Published: Wednesday, 4th August, 2010 5:00pm

Original music composition to be performed at Sunday mass

Eileen Tackney.

Professional musician, Eileen Tackney, was commissioned by the Fleadh Executive Committee to write an original composition for performance at 11.30am mass (aifreann Gaeilge) in the Cathedral Of Ss. Patrick And Felim in Cavan town.

Apart from a few basic pointers, including that the composition would have to be suitable for performance in a church and be entirely "as Gaeilge", Eileen was given a free reign.

"The first thing I had to think about was the text. Initially I looked at old Irish blessings, but it was difficult to find something appropriate for the religious setting," explains Eileen. "In the end I chose Sé Do Bheatha A Mhuire. I always liked the Hail Mary as a prayer."

The piece Eileen has composed is for a solo voice, a choir, uilleann pipes, piano accordion, organ, piano and strings.

Eileen, a native of Maudabawn in Co. Cavan, is musical director for the choir at the cathedral, playing the organ for Sunday mass.

For the aifreann Gaeilge on August 22, all hymns will be "as Gaeilge" and Eileen will arrange them especially to suit the bigger than usual range of instruments she will have available to her in the cathedral.

The musicians performing Eileen's Sé Do Bheatha A Mhuire include Padraig McGovern on uilleann pipes, Ciaran Tackney on piano accordion, Breege and Lisa Geoghan and Emer O'Reilly on strings; Aoife Murray will be the solo singer, with the cathedral choir also singing.

The McGovern family will also be playing for other hymns during mass.

Eileen says she is looking forward to the mass.

"It's exciting and, really, it was an honour to be asked to compose this piece.

"My background is in traditional Irish music and I don't get to use it much," says the composer.

• Aifreann Gaeilge in the Cathedral Of Ss. Patrick And Felim at 11.30am on Sunday, August 22, will be broadcast live on RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta at 92-94fm.