David Caren's Business Lunch

This month Dave Caren shares a bottle of Bally G and munches a BLT with Maire Kennedy Marketing/PR manager of Dublin's National Concert Hall

The NCH is more often associated with "the quality", high culture and corporate sponsorship. So excuse my shock when I found out that Maire Kennedy is promoting traditional music at this most hallowed venue. Investigations were called for!

Beneath splendid architecture, surrounded by one of the country's great historic monuments, I put my questions to Miss Maire Kennedy, a lady who is obviously not out of place in these lovely environs. Firstly, I quiz Maire on her musical background, surely there must be years of classical immersion, and has she any traditional influences?

"I don't have any formal training in music. I've always had a love of music, it plays a big part in my life. My knowledge within the classical genre has grown since I joined the NCH three years ago. So where I am now, I'd have to say my base is classical. I'm surrounded by it 40 hours a week. But being from Sligo, I grew up with traditional music and it has never really left me."

How would you describe your role at the NCH?

"Oh, how many hats do I wear? as the marketing/PR manager, I have to present ourselves and promote the NCH as an institution,"

Now the NCH would not normally be associated with traditional music, so what are your plans for this?

"We want to do a lot more for traditional music. Recently we had Sean McGuire, and he was brilliant. The NCH should be music for all people (perhaps along the line of the Water Front Hall in Belfast? - Ed). We really want to encourage other promoters to join us in putting on good traditional Irish music. So in that regard, we're presently running traditional lunchtime sessions throughout August, with guest artists such as Emer Mayock, Michael McGoldrick and Alan Kelly."

The young guns of the tradition . The NCH is a huge building, so how many separate venues are there for performances. ?

"Formally there are two, the main auditorium, which is ideal for large orchestras and big choirs, we also have the more intimate John Field Room, which is great for traditional music.But outside we have the fabulous Iveagh Gardens, we've adopted the place as our third venue, we use them once a year for our open day. It's the hidden treasure of Dublin, very few people know about it!"

Now the prospect of an open air event in the heart of Dublin comes to mind. Would you ever consider running a festival from the NCH? If so who would be top of your guest list?"

"Oh yes, eventually. Organising a festival can be so time consuming and requires a lot of nurturing. As guest lists go, I'd love to have Luke Kelly if he could come back for a day. Then Sinead Lohan and of course the Afro-Celts!"

Wouldn't the Afro Celts cause structural damage?

"We'd have to put them in the Iveagh Gardens!"

I can just see the bill boards now "Afro Celts at the National Concert Hall", delightful!

August 1997