News
Solas Summer Shows
Some lovely European shows coming up with Solas this Summer – from Spain, to France to Carrig-on-Bannow to…. Belfast! 🤘
Check out solastheband.com for dates!
Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’ Leary – TOUR
We will play several shows at the fab Milwaukee Irish Festival USA 2026.
Celtic Roots Stage, Friday 4.30pm, Saturday 3.30pm and Sunday 1pm
Tour of beautiful Denmark, in September 2026. See TOUR page here for dates! Thank you to our agent Lone Lamber Jensen.
September – World Premier
I am so excited to announce that my commission piece ‘The Turning of the Year’ will be premiered at the Rockport Festival. It is a four-part song suite inspired by the book of the same name by Irish author Eithne Massey which illuminates the four Celtic fire festivals: Samhain (Winter) , Imbolc (Spring), Bealtaine (Summer), and Lúnasa (Fall)— the suite combines ancient and nineteenth century poems in the Irish language and English, with new lyrics and composition. It will be performed with an all-star house band with some gorgeous string arrangements by musical director Maeve Gilchrist.
October – Come with Me on a Magical Mystery Bus Tour of Ireland
The Third Annual Samhain (Hallowe’en) Bus Tour of Ireland takes place 31st October to 7th November 2026! Did you know Hallowe’en originates in Ireland? It’s been a hoot of a tour thus far, visiting so many cool and spooky places, real haunted castles and singing songs, hearing the stories and lore of all things Hallowe’en. This year we even venture to the reputed birthplace of Hallowe’en itself!! If this floats your boat, email nuala at nualakennedy dot com and hop on board with us in 2027!!
New Beltane Bus Tour added for May 2027!
We have added a Beltane Bus Tour of Ireland to our calendar 7-14 May 2027! This festival celebrates the arrival of Summer and is a truly wonderful time to visit our beautiful Island. We have a spectacular route planned. Email nuala at nualakennedy dot com for info.
November – Denmark
I’ll be on tour with Himmerland in Denmark from 11-21 November 2026!
See www.Himmerland.it for dates
December – Japan
Solas and Altan will be on tour together in Japan! Please see SolastheBand.com for dates.
Join us for our third annual Samhain Tour 31st October to 6th November !
Really enjoying curating a meaningful, fun and interesting tour of Ireland around this fabulously non-touristy time of year.. See Cultural Tour page here for more info and join our merry band of pilgrims!
Nuala & Eamon to perform at Bantry House as part of “Masters of Tradition” Festival, 23rd August 2025
Nuala joins SOLAS for 30th Anniversary Tour 2025.
Solas is hailed by The Boston Globe as “the finest Celtic ensemble this country has ever produced” and The Wall Street Journal as “an Irish traditional band bearing all the marks of greatness.” Since forming in New York City in 1995 they have been a galvanizing element in the Irish music scene – a lightening rod of talent and inspiration that set new standards for musicianship, repertoire, and intensity. Over the course of twelve critically acclaimed albums and endless international touring, Solas brought their love and respect for the traditions of Irish music, and their sense of melodic and instrumental adventure to the world.
Nuala will join Solas from 24th February onward, for their Anniversary Tour 2025. See TOUR page for dates.. come say hi! Nuala will join Solas from 24th February onward, for their Anniversary Tour. See TOUR page for dates.. come say hi!
HYDRA named Folk Album of the Month by The Guardian.
After its global release in November 2024, HYDRA was featured as ‘Folk Album of the Month’ in The GUARDIAN **** ‘Album of the Week’ on R.T.E. Radio 1 (Irish National Radio), ‘Album of the Month’ Americana-UK, **** MOJO and ****SONGLINES amongst other generous accolades.
New Album
SHORELINES
OUT 7th JULY 2023
featuring Tara Breen (Chieftains) and Dublin guitarist of note Tony Byrne (Danu). Also playing on the record are some of Ireland & America’s most beloved folk performers: Singers Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and Moira Smiley, pianist Caoimhin Vallely and Grammy winning bassist and producer Todd Sickafoose.
BBC Radio Ulster:
Hear myself, Tara and Tony play a few songs from the forthcoming new album ‘Shorelines’ and a recent chat on Lynette Fay’s Folk Show BBC Radio Ulster here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m001lqkb?fbclid=IwAR3p61lFpsv_AX0tY-17XoKOFTUddmyyMXb0132MXWjj2pnnDQUGYtKVUI8
Bhttps://www.bostonirish.com/arts/2022/nuala-kennedy-innovation-creativity-within-tradition-what-she-cherishes?fbclid=IwAR0wTbmOjyAldPsDk32E4RlOqb5-ec3aBOM1QW9_QnDy0r26Y1XX5h2zoXw
The new Alt album ‘Day is Come’ is out now and available at www.bandcamp.com/thealtmusic
January 2022 – Happy New Year
September 2021 – “Ag Lorg Ár Líne” / “Seeking Connection”
To celebrate Culture Night – “Ag Lorg Ár Líne” / “Seeking Connection” a new video commissioned through the Duala Creator-in-Residence Programme by Clare Arts Office and the Irish Traditional Music Archive. Through creative use of digital archival recordings, Nuala and Tara explore and reimagine the details and subtleties of the music of influential Clare women performers through contemporary duet performance.
June 2021 – Long Woman’s Grave
Long Woman’s Grave is a new collaboration between three well-loved names in Irish Traditional Music – Nuala Kennedy (The Alt, Oirialla: vocals, flute), SJ McArdle (Kern: vocals, guitar, mandolin) & Trevor Hutchinson (Lúnasa, The Waterboys: bass).
“High Germany”, a traditional song, was recorded entirely during lockdown 2021 at all three members’ homes in Ennis, Drogheda and Dublin, then mixed and produced by Trevor at Marguerite Studios.
More on LWG here.
May 2020 – Hush the Cat – Music of Oriel
Oriel was an old division of Ireland a region covering the borders of southeast Ulster and north Leinster including Nuala’s home town of Dundalk. Hush the Cat is a tune from ‘The Rose in the Gap’ by Louth fiddler Gerry O’ Connor, a beautiful recent publication of the Father Luke Donnellan Collection of dance music of Oriel. The piece is written as a reel in the collection, but played here on the Bb flute in jig time.
Music and Animation by Nuala Kennedy
New tote bags in the shop!
Lockdown Ireland 2020 tote bags, art drawn by Nuala. Made in Ireland with eco-friendly cotton!
Nuala Kennedy and Eamon O’ Leary tour USA
A Celtic Christmas
Nuala will be on the road again in the US in February, March, April and May 2026 with Solas, and also in duo with Eamon O’ Leary.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=1MeKZc5g2oQ%3Fenablejsapi%3D1