The beautiful, serene and location that is Rush Library has provided the perfect location for the revered programme of musical events known as “Meet me at the Altar” for a number of years now.

The wonderful acoustics in the former Church which houses the library means that each musical performance is blessed with a crystal-clear sound. The “Meet me at the Altar” sessions, which are curated by Rush local Pat Burke, recently returned for their summer run with a performance by Shay Dempsey and Sandra Duff. The incredibly talented duo delighted the audience with a set of acoustic originals including their first single “In a Day or Two” which is currently available on Spotify and most streaming platforms. Shay describes their style as “quiet folk music” and there was definitely at least a hint of Simon and Garfunkel style vocal arrangements in the set.

The beautiful and haunting vocals were accompanied by Shay’s delicate and deft fingerpicking style with the sound of his superb jazz-tinged guitar playing reverberating around the hallowed location. Shay and Sandra are in the process of lining up more live performances in the autumn and are in the process of recording more material over the summer months. They are well worth catching if you get the chance. Keep your eye out also for social media announcements on the summer and autumn “Meet me at the Altar” events which have something for all musical tastes.