The Session >> Events >> Steeple Sessions: Mary Staunton (accordion/songs), Alec Finn (bouzouki) & Johnny Ringo McDonagh (bodhran), The Unitarian Church
The Steeple Sessions present traditional Irish music in its’ purest form and are geared towards those who seek the genuine, elusive musical traditions of Ireland. Audiences will hear pin-drop unaccompanied sean-nós songs in the Irish language, alongside dance music and airs performed acoustically on traditional instruments including the uilleann pipes, fiddle, concertina and Irish flute. Held in the beautiful surroundings of a candle-lit church, the line up of renowned musicians/performers changes nightly throughout the Summer, ensuring each show is unique and fresh. Many performers are Irish speakers and many are from musically rich parts of Ireland such as Connemara, East Clare and remote Western parts of Ireland, where traditions passed down from generation to generation, are sacred and are faithfully preserved.
Steeple Sessions is an initiative funding by the Traditional Arts Section of the Irish Arts Council.
The concert series runs May-Sept 2011; Unitarian Church St Stephen’s Green Dublin line-up changes nightly. Concerts run 8 to 9.30pm, admission €15.00/€12 (concession)
see www.steeplesessions.com for weekly line-up
About Steeple Sessions:
The Steeple Sessions is Dublin’s latest must see cultural experience that has visitors booking 2nd and 3rd concerts during their stay. The new bi-weekly series of traditional Irish music concerts held in the wonderful acoustic setting of the candlelit Unitarian Church, St. Stephen’s Green from May to September. Every Tuesday and Thursday features a different line up of Ireland’s top traditional musicians; pin-drop unaccompanied sean nós singers, uilleann pipers, harpists, fiddlers, etc in solo and duet settings. Concerts are children friendly and alcohol free and visitors find them a welcome change from tourist shows that display the same performance every night. Check out our website: www.steeplesessions.com.
The Venue:
Situated on the west side of Dublin’s St Stephen’s Green, The Unitarian Church is within strolling distance for tourists who may wish to finish a day’s sightseeing with an early evening concert. Directly opposite the Luas line city centre stop, the venue is also equally accessible for traditional music fans, keen to experience some of the country’s finest performers in this 150-year-old candle-lit church. The venue already attracts regular visitors wanting to view its impressive collection of European and Irish stained glass as well as bronze and glass sculpture by artist Paddy McElroy. The Church has long played host to a variety of social and cultural events within the arts, and the serenity and acoustics of the venue (known as The Listening Room) allows music lovers to experience the playing at its purest.
Performers:
The Steeple Sessions provides a stage for many of traditional music’s finest performers. Internationally acclaimed musicians play alongside talented rising stars. The 2011 Summer line up includes this year’s TG4 Gradam Ceoil musician of the year concertina virtuoso Noel Hill, young musician of the year Uilleann piper Padraig Keane, original Bothy Band members Dónal Lunny & Paddy Glackin, guitar legend Steve Cooney, Kila’s piper Eoin Dillon, Harpist Laoise Kelly, Altan’s Dermot Byrne, Singer Niamh Parsons and De Danann legends Alec Finn and Johnny Ringo McDonagh – see www.steeplesessions.com for full listing
See www.steeplesessions.com for more information
The Steeple Sessions present traditional Irish music in its’ purest form and are geared towards those who seek the genuine, elusive musical traditions of Ireland. Audiences will hear pin-drop unaccompanied sean-nós songs in the Irish language, alongside dance music and airs performed acoustically on traditional instruments including the uilleann pipes, fiddle, concertina and Irish flute. Held in the beautiful surroundings of a candle-lit church, the line up of renowned musicians/performers changes nightly throughout the Summer, ensuring each show is unique and fresh. Many performers are Irish speakers and many are from musically rich parts of Ireland such as Connemara, East Clare and remote Western parts of Ireland, where traditions passed down from generation to generation, are sacred and are faithfully preserved.
Steeple Sessions is an initiative funding by the Traditional Arts Section of the Irish Arts Council.
The concert series runs May-Sept 2011; Unitarian Church St Stephen’s Green Dublin line-up changes nightly. Concerts run 8 to 9.30pm, admission €15.00/€12 (concession)
see www.steeplesessions.com for weekly line-up
About Steeple Sessions:
The Steeple Sessions is Dublin’s latest must see cultural experience that has visitors booking 2nd and 3rd concerts during their stay. The new bi-weekly series of traditional Irish music concerts held in the wonderful acoustic setting of the candlelit Unitarian Church, St. Stephen’s Green from May to September. Every Tuesday and Thursday features a different line up of Ireland’s top traditional musicians; pin-drop unaccompanied sean nós singers, uilleann pipers, harpists, fiddlers, etc in solo and duet settings. Concerts are children friendly and alcohol free and visitors find them a welcome change from tourist shows that display the same performance every night. Check out our website: www.steeplesessions.com.
The Venue:
Situated on the west side of Dublin’s St Stephen’s Green, The Unitarian Church is within strolling distance for tourists who may wish to finish a day’s sightseeing with an early evening concert. Directly opposite the Luas line city centre stop, the venue is also equally accessible for traditional music fans, keen to experience some of the country’s finest performers in this 150-year-old candle-lit church. The venue already attracts regular visitors wanting to view its impressive collection of European and Irish stained glass as well as bronze and glass sculpture by artist Paddy McElroy. The Church has long played host to a variety of social and cultural events within the arts, and the serenity and acoustics of the venue (known as The Listening Room) allows music lovers to experience the playing at its purest.
Performers:
The Steeple Sessions provides a stage for many of traditional music’s finest performers. Internationally acclaimed musicians play alongside talented rising stars. The 2011 Summer line up includes this year’s TG4 Gradam Ceoil musician of the year concertina virtuoso Noel Hill, young musician of the year Uilleann piper Padraig Keane, original Bothy Band members Dónal Lunny & Paddy Glackin, guitar legend Steve Cooney, Kila’s piper Eoin Dillon, Harpist Laoise Kelly, Altan’s Dermot Byrne, Singer Niamh Parsons and De Danann legends Alec Finn and Johnny Ringo McDonagh – see www.steeplesessions.com for full listing
# Posted on July 25th 2011 by EMH