Carrick-on-Shannon
On the shores of the River Shannon, Carrick-on-Shannon is the county town of Leitrim and offers its visitors a number of superb attractions, including a range of quality restaurants, accommodations, entertainment, and high-street shops.
Booking
Box office opens 10th May. Call 071 9650828 and book via
The Dock Theatre,
Carrick on Shannon.
Carrick on Shannon Water
Music Festival,
P.O. Box 16,
Carrick on Shannon,
Co. Leitrim
Latest News
"Without music, life would be a mistake." Friedrich Nietzsche
Festive Eucharist in St. Mary's on Sunday, 10th, 12Noon
features St. Mary's Choir, Deirdre McCabe, soprano,
trumpet and flute--a very special celebration of the Mass.
Irish Rail offering 10% discount on rail tickets to the festival.
Check out our travel page on this website.
Welcome to the 7th annual Carrick -on- Shannon Water Music Festival sponsored by MBNA Europe.
It's hard to believe that this is indeed our 7th year having began life in the heady days of 2005.The original aim of the festival was to make classical music and opera in particular, accessible to the area and to bring top quality musical artistes across all genres to Carrick on Shannon.
Since 2005 we've enjoyed great success and have introduced touring opera, classical music, folk, world music and jazz as well as providing unusual and entertaining side-shows for children and young people.
The alchemy of music, song and theatre are great ways to lift the spirits and never was it more needed than it is in these testing times. That's why we're bringing you an exciting weekend packed full of great entertainment for all the family in one of Ireland's most relaxing and restorative environments.
Last year we broke new ground by bringing the first ever Proms to the West of Ireland and we're emboldened to repeat that feat with another Gala Proms this year. Eminent conductor, Fergus Sheil, has put together a hand-picked 36 piece orchestra for your musical delight. Joining the orchestra this year again is renowned soprano Sinéad Mulhern who is joined by the eagerly awaited UK tenor, Jonathan Stoughton. Whether you are a real classical music enthusiast or just curious, this is one event not to be missed.
Also not to be missed and headlining this year's festival, is the iconic music legend Joe Brown, making his first show appearance in Ireland since the 1960s. Joe Brown is a 'music great' and is held in the highest esteem by musicians throughout the world, having played with the likes of George Harrison, Johnny Cash and Eddie Cochrane, to name just a few. His show is one of the best you're ever likely to see as he covers everything from bluegrass, country, folk, gospel, music-hall, jazz and rock.
Festival Folk brings our weekend of great music to a close on Sunday night. What a vibe that's going to be!
This year, the Folk the Recession tour featuring Eleanor Shanley, Paul Kelly, Frankie Lane, Mick Hanly and Seamus Begley, comes to town. This group of top singers and musicians are sure to bring the house down with their wide repertoire of traditional music and folk songs. We're delighted to welcome them to Carrick.
Sharing the Festival Folk bill, we're also delighted to welcome the fabulous Henry Girls from Donegal. Now these ladies are a 'must-see' act as they've also been receiving rave reviews across the country and in Scotland. Blending Harp, Accordeon and Fiddle with melodic voices, they move seamlessly between traditional, folk and bluegrass music.
But that's not all. The whole weekend is packed full of great music and theatre.
In what has become a pre-Festival tradition at The Dock, the Breffni Players present a one-act play by David Trisham, "The Extraordinary Revelations of Orca the Goldfish", a play about......well, let's just say it's unusual, contains adult themes and is NOT suitable for children.
Gato Azul is the latest project from multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi who appeared at the Water Music's 2009 festival with the groups Tarab and Yurodny. This exciting instrumental quartet offers music ranging from Brazil to Bulgaria via the Mediterranean and using jazz improvisation to unify these diverse musical languages.
On Sunday afternoon at the marquee, we have a very special concert featuring The Mandoloonies and The Blunnie Sisters.
The Mandoloonies is a new ensemble composed of members of the RTE Concert Orchestra and friends, it features instruments of the mandolin family - the mandolin, the mandola and mando-cello, with guitar and double-bass.
The Mandoloonies first performed at the RTE staff concert in March 2011, sharing the stage with Frances Black among others. They then featured on the Mooney Show, resulting in numerous enquiries and bookings.
Their repertoire stretches from Vivaldi to Calace to Neapolitan songs, to movie themes and more recent compositions.
They appear at the Water Music Festival with special guest, guitarist Leslie Cassidy.
The Mandoloonies appear by kind permission of RTE.
The Blunnie Sisters are a Carrick duo currently making a big name for themselves around the trendy venues in Dublin. Well known already to Carrick people, they are renowned for their witty and laid back approach. On piano and guitar they deliver a cool, easy listening set of (mostly) their own material with their observational and clever lyrics. They are a refreshing and vibrant duo and will add a delightful interlude to your Sunday afternoon.
For jazz lovers the brilliant clarinetist Gay McIntyre is joined by the equally brilliant saxophonist and vocalist Harry Connolly and their marvellous band at our late night Festival Club at The Dock on Friday and Saturday night.
Lunchtime Jazz on Moon River with the always great Guinness Jazz Band on Saturday and Jazz Diva Ursula Connolly on Sunday.
For children and families we have three superb shows to keep even the most lively child occupied. Make sure to check out The Custard Pie Puppet Company, Wassa Wassa Drum Workshop and Musical Mayhem.
Of course no community festival could operate without the assistance of generous funders, sponsors and supporters.
The Water Music Festival Committee would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank our major funder MBNA for its generous and continued support to the festival this year and indeed every year since the festival started. As the major employer in the region, we feel very fortunate indeed that we have such an enthusiastic and consistent supporter in our midst.
We would also like to acknowledge the continued support of Leitrim County Council. Leitrim County Council is rightly recognised throughout the county for its dedication to the flourishing of the arts in general and its financial support and benefit-in-kind support to the Water Music Festival is most welcome and appreciated.
A list of all our sponsors and acknowledgements of support can be found under the 'Sponsors' banner.
The Festival Committee would like to wish all of you, our customers, supporters and friends, a really great festival. Whether you are coming to one event or several, we're sure you'll enjoy it.
Nuala Morgan and Fr. Turlough Baxter
Joint Chair - Carrick-on-Shannon Water Music Festival 2011
PS: Don't forget the early booking discount which is available only until the 30th June!