Photo from left: Ged Palmer, Marianne Campbell, Padraig Hyland, Her Excellency Mary McAleese, Dr Martin McAleese, Fiodhna Hyland, Mick Giblin, St. John Kelliher, Micheal Martin.
The words that Her Excellency Mary Mc Aleese, The President of Ireland, used to describe Inis Oirr’s performance at the Emirates Palace Hotel, Abu Dhabi. At the invitation of the Irish Ambassador, Mr Tom Russell, Inis Oirr opened the reception with two selections of jigs and reels and the beautiful slow air “Ar Eireann Ni Neosfainn Ce Hi”. Accompanied by her husband Dr Martin Mc Aleese and the Minister of Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin, the President met with the Irish Community and their friends who had gathered to welcome her to Abu Dhabi.
The President thanked all those who were involved in the organisation of the event and had some special words for Inis Oirr:
“Our music travels so lightly and so easily and it’s wonderful, isn’t it, to be in the company of the great music that we had from Inis Oirr – weren’t they absolutely first class, just stunning.”
Here is the music that Inis Oirr played at a reception for the President of Ireland, at the Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi.
Jigs: Haleys
Air: Ar Eireann Ni Neosfainn Ce Hi
Reels: The Green Mountain, Cooleys
The President announced the opening of an Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi and commended Irish people around the world for their sense of community, curiosity and friendship that they develop and maintain no matter where they are.
Watch the report of the President’s Visit to the UAE from TG4, Ireland’s Irish Language TV station, broadcast on 4th February. It includes a short snippet of Inis Oirr’s performance.
