Other Voices Anam 2024

Thursday 9 May | Ormond Castle, Tipperary

Adrianne Lenker, Uly and Muireann Bradley

Thursday 16 May | Portumna Castle, Galway‍

Moncrieff, EFÉ and Oisín Leech

‍Thursday 23 May | Pearse Museum, Dublin‍

Sarah Crean, Piaras Ó Liorcáin & TraivS & Elzzz

‍Thursday 30 May | Parke's Castle, Leitrim‍

Lemoncello, Martin Hayes with Kate Ellis and Mohammad Syfkhan

Our eclectic Anam 2024 lineup showcases Irish talent, from Waterford’s breakout pop act Moncrieff, Dublin polymath Uly and AWAL-signed viral sensation Sarah Crean to genre-blending rising star EFÉ.

Traditional, blues and folk genres are never forgotten at Other Voices, with gifted multi-instrumentalist Martin Hayes performing with Crash Ensemble cellist Kate Ellis, plus Bláth na hÓige’s Piaras Ó Lorcáin joining us. Donegal's own teenage guitar sensation Muireann Bradley will offer roots, country and blues soundscapes from her 2023 album I Kept These Old Blues following a viral Jools’ Annual Hootenanny appearance.

Just in time for the release of their anticipated debut album on 3 May via Claddagh Records, alt-folk duo Lemoncello are joining the stacked bill. The Dublin-based duo enchant all who hear their distinctive voices, anchored by Laura Quirke’s trance-like guitar and Claire Kinsella’s warm cello tones.

Fresh from releasing his critically acclaimed debut LP ‘Cold Sea’ earlier this year, Navan native Oisín Leech will also perform on the new series. Initially rising to public attention as one half of The Lost Brothers, leading him to tour extensively at Glastonbury, SXSW, the BBC Electric Proms, Other Voices Dingle and beyond; he’s now going it alone with enthralling creative results.

Hailing from across the Atlantic, Big Thief bandleader and solo artist Adrianne Lenker will kick off the festivities. The Indiana native’s magnetic gift for blistering vulnerability has earned her Brooklyn-based indie-folk outfit Big Thief four Grammy nominations and millions of streams, and her new solo album Bright Future arrived on March 22nd via 4AD.

A truly special guest for the Other Voices: Anam roster this year is Leitrim-based talent Mohammad Syfkhan. The 57-year-old father of five brought his incredible musical skills to Ireland all the way from Syria after originally training as a surgical nurse. Syfkhan will perform a thrilling mix of electrified Kurdish, Arabic and Turkish traditional songs, covers and originals this month.

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‍Pearse Museum

The Pearse Museum in St Enda’s Park is where the leader of the 1916 Rising, Patrick Pearse, lived and operated his pioneering Irish-speaking school from 1910 to 1916. Set in nearly 20 hectares of attractive parkland in Rathfarnham, Dublin, the museum tells the story of Patrick Pearse and his brother Willie, both of whom were executed for their part in the 1916 Rising. Here you can peruse a fascinating exhibition on Pearse’s life and wander through the historic rooms where he, his family and his students once lived and worked. The romantic landscape surrounding the museum contains a wild river valley, forested areas and some enchanting eighteenth- and nineteenth-century follies.

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Parke's Castle

Parke’s Castle, nestled on the northern shores of Lough Gill in County Leitrim, is a restored seventeenth-century stronghold with a rich history. Originally a tower house owned by Sir Brian O’Rourke, it later became the residence of English planter Robert Parke during the early 1600s. The castle, built amidst Ireland's evolving landscape, boasts defensive structures alongside comfortable living quarters, showcasing Irish oak interiors and medieval features like mullioned windows and a courtyard. Despite abandonment and disrepair after the Parke family's demise, restoration efforts in the late twentieth century revitalized its former grandeur. Passing into the Gore family, its legacy intertwines with Irish history, including connections to Constance Markievicz, while its setting inspired William Butler Yeats' renowned poem, ‘The Lake of Innisfree’.

Porumna Castle 

Portumna Castle, constructed by the fourth Earl of Clanricarde and Frances Walsingham, served as the de Burgo family stronghold for centuries, showcasing semi-fortified Jacobean Manor House architecture. Completed by 1618, it uniquely blends medieval and Renaissance styles, set amidst charming formal gardens evoking its seventeenth-century ambiance. The castle overlooks Lough Derg, offering captivating views. Open to the public, its ground floor hosts exhibitions detailing the castle's history and the de Burgo family legacy. Adjacent to the River Shannon and Portumna Forest Park, it's an ideal destination for a leisurely day out. Despite facing ruin after a major fire in 1826, ongoing restoration efforts since the 1960s ensure its preservation.

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Ormond Castle 

Ormond Castle in Carrick-on-Suir, under the guardianship of the Office of Public Works since 1947, stands as Ireland's prime example of an Elizabethan manor house. Built upon the remains of a medieval stronghold dating back to the 1300s, its current structure, primarily from the 14th and mid 16th centuries, boasts two tall towers attributed to Edmund Mac Richard Butler. The castle's prominence is attributed to Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond, who enhanced it with Tudor-style elements, inspired by his close ties to Queen Elizabeth I. Noteworthy features include a grand gallery adorned with allegorical figures and references to Queen Elizabeth, along with intricate stucco plasterwork and original oak paneling, reflecting its historical grandeur.

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