A night of traditional song and music will take place in Aras na nGael on Saturday 24 May at 8pm.

In an innovative sharing of traditional music and songs, Lorcán Mac Mathúna, Barry Lyons (fiddle, bodhrán), Matieu O Casaide (uillean pipes) and Joey Doyle (flute, guitar, keyboard) bring intuition, flair and understanding to their presentation of one of the littlest known threads in the Irish tradition.

These four have unlocked the melodies of sean nós in a manner evocative of the contemporising innovations of Iarla O Lionard and Liam O' Maonlai. Mac Mathúna's understanding of the songs he sings and feeling for their emotional currents is matched by Doyle's, O'Casaide's and Lyons' intuition and sensitivity. Doyle, O'Casaide and Lyons are exhibitionists in their own right and let their music do the talking on solo and set pieces.

Together this group can cope with the demands of any song as the diversity in the program shows. Lyons, O'Casaide and Doyle provide rhythm and pulse on bodhrán and guitar when necessary and switch to melodies and drones to create the ambiance of the big airs of Seán nós.

Mac Mathúna's insight into the songs, which he shares with visible enthusiasm with his audience, comes from years of listening to the masters of the craft and searching for the meaning and context of their stories. Together they bring an intuition for the airs and feelings of the songs, tapping into the tapestry of word and music in a presentation that express the sentiments that run deep in these songs; songs that run from ancient laments and celebrations of love to tales of late nights carousing.

This is an intimate presentation; sometimes beautiful and exiting, sometimes gleeful and spirited, but always intriguing.

Admission is priced at €8/€5.

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