Concert - The Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland
GLÓR – Saturday 25th May, 8pm
To celebrate 50 years of Fleadh Nua in Ennis, the Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland will take you on musical journey through the Clare tradition, honouring the musicians and composers, singers and poets who have shaped the cultural landscape of the county and handed on to us the treasured store of music and song that makes Clare today the heartland of the tradition.
Comprised of the most gifted young Irish musicians and singers, the Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland (NFOI) has performed at venues all over Ireland including the National Concert Hall and Kilmainham Gaol in Dublin, the National Opera House in Wexford and at the Barbican Centre in London. The orchestra have performed at events for the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins and for Pope Francis during his Irish visit. Their performances have also been broadcast on RTÉ and TG4.
The NFOI has a commitment to performing newly composed music. In 2013 the orchestra performed ‘The Boroimhe Suite’ composed and conducted by celebrated harpist Michael Rooney, who also composed ‘Macalla 1916’ which was specially commissioned by Comhaltas to commemorate the 1916 rising. Since then flute player Tom Doorley has composed and conducted several shows for the orchestra including ‘Legacy’ (2017), ‘Oriel Wave’ (2019), ‘Macnamh’ (2020) and ‘Nasc’ (2023). ‘Legacy’ was one of the highlights of Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Ennis in 2017 when it was performed to a capacity crowd of over 2,000 at the Shannon Aerodome.
