World renowned musician to deliver workshops reflected on World War 1

The workshop will showcase a new musical performance by Tracey McRory and will also focus on her own connections to World War One and the story of the many thousands of Irish men and women who served in it.

Tracey has been composing music and songs about The Great War for almost 20 years. Her most well-known song, “John Condon”, which she co-wrote with Richard Laird and Sam Starrett, tells the story of a young Waterford soldier who at 14 was the youngest soldier known to have died in World War 1. She has performed many times at the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium and together with Richard Laird was commissioned in 2017 by The Office of the Northern Ireland Executive and the Irish Government to compose and perform ‘The Messines Suite’ for the centenary of the Battle of Messines in Belgium.

Tracey’s grand uncle, Father James McRory from Inishowen, was a Chaplain during World War One and kept a War Diary about his experiences in the trenches. Recently the very Chalice he used in those same trenches 100 years ago was found in America and returned to her and Tracy will share this story in her workshop.

This special performance highlights local stories from World War One and uses film, imagery, music and narrative to tell their story. These stories will weave their way throughout the performance creating a musical journey of remembrance and reconciliation.

This project has received financial support from Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s Good Relations Programme assisted by The Executive Office.

For further information on the workshops, please contact the Council’s Good Relations section by telephone on 0300 303 1777, textphone 028 8225 6206 or by email at goodrelations@fermanaghomagh.com.