Gasun Photography : Trim : Meath : Ireland

Some photographs from recent outings including Republic of Loose, Sarah Lou, Storybooks For Small Dogs, Johnny Pluse, Gerry Tully, Mary Coughlan, Trim Balloon Fiesta and Freddie White ……..

On Wednesday, April 07th, Trim photographer Danny O’ Brien (porchfield.com) passed suddenly at work in Trim. Danny was larger than life and had a hunger for the arts, progress, fair society and worked selflessly toward the development of a theatre in Trim. Danny was not just an exceptional photographer, but was an award winning actor and proficient musician to name a few of his skills ….. I loved Danny’s photography and I think he liked what I do as well. I just want to dedicate these images to him; some taken when he was with us and some just after he passed … You can see the account of his life and sad passing in The Meath Chronicle …. RIP Danny O’ Brien.

Republic of Loose : Trim GAA Centre : 27.03.2010 : Photograph by Enda Casey.

Sarah Lou : Trim GAA Centre : 27.03.2010 : Photograph by Enda Casey.

Storybooks For Small Dogs : Trim GAA Centre : 27.03.2010 : Photograph by Enda Casey.

Trim DJ johnny Pluse photographed for his forthcoming double CD of original material due for release in June 2010 : Photograph by Enda Casey.

Gerry Tully : Venue Theatre Ratoath (with Mary Coughlan) : 13.03.2010 : Photograph by Enda Casey.

Mary Coughlan : Venue Theatre Ratoath : 13.03.2010 : Photograph by Enda Casey.

The Boyne Valley Honey Bees : Trim Balloon Fiesta : Easter Bank Holiday Weekend 2010 : Photograph by Enda Casey.

Virgin Airlines Balloon Fires Up : Trim Balloon Fiesta : Easter Bank Holiday Weekend 2010 : Photograph by Enda Casey.

Some of the balloons in the skies over Trim : Trim Balloon Fiesta : Easter Bank Holiday Weekend 2010 : Photograph by Enda Casey.

Freddie White : The Venue Theatre Ratoath : 14.04.2010 : Photograph by Enda Casey.

Freddie White : The Venue Theatre Ratoath : 14.04.2010 : Photograph by Enda Casey.

Freddie White : The Venue Theatre Ratoath : 14.04.2010 : Photograph by Enda Casey.

It all started over a few pints of Guinness in McSorleys Pub in Dublin. Now with their musical director, David Wray, The Three Irish Tenors (Kenneth O’ Regan, Ciaran Nagle & Domnic McGorian) have created programs of their favorite songs and arias, not only from Ireland but also from a truly international repertoire. Since their first performance this talented and exciting trio has performed to delighted, packed houses throughout Ireland, the United Kingdom, Asia and the United States of America. On January, 23rd, 2010, they played a sell-out show at the beautiful Trim Castle Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath with violinist Tara Novak. Some photographs from the show below.

The Three Irish Tenors (Domnic McGorian) : Trim Castle Hotel : 23.01.2010 : Photograph by Enda Casey

Violinist, Tara Novak performs with The Three Irish Tenors at Trim Castle Hotel on January 23rd, 2010. Photograph by Enda Casey.

Mickey McKenna from Trim, County Meath was a most talented and respected musician, who sadly passed on in 2004. I never had the pleasure of meeting Mickey nor seeing him perform first hand, but each year since his death, those who knew and played music with him have gathered in Trim to commemorate his life through the music he loved. This year, the concerts and music workshops (including Rock Guitar) took place in Trim Library on August 21st and 22nd, with music workshops in Rathcairn Library as well. The event was funded and supported by Meath County Council / Arts Council and organised by Alternative Entertainments. Officially opened by Cllr. Ray Butler (Trim); the legendary Barney McKenna (The Dubliners) and Sean Og McKenna took centre stage alongside Eamonn MacDonnacha (Rathcairn), Patsy Conroy (Trim), Henry McCullough (Antrim) and the famous Glenties fiddlers; Vincent, Jimmy & Peter Campbell, as well as other well-known traditional and bluegrass musicians including Bill Whelan (Fairview), Liam Kennedy (Ballyfermott), Austin Waring (Malahide) and Kevin Ward (Dublin) …. All events were free to attend!

