Swelling with mirth, magic, and music… Welcome to the bustling streets of a Galway summer. This spectacular sight is made complete by those huddled on shop corners and cobblestone, singing hymnals to gather onlookers and sometimes loose change.
Striking a resonant and nearly hallowed chord amongst passersby, Galway’s street performers hold a lofty significance in the city’s landscape. We had the opportunity to speak with a few of Galway’s well-known buskers. Here they share insight, perspective, and the essence of why Galway holds such sway in the realm of self-expression and song.
Katie O’Connor; On the serendipitous spirit of busking
Photo courtesy of Ciarán MacChoncarraige
For Katie O’Connor, music is a source of solace that acts as an abiding companion on life’s path. She possesses a sharp sense of self that undoubtedly melds with the crowd around her. Katie is often found on Shop Street playing sweet and sombre singer-songwriter tunes. Intertwining meditative practices within performance, Katie cherishes the spontaneity that is borne through busking. “Everyday is just a beautiful moment and that’s what I love about busking… there’s this magic that’s happening in the world, and when you move with it, you get to be part of it.”
Tangerine Parking Lot; Why good things come in threes
The buskers of Galway are often fueled by a sense of observance and a rich passion for performance. Among the musicians embodying these qualities is the three piece band, Tangerine Parking Lot. Composed of Aoibhín Twomey, Siofra McGuire, and Naima Baker, Tangerine Parking Lot brings a youthful and distinctive presence to the streets of Galway. With the bustle and energy of Shop Street as backdrop, the three piece band perform covers of songs ranging from Kate Bush to The Beatles. “It’s kinda nice because we do get into a zone after a while,” says Siofra. With instruments reflecting an eclectic nature - a double bass, cello and a ukulele - the band is an unforgettable mark of Galway’s landscape. For Tangerine Parking Lot, Three is the magic number.
Macdara O’Dwyer; How busking keeps things level
Photo courtesy of Ciarán MacChoncarraige
One of Galway’s distinguished and impassioned buskers is Macdara O’Dwyer. On the stoops of Shop Street, he sings a balanced mix of acoustic covers as well as original singer-songwriter ballads. Here, he reflects on the accessible nature of performance that busking provides. Not only is busking a platform for aspiring artists, but it also brings music directly to an audience with no barriers or distinct distances. “You have a direct link and interaction with your audience. Which is non-existent everywhere else.” This connection is nurtured by Galway’s buskers who strive to keep the experience as level and accessible as possible, buskers like Macdara.
Celebration of song has always been an integral component of Galway’s culture. The musicians mentioned in this feature are just a handful of the talented artists that make up the buskers of Galway. As distinctive as they are talented, these are members of the community who strive to preserve a love for performance and music. As the sun shines down on Galway these spirited summer days, spend some time strolling through the city and supporting the local buskers!
Feature photo courtesy of @irelandsphotograph
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