Galway Sessions in association with Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture present Galway Sessions Online.

Galway Sessions and Galway 2020 are delighted to present a very special online edition of the world famous Galway Sessions. Originally scheduled to take place in June 2020 the, Covid 19 pandemic has forced us to pivot and reimagine the Sessions and we are delighted to be able to share these special performances online this March.

The first will be broadcast on 17^th March St. Patrick’s Day and will feature piper Páidín Breathnach, fiddler Liz Coleman and Galway folk legend Greg Cotter with special guest appearances by whistlers Mick Crehan and Sean Ryan, concertina players Aine McHugh and Liam O’Brien and the great Mairtin O’Connor and friends. This event is a double celebration marking the feast day itself and also the 20th Anniversary of Mick Crehan’s tenure at the Crane Bar.

The second event, available on 23^rd March, will feature Mick Crehan and concertina player Liam O’Brien, TG4 Gradam Ceoil Ceoltóir Óg na Bliana in 2017, playing and discussing the music and compositions of Mick’s uncle, Martin Junior Crehan. Junior Crehan was a fiddler, composer and folklore bearer of note and was a founder member and president of Scoil Samhraidh Willie Clancy in Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare.

The final event, available on 31^st March, will feature whistle maestro Sean Ryan. Sean is recognised as one of the foremost exponents of tin whistle playing in Ireland today. He is best known for his distinctive staccato style of playing and for his extensive repertoire and knowledge of traditional music.

Sean celebrated a landmark 40th Anniversary of hosting the now legendary Sunday Lunchtime Session at the Crane Bar in 2019. Sean shared the Session with well-known troubadour Pat Conneeley from Oughterard for over thirty of those years. When Pat sadly passed away in 2010 Sean was then joined in the session by fellow whistle player Mick Crehan and singer/guitarist Greg Cotter.

All 3 Sessions will be available here on www.galwaysessions.com and Galway Sessions social media.

Cultural partners for this online edition of the Galway sessions include Arts in Action NUI Galway, Clare Library, Clare County Council and The Crane Bar.

Galway Sessions is also funded under the Galway 2020 Small Towns Big Ideas programme.