Other Voices Returns to RTÉ2 with Anam Sessions Showcasing Irish Artists in Heritage Sites Across the Country
The acclaimed music series Other Voices is returning to RTÉ2 with a new series of Anam Sessions, showcasing Irish artists performing in significant heritage sites across the country in a collaboration with the Office of Public Works that will bring together Ireland's musical and architectural heritage in a series of intimate, atmospheric performances.
Background
Other Voices is one of Ireland's most beloved and internationally recognised music programmes. Founded in 2002 by Philip King and Nuala O'Connor, the series began as an intimate music event in the small church of St James in Dingle, County Kerry, and has grown into a major cultural institution that has featured performances by some of the most significant Irish and international artists of the past two decades. Artists who have performed at Other Voices include Hozier, Dermot Kennedy, Villagers, Lisa Hannigan, Glen Hansard, and a host of international acts including Bon Iver, Sufjan Stevens, and Phoebe Bridgers.
The Anam Sessions — the name derives from the Irish word for "soul" — represent a new dimension of the Other Voices project, taking the intimate performance concept out of the Dingle church and into a range of significant heritage sites across Ireland. The initiative was developed in partnership with the Office of Public Works, which manages Ireland's built heritage including national monuments, historic houses, and archaeological sites.
The concept draws on a long tradition of connecting Irish music with the landscape and built environment that has shaped it. From the sean-nós singing traditions of the Gaeltacht to the ballad sessions of rural pubs, Irish music has always been deeply rooted in place, and the Anam Sessions seek to explore and celebrate that connection by placing contemporary Irish artists in the physical spaces that have shaped the country's cultural identity.
Key Developments
The new series of Anam Sessions will be broadcast on RTÉ2 from September 2026, with episodes featuring performances at a range of heritage sites across Ireland. Among the locations confirmed for the series are Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin, the Rock of Cashel in County Tipperary, and Newgrange in County Meath — three of Ireland's most significant and evocative heritage sites, each with a profound connection to Irish history and identity.
The artists featured in the series have not yet been fully announced, but the producers have indicated that the programme will include a mix of established Irish acts and emerging artists, with a particular focus on musicians who have a strong connection to the heritage and traditions of the regions in which the sessions are filmed. The series will also include documentary elements exploring the history and significance of each heritage site, providing context for the musical performances.
The collaboration with the Office of Public Works represents a significant development for both organisations. For Other Voices, it provides access to a range of extraordinary performance spaces that would not normally be available for music events. For the OPW, it offers an opportunity to engage new audiences with Ireland's built heritage through the medium of music — a combination that has proven highly effective in previous cultural initiatives.
Why It Matters
The Anam Sessions represent a thoughtful and creative approach to the challenge of making Ireland's heritage relevant and accessible to contemporary audiences. Heritage sites can sometimes feel remote or intimidating to people who did not encounter them through formal education, and the combination of live music performance with heritage interpretation offers a way of engaging audiences who might not otherwise visit these locations.
The series also provides a platform for Irish artists to connect their work with the broader cultural and historical context in which it exists. Irish music has always been in dialogue with the landscape, history, and traditions of the island, and the Anam Sessions make that dialogue explicit and visible in a way that is both artistically compelling and culturally significant.
For RTÉ, the series represents an opportunity to demonstrate the public broadcaster's commitment to Irish culture and heritage at a time when its role and funding are under scrutiny. The combination of music, heritage, and documentary elements makes the Anam Sessions a distinctive and valuable addition to the broadcaster's schedule.
Local Impact
The filming of the Anam Sessions at heritage sites across Ireland will bring production crews, artists, and associated activity to communities in Dublin, Tipperary, Meath, and other counties. The broadcast of the series on RTÉ2 will provide significant national and international exposure for the heritage sites featured, potentially driving increased visitor numbers in the months following broadcast. The OPW has indicated that it will develop educational materials linked to the series for use in schools, providing an additional dimension to the programme's cultural impact. Local communities near the heritage sites featured in the series have been involved in the production process, with some providing historical expertise and logistical support.
What's Next
The first episode of the new Anam Sessions series is expected to broadcast on RTÉ2 in late September 2026, with subsequent episodes airing weekly. The full schedule and artist lineup will be announced in the coming weeks. Other Voices has also confirmed that its annual festival in Dingle will take place in December 2026, with tickets going on sale later this month. The Anam Sessions are expected to be available on the RTÉ Player for viewers who miss the broadcast transmission.
