Midday Concert Series

Free Midday Concerts, 1:30 pm Daily, Shaughnessy’s Pub,

Break up your afternoons with a spectacular series of authentic listening concerts in Glin, County Limerick. Rather than open sessions, these are curated, structured performances celebrating master musicianship, transatlantic connections, and the rising stars of the traditional arts.

Tuesday, October 27: Young Fiddlers of West Limerick

Carrying the Legacy Forward: Witness the survival, strength, and evolution of the regional style. The West Limerick fiddle tradition is defined by its distinct, driving bow hand, syncopated rhythm, and infectious "lift"—a regional style famously championed by Brendan and Martin. This special midday concert brings together the region's elite youth players who have honed their craft under the mentorship of master tutors, displaying their technical skill and deep passion for the craft.

Wednesday, October 28: Gerald Culhane

The Iron Bridge: A Celebration of Glin’s Native Music and Composition

Experience an exceptional afternoon of authentic West Limerick music with a mid-day concert performance up close with the master artists.

The festival proudly brings celebrated local musician and composer Gerald Culhane home to Shaughnessy's. Rather than an informal, open session, this event is as an up-close, listening performance celebrating a native son's creative legacy within a warm, intimate atmosphere.

Featured Artists

• Gerald Culhane (Button Accordion & Composer): Gerald Culhane was born in Glin, Co. Limerick. From an early age, he was exposed to the rich traditions of Irish music and folklore. He has drawn inspiration from the music of his locality and the various regional styles from around the country. Gerald is the composer behind The Iron Bridge, a collection of sixty-seven original Irish tunes (including Jigs, Slides, Hornpipes, Reels, Polkas, and Waltzes) that draws inspiration from the various influences that he has encountered in his musical career and reflects his deep appreciation for the tradition of Irish culture and the origins of Irish music.

• Matthew Reidy (Banjo): Matthew Reidy is an accomplished banjo player from Glin, County Limerick. Immersed in the rich musical heritage of West Limerick from a young age, he developed a highly regarded personal style known for its precision, drive, and traditional phrasing. His exceptional talent was showcased on a national level by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, where his recorded performances of complex traditional reels drew widespread acclaim from purists. A masterful interpreter of regional dance tunes, Matthew is a staple of the local musical landscape and frequently collaborates with premier exponents of the West Limerick and North Kerry traditions.

• Patsy Broderick (Piano): Patsy Broderick is widely recognized as one of the most influential and definitive piano accompanists in the history of Irish traditional music. Renowned for her impeccable timing, subtle chord structures, and driving rhythmic "lift," she has served as the backbone for countless iconic recordings and live performances over several decades. A legendary figure within the traditional community, her masterful accompaniment provides the perfect harmonic foundation for regional melodic styles.

• Joe O' Sullivan (Flute): Joe hails from Scartaglin, Co Kerry in the heartland of Sliabh Luachra.

  He is one of the leading flute players in Ireland. His style of playing is synonymous with Sliabh Luachra and he spent many years playing with legendary musicians such as Johnny O' Leary RIP and Jimmy Doyle RIP. Joe was a member of the Shannon Vale Ceili band that won the All - Ireland Ceili band competition in 2011. Joe has shared his music on many television programmes down the years and continues to be an inspiration to musicians both young and old!

Thursday, October 29 at 1:30 PM: American Old-Time

Discover the fascinating musical conversation between Irish shores and the Appalachian mountains. This special concert brings together four world-class roots musicians to explore the deep rhythmic and melodic ties binding American Old-Time music to its Irish traditional ancestors through shared fiddle tunes, raw ballads, and folk cross-pollination.

• Emily Martin: Specialized in the intricate driving rhythms and vocal styles of the Appalachian tradition, highlighting the raw emotional core shared by Irish and American folk songs - and apprenticed and performed on stage with Brendan MMasulvihill.

• Josh Henderson: A fiercely versatile double bass and guitar player, Josh anchors the transatlantic arrangements with a commanding acoustic presence, blending rich rhythmic timing with deep-rooted folk ornamentation.

• Elora Martin: A celebrated multi-instrumentalist capturing the gritty heartbeat of American string bands, tracing how ancestral melodies formed a completely new American soundscape.

• Cleek Schrey: Studied with Brendan Mulvihill, an internationally acclaimed hardanger fiddle player and composer unearthing the acoustic links between ancient European drones and early American folk forms.

