The Royal Oak Stage Coach Sessions

In the summer of 2023, the gentle hum of fiddles, flutes, and voices filled the air at Doyle’s Ice-Cream Parlour in Royal Oak. The Royal Oak Stage Coach Sessions by Ceoltóirí Bianconi, and facilitated by community musician Angela Keogh, came to life, inviting musicians and listeners to celebrate a rich tradition of music, storytelling, and shared history. Inspired by the days when The Royal Oak was a vital stop along the Bianconi stage coach route, the sessions honoured a time when travellers sought refuge from storms, gathering to share songs and tales as they waited for the skies to clear.

Throughout the summer, these sessions welcomed musicians from near and far to lead inclusive, vibrant gatherings. Age and experience melted away in the warmth of community, creating a rare intergenerational space where everyone, from seasoned players to casual listeners, found their place. It was a true celebration of heritage, rooted in the spirit of music that brought people together in times past.

As the year progressed, the project evolved. Weekly meetups through the winter of 2023 and spring of 2024 allowed participants to practice, learn, and build a repertoire inspired by the music of a local musician from the area. These gatherings nurtured confidence, camaraderie, and a shared sense of purpose, strengthening the bonds that had formed over the summer.

For those who took part, the Royal Oak Stage Coach Sessions became a highlight of the year—a space to reconnect, create, and carry forward a living tradition. It was a year when music once again became the heartbeat of Royal Oak, echoing the timeless melodies of its storied past while inspiring a bright and harmonious future.