Walk with Me
Walk with Me was composed by Clíodhna Donnellan. It was written for and premiered during Mountshannon Culture Night 2024. The theme of the evening was Harmony. And harmony it was.
The near extinction of the breeding waders in the Sliabh Aughties is used here as a metaphor for world displacement and our human desire to live in harmony with each other and nature.
Keyboard - Johnny O’Brien
Soloist - Patsy Coyne
Singers from The East Clare Community Choir, The Lough Derg Singers, Laykle National School - Whitegate, Iniscealtra National School - Mountshannon, Whitegate Church Choir, Mountshannon Church Choir
Video Gabrian Van Houdt
Clíodhna Donnellan
Clíodhna Donnellan is an Irish traditional musician, producer, curator and creative arts facilitator living and working in her native East Clare. She has been involved in the creative arts sector for over 20 years. Clíodhna has curated multi-disciplinary events with the support of Clare County Councils, in collaboration with Mountshannon Arts Festival and coordinated the Mountshannon Trad Festival that ran from 2010-2019. She released her debut album in 2020 entitled "Beneath the Hedgerow". Clíodhna continues to perform music and is working on newly composed material.
One of her compositions has been published in Faber Music publication released May 5th, 2023 entitled "Folk Tunes from the Women", a first publication of 150 tunes by 100 female composers across Britain and Ireland. Since 2020, Clíodhna has been based at her residence situated in the Slieve Aughty Mountain protected area of East Clare overlooking Iniscealtra (Holy Island), on Lough Derg where she offers in person and online music tuition and music workshop weekends. Clíodhna focuses on a holistic approach to arts practice. She draws on her native landscape and environment as a source of inspiration for her personal and creative work. Clíodhna is on the peer panel of the Arts Council of Ireland, is a tutor with Music Generation Clare and is a mentor with Minding Creative Minds.
Patricia Coyne
Patricia Coyne considers herself fortunate as having moved back to Ireland after living in France for two decades, she found herself in East Clare and singing with John O'Brien and the East Clare Community Choir.
In the distant past, she has performed with Christ Church Cathedral Choir, the RTE Philharmonic Choir, and Monkstown Chamber Choir. Also Les Chant'relles, an all female choir and Via Musica in France. Patricia recently discovered the joy of participating in musicals and is now a member of the East Clare Musical Society.
Her first love remains choral music and enjoys the challenge of performing small solos from within a choir.
