The first all-female big-band of Irish traditional music is celebrating playing together for 30 years this year. On International Women’s day in 1984, over twenty women – musicians and singers from all parts of Ireland, north and south, but based in Dublin – joined together to celebrate women’s creativity.

They came from Donegal, Clare, Kerry, Galway, Dublin and Westmeath. Many were household names in Irish music, including Mary Macnamara, Patsy Broderick and Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich. The end result, to quote the band, was “fantastic fun, as well as being musically explosive”.

30 years on, they have scattered to the four corners of Ireland and many have made professional careers in traditional music. This evening, they are getting together for this one fantastic concert to celebrate women’s music, energy and creativity once more.

Appearing tonight are Mary MacNamara, Seoisaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich, Patsy Broderick, Jacinta McGorman, Maggie Gallagher, Mary Clare Breathnach, Roisín Gaffney, Siobhán Bhreatnach, Edel Mc Weeney, Máire O’Keeffe, Roma Casey, Pearl O’Shaughnessy, Claire Eustace, Mary Mc Elvaney and Brid Mc Elvaney