CIACLA and LMU to host free Irish music and poetry event in Los Angeles

CIACLA and Loyola Marymount University’s Irish Studies programme will present The LA Sessions on Dec. 6 at LMU’s Drollinger Family Stage. The free, family-friendly event will feature Irish and Irish-connected musicians, poets and spoken word artists, with advance RSVP required.

Why it matters: - The LA Sessions gives Los Angeles audiences a free entry point into contemporary Irish music, poetry and spoken word. - The event is designed as a family-friendly cultural gathering that strengthens ties between Irish artists and Southern California audiences. - CIACLA is positioning the program as a recurring platform for live performance and artistic collaboration.

What happened: - CIACLA, in collaboration with Loyola Marymount University’s Irish Studies programme, will host The LA Sessions on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026. - The event runs from 12-3 p.m. at the Drollinger Family Stage, Lawton Plaza, Loyola Marymount University, 1 LMU Drive, Los Angeles. - Admission is free and open to the public, but advance RSVP is required. - More information and RSVP details are available here.

The details: - The outdoor event will feature 11 Irish and Irish-connected musicians, poets and artists. - The program includes live performances, original music, traditional Irish songs, poetry and spoken word. - The musical lineup includes Bren Holmes, Enda Gallery, Owen Dara, Yelpy, Julie Bergman, Adam McCrory and James Wilson. - Holmes is a founding member of The Young Dubliners and now works as a solo artist blending rock, Americana and Irish influences. - Gallery’s work combines soul, hip hop, techno and gospel. - Dara is an Irish-born singer-songwriter known for traditional Irish music and storytelling. - Yelpy is a Dublin-born, Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter and a four-time Hollywood Music in Media Awards nominee. - Bergman is a multi-instrumentalist and composer blending Irish, folk and blues influences. - McCrory is a Belfast-born baritone whose work spans opera, classical music and Irish folk songs. - Wilson is a Sacramento-based musician who performs traditional Irish music on mandolin, bouzouki, tin whistle and guitar. - The poetry and spoken word lineup includes Nancy Murphy, Joan Hawley McClain, Jenny Minniti-Shippey and Sheila McMullin. - McMullin is a 2026-27 California Arts Council Emerging Artist Fellow. - The event is supported by the Government of Ireland’s Emigrant Support Programme and the Los Angeles County Department of Arts and Culture.

Between the lines: - CIACLA is using The LA Sessions to expand the visibility of Irish and Irish-connected artists in Los Angeles. - The collaboration with LMU signals an effort to connect campus arts programming with the wider public. - The mix of established and emerging performers suggests the event is meant to showcase breadth, not just tradition.

What's next: - CIACLA says it wants The LA Sessions to become a recurring platform for live music, performance and collaboration. - The Dec. 6 event will test whether a free, curated format can build a lasting audience for Irish cultural programming in Los Angeles.

The bottom line: - The LA Sessions is a free, one-day showcase of Irish arts that aims to turn cultural exchange into a repeatable Los Angeles event.