Bound for Canada A Musical Journey from Hardship to Hope - Narration by Rory O'Shea

As the son and brother of Irish immigrants it was an honour to be asked to do the live narration for the world premiere of “Bound for Canada: A Musical Journey from Hardship to Hope”, an original orchestral suite by composer and violinist, Odhran O Casaide (Oran Cassidy) incorporating classical and traditional Irish music.

A Canada Ireland Foundation presentation. Truly an Irish-Canadian co-production with musicians, soloists and members of the Irish Garda Band (musical branch of national police) flying in from Ireland to join the North York Concert Orchestra and the Toronto Choral Society. Altogether, 100 members on stage. A full stage playing to a full house. The on-stage narration was meant to bring historical context in between all six musical segments.
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In the spring/summer of 1847 Toronto embraced close to 40,000 Irish emigrants fleeing from famine. At the time, it was a city of 20,000. Its population virtually tripled.
A treacherous two-month trans-Atlantic journey with Typhus on board also meant there were many sick and dying en route. But there was also an 80% survival rate. Those Irish would remain to help build the young Canadian nation or continue moving stateside.
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Odhran crafted an epic musical masterpiece evoking both the haunting mood of hardship and jubilant spirit of hope.