PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release - 08 February 2016
Jigs and Heels at Hawk’s Well
The Hawk’s Well Theatre is delighted to present a unique, one off performance produced by the
Theatre ‘Jigs and Heels’ on Saturday 29th of March at 8pm. Sisters of strings join together for this
unique collaboration of three of Ireland’s most outstanding female fiddlers.
Bríd Harper, Nollaig Casey and Maeve Donnelly are consistently hailed individually as three of
Ireland’s most outstanding traditional fiddle players. This concert will showcase the vitality of the
fiddle in an exceptional performance. Joining them on guitar on the night is one of the best-known
and most influential musicians in Ireland, Arty McGlynn.
Fiddle player Bríd Harper from Donegal living near Dungannon Co Tyrone. Bríd is no stranger to Sligo
as she has adjudicated the "Fiddler of Dooney" on three previous occasions and is indeed herself a
past winner. She also has Senior All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil and Oireachtas titles. Many traditional
musicians cite her as a major influence and she has made numerous broadcasts for BBC RTE TG4 and
RnaG. Bríd is enormously respected both as a teacher and as a performer.
Nollaig Casey is one of Ireland’s most eminent musicians, with her own unique way of playing
traditional Irish music on the fiddle. Her powerful presence has graced two of Ireland's most
influential bands, the legendary Planxty and the ground-breaking Coolfin. A former member of the
RTÉ Symphony Orchestra, her rare ability to play both classical and traditional music with equal
proficiency, coupled with her exceptional expressive gifts has inspired a number of composers to
write orchestral pieces for her. She's been a featured soloist in over 20 feature films, including
Dancing at Lughnasa and Waking Ned. Nollaig has also worked and recorded with Enya, Van
Morrison, Sinéad O'Connor,Rod Stewart, Emmy Lou Harris, Steve Earle, Elvis Costello. She can most
recently be seen playing on BBC TV’s Transatlantic Sessions with Alison Krauss and Aly Bain.
"Exquisite fiddle-playing and superb vocals" THE IRISH TIMES
Maeve Donnelly comes from the village of Kylemore, Abbey near Loughrea in East Galway, an area
steeped in traditional music. In the past, many notable musicians and bands hailed from here
including the “Aughrim Slopes.” She now lives in the picturesque village of Quin, Co. Clare, a short
walk from a lovely old Abbey. Maeve has been playing the fiddle since the age of five and won her
first All-Ireland Fiddle Competition at the age of nine.
“Her fiddling can be fiery or feathery with powerful technique and natural lift in her playing".
Arty McGlynn is one of the best-known and most influential musicians in Ireland, with a unique
understanding of music he performs. Touring professionally with showbands and rock bands
throughout Ireland, the UK and the USA from the age of fifteen, in 1979 recorded McGlynn's Fancy,
the first recording of the guitar played in an authentic traditional style and a classic of the traditional
music world. He subsequently became one of the most sought after musicians in the country,
playing and recording with Christy Moore, Paul Brady, John Prine, Tim O'Brien, Jerry Douglas, The
Chieftains and countless others. He also played as a member of Planxty, Patrick Street, De Danann
and was for a number of years lead guitarist with the Van Morrison Band.
Arty is equally in demand as a live performer, recording artist and producer.
“Arty invented a role for the guitar in the Irish tradition and continues to dominate his field" THE
ULSTER HERALD
“Arty McGlynn is to flatpicking traditional Irish music what Doc Watson is to flatpicking American
fiddle tunes” Flatpicking Guitar Magazine(USA)
Tickets for Jigs and Heels on Saturday 29th of March at 8pm are €18/15conc and €13 for Friends of
the Theatre and are available from the Box Office on 071 916 1518 or www.hawkswell.com.
For further information contact Maeve McGowan, Marketing Manager, Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo,
maeve@hawkswell.com 071 916 1518