Longford's First Friday: Picking the sweetest Bury

Reviewing an event in St John's can pose a difficulty. The Church of Ireland church is an experience in and of itself, before any performance is added.
Built in 1710 it's history extends beyond that. It's a complex and elaborate church, which retains the character of the time it was built.

The Irish Architectural Inventory says its interior “has a neoclassical feeling” as well as containing a number of impressive marble memorial monuments, the earliest of which dates to 1691 and commemorates The Rev James Sterling.
Sitting in the pews of the church on a Friday night the tranquillity of centuries of contemplation vibrates in the air.
St John's church is a remarkable venue. In recent years it has witnessed astonishing music performances from Kila, Amble, Nina Hynes, and Hermitage Green.

For this August First Friday concert Dotts O'Connor wended his way from Virginia in Cavan to play the opening slot. He boasted having one eight Longfordees heritage.

Dotts O'Connor

Best known as the guitarist of Come On Live Long, as a troubadour O'Connor more than holds his own. Sellotaping together bits and pieces of Paul Brady, Johnny Duhan and Arty McGlynn would give the overall shape of O'Connor, but he has clearly honed his craft to produce a wonderful warm style.

St John's is the perfect venue for headliner Niamh Bury. It was a reprisal of her turn on Other Voices Dingle last December.
The Portmarnock songstress' show is a simple affair. It's just her languid voice and her guitar. With them she fills the church to the very rafters. It's a sublime performance, at once metaphysical and visceral.

Bury's performance is empyreal in its understatement. She conveys all the import of songs that are centuries old in her performance of traditional pieces, while her own compositions have a haunting relevance.
It was a genuine privilege to experience an artist of this quality in such an intimate setting. Concerts of this value are what the First Friday programme is all about.