Music Network opens its autumn season of tours with a newly curated ensemble featuring the phenomenal vocal blend of Connemara siblings Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta, alongside stellar pianist and composer Ryan Molloy.
Running from 11th to 26th September, this tour will bring an enchanting musical mix, with traditional and contemporary musical offerings sitting comfortably side by side, drawing the listener into a world of captivating vocal and instrumental explorations.
Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta were named Best Emerging Artists at the 2024 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards. The siblings hail from the Gaeltacht region of Connemara and are noted for their
Sean nós singing and unique arrangements of both Irish and English language songs, with distinctive vocal tones that only family members share.
In 2022, their Late Late Show performance of the soulful lament ‘Anach Cuain’ received widespread acclaim and went viral, bringing sean nós singing to people around the world.
Other notable television appearances include the prestigious Other Voices on RTÉ and TG4’s Fleadh TV.
Séamus and Caoimhe are also accomplished multi-instrumentalists who are winners of a host of All-Ireland titles.
They have both shared stages with many renowned artists and ensembles, most recently appearing as guest soloists with the National Symphony Orchestra at the National Concert Hall.
Together, and as individual artists, they have toured in Europe, Asia and North America, and have also contributed to many notable recordings, including Notify’s most recent release, Airnéan.
In 2023, the duo released their debut EP which was produced by Brian Whelan and internationally acclaimed Riverdance composer Bill Whelan.
Composer and pianist Ryan Molloy has performed to international audiences on four continents for over twenty years. A recipient of many awards, Ryan was most recently announced as TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2024 Composer of the Year, and was nominated for the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards in both 2020 and 2021.
Ryan has recorded on over thirty albums as a pianist, composer and arranger, and his extensive repertoire spans genres from traditional Irish to contemporary classical.
A much sought-after collaborator, he has worked with a host of artists and ensembles, including Fergal Scahill, Seán Óg Graham, Neil Martin, Paddy Glackin, Iarla Ó Lionáird, North Cregg, Barry Kerr, the Ulster Orchestra and the Irish Chamber Orchestra.
His music is broadcast regularly on BBC Radio 3, Radio Ulster, RTÉ lyric fm, Radio 1 and Raidió na Gaeltachta as well as on BBC 2, UTV and TG4.
Described as a ‘milestone’ in traditional piano performance, Ryan’s critically acclaimed first solo recording Pianophony was released in 2019, and his recent works, which include Casúir’s Cnaipí and Pianoboxing, showcase his innovative approach to traditional piano performance.
British music magazine The Living Tradition summed it up perfectly when they said, ‘This man doesn’t just play the piano, he works magic with it.’
The tour will also feature two new tunes, Oileán Mhic Dara and Inis Múscraí, commissioned by Music Network, composed by Ryan and performed by the trio.
With these three exceptional artists coming together for the first time, audiences can expect superbly crafted arrangements alongside exquisite harmonies and a night of music to remember.
The tour runs from 11th to 26th September with performances in Donegal, Leitrim, Limerick, Wicklow, Dublin, Clare, Galway, Kerry and London.
