Sionna – Irish Folk Duo from Christchurch
Sionna are a Christchurch-based, Irish-born folk duo playing traditional and contemporary Irish music and songs. The duo is made up of Lorcan (bouzouki and guitar) and Helen (fiddle and keyboards).
Lorcan, originally from Limerick, has lived in Christchurch for 27 years. A familiar face in local sessions and pubs, he was a founding member of Bang Your Frog and Catharsis.
Helen hails from Galway and has been a musician, actor, and performer in Christchurch for over a decade. She’s appeared with Showbiz Christchurch and The Court Theatre, and is a mainstay of Molly’s Remedy.
Formed in 2023, Sionna began playing in local pubs and open mic nights — until Lorcan, after seeing a concert at The Piano, decided it would be “mad but magic” to perform there himself. After convincing Helen to go along with the plan, he booked the venue, expecting a small, friendly crowd and a modest loss.
But fate (and The Press) had other ideas. A feature on Irish music in Christchurch mentioned the upcoming gig, and ticket sales suddenly took off. Thirty minutes before showtime, Sionna sold the very last ticket — playing to a sold-out audience of 320.
The concert was such a success that they returned in 2024. Even without the newspaper boost, the show was another big hit.
Now, in 2025, Sionna are back at The Piano for what’s become their annual (and maybe traditional) November gig. After two years of playing two to three gigs a week, Sionna have grown into a tight, vibrant, and driving duo, weaving great songs old and new through reels, jigs, and polkas — keeping the spirit of Irish music very much alive in Christchurch.
Sionna – Live at The Piano
? Thursday November 20, 2025
? The Piano: Centre for Music and the Arts, Christchurch
?️ Tickets available : https://events.humanitix.com/sionna-live-at-the-piano-2025
