Focus

Finding Common Ground? – Martin Hayes and the National Symphony Orchestra Finding Common Ground? – Martin Hayes and the National Symphony Orchestra James Camien McGuiggan Martin Hayes performed a series of three concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra over the past week, exploring music from the 'Peggy’s Dream' album. James Camien McGuiggan reviews the opening concert on Friday 14 March.
Realising Dreams for Irish Musicians: The Story of the Music Instrument Fund of Ireland Realising Dreams for Irish Musicians: The Story of the Music Instrument Fund of Ireland Gwendolyn Masin The Music Instrument Fund of Ireland (MIFI) celebrates 30 years in 2025 and is currently open for applications for auditions. Violinist Gwendolyn Masin tells the story of her family’s move to Ireland in the 1980s and the origins of the organisation founded by her father.
A Cultural Tug-of-War: Exploring the Early Years of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann A Cultural Tug-of-War: Exploring the Early Years of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Daithí Kearney Cork University Press has recently published 'Heading to the Fleadh: Festival, cultural revival and Irish traditional music, 1951–1969' by Méabh Ní Fhuartháin, a study of the Fleadh in its first two decades. Daithí Kearney reviews.
A Step in the Right Direction for Orchestral Programming A Step in the Right Direction for Orchestral Programming Adrian Smith The National Symphony Orchestra gave the Irish premiere of Ailís Ní Ríain's 'The Land Grows Weary of its Own' with Mahler's 'Das Lied von der Erde' at the NCH on 21 February. Adrian Smith reviews.
‘He was always there and always willing’: A Tribute to Dónal Lunny by Christy Moore ‘He was always there and always willing’: A Tribute to Dónal Lunny by Christy Moore Christy Moore The full speech given by Christy Moore at the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards when presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dónal Lunny.
Karan Casey's Revolutionary Women Karan Casey's Revolutionary Women Méabh Ní Fhuartháin Singer Karan Casey recently performed her one-woman theatrical song cycle 'The Women, We Will Rise' at the Everyman Theatre in Cork. Méabh Ní Fhuartháin reviews.
How to Achieve the Impossible, With Very Little, and When Everyone Says You Are Wrong How to Achieve the Impossible, With Very Little, and When Everyone Says You Are Wrong Toner Quinn To mark the publication of 'Count Me Out: Selected Writings of Filmmaker Bob Quinn', The Journal of Music publishes an extract by editor Toner Quinn in which he writes about his experience of growing up in the Conamara Gaeltacht with his maverick father.
This is the Arts Council's 'RTÉ Moment' and Serious Change Must Follow This is the Arts Council's 'RTÉ Moment' and Serious Change Must Follow Toner Quinn The Arts Council has written off €5.3m on ‘substandard work’ and an IT system that was ‘not fit for purpose’ while artists try to make ends meet. This has to be the beginning of real change, writes Toner Quinn.
The Beauty and Imperfections of the World The Beauty and Imperfections of the World Adrian Smith The National Symphony Orchestra and tenor Gavan Ring gave the Irish premiere of Stephen McNeff's 'The Celestial Stranger' on 31 January. Adrian Smith reviews.
Exploring Ireland's Musical Restlessness: An Interview with John Harris of New Music Dublin Exploring Ireland's Musical Restlessness: An Interview with John Harris of New Music Dublin Toner Quinn The 2025 New Music Dublin festival takes place from 2 to 6 April and features Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore, John Butcher’s 'Dublin Fixations', a new Irene Buckley opera, an Ed Bennett piano concerto and more. The Journal of Music speaks to Artistic Director John Harris.

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