The Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland
The Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland was first formed by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in the late 1980s and has always attracted the most gifted young Irish musicians and singers.
In 2013, the Orchestra was reformed to performThe Boróimhe Suite which was written to celebrate the millennium of the Battle of Clontarf and the death of Brian Ború.
In 2016 the Orchestra presented MACALLA 1916 which was again specially commissioned by Comhaltas to commemorate the Easter Rising. It was performed in the Barbican in London by invitation of Comhaltas na Breataine and on Easter Saturday night for the 1916 Relatives Concert in the RDS, Dublin before going on a Nationwide tour.
The Comhaltas Folk Orchestra is made up of over sixty of the finest young traditional and classical musicians from over 20 different counties in Ireland and from the U.K.
They are currently rehearsing a new work by musician, composer and arranger Tom Doorley called Legacy which will receive its World Premiere on Friday 18th August 2017 at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ennis.
THE MUSIC
The Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland features in the following Suites of music
2017 - LEGACY: Oidhreacht agus Ceiliúradh
The Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland, under the musical direction of Tom Doorley, are in final rehearsals for their latest performance titled “LEGACY” which will have its world premiere at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2017 in Ennis on Friday 18th August in the Shannon Aerodome.
When Tom was given the challenge of Legacy, he immediately decided that the emphasis should not be solely on newly composed music. He felt strongly that we should not lose sight of the great musicians, singers and composers who kept the music and song alive in more difficult times. Tunes and songs that are centuries old are still being performed today thanks to the efforts of composers and collectors, musicians and singers, who fought a growing tide that threatened to sweep our culture aside.
From O’Carolan and Raftery to Ó Riada, Rowsome and Crotty, visionary men and women have made possible a unique inheritance for our generation – a true ‘Legacy’ for the Ireland of today.
Tom Doorley has certainly brought his unique style of arrangement and composition to the Orchestra and has brought the sound back closer to the original orchestra which was set-up in the mid-nineties.
The 1995 Orchestra, under the guidance of Micheal Ó hAlmhain, performed ‘Slad agus Slanú” for the Oireachtas of that year and the show as subsequently recorded and transmitted by RTE in January 1996. The link to today is Tom Doorley himself. Tom was the composer of “Slad agus Slanu” and as he says, “It’s great to be back, with the Orchestra again after 20 years. I’m delighted and honored to have the opportunity to work with the Folk Orchestra on this very exciting project. I’ve had the privilege of teaching and performing with many of the Orchestra members in the past and look forward to this exciting journey”.
At the Fleadh, ’Legacy’, will take you on a journey through the musical and cultural landscape of Ireland honouring some of the great men and women who have helped shape and define our tradition down through the generations. Inspired by some of our greatest tunes and songs, Legacy will also feature newly composed music by Tom Doorley and will be scripted and directed by Ray Conway who has been integral to the Folk Orchestra since 2015.
Tom Doorley was born in Dublin in 1972 and has been playing for many years in both Classical and Traditional music circles, in Ireland and abroad. With lessons from Vincent Broderick and influences from many musicians including Seamus MacMathuna and Matt Molloy, Tom has established his own style. Widely regarded amongst musicians as a master flautist, he is known for his wild and unpredictable melodic and harmonic variations and for his tenderness of treatment in playing for songs.
Tom Dorley -Composer & Conductor
Tom joined Danu in 1996 and has become very well know to audiences as a great storyteller in both English and Irish and with a very tongue in cheek sense of humour. As a spokesman for the group Tom was the very public face of Danu for many years and is a very friendly and light-hearted person. Yet, Tom is also someone who takes the history and the playing of Irish music very seriously and his love, commitment and dedication to the Tradition should never be underestimated. This is reflected in Legacy, where Tom has taken established and well-known tunes and breathed fresh life into them with his clever arrangements and settings that are new, interesting and engaging while at the same time true to their origins.
Now settled back home in Dublin, Tom is a tutor and lecturer in Irish traditional music at DIT, a teacher and adjudicator with Comhaltas and a dedicated father and husband.
