Music notes from Ireland No.2

Ireland's classical music summer festivals
By Simon Taylor

In the region of 430,000 Spanish people visit Ireland every year. I suspect most of these are drawn by the promise of our spectacular coastline and unique history, both very effectively marketed internationally by such initiatives as 'The Wild Atlantic Way'and 'Ireland's Ancient East'. The culturally minded may come for our literary heritage or our traditional music, but I doubt many Spanish visitors think of Ireland as a destination for classical music. However the country has much to offer such potential musical tourists, with an almost continuous annual festival calendar from May to October. As many of these festivals take place in Ireland’s most scenic and historic locations there is plenty of opportunity to blend great music with experiencingIreland’s justifiably celebrated scenery and hospitality.

Taking a broadly chronological approach we start with the West Wicklow Chamber Music Festivalin mid- May which is based mainly in the beautiful setting of Russborough House overlooking Blessington Lakes, just 20 miles from Dublin. In early June the capital has its own Dublin International Chamber Music Festival with top-class Irish and international artists performing in a variety of venues from the historic to the unexpected, a legacy of the festival’s origins as 'Music in Great Irish Houses'. The renowned Barcelona-based Cuarteto Casals make a welcome return this year.

One of the most eye-catching venues for any of Ireland’s music events is Lismore Castle in Co. Waterford, venue for the opera performances that are central to the Blackwater Festivalat the end of May. At the same time the 13th century cathedral of St. Flannan is the core venue for the Killaloe Music Festivalin the picturesque town at the south end of Lough Derg on Ireland's longest river, the Shannon. Few places anywhere can match either the musical programme or the scenic backdrop of Bantry Bay for the West Cork Chamber Music Festival. Over 10 days at the end of June you can hear nearly 60 concertsby world class musicians. Thirty years on from its modest beginnings West Cork is justifiably regarded as one of the finest chamber music festivals in Europe, a success that has since spawned a major Literary Festival and the 'Masters of Tradition' festival curated by Martin Hayes.

The town of New Ross in Co. Wexford in Ireland’s south east boast not one but two music festivals - the New Ross Guitar Festivalin July and pianist Finghin Collins' New Ross Piano Festival in late September,

Though it is a multi-arts festival, music has always formed a significant part of the programme of Kilkenny Arts Festival in mid-August, making full use of the settings offered by Ireland’s finest medieval city. Also in August is the Clandeboye Festivalon Belfast Lough hosted by celebrated Northern Irish pianist Barry Douglas and his all-island Camerata Ireland orchestra. Spanish pianist Gustavo Diaz-Jerez features this year.

In September you can head to the glorious west coast and enjoy two of Ireland's most scenically located tows at the Westport Chamber Music Festivaland the Clifden Arts Festival on consecutive weekends. Finally, as days shorten and autumn arrives Ireland’s internationally renowned Wexford Festival Opera, now in its 74sth year, brings the festival season to an end in the second half of October with a suitably operatic flourish.

Simon Taylor, April 2025.

Simon Taylor is a musician and classical guitarist based in Dublin. Formerly the CEO of Dublin's National Concert Hall he was previously CEO of Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra; Senior Producer classical music for BBC Northern Ireland and Head of Orchestras and Performing Groups at RTE (Ireland's national broadcaster). He has performed and recorded widely as a guitarist, most recently two concerts in Malaga.
Fo the BBC he produced radio documentaries on Andres Segovia and Spanish music and culture.

Enviado por José Antonio Sierra.