A luminous series of alternative yet
traditional hour-long concerts at lunchtimes
and early evenings in December, presented
in the intimate surrounds of The National
Concert Hall’s Kevin Barry Room.
Box office: 01 4170000
Book online www.nch.ie
(no booking fees)
SOILSE NA NOLLAG LUNCHTIME CONCERTS
Cormac Breatnach & Friends
Tuesday 20 December 1pm
Conor Byrne & Friends
Thursday 22 December 1pm
Whistle player Cormac Breatnach has recorded
extensively with musicians such as Donal
Lunny, Máire Breatnach, Steve Cooney and
songwriters Thom Moore, Sonny Condell,
Pierce Turner, Elvis Costello and Máighread Ní
Dhomhnaill to name but a few. Cormac released
his solo album Musical Journey in 1999 to
much critical acclaim and the following year
released his second album with Cork guitarist
Martin Dunlea, Music for Whistle & Guitar.
2012 will see the release of his third album,
Éalú – Foreign Links featuring among others,
U.S. singer and actress Vanessa L Williams (of
Desperate Housewives fame).
We are delighted to welcome traditional flautist
Conor Byrne and his band for this warming
lunchtime concert. Conor has recorded two
albums; Wind Dancer and Bavan. A gifted flute
player, he has toured various corners of the
world and has deep respect for the tradition of
the great music of Ireland. However he has an
ear for composition, and is particularly excited
when challenged to work outside his comfort
zone.
Cormac is joined for this lunchtime concert
by an amazing lineup - Aoife Doyle (vocals),
Johnny Taylor (piano), Gavin Ralstan (guitars/
bass) and Sean Whelan (Guitar). Together,
these inspiring musicians will interweave
their diverse influences to create a unique
programme for this intimate lunchtime concert.
A once-off gathering not to be missed!
Tickets: €12 (€10 concessions)
Apart from Conor’s love of playing music, he
has earned the affection and respect of many
people, particularly his musical comrades,
because of his unselfish commitment to the
promotion of exciting musical ventures, such
as the County Sessions and more recently the
Liffey Banks Sessions here in Dublin. He also
has produced and directed several acclaimed
TV documentaries, including Faoi Lán Cheoil
(TG4).
He loves people, he loves music, and he
loves Ireland. These passions are brought to
everything he does. Join Conor with his friends
for a unique musical treat.
Tickets: €12 (€10 concessions)
SPECIAL OFFER!
Buy tickets for all five Soilse na Nollag concerts and avail of a 10% discount!
(a perfect Christmas gift!)
SOILSE NA NOLLAG EVENING CONCERTS
Róisín Elsafty, Siobhán Armstrong,
Ronan Browne
Monday 19 December 6pm
Ciaran Tourish and
Dermot McLaughlin
Wednesday 21 December 6pm
This trio presents the scintillating voice of
one of Ireland’s finest Conamara singers,
Róisín Elsafty, together with the very rare and
meltingly beautiful sound of the medieval Irish
harp – played by Ireland’s foremost historical
harper, Siobhán Armstrong, woven with the
diverse colours of Ronan Browne’s flutes,
whistles and 170-year-old pipes.
Ciaran Tourish hails from Buncrana in East Co.
Donegal and regularly performs and tours as
a member of Altan. Although Ciaran started
playing the tin whistle at an early age, he
soon took up the fiddle under the guidance
of local legendary fiddler and teacher, Dinny
McLaughlin.
Róisín performs evocative unaccompanied
songs in the florid Conamara style, together
with achingly beautiful 17th and 18th century
Irish harpers’ songs with harp and flute
accompaniment.
Playing Europe’s oldest surviving harp, the
medieval Trinity College harp – in the ancient
manner, Siobhán plays the compositions of the
old Irish harper-composers.
Ronan’s flat-pitch Union pipes, dating from the
1840s, have that rich tone which makes you
want to curl up and snuggle deep into their
rumbling purr as he performs old airs, marches
and jigs.
The coming together of these three musical
minds makes for a warm, informative and
joyous evening’s entertainment.
Tickets: €15 (€12 concessions)
In addition to his mastery of the dance music
tradition, Ciaran’s quick ear, love of harmony
and counterpoint have led to his talent being in
demand as a valued collaborator on non-Altan
and even non-Irish music projects with a wide
range of musicians and singers including
Paul Brady, Matt Molloy, Mary Black, Maura
O’Connell, Máirtín O’Connor, Dolores Keane, Dé
Danann and American musicians Jerry Douglas
and Tim O’Brien.
He released his first solo recording Down the
Line in 2005 featuring guest musicians Arty
McGlynn, Paul Brady, Maura O’Connell, Tim
O’Brien, Alison Krauss and Jerry Douglas among
others.
Dermot McLaughlin joins Ciaran on this
occasion in a unique blend of two fiddles, with
a diverse programme of contemporary and
traditional Irish music.
Tickets: €15 (€12 concessions)
SOILSE NA NOLLAG EVENING CONCERTS
Andy Irvine
Friday 23 December 6pm
The release of Andy Irvine’s first studio album
in over ten years is no small news. Finally
coaxed off that perennial global tour for five
minutes, Irvine has managed to capture a
bewitching set of original arrangements and
songs that have illuminated his concerts of
recent years. Abocurragh (a reference to his
residence outside Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh)
is not just one man’s album; it is a gathering
of great musicians and a dramatic journey for
the listener. That journey somehow involves murder, confidence tricks, cannibalism, and the divil
himself. But fear not, such macabre themes are offset with the loveliest of music, not to mention a
brilliant wit.
Andy Irvine’s longstanding journey through music has been well documented, from his early skiffle
days to O’Donoghue’s pub, set in 1960s Dublin, and his through his work with Sweeney’s Men,
Planxty, Paul Brady and Patrick Street, not to mention countless other collaborations and four solo
albums. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear a legend of Irish music in an intimate Christmastime
concert.
Tickets: €15 (€12 concessions)
The National Concert Hall
Box office: 01 4170000
Book online www.nch.ie
(no booking fees)