Lunchtime concerts to bring sounds of Wales and Argentina to Offaly

Birr Festival of Music has announced two special lunchtime concerts for October, bringing the Gwalia Singers of Wales and the Dunne & Hernandez Duo to St Brendan's Church of Ireland, Oxmantown Mall, in Birr.

Taking place on Friday, October 2, and Friday, October 16, at 1.05pm, the concerts continue a busy year of music for Birr Festival of Music following its 10th anniversary festival in May and a highly-successful concert series in August.

"We’re delighted to welcome audiences back to St Brendan’s Church of Ireland for two very special lunchtime concerts this October," said Maureen de Forge, Chairperson of Birr Festival of Music.

"The Gwalia Singers of Wales and Dunne & Hernandez offer two wonderfully different musical experiences, and that variety is very much part of what we want to bring to audiences in Birr throughout the year.

"We hope people will take an hour out of their Friday to join us and enjoy some exceptional live music."

The Gwalia Singers of Wales open the series on October 2, bringing the rich tradition and unmistakable sound of Welsh male voice singing to Birr.

Founded in Swansea in 1966, the choir celebrates its 60th anniversary this year and visits Birr as part of an anniversary tour of Ireland.

The choir’s wide-ranging repertoire spans traditional Welsh song and much-loved choral favourites alongside music from stage, screen and contemporary popular culture.

Two weeks later, on October 16, acclaimed Irish accordionist Dermot Dunne and Argentinian guitarist and singer Ariel Hernandez return to Birr with very different musical flavour.

Long-time musical collaborators, Dunne and Hernandez first performed together from 2003 to 2010, captivating audiences around Ireland with their distinctive combination of musical traditions.

Following a successful reunion tour in 2025 (which included St Brendan’s Church of Ireland), the duo return with a vibrant and varied programme ranging from Tango and the traditional Argentinian forms of Chacarera, Zamba and Chamamé to Baroque classics and much-loved music from the cinema.

Tickets are €15 plus booking fee. Proceeds from both concerts will go to the St Brendan’s Church of Ireland Restoration Fund. Full concert details and tickets are available at: birrfestivalofmusic.com.

The October lunchtime concerts are supported by the JVM Trench Will Trust.