Irish In Tewkesbury Abbey: An Unexpected Inspiration

Sunday, 17^th of May 2026

#TewkesburyAbbey #TewkesburyAbbey #NormanInvasion #Comhluadar #IrishPresidencyEU #Burford #Cotswolds 

The Normans don’t have a great reputation in Ireland. They were the first to conquer and rule the whole island and the start of a repressive regime lasting 800 years. So it was a surprise to see an angel high up in the vaults playing the Irish harp! I was there for Mass en route from Upton Upon Severn to London – a welcome reprieve in a long drive. Later, I stopped at the Prince of Burford, a beautiful old coaching inn in the Cotswold. And there, facing me, were two jolly corbels, an angel and a monk, holding the Royal Arms of England, under the words of the Sanctus. 

I was working on Comhluadar, a piece for Irish harp and orchestra for the Irish Presidency of the EU.