THE Limerick Early Music Festival returns to the city from Wednesday 18 March to Sunday 22 March, bringing five days of concerts, workshops, talks, and performances under the theme of Masks & Masques.
Organised by Vlad Smishkewych of Lyric FM and Yonit Kosovske of the University of Limerick, the festival promises a rich and varied programme spanning medieval music, Baroque theatre, historical dance, and contemporary reflection on the masks we all wear in daily life.
Events will take place across several of Limerick’s most distinguished venues, including St Mary’s Cathedral, the University of Limerick’s Irish World Academy of Music and Dance, the People’s Museum, and the Belltable arts centre.
Opening Night: A Free Launch at the People’s Museum
The festival opens on Wednesday 18 March from 5.30pm to 8.30pm with a free launch event at the People’s Museum of Limerick.
The evening will feature Justyna Czwojdziska exploring the role of masks through Baroque music, movement, and Gregorian-like chant, followed by Limerick artist Billy Mac Fhloinn offering an Irish perspective on masks in ceremonial tradition. The evening concludes with a performance on the Yaybahar, an extraordinary acoustic instrument invented by Turkish musician Gorkem Sen. Booking in advance is recommended.
Weekend Highlights
Saturday 21 March offers two contrasting treats at the Belltable.
At 1pm, the H.I.P.S.T.E.R. series presents Harpsichord Diaries, a family-friendly music and storytelling event for ages six and above, featuring harpsichordist Elaine Funaro, actor Eric Love, and animated illustrations by Andrea Love.
That evening at 8pm, Chaconnes, Charades & Chicanery plunges audiences into the world of Baroque theatre, featuring historical dance specialists Mary Collins and Steven Player alongside Paulo Alonso, Sarah Groser, and Yonit Kosovske.
Sunday 22 March is devoted to workshops and youth engagement. At noon, actor Simon Thompson leads MASK: The Art of Culture, Expression, and Transformation at the Belltable — an interactive theatrical workshop examining how masks connect to ritual, neurodiversity, and well-being.
At 2pm, Mary Collins and Steven Player return for a Masks & Gesture workshop exploring Baroque gesture, social customs, and community health.
The festival concludes at 8pm on Sunday with Wayfaring Pipers: Virtuoso Everyday Music of the Middle Ages. Ian Harrison and Poul Høxbro celebrate the music of ordinary people — rather than the elite — through bagpipes, shawm, pipe and tabor, and percussion, drawing on surviving sources, folk traditions, and medieval liturgical music.
“A Lens Through Which We Examine Our Challenges Today”
Co-directors Kosovske and Smishkewych are eager to dispel the notion that Early Music is merely an exercise in nostalgia. “Early Music has a larger role to play,” they say. “It’s a lens through which we examine our challenges today.” The festival connects historical traditions with present-day themes including neurodiversity, social media, and mental health — demonstrating that music from centuries past remains a fresh and accessible portal to culture for everyone.
Full details and booking are available at www.limerickearlymusic.com.