DRIMOLEAGUE
SINGING
FESTIVAL

OPEN SINGING SESSIONS

Open singing sessions have been at the heart of the festival from the start, and this year we envisage many more memorable moments when we invite singers of all ages, backgrounds, shapes and sizes to take part in our various sessions around the village.

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Friday Sept 22nd at McCarthy's Bar, Main Street - FREE

10pm Open Singing Session led by renowned ballad singer Elle Marie O'Dwyer.
Elle Marie hails from the village of Freemount in North Cork and has been involved in the traditional music scene from a young age. She is in high demand to perform as special guest at singers clubs all over the country, so we are delighted that she is leading our first open singing session this year.

“Elle Marie O’ Dwyer is a true example of all that is best in the long and enduring story of Irish song.” Senator Labhrás O Murchú Ard-Stiúrthóir, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann

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Saturday 23rd September at Parish Hall Main Street  - FREE

4pm Open Singing Session with special guests Thomas McCarthy and Rosie McCarthy

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All singers welcome to take part. All listeners very welcome to join in. Great afternoon of song in the village guaranteed! 

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Saturday Sept 23rd at McCarthy's Bar, Main Street - FREE

6pm   Open Singing Session led by Máire Ní Chéileachair and her brother Diarmaid Kelleher
 

Máire and Diarmaid entertained festival audiences last year when they partook in the open singing session on the Saturday evening. Máire charmed us all with her stunning renditions while her brother Diarmaid joined in the fun giving us all an evening to remember. So, this year we invited the sister and brother act back to host their own open singing session. An evening not to be missed!

All singers and listeners welcome.

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Sunday 24th September at McCarthy's Bar, Main Street - FREE

1pm Open Singing Session led by Vincent Crowley 

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Described by Michéal Marrinan as ‘one of the finest singers of all time’ Vincent Crowley has a voice like velvet, so it is a pure pleasure to have him host an open-singing session for us this year. A native of the Mealagh Valley in Bantry we will be catching Vincent fresh from his victory in the Fleadh Cheoil in Mullingar this year, when he won the senior men’s singing competition in English for the second year in succession. He first won the competition almost 40 years ago and to come back and prove himself the finest again is a remarkable achievement. We salute you Vincent! All singers and listeners welcome.

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