Alchemy Music Series, originally known as Sacred Spaces: Sacred Sounds, was established in 2011 by Ashford residents Eamon Sweeney and Rachel Factor. They shared the same vision and wanted to unite some of the wonderful musicians nestled amongst the rolling Wicklow countryside on the same musical platform and then deliver this music to the local community. Initially the festival began with solo
recitals in three venues around County Wicklow, Nun's Cross Church Ashford, St. Andrew's Church Bray and Calary Church Roundwood and it was met with much enthusiasm by the local communities. Moving forward in 2012 and 2013 Eamon and Rachel decided to feature chamber music more prominently in the concerts. This led to collaboration with the renowned cellist Annette Cleary and then later with the eminent whistle player, Cormac Breatnach. The music series, now know as Alchemy Music Series, was developing significantly year on year, with an ever growing following and more ambitious concerts and events. In 2013, the series was a recipient of the small festivals funding grant from The Arts Council. This allowed Alchemy to establish a larger panel of musicians from the Wicklow area, finally realising it's dream to unite local musicians on a shared platform. Two successful concerts were held at Nun's Cross Church in autumn 2013. Moving into the new year, Alchemy has yet again been supported generously by The Arts Council and has an exciting season in store over the coming months. The first event is 'Feile Heaney' on Saturday April 12th at Nun's Cross Church, Ashford, Co. Wicklow
The anniversary of Seamus Heaney's birth falls on April 13th and this concert is an inaugurate commemorative music and poetry recital to honour one of Ireland's greatest poets. The concert will include readings by Gabriel Rosenstock and Hans- Christian Oeser in both Irish and English. Music will be interspersed by Sonamus, a group of local musicians including Cormac Breatnach (Irish whistles),Eamon Sweeney (baroque guitar), Lucy Robinson (viol) and Rachel Factor (harpsichord). The event will also feature a world premiere of a composition composed between Elaine Agnew and the children of the Holy Rosary National School, Ashford.
