Evening Concerts 2025

Our three evening concerts are the backbone of the festival. Join us this year for another trio of unforgettable evenings in our beautiful cathedral concert space.


Friday 30th of May


7.00PM - ST. FLANNAN’S CATHEDRAL, Killaloe

EVENING CONCERT - Life Stories

Featuring readings from Cypresses by Gustav Pfleger-Moravsky and musical selections by Dvořák, Caroline Shaw, Diane Daly, and Smetana, this concert intertwines literature and music to explore themes of personal narrative and artistic inspiration.

Gustav Pfleger-Moravsky (1833-1875): Reading from ‘Cypresses’

Read by Trish Taylor Thompson

Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904): Selections from ‘Cypresses’

I. I Know that My Love to Thee

IX. Thou Only, Dear One

X. There Stands an Ancient Rock

XII. You Ask Why My Songs

Mia Cooper (violin), Diane Daly (violin), Lisa Dowdall (viola), Peggy Nolan (cello)

Caroline Shaw (1982-): Microfictions, Volume 1

Ioana Petcu-Colan (violin), Donald Grant (violin), Lisa Dowdall (viola), Kate Ellis (cello) & actor

Diane Daly & Dvořák: Songs My Mother Taught Me

Diane Daly (violin)

Bedřich Smetana (1824-1884): String Quartet No. 1, ‘From My Life’

Mia Cooper (violin), Donald Grant (violin), Séamus Hickey (viola), Peggy Nolan (cello)


Saturday 31st of May


7.00pm - ST. FLANNAN’S CATHEDRAL, Killaloe

EVENING CONCERT - Drama and Serenity

Featuring Shostakovich’s intensely personal String Quartet No. 8, performed from memory by the Libra Strings quartet, alongside unaccompanied Bach cello suites by Peggy Nolan and Bruch’s romantic Octet.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750): Cello Suite no. 2 in D minor BWV 1008: Sarabande

Peggy Nolan (cello)

Dmitri Shostakovich (1906 – 1975): String Quartet No. 8

Diane Daly (violin), Larissa O’Grady (violin), Lisa Dowdall (viola), Kate Ellis (cello)

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750): Cello Suite no. 5 in C minor BWV 1011: Sarabande

Peggy Nolan (cello)

Max Bruch (1838–1920): String Octet in B♭ major, Op. posth.

Ioana Petcu-Colan (violin), Donald Grant (violin), Mia Cooper (violin), Diane Daly (violin), Séamus Hickey (viola), Lisa Dowdall (viola), Peggy Nolan (cello), Aura Stone (double bass)


Sunday 1st of June


7.00Pm - ST. FLANNAN’S CATHEDRAL, Killaloe

EVENING CONCERT - Rhythm is a Dancer

A rhythm-infused concert featuring Karan Casey & Kate Ellis performing The Fiddle and the Drum, Adrian Eriksson’s Trio for Marimba, Violin, and Double Bass, Boccherini’s Fandango Guitar Quintet, and a storytelling journey through Argentinian Tango.

Karan Casey & Kate Ellis: The Fiddle and the Drum

Adrian Eriksson: Trio for marimba, violin and double bass

Diane Daly (violin), Boris Hunka (marimba), Aura Stone (double bass)

Luigi Boccherini (1743–1805): Guitar Quintet No. 4 in D major ‘Fandango’ G.448

Mia Cooper (violin), Diane Daly (violin), Lisa Dowdall (viola), Peggy Nolan (cello), Alec O’Leary (guitar)

A short history of Argentinian Tango music

Boris Hunka (marimba), Diane Daly (violin), Agustina Taborda (bandoneon), Matthew Berrill (saxophone) and guests


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