Tag Archives: Ennis Gospel Choir

SHE has travelled all over the world with her music, but singer/songwriter Susan O’Neill has never forgotten her Ennis roots. From early years performing as one the youngest members of the Ennis Brass Band and the Ennis Gospel Choir she has gone on to headline solo shows, take the stage with the likes of Sharon Shannon and Mick Flannery and been an invited guest to an array of artists including Phoebe Bridgers, Valerie June and The Teskey Brothers. Susan recently released her new solo album ‘Now in a Minute’ and speaking to The Clare Champion ahead of an upcoming show on October 11 in glór she reflects fondly on her younger days in Ennis and the musical experiences she learned from. She recalls, “One of the most important things I learned from was the kindness given by people like the McAllister family in the brass band who taught me to read and write music, Bernard McAllister in particular. He managed …

THE Clare launch of the CD, Don’t Be Afraid Of The Light That Shines Within You, will take place on Saturday night at the Templegate, at which Luka Bloom will play. This CD is being sold in aid of the Samaritans and broadcaster, John Cooke will be MC at the event, which runs from 7pm to 9pm. Spokesman for the Clare and Ennis branch of the Samaritans, Enda Sheehy said, “Luka Bloom is going to be there, the Ennis Gospel Choir will be there and there’s a few local traditional musicians playing at the start of the night – Eoin O’Neill, Briege O’Gorman and Noreen Lynch. Admission is free for anyone who wants to come along.” Speaking to The Clare Champion this week, Luka Bloom said he is looking forward to the evening. “It’s a free event for the Samaritans to announce the release of this beautiful CD and to get a bit of awareness for them and the amazing work …

Friday marks the annual Culture Night throughout Ireland and once again Clare is very much to the fore with over 25 free events around the county. The organisers of Culture Night, the Department of Arts, have kept last year’s theme Explore – Experience – Enjoy due to it’s phenomenal success. Ennis sees the largest array of Culture Night activities. The phenomenally successful Riches of Clare concert series will provide a free concert in Glór featuring Mike Butler, Damien O’Reilly and Blackie O’Connell, to name but a few musicians. Music will also be provided by the Jaskane Café Trio in the Clare Museum and there will be a piping recital by renowned uilleann piper David Power in the Friary on Abbey Street, Ennis. There will also be music on the streets of Ennis provided by the Ennis Gospel Choir, Comhaltas and by a members of the international community in Ennis. Music dominates throughout the county also with traditional music happening in …

This year’s Ennis Street Festival line-up is branching out in new directions, as it introduces Ennis Sounds Good, a parallel music festival, and offers the public a modern take on dancing at the crossroads. The festival takes place from July 4 to 6 and this year’s latest addition, Ennis Sounds Good, will mean the fun and spectacle of Ennis Street Festival continues. With 36 gigs across 15 venues, it is sure to be a success. Highlights include Mikey and the Scallywags, Drizzle, Skazz, The O’Malleys, DJ Will Softly, Keith McDonald, Buck Tailor, La Orquestra Kalamares, blues, folk, ska, salsa, world music, Spanish music, trad and more, culminating in a big festival music finale on Sunday, July 6. One of the other new elements to this year’s festival is a 21st-century interpretation of the traditional custom of dancing at the crossroads. Through participation in modern art forms and dance, dancing at the crossroads will take place in O’Connell Square with the Ennis …

By CAROL BYRNE A CLARE group of musicians have made it through to the semi-final of the Le Crunch Apple of My Eye song contest with Today FM, having been selected from nearly 1,000 entries nationwide. Ardsollus, featuring Ennis Gospel Choir, have been selected as one of the 10 semi-finalists. The group is made up of Daithí Moore on bazouki and lead vocals; Tony Walker on keyboards; Tola Custy on fiddle; Siobhán Peoples on fiddle; Blackie O’Connell on uilleann pipes; Zyn O’Halloran on harp; Alf Duggan on dobro and Connor Myers on drums. Ardsollus, which was only formed weeks before the competition opened to entries, chose to do a cover of Rudimental’s Feel the Love, which was selected by competition judges to make it through to the semi-final on The KC Show last week. Tony, who is from Quin, said they have put a trad feel into their version of Feel the Love and he outlined how their entry came about. …