A celebration of the music of the Irish Composer, Turlough O’Carolan, The Blind Irish Harper – Ireland’s National Composer

Musicians

Jacquelyn Hynes: is a highly regarded flautist and composer, who has played alongside and supported many of Ireland’s leading artists including Martin Hayes, Michael McGoldrick and Lunasa and she has toured with Liam Ó Maonlaí. Her debut CD “Silver and Wood” received a 4 star reviews from the Telegraph and RnR magazine, and was Album of the Week on BBC Radio nan gaídheal. Jacquelyn is also the music tutor here at the ICC. More about Jacquelyn Hynes

Tara Viscardi performs on Irish traditional, classical and baroque harps. Praised for her music being ”exquisitely performed” (The Times) Tara was 1^st prize winner of the 2021 London Camac Harp Competition. A graduate of the Royal College of Music, she has performed all over Ireland and the UK, in major venues such as Wigmore Hall, St John’s Smith Square, Cadogan Hall. She’s been featured on BBC Radio 3 and RTÉ Radio; She performed at the 13th World Harp Congress Hong Kong, for The President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins; also for HM King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Hillsborough Castle. More about Tara Viscardi. Tara is also the Harp Tutor at the ICC

David Råberg-Schrello is a Swedish born classically trained cellist who explores the emotive aspect of classical sound and bridges the gap between technology and music. As a live performer he creatively pushes the boundaries between classical music and technology.  David Råberg-Schrello 

Brian Gascoigne is a Composer, known for the films The Emerald Forest, The Dark Crystal, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. He has written arrangements for John Williams (guitar), Scott Walker, Lara St. John, Ute Lempe, Loreena McKennit, All Saints and Pulp; Films include Love’s Labour’s Lost, Strictly Sinatra and Onegin. He’s played keyboards on over 100 films from Star Wars to Harry Potter. Brian Gascoigne

Tara McCarthy is a versatile violinist and violist who bridges Classical and traditional Irish folk music. Awarded an RTE Lyric FM Scholarship, she completed her MA in Classical String Performance with the Irish Chamber Orchestra at the University of Limerick, also studying Irish fiddle with Eileen O’Brien. Tara has received multiple Travel and Training grants and Agility Awards from the Irish Arts Council, performing widely across Ireland, the UK, Germany, Sweden, Luxembourg, and Italy—including for President Michael D. Higgins and at venues like the National Concert Hall in Dublin and the Royal Albert Hall. Passionate about chamber music, traditional Irish music, and music education, she directs youth orchestras in London and performs with Mná, an all-female folk group.

Perseus Morgan (guest musician), is a graduate from Leeds Conservatoire and has been playing the Harmonica since he was 13. He was New Roots Finalist in 2023 & 2024; He came 2^nd  in the National Harmonica League Solo Chromatic Harmonica Competition 2023; Won 1^st  place in the Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Regional Fleadh; 2^nd in National Fleadh Cheoil na Breataine 2024.  He was also a showcase performer at the SPAH convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma, US. He blends passion with expertise and provides captivating performances on the harmonica. Perseus Morgan

The Racker: is a renowned London based Irish poet, storyteller, bard and irrepressible Irish rhymer.  His wild and wonderful, wide-ranging performances include what he calls “travestations” of works by Robert Burns, Geoffrey Chaucer and the Gaelic poets as well as a prose sequel to James Joyce’s Ulysses. The Racker has performed his poetry in clubs and festivals all over Ireland, the UK. He often performs at the ICC’s friday night music session and has recited his poems on the radio show “Bright Side Of The Road” broadcast on Portobello Radio.  The Racker

About Turlough O’Carolan – The Blind Irish Harper:

Born in County Meath, Turlough O’Carolan was an itinerant Irish harper, singer and storyteller who lived in Ireland between 1670 and 1738. His greatest talent was composing beautiful Celtic melodies. O’Carolan became the most famous of the great Irish bards and is considered by many to be Ireland’s National Composer. During his youth O’Carolan suffered from smallpox, which left him blind and so he is often referred to as “The Blind Irish Harper”. From the age of 18, for almost fifty years, O’Carolan journeyed, on his horse, from one end of Ireland to the other, composing and performing his tunes on his harp, in grand and noble houses. He died in 1738 at the age of 68.

About The Harpist and Author Aurthur O’Neill.

Born in County Tyrone, Authur O’Neill was also a 17th Century virtuoso Irish harpist, who, like his friend O’Carolan, was blinded in his childhood. In his late teens he began travelling Ireland and where ever he went, he wrote his memoirs, describing the concerts and houses he played in – all interspersed with hugely humorous anecdotes. For this concert ‘The Racker’ will recite from O’Neill’s wild and witty anecdotes from O’Neill’s Memoirs.