glór Ennis is delighted to announce that this year’s annual MÓRglór Award 2019 has been awarded to legendary concertina player, Mary MacNamara.
An inspiration to many musicians, both in Clare, nationally and internationally, and an outstanding ambassador for the traditional arts in Clare, Mary returned to live in her home place of Tulla, Co. Clare in 1995 and set herself the task of restoring traditional music to its rightful place as an integral part of the fabric of life in East Clare. In that, she has been successful as attested by the swathe of wonderful young musicians who are now enjoying the heritage of music in East Clare.
On Saturday 16 November, the people of Clare will come together to acknowledge a depth of gratitude to Mary for her enormous contribution to Traditional Irish Music with a concert in glór featuring Mary’s friends and family, and some of the most renowned traditional musicians and singers in the country and the county including Macalla, (Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh (Altan); Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich (ex RTE); Catherine McEvoy (Gradam Cheoil 2019); Mairín Fahy (Trad on the Prom); Patsy Broderick (Arcady); Maire O’Keeffe); The Boruma Trio; Peadar Ó Riada; Andrew MacNamara; Sorcha & Padraig Costello; Pat O’Connor; Mark Donnellan, Jim Corry & Brian Donnellan.
County Clare is renowned and celebrated globally for its rich musical heritage with music, song and dance all playing a central role in the cultural life of the county.
MÓRglór is an acknowledgement and celebration by glór of the wealth of professional & semi-professional artists, alongside the talented individuals, groups and communities within the county, all of whom provide a vital stimulus for the growth and development of Clare’s unique culture.
This prestigious annual award, named after Clare’s cultural ambassador and visionary, Muiris Ó Rocháin, is curated by glór in partnership with Dr. Tim Collins as producer of the event, and who coordinated the original concert in 2013. An anonymous panel of traditional arts practitioners and experts, assembled by glór, invites an Awardee, fitting with the objectives and spirit of MÓRglór. The previous MÓRglór recipients were Corofin Traditional Music Festival (2014); Eoin O’Neill (2015); Frank Custy (2016); Geraldine Cotter (2017) and Chris Droney, (2018).