Paint the town green: New Zealand Irish Festival

Christchurch will turn green for four massive days as it sets to host the first ever New Zealand Irish Festival, with events taking place all over the city from 15 to 18 November.

Three celebrated songwriters will travel from Ireland to play at various establishments around Christchurch alongside Irish comedians and local musicians. The international acts include the iconic Damien Dempsey from Dublin, award winning songwriter Mick Flannery from Cork, songstress Lisa O’Neill from County Cavan and comedians Alan McElroy (Dublin) and Darren Jardine (Belfast).

Damien Dempsey is well known for delivering one of the most powerful live shows of any artist in Ireland today. Mick Flannery and Lisa O’Neill will join forces at Micky Finn’s on Saturday 17 November at 8pm for what is set to be an Irish song-writing feast. Lisa’s unique folk sound and strong song writing has seen her hailed as “one of Ireland’s most original singers”.

Her debut release Has an Album was followed in 2013 by Choice-nominated Same Cloth Or Not. Her third and most recent album Pothole in the Sky was released to critical acclaim and is filled with tension and emotion, contextualising themes of love, loss, heartache and sorrow today through referencing tales from the past with beauty, honesty and defiance.

She has also spent the past two years touring the world supporting Glen Hansard and the Divine Comedy.
Visit www.nzirishfest.co.nz for more information.