Birr Comhaltas to support traditional group Shaskeen at concert in the town
Followers of traditional Irish music are in for a rare treat next month when popular traditional group Shaskeen play a concert supported by Birr Comhaltas
The concert will take place in the Birr Theatre and Arts Centre on Saturday, April 1.
Speaking ahead of the event, Shaskeen said: “The concert is jam packed and entertaining from start to finish with a host of reels, jigs, barndances and songs of a wide and varied genre with delicate arrangements."
Shaskeen began life as a Céili Band in London in 1970. It was formed by Galwegian Tom Cussen, a banjo player, to provide music for the hundreds of Céilí dancers who had emigrated to London in search of work and socialised in the various dance halls in the city including their base in the Oxford Tavern in Kentish Town.
Tom eventually returned to Galway where he set up a thriving industry manufacturing the now much sought after Clareen Banjos. He also reformed the Shaskeen Céilí Band with Galway based musicians which enjoyed much popularity with céilí dancers throughout the country and produced a number of top class recordings of céilí dance music.
In 2019, Tom formed the band into a concert group, ready to go on the road when the Covid19 pandemic put a halt to all entertainment. However, they got back on the road in 2022 with a musical line up of eight people of vast experience sporting four front line singers, Katie Theasbey from Kilfenora on flute and whistle, Mary Liddy from Ennis on concertina, Johnny Donnellan on bodhran, and Dave Saunders on fiddle and viola along with Eamonn Cotter on concert flute, Geraldine Cotter on piano both from Ennis and Tom himself on banjo and mandolin. This is a group of skilled musicians, with a great variety of tunes, straightforward arrangements, a fierce and collective drive and mighty energy.
Tickets can be booked at the Theatre booking office on 0579122911 or online by visiting the link here The concert begins at 8pm sharp and general admission tickets cost €22.50.