The Galway Sessions Festival (June 19-26) ) is being launched on Friday, May 27th by Ireland West Tourism CEO John Concannon, in one of Galway’s most famous music pubs, The Crane Bar on Sea Rd.

Nobody can argue with the statement that there isn’t a city or town in Ireland with the amount of music Galway has. For a sizable number of Ireland’s leading traditional musicians Galway is either ‘home’ in the real sense or a ‘home from home’, a place to come back to and revel in the music and perhaps find inspiration. Galway’s music pubs have lost none of their authenticity and spontaneity is the norm.

It is no wonder, therefore that 150 of the country’s leading artists have responded to the call of the Galway Sessions. They are just doing what comes naturally but what a treat for festival-goers? The programme offers a broad mix of styles, times and venues to suit all tastes, truly unmissable sessions!

150 musicians in 80 sessions over 8 days

Speaking prior to the launch, Galway Sessions Festival Director Mick Crehan explained that “our aim is to make the Galway Sessions a permanent feature in Galway’s summer festival calendar, giving Galway’s traditional music heritage the prominence it so richly deserves. We also aim to present a showcase of the kind of musical fare you can expect to find in Galway’s music pubs at any time of year.”

In Galway the sessions never end!

This is the first time that the Galway Sessions festival is being presented in the month of June, previously it was held in October. The sessions take place in 8 venues, all celebrated live music pubs – The Crane, Róisín Dubh, Monroe’s Tavern, The Quays, Tigh Neachtain, Tí Cóilí, Taaffes & Richardsons. It also features a free outdoor Céilí with the Tulla Céilí Band on Saturday June 25th at 4pm. Among the many highlights include such world-renowned artists as Mairtin O’Connor and Cathal Hayden, Seamus Begley and Jim Murray, Sliabh Notes, Sean Keane, TG4 Young Player of the Year Edel Fox, the Maimin Cajun Band, Jackie Daly and Paddy Keenan – a feast of talent!

The Galway Sessions is sponsored by Guinness and grant-aided by Ireland West Tourism. Other sponsors include the 8 participating venues, media supporters and Design Associates.
…/… Full festival events listing follows
For further details visit www.galwaysessions.com or contact:
Mick Crehan on 087 2245637
or Maria Moynihan on maria@galwaysessions.com or 087 2432644.

EVENT LIST

Bold = Feature of the Day
Sunday June 19th
Róisín Dubh
Paddy Keenan and Tommy Sullivan (9.00 pm - €15/€12.50)
Richardsons
Ríl (9pm - €8/€5)

Monday June 20th
The Crane
Seamus Begley and Jim Murray (9.30 pm upstairs - €10)
Gerry Whelan and Mick Carr (9.30 pm downstairs - Free)
Róisín Dubh
Solas (9.00 pm - €15/€12.50)
Monroe’s
Padraig O’Reiley, Damian O’Reiley and Richard Murray (9.30pm – Free)
Tí Cóilí
Brian McGrath and Aidan Flanagan (6pm – Free)
Anders Trajberg and Niall McQuaid (9pm – Free)
Taaffes
Kevin Whelan and Mick Carr (5.30pm – Free)
Liz Hanrahan, Mike Casey and Johnny O’Halloran (9pm – Free)
Richardsons
Ríl (9pm - €8/€5)

Tuesday June 21st
The Crane
John O’Halloran and Friends (9.30 pm upstairs – Free)
Róisín Dubh
Máirtín O’Connor, Cathal Hayden, Séamus O’Dowd and Gary O’Brian (9.00 pm - €15/€17.50)
Monroe’s
John Byrne and Peter Parsons – Set Dancing (9.30pm – Free)
Tí Cóilí
Liz Hanrahan and Johnny O’Halloran (6pm – Free)
Liz Hanrahan and Gerry Whelan (9pm – Free)
Taaffes
Kevin Whelan and Friends (5.30pm – Free)
Cú Chulainn (9pm – Free)
Richardsons
Dan Trayers (9pm - €8/€5)

