Clonmel music festival continues this weekend

Clonmel World Music has introduced a new festival of music.

The inaugural Suirfest event will tcontinue this weekend with some top quality performances expected.

On Thursday February 2 there will be  aperformance by Donal Clancy at Moynihans followed by performances on Friday February 3 by Clonmel Story Slam at Moynihans  and Special Consensus on Saturday February 4 at Raheen House.

 
 
 
Suirfest will be a music event offering folk, bluegrass, blues and the spoken word.

Clonmel World Music is proud to be returning, in 2023, for its 14th year of promoting gigs in Clonmel.

The highly successful gigs are run by local music promoter Gerry Lawless, along with Chrissie Moylan, Tom Moylan, Angela Lawless and Roisin Lawless. Pat Doheny has provided the sound and lighting for all the shows.

LOCAL VENUES

Local venues used over the years for shows include Raheen House Hotel, Moynihans Bar, Hotel Minella, Bakers Bar and Hearns Hotel.

Clonmel World Music has brought top-class bands to Clonmel from all over Ireland, the UK, Newfoundland , the USA and Canada.

Gerry Lawless says: “I have promoted 121 shows in Clonmel for the last 13 years. It is a real pleasure to bring the artists to Clonmel, especially the musicians from America. Most of the artists had never heard of the town, and they all leave with great memories of Clonmel and its people. The most important aspect of it all for me is to foster a music listening environment. We look after the artists as well as possible, and we are able to get the best quality musicians to come to Clonmel because of the great public support from the people of Clonmel. I have also booked full Irish tours for selected artists from America, and I have booked four Irish tours for the new Makem and Clancy shows (Rory and Donal).”

 
The Clonmel World Music audience is comprised mainly of locals from Clonmel and its surrounding towns and villages, many of whom come to all of the gigs. The shows have also had music fans travelling to Clonmel from abroad and from all over Ireland for the gigs, bringing great exposure for the town amongst music fans who may not otherwise have come to Clonmel.

“A couple even travelled from Hungary especially for the last gig in December,” says Gerry.

SUIRFEST 2023

Clonmel World Music starts its 2023 programme with its own festival, Suirfest.

“It’s a great way to banish the winter blues, and end a long January on a positive note. The second weekend coincides with the new St Brigid’s Day Bank Holiday, so we hope to make It an annual event at this time,” says Gerry. 

All tickets are on sale on clonmelworldmusic.com.

Book early to avoid disappointment, as Gerry expects the shows to sell-out.

Thursday, February 2 Donal Clancy’s Folk & Blues Revue – Moynihans 9pm
Donal Clancy is a great blues aficionado and a very knowledgeable student of the genre.
Gerry Lawless asked him to perform a special commissioned blues show for Clonmel World Music in November 2019, entitled Donal Clancy’s Folk ‘n Blues Revue. He also performed the show at the annual Leap Castle Christmas Show in 2019.

The Folk ‘n Blues Revue show includes blues songs from legends Bob Dylan, Elizabeth Cotton, Rev Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Big Bill Broonzy among many others.

The show includes brilliant bluesy versions of classics Mr Bojangles, Dirty Old Town, and Candyman, The Blues run the game, along with some of Donal’s own compositions.
Donal tells of the history of the blues songs and his personal connection to them, and tells the stories of how he had met a few of these legends with his father in America.

The show really highlights his amazing guitar playing.
Donal Clancy is one of Ireland’s greatest ballad/folk singers, and he has toured extensively the last few years with Rory Makem, singing the songs of their fathers to capacity crowds all over Ireland