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23 Oct 2025
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23 Oct 2025
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Eoin Coughlan and Brian Morrissey, The OARS, with Grammy award winners Rhiannon Giddens and Dirk Powell and Dirk’s daughter Amelia, at the launch of their album in Rockys
Music fans were treated to an incredible night’s music in Rocky’s bar in Nenagh last Wednesday night at the launch of the debut album from The OARS, featuring local musician Brian Morrissey and Eoin Coughlan.
Not only one, but two multi-award winning Grammy artists showed up on the night to join The OARS on stage.
Nenagh native and renowned multi-instrumentalist Brian, has joined forces with critically acclaimed singer / songwriter and guitarist Eoin Coughlan, to create a fresh and exciting new sound in the contemporary folk genre.
They travelled to Louisiana last October to record their debut album with multi-Grammy winning producer and musician, Dirk Powell and Dirk travelled to Nenagh last Wednesday to perform at their Nenagh launch.
They were also joined on the night by Dirk’s daughter Amelia, who comes from music royalty as not only are both her parents world-class musicians, her grandfather was Dewey Balfa, a master of Cajun music and a revered cultural ambassador for Louisiana.
Amelia performed backing vocals and additional percussion in the recording studio and those in attendance in Rocky’s got a chance to hear Dirk and Amelia’s stunning additions to the sound of The OARS.
The audience was already enraptured by the music of The OARS and the bursts of Louisiana flair from Dirk and Amelia when they were treated to an unexpected surprise.
Double-Grammy winner and Pulitzer Prize winner Rhiannon Giddens, joined the musicians on stage to perform some rip-roaring American Old-Time music. Giddens has been described by American Songwriter as “one of the most important musical minds currently walking the planet”.
Those in attendance were simply blown away by the virtuosity on display from all five performers.
The proprietors of Rocky’s, Martin and Helen Slattery, stated that “it was one of the greatest nights of music that we have ever hosted”, which was quite the statement as their previous establishments were revered musical hotspots - the Railway Bar and the Kenyon in Nenagh and the Rob Roy in Cobh.
The OARS will return to Nenagh later in 2024 and it promises to be another truly memorable night of music and song.
The OARS debut album is now available for pre-order and will be available for purchase / download on Friday, February 16.
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