Three Clare musicians will unite for a musical performance inspired by the climate crisis in collaboration with a Nova Scotian artist
‘Cataclysm’ is a multi-media experience combining live Irish traditional music with visual art – using projections of paintings to create a performance to address the global climate crisis, and to explore humanity’s intimate but fraught connections to the natural world.
The music will be performed by fiddler Maeve Donnelly, singer and flute player Nuala Kennedy, and singer, uilleann piper and accompanist Seán Lyons – all of whom are based in County Clare.
The visual art has been created by artist Eva McCauley, who is a Canadian painter and printmaker who spends much time in Ireland.
McCauley has visited Ireland eight times, as artist-in-residence at the Cill Rialaig Artist Retreat in Co. Kerry, on five occasions, and in County Clare. Much of her imagery is inspired by the time she spent in Ireland as artist-in-residence, living by the Atlantic Ocean.
Irish traditional music will be performed directly in response to the imagery, inspired by the theme of the climate crisis.
The concert will take place in Kilkishen Cultural Centre on Friday the 10th of November at 8pm. Tickets are €15 and can be purchased on the night or pre-booked through kilkishenconcert@gmail.com. Seating is limited. The event is supported by the Clare Arts Office.
Maeve Donnelly, from East Galway, is now living in Co. Clare. She has been playing music since she was a child and won her first All-Ireland Fiddle Competition when she was nine. She has recorded two solo CDs –the first CD is self-titled, and the second CD ‘Flame on the Banks’ was recorded with Tony McManus. She recorded ‘The Thing Itself’ with Peadar O’Loughlin. She has recorded and toured with various groups over the years including the group ‘Moving Cloud’.
Seán Lyons is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and uileann piper born and bred in Co. Clare. Having won Clare’s Got Talent in 2017, He has gone to perform at venues and festivals right across Ireland as well as the US, UK and Italy. Drawing songwriting inspiration from the likes of Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan and Declan o’Rourke while keeping his Irish traditional roots close to heart. He released his debut recording ‘Juliana’ EP’ in 2023. His music has been described as ‘truly wonderful and refreshing’ by Stockton’s Wing frontman Mike Hanrahan, while legendary Cork balladeer Jimmy Crowley has haid this is a ‘fulsome range to his voice’. Seán is also a member of traditional folk trio Merfolk along with Aisling Lyons and Dermot Sheedy.
World-renowned traditional singer and flute player Nuala Kennedy grew up playing Irish music in Dundalk, County Louth and now lives in Ennis, County Clare with her Appalachian singer husband A. J. Roach and their two young children. Her newest release is an atmospheric duo album of songs recorded with Eamon O’ Leary entitled ‘Hydra’. Nuala’s fifth solo album ‘Shorelines’ (2023) was recorded in and inspired by the rugged coastline of Clare and her experiences since she moved there in 2019.
At its core is a powerhouse touring trio with Clare fiddle maestro Tara Breen (Chieftains) and Dublin guitarist Tony Byrne (Danu). Nuala is known for her creative reworking and reimagining of traditional songs and for her unique Irish flute style, formed in Dundalk and honed in her long-time adopted home of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Eva McCauley is a painter and printmaker living in Bear River, Nova Scotia, Canada, who has exhibited her work widely, in Canada as well as Ireland. She considers Ireland her second home and has visited there eight times, usually with a painting project in the works.
She exhibited her print media installation “In/Visible” at the Limerick Printmaker’s Gallery in 2009, and in the Wandesford Quay Gallery in Cork City in 2012. She has been artist-in-residence on five occasions at the Cill Rialaig Artist Project at Bolus Head near Ballinskelligs, Co. Kerry. McCauley is the recipient of many awards and grants, the most recent being a Nova Scotia Creation Grant. Her work can be found in many permanent art collections such as the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (her work is in Canadian Embassies worldwide), the Nova Scotia Art Bank and the UNB Art Centre Permanent Collection. She is looking forward to returning to Ireland for her 6th artist residency at Cill Rialaig in October 2025.