Something For The Weekend: Colm Mac Con Iomaire's Cultural Picks

Dublin born, Wexford based Colm Mac Con Iomaire is a violinist, composer, film score arranger, and a founding member of hugely successful Irish bands: The Frames and Kíla. In recent years, he's released a series of acclaimed solo albums, and kept busy during lockdown with a series of much-loved livestreams from home - and a memorable Other Voices appearance.

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Colm created the original score for Branar's acclaimed theatrical adaptation of How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers; a new film version of the production is streaming to schools from venues across Ireland from Monday 29th November - 17th Dec. Find out more here...

We asked Colm for his choice cultural picks...

FILM

I'm working on a film by Ruán Magan at the moment about the history of Irish dancing. It's really impressive and inspiring. It should be on the television before Christmas. I am hoping (beyond hopes) to see Arracht on the big screen as soon as I deliver this film. I’m also looking forward to seeing Breaking Out which is a documentary about the late great Fergus O’Farrell and his band Interference. They were like our older 'musical’ brothers when we were buskers in Grafton street in the late eighties.

MUSIC

I’ve been writing a lot of music, which means that I’m more likely to not to be that plugged into new music. I did some recording recently with Lisa O’Neill, and her new record is going to be a stunner.

BOOK

I find it hard to read while I’m writing music (which has been a lot these past 18 months) - it’s almost as if the same ‘story’ part of the brain is already occupied. I am thus a master practitioner of Tsundoku. Touring was my reading time and that has been curtailed a bit recently.

A book that has changed the direction of my life in the past 2 years is Colum Mac Cann’s Apeirogon. He wrote it (apparently) while listening to my record And Now the Weather. We travelled to Israel and Palestine together this time 2 years ago. I finished it while we were there. It’s a story about two fathers, Bassam Aramin and Rami Elhanan. It’s a very inspiring book about two very inspiring people. I was then inspired - to write an album inspired by his novel. Creative circles. That’s my 2022 project.

TELEVISION

Succession is the series that myself and Sheila watch each week. Does one laugh or cry? I also really like the Great Pottery Throw Down show when it’s on.

GIG

The last gig I played was with Colum Mac Cann at Centre Culturel Irlandais in Paris in September. C’etait formidable. I also ended up playing at the last gig that I attended... which was Glen Hansard’s gig at the Spiegeltent in Wexford. There were some deep cuts from the back catalogue.

ART

Art is very much a part of my everyday life as my wife Sheila (Mac Nally) is a painter. We visited the RUA exhibition in Belfast 2 weeks ago as Sheila had a piece on the wall there. It was really inspiring to see all of the incredible talent on display. We also got to visit Colin Davidson’s collection Silent Testimony. Powerful is a very small word. We take so much for granted. Go and see.

PODCAST

The Three Castles Burning podcasts are always fascinating.

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TECH

Liam Ó Maonlaí introduced me to the Wim Hoff breating method. I’m loving it. It’s all available on YouTube.. that’s tech isn’t it?

THE NEXT BIG THING...

The inevitable collapse of the capitalist patriarchy (obviously)...

Colm Mac Iomaire created the original score for Branar's acclaimed production of How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers. A new film version is streaming to schools from venues across Ireland from Monday 29th November - 17th Dec. All schools will have the opportunity to experience this unique and well loved story. There are 24 venues partnering - the dates and number of nights screening vary according to the venue. See www.branar.ie for a venue near you.

Branar's How to Catch a Star is streaming to schools from venues across Ireland from Monday 29th November - 17th Dec - all schools will have the opportunity to experience this unique and well-loved story. There are 24 venues partnering - the dates and number of nights screening vary according to the venue. Find out more here.

Something For The Weekend: Colm Mac Con Iomaire's Cultural Picks

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