Limerick gig to rekindle ‘fond memories’ for Grammy Award shortlisted singer

A SINGER-songwriter from Limerick who had a song shortlisted for the 2024 Grammy Awards is set to perform at an intimate county venue.

Áine O’Gorman from Old Pallas, Pallasgreen, is releasing her own music since 2019. Last year, her single These Empty Rooms about her late mother Margaret was shortlisted for the Grammy Awards. 

Áine and friend, Cork-based singer-songwriter Sarah Buckley, are performing in An Siopa Milseán, Abbeyfeale, on Saturday, May 31. 

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“My parents, the late Bill and Margaret O’Gorman, had the pub O’Neills in Old Pallas, but the locals would have called it Gormans - they seem to drop the ‘O’ in Limerick! We bought it and never changed the signage, we had it for around 11 years. 

“My sister Ciara and I used to perform in the lounge. I still have fond memories of it and the customers, when I would come home from school - it was a real family-run pub. 

“There are four girls, and my sister Evelyn and Mary also play music. My parents were very musical, both of them. My dad had a lovely singing voice and my mother played piano.

“I wrote the song, These Empty Rooms, about my mother Margaret, who died tragically just after they had sold the pub over 20 years ago. I released the song in 2022 and it took that long to write it, as the grief was very painful.”

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Saying that her “connection is still strong to Limerick”, Áine mentioned that she is looking forward to the upcoming gig in Abbeyfeale, saying: “it has been such a long time since I’ve been there, but it will be like a little homecoming as we have such lovely memories from living there”.

Tickets are €12 each and it promises to be a lively night with “authentic voices”.