By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Celebrate an early St. Patty's Day with O'Donoghue
Harry O'Donoghue photo.jpg
Harry O'Donoghue

Savannah resident and famed Irish musician Harry O’Donoghue brings an early St. Patrick’s Day celebration to the Emma Kelly Theater on March 10.

With over 30 years in the music business, O’Donoghue has become a master folksinger, storyteller and songwriter. His comfortable, easy-going manner has become a trademark of his concerts. On stage with acoustic guitar, bodhran and his gentle voice, O’Donoghue weaves and interconnects a pattern filled with history and culture. His songs tell the story of his beloved Ireland, both past and present. 

Add to that his quick wit, engaging humor and ability to draw an audience into his show and the result is a wonderfully enjoyable and memorable experience.

Reserved-seat tickets for the 3 p.m. performance, which is sponsored exclusively by The Center for Irish Research and Teaching at Georgia Southern University, are $20 and can be purchased at the Averitt Center Main Gallery Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m., by calling (912) 212-2787 or online at www.averittcenterforthearts.org.

Born and raised in Drogheda, Ireland on the banks of the River Boyne just 3 miles inland from the Irish sea, O'Donoghue began his musical career when he was 20, performing at folk masses and for the Irish Wheelchair Association, among others. He became a founding member of the group Terra Nova in 1979 and has since performed with the Savannah Symphony and international recording artists Mary Black, Cathie Ryan, Andy M. Steward, the Furey Brothers and many others. 

O’Donoghue moved to Savannah in the 1980s after he fell in love with the city while visiting his cousin on Tybee Island. Since that time, he has become a regular performer at Kevin Barry’s, as well as various other establishments throughout the Lowcountry. He performs throughout the United States and Ireland in a variety of settings, from concerts to colleges, cruise ships, festivals, clubs and more; all of which testify to the universal appeal of his warm and entertaining musical style. 

Active in the Savannah community that he calls home, O’Donoghue has been the host and co-producer of Georgia Public Radio’s weekly Green Island Radio Show that is streamed live on the Internet at GPB.org. He regularly performs at the Eddie Ivy Scholarship Benefit and sits on the advisory board of The Center for Irish Research and Teaching at Georgia Southern University.  

O’Donoghue considers himself to be more than just a musician — he is a journeyman, a storyteller, and an ambassador of contemporary and traditional Irish folk music. His music tells the stories of Old Ireland with the addition of modern musical styles, delivering an emotional and heartfelt performance.