Music Generation Laois made a triumphant return to The Malt House in Stradbally over the weekend.
They did this with a series of performances as part of their annual festival, Music at the Malt House.
Music at the Malt House celebrates guest musicians and young ensembles from Music Generation Laois, and unique musical collaborations, and this year’s event took place on the 6 and 7 of May.
On Friday evening as part of a music network tour, Mairi Rankin (fiddle) from Cape Breton island in Canada performed alongside American Cellist Eric Wright and English guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, Tim Edey.
These world class musicians also delivered a workshop to young musicians in the Music Generation Laois trad programmes.
The programme of music on Friday evening included many tunes from the Cape Breton region, and new compositions by Tim Edey commissioned by Music Network for this concert tour.
On Saturday evening in The Malt House, Music Generation Laois celebrated a long-standing friendship with harper and composer Michael Rooney and flute player June McCormack.
This concert featured compositions by Michael Rooney.
‘Cláirseoireacht’ was commissioned by Music Generation Laois, Louth and Mayo and supported by the Music Generation / Arts Council Partnership Creativity and Collaboration Fund, and was performed by Music Generation Laois harpers directed by Siobhan Buckley.
The Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra performed ‘Ar an mBealach ar Ais,’ by Michael Rooney, a suite of music originally composed for Music Generation Cavan-Monaghan.
The Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra are directed by Siobhan Buckley.
A special feature of the Saturday evening concert were guest musicians from Music Generation Waterford, directed by Emily Cox, and their collaboration with the Music Generation Laois Intermediate Trad Group, directed by Tommy Fitzharris and Denise Boyle.
Speaking after the concert on Saturday evening, Rosa Flannery Music Development Officer with Music Generation Laois was delighted.
She said: “This evening’s concert featured lots of music projects we had worked on over lockdown, and it was wonderful to finally perform this music to a live audience in the beautiful Malt House.”
Photographer Alf Harvey was present at the weekend and captured some brilliant images:
The MGL Trad Orchestra perform at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.The MGL Trad Orchestra perform at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Titty the Malt House cat ready for the music at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Eunice Grobler with Titty the Malt House cat ready for the music at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.A full house at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.The MGL Harpettes perform with Michael Rooney at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.The MGL Trad Group and MG Waterford perfrorm at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.The MGL Trad Group perfrorm at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Martin Miller and Glen Bradshaw at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Majella and Jason Conroy at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.June Byrne, Katie O’Shea, Kathleen Byrne and Lorraine O’Shea at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Joe and Gillian Cunningham at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Errol and Maria Flynn at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Marie Bowe and Bethany O’Sullivan-Bowe at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Tom and Judy Fitzharris at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Tara and Florence Fahey at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Anthony, Donna and Orla Ging with Louise and Rupert Osmond at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Rob, Claire and Rian Nolan at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Katherine and Vincent Penfold at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Breda Heffernan with Elaine and Michael Phelan at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.The MGL Trad Group and MG Waterford perfrorm at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.Rosa Flannery introduces the evening at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.The MGL Trad Group perfrorm at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.The MGL Harpettes perform with Michael Rooney at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.The MGL Trad Orchestra perform at the Music Generation Laois Music at the Malt House concert in Stradbally. Picture: Alf Harvey.
