193. SJI Interviews Ep.119: Night Time Economy with Dr. Daithí Kearney and Dr. Kevin Burns

Dr. Daithí Kearney is an Ethnomusicologist, geographer and performer. He is a lecturer in music, theatre and tourism and co-director of the Creative Arts Research Centre at Dundalk Institute of Technology. His research is primarily focused on Irish traditional music but extends to include performance studies, community music and music tourism. Daithí has toured regularly as a musician, singer and dancer with a number of groups including Siamsa Tíre, The National Folk Theatre of Ireland. In 2012 he released an album with Cork accordion player John Cronin entitled Midleton Rare, which is related to a wider research project on the music and musicians of the Sliabh Luachra region. In 2017 he released an album of new compositions with Dr Adèle Commins entitled A Louth Lilt. Their compositions also feature on the 2020 recording by Ceolta Sí entitled Oidhreacht Eochaille and are regularly performed by the award-winning Oriel Traditional Orchestra, of which they are both musical directors. 

Dr. Kevin Burns is Head of Department (Acting) Dept of Hospitality Management at Dundalk Institute of Technology. Kevin is skilled in Hospitality Industry, Tourism Management, Social Media, and Training with a Doctor of Hospitality and Tourism Management focused on Tourist Behaviour from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. 

Daithí and Kevin chat with Susanne Rogers about what we mean by the night time economy, who it's for, who it impacts and what we would like to see coming in the future, particularly outside the major cities and towns. 

Report of the Night-Time Economy Taskforce