DkIT are looking forward to a special lunchtime concert on Thursday 1 May, which will feature performances by the DkIT Choir, students from the Musical Theatre programme, and the traditional music ensemble from St Patrick’s High School, Keady, Co. Armagh. Coinciding with Poetry Day, the concert will also feature poetry readings by local poets.

St Patrick’s is a vibrant learning environment, committed to providing a holistic education. Music teacher Ms Eimear McGeough is a graduate of DkIT and she recently facilitated some workshops with her former lecturer, Dr Daithí Kearney, involving the traditional music ensemble in the school. Daithí facilitated workshops with the group that included a new arrangement of a reel by past-pupil Niall Hughes, who is a member of the Oriel Traditional Orchestra based at DkIT.

The Traditional Music Group in St Patrick’s is a vibrant ensemble that has significantly enriched the school’s cultural landscape. Established to foster a deep appreciation for traditional music, the group has seen remarkable growth, now boasting 40 dedicated members ranging from Year 8 to Year 14. Over the years, the group has actively participated in numerous events, both within the school and the wider community. Their performances have been a staple at school functions, including prize-giving ceremonies, where their music adds a unique touch to the celebrations. The ensemble’s influence extends beyond the school premises. Their participation in local cultural events has not only showcased their talent but also strengthened the school’s ties with the community. By engaging students across various year groups, the Traditional Group fosters unity, promotes cultural awareness, and provides members with valuable opportunities for personal development.

The DkIT choir, under the direction of Dr Georgina Hughes and Ms Sarah McCourt, have focused on a folk-inspired repertoire this semester, complimenting the music of the ensemble. After a busy period for the department, this concert brings an end to the performance components of the various programmes.

The concert will also include poetry readings of work by DkIT colleague Kathleen Maddy, who has published four collections of poetry including The Morning ‘Tae’. Kathleen spent much of her early childhood in Ravensdale and was inspired by the beauty of nature and the traditional way of life on the land. Her poems reflect the changing seasons, newborn lambs, collecting water from the well, apples from the orchard, and the bounty of the harvest. She also featured on a radio documentary Tears of the Moon in 2014, which was funded by the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland.

DkIT lecturer Dr Daithí Kearney will also read some of his poems, which have featured in a wide range of literary magazines internationally. Amongst the collections featuring his work in 2025 are

Silence edited by Dr Christopher Okemwa, lecturer in drama and poetry at Kisii University, Kenya and founder and current director of Kistrech International Poetry festival in Kenya. Daithí also featured in Hope: An anthology of poetry (2025), edited by Charlotte Cosgrove, a lecturer in St Helen’s College, Liverpool. Daithí was also included this month in Penumbra Journal of Literature and Art published by California State University Stanislaus and in The Wells Street Journal, associated with the University of Westminster. He has also utilised his poetry in academic work. He was the featured poet in the newsletter of the Society for Ethnomusicology in 2024 for his poem ‘Watch the Feet’, which was recently also published as part of an article in a special issue of Irish Studies Review. More of his poems form part of a forthcoming article in the Irish Journal of Anthropology. His poems formed the basis for a short film in 2024, presented at the Around the Fire symposium hosted by Queens University Belfast.

The event will take place in the Fr McNally Recital Room in the Carroll Building. There is no charge for the concert but seating is limited and tickets should be reserved by contacting 0429370280 or creativearts@dkit.ie