Friday, October 30 at 1:30 PM: Catherine McEvoy & Patsy Maloney

Experience a sublime afternoon of pure, unadulterated traditional music featuring two legendary titans of the Irish flute. Both players are globally revered for keeping the flame of the traditional regional flute style burning with unmatched tone, rhythm, and impeccable ornamentation.

• Catherine McEvoy (Flute): Recipient of the prestigious TG4 Gradam Ceoil Musician of the Year award. Born in Birmingham to Roscommon parents, her playing is a definitive pinnacle of the driving, rhythmically intricate Sligo-Roscommon style.

• Patsy Maloney (Flute): Hailing from the rich musical soil of County Limerick, Patsy is a legendary figure among flute traditionalists. Renowned for his flawless phrasing, deep repertoire, and a classic Munster lift, his style serves as a vital cornerstone for players across the country.

Twilight Concert Series

Admission: €20 per person per concert

Prepare for a spectacular lineup of world-class artistry as Glin hosts an extraordinary collection of international traditional music titans. These premier curated concert events showcase the absolute pinnacle of regional styles, historic transatlantic legacies, and master-level music and dance.

Tuesday to Friday | 4:30 PM Sharp | Glin, West Limerick

Step out of the autumn chill and into the warmth of a traditional "listening room." This late October, as the sun sets over the Shannon, we invite you to experience the absolute bedrock of West Limerick music in a beautifully rare, reverent environment.

To honor the true acoustic power of our music and the stories of the masters, these afternoon concerts will be held under soft, dim candlelight with no sound amplification for the instruments. You will hear every lift, every bow stroke, and every breath exactly as it was meant to be felt.

• Tuesday:The Heart of West Limerick Music – Featuring Pa Foley

• Wednesday:Iron Bridge: Homecoming for a Son of Glin – Featuring Derek Hickey

• Thursday:Sharing the Stage with Brendan Mulvihill – Celebrating his legacy with the peers who knew him best.

• Friday:Dance Masters – The living rhythm of the steps.

To create a unique, immersive listening environment and protect the intimacy of these unamplified acoustic sets, we invite all attendees to share in our afternoon ritual:

• Late Admission Between Sets: The music starts promptly at 4:30 PM. If you are delayed, the doors will be held closed while the music is flowing. Latecomers will be welcomed into the room only during the natural gaps between sets and before the artist dialogue begins.

• Respect the Performance Space: While we welcome the natural energy and connection of a live trad audience, we kindly ask that you hold all personal conversations until the session concludes. Let the music and the artists' stories hold the floor.

• Keep Devices Silent and Tucked Away: Please ensure your mobile phone is switched to completely silent before entering the hall. We ask that phones remain in pockets or bags throughout the concert.

• Photography or Personal Recording: To keep the room free of bright, distracting screens, personal photo and video recording are not permitted.

• Professionally Archived: Relax and fully immerse yourself in the afternoon—each concert is being professionally recorded to ensure these historic performances are beautifully preserved for the festival archive.

In Ceol Corbrai at 4:30 pm

‍ ‍Tuesday October 27

‍ ‍The Living Heritage of West Limerick Music

Pa Foley & Friends

‍ ‍In Conversation with Gabriel Fitzmaurice

‍All-Ireland Senior Button Accordion Champion Pa Foley shares tunes and talks with Gabriel Fitzmaurice alongside a stellar lineup of guest musicians to celebrate the distinct, driving rhythm and rich repertoire of the West Limerick musical tradition.

‍ ‍About Pa Foley

‍ Hailing from Glin, County Limerick, Pa Foley is widely recognized as one of the premier button accordion stylists of his generation. His musical mastery was cemented on the national stage when he captured the prestigious 2006 All-Ireland Senior Button Accordion Championship.

‍ ‍Renowned for his fluid ornamentation, crisp triplets, and impeccable timing, Pa's playing draws heavily from the classic masters. He was notably selected as one of just 28 elite All-Ireland Senior Champions to perform in the historic open-air tribute concert honoring the legendary Joe Burke. Highly regarded as both a top-tier performer and a dedicated local educator, his repertoire features masterful settings of traditional airs like “The Brig of Edinburgh” alongside blistering regional renditions of classic reels like “The Salamanca” and Ed Reavy's “The Shoemaker's Daughter”.

‍ ‍Carrying the Lineage Forward

‍ ‍Pa’s deep roots in Glin connect his music directly to the regional heritage, lift, and phrasing made famous globally by the legendary Martin and Brendan Mulvihill. This afternoon, Pa and friends will explore the deep well of the West Limerick style, featuring the specific tunes and localized settings that celebrate the Mulvihill legacy.

