Trio offer ‘fresh perspective’ on Irish music

Traditional musicians Séamus McGuire, Niamh Varian-Barry and Gerry O’Beirne will be in concert in Clifden’s Station House Theatre on Tuesday, February 8, as part of a national tour organised by the national music touring and development organisation, Music Network.

The three leading performers are collaborating to offer a new perspective on Irish music which will involve the rich, mellow sound of two violas, as performed by Niamh and Séamus.

Well-known as a member of the group Buttons and Bows and also a member of the West Ocean String Quartet, Séamus’s latest album is the critically acclaimed An Irish Viola/Vióla Gaelach, with guitarist Steve Cooney,

Cork woman Niamh is a singer, composer and multi-instrumentalist who moves easily between classical and traditional genres. The former lead singer with American group, Solas, she’s a founder member and leader of the Irish Memory Orchestra.

Multi-instrumentalist and singer Gerry O’Beirne is especially renowned for his guitar playing.

He has toured the world as  a solo artist as well as with Patrick Street, Midnight Well, The Waterboys and Marianne Faithfull, among others.

For this tour, which will conclude in London next month, the three will perform new arrangements of familiar songs and tunes as well as a brand new Music Network commission.

Their Clifden concert at the Station House Theatre on February 8 will begin at 8pm. Tickets €15/€12 at the door. For more information, phone 095 21699 or go to musicnetwork.ie.