The premiere of a new opera by composer Irene Buckley, inspired by the poem Chaoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire, preceded by a short introductory programme.
FIRST BROADCAST: The Lyric Feature, RTÉ lyric fm, Sunday 15th December 2024.
6 pm – introductory programme
6:20 – opera
Photo: Vona Groarke (left) and Irene Buckley
Listen back here.
The Lyric Feature on RTÉ lyric fm presents the premiere of a new opera by composer Irene Buckley, with lyrics by poet Vona Groarke.
Lament for Art O’Leary takes its inspiration from the poem Chaoineadh Airt Uí Laoghaire, composed by Eibhlín Dubh Ní Chonaill in 1773, following the murder of her husband. It has been described as ‘the greatest poem written on these islands in the 18th century.’
The Lyric Feature begins with a short feature in which Claire Cunningham looks back at the origins of the poem with Professor Angela Bourke, and hears how Vona Groarke approached writing her own version of the poem in English, which was published in 2008 by The Gallery Press.
That publication in turn inspired composer Irene Buckley to compose her first ever opera, leading ultimately to a recording of the complete work, which took place in Studio One of the RTÉ Radio Centre in Donnybrook, featuring soloists Emma Nash in the role of Eibhlín Dubh Ni Chonaill and Kim Sheehan as Art’s sister, singers from Chamber Choir Ireland, and the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, conducted by Gavin Moloney.
The recording producer for the opera is Laoise O’Brien, sound supervision by Gar Duffy, and the producer for RTÉ lyric fm is Eoin O’Kelly.
The introductory programme to the opera is presented and produced by Claire Cunningham (Rockfinch Ltd).
LIVE PERFORMANCE
The opera had its first live performance at the National Concert Hall on Sunday 6th April 2025 as part of the New Music Dublin 2025 Festival and broadcast live on RTÉ lyric fm.