Iarla Ó Lionáird

Promising to be a very memorable night, twice Grammy nominated Iarla Ó Lionáird – vocalist with critically-acclaimed band The Gloaming – joins forces with renowned pianist/composer Cormac McCarthy and acclaimed clarinet maestro Matthew Berrill. Expect an intimate evening of spellbinding song, performed with great delicacy by these superb musicians.

Iarla Ó Lionáird has carved a long and unique career in music both internationally and in Ireland. From his iconic early recording of the vision song ‘Aisling Gheal’ as a young boy to his groundbreaking recordings with Dublin’s Crash Ensemble and New York’s Alarm Will Sound, he has shown a breadth of artistic ambition that sets him apart in the Irish Music fraternity. 

Ó Lionáird has performed and recorded with such luminaries as Peter Gabriel, Nick Cave, Robert Plant and Sinead O’Connor. His unique singing style has carried him to stages and concert halls all over the world, from New York’s Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House and beyond. His voice has also graced the silver screen, with film credits extending from The Gangs of New York to Hotel Rwanda and most recently as featured singer in the film Brooklyn starring Saoirse Ronan.  

“Magnificently expressive” – The New York Times
“One of the most dramatic voices in contemporary music” – The Guardian 

Cormac McCarthy is a pianist, composer, arranger and conductor from Cork, Ireland. Noted for a diverse stylistic palette, and equally at home in a variety of genres, his music is said to “defy categorisation” (Lyric FM). In 2010, having completed his Masters degree in composition at the MTU Cork School of Music, Cormac received the prestigious Bill Whelan International Music Bursary, an award earmarked for young Irish composers studying abroad. His compositions and arrangements have been performed and recorded by artists including Phil Woods, Jeff Hamilton, Mick Flannery, Martin Hayes, Andrea Corr and many more. 

Matthew Berrill is a sought-after musician and is a member of many ensembles in the jazz, improvised and traditional Irish worlds, including Ensemble Ériu and the Irish Memory Orchestra. He teaches in numerous music education projects throughout Galway County, was conductor of the University of Galway Concert Orchestra and is a founder, teacher and ensemble director in the Headford Music Works teaching and performing scheme.