Tag Archives: Music Generation Clare

Glór is set to host a not-to-be-missed concert on April 24 with three of Ireland’s most talented and acclaimed traditional musicians. Máirtín O’Connor, Cathal Hayden and Seamie O’Dowd have been building a formidable musical relationship under the guise of The Máirtín O’Connor Band since 2001. Individually recognised figureheads of the tradition, they have built solid reputations as master musicians with astounding skill, diversity and virtuosity. Together they produce a vibrant and musically charged experience that redefines one’s concept of brilliance, verging on perfection. If this musical powerhouse does not get you to your feet, nothing will. The concert is part of a weekend masterclass programme in association with Music Generation Clare. Over three days these acclaimed artists will work with a group of young musicians, taking them on an adventure of musical discovery that will culminate in a public performance (Day 3). This masterclass offers a unique opportunity for young musicians to work closely with three of the country’s most …

AS PART of the PIMA Fest in Ennis, there will be another opportunity to take part in an exciting audio project. ‘Sounding Ennis’, is a generative sound installation by artists Kerry Hagan and Nicholas Ward which will be displayed in Glór for PIMA! Fest on October 15 and 16.  There is an open call to anyone who would like to take part and submissions need to be made by September 5. To take part in ‘Sounding Ennis’ record the sounds around you and submit them to be included in the sound artwork. Record interesting moments in your life and submit them to be include in the sound artwork. Recordings can be of anything in your life – sounds of your kitchen; sounds from your commute; something from a sports event or playground; your grandmother telling a story; sounds from your daily walk; anything you find interesting. Getting involved is free, fun, takes a couple of minutes of your time. The …

A DYNAMIC weekend of musical activities for young traditional and folk composers and songwriters is on the cards for Glór next month. The event, taking place from March 11 to 13, is part of a national series of Masterclass & Concert Programmes with Dónal Lunny. The legendary musician will be in Ennis with his nine-piece traditional music ensemble, Atlantic Arc. Young musicians between the ages of 14-18 who live in Clare are now invited to make an application for this innovative programme. The event will include a Friday evening and Saturday daytime masterclass. On Sunday, there will be a ‘behind the scenes’ technical experience, followed by the evening concert with Atlantic Arc. The masterclasses are facilitated by Music Generation Clare via SoundWaves, a new annual programme of nationwide masterclasses and concerts for young musicians. “The members of Atlantic Arc are excited to meet upcoming young composers/songwriters in County Clare, we are inspired by the energy of young people and the …

THE full programme for the 15th Ennis Book Club Festival was announced this week. This year’s festival will be a hybrid of online events in March with live events taking place in April and September. As always Ennis Book Club Festival 2021 will offer opportunities to engage with favourite authors and features an additional programme of events for younger readers. While the festival cannot welcome book lovers to Ennis this March as ever, it will provide plenty of events to stimulate discussion and inspire reading, from the comfort of the couch. Commenting on the programme for the 2021 Ennis Book Club Festival, Artistic Director Dani Gill, says, “We have had to re-imagine the festival several times this year with the changing circumstances, and while people are having to remain at home, we hope that at least, there have been some good books on the go, and that people will engage with our online offerings next month. “A lot of work …

MUSIC and its impact on mental health and well-being are the twin elements that concertina player, composer and producer Pádraig Rynne has been reflecting a lot on lately. As Development Officer with Music Generation Clare, his ‘day job’ takes him to educational settings the length and breadth of the county – mainly virtually – and he has seen first-hand the benefits for children and teens of creating, composing and performing. Music Generation is a national partnership programme whose mission is to create inspiring experiences for children and young people through music. In a county like Clare, where songs and tunes are part of the fabric of daily life, the organisation has been going from strength-to-strength over the last seven years. The pandemic has prompted it to move many of its core activities online, and, with other young peoples’ activities curtailed, it has been a creative lifeline for many. “When the lockdown hit last March, we were lucky to have so …

A FEAST of music, dance, painting, crafts and film is in store for young people across Clare and Limerick, with an event entitled, Scairt na hÓige, A Creative Youth Festival around the Shannon Estuary, taking place from August 27 to 30. The Clare element will see activities in Ennis, Shannon and Kilrush, organised by the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) in association with Creative Ireland, and involving a range of creative partner organisations. “Creative Ireland are really brilliant in terms of encouraging young people to participate in the arts and in asking them what they want in terms of arts activities,” explained actor and former star of Fair City, Maeve McGrath, who is festival organiser. “This programme is a direct response to that. Creative Ireland supports participation in the arts and raises awareness of creative sectors and roles.” Kilrush will be the focal point of activities on Thursday and Friday, as the majestic tall ship, Ilen, docks …

A MUSIC video to accompany an original song written by a group of Clare teenagers, who just a few days ago did not know one another, could soon be seen by people all over the world. It certainly wasn’t “a hard day’s night” when eight youngsters this week got the chance to get on board the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus. The bus rolled into Ennis’ Glór car park on Tuesday and in partnership with Music Generation Clare, the lucky teenagers from all over the county were able to record and produce their own song and music video. That song and video has since been taken away by the tour bus’ on-board engineers to add the finishing touches before they put it on the internet. Emer O’Flaherty, development officer with Music Generation Clare, described the teenagers’ experience as “magical”. “It was a great day and the young people were just amazing. We had quite a lot of applications from young …