Limerick Literary Festival Opening Event
Presented by Limerick Literary Festival in Honour of Kate O’Brien
With music from Sarah Ellen Murphy and accompanist Irina Dernova
Contralto Sarah-Ellen Murphy is from Limerick, Ireland. She studied with Olive Cowpar and Owen Gilhooly. She holds a Bachelor of Education Degree with music from Mary Immaculate College. She achieved an honours diploma in singing from the London College of Music and Media. As a soloist she is much in demand across the country including performances with Limerick Choral Union, Ancór, Mary Immaculate College Choir, Galway Choral Association, Tipperary Chamber Choir, Kerry Chamber Choir, Carlow Choral Society, West Cork Choral Singers, Sing Ireland and The Fleischmann Choir.
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Limerick Literary Festival Opening Event
As mezzo/contralto soloist she has performed a wide range of oratorio and liturgical works by composers as diverse as Duruflé, Verdi, Mozart, Handel, Respighi, Vivaldi, Jenkins and Saint-Saëns. She also presented many lunchtime recitals in St. Mary’s Cathedral and in Mary Immaculate College.
Sarah-Ellen performs with Opera Workshop Limerick. She was part of the cast who devised No 2 Pery Square and performed in Off Tuskar by Fiona Linnane. She performed in the ensemble devised productions of The Countess’ Salon, The Countess’ Legacy, Twisted Tales and The Trouble with Virtue.
Other opera performances include leading roles in Yeoman of the Guard, The Irish Ring, and The World of Gilbert and Sullivan with Gaudeamus Productions; Mrs. Noye in Benjamin Britten’s Noye’s Fludde; Maurya in Riders to the Sea by Vaughan Williams and the title role in The Medium by Gian-Carlo Menotti for the Opera Castalia Festival in Kilkenny. She also performed with The Limerick Opera Festival.
Sarah-Ellen recorded the album ‘Cantabile’ with pianist Dearbhla Collins. It was made possible through the Individual Artists Bursary Awards scheme run by Limerick City & County Council Arts Department and with the generous support of the University Concert Hall, Limerick.
Irina Dernova is a collaborative pianist and accompanist, working with choirs, musicians and singers in Limerick and Clare. For a number of years she is an official accompanist of Feile Luimni, Limerick Opera Festival and Limerick Choral Festival. Irina works with many opera singers, including Limerick’s own Eve Stafford, Catherine O’Carroll, Lorraine Galvin, and most recently with Sarah-Ellen Murphy and Emma English, performing many songs by Fiona Linnane, a Limerick composer.
Irina has performed with International soloists David Howes, Owen Gilhooly- Miles, Gavan Ring, Dean Power, Majella Cullagh and performed opera arias and songs from Great Irish Songbook by contemporary composer J. Hurley with tenor Dean Power as part of 2025 Ennis Choral Festival Gala Concert.
Over the years Irina has performed with many professional and community choirs, including Limerick Chamber Choir, Limerick Choral Union, Cantare, Aoide, MIC Community Choir, and has done recitals in St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick and MIC Spring Recital series.
T&Cs
- Please note all ticket prices include a booking charge.
- No exchanges or refunds.
- Wheelchair spaces can only be booked over the phone. Please call box office on (061) 953400 if you wish to book a wheelchair space.
- No late comers admitted to the theatre once show commences.
- On street parking.