Siobhán Cleary [b.1970]
Carrowkeel [2003]
Performed by the Callino Quartet
National Concert Hall, Dublin, 10th October 2021 (live audio recording)
Known locally as ‘the Pinnacles’, the Carrowkeel cairns are 15 miles south of Sligo on ridges in the Bricklieve Mountains. Fourteen cairns are found in the Carrowkeel complex and on the northern slope of the eastern ridge is a cluster of ‘hut circles’ known as the Doonaveeragh Neolithic village. The Carrowkeel complex, believed to have been constructed between 3000 and 2000 BC, remained in use until 1500 BC. The cairns, built of limestone with interior chambers roofed with large limestone slabs, range in size from 25 to 100 feet in diameter. The site was used in Christian times as a burial place for unbaptised children. One of the cairns, was demonstrated by researcher Martin Byrne, to have a 'light-box' which is similar in design to the light-box at Newgrange and was constructed so as to allow the light of both the sun and moon to penetrate the inner chamber. (The sun for a month on either side of the summer solstice, and the light of the full moon on either side of the winter solstice). It is a tranquil spiritual place where I have often contemplated the people who lived there so long ago and their advanced knowledge of astronomy and physics. Siobhán Cleary
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Born in Dublin, Siobhán Cleary’s work has been performed and broadcast worldwide. She has been commissioned by National Symphony Orchestra, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Chamber Choir Ireland and the Vanbrugh Quartet among many others . Her critically acclaimed Opera “Vampirella” based on a story by Angela Carter premiered in Smock Alley in 2017 and ran for four nights to a sold out house. Her work has been featured at New Music Dublin, Horizons, Imagine Ireland, Culture Ireland’s year-long celebration of Irish arts in the United States in 2011 and Imagining Ireland 2020 at the NCH and the Barbican. Commissioned by Eamonn Quinn with funds from An Chomhairle Ealaíon and premiered by Vox Clamantis at the Louth Contemporary Music Festival in June 2022, Storm in Devon: received its UK premiere by BBC Singers London, March 24th 2023 at Maida Vale studios and broadcast on BBC 3 ( May 2024)
Siobhán has also written the music for films and documentaries including the score for two Roger Corman feature films. In 1996, she worked with the Ciniteca di Bologna writing music scores to restored films.
She is currently working on a monodrama, “Circe” with playwright Frank McGuinness.
Siobhán was elected to Aosdána, Ireland’ s state-sponsored academy of creative artists in 2008