100 young musicians from Music Generation Clare, Music Generation Laois and Music Generation Tipperary performed for a national and international audience at St. Patrick's Festival Quarter in Collins Barracks Dublin.
The young musicians travelled to Dublin to mark the global celebrations with performances across the weekend for Ireland's National Festival.
The young community of traditional musicians were thrilled to participate and perform in the world-famous festival. Hear more about their experience!
Music Generation Tipperary
The young musicians of the Tipperary Trad Ensemble performed a selection of repertoire that reflects the journey of the young ensemble to date. It included a newly composed piece, named after one of its young members (Aoibhinn’s Lullaby), material developed with Zoe Conway and John McIntyre (The Little Diamond) and contemporary and local repertoire.
The programme selection and arrangements were led by the young people themselves in collaboration with their Musician Educators. They even curated their own promo video ahead of the big day!
The Music Generation Tipperary Trad Ensemble is the coming together of young people from Music Generation Tipperary’s various traditional music hubs across the county. While based in both Clonmel and Thurles, the ensemble has members from across the county, from Cloughjordan to Clonmel. Established in 2022, the Music Generation Tipperary Trad ensemble has exploded onto the soundscape of Tipperary, performing at various festivals locally, including at the Dome at Clonmel Junction Festival, while having also shared the stage with master musicians such as Zoe Conway and John McIntyre. Under the direction of our team leader for traditional music Niamh Fenton, each week the group explore the rich musical heritage of Tipperary, in particular through the use of a resource of tunes and songs associated with Tipperary, developed by Music Generation Tipperary for dissemination to young people locally.
Music Generation Tipperary is managed by Tipperary Local Music Education Partnership, led by Tipperary Education and Training Board in partnership with Tipperary County Council.
"It was just a surreal experience, being up there on the stage and playing with the orchestra. I love the experience of playing the tunes live. It's just lovely playing the tunes you love to play in front of a crowd." Kate, Young Musician, Music Generation Clare Irish Concertina Orchestra
Music Generation Laois
2023 saw the Laois Trad Orchestra’s second performance on the St. Patrick’s Quarter mainstage. The young musicians took audiences on a dynamic journey of unique traditional arrangements and new compositions including tunes composed by Damien O’Kane, Liz Carroll, Blackwater Céilí Band and Michael Rooney.
Led by Siobhán Buckley, the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra was established in 2016 to provide a platform for the strong interest in traditional music among young people in Co. Laois. To date the young orchestra has performed for audiences including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Prince Albert of Monaco. The Orchestra has collaborated with many well-known musicians including Chris Stout and Catriona McKay; Zoe Conway and John McIntyre, Ernestine Healy, Michael Rooney and Martin Tourish.
Music Generation Laois is part of Laois Offaly Education and Training Board and supported by Laois County Council.
Music Generation Clare
The Irish Concertina Orchestra is led by musical director Dr. Tim Collins and is supported by musicians Sinead Mulqueen, Cillian King and Conor O’Loughlin who joined the young musicians for their performance at St. Patrick's Festival Quarter in Collins Barracks on Saturday. The orchestra took audiences on a dynamic journey of unique traditional arrangements and new compositions and managed to draw a crowd to the mainstage despite the rain!
Ireland’s first ever Concertina Orchestra includes 24 of the best young concertina players from Co. Clare and surrounding counties. They are fast becoming renowned for performing new and sonically exciting pieces to much critical acclaim. They work with unique commissioned compositions as well as their very own compositions and have, to date, collaborated with the Irish Chamber Orchestra, ZoDoMo and conductor Cormac McCarthy.
Music Generation Clare is managed by Clare Music Education Partnership, led by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board in partnership with Clare County Council, University of Limerick and Clare Education Centre.
All photos by Dave Keegan
Main Image - Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra seated on mainstage of Collins Barracks at St. Patrick's Festival.
Image 1: Young Musician of Music Generation Tipperary Trad Ensemble smiles at camera.
Image 2: Young Musician of Music Generation Tipperary Trad Ensemble plays accordion.
Image 3: Sean Nós Dancer with Laois Trad Orchestra.
Image 4: 40 members of Laois Trad Orchestra pose for photo standing in group.
Image 5: Young Musician of Music Generation Irish Concertina Orchestra smiles to audience
Image 6: 23 members of Irish Concertina Orchestra pose for photo standing in group.