Noel O'Grady

On Bloomsday, Saturday, 16 June, 2012, I will be performing Noel O' Grady presents The Voice of Joyce.

It will take place in the city centre. Full details will be announced here within a few weeks. James Joyce has over 3,000 musical allusions in his works, had a wonderful, light, lyrical, tenor voice, and shared a voice tutor with his friend and later world-renowned tenor, John McCormack.

He was also an accomplished pianist with a vast knowledge of every genre of music. In song, story, music and verse, I will sing his life's story. It will be an evening event. Earlier that day, I hope to savour the high jinks that are special only to Bloomsday.

Tickets for this are expected to sell quickly as there will be an enormous influx into the capiial on that weekend as The Eucharistic Congress, in Dublin this year, will finish its week-long activities with Mass in Croke Park on the following day.

The xxxiii James Joyce International Symposium 2012, Joyce, Dublin and Environs, will take place on the same week, 10 - 16 June under the stewardship of Anne Fogarty, Professor of James Joyce Studies at U.C.D. and President of The International James Joyce Foundation.This is a significant event in the Joyce Calender and attracts several hundreds of Joyceans. There will be no James Joyce Summer School this year. For registration and detail, see: www.jamesjoyce2012.ie

One City One Book for Dublin 2012 is James Joyce's Dubliners.

And to celebrate, there is a  concert in the National Concert Hall on Friday, 13 April. Luke Kelly was spotted reading Joyce's Dubliners and the group decided there and then to call themselves The Dubliners. That was in 1962, 50 years ago. And The Dubliners, having recently  sold out two concerts in Christ Church Cathedral, will perform in this concert.

I was privileged to be asked to perform too.

I have been asked to sing The Lass of Aughrim, the song on which Dubliners' final story, The Dead, pivots. The Dead has been described by T.S. Elliot as one of the greatest short stories in Literature.

Other guests will be confirmed here later this month. If you're interested in this Celebratory Event, please book early as it will be sold out in advance. Tickets are excellent value at 25 Euros for the most expensive seats.

Dublin was recently awarded the designation of City of Literature.  The designation is a permanent one. It promises to be a delightful evening.

I'm privileged to have been asked to headline the above Festival with The Dubliners, Ralph McTell, Moya Brennan, Frankie Gavin, and Michael McGoldrick who has just completed a world tour with Mark Knofler.

The Festival runs from Wednesday 25 to 29 January and we're each appearing over five nights in Christ Church Cathedral and The City Hall. It's Dublin's biggest Trad Festival, attracting over 60,000 fans, many from overseas. Growing every year, it's well worth a visit.  I'm really looking forward to performing my own show on Wednesday 25 January.

I will interpret, in song and story, the lives, works, songs, loves and times of some of Ireland's great literary luminaries such as Patrick Kavanagh, Brendan Kennelly, W. B. Yeats, John B. Keane, Seán O' Casey, James Joyce, Thomas Moore, and Luke Kelly. The show will commence at 8. pm and conclude around 9.45 pm. There will be a 15 minute interlude.

It is Robbie Burns' Night and will be delightful to celebrate Scotland's National Bard in tandem with our own cultural luminaries.  Robbie was born on the 25 January, 1759. We welcome all our Scottish friends to this Evening.

Please click here for festival information and to book tickets.

Venue: Unitarian Church, Saint Stephen's Green on Sunday, 18th December, 2011.

I will perform my Christmas Concert with Colm "Stride" O' Brien in the Unitarian Church, commencing at 7 30pm. Colm is Ireland's leading Ragtime pianist.

Cost: 15 Euros.

To book, please click on contact , choose "Bookings" from the dropdown menu showing "info", and leave name(s), email, and number of tickets required. To complete the Title section, please enter Christmas Concert. Payment will be on the night. Pre-booking ensures seating, which is unreserved.

I will be performing, along with The Dubliners, in Mendelsohn's (pictured) Museum, as part of  the international launch of  the Templebartradfest. The event will be hosted by the Irish Ambassador, His Excellency Mr Dan Mulhall.

I will sing songs from the works of some of Ireland's great writers. I will include the beautiful poemsong much alluded to in Ulysses, titled The Last Rose of Summer, whose lyrics were written by Thomas Moore, who was born in Aungiers Street, a stone's throw from Temple Bar.

Its arrangement was written by John Stephenson who was born in Temple Bar itself, in Crane Lane.

