Duiske Concerts - Graiguenamanagh, Co. Kilkenny

Duiske Abbey, founded in 1204 on the banks of the River Barrow at Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny, was once the largest Cistercian foundation in Ireland. After a long period of neglect it was lovingly restored thirty years ago. A decade later, with the country in the grip of an earlier economic recession the then parish priest, Monsignor Sean Swayne, had the ridiculously ambitious idea of using Duiske as the venue for a series of concerts featuring the finest musicians – both classical and traditional – from Ireland a further afield. Many eyebrows were raised.

This is now our 21st season. In the intervening period Duiske has staged over a hundred and thirty concerts and welcomed upwards of three hundred performers from all over Ireland, Europe and beyond. A glance at the list of past performers gives an idea of the consistent quality for which Duiske is now renowned. They come from Dublin, Belfast, London, New York, Moscow – and Ennis – not for the money or even because of the fine acoustics and the spectacular setting, but because they have heard by word of mouth of the unique atmosphere and informality of the event. Audiences come for the same reason, year after year. There is nothing amateur about the facilities in the Abbey these days: we have professional staging, a fine Steinway B piano, state of the art lighting, a central heating system that works. But Duiske remains a community event, run entirely by volunteers. We do it for the love of it, and it shows.

Sean Swayne died in 1996, and this year we lost another of our founders, the much loved Dr Marian Tierney, who died this summer. Without her vitality, humour, ingenuity and stubborn persistence none of this would have happened. She is sorely missed, not just by her family and the people of Graiguenamanagh but by the vast crowd of friends, colleagues, patients (and musicians) who were lucky enough to have had her in their lives. This season is dedicated to a celebration of her life.