Renowned musician Méabh Ní Bheaglaoích to perform in Goresbridge concert

A renowned traditional Irish musician will take to the stage of Ionad Dara in Goresbridge next month.

Méabh Ní Bheaglaoích, (Méabh Begley) daughter of the late Seamus will perform with Niamh Varian-Barry and Donogh Hennessy on September 1 at 8.30pm.

Méabh ní Bheaglaoich was born into the renowned Begley family of Baile na bPoc. Their influence has unequivocally shaped her energetic instrumental playing, her emotive and sensitive singing style and have supported her transition into a passionate composer and songwriter.

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Méabh has enjoyed a full time career in traditional Irish music since the age of 21 and has performed extensively at home and across the world in countries such as Japan, Taiwan, America, Canada, Russia and throughout Europe. As a recording artist, Méabh released her debut album Cuisle with Matt Griffin in 2015 and in 2021 released Mise le Meas, her first solo effort, to high critical acclaim.

She has been in high demand as a tutor and has delivered workshops in accordion and song at various international festivals including the Brittany Winter School in France, the Minnesota Irish Music Weekend, the Timmy McCarthy set dancing festival in Tonder, Denmark, as well as at Féile Séamus Creagh in Newfoundland.

Méabh has been a regular fixture on radio and television including appearances on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show, BBC Alba’s Port, TG4’s Fleadh 2020 and Slán le 2020, Ceol na nGael and Bláth na hÓige to be released in 2023.

Méabh will be accompanied on stage by Niamh Varian-Barry. Niamh is the former lead singer of American supergroup ‘Solas’ and a multi-instrumentalist. She is a musician and composer from Cork City with a unique and individual style. 

Niamh has a reputation as an exceptional communicator of the arts. Her powerful vocals have been praised world-wide and she is a trained viola and fiddle player, holding a Masters in Music Performance from the Royal Irish Academy of Music. She is a founding member and leader of Dave Flynn’s Irish Memory Orchestra and the Kerry Scotia Ensemble. She has performed with and alongside musicians like Martin Hayes, Máirtín O’Connor, Béla Fleck, Dick Gaughan, Lúnasa  and Altan amongst others.  Niamh has performed at prestigious venues, including New York’s Carnegie Hall with numerous Festival and TV appearances. 

Méabh and Niamh will be joined by Donogh Hennessy, a musician, composer, music producer and full time studio engineer who has been working mostly with Irish traditional and folk music for about 35 years. He’s perhaps best known for his recorded and live work with artists like Lunasa, Sharon Shannon, Lumiere, Seamus Begley and Pauline Scanlon, although there have been many many others.

Support on the night will be provided by local musician and singer, John Tully. John is well known to Kilkenny audiences with many musical connections throughout the city and county. He studied classical guitar and Flute. Constantly building on this classical foundation, John has also a keen interest in the writing of Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan. 

Tickets are €22 and can be purchased from Gerry Kavanagh on (086) 0443152 or Eventbrite.ie