Two concerts celebrate Seán Ó Riada’s enduring influence on a diverse range of Irish music 50 years after his untimely death.

PART 1 – 2PM
With RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Aoife Ní Bhriain, Mick O'Brien

For the first concert RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra explore Ó Riada’s landmark orchestral output. Ó Riada’s ambition was to create orchestral music in the European tradition. As he said himself, ‘it is my composition that gives meaning to my existence’. The programme includes his landmark Hercules Dux Ferrariae, the evocative Banks of the Sullane and Ceol na Laoi as well as his famous film scores for Mise Éire and Saoirse. The concert also features contributions from Aoife Ní Bhriain and Mick O’Brien.

Curator : Anthony Long, RTÉ NSO
Curatorial advisor : Liam O’Connor

PART 2 – 8PM
With Ceoltóirí Chualann, Peadar O Riada, Seán Ó Sé, Seán Keane, Cormac Begley, Aoife Ní Bhriain, Sibéal Ní Chasaide, Doireann and Siún Ní Ghlacáin, Stephen Rea, Mick O’Brien and Crash Ensemble

Featuring Peadar Ó Riada with Ceoltóirí Chualann and a host of the country's finest musicians and singers, this portrait shines a light on Ó Riada’s extraordinary legacy, one that has helped shape the national psyche. Seán Ó Sé, Sean Keane, Cormac Begley, Sibéal Ní Chasaide, Ryan Molloy and Ó Riada’s granddaughters Doireann and Siún Ní Ghlacáin are among the contemporary solo performers inspired by Ó Riada. Crash Ensemble will perform his landmark Hercules Dux Ferrariae with single-strings. Stephen Rea will draw on Ó Riada’s influence on the writings of poets like Seamus Heaney and Thomas Kinsella. A curated soundscape contextualises Ó Riada’s disparate musical life.

Curator: Liam O’Connor with Gary Sheehan, NCH

Part of NCH and The Arts Council’s Tradition Now series. A concert presented by NCH, The Arts Council and RTÉ.
NCH, The Arts Council and RTÉ wish to thank the Ó Riada Family for their support in developing this special event.