NAVIGATOR Artist in Residence Meabh McKenna announced for An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny, this June 2026

IMC’s Navigator Jazz Residency programme was established in 2021. Since then 28 musicians have enjoyed bespoke residencies through venue partners Ballina Arts Centre, The Source Arts Centre Thurles, An Grianán Theatre in Letterkenny, Riverbank Arts Centre Newbridge, Courthouse Arts Tinahely, Garter Lane, Waterford and the Crescent Arts Centre, Belfast. For the 2026 edition, we welcome the esteemed Triskel Arts Centre, Cork into the fold.

NAVIGATOR offers jazz and improvising musicians professionally remunerated time and space to develop and perform work, while building creative and professional relationships in new locations.

Méabh McKenna is a multi-instrumental musician from Moynalty, Co. Meath. Utilising the pedal and early Irish harp, voice, electronics, her live performances have evolved from traversing the eclectic worlds of traditional, classical, and early music, intuitively weaving them with contemporary and electronic elements. Invoking translations of mythology, cultural identity, and forms of sacred music, she forges a soundworld of mycelial improvisation connecting the ancient with the futuristic in a resonance that’s entirely her own. 2025 saw the release of ‘Throwing Shapes’ a self titled debut album in collaboration with R.F Chaney and Gareth Quinn Redmond with WRWTFWW Records. Méabh regularly performs with improvising band Geis with Elaine Malone and Eleanor Myler, songwriter Aoife Nessa Frances, and performance artist Isadora Epstein. She has supported artists such as Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, Julie Byrne, and Okkung Lee, featured in RTÉ’s Ambient Orbit, and last year was a featured artist in Nyahh Record’s Alice Copenhagen showcase. She is currently recording a new solo album. Ahead of her Navigator residency, Meabh said:

"During this residency I look forward to developing new work for early Irish wire strung harp and pedal harp with electronics. I want to showcase the early Irish harp as a contemporary solo instrument, developing upon and amplifying its rich history. I play a replica of an instrument from the 1700s with brass and steel strings instead of the contemporary nylon/gut/carbon fibre strings. Limited to one scale unlike contemporary Irish and pedal harps, this instrument presents fascinating harmonic restrictions and a timbral richness that I will explore as a platform for compositional experimentation. I’m excited to incorporate the environment and place into my responsive improvisatory work and compositional process, and am grateful to be taking part in the Improvised Music Company’s Navigator Residency, and An Grianan for their support!"

Patricia McBride, Artistic Director at An Grianán, Letterkenny said;

"We are delighted to welcome Meabh McKenna as our Navigator artist in Residence in An Grianán Theatre. Meabh's unique artistry of harp, voice and electronic music offers great potential for partnerships and projects with other music and multi-media artists based here in the Northwest. We look forward to hosting them here and seeing the magic that happens in their residency."

The NAVIGATOR residency programme is part of IMC's commitment to further develop the national scene for jazz and improvised music, improve artist touring mobility, develop audiences nationwide, and develop creative opportunities and fruitful new relationships for musicians.

Further NAVIGATOR artist residencies will be announced in due course.

Meabh McKenna: meabhmckenna.com
An Grianán: angrianan.com