Lá na Cruite 2023 | Harp Day Celebration: Double Bill: Michael Rooney and June McCormack & Dordán
Evenings of traditional music don’t get much better than spending your time in the company of harp and flute duet, Michael Rooney and June McCormack and the inimitable Galway based group, Dordán.
glór and Harp Ireland are delighted to co-present this unique double bill showcasing the incredible talents of Michael Rooney and Kathleen Loughnane on the harp as part of this year’s national Lá na Cruite| Harp Day celebrations.
Husband and wife, Michael Rooney and June McCormack, from Monaghan and Sligo respectively, have substantial musical credentials both individually, and as a duo, including major awards and three acclaimed recordings. They have toured extensively throughout the States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Galway group Dordán are renowned for breathing new life into Ireland’s rich musical heritage by intricately and creatively weaving together traditional and baroque styles. Colouring Dordán’s unmistakable sound is the renowned tin whistle playing of Mary Bergin, extraordinary virtuosity of master harper, Kathleen Loughnane, classical and traditional fusion of styles in Derbhaill Standún’s fiddle playing and stunning vocals of Martina Goggin.
The marriage of harp and flute is a celestial one and in the hands of musicians, Michael Rooney and June McCormack, it’s a life union that results in the most intuitive, subtle and sensitive interpretations of tunes old and new.” Siobhan Long
Husband and wife, Michael Rooney and June McCormack, from Monaghan and Sligo respectively, have substantial musical credentials both individually, and as a duo, including major awards and three acclaimed recordings. They have toured extensively throughout the States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Together as Draíocht, Michael Rooney and June McCormack have recorded three CDs: ‘Draíocht’, ‘Land’s End’ & ‘Tobar an Cheoil’.
June Mc Cormack comes from Ballintogher, Co Sligo and was recipient of the TG4 Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award in 1998. A primary school teacher by profession, June has published two Irish flute tutorials ‘Fliuit’, ‘Fliuit 2’ and most recently, ‘The Book of Sligo Tunes’. Originally from Scotstown, Co. Monaghan and now resident in Sligo, Michael’s output as a composer is impressive and includes four publications of recent suites, as well as thirteen major suites for harp and ensemble or orchestra. Among the highlights of his recent orchestral and ensemble compositions are ‘The Ulster Suite (2022), Clairseoireacht (2022), ‘Constance’ (Feb 2020), The Famine Suite (2019), The De Cuellar Suite (2011), The Reconciliation Suite (2015) and The Macalla Suite (2016).
Galway group Dordán are renowned for breathing new life into Ireland’s rich musical heritage by intricately and creatively weaving together traditional and baroque styles. Having toured extensively, their experience both as performers and music teachers, is reflected in their imaginative interpretation of the music they perform.
Colouring Dordán’s unmistakable sound is the playing of Dublin-born, Mary Bergin. The Spiddal resident is recognised as one of the world’s best tin-whistle players by music enthusiasts from all over the world.
Extraordinary virtuosity is also readily apparent in the musicianship of Tipperary-born, Kathleen Loughnane, a master harper who renders ancient airs and fast-paced intricately difficult dance tunes with equal and incredibly dexterous ease. Derbhaill Standún’s fiddle playing reflects both her classical upbringing and traditional background, and her insight into the great songs and airs of the sean nos singing style. Martina Goggin, vocalist with the group, is a native of Limerick, now living in Spiddal. Her singing of both English and Irish songs is mainly in the traditional idiom and she also plays percussion and guitar with the Group.
Dordán have won widespread acclaim for their unique sound in traditional Irish music which was referred to by one US music critic as “music unlike any other in Ireland today – a culmination of taste, touch and talent, spanning the traditional and the classical with unsurpassed elegance and imagination.”
