Trad duo head down under after sold out Irish tour
Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue TD launching Seamus Begley and Jim Murray CD 'Eire Go La' with John O'Shea, chairman of The Gathering Festival at the INEC, Gleneagle Killarney last week. Credit: Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin
CLONDROHID guitarist Jim Murray and Kerry singer-accordionist Séamus Begley have headed to Australia after completing a highly successful Irish tour of their new album, Éirí go Lá.
Murray and Begley played to full houses at concerts in Limerick, Galway, Manorhamilton, Portlaoise and Clonakilty during the month-long tour, which culminated with at a sold out gig in the Briery Gap theatre in Macroom.
The top trad duo also gave a first class performance at the annual Gathering festival in Killarney, which was launched by Ceann Comhairle of the Dáil, John O'Donoghue.
The Ceann Comhairle wished both musicians well as they begin the world tour of their new album – "they are spreading their wings and heading for Australia and New Zealand for what I believe will be an extremely successful tour," he said.
John O'Donoghue praised Séamus Begley and Jim Murray for promoting Irish culture at home and abroad, and made particular reference to the use of the Irish language on Éirí go Lá.
"It is of course a fact that recent studies have shown the Irish language in decline, and that is something I think to be greatly regretted, because in the final analysis, a people are defined by their language, their music and their dance.
"For as long as their CD does well, Ireland will never be bereft of its own soul," said the former arts and tourism minister to great applause in the Gleneagle Hotel.
Begley and Murray play at the annual Port Fairy Folk Festival in Australia this weekend, and concert dates also take in Sydney and Melbourne during the St Patrick's Day holidays, before they travel on to New Zealand in April.
After the exertion of touring and producing the Éirí go Lá album, Jim Murray plans to spend a year in New Zealand, where he first met his Scottish wife, Kathleen, and their four-month-old daughter Holly will also experience life in Kiwi land.
"It was always a plan of mine, and now ours, to live that side of the world for a while, so now seemed like the right time while Holly is young, and to take a break from a decade of touring," said Jim Murray.
- SEAN Ó LOINGSIGH
