Treaty Songs

A century has passed since the start of the 2nd Dáil Éireann debates (both private and public sessions) on the Articles of Agreement for a Treaty between Great Britain and Ireland, which became commonly known as the Treaty Debates. Between the signing of the Articles of Agreement in December 1921 and its passing in January 1922, a series of increasingly acrimonious debates took place in Earlsfort Terrace, which is now the National Concert Hall.

As part of the Decade of Centenaries Programme, the National Concert Hall has brought together some of Ireland’s leading singer song-writers to create centenary folksongs inspired by the men and women who took part in the Treaty Debates. The artists were guided and assisted in their research on the characters they chose by historian Dr. Sinéad McCoole.

This concert took place in the National Concert Hall on December 11th. The group of contemporary Irish artists that were commissioned to create portraits of a generation in this moment of suspended animation were: Lisa O’Neill, Gemma Dunleavy, John Spillane, Karan Casey, Maija Sofia, Duke Special, Jonathan Nangle & Crash Ensemble, Adrian Crowley, and Ailbhe Reddy and Christy Moore.

This is a selection of some of the new Ballads composed and performed in the National Concert Hall to mark the Centenary of the Treaty Debates. It is a real treat and well worth hearing. Enjoy!

To view the full concert, click on this link Treaty Songs - Full Concert