Composer Ciarán returns to Kerry roots with orchestra

A POWERHOUSE performance by a 43-piece traditional music orchestra from Kildare brought the full house at Comhaltas’s Dúchas centre in Tralee to their feet in a standing ovation on Saturday night.

The phenomenal suite performed by the Misneach orchestra went down a storm with all in attendance in a concert kicked off with an equally brilliant performance by Kerry Comhaltas talents Grace and Colleen Angland (Glenflesk), Tríona B Kennedy, Mikey Fealey and Aideen Quinlan (Lixnaw branch), and Aibhin O’Neill and Caoímhe Laide (Ballydonoghue).

Even more special about the Misneach concert was the figure of the composer of the suite under performance, Ciarán Fitzgerald. For this leg of their tour marked a return to his ancestral home of Tralee.

That he was joined by his father John Fitzgerald, a native of Brendan’s Park, performing the accordion with the orchestra, made it all the more special.

“We were absolutely delighted to host Misneach in this unique event featuring 43 musicians on stage in what was an incredible performance. Everyone was blown away by it,”

John Stack of Comhaltas’s Dúchas Committee told The Kerryman.

“And it was incredibly special to have John Fitzgerald and his son Ciarán bringing it all to the Kingdom with Misneach. Ciarán’s suite was phenomenal, and performed to perfection by the orchestra receiving a standing ovation in a rapturous reception from everyone.”

The buzz continued long into the early hours of Sunday as the musicians repaired to Meadowlands Hotel afterwards where they were joined by scores of friends in music for the mother of all sessions. “There were upwards of 70 musicians playing together in Johnny Frank’s bar at one point,” John said.

Misneach quit the Kingdom later on Sunday abuzz from their Kerry visit: “I got a lovely call to say that they returned home absolutely buzzing from the reception they received, and deeply impressed by our venue in the Dúchas centre at the MTU North campus.”