2025 PROGRAMME
Birr Festival of Music 2025 brings you one of our most exciting programmes to date from Thursday 1 - Monday 5 May.
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The recent appointment of Niall Kinsella as Artistic Director marks a significant development for the Festival, which is illustrated by the outstanding calibre of events and artists he brings to Birr this year.
The renowned RTÉ Concert Orchestra will open the 2025 Festival with a spectacular evening of orchestral and operatic favourites. Conducted by Niall and featuring internationally-acclaimed Irish soprano Ava Dodd and presenter Liz Nolan of RTÉ lyric fm.
Acclaimed singer Liza Pulman and award-winning jazz pianist Gareth Williams will explore the Great American Songbook while male vocal quartet 4 in a Bar will perform at Craughwell’s Courtyard. The international duo Bruno Caproni and Julian Evans return to perform, deliver masterclasses and adjudicate at The Trench Award - the centrepiece of the Festival.
There will be Music in Birr Castle and lots more to enjoy!
* Booking fees will apply at time of purchase
THURSDAY 1 MAY
THE BIG SING!
Thursday 1 May
Coláiste Naomh Cormac/Killeen National School
Students from come together for a day of fun-filled singing workshops led by dynamic choral director Mary Amond O’Brien.​ Mary is a passionate and highly motivated choral music facilitator and conductor who from the beginning of her career in 1997 engages regularly in her own professional development. Believing strongly in the innate singing ability of all children, young people and adults, Mary has worked with many non-auditioned singers and choirs who achieve high standards of performance while demonstrating the power of group singing to connect, excite, challenge and transform singers and their audiences. Mary founded the choir Aspiro in 1997 and Aspiro’s performances have been acclaimed by the Irish Times and Irish Examiner as ‘remarkable’ and Mary’s conducting as ‘vigorous and dynamic’. Mary was appointed choral director of Cór na nÓg in 2011.
FRIDAY 2 MAY
MEMORIES IN MUSIC
Birr Community Nursing Unit
Bruno Caproni and Julian Evans take a trip down memory lane bringing much-loved melodies and songs to residents, friends, family and staff, with special guest, local mezzo-soprano, Breffni Fitzpatrick.
MEET THE ORCHESTRA!
Friday 2 May
St Brendan's R.C. Church, Wilmer Road
​Music students from St. Brendan’s Community School Birr attend RTÉ Concert Orchestra rehearsals and gain a close-up experience of instrumental expertise.
POP-UP PERFORMANCE
Friday 2 May, 4pm
The Organic Store, Main Street
A special half-hour performance featuring local and visiting musicians.
Opera & Orchestral Favourites
Friday 2 May | 7.30pm
St Brendan's R.C. Church, Wilmer Road
€25*
Join the RTÉ Concert Orchestra for an unforgettable evening of music.
Conducted by Niall Kinsella, with internationally-acclaimed Irish soprano Ava Dodd and presenter Liz Nolan of RTÉ lyric fm, the concert features
beloved classics by Mozart, Donizetti, Ravel, Puccini, Bernstein, and many more.
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Duration: approx. 75 mins. without interval.
This event is kindly sponsored by The JVM Trench Will Trust &
SATURDAY 3 MAY
4 IN A BAR
Love Songs through the Ages
Saturday 3 May | 1pm
Craughwell's Courtyard
€18* (includes light lunch)
4 in a Bar is an award-winning vocal quartet based in Dublin – four friends who combine their classical music backgrounds with a love for modern, close-harmony singing.
For this lunchtime concert, they trace the theme of love through centuries, embracing a broad range of music from Baroque to Barbershop, all presented with characteristic spontaneity and wit!
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Duration: Approx. 1 hour without interval.
POP-UP PERFORMANCES
Saturday 3 May
Memory Lane, Antiques | 3.30pm
Woodfield Café & Garden Centre | 5pm
A series of special half-hour performances featuring local and visiting musicians.
LIZA PULMAN &
GARETH WILLIAMS
Let's begin with Harold Arlen....
Saturday 3 May | 8pm
Birr Theatre & Arts Centre
€20/18*
Acclaimed singer (and one third of the iconic Fascinating Aïda) Liza Pulman explores the
Great American Songbook, starting with the genius of Harold Arlen, moving onto Rodgers & Hart, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter and as many songs as she can squeeze into one evening.
Her effortless vocals and unique musicianship are partnered with award-winning jazz pianist Gareth Williams, one of the most dynamic and exciting performers in the UK.
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Duration: approx. 2 hours, including a 20 minute interval.
SUNDAY 4 MAY
POP-UP PERFORMANCE
Sunday 4 May
Birr Castle Courtyard | 1pm
A special half-hour performance featuring SING IT! Community Choir.
MUSIC IN BIRR CASTLE
Sunday 4 May | 2.30pm
For Festival Patrons & Sponsors
This year’s concert in the Music Room at Birr Castle features two recent Trench Award finalists. Rising star soprano Deirdre Higgins (Birr Lions Club Bursary 2023) and cellist Jayden Lamcellari (The Trench Award 2024), perform a recital with long-time festival
collaborator, pianist Julian Evans.
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Duration: Approx. 1 hour without interval.​
THE TRENCH AWARD
GALA CONCERT
Sunday 4 May | 7.30pm
Birr Theatre & Arts Centre
€18/16*
This year’s six finalists each perform a 15-minute programme of their choice. All are pursuing professional careers in classical music and were selected by an international panel.
Recipients of The Trench Award, Birr Lions Club
Bursary, the Canto Al Serchio Prize and the Connolly Award (new this year) will be announced.
Accompanist | Dearbhla Brosnan
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Duration: 2.5 hours approx with intervals
MONDAY 5 MAY
POP-UP PERFORMANCE
Monday 5 May
County Arms | 1pm
A special performance featuring the Midlands String Quartet; Maria-Noelle Creevey, Irene Ramos, William Cullagh & Agata Matelska-Konopska.
MYTHS & MAGIC
Monday 5 May | 3.30pm
Church of Ireland, Oxmantown Mall
€10* (Children FREE)
A performance of songs inspired by folklore and legends from Celtic and European tales.
Birr Young Voices explore the River Shannon through the legends of Sionnan, the River Goddess, and the River Monster, Cata. They also worked with animator Finn Nichol to create moving and still images to complement their music.
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Choral Director | Gregory Ward
Accompanist | Sophie Ward
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Duration: 30 - 40 minutes approx
