The Irish-language literature festival returns to Dublin from November 6th to 15th with Dylan and Baez songs translated into Irish, a Trá Pháidín gig and a night of Irish-language hip-hop.
IMRAM, the annual festival of Irish-language writing and culture, runs from Friday November 6th to Sunday November 15th with a programme that mixes literary events and music. It featured a Phoebe Bridgers Irish language night last year.
Diamaint Agus Meirg: The Dylan-Baez Project
The festival’s flagship music event, on Saturday November 14th at Smock Alley, looks at Bob Dylan’s creative and personal relationship with Joan Baez. Their songs, translated into Irish, will be performed by Colm Seoighe and Emma Ní Fhíoruisce, accompanied by a host of musicians. IMRAM has staged two Dylan projects before.
An 424 with Trá Pháidín
On Friday November 13th at Smock Alley, Trá Pháidín play An 424: An Bus Go Dtí An Ghealchathair / The Bus To The Brightcity, where writers share new work inspired by the 424 bus route west from Galway city to Connemara. The band’s first album was named An 424.
An Hip-hap Gaelach
The Irish-language hip-hop night, curated by Eoin P. Ó Murchú, takes place on Thursday November 12th at The Sound House. Blue Niall performs, the Irish rapper’s project Oisín explores the legend of Tír na nÓg through modern storytelling. Cúán de Búrca and hHH appear, alongside New York’s Cailín Lofa, who straddles the traditional and the transgressive, and Limonead, who brings her own Scottish Gaelic hip-hop rap pop. James Shannon and Ciara Ní É are also on the bill.
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Crann Mór / Tree
Richard Berengarten’s poem is a symphonic hymn to a tree and its place in mythology, history and religion. An expanded version of IMRAM’s 2020 commission gets its world premiere on Tuesday November 10th at Smock Alley, in a new live staging directed by Adrian Dunbar with Chamber Choir Ireland and conductor David Young.
Also on the programme
- Friday November 6th: Músaem Na nGréibhlí / The Museum Of Curiosities, with stories from Daithí Ó Muirí and a spooky soundtrack from Fergus Kelly.
- Saturday November 7th: Gala Poetry And Music Night at Teeling Distillery, with music from siblings Éire Ní Fhaoláin and Cú Chulainn Ó Faoláin.
- Monday November 9th: Na Púcaí Ina Cheann, a tribute to the late Gabriel Rosenstock at The Teachers’ Club, with Amanda Bell, Paddy Bushe and Tristan Rosenstock.
- Wednesday November 11th: Ag Seinm Samhraidh / Singing The Summer, The Pearse Hutchinson Project, at The Teachers’ Club.
Full programme and tickets at imram.ie.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
