A concert and talk featuring acclaimed singer-songwriter and Tipperary woman EDEL MEADE, who released her stunning new solo album BRIGIDS AND PATRICIAS in 2021, described as ‘most courageous Irish album of the year” in The Irish Times.

A strikingly original artist working in the field of jazz, folk and contemporary music; her voice has been described as mesmerising or magical even, while her music is haunting and powerful. This extraordinary new collection of original songs and spoken word reflects on what it means to be a woman living in 21st century Ireland, shaped by Irish history, folklore and contemporary society.

Standout tracks include ‘Song For Bridget Cleary’ (burnt alive by her husband in 1895, not far from where Meade grew up in Co. Tipperary, although he insisted she had been taken away by the fairies!), ‘Long Way To Go’ a scintillating spoken word piece addressing misogyny and the cervical check scandal in Ireland and ‘Ode To Old Noll’, a blistering ode to Oliver Cromwell who wreaked havoc in Ireland and sent thousands of Irish to the West Indies in the 17th century, among them, members of Meade’s ancestors, some of whom continue to reside on the Caribbean island of Montserrat today. 

“I wanted to explore what it means to be an Irish woman in order to understand who I am as an artist. I felt I needed to look at historic events as well as contemporary social issues, and of course, I believe it’s an artist’s duty to reflect the times.” – Edel Meade  See website: https://www.edelmeade.com/ 

The concert will be followed by a discussion on the relevance of Brigid as saint and muse in contemporary Ireland with Edel Meade, Annemarie Ní Churreáin, Dolores Whelan and chair Aoife Barry. 

ANNEMARIE NÍ CHURREÁIN is a poet from northwest Donegal. Her recent collection The Poison Glen (The Gallery Press, 2021) explores the story of the stolen or missing child, and weaves together landscape, history and mythology to bear witness to family loss and cultures of silence in Ireland. Ní Churreáin is a recipient of The Next Generation Award from the Arts Council and a co-recipient of The Markievicz Award. Ní Churreáin was the 2019-20 Writer in Residence at Maynooth University of Ireland and a 2020 Artist-In-Residence at The Centre Culturel Irlandais, Paris. Visit www.studiotwentyfive.com

DOLORES WHELAN
Author, teacher, spiritual guide, healer, way-shower and pioneer; Dolores Whelan has blazed a trail in her lifetime to provide a potent understanding of the value of ancient wisdom and ignite appreciation for Celtic spirituality and the waning traditions of indigenous Ireland. Bridging worlds ancient and new, she has forged new paths and opened old ways. Visit https://doloreswhelan.ie/

CHAIR: AOIFE BARRY is a journalist, writer and broadcaster based in Dublin. As an assistant news editor for TheJournal.ie she works across its busy newsdesk, and co-produces the site’s award-winning podcast The Explainer. She also co-presents the culture podcast Get Around To It and appears regularly on national radio talking about news and culture topics. Her essays have been featured in Banshee journal and on Sunday Miscellany. Visit https://aoifebarry.com/