Classical Music in Dingle

It is interesting to note that although Dingle is blessed with so many talented musicians, there are few possibilities to hear classical music here. Recently, we were contacted by our friend Johannes Moora offering to bring a concert to Dingle. The program consisted of Schumann and Mendelssohn songs with piano accompaniment and some short solo pieces for piano.

We found a very suitable venue in Emlagh House that has a beautiful upright piano. Emlaigh, a luxury country house, won the AA Guest Accommodation of the Year 2005.

The singer was soprano Iris Pedroli and was outstanding. She has a beautiful clear voice with a lovely texture. The pianist, Renate Poncette was also first rate. Johannes Moora interspersed the program with interesting extracts of diaries and letters of Robert Schumann.

Here is a copy of the program:

Clck on Program for a clearer image!

Folk Concert at St. James' Church

At St. James’ Church, Main Street, Dingle, in a quiet setting with good acoustics, you can hear many musicians that play in the pub sessions. Performances are every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Tickets at the door cost €15. Due to limited seating it is recommended to get advance tickets which are also less expensive from the Tourist Office, music shops in town or at Murphys Ice Cream.

The event is put on by Eoin Duignan, uilleann piper, low whistle player and composer. Eoin usually takes to the stage at some point in the evening himself. Eoin was a member of the well-known traditional Irish music group The Wild Geese that toured Europe throughout the 1970’s. He has been living in Dingle for the past 20 years. For more information on Eoin and his recorded music go to his website. You can listen to Eoin playing at St. James' and view some great Dingle scenery at this You Tube link.

At St. James’s you will have an opportunity to hear some of the best traditional Irish musicians in the locality. Also, Eoin attracts talented musicians from other parts of the country. The presentations are intimate and the standard is very high.

St. James’ Church is a small and simple structure built in the year 1807. It is said that the original church on the same site was built by the Spanish. After the reformation it was taken over by Church of Ireland. As mentioned in my previous blog entry, Dingle has a long historical connection with Spain and with Santiago de Compostella and was one of the starting points for pilgrims.

Dingle Eoin Duignan St. James' Church