Kilkenny Arts Festival have announced that one of the most innovative musicians in Ireland – and a festival favourite in recent years – Martin Hayes will return to the Marble City this August for a mouthwatering trio of concerts in the company of two musicians celebrated for their genre-bending versatility: guitarist Steve Cooney and pianist and composer Cormac McCarthy.
Presented by Kilkenny Arts Festival in association with The Watergate Theatre these performances will take place on 14-15 August. Audience numbers will be strictly limited in accordance with Government guidelines and all Covid-19 protocols will be in place.
Whether performing solo or as a founder member of celebrated ensembles such as The Gloaming and the Martin Hayes Quartet, the acclaimed fiddle player is a restless innovator, always looking to take traditional music in exciting new directions. These concerts are sure to be a festival highlight.
It was also announced today that festival audiences will have a chance to see The Dead, An Opera on the big screen in the comfort of The Watergate on the 15 August, presented by Breda Cashe Productions.
An original production from The Performance Corporation in association with Breda Cashe Productions, The Dead, An Opera is an acclaimed musical drama based on James Joyce’s best-loved short story.
Tapping into the deep vein of musical references running through the original story, The Dead takes us on a journey exploring life, love and death. Acclaimed Irish composer Ellen Cranitch and award-winning playwright Tom Swift have created a pared-back musical telling of Joyce’s classic story that is by turns theatrical, evocative and moving.
Directed by Jo Mangan, a talented cast of Susannah De Wrixon, John Molloy, Kathy Rose O’ Brien and Rachel O’ Byrne, accompanied by a quartet of Katie O’ Connor, Jane Hughes, Una O Kane and Aoife Durnin, conjure the atmosphere of a Christmas party inhabited by Joyce’s vibrant characters.
Martin Hayes and friends – live performances
- Saturday 14 August 6pm
- Saturday 14 August 9pm
- Sunday 15 August, 8pm
All shows take place at The Watergate Theatre with tickets priced €25 available directly from kilkennyarts.ie.
