The Shire is an Irish traditional and Celtic music band based in Italy, their repertoire consists of jigs, reels, polkas, hornpipes, airs and songs, going from more danceable contagious moments to those more solemn and intimate, it fits very well to church ceremonies to wild night parties. Somebody says we're the best Irish band for weddings in Italy, we just say that with over 20 years of experience in Irish weddings, we became quite expert of how entertain the clients and how satisfy their request and help them to organize the musical part of the best day of their life.
We’re the favorite choice for The Irish Club of Rome, The Irish Embassy in Italy and the Irish College, we played Irish music during the third time during the Six Nations in Rome and we also played for the former president Mary McAleese. Some of us are part of Áras Éigse Éireann (Casa della Cultura Irlandese) and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann.
The line-up is usually composed by four or five musicians: a guitar player and singer, a flute player, a fiddler, a button accordion, with help of a bodhran player in necessary other instruments may include banjo, concertina and harp.
As students of Irish Traditional Music, we attended, and we still joyful attend whenever possible, many festival amongst them the Willie Clancy Festival, Joe Mooney Summer School, San Benedetto Folk Fest, Caceres International Folk Festival, and studied with high level artists like Liz Carrol, Martin Hayes, Gerry O’Connor, Paul O’Shaughnessy, Martin Dowling, Christine Dowling, Mary Mulrine, Breandan O’Hare, Eoghan O’Brien, John Doyle, Frank Kilkelly etc…
THE IRISH WEDDING
“The Shire were truly great, helpful, affordable, better than we could ever imagine.” (W. L.)
Music for church ceremony:
The couple and the band together chose the best pieces for accompany the main parts of the wedding ceremony (entrance of the spouse, lighting of the candles, offertory etc.).
Usually we play in trio (guitar, flute, fiddle), but we can add a harp and/or a singer, an organ or we can arrange the best line up according with the couple desires.
The repertoire is more sophisticated, we can even play “celticized” classic or pop songs.
Welcome cocktail/aperitif:
We play without PA because the soft muffled effect is more suitable for a chatting and drinking environment with some calm background music.
We usually do not sing to avoid distractions, we just play selected easy listening tunes.
After party/welcome bbq:
Get loose with drinking songs, tunes, dances.
We can host guest that want to play, sing, dance, we can also accompany set dances, group singing.
We can play anything you want, just tell us in advance if you have any special request, inside the “planet” of Irish Traditional and Folk we can arrange any desire.
Just be aware that we are a Irish trad and folk band and it can be difficult to adapt some of more modern music like jazz, pop or rock, but we promise to examine thoroughly any wild request and see if it can fit our playing with Irish instruments.
CONTACT US
Write us for booking or more info.