Ballyshannon Sean Cháirde’s Sean Gibbons and Barry Sweeny are back!

Old Friends or Sean Cháirde, after their sell out concert last year are making a welcome return to the  Abbey Arts Centre in Ballyshannon this Saturday evening for a special concert where they will again be joined by a number of special guests.

As many will know the two lads, Barry Sweeny and Sean Gibbons, while they also pursue solo work, have been collaborating on the musical front for many decades, stretching back to their school days and the Teddy Boys.

They are two of the best well known and respected musicians from the Erne Town and Sean admits that they did not get all the songs into their stage repertoire last year, but hope with a few friends to entertain local audiences with some more favourites, aided and abetted by “a few guests”.

ABOVE: Sean Gibbons (pic: Thomas Gallagher) 

It is their second time to hold the annual event and it was quickly decided that another concert was required, after their efforts of last year were so favourably received and supported.

Sean who teaches a number of musical instruments as well as gigging and writing his own music, said that he had had a busy on St Patrick's Day entertaining at both the Apartotel and Great Northern Hotels in Bundoran.

He told DonegalLive.ie: “Look, getting to do what you love as a working job, is a wonderful thing. The nature of the business will always mean there are peaks and troughs, but we have always enjoyed entertaining audiences and Sean Cháirde is a great opportunity to ply our wares on the great stage that is the Abbey.

“We have James McNamee back on fiddle and a friend of mine, Niall Bogue from Enniskillen on bass, as well as the hugely talented Shauna Mullan on vocals. 

ABOVE: Barry Sweeny, who is also a local county councillor (Pic: Thomas Gallagher) 

“And we are greatly pleased to be also joined by Morgan McNamee, a son of James’s who is only 16 years old and he will be drumming with us. That will also bring the average age of the band by 20 years,” he added jokingly.  

“The first time was a great success and we greatly appreciated that. There were many great songs but we could not get through them all in one night, even all the musicians, so I hope this weekend will also be a very enjoyable experience for all.

“We are looking forward to bringing you a good mix of folk, Irish Tunes and a decent helping of good old quality Rock'n'roll,” he concluded.

Sean also appealed for those wishing to get a good seat to book online in advance of the concert, for as is often the case with local audiences, they sometimes decide to turn up on the night and he does not want to see anyone disappointed. 

The booking link is here: https://abbeycentre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173652806/events/428648255/seats?zone=Seated

The concert takes place this Saturday, March 23, starting at 8pm with doors open at 7.30pm.