WIN in conversation with Katie Rowan

Our WIN chairwoman Angela Brady is in conversation with Katie Rowan of the Ina Boyle Society Ltd about the life and times of forgotten Irish composer Ina Boyle, one of Ireland’s foremost musical composers.

Dozens of her unpublished operas, symphonies and manuscripts were archived in Trinity College after her death in 1967 and are now being brought to life.

One of the few woman composers of her time, she trained with Vaughan Williams in London and was in the Proms in 1923 and performed many of her works to public audiences, but circumstances for women at the time held her back. She wrote music all of her life from her home in Enniskerry Co Wicklow, which inspired such pieces as “The Wild Geese”, “Elegy”, and “Glencree Symphony no 1”.  

Wigmore Hall will perform some of her music later this year, 60 years after Janet Baker sang to one of her musical compositions. Ina’s time has now come, so let her music speak to a new generation.

Our 20 minuted video captures some of the highlights of this fascinating woman of her time.

Thanks to Declan McCaughey for camera and editing.