First Shared Music of Dalriada performance

The Good Relations and Museum Services project is part of a programme that has seen Carey Historical Society, Glens of Antrim Comhaltas, Glens of Antrim Historical Society, and Rathlin Development Community Association come together to understand and embrace their sense of identity and cultural heritage.

The initial aim was to bring young musicians from the Glens of Antrim Comhaltas and the Mull of Kintyre Music Festival to Rathlin Island to explore their shared musical traditions. Due to the onset of the pandemic, this wasn’t possible and instead the project quickly adapted to

new social circumstances and moved online, with participants recording themselves at home and producing joint virtual performances.

Miss McLeod’s Reel is the first of three pieces that the young people have worked on together, chosen for its traditional popularity on both sides of the water. The beautiful production is available to watch now on the NI Archive website by going to www.niarchive.org/projectitems/shared-music-of-dalriada-miss-mcleods-reel/

The remaining performances in the series will be released in the New Year, to coincide with Burns Night in January and Irish Language Week in March.

The project is funded by Council Good Relations programme, supported by The NI Executive Office.