The Ceol na n-Óg Orchestra

Ceol na nÓg folk orchestra for teenagers was established in August 2021 and currently has over seventy of the region’s finest young teenage traditional musicians. The aim of the orchestra is to provide a music orchestra opportunity for teenagers playing traditional music in County Sligo and neighbouring counties, to work with expert musicians, perform in an orchestra and support musical development for young people. There are currently over 70 young traditional musicians in the orchestra from County Sligo, with some musicians from Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Donegal, Longford, Galway & Fermanagh. Stephen Doherty, composer and musician has been commissioned to write a new suite for the orchestra during 2023-2024 entitled ‘The North-West Suite’.  

To date the orchestra has been involved in a number of collaborations and performances, since it was established in 2021. The orchestra meets twice a month during the academic year and are working with Stephen Doherty as music director since Sep 2022. Orchestra co-ordinators are June McCormack & Seamus McCormack.

Upcoming Performances for Ceol na nÓg 2024

·      17 Mar 2024- Collaboration with Sligo Academy Orchestra & Performance as part of Sligo Bid’s St. Patrick’s Festival

·      Sat May 25th 2024- Collaboration concert Ceol na nÓg & Singer Sean Keane in the Hawks Well Theatre Sligo

·      Premiere of new suite ‘The North West Suite’ in Oct 2024/ Nov 2024, Supported by The Arts Council     

Previous Performances have included;

·     Fri Nov 10th 2023- Performance at The John Egan Festival Concert in Ballintogher, Co. Sligo

·     29th  Oct 2023- Performance as part of Sligo Live Festival

·     22nd Oct 2023- Performance in Sligo Abbey as part of Culture night- Collaboration with Music Generation Sligo

·      June 1st 2023- Sold out concert with singer Sean Keane, in The Hawks Well Sligo

·      May 7th 2023 -Music Generation Sligo collaboration with Ceol na nÓg orchestra. Video and audio recording of the project https://youtu.be/6_vZwrlVD48?si=98lcNb9jpMgzZZIO

·      31st March 2023- Public performance/concert in Ballintogher, Co, Sligo.

·      Oct 1st 2022-Performance at Gala concert in Sligo town https://youtu.be/YzMpa09mD5U

·      Nov 2021-Performance at the John Egan Music Festival in Ballintogher