Young traditional Irish musicians perform on an internatonal stage in Sitges, Barcelona

20 young musicians from Music Generation Carlow and Laois travelled to Sitges, Barcelona over the October bank holiday weekend to perform at the Creative Connexions Festival 2016.

Ten traditional Irish musicians from each region took part in this exciting international performance opportunity, including members of Reelig from Music Generation Carlow and the Music Generation Laois Trad Group. Together they treated Irish and international audiences to a series of vibrant sets and tunes, as well as taking part in workshops and attending performances where they had an opportunity to make valuable cross-cultural connections.

The traditional groups from Laois and Carlow have previously performed at local and national events including Electric Picnic, Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann and Music @ Mount Leinster. They showcased their skills playing instruments including harp, flute, pipes, bodhrán, fiddle and more at the Creative Connexions gig rig, the Youth Kaleidescope Stage and other venues.

From Carlow the performers were Katie Brennan, Colm Broderick, Meadbh Broderick, Jack Gladney, Oisín Byrne, Conor McDermott, Shane Nolan, Thomas O’Donoghue, Eoin Quirke and Senan Shorthall.

The Music Generation Laois Trad Group featured Sarah Bennett, Jessica Bennett, Róisín Cunningham, Isobel Donnery, Molly Donnery, Tara Fahey, Caoimhe Fitzpatrick, Fiadh Fitzpatrick, Caragh La Cumber and Kate McDonald.

Taking place over four days, from 27 – 30 October 2016, the Creative Connexions Festival is a celebration of Irish and Catalan traditional music, literature, poetry and art. Now in its fourth year, the festival brought together 300+ world-class performers, artists and musicians from Ireland and Catalonia for a dynamic programme of concerts, workshops, exhibitions, outdoor spectacles and many free events.

The young musicians from Carlow and Laois were programmed alongside renowned professionals including dancer Colin Dunne and musicians Daire Bracken, Ellen Cranitch, Desi Wilkinson and Brian Fleming.

To read more about the Creative Connexions Festival, Sitges, and to view the full 2016 programme visit creative-connexions.eu.

For further information about this and other Music Generation programmes and projects in Carlow and Laois contact -

Music Generation Laois
t: +353 57 8664176
e: musicgenerationlaois@laoiscoco.ie
www.musicgenerationlaois.ie

Music Generation Carlow
t: +353 59 9138560
e: abyrne@kcetb.ie
musicgenerationcarlow.ie