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.
Under the direction of Micheal Ó hAlmhain, the Folk Orchestra undertook a number of projects in the 1990’s culminating in “Slad agus Slanú” for the 1995 Oireachtas. This was performed live on stage at The National Concert Hall and was recorded by RTE television and broadcast in 1996. “Slad agus Slanú” was Directed by Tomás MacAnna and included dance, narration and song, with the singing provided by the MacMathúna Clan! Some of the music was traditional with orchestral arrangements and much of it was newly composed. The classical pieces were by Stephen Kelly and the Traditional by Tom Doorley, of Danu fame. At that time the orchestra featured about 30 of the very best Irish traditional musicians and singers.
In 2013 the Orchestra was reformed to perform The Boroimhe Suite which was composed by Michael Rooney 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.
2017 and 2018 saw the Orchestra perform LEGACY, a suite of music celebrating the great men and women who helped shape and define our tradition through the generations.
ORIEL WAVE will be performed at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Drogheda in 16th August 2019
Taking place in the beautiful setting of St Augustine’s Church in Drogheda, "Oriel Wave" will take you on a journey through the musical and cultural landscape of the Ulster Region.
Oriel Wave features both newly composed music by Tom Doorley and some of our greatest traditional tunes and songs.
THE MUSIC
The Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland features in the following Suites of music
2019 - ORIEL WAVE: A Suite of Music & Song Inspired by the Legacy of the Ulster Tradition
Oriel Wave, performed by The Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland and Guest Artists, will have its world premiere at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Drogheda 2019 and will feature both newly composed music by Tom Doorley and some of our greatest traditional tunes and songs.
Friday 16th August, 8:00 pm
Augustinian Church, Drogheda
Adults: €15 | Children: €10 | Family (of 4): €40
2017 - 2018 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 premiered at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Ennis 2017 on Friday 18th August.
There are two upcoming performances of Legacy in 2018: 17th August at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Drogheda 2018 and 1st November at the Parliament Buildings in Stormont, Belfast. Please visit the NEWS section for more information.
NEWS & UPDATES
September 18th, 2020
The Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland celebrate CultureNight by performing Tom Doorley’s Version of the classic jig “The Gold Ring”
www.culturenight.ie
June 16th, 2019
2019 - ORIEL WAVE: A Suite of Music & Song Inspired by the Legacy of the Ulster Tradition
Oriel Wave, performed by The Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland and Guest Artists, will have its world premiere at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Drogheda 2019 and will feature both newly composed music by Tom Doorley and some of our greatest traditional tunes and songs.
Friday 16th August, 8:00 pm
Augustinian Church, Drogheda
Adults: €15 | Children: €10 | Family (of 4): €40
JUNE 1st, 2018
New performance of LEGACY
at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Drogheda!
Friday 17th August 2018, 8:00pm
Fleadh Concert Dome, Drogheda
MAY 23rd, 2018
New Performance of Legacy
Thursday 1 st November 2018 @ 8:00pm
The Great Hall, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast
The Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra will play by special invitation in the Great Hall, Parliament Buildings, Stormont, Belfast - on Thursday 1 st November 2018.
This event will be by Invitation only and further details will be released as soon as they are available.
August 20th, 2017
Legacy premiered in Ennis at the Shannon Airdome with a capacity attendance of 2000! The superlatives flowed in abundance - "brilliant", "fantastic", "awesome", "uplifting" and many more. The prolonged standing ovation from a much energised audience said it all: this was an experience of a lifetime.
An Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald TD, who spoke at the event, lauded the sheer artistry of the Comhaltas National Folk Orchestra of Ireland and the creativity of Tom Doorley. An Tánaiste expressed the wish that Legacy would take to the stage again on some future date... Certainly a possibility, but for now it is time for the Orchestra and the production team to take a well deserved rest.
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
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 - [email protected])
· 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 [email protected] - 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!
October 4th, 2015
News and Updates about Macalla 1916 performance in London at Barbican Centre coming very soon!...
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.