Third of nine Permanent Reminders to open to the public as part of Ireland 2016
This evening, Monday 11th April 2016, the National Concert Hall will welcome An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD andHeather Humphreys TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to officially open the newly refurbished and historic Kevin Barry Recital Room.
The restoration of the Kevin Barry Rooms at the National Concert Hall is one of the nine key ‘Permanent Reminders’ being developed at historically significant locations as part of the Government’s Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme. These projects represent significant State investment in our culture and heritage, ensuring that the 2016 commemorations leave a positive and lasting legacy for all citizens.
An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD, who will officially open the Rooms, noted the historic significance:
“The National Concert Hall is one of the most architecturally significant buildings in Ireland. The Kevin Barry Recital Rooms have a historic significance going back to the very foundation of the State. It is appropriate this year, on the hundred anniversary of the Rising, that these Rooms have been renovated and restored as part of the Government’s programme to mark the events of 1916”.
Heather Humphreys TD Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht added:
“The Kevin Barry rooms played host to the historic Treaty debates of the early 1920s and now, almost 100 years later, the rooms have been transformed into a beautiful new performance space in one of our foremost cultural institutions. My Department supported this project as one of the nine ‘Permanent Reminders’ because we want to ensure that our cultural and heritage sectors are left with a positive legacy from the 2016 commemorations. It is also very welcome to see another part of the Concert Hall’s beautiful building opened up to the public, creating an interesting new space for Irish and international musicians.”
The opening will be marked with a guest reception and gala concert featuring musical performances from pianist Michael McHale, singer Iarla O Lionáird, soprano Cara O’Sullivan, guitarist Redmond O’Toole and the Vanbrugh Quartet, showcasing the newly restored rooms.
Simon Taylor, CEO of the National Concert Hall said: “The restoration of the Kevin Barry Rooms offers the National Concert Hall the opportunity to enhance its role as a national cultural institution, to expand its service to the music and arts community, and concert goers, and to further develop its musical, cultural and educational programming. We are very grateful for the commitment from Government to the future of the National Concert Hall which this project represents and are particularly proud of its status as one of the permanent reminders of the Ireland 1916/2016 Centenary programme. It is indeed a reminder that will continue to resonate, through music, for generations to come. I would like to thank and congratulate the OPW on the delivery of this next phase in the development of the National Concert Hall as a centre of musical and cultural excellence”.
The new Kevin Barry Recital Room now provides a fit for purpose stage for a vast range of performances. The inaugural Kevin Barry Recital Room Series, supported by The Sunday Business Post and Newstalk, commences on the 24th April and will feature a number of performances by leading Irish and International artists as well as the Kevin Barry Recital Room Resident Artist Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh. The renowned fiddler, best-known as a member of The Gloaming, will be joined by a selection of guests artists for four concerts including Garth Knox (viola d’amore) on 28th April, Cormac Begley (concertina) on 19th May, Dan Trueman (hardanger) on the 26th May and Per Oddvar Johansen (drums & percussion) on the 15th June. Further details available on the Kevin Barry Recital Room Series on www.nch.ie