The Great Music in Irish Houses Festival is Ireland’s longest-established chamber music festival. It was founded in Castletown House in 1970. Since then, the month of June has been a musical summer must for Irish chamber music devotees.

Our objective was, and still is, to present concerts of chamber music, “the music of friends” in the sort of smaller, intimate spaces for which the music was originally written, away from the more formal setting of a concert hall.

Over the years we have offered Irish audiences the opportunity to hear some of the finest international and Irish artists perform a vast range of chamber music in a variety of Ireland’s most historic and notable buildings, spaces that would not normally resound with beautiful and exciting music. Stately Irish Houses are juxtaposed with some of the country’s iconic, modern buildings showing the diversity of Irish architectural and interior design.

From that small sapling planted in Castletown House, the great oak that is now the Great Music in Irish Houses Festival has grown and is recognised widely as a prestigious platform for world-class musicians.

The Great Music in Irish Houses Festival is a non-profit making organisation and depends on the support of sponsors and Friends to continue its work into the future.

People

Artistic Director – Ciara Higgins

General Manager – Laurie Cearr

Marketing & Administration – Beccy Kennedy

Production – Gavin O’Sullivan & Conleth Stanley

Publicity – Mary Folan

President

Frank Casey

Board

Linda O’Shea Farren (Chair)

Grainne Boushel

Frank Casey

Martin Davidson

Sheila De Courcy

John Keogan

John Reynolds