Irish composer Eimear Noone, who made history in 2020 by becoming the first woman to conduct the orchestra at the Oscars, will present a concert in Los Angeles on Sunday showcasing the very best of Irish storytelling.
"Ireland - Where Legend Lives" is presented as part of Ireland Week in Los Angeles and features a large assortment of Irish singers, actors, composers, directors, and songwriters presenting "dramatic songs and stories from contemporary Ireland".
The concert will take place at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles at 6 p.m. on May 5, featuring a wide variety of Irish actors and singers, including former Celtic Woman singer Chloe Agnew, American Idol contestant Carly Smithson, "Curb Your Enthusiasm" actor Glenn Keough, and "Once Upon a Time" actress Caroline Morahan.
The event is directed by Madison Cole Garfinkle Kirsten Sheridan, who has received an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for her work in "In America".
Noone described Sheridan as a "national treasure" and a "prolific writer".
"Kirsten is an absolutely prolific writer," Noone said. "We're going to experience some of her writing on Sunday."
It also features singers such as Triona O'Neill, Hannah Crowley, and Bren Holmes in addition to actors such as Kevin Ryan, Kevin Marron, and Rachel Rath, and will examine the Irish cultural relationship with storytelling.
"It's finally becoming very apparent to everybody that Irish storytelling and our success in the worlds of film and storytelling on screen is not by accident," Noone told IrishCentral.
"We're giving our storytellers, our musical storytellers, our actors, and writers a platform to showcase their abilities."
Noone said the concert features original compositions and original pieces of theater and film in addition to excerpts from classic Irish works such as "Ulysses" and "The Plough and the Stars".
The concert will also feature a tribute to Irish music icons Sinéad O'Connor, Shane MacGowan, and Christy Dignam, who all died in 2023.
"We want to celebrate what they gave us, so we have a song we're performing called "Legends Never Die" in honor of them. We're going to show some footage of them during the performance.
"We appreciate so much what Sinéad and Shane and Christy gave us culturally, the inspiration that they gave us, and their fearlessness. All three were completely fearless artists. And that's something that we want to celebrate is how that fearlessness lives in us, the need to be creative, the need to be vulnerable."
Noone said that fearlessness and vulnerability are a "huge" part of Irish storytelling, allowing Irish artists to "reach out and touch people through their work".
She added that she is "passionate" about promoting Irish culture and Irish artists in Los Angeles.
"I'm very passionate about wearing the green jersey, and I'm very, very passionate about Irish artists. I'm constantly in awe of my compatriots here in Los Angeles and what they're doing.
"They're all out there pounding the pavement every single day working really really hard and evolving and creating."
Noone added that she hopes to make this celebration of Irish storytelling and music an annual fixture in Los Angeles.
"We want this to grow, year on year. We want more support for this because it makes so much sense in the arts and entertainment business but also culturally. It's sharing our culture across the world in such a positive way. These artists deserve to be heard. I'm passionate about promoting our storytellers in music and on the stage."
Ireland Week 2024 will run from May 5-13, featuring concerts, talks, networking events, and an Irish Family Sports Day.
Ireland Week has also partnered with Irish suicide prevention charity Pieta House and will host a Darkness Into Light Sunrise Walk on May 11 to raise awareness and funds for the charity.
Noone described Pieta as a "stunning" organization that does invaluable work promoting mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
"Darkness into Light is one of my personal favorite events. This time last year, I got to participate in my hometown of Ballinasloe because I was in Ireland at the time. It's, it's it's really important to me."
She also praised the work of Ireland Week organizers Buzz and Deirdre O'Neill, who inspire Irish artists in Los Angeles with their altruism and authenticity.
"Pieta House is very much an appropriate partner for us in Ireland Week because they come from the same place of authenticity and the work they do is just stunning."
Tickets for Sunday's concert are available from $25 and can be purchased here.
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