Odhrán Mullen, Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin and Rachael Parkes, The Grand Central Bar, with musicians Lauren O Neill, James McCaffrey and Eugene McKenna, Magee Trad Society, at the launch of Sunday Sessions at The Grand Central Bar. Photo: Lorcan Doherty Photography
Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin has launched Sunday Sessions at the Grand Central, a weekly night of traditional music as part of a new partnership with The Grand Central Bar in Derry.
Every Sunday from 9.00pm, the Grand Central Bar will host an open Irish traditional music session, led by the Magee Traditional Music Society and local musicians.
The project, which received support from the Arts & Business NI Investment Programme, is part of an initiative by Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin to engage the business community in the creation of a Gaeltacht Quarter in the city.
Arts Director, Eibhlín Ní Dhochartaigh said, ‘Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin is a natural hub for Irish language and traditional arts, but our goal is to encourage the development of Gaelic culture on a citywide level, and the involvement of the business community is vital to this.’
The Arts and Business Investment Programme is designed to develop and sustain mutually beneficial partnerships between business and the arts.
Brona Whittaker, Arts Manager Arts and Business NI said, ‘The Sunday Sessions at the Grand Central are a brilliant example of what can be achieved when businesses and arts organisations work in partnership. This project will not only benefit the Grand Central but also this area of the city in general.’
The establishment of the new weekly session shows the growth of interest in traditional music in the city, following the success of large-scale events such as Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in 2013.
Rachael Parkes, owner of the Grand Central Bar said: ‘We enjoyed some fantastic traditional music sessions in the bar during the Fleadh, and spotted the potential for having something on a regular basis.
‘This project gives us the opportunity to develop new audiences and cements our identity as an authentic Irish pub.’
The organisers are hoping to attract some special guests musicians over the coming weeks, and were delighted to welcome Cara Dillon and Dan Tyminsky, who stopped by during a recent session. All are welcome to Sunday Sessions, upstairs at the Grand Central Bar, Strand Road every Sunday from 9.00pm.
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