Sat 22 Nov 2025
8:30PM
The OARS is a new contemporary duo featuring songwriter and guitarist Eoin Coughlan and multi-instrumentalist Brian Morrissey.
Fresh from their performance with Robbie Williams and Garron Noone to 85,000 people in Croke Park, The OARS return to The White Horse on Saturday 22nd November.
Featuring songwriter/ guitarist Eoin Coughlan and multi-instrumentalist Brian Morrissey, The OARS have lit up stages around the country all summer, including performances at The Gaelic Grounds, Thomond Park, touring with Damian Dempsey, a critically acclaimed performance at Forest Fest and their own sell-out shows.
Their debut album, released last year, was recorded and produced in Louisiana by multi-Grammy winner Dirk Powell who describes their music as follows: “Listening to The OARS, one gets drawn in first by the infectious rhythms and magnetic musical chemistry. The tunes and grooves are rock solid yet always moving.
“The Oars are the kind of musicians who, with every note and in every lyric, lift the heart and ease the mind…” – Donal Ryan, International Author
Eoin Coughlan
As part of the hugely successful group NOMOS, the lead vocalist/multi-instrumentalist and songwriter found himself touring extensively around the world playing alongside the likes of Emmylou Harris, Billy Bragg, Nancy Griffiths and Baaba Maal on some of the main world music stages.
After five years on the international scene with NOMOS, the break-up of the band saw Eoin embark on a solo career that resulted in the release to huge critical acclaim, of his debut album, “Blood in Vein”, produced by David Odlum.
“Eoin Coughlan is a diverse musician whose traditional inspired guitar playing brings a unique element to contemporary songwriting. He plays with a percussive style and harmonic variety that makes him stand out as a top-class player” – Ciaran Gribbin of INXS
Brian Morrissey is a renowned banjo/bodhrán/mandolin player and percussionist. He is a member of the ground-breaking groups Buille and TarantaCeltica and has performed and recorded with artists such as Donal Lunny, John Spillane, Kevin Crawford, Jimmy Crowley, and the late, great Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin. Brian has also performed with many international artists including multiple Grammy winners Béla Fleck and Alison Brown.
Brian’s production and composition credits include the acclaimed stage show Pulses of Tradition.
“When I heard Brian Morrissey playing, I knew I was in the presence of a master. Since then, I haven’t come across any other pitched bodhrán players nearly as good.” – Donal Lunny.
www.theoars.ie
