June 17th – 23rd, 2013
www.galwaysessions.com

This week–long annual festival hosts a packed programme of events across the historic city of Galway including concerts, recitals, parades, street entertainment & oodles of sessions in the city’s many famed traditional music pubs.

To celebrate this special year of the Gathering the artists featured in the programme are predominantly Irish traditional musicians born outside Ireland or those who have spent the majority of their lives in exile. These include such household names as John Carty, Brian Rooney, The Conneelys, The McCartys, The Carberrys, Kieran Fahy, Kevin Crawford & Cillian Vallely, Colm Gannon, Jessie Smith, John Blake, Emmet Gill, Dave Munnelly, Winnie Horan & Mick McAuley.

The centre–piece of the festival will be a special Gathering concert on June 22nd at Galway’s Town Hall Theatre featuring the above artists.The festival will also explore the music of exile and emigration throughout its programme a highlight being a special show at the Crane Bar by Sean Tyrrell portraying the life and work of transported United Irishman, John Boyle O’Reilly. Other acts appearing at the festival include local favourites Noreen Gavin–O’ Sullivan and Sean Gavin, Tradiohead and Norianna Kennedy along with Pauline Scanlon, Meabh O’Hare,  Jefferson Hamer plus the powerful and incomparable Beoga.

As in previous years the Scottish connection remains strong, with an array of performers travelling from Galway’s cultural partner Stirling to take part in the festival. Due to popular demand the much loved and world renowned Big Rory and his bad doggie Ochie will make a welcome return to the streets of Galway, simply the best street entertainment you will see anywhere.

For further information visit the website located at www.galwaysessions.com or Tel: +353(0)872245637