At this time of the year in Ireland there is a great stretch to the evening as darkness delays its arrival until the 11th hour, and when the weather is fine, that gloaming can be most enjoyable.  

Those of us who are not in Ireland but in New York City can relish the Gloaming in the form of a mighty music ensemble coming into the Big Apple this weekend courtesy of the Irish Arts Center and Culture Ireland. 

The troupe features Martin Hayes and Dennis Cahill, Iarla O’Lionaird, Caoimhin O’Raghallaigh and Thomas Barlett who have made brief forays to town over the past three years. On Saturday, June 21 a first full-fledged concert on their own will take place at Les Poissons Rouge on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village.  

This performance is likely to be a sellout but contact the Irish Arts Center in hopes that tickets might still be available (www.irishartscenter.org).

The quintet have stirred the passions of Irish music fans in Ireland and elsewhere for their novel approach towards traditional Irish music leaping over boundaries in a heart-felt and technically amazing conversation among one another on stage.  

Some of that musical magic will further be explored in a Friday, June 20 appearance at WNYC’s Green Space (www.thegreenspace.org) in New Sounds Live series hosted by WNYC’s John Schaeffer.  Tickets are available for that performance.