Culture Night 2026 with Music Generation
Celebrate culture, creativity and the arts with Music Generation this Culture Night 2026.
Musician and composer Martin Tourish was commissioned to create a 20 minute suite of music inspired by the life of Colonel James Fitzmaurice in collaboration with the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra.
Colonel James Fitzmaurice was a pioneering aviator from Portlaoise who was part of the first successful transatlantic aircraft flight from East to West in 1928.
This young group of musicians have worked with Martin in a highly collaborative way to create new music together during the pandemic. The orchestra auditioned online for new members during lockdown, and increased in numbers from 23 members to 76, with new musicians joining from different parts of Ireland, north and south, from Armagh to Cork.
Members then composed music with Martin using zoom calls, youtube videos, emails, audio files.
The project's development has unearthed many intriguing parallels between our current challenges, and those faced by Fitzmaurice in his lifetime.
'The Impossible Dream' is a short film, presented by Music Generation Laois for Culture Night 2020.
Directed, shot, and edited by Naoise Kettle
Music recorded, mixed, and mastered by Martin Tourish
Music: 'The Princess Xenia' composed by Martin Tourish and the Music Generation Laois Trad Orchestra
Location: Limetree Airfield, Emo, County Laois
Orchestra Team: Siobhan Buckley (Director) and Dale McKay
Supported by the Arts Office and Heritage Office of Laois County Council and Creative Ireland Laois as part of the Creative Ireland Programme (2018-2022) in partnership with Laois County Council.
