Nelligen Irish Music Weekend Irish music at its best in the convivial atmosphere of the Steampacket Hotel Nelligen, starting 6:30 pm Friday 24 March and running through to early afternoon Sunday 26. No cover charge. What? A whole weekend of Irish Music? Is that even a thing?
Above: Ballyhooley and friends in a Steampacket Session
Turns out the answer is a resounding yes, but it is a first for the South Coast. Irish musicians from all over the state are heading this way for the inaugural Nelligen Irish Music Weekend, hopefully to become an annual event. The Weekend kicks off with an Irish Music session at the Steampacket, Nelligen, from about 6:30pm on Friday 24 March. Many of the visiting musicians will be staying over the road at the Big4 Nelligen Holiday Park, and the music will continue in and around the Steampacket over the following two days. The Irish Music Weekend is a natural extension of the very successful Steampacket Sessions, hosted monthly by local folk group Ballyhooley at the Steampacket Hotel, Nelligen. “From their inception, musicians from up and down the coast and from Canberra have been dropping in, and the idea of a full weekend of music grew naturally out of that”, explains Ballyhooley flute player, Terry McGee. “But while the regular session attracts 6 to 10 musicians, we currently anticipate two or three times that number for the Weekend”, says banjo player, Melanie Turner. “That makes it a unique opportunity for local musicians and music lovers to play with and hear Irish music as good as you’d find anywhere.” “And there’s great food available at the Steampacket, so come out and join us for a few tunes, a few drinks and great craic,” adds Ballyhooley singer and dulcimer player, Jesse Rowan. “And it’s free! See you there!”. Irish music at its best in the convivial atmosphere of the Steampacket Hotel Nelligen, starting 6:30 pm Friday 24 March and running through to early afternoon Sunday 26. No cover charge.
