The current climate of economic turbulence sent a ripple of concern through many arts organisations, including ours. Therefore, it was a great relief and joy when KBC Bank Ireland (formerly IIB Bank) unhesitatingly kept faith with us, enabling Ireland’s oldest chamber music festival to take to the roads again this June. Long-time highlight of the Irish summer music calendar, the renamed KBC Music in Great Irish Houses Festival will run from June 7th to 13th this year.
As we go forward into our 40th year, we are, as ever committed to presenting world-class musicians, outside the usual concert hall setting, in the unique surroundings of historic houses and buildings. This year’s artists hail from Austria, China, France, Germany, Latvia, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Switzerland, the UK and of course, Ireland and will perform in Killruddery House (Co. Wicklow), Beaulieu House (Drogheda), Fota House (Cork), Castletown House (Celbridge) and The National Gallery of Ireland. We are thrilled to be returning to Emo Court, Laois after a long gap, for the first concert in the 2009 Festival. We are all hoping for good weather, as the sumptuous grounds of some of these historic buildings are ideal for al-fresco summer picnics before the musical feast indoors. Castletown House has pre-concert suppers in the new West Wing Restaurant.
Like many other arts projects, we fell victim to recent cutbacks, which means that our development/outreach programme had to be put on ice. However, we have not rested on our laurels. Adversity often breeding creativity, our Artistic Director, Ciara Higgins is looking forward to introducing our new project for young emerging Irish musicians and ensembles, “Support Act”: another way of making things happen, or in the immortal words of President Obama, “Is feidir linn”.
We are deeply grateful to our title sponsor, KBC Bank whose management and personnel have encouraged and supported us in many ways, we are gratified that a heartening number of other loyal support sponsors have also stayed the course. Our on-going co-operation with RTÉ lyric fm is rewarding and the association with related Embassies is invaluable. The interest shown by Minister Martin Cullen, the Dept. Of Arts, Sports and Tourism and Failte Ireland is much appreciated. We thank the house owners who open their own homes to the Festival and the National Gallery of Ireland, The Office of Public Works and Heritage Ireland for facilitating our concerts.
Finally, a big thank you to our Classic and House Friends for their loyal support and let us hope you will be
with us to celebrate our Ruby Anniversary next year.
LAURIE CEARR, General Manager