A new song cycle by traditional music composer Johnny Óg Connolly will be premiered this weekend in An Spidéal, Co. Galway, by singer Liam Ó Maonlaí.

Taking place as part of the annual Éigse an Spidéil festival, which previously premiered the traditional music suite Sruth written by Connolly and Mary Bergin, the new work, An tEarrach Thiar, is a setting of twelve poems by Aran Islands poet Máirtín Ó Direáin.

Along with the work’s world premiere, the main evening concert on Saturday 4 March will feature a performance from renowned Galway fiddle-player Frankie Gavin accompanied by George Grasso on bouzouki.

Accordionist Johnny Óg Connolly recently released his third solo album, Siar, which consists almost entirely of newly composed tunes, and last year took part in the major 1916 centenary show Aisling?, which toured Gaeltacht areas in November and December. He received a Deis award from the Arts Council in 2016 for the composition of An tEarrach Thiar.

Éigse an Spideil, which has taken place annually for over 30 years in the Gaeltacht village, opens on Thursday 2 March and runs until Sunday. Among the other events over the weekend are a performance by guest composer and concertina player Caitlín Nic Gabhann on Friday; a fiddle workshop by Bríd Harper on Saturday; and a range of other sessions and performances; and events for children.

For full details, visit www.eigseanspideil.ie