Midland Arts and Culture Magazine | SPRING 2013

2,000 turn out
in Tullamore for
Anthem of Hope
On a cold Sunday in January,
musician Brendan Keeley
brought over 2,000 people to
Offaly to sing a new anthem
of hope for Ireland.
Despite the awful weather, over 2,000
people turned out at O'Connor Park in
Tullamore on Sunday, January 27 to
record their voices onto the single, We
Will be Strong composed by Tullamore
singer/ songwriter Brendan Keeley.
Speaking of his intention for the anthem,
Brendan said: “The anthem has been
created to bring alive the message of
hope in the people of Ireland and to
awaken the sense of survival that lies
deep within the Irish people, but has
sadly been lost in all the talk of
recession and ‘doom and gloom.’”
Brendan spent the weeks leading up
to the project, traveling to 82 schools
across the Midlands teaching the song
to children.
“Given the day that was in it with wind
whipping up the stadium, I thought if we
get 100 we will be lucky, and for people
Song for Ireland – Brendan Keeley
in Geashill National School
to come out and bring small children in
that weather was just great."
Tullamore Gospel Choir kicked off the
bitterly cold afternoon with rousing
choruses and soon after Brendan was
introduced to the crowds by special guest
Henry Healy, who had just returned from
the inauguration of his eight cousin
President Barack Obama.
Brendan's eldest son Sam Keeley who is
an up and coming film actor, currently
starring in the popular TV series Raw was
on hand to lend his support to the project,
much to the delight of the younger
female audience!
The song was mixed at Brytestar
Productions in Carlow by Brian Sheil
who was nominated for Best Producer
at the World Music Awards in London in
February. The single is now on sale with
all profits going to St. Vincent de Paul. M
For more information please see
www.brendankeeley.com
Laois-born Declan
McGovern has been
appointed General
Manager of RTÉ
National Symphony
Orchestra following his
position as Chief
Executive of the Ulster
Orchestra.
ORCHESTRATING A MOVE SOUTH
RTÉ recently announced the appointment
and he took up the position on a fulltime
basis on January 1, 2013.
As General Manager, Declan will have
overall responsibility for the artistic,
organisational and financial
management of Ireland’s premier
symphony orchestra.
Declan was appointed Chief Executive
of the Ulster Orchestra in November
2010, a position he held until March
2012 when on secondment from his
current position as Executive Producer,
BBC Northern Ireland. Previous roles
include Editor, Music, BBC Northern
Ireland and Senior Producer, Classic FM.
Declan grew up in County Laois and is a
BMus (Hons) graduate from University
College Cork.
As Chief Executive with the Ulster
Orchestra, Declan was instrumental in
appointing a new Principal Conductor,
re-establishing the Ulster Orchestra’s
recordings with Naxos, securing new
sponsors, negotiating a new contract
with the musicians and establishing
strategic business partnerships with the
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce
and the Belfast Telegraph.
Artistic partnerships included a joint
performance with the Ulster Orchestra
and the Ulster Youth Orchestra at the
BBC Proms in London, a collaboration
between the Ulster Orchestra and the
RTÉ Concert Orchestra for the London
2012 Cultural Olympiad, and an annual
concert celebrating the music of
Scotland and Northern Ireland with the
support of the Ulster Scots Agency.
At BBC Northern Ireland he instigated
the annual open air Proms in the Park,
established a series of St Patrick’s Day
concerts in collaboration with Belfast
City Council, commissioned 15 new
works from Irish composers, produced
TV programmes on Leonard Bernstein,
Steve Reich and The Chieftains and won
awards for his radio biography on Yehudi
Menuhin and a documentary for BBC
Radio 3 on the role of music inside the
Maze Prison.
Speaking of his appointment, Declan
McGovern said: “The RTÉ National
Symphony Orchestra is a national
cultural treasure. It has played a major
role in professional music-making in
Ireland and in providing important
platforms for Irish soloists and composers
and international artists. Great economic
and social challenges face us in Ireland
today. The RTÉ NSO is a reminder of
all that is great and strong in Ireland’s
cultural fabric. I look forward to working
closely with the orchestra and with
colleagues in RTÉ to help steer its
journey over the years ahead.”
Welcoming his appointment, Séamus
Crimmins, Executive Director, RTÉ
Orchestras, Quartet and Choirs said:
“I am delighted that Declan has
accepted the post of General Manager,
RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra.
Declan’s experience in radio, television,
orchestral management and business
position him well for the challenges
which the orchestra faces. The RTÉ
NSO has a unique position within Irish
cultural life and I know that Declan will
build on its artistic strengths whilst
fulfilling the full range of RTÉ’s public
service obligations.” M
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