A native of the slower moving West of Ireland, Tyrrell took his time before committing himself to record. It was time well spent in which he experienced different cultures, musical genres and literary heritage. Tyrrell was surrounded by music all his life, coming from a family immersed in the musical traditions of his native Galway. During the 1960s, he performed in the city’s premier folk club honing his vocal and instrumental skills while rubbing shoulders with a host of celebrated artists.

Tyrrell emigrated to New York in 1968 and performed in the folk club scene in Greenwich Village. The early 70s took him west to San Francisco and a diet of Irish music sessions. It was there that Tyrrell’s reputation as an exceptional singer of songs took root. Traversing New Hampshire in the mid 70s, he co-founded “Apples in Winter,” a band which was short lived but well recognized.

He returned to Ireland in the late 70s where he continued to compose, but seldom played in public. In 1978 he accepted employment with the University of Galway. It’s hard to avoid music in this part of Ireland and soon Tyrrell was lured back into the music scene. His ability was recognized and appreciated even amidst a host of legendary musicians. With a growing reputation he was invited to “guest” on several recordings including two albums with the ex-Moving Hearts uileann piper Davy Spillane. Moving to sheltered Bell Harbour close to the border of his native county, Tyrrell divided his time juggling the demands of mussel farming and a re-energized approach to his music.

He became fascinated and obsessed by the forward-thinking poem “The Midnight Court” written during the 17th century by Brian Merriman. He set the work to music with much success when the Druid Theatre Galway staged Tyrrell’s “traditional music opera” featuring Tyrrell with a host of talented contemporaries. In the following years the musical toured extensively around Ireland with the possibility of future international showings.

On the heels of the success of his recordings with Spillane, Tyrrell embarked on his first solo project “Cry of A Dreamer” recorded on his own label Longwalk Music. The album was released in 1994 and was greeted with great critical acclaim. Tyrrell began touring extensively in Ireland, England, the Continent and the U.S. He performed at major festivals and concert halls including the 1996 Irish Folk Festival Tour of Germany, Switzerland and Austria as a featured solo performer.

In 1999 he released his much anticipated second solo effort “The Orchard.” Again the album was met with critical acclaim. This album was followed by extensive touring as larger audiences became exposed to his infectious songs and music.

Tyrrell has contributed music and songs to such projects as “A Necklace of Wrens” which is a documentary on the life and poetry of Michael Hartnett whose poem “Billy Mulvihill” Tyrrell set to music on “The Orchard.” Tyrrell also collaborated with eight international artists on a compilation album “Songs of Peace” to commemorate the life and work of Francis Ledwidge who died in World War I. The album and live concert were conducted in Flanders amid the memories and tragedy that resulted from that atrocity. A recent German film documentary on Tyrrell’s native Galway included his performance of a Michael Hartnett poem “Belladonna in the Bar.”

Tyrrell is currently embarking on an international tour of America, Ireland, Wales and England with the legendary Tommy Peoples. Peoples and Tyrrell have been neighbors and musical sparring partners for years and are now excited to bring their unique stylings on both traditional and contemporary Irish music to an international audience.

The doors at Blue, 650 Congress St., open at 6 p.m. for dinner and at 7:30 p.m. for the show. Order tickets: $20 for a seat or $10 for standing room by emailing tom@boghat.com.