An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD, who officially opened the Rooms, noted the historic significance: “The National Concert Hall is one of the most architecturally significant buildings in Ireland. The Kevin Barry Recital Rooms have a historic significance going back to the very foundation of the State. It is appropriate this year, on the hundred anniversary of the Rising, that these Rooms have been renovated and restored as part of the Government's programme to mark the events of 1916.”

Heather Humphreys TD Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht added:​ “The Kevin Barry rooms played host to the historic Treaty debates of the early 1920s and now, almost 100 years later, the rooms have been transformed into a beautiful new performance space in one of our foremost cultural institutions. My Department supported this project as one of the nine 'Permanent Reminders' because we want to ensure that our cultural and heritage sectors are left with a positive legacy from the 2016 commemorations. It is also very welcome to see another part of the Concert Hall's beautiful building opened up to the public, creating an interesting new space for Irish and international musicians.”

The opening will be marked with a guest reception and gala concert featuring musical performances from pianist Michael McHale, singer Iarla O Lionáird, soprano Cara O'Sullivan, guitarist Redmond O'Toole and the Vanbrugh Quartet, showcasing the newly restored rooms.

Simon Taylor, CEO of the National Concert Hall said: “The restoration of the Kevin Barry Rooms offers the National Concert Hall the opportunity to enhance its role as a national cultural institution, to expand its service to the music and arts community, and concert goers, and to further develop its musical, cultural and educational programming. We are very grateful for the commitment from Government to the future of the National Concert Hall which this project represents and are particularly proud of its status as one of the permanent reminders of the Ireland 1916/2016 Centenary programme. It is indeed a reminder that will continue to resonate, through music, for generations to come. I would like to thank and congratulate the OPW on the delivery of this next phase in the development of the National Concert Hall as a centre of musical and cultural excellence.”

The new Kevin Barry Recital Room now provides a fit for purpose stage for a vast range of performances. The inaugural Kevin Barry Recital Room Series, supported by The Sunday Business Post and Newstalk, commences on the 24th April and will feature a number of performances by leading Irish and International artists as well as the Kevin Barry Recital Room Resident Artist Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh. The renowned fiddler, best-known as a member of The Gloaming, will be joined by a selection of guests artists for four concerts including Garth Knox (viola d'amore) on 28th April, Cormac Begley  (concertina) on 19th May, Dan Trueman (hardanger) on the 26th May and Per Oddvar Johansen (drums & percussion) on the 15th June. Further details available on the Kevin Barry Recital Room Series on www.nch.ie

The inaugural Series in the Kevin Barry Recital Room (supported by The Sunday Business Post and Newstalk 106) comprises of a musical programme featuring:

• The Vanbrugh Quartet, which plays the complete Beethoven String Quartets in a series of Sunday afternoon concerts (Sunday 1, 8, 15  22 and 29 May 2016 at 3pm).
• The renowned fiddler Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh, best-known as a member of The Gloaming, will be the inaugural Kevin Barry Recital Room Resident Artist. He will be joined by a selection of guests artists for four concerts including Garth Knox  (viola d'amore) on 28 April, Cormac Begley (concertina) on 19 May, Dan Trueman (hardanger) on the 26 May and Per Oddvar Johansen (drums & percussion) on the 15  June.
• Now This: Gary Peacock (double bass),  Marc Copland (piano), and Joey Baron (drums) perform powerful new versions of some Peacock classics, interspersed with recent compositions on the 12 and 13 of May 2016.
• Conor Biggs (bass) and Michel Stas (piano) continue the Schubertreise on 24 of April in which they continue to complete the Schubert Song cycle.
• On 30 of April broadcaster and journalist Sinéad Gleeson explores the literary gem that is the short story in The Long Gaze Back—an exhilarating anthology of thirty short stories by some of the most gifted women writer Ireland has ever produced.
• Bach and his Contemporaries sees a number of Irish musicians performing a rich tapestry of Baroque music focusing on Bach and his contemporaries; Redmond O'Toole (guitar) on 16 June; Malcolm Proud (harpsichord) on 23 June, and Claire Duff (violin) joined by cellist Sarah McMahon on the 30 of June.
•  ​ The Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme, led by Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys, T.D., is a year-long programme of activity to commemorate the events of the 1916 Rising, to reflect on our achievements over the last 100 years and to look towards Ireland's future.   Full details of the programme are available at www.ireland.ie.  Follow us on Facebook and Twitter @ireland2016 #ireland2016