‍ ‍In Conversation: Music & Lore

‍ ‍The concert features a special live interview. Renowned poet, author, and broadcaster Gabriel Fitzmaurice—who famously collaborated and recorded with Martin Mulvihill—will sit down with Pa. Together, they will discuss what connects Pa so deeply to this region, what inspires his playing, and the living history embedded within the tunes.

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‍ ‍‍Wednesday October 28

A West Limerick Homecoming: The Pure Drop in Glin

Derek Hickey

Prepare for an afternoon of blistering tunes and deep musical heritage with a spectacular showcase of native style back to its roots.

‍ ‍This special concert celebrates the unmistakable lift of the West Limerick tradition, anchored by one of the region's greatest contemporary legends returning to his home soil. Joined by two powerhouse masters of the craft, this performance promises an unforgettable masterclass in rhythm, driving energy, and regional flair.

‍ ‍‍Meet the Masters

‍ ‍Derek Hickey (Button Accordion) – The Voice of West Limerick

‍ ‍Hailing from nearby Adare, Co. Limerick, Derek Hickey's music is deeply intertwined with the soul and driving pulse of West Limerick. Mentored by the legendary local master Dónal de Barra, Derek is the reigning TG4 Gradam Ceoil Musician of the Year and is widely revered as one of the most prominent, influential box players in the history of Irish music. From his early days with the Shannonside Céilí Band to his iconic, lightning-fast duets with Frankie Gavin in De Dannan, Derek's playing defines the "pure drop." Now passing his regional heritage to the next generation at the University of Limerick's Irish World Academy, this concert is a true local homecoming for a West Limerick titan.

‍ ‍Liam Flanagan (Fiddle & Banjo)

‍ ‍A native of North County Cork, Liam Flanagan is one of the most respected, dynamic fiddle and banjo players in traditional music today. As a driving, rhythmic force behind the internationally acclaimed band North Cregg, Liam has toured globally and recorded extensively. Known for his flawless technique and an infectious ability to put a "lift" into any set of dance tunes, his North Cork style serves as the perfect, fiery counterpart to Derek’s West Limerick drive.

‍ ‍Caoimhín Ó Fearghail (Uilleann Pipes, Flute & Guitar)

‍ ‍Representing the rich, fluid heritage of the Waterford Gaeltacht, Caoimhín is a rare multi-instrumental genius from An Rinn. Named TG4 Young Musician of the Year and crowned Best Folk Instrumentalist at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, he is a master of the uilleann pipes who is also entirely self-taught on the flute and guitar. Having traveled the world with top-tier outfits like Danú, Caoimhín brings a deeply soulful, poetic foundation that rounds out this powerhouse trio.

‍ ‍When the local drive of Derek's West Limerick box meets the fiery lifting fiddle of Cork and the soulful pipes of the Waterford Gaeltacht, magic happens.

Thursday October 29

‍ ‍Sharing the Stage & Learning from Brendan Mulvihill

‍ ‍An Afternoon of Conversation, Music, and Dance with Billy McComiskey, Donna Long, Emily Martin, Shannon Dunne, and Cleek Schrey – Guided by Billy Keane

‍ This monumental event is a meeting of musical equals, bringing together a powerhouse lineup of masters who shaped the very landscape of transatlantic Irish traditional music. This special performance is designed as a dynamic blend of live conversation, peerless playing, and visual rhythm. Listowel author and columnist Billy Keane will join the artists guiding an informal, insightful conversation to prompt these legendary musicians to talk about what it truly means to share a stage, trade tunes, and build a lifelong legacy alongside the great fiddle icon Brendan Mulvihill.

‍Interwoven with these rich recollections, the artists will bring Brendan's vast, intricate repertoire and percussive dance legacy to life. The concert features two absolute titans of the genre who stood as Brendan's true artistic peers: All-Ireland Senior Button Accordion Champion and NEA National Heritage Fellow Billy McComiskey, who co-founded The Irish Tradition with Brendan in the 1970s, and premier pianist Donna Long, who spent more than a decade touring and recording as his definitive musical counterpart. Joining them are the standard-bearers who learned directly at his side—his dedicated apprentice Emily Martin, his brilliant student Cleek Schrey, and his frequent dance collaborator Shannon Dunne—offering a rare, behind-the-scenes look into an extraordinary creative circle.

• ‍Billy McComiskey (Button Accordion): An internationally revered master of the East Coast box style and multi-All-Ireland medal winner. As Brendan's lifelong musical brother and equal, his genius anchors this premier tribute performance.

