The Irish Traditional Music Archive (ITMA) is committed to providing free, universal access to the rich cultural tradition of Irish music, song and dance. If you’re able, we’d love for you to consider a donation. Any level of support will help us preserve and grow this tradition for future generations.
On Thursday, 24 September 2015, colleagues and friends gathered, in 73 Merrion Square, to mark the recent retirement of Nicholas Carolan, founding Director of ITMA. We hope these photographs convey to you the warmth & respect which were so evident during this wonderful occasion.
The evening began with speeches from Sheila Pratschke, Chair of the Arts Council; Dermot McLaughlin, Chair of ITMA; Fintan Vallely; Grace Toland, ITMA Director, and Nicholas himself. These were followed by the presentation of a fiddle bow on a custom-made plinth, made by Steffen Kuhnla and Dermot Toland, respectively.
Tunes and songs from Dermot McLaughlin, Paddy Glackin, Deirdre Hurley, Éanna Drury, Sinéad Ní Charthaigh and Grace Toland, were a fitting sound track for the evening … as well as the voices of so many friends and colleagues genuinely delighted to have the opportunity to thank Nicholas for his outstanding contribution to the traditional arts in Ireland and internationally.
The photographs featured in the gallery were taken by Dónal Glackin.
