Award winning Harpist kicks off Global Guinness Party

Award winning Harpist kicks off Global Guinness Party

Award winning Harpist – Louise Thomson from Burnage in South Manchester, helped launch the VIP Gala Arthur’s Day concert on Thursday 24 September at m19 bar in Levenshulme, Manchester. The event which was part of Guinness’s £30 million pound worldwide party to celebrate the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the day that Arthur Guinness signed his lease on the famous brewery in Dublin.

Celebrations went on all over the world, sky TV screened the celebrations taking place live in Dublin featruring the likes of Kasbian, Black Eyed Peas and The Enemy performing live.

Levenshulme village which is home to the biggest Irish community outside of London decided to go back to its traditional roots by staging the UK’s largest tradfest featuring some two hundred and fifty performers.

Amongst the star attractions appearing on Arthur’s Day with Louise at the Gala concert were Cork’s Eleanor McEvoy who flew in specially for the event. Eleanor’s single ‘Only A woman’s Heart’ is listed as one of Ireland’s biggest selling singles and she pre-launched her new album ‘Singled out’ at the event. Other artists included the award winning Shake the Barley featuring the world champion tin whistle player Mairead Hussey.

Other events on the same day included an Arthur’s Day darts tournament at the Union in Levenshulme and a special CD launch by traditional Irish band Innisfree. Also joining in the Arthur’s Day celebrations were Ged Graham from the essence of Ireland tour, he performed an intimate concert at the Farmers in Burnage.

The event was co-sponsored by Guinness, the evenshulme Pub Company and the Full Irish radio show on ALL FM. Full Irish show Mayo presenter Annette Carey is pictured here with her friend Sandra Darcy from Roscommon. She said about the event “It was a lovely evening, I really enjoyed it the whole five day festival is a great idea.”

Mayo man Lawrence Hennigan the managing director of the Levenshulme Pub company said “We were delighted to have an international star like Eleanor McEvoy and an award winning harpist like Louise involved in this very special Guinness celebration. The Harp has always represented everything that Guinness stand for and has always been incorporated in their branding. It was great to stage the biggest celebration in the UK right here in Levenshulme. We were delighted to part of the worldwide celebration of Guinness’s anniversary celebrations. It is great to see Guinness supporting traditional Irish music and going back to their roots.

Other events still to come are James Cannon and the Sinners on Friday 25 September at the Union, plus an acousticfest at m19, Kieran Cunningham on Saturday 26 September at the Union and the Full Irish radio broadcast on Sunday 27 September at the Farmers.

For more information about the rest of the festival log onto www.manchesteririshfestival.com