On Tuesday 10 March 2026, we launched the world premiere of Fite Fuaite (meaning ‘intertwined’ or ‘interwoven’ in Irish) in the days ahead of the UK-Ireland 2030 Leaders’ Summit in Ireland and the landmark Irish cultural celebrations of Seachtain na Gaelige and St Patrick’s Day.
In an intimate music-salon style event, cultural leaders gathered with the British Ambassador to Ireland Kara Owen and British Council Director Arts Ruth Mackenzie at the British Ambassador’s Residence in Dublin.
This powerful new commission has been created by musical artists from across Ireland and the four nations of the UK in celebration of the deep cultural connections that bind these islands. At a time when cultural understanding is more vital than ever, this original collaboration underscores the importance of people-to-people exchange and cultural collaboration ahead of the UK-Ireland 2030 Leaders’ Summit taking place from 12–13 March in Cork, Ireland.
Curated by our extraordinary lead composer Colm Mac Con Iomaire, the ensemble brought together extraordinary talent: small pipes from Scotland’s Brìghde Chaimbeul to strings from Welsh musicians Rakhi Singh and Simmy Singh, bouzouki from Northern Ireland’s Frank Tate, keys by Ben Castle from England, fiddle from Ireland’s Colm Mac Con Iomaire and percussion from Lorcan Byrne, also from Ireland – each carrying its own musical heritage, yet creating something truly interconnected.
Arts and culture remain a vital bridge between Ireland and the four nations of the UK. Lives Entwined: Fite Fuaite highlights what’s possible when creativity connects us.
Photos from the event are available on our Flickr account.
An audio recording of the music is available on Soundcloud.
We are grateful to the exceptional musicians and our wonderful music production partners, Aoife Woodlock and all at SoSimpatico, who made this unique moment possible.
About the Commission
Fite Fuaite – meaning interwoven – is a seven-minute ensemble piece exploring themes of prehistory, history and ‘after history’, reflecting the intertwined identities, shared heritage and ongoing collaboration across these islands.
The commission was led by composer and curator Colm Mac Con Iomaire (Ireland, fiddle), who – working closely with cultural producers SoSimpatico – brought together a group of artists whose musical languages cross borders, traditions and generations:
- Brìghde Chaimbeul (Scotland, small pipes)
- Rakhi Singh and Simmy Singh (Wales, strings)
- Frank Tate (Northern Ireland, bouzouki and guitar)
- Ben Castle (England, keys)
- Lorcan Byrne (Ireland, percussion)
The performance followed a salon style format in the Ambassador’s drawing room, where each artist offered a solo piece before joining together for the first public performance of Fite Fuaite.
Each performer brought their own distinct musical inheritance – from the layered drones of the small pipes to the sean nós inflected fiddle, South Asian shaped string traditions, improvisational bouzouki textures and contemporary classical harmony. Together, the ensemble created a sound world that echoed the connections between our peoples: subtle, historic, resonant and vividly alive.
By bringing together musical voices from the five nations, Fite Fuaite stands as both a symbol and a practical expression of ongoing cultural exchange.
The collaboration reflects the commitment in the UK-Ireland 2030 framework to strengthen cultural, educational and interpersonal ties – foundations that remain vital to our shared progress.