The SCS Killaloe Music Festival returns this June Bank Holiday Weekend 2024

Th 2024 SCS Killaloe Music Festival continues the tradition of bringing together musicians from across Ireland and the world to the beautiful historic twin towns of Killaloe-Ballina.

St Flannan’s Cathedral hosts the 12th SCS Killaloe Music Festival for a weekend of music, art and culture from 31st May to 2nd June 2024

This year’s programme continues the tradition of bringing together musicians from across Ireland and the world to the beautiful historic twin towns of Killaloe-Ballina.

This year the festival are also excited to continue our partnership with Limerick-based company Shannon Coiled Springs (SCS). 

Artistic Director Katherine Hunka has created a programme like no other, supporting Irish musicians from around the globe to join in the celebration of music. Through the works of Bach, Tchaikovsky, Lili Boulanger and more, including two world premieres, one by our very own Katherine Hunka, the weekend festival will be an immersive experience for all the family.

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On Friday 31st May, the festival will open at 7.30pm with Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor, performed by celebrated accordionist Dermot Dunne, followed by works from Mozart, Debussy, Salina Fisher and Strauss. Friday’s programme will be performed by Carol McGonnell (clarinet), Joachim Roewer (viola), Fiachra Garvey (piano), Katherine Hunka (violin), Simon Mulligan (piano) and the Marmen Quartet. 

For the first time, a Late Night Animation Extravaganza will take place after the Evening Concert, featuring festival musicians performing specially-written music alongside new and innovative animations by students from TUS Limerick School of Art and Design. This year’s weekend festival will also include a Coffee Concert at 11am on Saturday 1st June. This Rising Star performance will highlight the talent of young bassoonist Carl Roewer, performing works by Bach, Mozart, Poulenc, Tchaikovsky and more. 

He will be accompanied by several musician friends, featuring Róisín Fleming on the cello. At 3pm, the Far Flung Trio will provide a fun and informal, free music event suitable for all ages in the Killaloe Catholic Church. The 7.30pm evening concert begins with Schubert’s Fantasia in F minor for Four Hands, performed by pianists Fiachra Garvey and Simon Mulligan, followed by further works from Boulanger, Bartok and Brahms. 

After this, the Late Night Concert kicks off at 10pm, with Simon Mulligan taking us into the jazz world of Cole Porter and Gershwin. The final day of the festival will start off with a lunchtime concert at 1pm on Sunday June 2nd across the river in the Ballina Catholic Church. Here, local choirs, including the Gúnas, Voices of the Derg, The Ború Singers and the Killaloe Male Voice Choir, will perform a concert of sacred and secular gems. This free event is suitable for all the family. 

Following this, at 3pm there will be the always popular Musicians of the Future Children’s Concert and will include a series of performances under the musical direction of Diane Daly. 

The festival will then draw to a close with a final evening concert at 7.30pm, beginning with a World Premiere and festival commission from Paul Frost, performed by Katherine Hunka (violin), Diane Daly (violin), Joachim Roewer (viola), Aoife Nic Athlaoich (cello) and Yseult Cooper Stockdale (cello). 

This will be followed by Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in D minor, before the festival concludes with Franz Schubert’s String Quintet in C major D956. The SCS Killaloe Music Festival will coincide with a showcase of artworks from local artists that will be on display in Killaloe’s cathedral for the duration of the festival. The festival podcast is also available on Spotify and Apple Music.

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