Music Generation Harp Collective | FourWinds

Monday 1st August | 8PM | ST. PAUL’S CHURCH N91KP29
TICKETS: €25

The Music Generation Harp Collective is a collaborative project comprising 65 young harpers from  Music Generation Laois, Louth and Mayo ensembles.  They joined together in 2022 to perform at multiple high profile events including St. Patrick’s Festival, Dublin, World Harp Congress, Cardiff and Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, Mullingar 2022.  They will be performing a suite of new music ” Cláirseoireacht” (Harping) composed for the collective by prominent Irish harper/composer Michael Rooney and commissioned by Music Generation through the Creativity and Collaboration Fund in partnership with the Arts Council of Ireland. Cláirseoireacht comprises 4 movements and represents the changes in Irish harping through the centuries.

Teitheamh na nIarlaí (Flight of the Earls)
Planxty John LeslieSuantraí (Lullaby)
Suairceas (Joy)

The Music Generation Laois Harp Ensemble was established in 2015 and is directed by Siobhan Buckley. The ensemble has worked with various musicians to collaborate and compose numerous suites of music, namely Catriona McKay to create ‘Rising of the Harps’ (2016), Michael Rooney to create ‘The Spirit of Laois Suite’ (2017) and ‘Cláirseoireacht Suite’ with MG Louth & MG Mayo (2022), and Maeve Gilchrist to create ‘White Horses’ (2019). Live performances include US Ambassador’s to Ireland’s Residence (2016), An Chúirt Chruitireachta International Festival for Irish Harp (2017,2018,2019), supporting Catriona McKay and Chris Stout at the E.I.H.F. (2018), St Patrick’s Festival Dublin (2022), The World Harp Congress in Cardiff (2022) and an upcoming tour of Japan with Michael Rooney & June McCormack (August 2023). TV appearances include The Ray d’Arcy Show (RTE), Morning Ireland (Virgin Media), Fleadh TV (TG4), Ceiliúradh LGFA Peil na mBan (TG4) and they feature on singer songwriter John Spillane’s latest album on the title track ‘100 Snow White Horses’.

The Music Generation Louth Harp Ensemble, under the direction of Deirdre Ní Bhuachalla, brings young harpers of various musical backgrounds together to perform a repertoire of traditional Irish and popular music. Formed in 2012, current members are aged from 10 to 20 years. Their video “Harps at the Border”, recorded in partnership with Harp Ireland, was chosen by the Department of Foreign Affairs to be broadcast across Irish Mission social media channels across the world for St. Patrick’s Day 2022. Notable  performances include performing for Vice President (Now President) of USA, Joe Biden in 2016, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2018 & 2019, Live on Fleadh TV 2018, National Lottery Awards on TV3, Ray D’arcy Show, RTÉ and with Máire Ní Chathasaigh at An Chúirt Chruitireachta in Termonfeckin 2019. The Ensemble performs annually at An Chúirt Chruitireachta, International Harp Festival, Féile na Tána and MG Laois Tionól for Harp and Pipes.  They will return from a performance at the World Harp Congress in Cardiff in July 2022 just in time for this performance at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Mullingar.

Launched in June 2017 by Music Generation (Ireland’s National Music Education Programme), the Music Generation Mayo Harp Ensemble provides opportunities for young harpers aged 10-18 years from throughout the county to play and work together in a non-competitive setting, various performance opportunities. The ensemble operates under the musical direction of Gráinne Hambly and William Jackson, acclaimed musicians and composers with many years of experience performing worldwide. Their debut performance was in November 2017 at the Music Generation ‘Tionól for Harps and Pipes’ in Portlaoise, followed by a performance at the Westport Town Hall Theatre for National Harp Day 2017. In November 2018, 16 members of the ensemble were delighted to have the opportunity to perform on RTÉ Irish national television as part of a 40-piece harp ensemble, playing Elizabeth Kelly’s Favourite arranged by the ensemble directors. The ensemble has also performed at Mayo International Choral Festival, Westport Mac Luí Children’s Arts Festival, National Harp Day performance at Foxford Traditional Weekend, Achill International Harp Festival, An Chúirt Chruitireactha, Tionól for Harps and Pipes 2021 and most recently the national St Patrick’s Day Festival in Dublin March 2022.

Music Generation is Ireland’s National Music Education Programme that transforms the lives of children and young people through access to high quality performance music education. Initiated by Music Network, Music Generation is co-funded by U2, The Ireland Funds, the Department of Education and Skills and Local Music Education Partnerships.

FourWinds produce an exciting landscape of tunes and lyrics that present Irish Traditional Music in a modern and creative context, while maintaining deep roots in the tradition.  With influences including Begley and Cooney, The Bothy Band, Planxty, Brady and Irvine, and Moving Hearts, this energetic quartet delivers a truly unique musical experience.

The band was awarded the prestigious Danny Kyle Award, presented by the Celtic Connections festival board in recognition of outstanding emerging talent in Celtic music, very early on in their career. FourWinds were also chosen as one of three finalists in the Rising Stars Competition, held by The Gathering in Killarney, Ireland.

While the group has performed as FourWinds since 2013, members Alan, Tom, Caroline and Robbie have also all toured extensively throughout Europe, Canada and America with their many different solo and group projects (Perfect Friction, the Colin Farrell Band, Pappy With a Hatchet, Coast to Coast, The Daoiri Farrell Band, Solid Clarity and Tom Delany and Caroline Keane duo) for many years, having shared stages with such renowned musicians as Paddy Keenan, The Chieftains, Eileen Ivers, Tommy O’Sullivan, De Temps Antan, FullSet, Muireann NicAmhlaoibh, Karen Tweed, and many more.

They have shared their electric enthusiasm for Irish traditional and Folk music with a truly international audience, with performances at The Oulu Irish Festival in northern Finland, all the way to the enormous Woodford Folk Festival in Australia. Wherever they go, this outfit raises the roof – simultaneously pushing boundaries and staying true to the tradition.

All four members have received awards at national level, Robbie having claimed coveted ‘All Ireland’ titles at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Tom and Caroline’s debut “Never Say Goodbye, Say Good Luck” was released in 2018, and received critical acclaim. The members also feature frequently on many mainstream Irish radio and television channels, including RTÉ, TV3 and the Gaelic language television channel TG4.

With the eponymous debut album “FourWinds” under their belt, the band are currently working on a new one, as well as upcoming tours in Ireland, Europe, Canada, and the United States.

Line up:

• Tom Delany Uilleann pipes-whistles
• Caroline Keane Concertina
• Alan Murray Bouzouki- guitar- vocals
• Robbie Walsh Bodhran