Mighty show in store at Monroe's from Máirtín O’Connor

A great night of music is in store this Friday when Máirtín O’Connor and band take to the stage at Monroe’s Live in the city as part of the Galway Sessions music festival. But not before Máirtín embarked on a brief trip to France on Tuesday for a concert in Verdun, site of the famous World War I battle. One of Ireland’s finest composers and performers, Máirtín is kept busy, whether working alongside fiddler Cathal Hayden, guitarist Séamie O’Dowd and percussionist Jim Higgins in his own band, or engaged on other individual projects with people like Donal Lunny and Zoë Conway. Then there’s also his collaboration with the classical quartet, ConTempo, Galway’s ensemble in residence. In recent times, Máirtín and the band have been performing with the legendary Christy Moore and were part of Christy’s sellout gig in Leisureland earlier this month. Like much in Máirtín’s career, this collaboration emerged organically. “We were doing a few gigs in Dublin organised by his nephew, Conor Byrne, who also organises the Doolin Festival, and Christy came to a good few of them,” says Annaghdown resident, Máirtín. “He was very taken with the sound of the group and got up and sang a few songs with us one night and we got together slowly but surely.”