Oriel Connects Us-Oirialla Thugann Sinn le Chéile, the Omeath-Lislea Partnership, organised a well-attended Sunday Afternoon Concert in the Dolmen Centre Omeath. The rafters were festooned with Autumnal bunting, the atmosphere was welcoming and the line-up various. Niamh Noade, the Girl with the Harp, opened the event with a rendition of “My Belfast Love”, composed by Finbar Magee, moved on to the lovely Irish language song “Coinleach Glas an Fhómhair”, elicited audience participation with “The Hills of South Armagh” by Briege Murphy, before finishing with one of her own favourites “Halcyon” by Blu Eyes, a song she has recently recorded and will be released on 14th November 2025.
Fiddle player Audrey Trainor from Omeath, with Aindriú Mac Aonghusa on guitar and Barra Ó Maolagáin on the bodhrán, embedded themselves on stage amidst the members of the Oriel Traditional Orchestra and played a mix of tunes that included a slow air called The Ashoken Farewell, followed by Inisheer, The Swallows Tail and The Reconcilation.
The Oriel Traditional Orchestra itself, led by Musical Directors Daithí Kearney, Adèle Commins and Noreen McManus (Chair and Musical Director), clearly enjoyed their opportunity to play before a full house. Their programme included medleys of famous Oriel tunes as culled from diverse collections with some new compositions of their own. They opened their programme with an arrangement of an old set dance that they got from the Siamsa Céilí Band of Dundalk, and finished with a composition by a founding member of the Siamsa, Brian O’Kane from Ballybay, Co. Monaghan and his wonderful march ‘The Shores of Lough Major.’ All musicians joined the reprise and got a standing ovation. It was an afternoon of traditional entertainment that brought cross-border communities together and showcased some amazing local talent.
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