19.01.2015
New North Dublin Music Project Will Help Reconnect With Humanity, Minister Says
A new music project launched by All Saints’ Church, Raheny, aims to contribute to the social and cultural fabric of north Dublin and to the lives of young people. The Ardilaun Music Project was launched yesterday evening (Sunday January 18) by Minister of State Aodhán Ó Ríordán during a wonderful concert in the church marking the centenary of Arthur Edward Guinness, Lord Ardilaun.
The concert was attended by Archbishop Michael Jackson, Dean Victor Stacey and members of the parish and wider community. The programme featured performances by renowned Irish harpist, Anne–Marie O’Farrell, the UCD Choral Scholars directed by Dr Desmond Earley and organist Donna Magee and her brothers Darren and Declan.
Lord Ardilaun, a great grandson of Arthur Guinness, was a businessman, politician and philanthropist. He is best known for giving St Stephen’s Green to the people of Dublin. He also provided for the building of All Saint’s Church, where he and his wife were laid to rest.
Continuing the public spirited nature of Lord Ardilaun, the parish, led by the rector, the Revd Norman McCausland, has launched the Ardilaun Music Project. Through concerts and recitals of all genres of music, choral workshops and jam sessions and by encouraging new artists and new composition, the project aims to contribute socially and culturally to the area and to the lives of young people.
Programmes will be inclusive and accessible and the organisers will seek ways to include those who are struggling financially. As an active and growing parish, part of the programme will be in the area of liturgy and worship. Dr Desmond Earley of the UCD School of Music and Lt Col Mark Armstrong, director of the Defence Forces School of Music will act as advisors to the project.
Launching the project Minster Ó Ríordán said that the culture of Ireland had been denuded in recent years but music and the arts could help address this.
“Over the last few years we have denuded our sense of humanity and monetised everything. Rather than talking about ourselves as citizens, we saw ourselves as taxpayers. Even now we are talking about growth in the economy and not about growing in humanity. We need to reconnect with humanity in this country. The project that the Revd McCausland has put so much energy behind to open up music to young people of the area is so important because we need to connect as human beings and music and the arts help us to connect,” he stated.
Photo: Dr Desmond Earley, Minister of State Aodhán Ó Ríordá, Anne–Marie O’Farrell and the Revd Norman McCausland. (Photo: Leo George Devitt)
[More photographs from the concert have been posted on the Dublin and Glendalough Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/DublinandGlendalough]