Blarin' o the green!

On behalf of President and Mrs. Obama, the White House has extended an invitation to the National Chamber Choir of Ireland, to perform at the St. Patrick’s Day reception at the White House in Washington DC this year. The program will include the world premiere performance of Gné na Gaeltachta by Irish composer Bill Whelan which was written specially for the occasion.

The National Chamber Choir of Ireland (left) is the country’s premier vocal ensemble and has received plaudits from audiences and critics alike from around the world. The conductor for this very special performance will be young Irish choral director Orla Flanagan.

The Choir is currently on the crest of a wave with an exciting diary of national events for the year, a recent CD release (One Day Fine) on lyric fm, another to follow in the autumn on harmonia mundi and international work involving two visits to the US – the first being this Washington trip.

On March 17, the Choir will perform at the St. Patrick’s Day Reception at the White House in the presence of President and Mrs. Obama. The St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations at the White House will also involve the Taoiseach presenting the U.S. President with a Waterford crystal bowl filled with shamrock, in a longstanding tradition celebrating the friendship between Ireland and America.