Feis Ceoil: Irish Musical Festival 1897

The ESB Feis Ceoil is an Irish institution. Founded in 1896 to counteract the neglect of music development in this country, the ESB Feis Ceoil continues to thrive as the country’s foremost competition for young classical music talent. Each year, the ESB Feis Ceoil features over 5000 competitors, representing all 32 counties, taking part in over 185 separate competitions over a fortnight of events. A roll call of former competitors includes James Joyce and Count John McCormack, alongside more contemporary names such as pianist John O’Connor, Regina Nathan, Cara O’Sullivan and even comedian Risteard Cooper.

A Doris/Magee Production for RTE Presented in association with ESB Directed by Derek O'Connor & Ian Whelan Produced by Tanya White For the first time, Feis Ceoil: By Numbers takes an intimate behind the scenes look at the ESB Feis Ceoil, offering an illuminating portrait of the next generation of young Irish classical talent, as they compete for Feis Glory. We experience the exhilarating Choir Of The Year competition, glimpse the rigorous adjudication process through the eyes of first-time adjudicator (and popular singer and composer) Julie Feeney, and are granted a rare audience backstage with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, as they play host to the ESB Feis Ceoil’s first ever Young Conductor competition. As with the ESB Feis Ceoil itself, however, this is a film about the musicians themselves, showcasing a series of performances from a variety of extraordinary young talent. Filmmakers Derek O’Connor and Ian Whelan recently won a 2014 Celtic Media Award for their acclaimed TG4 documentary Ponydance: An Scannán: here they apply their unique sensibility to an oft-unsung Irish institution, for a film by turns funny, touching and – above all else – gloriously musical.