Connecting to Live Music

ENNIS could be in line to become one of three locations chosen for a major event as part of the Gathering celebrations next year. The first step in this will be the hosting of a free music event in the town later this month, with big name acts set to perform.
Love: Live Music is a nationwide celebration of music taking place to mark International Music Day on June 21 and as part of this, Ennis will host Clare Connections, a music gathering in the heart of the town.
Full details for the event will be announced next week, but The Clare Champion can confirm that the line-up already includes one of  Clare’s most popular groups, The Kilfenora Céilí Band. Also performing will be new trio The Teetotalers, comprising Martin Hayes, Kevin Crawford and John Doyle and Liveireland.com’s performers of the decade: Lúnasa.
According to Tracy Crawford of Bally O Promotions, one of the team of locals behind the event, “Love:live music is a day long celebration of all forms of music in Ireland through free live music events in cities, towns and villages all over the country. Love: Live Music aims to promote access to live music for everyone; demonstrate the importance of music in our lives and in our society and highlight the diversity of music practice in all musical genres in today’s Ireland.”
The event will take place at Abbey Street Car Park from 6pm on Thursday, June 21 and is supported by Ennis Town Council and local business. It will be a free-ticketed event.
The team behind the festival are Brian O’Neill, Johnny Flynn, Ollie Mullooly, Rita McInerney, Tadhg Lyne, Charlie Reynolds and Tracy Crawford.
Ms Crawford added, “The team came together to stage an event in Ennis for the Irish strand of music day, which is being held all over the world on June 21.  As a strong attraction to Ireland for visitors and Clare being the home of traditional music we decided to showcase the great talents we have in County Clare and are delighted to have a fantastic line up from the world of trad.”
This week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council saw the local authority lend their support to the plan. Ger Dollard, town manager, outlined that this event will receive national publicity support and assistance from Music Network in Dublin.
He explained, “It is also intended that three areas from those locations participating in 2012 International Music Day will be selected for financial support for a more extensive event as part of the Gathering celebrations in 2013.”
He described the potential to secure a more significant event as part of the Gathering celebrations as “a positive” in supporting the event. The council agreed to close Abbey Street Car Park on the day to facilitate the festival and it was recommended that financial support be granted, subject to a quality event taking place.