Pianist David Vesey to perform ‘Carolan Reimagined’ at Mayo concert

Music lovers in Mayo are being invited to a special evening of Irish-inspired piano music later this month as acclaimed pianist and composer David Vesey brings his programme Carolan Reimagined to the Linenhall Arts Centre.

The concert will take place on Thursday, March 26 at 8pm and will feature Vesey’s expressive interpretations of the music of Turlough O’Carolan, one of Ireland’s most celebrated harpist-composers from the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries.

The performance is inspired by Vesey’s acclaimed album Carolan Reflections, which reimagines the composer’s famous melodies through solo piano arrangements. The programme blends classical piano performance with elements of Irish traditional music, offering audiences a fresh perspective on Carolan’s enduring works.

Speaking ahead of the Castlebar concert, Vesey said Carolan’s music has long been a source of inspiration for him.

“His music bridges the gap between the Irish traditional and classical worlds,” he said. “The harp, Carolan’s instrument, shares many similarities with the piano, and through the piano I hope to continue a tradition started by figures such as Seán Ó Riada and Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin, who brought Carolan’s music into new realms.”

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Vesey added that the arrangements reflect both his personal connection with the composer’s music and wider themes of Irish cultural identity.

“I feel privileged to share my arrangements of Carolan’s music,” he said. “These reflections are personal in nature, representing my relationship with Carolan as a composer and also broader reflections on Irish identity. I hope these arrangements will bring Carolan’s music to new audiences and continue his legacy in a modern context.”

The concert promises an intimate musical experience, appealing both to dedicated followers of Irish traditional music and those discovering Carolan’s melodies for the first time.

Organisers say audiences are encouraged to book early for the performance at the Linenhall Arts Centre. Further details are available through the venue’s website.