Wednesday June 22nd
The Crane
Ailbhe and Colmcille O’Monacháin (9.30 pm upstairs – Free)
Róisín Dubh
Luka Bloom (9.00 pm - €22.50/€20)
Monroe’s
Sliabh Notes (9.30pm – €10)
Tí Cóilí
Padraic Rynne and Mirella Murray (6pm – Free)
Padraic Rynne and Mirella Murray (9pm – Free)
Taaffes
Anders Trajberg and Friends (5.30pm – Free)
Johnny Martin and Caroline Forde (9pm – Free)
Richardsons
Fergal McDonnagh (9pm - Free)

Thursday June 23rd
The Crane
Greg Cotter and Friends (9.30 pm downstairs – Free)
CD Launch Máirtín McCormack (9.30 pm upstairs)
Monroe’s
Don Stiffe and Padraig O’Reiley (9.30pm – Free)
The Quays
The Máimín Cajun Band (Midnight - €10)
Tigh Neachtain
Tommy Keane and Jackie McCarthy (6pm – Free)
Tí Cóilí
Paul Bradley and Cathal Kearns (6pm – Free)
Liz Hanrahan and Johnny O’Halloran (9pm – Free)
Taaffes
Mary Shannon and Friends (5.30pm – Free)
Crazy Crows (9pm – Free)
Richardsons
OD Lynch and Guests (9pm - Free)

Friday June 24th
The Crane
Liz Hanrahan and Johnny O’Halloran (7pm downstairs – Free)
Paul Bradley and Martin Quinn (9.30 pm upstairs – Free)
Monroe’s
Cú Chulainn (9.30pm – Free)
The Quays
Paddy Ciaróg and Friends (5pm - Free)
Tigh Neachtain
Jackie Daly and Paul DeGrae (6pm – Free)
Tí Cóilí
Enda Scahill, Mike McCabe and Ronan O’Flaherty (6pm - Free)
Anders Trajberg and Friends (9pm – Free)
Taaffes
Gerry Whelan and Mick Power (5.30pm – Free)
Liz Hanrahan, Mike Casey and Johnny O’Halloran (9pm – Free)
Richardsons
Niamh Parsons (9pm - €10)

Saturday June 25th
The Crane
Bernie O’Mahony and Ruth Dillon (9.30 pm downstairs – Free)
Verena Commins and Bill Wright (9.30 pm upstairs – Free)
Monroe’s
Charlie Harris, Des Mulkere and Paul Wilkins (9.30pm – Free)
Tigh Neachtain
Cathal Kearns and Cormac Cannon (6pm – Free)
Tí Cóilí
Edel Fox and Friends (6pm - Free)
Oliver Diviney and Paddy Ciaróg (9pm – Free)
Taaffes
Kevin Whelan and Friends (5.30pm – Free)
Shop Street Céilí Band (9pm – Free)
Richardsons
Ríl (9pm - €8/€5)
Spanish Parade
Outdoor Céilí with the Tulla Céilí Band (4pm – Free)

Sunday June 26th
The Crane
Sean Ryan and Pat Coneeley (1pm – Free)
Greg Cotter and Friends (9.30 pm downstairs – Free)
John O’Halloran and Ailbhe O’Monacháin (9.30pm upstairs – Free)
Róisín Dubh
Sean Tyrell (5.00 pm – Free)
Sean Keane (9.00 pm - €20/€17.50)
Monroe’s
James Sheridan and Friends (9.30pm – Free)
The Quays
Paddy Ciaróg and Friends (6pm – Free)
Tí Cóilí
Paul Bradley and Martin Quinn (9pm – Free)
Taaffes
Anders Trajberg (5.30pm – Free)
Sean Nós with Johnny Connolly, Seosamh Ó Neachtain and Mattie Joe Shéamuis (7pm – Free)
Johnny Martin and Caroline Forde (9pm – Free)
Richardsons
Ríl (9pm - €8/€5)