Orchestra manoeuvres to its new home

By Linda McKee – 18 October 2007

Chamber orchestra Camerata Ireland has a new home - a palatial Palladian country house in Co Kildare dating back to the 18th century.

The orchestra, which recently completed a thrilling run of concerts at Clandeboye Estate on the outskirts of Bangor, has been asked by the Irish Government to play a vital artistic role at Castletown House.

It is being upgraded to become one of Ireland's foremost heritage treasures.

Castletown House will now be the new home for Camerata Ireland, founded by Belfast-born pianist Barry Douglas.

The orchestra has already played its first date at Castletown House, joined by guests from the Office of Public Works, the Bank of Ireland and many other VIPs.

Douglas, along with former Clandeboye Young Musicians of the Year Lynda O'Connor and Michael McHale, were in Castletown yesterday for the launch.