RESONATE: Pauline Scanlon

July - October
Ionad Cultúrtha, Baile Mhúirne

The Longing is a collaborative traditional singing project between renowned singer Pauline Scanlon from Dingle and Armagh singer and multi-instrumentalist Barry Kerr.

Focusing on traditional songs where feelings of longing for home, freedom, love, acceptance and peace are central themes, they will create beautiful, contemporary arrangements culminating in a performance in Ionad Cultúrtha, Baile Mhúirne, with singer and harpist Síle Denvir and percussionist Eamon Murray.

Is tionscadal comhoibríoch amhráníochta traidisiúnta idir Barry Kerr as Ard Mhacha agus Pauline Scanlon ón Daingean atá i gceist le The Longing/An tSíreacht.

Tá an tionscadal bunaithe ar stór amhrán ina bhfuil an ‘tsíreacht’ ina buntéama. I measc na dtéamaí a ndíreoidh siad orthu mar chuid den tréimhse chónaitheach RESONATE tá cumha i ndiaidh an bhaile, tóraíocht na saoirse, agus mianta an duine síocháin agus suaimhneas a aimsiú. Cuirfear an tionscadal i láthair ag ceolchoirm in Ionad Cultúrtha Bhaile Bhúirne i gcomhar leis an amhránaí agus an cláirseoir Síle Denvir agus leis an gcnagcheoltóir Eamon Murray.

Pauline Scanlon

"Her voice is a superb mix of china cup fragility and steely strength” (The Irish Times, 2010.)

It’s 2022, more than a decade later, and this contradiction is still true of Pauline Scanlon’s voice. In fact, the pairing of opposites seems a true fit for this West Kerry native. Her voice comes from an ancient place but is always fresh. She is uniquely Irish yet universally understood, apparently traditional yet subversive at every turn. Perhaps now, it is the steely strength that comes to the fore in both her activism and her determination to constantly evolve as an artist.

Her new album, The Unquiet, released in April 2022, is a piece of art possessed of an old soul, but thoroughly modern and of its time. It is an album that will shift expectations and stand undefined by genre. What makes it so relevant is that it dares to reimagine what it is to be an Irish woman in the context of music and song.

Scanlon, although a unique talent, is a constant and generous collaborator. Working with artists such as Damien Dempsey, Sinead O’Connor and many other well-known names, she has featured as harmony vocalist on countless albums. Her current pairing with John Spillane, the latest of many, has delighted audiences around the country with performances of his new album, 100 Snow White Horses. As a collaborator, Scanlon adds a layer of complexity and illumination to the songs she harmonises on. As a solo artist she has entranced audiences all over the world with her distinctive delicate intensity.

Barry Kerr

Originally from the southern shores of Lough Neagh in County Armagh but now living and working in Dublin, Barry Kerr is one of Ireland’s most accomplished artists. His work as both a composer and visual artist expresses the very heart of Irish life. As a highly regarded singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer and painter he is extremely prolific in his creative output.

Having recorded his first album at the age of seventeen he has gone on to tour the world as a solo artist and has been equally at home sharing the stage in the company of artists such as Cara Dillon, Dan Tyminskii, Lumiere, Dervish and Steve Cooney. Barry was awarded the prestigious Liam O’Flynn award from the National Concert Hall and the Arts Council in 2020 and he recently released ‘Cairn’, an album of self-penned tunes as part of that project.

His other recent work has explored the concept of relating visual art with musical performance and composition, as seen in his latest performances/exhibitions, ‘Ceathair’ and ‘Continuum’. His forthcoming work ‘Fuascail’ involves an exhibition, film and suite of music as a meditation on the Decade of Centenaries.