New Ross Guitar Festival a Resounding Success

New Ross was the guitar capital of Ireland last weekend with world class guitarists in different genres performing to large enthusiastic audiences in venues around New Ross including St Michael’s Theatre, The Church of the Assumption, Rosbercon and Killesk Church, Duncannon.

The festival also included free events, some busking and pop up performances by guitar students in local cafes and bars.

The two main international acts enthralled the packed audiences with their contrasting programs with Reentko Dirks from Germany performing a lunchtime recital at Killesk Church and Celil Rafa Kaya From Turkey performing at St Michael’s Theatre on Sunday. Celil wowed the audience as he displayed consummate mastery in his classical guitar repertoire and Reentko stretched the boundaries of the instrument in a dazzling display of experimental virtuosity.

On Saturday night, the festival paid homage to the great Irish Trad guitarist Donal Lunny who performed bouzouki with Zoe Conway on fiddle and vocals and Mairtin O’Connor on box accordion. The concert was described by a number of satisfied patrons as one of the finest performances to ever grace the St Michael’s Theatre stage.

Immediately prior to the Donal Lunny concert John Walsh played Flamenco guitar in an exhilarating recital to a full St Michael’s Theatre. The lunchtime concert at St Michael’s featured local Wexford electric guitarist Colm Lindsay and his band playing up-beat rock and funk tunes.

On Friday night, the guest guitarist was one of Ireland’s finest, Michael O’Toole who was beautifully complemented by the famous Musici Ireland string quartet whose playing reflected the bubbly and vivacious personalities of the four talented ladies who all graced the stage in a fluent and enjoyable collaboration.

The opening concert was performed by Redmond O’Toole in the beautiful setting of Rosbercon Church. Redmond’s distinctive standing in the guitar world was exemplified by the almost ‘liturgical‘ hauntingly low resonance of his program on his unusual 8 string ‘Brahm’s‘ guitar. A fitting opening to an eclectic and ecumenical weekend celebration of guitar music.

The Festival Chair Cllr Bridin Murphy said, “I am thrilled that the Guitar Festival has become established on the festival calendar in New Ross. We are aiming for world class performance and this is being achieved. In its first two years New Ross has welcomed guitarists who are tops in their field from Italy , Croatia, Germany, the USA and Turkey as well as Ireland finest. New Ross will quickly become the Guitar Capital of Ireland.”

She continued
“In order to achieve this we depend on corporate sponsors, as well as the vital financial support from the Arts Council, the Arts Dept. of Wexford County Council and the New Ross Municipal District. I was delighted that the leas Cathaoirleach of New Ross Municipal District Cllr Michael Whelan could attend and formally address the audience at the Saturday night concert and for his expression of continued support, from Wexford County Council ”

The Artistic Director of the festival David Creevy also emphasised the international reach of the festival, “In choosing the guitarists for the festival, I am very keen to present a mix of different genres and bring guitarists who excel in their field on stages around the world to perform in New Ross.”