Tag Archives: Luka Bloom

WHEN singer/songwriter Luka Bloom was first approached with the idea of headlining a concert in Ennis supporting homeless people he didn’t hesitate to say yes. The Kildare native, who has been living in Clare for the past decade, will be performing in the Clare Easter Concert this April 21 in glór. The concert, organised by homelessness campaigner Josie O’Brien, was due to be held last Christmas but was postponed due to Covid and Luka is now looking forward to getting on stage. Asked how he got involved with the show he laughs, “I don’t go looking to do benefit gigs,” before adding, “but you get the call and if my sister Anne Rynne or Josie or someone like that contacts me, you know you just have to do it. That it’s the right thing to do and you just say yes and you’re grateful to have been asked and very happy to participate.” Luka has long been an admirer of …

AN Ennis homelessness campaigner has said she has been helping working families who are being forced to make the choice between paying for their rent or mortgage and food, writes Jessica Quinn. Josie O’Brien was speaking to the Clare Champion ahead of next month’s ‘Clare Easter Concert’ in glór with funds raised being used to support local people in need and the homeless community. The concert takes place on April 21 with Luka Bloom headlining, and follows the cancellation of two planned Christmas concerts due to Covid-19. According to Josie the numbers of struggling people looking for help is rising all the time. “It’s awful, and it’s just continuous, there is definitely more of a need out there. I know people who are actually working and they have to make a choice between paying their mortgage or rent which is going up or buying food for their families. I help them as much as I can by giving them food …

A FESTIVE concert with a jam-packed line up of talent from Clare and beyond will raise funds to support the vulnerable this Christmas. For the past few years campaigner Josie O’Brien has organised a concert in glór to raise awareness of homelessness while also raising funds to purchase food hampers for those in need. Last year’s event was cancelled due to Covid-19, however the ‘Christmas Choir’ concert will return on December 18 of this year. Luka Bloom will feature as special guest alongside plenty more acclaimed talent, including Mike Hanrahan; The Fiddle Case; Eoin O’Neill and Clara Buteler; Sarah Ryan; Anne Rynne; Trevor Hansbury; John Fennell (Sean Nós); Sara Ryan (Sean Nós); Steo Wall: Fay Moloney and the Cork Penny Dinners High Hopes Choir with more guests to be announced. There will also be pre-concert music in the foyer with singer Susanne Murphy accompanied by Fiona Faulkes on piano. Kevyn Murphy is Master of Ceremonies for the evening. Josie told …

WELL known Ennistymon musician and actor, Steve Wall shared his personal experience of attending CBS Ennistymon in a school video to promote their open evening, which will be held next Tuesday night at 7pm. Last year, Steve was involved in a Creative Engagement Project with Transition Year students where he helped them to write lyrics for different music genres with a view to producing a song. Steve was following in the footsteps of well known entertainer Luka Bloom who has also worked with students in the school while local musician Jon O’Connell is overseeing this project this year. In fact, the collaboration between Luka and students resulted in the production of a compact disc. While CBS Ennistymon has a strong sporting tradition, principal, Mary Lyons stressed they also nurtured creativity of students who may not be interested in sport. As a former past pupil, Steve is no stranger to the school and he was delighted to contribute to the video …

Luka Bloom could be sinn ing to you in your local café next month, as the North Clare resident embarks on his second Clare Café Tour. As someone who thoroughly enjoys the café atmosphere, Luka Bloom decided last year to bring the music to the wonderful cafes around the county. The atmosphere they have for an intimate gig was one reason for bringing his folk song repertoire to the café stage but, he also said, he finds the proprietors are genuinely enthusiastic about creating a warm and homely atmosphere for the guests. Speaking about last year’s café tour, Luka said it went beyond all his expectations. “I was a little bit nervous about whether people would be open to it, and I was completely blown away. The interesting thing about the tour we did last year was that every single one of the café’s I played in last September, I don’t think one of them existed 10 years ago. They …

RENOWNED Irish singer, Luka Bloom and world champion surfer, Fergal Smith, both avid cyclists, will be in Ennistymon this Friday afternoon to launch National Bike Week 2014. Funded and co-ordinated by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Bike Week has some 400 cycling events nationwide and runs from June 14 through to June 22. Supported locally by Clare local authorities, Clare Local Sports Partnership and the An Taisce Green-Schools Travel Programme, the annual initiative features a range of events for all ages including family fun cycles, cycle to work and school events and bike fixing workshops. The launch event will take place at 1.30pm when over 100 children, parents and staff of Mol An Óige in Ennistymon will gather on their bicycles alongside Luka Bloom and Fergal Smith. The cyclists will meet at Ennistymon church car park at 1.30pm where they will cycle to and from Lahinch along the 4 kilometre Ennistymon–Lahinch Cycleway. Jane Hackett, National Coordinator of Green-Schools …