Music lovers turned out in force to hear musicians including Declan O'Rourke, Cathy Davey and Republic of Loose perform at a special gig in Vicar Street, Dublin, this week.
The gig was held to celebrate the completion of the third Other Voices series of concerts. This RTÉ TV music series was recorded in St James's Church in Dingle, Co Kerry, before Christmas last year.
"It's grown organically," said Philip King, series producer of Other Voices 3. The first programme in the 13-week series will be broadcast on Easter Sunday on RTÉ2. "The music community took to it, or the seed took and word got out . . . This series gives oxygen to new Irish music."
Leaving Cert students Barbara McCarthy (18) and Róisín Mangan (18) of Loreto College, Foxrock, were there to enjoy the music of Declan O'Rourke.
"I love his sound," said Mangan.
"His music is different," said McCarthy.
Jack Buckley (18), from Macroom, Co Cork, had travelled to the Dublin gig with his mother, Margaret Buckley. A big O'Rourke fan, the young Buckley has organised a charity gig with the singer/songwriter to raise money for the Irish Kidney Dialysis Unit at Cork University Hospital. It will take place at the Briary Gap Theatre in Macroom on Saturday, April 9th.
Buckley's favourite song by O'Rourke is one about his home town in Co Cork, called Poor Boy's Shoes. Galileo is another favourite: "It's class," added his mother.
Jennifer Brown, from Tralee, and her friend, substitute teacher Noreen Fitzgerald, were both looking forward to hearing the night's line-up. After stopping briefly to be photographed, they set off to hear some of the unique music that features in Other Voices 3.