Music Network has announced Eamon Sweeney as Artist in Residence for 2018. 

Sweeney is a guitarist specialising in Baroque and early music, and performs with ensembles such as the Gregory Walkers, Sonamus and Tonos. He has a particular interest in community music, including early years teaching and music in healthcare settings. As part of the residency, Sweeney will present a Learning and Participation programme to engage with community groups as well as programme concerts and events.

Eamon Sweeney performing with Tonos

The Music Network Residency programme began in 2015/16 with pianist Phil Ware. 2017 saw Redmond O’Toole in residence at The National Opera House, supported by Wexford County Council. This year’s scheme will be run in partnership with Wicklow County Council and Mermaid Arts Centre, where Sweeney will programme a series of six concerts from December 2018 to May 2019. 

The first of these concerts, Tradition in the Royal Court (13 December 2018) focusses on the interplay between Irish and European music in the 16th and 17th centuries. The programme will include music by John Dowland and the 16th-century Irish harper and composer Ruairí Dall Ó Catháin, and features performers such as Colm Mac Con Iomaire (violin), Paula Murrihy (mezzo-soprano), Eamonn Bonner (tenor), Cormac Breatnach (susato whistles) and Sweeney. 

The First 100 Years, on 17 January 2019, will mark a century since the first Dáil convened in Dublin in 1919, with music, poetry and song from the past 100 years performed by the Irish Chamber Orchestra with singer Mary Coughlan, poet Theo Dorgan and Irish and Baroque music ensemble Sonamus. The concert will incude a new work by composer Fiachra Trench.

For further information on the Music Network Artist Residency programme and events, visit www.musicnetwork.ie.