Trinity: Classically Irish (aka Ronan's secret PBS project)

A secret project Ronan has been working on for PBS has been getting teased for a while.

It looks like Emmett O'Hanlon (Celtic Thunder) is involved.

Trinity: Classically Irish is scheduled to be recorded for PBS on October 13, 2021 in Fort Myers, Florida.

It's scheduled to air on PBS in March (or December depending on where you look ... probably March).

Featuring Emmett O’Hanlon, John Power, Conor Murphy (seems like Ronan's doing the arrangements etc) and the Gulf Coast Symphony.

https://www.bbmannpah.com/events/detail/trinity-classically-irish

https://wgcu.org/events-calendar/trinitys-appearance-with-the-gulf-coast-symphony-in-fort-myers-florida-october-13-is-the-world-premiere-of-a-trio-with-the-musical-dna-to-become-americas-next-big-thing-in-irish-music/

https://www.news-press.com/story/entertainment/2021/07/09/symphony-opera-season-fort-myers-naples-gulf-coast-gulfshore-opera-swfl-florida-sanibel-fest/7797754002/

I got an email a couple days ago from the venue about this filming and the picture is Ronan and two others. But then on the website, Ronan's not pictured. Gregg and I are contemplating attending the filming, with Ronan being the one we'd be going to see. Does anybody have any definitive info on who the performers in the concert filming will be?

Otherwise I think we'll just hold off on booking anything until we know for sure. We're also considering whether we have the vacation days for it since it's on a Wednesday. Once touring and shows pick back up, we're going to blow through our vacation days very quickly!

I got an email a couple days ago from the venue about this filming and the picture is Ronan and two others. But then on the website, Ronan's not pictured. Gregg and I are contemplating attending the filming, with Ronan being the one we'd be going to see. Does anybody have any definitive info on who the performers in the concert filming will be?

Otherwise I think we'll just hold off on booking anything until we know for sure. We're also considering whether we have the vacation days for it since it's on a Wednesday. Once touring and shows pick back up, we're going to blow through our vacation days very quickly!

Sorry I'm not sure yet. I thought Ronan was in it too. Honestly, I'd ask Ronan. He probably knows.

So, apparently Ronan is in it (waiting on visa though, perhaps).

According to this and Mairéad, Ronan is one of the three members: Emmett O’Hanlon, Ronan Scolard and Conor Murphy:

https://gulfcoastsymphony.org/concert/trinity-classically-irish/

Hopefully he gets to make it to the US for the recording. Either way, this will be exposure to a huge PBS audience and should draw in a lot of the loyal Celtic Thunder followers via Emmett.

The PBS special is scheduled to start airing on February 26, 2022. Please check your local PBS listings.

Trinity releases a 5 track EP previewing the music, available on various digital platforms.

https://music.apple.com/us/album/trinity-classically-irish-ep/1610398031

1. Red Is the Rose
2. Danny Boy
3. Rocky Road to Dublin
4. The Fields of Athenry
5. The Parting Glass

Ronan's arrangements are great!

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I watched the Trinity: Classically Irish special on PBS Passport and it was great!

It's a more formal feel than a modern Celtic Woman concert or a Celtic Thunder concert, but that's what they were going for.

The PBS special consists of 12 songs:

Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (That's an Irish Lullaby) (all 3)
Red Is the Rose (all 3)
Carrickfergus (Conor with Ronan on piano)
Danny Boy (all 3)
Spanish Lady (all 3)
Shenandoah (Emmett, then all 3 for finale)
Raglan Road (Ronan)
Rocky Road to Dublin (all 3)
Grace (all 3)
Isle of Hope (Emmet with Ronan on piano)
Fields of Athenry (all 3)
The Parting Glass (all 3 with Ronan also on guitar)

I greatly enjoyed Ronan's arrangements, including some original takes on songs we've heard often. All the tracks are good. There's some delicious harmony and the solo performances are fantastic too.

My favourite solo track was Ronan's Raglan Road. The backing arrangement is excellent and I loved the way he sang it.

I don't have a clear favourite track on this album of this PBS special, but Grace is a strong contender for that honour. Oh my goodness, wait until you hear the orchestral backing. I loved how the drums were used in the arrangement. All the tracks are good but this one was possibly the most memorable.

Darragh Murphy sounds as amazing as usual on pipes and whistles.

The lads have some fun performing Spanish Lady and add some theatrics to the performance.

I only checked a couple of PBS stations, but the PBS pledge offerings I've seen so far are:
- CD
- CD + DVD
- CD + DVD + PBS Solitude Headphones

I haven't seen Meet and Greet or performance tickets thus far, for those interested.

Enjoy the show everyone and if your PBS station isn't carrying it (especially if you don't have Passport from a recent PBS pledge), please contact your PBS station and help get this program on the air.

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If anyone wants to see the PBS special, it's not airing on your PBS station and you don't have PBS Passport, it looks like you can order the special on iTunes. It may not be available in all countries (it's not available on iTunes in Canada for example): 

https://itunes.apple.com/us/tv-season/trinity-classically-irish/id1607169766

The tour is tentatively planned to begin in August 2022 (source).

Trinity has five shows listed on their website as of now, all in November.  Mairead said in a StageIt concert that she would open for some of their shows, but there's no indication yet which ones.  The listings are here:  https://www.trinityirishmusic.com/tour-dates

Nov. 18th Fresno, CA
Nov. 19th Sacramento, CA
Nov. 22nd Denver, CO
Nov. 25th Tuscon, AZ
Nov. 26th Phoenix, AZ

Trinity's debut CD is releases May 6, 2022.

I haven't identified a DVD release date yet, although it is still available via PBS pledge.

The dvd release date is June 28th according to the listing on amazon. I'm also editing my above post of tour dates to add a 5th show this fall.

Trinity is a supporting act for Carrie Hope Fletcher's UK tour:
https://www.westendbestfriend.co.uk/news/trinity-to-support-carrie-hope-fletchers-debut-uk-tour

Tour dates and tickets:
https://www.cuffeandtaylor.com/artists/carrie-hope-fletcher/

Here's another date for Trinity in 2024. I wasn't sure if we're putting it in the calendar since I'm not sure MC will be there or not.

https://tickets.galloarts.org/9373

Sunday, March 17, 2024 5:00PM

LOCATION
Mary Stuart Rogers Theater
Address: 1000 I Street, Modesto, CA 95354
Phone: (209) 338-2100