A MAYORAL reception was held at City Hall to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Irish Chamber Orchestra (ICO).
The ICO first moved to Limerick from Dublin in 1995, in tandem with the opening of the Irish World Academy of Music at the University of Limerick.
The orchestra has toured the world extensively, including across Europe, Asia, South America, and the US, and made history as the first Irish orchestra to hold a three-year residency at Germany’s Heidelberg Frühling Festival.
Praising the ICO, Mayor John Moran said: “I’m very proud to celebrate 30 years of the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s extraordinary presence in our city. In many ways, their journey over the last three decades mirrors our own transformation in Limerick. They have been bold, brave, led with a different kind of energy and have made impacts on the national and international stage.”
“But above and beyond the great music, what has impressed me most is how the ICO and its musicians have brought their talents and mentorship right into schools and neighbourhoods all across Limerick.”
The ICO’s extensive discography includes prestigious recordings with Jörg Widmann that have earned international acclaim, cementing its reputation among Europe’s leading ensembles.
Equally, the ICO has forged landmark collaborations and recordings with some of Ireland’s most iconic artists including Sinéad O’Connor, DJ Kormac, Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, and The Cranberries.
CEO of the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Gerry Keenan, said that “Limerick has shaped who we are. Its energy, creativity, and sense of community inspire what we do, from our performances to our work in schools and neighbourhoods.”
“We’re proud ambassadors for Limerick, proving that world-class music and transformative education can thrive outside the capital. We’ve grown with this city, and we look forward to nurturing the next generation of musicians and audiences over the next thirty years.”
The Mayoral reception coincides with the Irish Chamber Orchestra’s 30th anniversary gala concert at University Concert Hall, which takes place on Saturday October 18.
The concert honours the legacy of Micheál Ó Súilleabháin, whose vision brought the ICO to Limerick three decades ago.
