Two exciting traditional music concerts at Oriel Centre in Dundalk in coming weeks
Pádraig McGovern and Sabina McCague launch Starry Lane to Monaghan, while David Munnelly returns alongside Dutch flute player Les Muller
Two very exciting traditional music concerts are lined up for the Oriel Centre at Dundalk Gaol in the coming weeks.
Pádraig McGovern and Sabina McCague launch Starry Lane to Monaghan
The Oriel Centre said it is delighted to welcome the wonderfully talented duo of Pádraig McGovern (uilleann pipes) and Sabina McCague (fiddle/ harp), with the launch of their new album ‘Starry Lane to Monaghan’, on Friday 1 May from 8pm to 9.30pm.
Accompanied by guitar maestro John McCartin, this promises to be an unforgettable night of unforgettable music.
Sabina McCague is one of many multi instrumentalists on the music scene today. Equally proficient on harp and fiddle, she holds a Bachelor of Music Degree with the Conservatory of Music and Drama, DIT, and has performed at many festivals in Ireland, Europe and the USA.
Pádraig McGovern is from Leitrim and was taught by Cavan piper P.J. Flood. He has recorded with numerous artists including Peter Carberry , his band ‘Garadice’ (2018 & 2023) and a collaboration with Ryan Molloy on the ‘tempered album’ was nominated in the best folk track category at the 2022 RTE folk awards.
He has worked as a researcher/performer on many projects including ‘The Leitrim Equation 4’ and ‘The Pipes, The Pipes’, a show devised by Dónal Dineen and produced by Siobhán O’ Malley. Padraig has also performed with many household bands and artists including Lúnasa, Dervish, Téada, Gatehouse, Steve Cooney, John Carty, Dónal Lunney and Ryan Molloy.
Tickets are €12 / €10 concession, and are available on www.orielcentre.ie
Les Muller & David Munnelly
David Munnelly returns to the Oriel Centre on 16th May 2026, from 8pm to 10.30pm, to deliver what promises to be yet another stunning performance, this time alongside Dutch flute player les Muller.
They recently released a recording together ‘Middle of Life’ – which is the second album from les and David and was recorded in October 2024 in ‘t Pakhuis in the lovely town of Vianen, the Netherlands.
Much of the material was arranged in Matt Molloys pub, inspired by the beauty of Ireland’s west coast.
Their musical language is a continuation of the love and respect they have for the Irish and Breton tradition, further influenced by music from North America and Sweden, played with great depth and freedom.
Les Muller is considered one of the best folk flutists on Dutch soil. From a young age he came into contact with traditional Irish and Breton music and the wooden flute.
While Irish and Breton continued to form the heart of his style and repertoire, many influences were added over time. He worked within various projects with musicians from all disciplines of classical, jazz and world music.
David Munnelly is an accordionist from Belmullet Co Mayo. His unique musical voice is built on deep foundations, starting with influences from his immediate family, especially from his grandmother who played melodeon.
To that was quickly added a virtuoso swing, with echos of Irish-American music from the 1920s and 1930s full of swing. Against these roots in the Irish tradition, a refined and contemporary accompaniment with basses and cords is placed, with which he creates a unique, rich and unforgettable sound.
David is considered one of the most influential Irish accordionists of his generation: he has played with the legendary Irish bands De Dannan and The Chieftains, and was the frontman of The David Munnelly Band for 15 years.
In recent years, his skills as a composer and arranger have come to the fore, and David is now working on a wide range of musical projects, ranging from the award-winning pan-European accordion quintet Samurai, through his experimental solo compositions, to the energetic traditional Irish band Morga.
Tickets are available at www.orielcentre.ie