Album Launch – Conor Arkins & Paul Clesham “The Morning Thrush”

Venue: Lucas Bar, Ennis

Date & Time: Sun 12th of Nov 2023, 6pm

While studying music at University College Cork, Conor and Paul began playing tunes together regularly. In later years, their house ‘Woodbine Lodge’ on Glasheen Road became a favourite place for musicians to visit and was host to many a wild night and early morning sessions. The repertoire featured on this album is a reflection of the many musical encounters that Conor and Paul have enjoyed together over the years. They are delighted to be joined on their debut album but Ryan Molloy on piano and Jim Murray on guitars.

Conor Arkins

Conor Arkins is a multi-instrumentalist from Ruan, Co. Clare who plays fiddle, flute and whistle. As an well-known traditional musician, Conor regularly performs at music festivals both nationally and internationally as well as representing Irish at various consular cultural celebrations around the world. He has performed in concert with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra and is a regular collaborator with his sister, Eimear Arkins. With a keen interest in ethnomusicology and Irish studies, his research focuses on the music of Bobby Casey, a 20th Century West-Clare fiddler. Upon commencing his postgraduate research, Conor was awarded the UCC CACSSS Excellence Scholarship. Conor is a graduate of UCC, having studied a BA in Music and Irish and a BMus for which he was awarded the Quercus Scholarship, Staf Gebruers Award and the Seán Ó Riada Memorial Prize. Conor is active as a music educator and creative practitioner, he is the new director of the Traditional Irish Music course and Cork College of Further Education. He is a member of Taobh na Mara Céilí Band who have just released their debut album and he is currently involved in Underground Cathedral, an exciting new project with accordionist, Martin Tourish that is in production.

Paul Clesham

From Hollymount, Co. Mayo, Paul Clesham plays the concertina, fiddle, accordion, piano and melodeon. He has won 6 All-Irelands at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, including the Senior Concertina and Senior Accompaniment in 2015.

He holds a BA in Music & Irish, a BMus and an MA in Ethnomusicology from University College Cork. He is now studying for a PhD in Ethnomusicology and was awarded an Excellence Scholarship from the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences in UCC for his Doctoral studies. 

Paul has travelled to numerous countries worldwide performing and teaching music. He is a founding member of the group ‘Officially Tapped’ and has performed with ‘Celtic Steps’ dance show also. He is featured on 2016 Echos of Érin CD