Doors open 7pm Show 8pm
Gerry O’Connor has long been marked out as one of the great fiddle players of his generation.
Coming from Dundalk, Co. Louth, this winner of numerous All Ireland titles and four time winner of Fiddler of Oriel, was primarily taught by his legendary mother, Rose, and has been rightly noted for his rich, fluid, lyrical fiddle playing.
He has played and recorded with Lá Lúgh (Sony Music) and Skylark, recording four CDs on the Claddagh label. He has toured and recorded with members of Planxty, Bothy Band, De Danann, Boys of the Lough and The Chieftains.
Winning Album of the Year in 1996 (Irish Music magazine) and along with four other nominees, Album of the year 2004 (The Irish Times), Gerry has produced many critically acclaimed recordings, many showcasing the music of the Oriel region of South Ulster. His 2010 recording “Jig away the Donkey” led to recording and touring with the celebrated Irish-Canadian Band the Irish Rovers, and in 2011, Gerry recorded with Cathal McConnell the Cd “I have travelled this country” charting the traditional songs of Ulster. In 2016 he guested on the final two CDs of the triple CD collection, Wall to Wall, featuring original and traditional music from the Borders and South Ulster by Martin Matthews.
He has recorded and toured with The Irish Baroque Orchestra performing at the Wigmore Hall, and the Brighton Early music Festival and in the Theatre world he has toured with The Abbey Theatre and the National Theatre of Ireland. In 2016 he toured Canada with the acclaimed Newpoint Players production of the Trial of Patrick Pearse, playing and performing alongside actor, guitarist and singer Donal O’Hanlon. The success of this production, originally commissioned for the D’Arcy Magee Summer School and festival in Carlingford, led to the newly commissioned work The Trial of the Orange Order and a prompt return to theatres across North America in 2017. His diary in 2018 thus far involves tours of Canada and the USA with the Irish Rovers and solo and duo tours of Ireland, the UK and Europe.
Donal O’Hanlon is an actor, producer and singer/guitarist from Newry, and has been a regular accompanist for both Gerry and Josephine Keegan. He has frequently performed on Stage, TV and radio throughout Ireland and Canada and was a founder member of Ragairne, the forerunner to Altan, playing alongside Mairead Mooney, Gearóid Mooney and Frankie Kennedy, touring Ireland and the UK.
For further information see www.gerryoconnor.net
Here’s Gerry playing with the incredible Tommy Emmanuel.