OVERVIEW

Due to the COVID situation, we had to produce a totally online festival.  However, Our festival is very much connected to Galway as a medieval walled city.  So, each of the concerts was introduced by Helen Gregg from a well-known medieval site in Galway, with a little information about the site.  She then brought the audience to the venue.  Three of the concerts were pre-recorded and one was live-streamed.  It was also important for us to include participative events such as instruments workshops, exhibitions, and a walking tour of medieval Galway – all online. Take a look at our look-back on the festival: 

EARLY MUSIC DAY MARCH 21
REMA/EEMN declared March 21 (Bach’s birthday) the annual European Day of Early Music, with the support of the EU.  Galway Early Music participates and promotes the European Day of Early Music in Ireland. In 2021, we produced a concert and a talk online.

EARLY MUSIC FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS (EMfYM)
Galway Early Music started EMfYM project six years ago.  The project brings professional Irish musicians specialising in early music to music schools to give workshops.  The participating young musicians then participate in the finale concert of the festival.  In 2020 we were unable to organise this project, but in 2021 we had a special young musician’s Zoom workshop with Malachy Robinson and Eamon Sweeney: Baroque and Roll! Grounds and improvisation

ADULT EARLY MUSIC ENSEMBLE
Again, this had to be put on hold for 2021.

WALLED TOWNS DAY ATHENRY
Athenry Walled Towns Day was online this year.  The organisers asked us to produce a video on music in medieval Athenry.  We produced a lovely video in co-operation with Limerick Early Music that featured Helen Hancock (recorder and voice), Vlad Smishkewych (narrator, voice, symphonium), Natalie Surina (early Irish harp) and Maura Ó Cróinín (bray harp).