Gerard Manley Hopkins International Summer School 2005
Words and Music Workshop
led by
Conor Mahony
When? Friday 29th July, 2005 at teh Hopkins Summer School
Conor Mahony, songwriter/guitarist hails from Newbridge, County Kildare, an area steeped in music and song writing which has produced such talents as
Dónal Lunny,
Liam Óg Ó Floinn not to mention
Damien Quinn,
Davy Spillane and
Luka Bloom .
Conor Mahony is different. Conor is dedicated to the craft of serious song writing. Well
chosen words and original music fuse to form a perfect partnership in Conor's songs.
Think Joni Mitchell, Ian Dury, Robert Wyatt, Nick Drake, Ian Anderson, Randy Newman, Charles Mingus and Bill Evans and you'll get an idea of the kind of musical and lyrical territory explored by Conor Mahony.
By day Mahony teaches Music and English at Gaelcholáiste Chill Dara in Newbridge. He is actively involved in new Irish poetry through his involvement with G M Hopkins Summer School When not writing songs he continues with his other passion in life, namely playing and teaching classical guitar.
'It has been my pleasure to record and perform with Conor Mahony. For me, he is one of the most original and exciting songwriters to have emerged from Ireland in recent years’ Sonny Condell
'Absolutely mesmerising performer bursting with freshness and originality' Niall Murphy
'At last a songwriter who has broken out of the bedsit and is prepared to take on public as well as private issues. Opinionated songwiting at its best' Fran Mc Cormac
Conor Performs with Leading Artists
In the past Mahony has either performed or recorded with the following artists: Glen Hansard, Gerry O Beirne, Laura Thomas and Damien Quinn, Sonny Condell, Scullion, Frankie Lane ,Christ Moore, El Paso, Martin Hayes and Denis Cahill and Shane McGrath of Gallowglass (who has just recently recorded No Compromise a track from Mahony's second album 'Eyes Alive').
Conor, a Veteran of the famous International Bar in Dublin's Wicklow Street
Conor has played in this renowned venue each Tuesday night along with other songwriters like Damien Dempsey, Mundy, Paddy Casey. As he says himself 'This is where he learned the nuts and bolts of song-writing. This is where, night after night, he honed his song-writing skills'.
This is why at his Songwriting Workshop, Conor Mahony teaches the craft of songwriting, drawing on his own experience before a real, live audience.
When it comes to Songwriting, Conor trusts his instinct
'While I enjoy hearing other songwriters, I avoid imitating anyone else. I prefer to trust in my own instincts when writing. If I still like a song after many listenings then it gets recorded. I have no audience in mind when I'm writing.'
Conor Mahony's latest CD, sharp and satirical
His latest CD, Cartoon Culture, a touching mix of sharpness and satire, is both moving and affecting. (Producer Damien Quinn of QT Records has done a fine job creating a conceptual flow to this diverse bunch of songs by Conor Mahony).
Listen to these songs - and see what you think!
Don't miss this terrific opportunity!
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Friday 29th July 10.00 am
Words and Music Workshop with singer/musician, Conor Mahony
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Book now for the Songwriting Workshop
Download the 18th Hopkins Programme
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