• Billy Keane (Interviewer & Guide): Celebrated Irish Independent columnist and host of John B. Keane's pub in Listowel. A master of regional lore, his wit and curiosity will draw out the rich, untold stories of the Mulvihill musical dynasty.

• Donna Long (Piano): An elite traditional pianist who spent decades touring and recording alongside Brendan as part of their world-renowned fiddle-piano duo, providing the defining, peerless harmonic lift to his music.

• Emily Martin: A highly expressive roots musician who served directly as Brendan's formal apprentice, sharing the stage with him on numerous occasions and absorbing his deep transatlantic styling.

• Shannon Dunne: An acclaimed traditional dancer who performed frequently alongside Brendan, translating his intricate bowing and rhythms into visual percussive footwork. Shannon brings a profound connection to this legacy, having learned her steps directly from the legendary Devane Family of Connemara, who carry forward the pure tradition.

• Cleek Schrey: An internationally acclaimed hardanger fiddle player, composer, and sound artist who studied directly under Brendan, mastering his complex ornamentation and regional string idioms.

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Friday October 30

‍ ‍The Dance Masters: Steps on the Shannon Banks

‍ ‍Rhythm, Style, and Percussive Heritage

The Devane Family, Jonathon Kelliher, Shannon Dunne and John Joe Tierney

‍ Heading into the final stretch of the festival, Friday afternoon brings an explosive celebration of traditional percussive dance, charting the vital lineage of the art form. This performance traces its heart back to the historic influence of Jerry Mulvihill, who famously won his national titles dancing the distinct, lightness-focused Molyneaux (Munnix) style under the tutelage of Jeremiah Molyneaux himself. Bringing together icons of Sean-Nós, Munnix, and traditional step dancing, this concert showcases how rhythm and movement serve as a visual heartbeat to the music.

• ‍ ‍The Devane Family of Connemara: Globally renowned exponents of the sean-nós dance tradition, bringing the raw, fluid, and improvisational rhythmic footwork of the Galway Gaeltacht to West Limerick. They represent a vital link in this week's legacy, as the direct masters who taught Shannon Dunne, who in turn danced alongside Brendan Mulvihill.

• Jonathan Kelliher: A master of the traditional North Kerry "Munnix" style and Artistic Director of Siamsa Tíre, celebrated for preserving the unique, low-to-the-ground steps native to the region.

• Shannon Dunne: An acclaimed dancer, musician, and educator who bridges the transatlantic gap, widely raised for her rhythmic precision, dedication to community heritage, and her deep performance history alongside Brendan Mulvihill.

• John Joe Tierney: A phenomenal traditional dancer celebrated for his crisp technique, flawless timing, and exceptional stage presence.

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Saturday, October 31 at 6:00 PM – 9:00 pm

‍ ‍The Grand Transatlantic Finale: Masters of String & Box

‍ An Exceptional Concert Sequence and All-Star Gathering

‍ ‍The performance track reaches its magnificent crest with an extended, meticulously staged evening program. Bringing together the ultimate cross-border exponents of traditional music, the concert flows through historic pairings and premier solo sets, culminating in an extraordinary, unified all-star ensemble finale to close out the week.

• ‍Laoise Kelly (Harp): Opening the evening is the reigning pioneer of the modern traditional instrument Laoise Kelly. Regarded as the most significant harper of her generation and a TG4 Gradam Ceoil Musician of the Year, her driving, brilliant style sets a majestic foundation for the concert.

• Jesse Smith & Donna Long (Fiddle & Piano): A thrilling meeting of minds. Born in Baltimore, former Danú member Jesse Smith studied fiddle directly under Brendan Mulvihill. He couples his elite, classic phrasing—inherited directly from the master—with the incomparable chord structures of premier traditional pianist Donna Long.

• Billy McComiskey, Donna Long & Cleek Schrey (Accordion, Piano & Fiddle): The definitive core of the American East Coast traditional lineage reunites. All-Ireland Accordion Champion Billy McComiskey links up with his peerless peers to share the best Irish music from across the Atlantic.

• Willie Kelly & Siobhán Kelly (Fiddle & Flute): Devotees of the legendary, old-time style of East Clare and East Galway, this husband-and-wife duo brings a soulful, fluid traditional connection to the program. Notably, Willie and his brother Joe were also original students of Martin Mulvihill.

• The Grand Finale: To close out the week's headline concerts, the stage will expand as all featured masters and special festival guests combine for a massive, roof-raising session of classic traditional tunes.

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