*PJ Murrihy. Photograph: Eamon Ward.
MULLAGH singer-songwriter PJ Murrihy returns to the familiar stage of The Armada Hotel in Spanish Point for three nights this week during the Willie Clancy celebrations.
Murrihy, who has been performing since the 1970s, is known for his original songs and storytelling style, rooted in Irish life, people, and place. His music has been recorded by well-known artists including Daniel O’Donnell, Patrick Feeney, and Foster & Allen, and he has collaborated with musicians such as Michael Sexton Snr, Jimmy Warde, and David Culligan throughout his career.
This summer’s performances mark a return to a familiar venue as PJ has been playing music in the Armada since the beginning of his career. He will perform for three nights at The Armada as part of the Armada Music and Dance Festival, during Willie Clancy Week 2025. His performances will take place on Monday July 7, Wednesday, July 9 and Friday July 11, beginning at 9:30pm. “I’ve been playing in the Armada for nearly fifty years, but for the Music and Dance Festival, I’d say I’ve been doing it for the last maybe ten or fifteen years”.
He has a long history with the Willie Clancy Festival, having attended and performed at it for decades. He’s seen it grow from a small, traditional-focused week to a festival that now includes a wider mix of music styles. “Everywhere is full, and all the classes are full. It has come on in leaps and bounds since day one, it’s almost unrecognisable since it started”.
Although he has been writing and performing from a young age, PJ explained that in recent years he has become increasingly busy with songwriting, writing not just for himself but for a growing list of Irish artists. “I was never as busy writing, because I’m getting calls from all sorts for songs”.
He’s recently worked with Nathan Carter, Michael Inglis, and Brendan Shine, writing songs tailored for their styles. “Last week I was up the country doing a bit of writing with Nathan Carter, and today, Michael Inglis is going to give me a shout, we’re going to try to work on something over the phone, we’re not always successful, but look, more often than not, it work”.
PJ has also been taking on projects to help promote communities and causes through music. Most recently PJ wrote a song for the town of Doonbeg to help promote the village. He told The Clare Echo, “earlier this year a man named Tommy Comerford from Doonbeg got in contact with me and said ‘you’ve written a song for every other town in Clare, why not write one for Doonbeg’,”. The song entitled “The village of Doonbeg” launched on Saturday March 16 as part of Doonbeg’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities. The proceeds from the CD sales will go towards the town’s Christmas lights fund and the development of the football pitch in the town.
As he prepares for his three nights of performance in the Armada, PJ says he’ll be sticking to the songs that audiences enjoy most, both new and familiar. “I just go over some of the older songs, I more or less stick to my usual. People want to hear Drawing Little Men in the Ashes, Soldier On, and Life in the old Dog. That’s what I’ll do”. These performances are also an opportunity for PJ to share his love for music with his son Seamus, who will be joining him on stage.
