Irish fiddlers

Fiddler Jess Hindin and friends bring Irish ditties to Tauranga. Photo/supplied

Operatuniy's kick-off show to the new year is an Irish delight, to be sure.

Luck of the Irish comes to Holy Trinity Church in early February featuring a line-up of Irish dancing, famous haunting ballads, funny ditties and limericks, singalongs, Irish jokes and "breakneck fiddling".

Operatunity specialise in daytime concerts for music loving seniors and came up with the idea for an Irish show because of the number of Irish blood that flows in Kiwi veins, as well as having an experienced fiddler in their mix.

Luck of the Irish features Susan Boland, John Cameron, Bonaventure Allan-Moetaua, Karl Perigo, Bryony Williams, and violinist Jessica Hindin.

Jess completed her musical studies at University of Auckland before travelling to Ireland to fiddle in a traditional Irish show in Galway. While she was there she successfully auditioned for Barrage, an international touring world music show based in Canada.

After almost six years of touring, which included television appearances in Great Britain, Europe, United States and China, she returned home to New Zealand. She has performed on stage alongside well-known entertainers including Harry Connick Jr and Elaine Page, singers Boh Runga, Hayley Westenra and Ladyhawke. Her string quartet has been part of the band for many other televised shows including New Zealand's Got Talent, and X Factor.

Jess spent many years touring North America with an Irish fiddle band - another reason to hold an Irish show.