Glorious tenor voices that have touched the hearts of audiences in cathedrals and concert halls around the world can be heard in the intimate and hallowed setting of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Scariff, leading into the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Singing with one voice, the Celtic Tenors are a most successful classical crossover to emerge in Ireland in recent decades.
Classically trained singers, Matthew Gilsenan, James Nelson and Daryl Simpson will perform both Celtic, classic, a capella and contemporary songs with background commentary, peppered with good humour. Aside from singing, each member of the trio brings his own distinctive background from engineering to column writing to mentoring and developing young talent.
‘This really special performance on Thursday 1st August will be the first event of the Harbour Festival,’ said Festival Co-Founder, Harry O’Meara. ‘The church performance always attracts its own special and appreciative audience and we believe this year will certainly not disappoint but we encourage those interested to book in advance. It is the only paid music event throughout the festival,’ he said.
Headlining the free music events and new to the Festival is Springsteen – A Tribute (Fri night) Based in Ireland the 6-piece band will rock the Square in Scariff and exude the passion of ‘The Boss’s timeless music. Familiar with big stage events, the group includes session musicians who have worked as sidemen for Van Morrison, the late Sinead O’Connor, The Waterboys and Mary Black.
Mundy & Paddy Casey are back (Saturday night) but this time they will perform together to round off an unforgettable night. From busking to the open mic circuit in the early nineties, it was Mundy’s early songs ‘Gin and Tonic Sky’ and ‘Romeo and Juliet’ that led to his meteoric rise in popularity. Since then he has travelled all over Ireland, the UK, Europe, Asia, Australia, the United States and Canada and played support to Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris and the Pogues.
On the other hand, Paddy Casey was discovered by Sony scout, Hugh Murray in Dublin and got a recording contract in his twenties. Eventually taken in by U2s management company, Principle Management, his success in Ireland was huge. He headed abroad, particularly in the States where he performed on the Late Show with David Letterman. In 2021, his double album Turn this Ship Around was released with strings and piano.
Scariff Harbour Festival 2024 runs from Thursday 1st August – Sunday 4th August. Other free musical events include: Drops of Green with their great mix of ballads; Quarter Jazz, a modern ensemble; Feakle man Jim King, the Thirsty Crows, Michael Grogan Trad Group and the Kilfenora Céili Band with the inimitable PJ Murrihy.
(Tickets for the Celtic Tenors are available from O’Meara’s totalhealth Pharmacy, Scariff (061-921028) or on line from www.scariffharbourfestival.ie Early booking is advisable)