LEGACY will premier at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Ennis 2017 on Friday 18th August. For tickets please call 065-684 3103
or visit www.glor.ie
NEWS & UPDATES
May 20th, 2017
The Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland, under the musical direction of Tom Doorley, are in final rehearsals for their latest performance titled “LEGACY” which will have its world premiere at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2017 in Ennis on Friday 18th August in the Shannon Aerodome.
MARCH 7TH, 2016
Macalla 1916 made it’s world premiere on Friday night at the Barbican Centre in London!
Photo by Malcolm McNally
Photo by Malcolm McNally
Greta Mulhall was presented with flowers by Seamus Brogan and Michael Nevin from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Photo by Malcolm McNally
Ambassador Dan Mullhall and John Concannon. Photo by Malcolm McNally
Among the guests in attendance were Irish Ambassador Dan Mulhall and his wife Greta, John Concannon, Director of Ireland 2016 Centenary Programme and Ann Finnegan, President of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. Prior to the concert, Comhaltas presented the Ambassador and John with special commemorative medals.
FEBRUARY 16TH, 2016
Detailed information and Box Office Information for performances of Macalla 1916 by Michael Rooney:
· 4th Marth, 2016: Barbican Theatre, London, performance for the Diaspora
· 26th March, 2016 (Easter Saturday) RDS, Dublin, Ócáid Stáit do Ghaolta – State event for the relatives of those who took part in the events of 1916
· 27th March, 2016 (Easter Sunday): TLT Theatre, Drogheda, Co. Louth. (Matthew's Ln, Drogheda +353 41 987 8560 - info@thetlt.ie)
· 28th March, 2016: National Opera House, Wexford (High Street, Wexford +353 53 912 2144 or 1850 4 OPERA - www.nationaloperahouse.ie)
· 29th March, 2016: Cork City Hall (Anglesea St, Cork +353 Tickets: www.clasac.ie / Tel: 01 836 3060 / 087 813 7900 / 087 418 7228)
· 30th March, 2016: Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick (Mary Immaculate College, Courtbrack Av (off Dock Rd), Limerick boxoffice@limetreetheatre.ie - www.limetreetheatre.ie or call +353 061 774 774)
· 31st March and 1st April, 2016: Garage Theatre, Monaghan (Monaghan Education Campus, Old Armagh Rd, Monaghan +353 47 81597 - www.garagetheatre.com)
· 2nd April, 2016: Knocknarea Arena, Sligo (Sligo IT) Tickets: www.hawkswell.com | 071-916 1518
· 3rd April, 2016: Millennium Forum, Derry (Newmarket St, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6EB - Box Office: +44(0)28 7126 4455 - www.millenniumforum.co.uk
January 10TH, 2016
Get your tickets for "Macalla 1916: An Echo of the Past... A Vision for the Future" Orchestral Suite Irish Tour
Confirmed performances for 2016:
· 4th Marth, 2016: Barbican Theatre, London, performance for the Diaspora
· 26th March (Easter Saturday): RDS, Dublin, Ócáid Stáit do Ghaolta – State event for the relatives of those who took part in the events of 1916
· 27th March, 2016 (Easter Sunday): TLT Theatre, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
· 28th March, 2016: National Opera House, Wexford
· 29th March, 2016: Cork City Hall
· 30th March, 2016: Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick
· 31st March and 1st April, 2016: Garage Theatre
· 2nd April, 2016: Knocknarea Arena, Sligo
· 3rd April, 2016: Millennium Forum, Derry
December 15th, 2015
Get your tickets for "Macalla 1916: An Echo of the Past... A Vision for the Future" Orchestral Suite premiere at the Barbican Centre in London clicking the following link!
NFOI performing Boróimhe in 2014
October 4th, 2015
News and Updates about Macalla 1916 performance in London at Barbican Centre coming very soon!...
Clasac, Comhaltas' Regional Centre in Clontarf
October 6th, 2015
Michael Rooney is immersed in the creative process of composing the Suite of music. Rehearsals with the Orchestra to begin in November at CLASAC, Comhaltas' Regional Centre in Clontarf.