And to complete a serendipity which Joyce would himself love, Mendelsohn used the air extensively in his opus 25. It's a luncheon launch.

Christy Moore is in concert in Vicar Street on Monday, 26 September, 2011. He rang me and asked if I'd like to be his guest singer on that evening. All proceeds will go to Concern.

We met when we performed in a magical celebratory event conceived, produced, and staged by Peadar Ó Riada in Cúil Aodha last month to mark the 80th birthday, and the 40 anniversary of the death of his dad, Seán.
 

Venue: Bewleys Café Theatre at 8 pm.

I'm performing with sublime guitarist/singer/composer Steve Cooney and fellow musician, accordion player, and producer, Tony MacMahon. The evening will have a strong traditional Irish music flavour.

Early booking is essential for this intimate space.

I had the privilege of being asked to perform in this magical event. Christy Moore, who was also performing, in his July/August website blog, said that it was, perhaps, the best festival he ever attended. From sunset on Sunday evening until sunrise the following morning, we were among artists of every genre who participated in and witnessed an amazing concert.

“When you’re asked:’Will you perform in a field in west Cork on the Monday of the August Bank Holiday weekend, at 3 in the morning, for 7 minutes, for nothing ? ', an instant 'yes' is the only answer to that daft request", smiled Phil Coulter when I asked him how he became involved. "And when", he added, "It was Peadar Ó Riada who was asking ...."

This magical pilgrimage is held every seven years. "Why every seven years?" asked John Murray on his RTE  radio morning show. " Because I said so." replied Peadar. Simple.  I love it. And so did John.

Go mbeirimid beo ag an am seo arís. May we still be here when this time comes round again.
 

Two evening events: 6:pm and 8 pm.

   I am honoured to be asked to headline the evening concert in St Stephen's Green from 6 30pm when I will sing songs significant in the life and works of James Joyce.

I will be joined by Dubliner, musician and poet, John Sheahan, singer, pianist and composer, Eamon Keane, and classical guitarist Michael Howard. The Eastern Harps, a Trad Band will open proceedings, performing ballads from Finnegans Wake. Danis Rose will be M. C. for this soirée which promises to be special.

The evening is sponsored by Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, and is supported by the OPW and the James Joyce Centre. Dublin received this honour in 2010 and it is a permanent designation. Three other cities have been similarly honoured: Iowa, Edinburgh, and Melbourne.

Venue: The Bandstand, St Stephen’s Green
 Free. Limited seating. No Bookings.

Later on that night, I will  feature in the now annual concert, Clicking on Joyce, devised and produced by actor Michael Shanley, at the Teachers’ Club Theatre, 36 Parnell Square West, where James Joyce received singing lessons from Vincent O’ Brien.

I will sing M'appari from the Sirens' Chapter in Ulysses, and also The Lass of Aughrim, from The Dead in Dubliners. A wonderful cast ensures a delightful musical evening sweep of Joyce’s works.

It's always well attended, and is free and starts at 8. pm. A lovely, laid-back session for all interested usually ensues.  Bí ann má’s féidir leat. Try and make it.

Venue: Liberty Hall, Dublin.      Cost: 15 Euros.

Event: A musical review, devised and adapted by Des Geraghty, celebrating the life and writings of Sean O' Casey.

Time: There will be a wine reception at 7.15 pm. The review will start at 7. 45pm.  Check out The Larkin Hedge School Programme 2011 on the net.

An unusual and entertaining evening is promised as a strong cast performs a moving, rousing tribute to the life and music of Seán O’ Casey.

I'll be singing O' Casy's delightfully naughty Down Where the Bees Are Humming, and the wonderfully woven As I Wait in the Boreen For Maggie. A charming evening is assured.

Venue: The James Joyce Centre, North Great Georges Street Dublin

Event: The IV James Joyce Research Colloquium.

I will interpret songs from James Joyce’s works. And he will include a song or two as gaeilge (in Irish). Joyce received Irish classes from Patrick Pearse, and on Christmas Day, after dining with his wife Nora, a few weeks before his death, he played some recording of songs in Gaelic.

Venue: The Deanery, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin

Event: Launch of Discovering Saint Patrick, a book by Marcus Losack.

I will sing, among other hymns and songs, Shaun Davey’s beautiful music score to Saint Patrick’s Breastplate.

Time: 6:00. pm