February 26 – 8pm – Clifden Station House Theatre – €15
Music Network presents another unmissable collaboration featuring four extraordinary artists who have shared their music with audiences over four decades of its National Touring Programme.
Accordion maestro Dermot Byrne, legendary fiddler and member of the iconic Bothy Band Kevin Burke, acclaimed singer-songwriter Noriana Kennedy (The Whileaways), and lauded guitarist Jim Murray come together for an exceptional nationwide tour in early 2026.
This specially curated ensemble reflects the spirit of Music Network’s mission to make high-quality live music accessible to communities throughout Ireland. Their programme will feature inspired performances of traditional and contemporary material from four artists whose collective experience and creativity have carved a deep impression on the landscape of traditional Irish music.
Ticket Link: https://clifdenartsfestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173673135
March 25 – 8pm – Clifden Station House Theatre – €15
Music Network presents another brand new collaboration featuring two of the most exciting rising stars of the classical music world, accordionist extraordinaire Théo Ould and stellar soprano Alison Langer.
Both are incredibly gifted soloists in their own right. Théo became the first accordionist to be nominated as a Newly Discovered Talent at the 2023 Victoires de la Musique Classique awards and brings astonishing versatility and flair to the stage, blending classical refinement with contemporary energy. British-Irish soprano Alison Langer is an artist much in demand. Praised for her luminous voice and expressive artistry, her performances with Opera Holland Park, Opera North and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in particular, have won widespread acclaim.
Together this duo will present a fascinating programme entitled Confessions from Dusk till Dawn, exploring the night as a space of poetry, intimacy and mystery. From Schubert’s romanticism to Poulenc’s whimsical miniatures, their musical journey will also pay homage to the genius of Dvořák and Kurt Weill along the way. The programme will also feature a new Music Network commission by Grammy-nominated Irish composer Donnacha Dennehy.
Ticket Link: https://clifdenartsfestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173673137
April 8 – 8pm – Clifden Station House Theatre – €15
SOLAS QUARTET
Katherine Hunka, violin
Marja Gaynor, violin
Cian Ó Dúill, viola
Aoife Nic Athlaoich, cello
Founded in 2020, the Solas Quartet features four of our most exciting musicians. This is their fifth tour for NSQF.
Katherine Hunka, violin
Violinist Katherine Hunka enjoys a diverse and colourful career as a violinist, chamber musician, composer and mentor. For twenty-six years Katherine led and directed the Irish Chamber Orchestra. She directed tours in Germany, China and Singapore as well as in festivals closer to home including the West Cork Chamber Music Festival and Kilkenny Arts Festival. In 2002 she released a solo album with the ICO of Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires and Schubert that received glowing reviews including five stars in BBC music magazine.
Marja Gaynor, violin
Originally from Finland, Marja Gaynor is a Cork-based violinist and viola player. She specialises in Baroque music and is a member of Irish Baroque Orchestra and Camerata Kilkenny, recording and touring with both groups regularly. She has also performed with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Ensemble Marsyas, Dunedin Consort, London Handel Players and Helsinki Baroque Orchestra. Marja is known as a versatile musician at home in many different styles, a fluent improviser, as well as arranger and curator. Upcoming projects include chamber music tours with Solas Quartet and The Vanbrugh and performing and arranging as a trio with uilleann piper David Power and flamenco guitarist John Walsh. She teaches violin and chamber music in MTU Cork School of Music.
Cian Ó Dúill, viola
Cork born viola player Cian Ó Dúill has performed with the Vanbrugh, Carducci and Calino String Quartets, the Fidelio Trio, the Avalon Ensemble, Chroma and the Crash Ensemble. He has played in chamber music recitals with Anthony Marwood, Finghin Collins, Jorg Widmann, Hugh Tinney, Natalie Clein, Howard Shelley, Kirill Troussov, and Patricia Rozario as well as appearing at West Cork, Killaloe, Ortús, Sligo Spring, Kilkenny Arts, Cheltenham, Warwick Arts, Chichester, Aldeburgh, Wye Valley and Kings Lynn Chamber Music Festivals.
Aoife Nic Athlaoich, cello
Dublin born Aoife Nic Athlaoich enjoys a verstaile career performing on both modern and baroque cello. As well as her position as principal cello with the ICO, Aoife is sub principal cellist with the Irish Baroque Orchestra and a co-founder of tbe Solas String Quartet. Aoife has performed at Ireland’s leading chamber music festivals and is the former artistic director of the East Cork Early Music Festival.
Ticket Link: https://clifdenartsfestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173678078
April 17 – 8pm – Clifden Station House Theatre – €15
GREENSHINE is a Cork based group, beloved of the Folk and Americana scene, comprising Noel Shine, Mary Greene. Their material straddles the boundaries of contemporary, folk and roots and includes many self-penned songs and it’s these original songs that are getting the band the most notice. Their singles including The Girl in the Lavender Dress, Dandelion Seed & The Good is Gone consistently reach the top spot of the RTE Radio 1 Airplay Chart.
Ticket Link: https://clifdenartsfestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173678075
May 7 – 8pm – Clifden Station House Theatre – €15
Séamus Egan flute, tenor banjo, whistles & nylon guitar
Jenna Moynihan fiddle
Ticket Link: https://clifdenartsfestival.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173678080
