Larry Kirwan

Larry Kirwan will return to the Wexford Arts Centre for his annual Irish Tour.  He’ll be accompanied by two busloads of American and Canadian fans. Kirwan was raised in nearby George’s Street and played his first gigs with The Johnny Reck Showband at the Arts Center (then Wexford Town Hall). He performed with Pierce Turner in Turner & Kirwan of Wexford and Major Thinkers before forming the “riotous and controversial” Black 47. Black 47 played 2500 gigs in 25 years with everyone from Neil Young to Joe Strummer. The band released 16 albums, appeared on every major US TV show, and its songs were heard in many movies.  Kirwan is also a well regarded playwright and composer.  His musical, Paradise Square, played Berkeley Rep before moving on to Broadway, and was nominated for 10 Tony Awards.  His latest novel, Rockaway Blue, a mystery set in the years after 9/11 was published by Cornell University Press in Spring 2020. He writes a bi-weekly column for The Irish Echo and is host of Celtic Crush on SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Kirwan will perform many Black 47 favourites and songs from his various musical theatre works.