Tonnta na hEorpa
The Embassy was delighted to host a celebration of traditional Irish music, song and dance at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music on Monday 14 September.
The stage-show, Tonnta na hEorpa, highlighted the extraordinary skill of the visiting artists – six musicians and a dancer - along with the beauty and complexity of the instruments themselves. Tonnta na hEorpa also highlighted European influences over the centuries.
As Ambassador-designate Jonathan Conlon said on the night “Ireland’s culture really is European culture,” with the event forming part of the cultural programme of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Organised in conjunction with the Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA), its Director, Liam O’Connor, described how the music was “in conversation with Europe”.
Beginning with each individual musician playing a solo tune or two on their chosen instruments, the evening culminated with all the musicians joining together for a few pieces, including a rousing rendition of O'Neill's March. Even without the hint, more than a few in the audience would have recognised the tune from Italia ’90.
A sustained standing ovation encouraged the musicians back on stage for an encore. A small reception afterwards, where the musicians mingled with the Irish community, diplomats, government officials and friends was a wonderful ending to a wonderful evening. A small group of Polish-Irish trad musicians invited them to a session in a nearby pub. You could see the temptation, but they had a train to catch the next morning, bright and early.
