The Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at University of Limerick is going global and green virtually this year by hosting a St Patrick’s Day Fling.
The special virtual experience of music, song and dance will be performed at the University Concert Hall in UL for St Patrick’s Day.
The unique concert will feature performers from all over the world, including very special guest, Grammy-award winner Rhiannon Giddens.
The Virtual St Patrick’s Day Fling will also feature the spectacular Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Theatre who will premiere an innovative triple aerial hoop system with their new Handful of Dreams. Internationally renowned aerialists Aisling Ní Cheallaigh, Jenny Tufts, and Dr Jennifer de Brún will perform, together with talented students from the Academy’s BA in Irish Music, BA in World Music, BA in Irish Dance, BA in Contemporary Dance, MA in Classical String Performance and MA Irish Traditional Dance Performance.
The special event is a partnership between UL Global, Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, University Concert Hall and Limerick Culture and Arts Office, Limerick City and County Council.
“In these extraordinary and unprecedented times, the arts have possibly never been as important,” said Dr Sandra Joyce, Director of the Irish World Academy at UL.
“The Irish World Academy is delighted to showcase the talent of its students and staff at this unique and important online event as part of the global St Patrick’s Day celebrations. We are extremely grateful to our partners, UL Global, University Concert Hall and Limerick City and County Council, for their support and guidance.
“We are also delighted that special guests Rhiannon Giddens and Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Company will be performing at what promises to be a sparkling event,” she added.
UL Global Director Josephine Page said: “UL Global is delighted to collaborate with the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance to bring you a flavour of Ireland’s rich musical heritage during our national day celebrations.
“The Academy welcomes students from all over the globe to undergraduate and graduate programmes in Music, Dance and Voice. I hope that this special performance brings the warm Irish spirit to you wherever you are in the world, and on behalf of the UL Global team, I wish you a happy St Patrick’s Day,” she added.
Rhiannon Giddens, who lives in Limerick, is an extraordinary American musician and doyenne of the international folk scene who won Best Traditional Folk Album as part of the ground-breaking ensemble, Carolina Chocolate Drops, at the 2011 Grammys. She has also had huge success in her more recent solo endeavours winning Best Album of the Year at the International Folk Music Festival in 2016 and 2018, while also winning BBC 2 Folk Singer of the Year in 2016.
Celebrating all the creativity, talent and passion that the Irish World Academy has to offer, these world-renowned musicians, singers and dancers will come together on the University Concert Hall stage to create a performance full of joy, passion and festivity to celebrate a St Patrick’s Day like no other.
“It gives us huge pleasure to host this exciting St Patrick’s Day concert, and to have music once again ringing out from the stage of University Concert Hall,” said Sinead Hope, UCH Director.
“While we look forward to welcoming audiences through our doors down the line, we are delighted to be able to offer this virtual concert experience in the meantime and hope that everyone, of all ages and across all continents, enjoys it on March 17,” she added.
The free concert will be available to view from 3pm on March 17 and can be accessed here or via the websites/social media platforms of all partners.
The St Patrick’s Day Virtual Fling will also be launched in multiple time zones on March 17 as part of a UL Global initiative to connect with potential students, alumni and the wider diaspora in order to showcase all that University of Limerick has to offer to international students.