Photo story: Energy in the room as Feis Ceoil comes to Dublin
More than 180 contestants compete over the week-long festival of music
Deirdre Liu (17) from Foxrock rehearses her violin piece before competing for the Terry O'Connor Trophy in the Strings section of the annual Feis Ceoi. Photo: Bryan O’Brien / The Irish Times
I don’t play an instrument, but I wish I did. As a small boy my mother sent me to piano classes. She used to say that one day I would be at a party and there would be a piano in the room; I would play and become the life and soul of that party. This has never happened.
I hated the lessons. I am impatient. I dislike repetition and nuns who use metal rulers on knuckles as teaching aids. I eventually refused to go. I don’t regret this, but do envy those committed to the considerable discipline of learning to play an instrument. It amazes me that a piece of wood with strings attached, or a metal tube with holes drilled in it, can produce such beautiful sounds.
Iona Wu (16) from Dundrum on violin at the annual Feis Ceoil. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times
Charlotte Ryan (13) from Kildare rehearses before competing for the Terry O'Connor Trophy in the Strings section of the annual Feis Ceoil. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times
Elizabeth Troup (16) from Swords rehearses with her cello before competing for the Terry O'Connor Trophy in the Strings section of the annual Feis Ceoi. Photo: Bryan O’Brien / The Irish Times
Mark Rijal (left) from Tallaght and Cormac Mac Canna from Sutton at DCU/ All Hallows in Dublin’s Drumcondra to take part in the annual Feis Ceoil. Photo: Bryan O’Brien / The Irish Times
Lily Yang (13) rehearses before competing at DCU/ All Hallows in Dublin’s Drumcondra in the annual Feis Ceoil. Photo: Bryan O’Brien / The Irish Times
I hear these sounds as I walk into Purcell House at the DCU All Hallows campus. People are tuning up and rehearsing in advance of competing in the summer Feis Ceoil, a weeklong festival of more than 180 contests, attracting participants from around our island, aged from seven years.
I don’t photograph during the competitions but gravitate towards the rehearsal spaces. There’s energy in these rooms. People are studying their music, concentrating in advance of competing, or unwinding post-competition.
Members of The Ramparts choir with conductor Ruaidhri Ó Dálaigh (right) rehearsing at the DCU All Hallows campus in for the annual Feis Ceoil. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times
The Ramparts choir with conductor Ruaidhri Ó Dálaigh compete in the chapel at the All Hallows campus. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times
Ava Duffy (18) from Dingle, Co Kerry rehearses on piano before taking part in the John Benson Memorial Cup section of the annual Feis Ceoil. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien/The Irish Times
Members of The Ramparts choir with conductor Ruaidhri Ó Dálaigh rehearse at DCU/All Hallows in Drumcondra, Dublin. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien
Charlotte Ryan (13) from Kildare rehearses before competing for the Terry O'Connor Trophy in the Strings section. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien
Conductor Eimear Crehan (right) rehearses with the SUSO choir (Speak Up, Sing Out) from Kilcock ahead of competing at DCU/ All Hallows in the annual Feis Ceoil. Photo: Bryan O’Brien / The Irish Times
Dara O'Dwyer (19) from KIldare checks her music before singing in the Senior Musical Theatre / R & R Award category of the annual Feis Ceoil. Photo: Bryan O’Brien / The Irish Times
Though most performances are individual, there is a team spirit. People know each other from classes and the competition circuit. Of course there are medals and cups. But, to me, the bigger prize seems to be the ability to make beautiful music, to be the life and soul of one’s own party.
