PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release -23 October 2018
JOIN THE VIRTUAL TRAD ORCHESTRA AT HAWK’S WELL THEATRE AND PERFORM WITH MAURA O’CONNELL DURING FLEADH CHEOIL 2015
The Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo has launched details of an innovative Irish Traditional Musical project that will bring together musicians from all over the world, digitally, to perform the ballad ‘The Salley Gardens’.
The Virtual Trad Orchestra was launched on Sunday 14th June during the celebration of Téada’s World Premiere‘Where Benbulben Sets The Scene’ at the Hawk’s Well Theatre.
The Virtual Trad Orchestra is a ground breaking initiative that will premiere as part of the theatre’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann celebrations.
This innovative and ambitious multi-media project will demonstrate the worldwide popularity of Irish traditional music. Open to one and all, musicians and singers worldwide are invited to join in this ground-breaking project and perform the quintessential Sligo anthem ‘Down by the Salley Gardens’.
Participants will upload their musical contribution to the internet and the Hawk’s Well will curate all the submissions into one spectacular collaborative performance. In this live musical extravaganza the world’s finest traditional musicians will be joined digitally by musicians from all over the world, accompanied by stunning visual projections.
Join international singing sensation Maura O’Connell and the worlds’ finest traditional musicians in a performance of the Sligo anthem ‘Down by the Salley Gardens’. Some musicians involved with the project to date include Liam Kelly on flute, TolaCusty, OisínMacDiarmada and Patsy Reid on fiddle, Joanie Madden on whistle, Jos Kelly and Alan Kelly on accordion and Rick Epping on concertina, Ed Boyd on guitar, Anna Houston on cello with Kieran Quinn on piano and conducting. Premiering on the 16th of August at FleadhCheoil 2015, this will be a true celebration of modern Irish culture in Sligo.
Full details on how to join the Virtual Trad Orchestra are available online from
How to get involved:
Visit and click on Virtual Trad Orchestra.
Visit ‘Take Part’ to select your instrument or voice part. Follow the online tutorial, download the score and rehearse your contribution.
Record your performance using a video and audio recording device.
Upload your contribution by July 27th 2015.
The Hawk’s Well Theatre will curate the submissions into one spectacular collaborative performance, premiering August 16th 2015 during FleadhCheoilnahÉireann.
You will now be part of the world’s first Virtual Trad Orchestra!
For further information contact Maeve McGowan, Marketing Manager, Hawk’s Well Theatre, Sligo, 071 916 1518