So Say So

‘So Say So’ is a monthly event focusing on poetry, storytelling and music hosted by poet Stephen James Smith. Each month a renowned national (or international) poet will headline and be accompanied by local musicians Cillian and Lorcan Byrne of *Basciville in a never before seen collaboration. There will also be a 5-Word-Challenge open mic section, which is open to all (but strictly limited to 5 minutes per performer on a first come first served basis).This space will be for all, no matter where you're from or what age. We'd also like to encourage the use of the Irish language and any other languages people may speak. All styles and genres are welcome from; poetry, rap, spoken word, monologues, storytelling and songwriters. For this event we are offering an optional pricing scheme – pay what you feel …Ceara Conway is an award-winning singer and visual artist. She creates experiential performance works that utilise traditional Irish and World music folk songs,contemporary vocal compositions and visual art to explore social issues such as migration, the ecological crisis and feminist concerns. She has shown and performed work widely internationally and in Ireland, including the Katzen Arts Centre USA, The Barbican, London, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Irish Museum of Modern Art, Taigh Chearsabhaigh Museum, and the National Gallery of Ireland.Recent projects include SALT (2023), Weathering in collaboration with artists Mary Wycherley, Jurgen Simpson (2023), GOL with Brú Theatre (2021), Of Scent and Song, Bealtaine Festival (2021), Viriditas, Galway ECOC & Saolta Arts (2020), Dóchas/Hope, Oireachtas na Gaeilge & Waterways Ireland (2019), Pocahontas Opera House Residency, West Virginia, USA (2022).In 2022 Ceara released CAOIN, an album of Irish laments, lullabies and love songs exploring the sensibility of the ‘’cry’’ produced and arranged by Seán Mac Erlaine. CAOIN toured nationally with the support of glór theatre, and the Arts Council culminated at the National Concert Hall as part of the Tradition Now series. An Caoineadh featuring Francesco Turrisi was nominated for the RTE Folk Awards. The tour ensemble featured Ultan O’Brien, Kevin Murphy of Slow-Moving Clouds, Anna Mullarkey and Seán Mac Erlaine.Website: www.cearaconway.ieFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/ceara.conwayInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/ceara_conwayYouTube:https://youtu.be/U2qAaD0f0eUBandcamp:https://cearaconway.bandcamp.com/album/caoin-2