Galway Music Residency is celebrating the Celtic calendar through its series of concerts, Lunchtime with ConTempo and Contempo Countywide, which will kick off next week.

Throughout 2024, the ConTempo Quartet will reflect special dates and festivals associated with the Celts by choosing music appropriate to these dates.

They’re starting with the pagan festival Imbolc, which was linked to the start of Spring, and which subsequently became associated with St Brigid

The quartet will give a performance at Oughterard Courthouse next Monday, February 5 at 7pm and will repeat the concert in St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church next Tuesday, February 6 at 1.10pm, as the popular Lunchtime with ConTempo series returns.

In both venues, they will perform a repertoire to mark the earth’s movement from the darkness of winter to the light and hope of spring.

Works will include Haydn’s Sunrise Quartet, Terry Riley’s Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector, and Juhi Bansal’s Cathedral of Light.

Poet Moya Cannon – a longtime Galway resident –  will open the concerts by reading her poem A Song at Imbolc, which was originally commissioned by Galway 2020.

Entry to both concerts is free, all are welcome. Donations are welcome. No booking is required and walk-ups are welcome.

More information at www.thegalwaymusicresidency.ie.

Pictured: ConTempo will be performing in Oughterard on Monday evening and in St Nicholas’ Collegiate Church on Tuesday at 1.10pm. PHOTO: JULIA DUNIN.