LIMERICK Rap and Hip-Hop artist Strange Boy (aka Jordan Kelly) won the 2023 Liam O’Flynn Award this week.
Awarded by The National Concert Hall and The Arts Council and established in memory of the late great piper Liam O Flynn who passed away in 2018, it offers a bursary of €15,000 and an opportunity to enjoy a period of artistic reflection and creation in residence at the National Concert Hall to innovate, collaborate and create new work.
Described as ‘one of the most exciting prospects emerging from the Irish rap scene’ Strange Boy released his debut album Holy/Unholy in 2021 which offers a fusion of hip-hop and Irish traditional music, earning him a four-star review in The Irish Times.
Strange Boy said, “I have always believed that rapping was a modern form of storytelling. Preserving Irish culture and the tradition of the old Irish storytellers, or Seanachaí, has always been a passion of mine. I feel it is essential to preserve our ancient bardic traditions while also introducing innovative ideas.”
“I am thrilled to be joined by Irish storyteller Aindrias De Staic, guardian of Eddie Lenihan’s collection John Lilis, my all-star band of traditional musicians, and long-time producer Enda Gallery at the prestigious National Concert Hall. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform at a venue that has held so many great Irish musicians before me. I am excited to continue pushing the boundaries of Traditional Irish music and storytelling while also paying homage to the rich history that has come before me”.
Maureen Kennelly, Director of The Arts Council commented: “Storytelling and the oral arts are an integral part of our traditional arts and Strange Boy’s contemporary take on the seanchaí is a relevant and natural response to an ever-evolving artform, bringing the traditional arts to new, more diverse audiences. We are delighted to partner with the National Concert Hall to present this award, honouring the legacy of the great Liam O’Flynn, to such an exciting, innovative artist.”