When one reflects on the various music festivals in Ireland, Trim County Meath is an ideal place for a Music Festival with ample facilities across the town, including one of the finest castles in the world! This commemorative event already shares that common bond with some other Irish festivals in that people unite in Music to honour and cherish the memory of a sadly missed friend and musician. Thankfully due to his friends and family, Mickey has been commemorated for five years now, which hopefully will continue for years to come! Nonetheless, as I sat on the floor of the Library in front of the small stage and savoured each sublime performance, I pondered; (I) Could this enjoyable commemoration evolve into a bigger Festival, similar to The Johnny Keenan Banjo Festival or other festival formats too numerous to mention here or (II) Could a Music Festival be developed in Trim if (I) was not possible? Great credit must go to The McKenna family and those who organise the Commemoration, but what a wonderful legacy Mickey would have left the people of Trim if the event were to evolve further and reach out to a wider local and national audience and performers/musicians alike, so exploration of my “Question I” above would be logical, before moving on to cut another cloth so to speak?

Now as we all continue to take off to the O2, The Olympia Theatre and other such venues to see and hear Live Music, there is something extra special about experiencing Live Music on your own doorstep as this event and the recent visits of Christy Moore and Declan Synnott to Knightsbrook Hotel have proven! Having said all this, I believe that the possibilities for a suitable Music Festival / Event / Venue in Trim are endless and as a Music Photographer living in Trim, I would like to see something happen, but that’s just my personal opinion! At the moment, the only show in town is the Mickey McKenna Commemoration Concert and in my respectful opinion, this event should be examined to see if it can be developed further for the future. Would Trim be ready for significant development of this Commemoration or indeed another unrelated Music/Arts Festival? What do you think? I hope the few photographs below conjure up in your minds what prompted these thoughts in mine, as I sat on the Library floor at the weekend enjoying the music. I make final reference to the ever-youthful, Sean Og McKenna, who performed at the weekend in the words of the incredible Christy Moore …….

“as soon as we found Stuggart, we got the wagons in a ring, Sean Og got out the Banjo and Peter played the Mandolin. There were fans there from everywhere, attracted by the sound, the first Fleadh Cheol in Europe, and Joxer passed the flagon round”

- photographs from friday august 21st 2009 -

Bill Whelan : Trim Library : 21.08.09 : Photograph by Enda Casey : www.gasun.net & www.gasun.net/wordpress

Bill Whelan, Ben Keogh & Liam Kennedy : Trim Library : 21.08.09 : Photograph by Enda Casey : www.gasun.net & www.gasun.net/wordpress

Patsy Conroy : Trim Library : 21.08.09 : Photograph by Enda Casey : www.gasun.net & www.gasun.net/wordpress

Eamonn MacDonnacha : Trim Library : 21.08.09 : Photograph by Enda Casey : www.gasun.net & www.gasun.net/wordpress

- photographs from saturday august 22nd 2009 -

Sean Og McKenna : Trim Library : 22.08.09 : Photograph by Enda Casey : www.gasun.net & www.gasun.net/wordpress

Barney McKenna : Trim Library : 22.08.09 : Photograph by Enda Casey : www.gasun.net & www.gasun.net/wordpress

Jimmy Campbell : Trim Library : 22.08.2009 : Photograph by Enda Casey : www.gasun.net & www.gasun.net/wordpress

Vincent Campbell : Trim Library : 22.08.2009 : Photograph by Enda Casey : www.gasun.net & www.gasun.net/wordpress

Vincent, Jimmy & Peter Campbell : Trim Library : 22.08.2009 : Photograph by Enda Casey : www.gasun.net & www.gasun.net/wordpress

more photographs to follow …..

Christy Moore and Declan Synnott played two sellout gigs at The Knightsbrook Hotel, Trim, Co. Meath on Thursday 26th and Friday 27th February ‘09. Christy’s new album “Listen”; the first since 2005’s “Burning Times” will be released on April 17th. These concerts follow almost two years after they last played Knightsbrook Hotel in March 2007.

“FANTASTIC”

"Poetry In Motion" : Christy Moore & Declan Synnott